Studio Friday - Travels

I don't travel too much, but when I do, I notice the natural environment, especially the trees and flowers. I love seeing those I've not experienced before and learning about them. I have been known to strike up conversations with taxi drivers and shuttle bus drivers asking about the local flora. They often cannot tell me what kind of tree or flower it is that I spot, but I think that is because when we live with something so long we often take it for granted.

This collage is an altered book spread that I made in August of 2005 while in Northern Wisconsin at the cottage we stay at every year and have since I was a young girl. I've always loved the trees, leaves, bark and ferns in the area. It's held up pretty well since I just glued things down fresh from the ground or tree! I love this spread as it reminds me of travels I do every year and hope to do for the rest of my life - to a favorite place that is gorgeous!

Artists Changing Names

This week's topic at Studio Friday is Changing Names

"I've been reading Twyla Tharp's book The Creative Habit and here's an idea from her book - " the ancient masters of Japanese art were allowed to change their name once in their lifetime. They had to be very selective about the moment in their career when they did so. They would stick with their given name until they felt they had become the artist they aspired to; at that point, they were allowed to change their name. For the rest of their life, they would work under the new name at the height of their powers." So let's presume we are at the height of our careers - what name would you choose and why? "

As an undergrad in college, taking a creative writing course, we were required to take a pen name so that others could critique our writing authentically without each other knowing whose work we were reading. I loved the idea and named myself, Sunny Ellis. It sounded like a writer's name to me - especially the Ellis part. Ellis also seems too "sophisticated" to me - like the name of someone important. As I look at it now when I write it, I am struck by my fascination of Ellis Island - I was absolutely intrigued with Ellis Island when I visited New York as I knew that my Italian grandparents came through Ellis Island when they came to the United States. To know that I was walking on the same ground as my Grandpa when he was a young man just gave me the chills.

I've continued to use this name and still do when I submit writing to places where people would know me and I would rather be incognito.I don't really remember why I chose the Sunny in my creative name - maybe because it speaks to brightness, to newness to beginning anew each day.

When waiting for our first child, I even thought about naming her (if it would be a girl) Sunny. Glad my husband didn't like it. I guess he associated the name with me too much as my pen name. I'm glad I didn't share it with my daughter, because in a way, after 20 years or so, Sunny Ellis IS me. I have become her. She is me.

My Favorite Color Palette

This week's Studio Friday Prompt - Color
I perused some of my altered book pages and found that there IS a pattern to many of my pages - earth tones, but especially golds and browns. Here are some pages that show this pattern:

Studio Indulgences

My first post to Studio Friday! I've admired all the other posts for months, now it is my turn to get involved. My studio indulgence, based on the photos here, is that of time to organize my studio. As evident here, I have a ways to go, but have started and steal as many moments as I can to get organized so I can create art without being overwhelmed by my surroundings.

The other studio indulgence is just the fact that I HAVE a studio to work in... after having to sacrifice my office/studio at the addition of our daughter, I worried I would not be able to indulge in art without a designated space. But, I do now have a cozy corner in our bedroom that my husband doesn't object to too much, if it is not too messy.