Michelle Ward/GreenPepperPress Blog

Saying no to one thing, means saying yes to so much more. 

It’s not easy to say no, is it? 

I struggle with it daily…well weekly. 

But I’ve realized that freedom follows when I have the guts to say no –  there is much less guilt offering an honest no than trying to fulfill a promise that isn’t heartfelt.

Schools, neighbors, friends, family…..we don’t have to say yes to everything everytime. 

We have talent to offer, but we sometimes need to be selfish about our time – even time that is not productive is still worth something. 

Chilling with family.  Reading a book.  Researching a favorite subject.  Painting your toes.  Journaling for yourself.

A dear friend reminded me that I need to wear my "boundary suit" more often – thanks for that. xxoo

It’s summer – say yes to YOU.

I’m working on some new alphabets…..

very labor intensive but very fun!

I have three coming to Green Pepper Press soon.

Stay tuned!

Recently I picked up the book Stairway to Heaven.  It’s about the burial places of famous rock stars.  Pretty cool. 

I’m working in an altered book right now that began as a tribute to Edgar Allan Poe but is turning into a Dead Poet’s journal…..as I have been investigating where poets are buried and the stories surrounding their deaths. Judi just gave me a great book "The Poe Shadow" which is adding to my obsession.

A few weeks ago I took some pictures in a little local graveyard before the grass started growing and it still looked kinda spooky.  It was for a project I can tell you about this fall. 

I’m fascinated by cemetery photos – love the iron gates, stone finials, and carved sentiments.  I’ve driven past Green-Wood in Brooklyn but never had the time to stop off to shoot it.  Some day.

EDIT:  Kim reminded me of the fantastic cemetery in Queens – Calvary.  Need to get photos from there too. 

If you live near a famous poet’s grave I’d love to have a photo……and maybe some grave dirt to add to my collection.  I’ll trade ya something.

EDIT:  Just received a sweet offer from Maj in Germany to collect grave dirt from Hans Christian Andersen’s grave in Denmark when she visits there soon. She asked if I was serious…..YES I AM! Thanks Maj!

Just spent a few days with friends making art.  It is a wonderful thing to find kindred spirits in this world, and it’s even better when you can find the time to spend with them.  From Wednesday to Sunday we girls were in the studio making stuff, teaching, sharing, learning, and most definitely laughing.  We call it the Gathering.  A rare and special treat to get away, especially with these talented chicks. 

Left to Right:  Lisa Renner, Lisa Hoffman, Me, Anne Bagby, Lynne Perrella.  We missed sweet Judi, but she’ll be with us for the next Gathering.

This book was away from me for a while so some of the pages could be used in Stampington’s publication Transparent Art .  I really missed working in this little book.  Altering pages is such a satisfying practice, and it just feels so good to hold the thing in your hands.

For detailed pages from this book, see album at left.

I love carving!  It’s a great way to incorporate your own images into your art – especially the big stamps – they are great with paint.  Below is a picture of the piece I made for Gloria Page’s book:  Art Stamping Workshop.  It’s 12" x 12" carved rubber that has been stamped with black paint on several swatches of painted papers.  Then the swatches were cut up and assembled to recreate the pattern, and finally it was brushed and monoprinted.  If you haven’t started carving yet – be warned: it’s addictive!

 

Tagged by Karen  This is a first for me!

In my fridge:

diet coke, red delicious apples, blueberry yogurt

In my closet:

blue jeans, black jeans, shoes, shoes, shoes

In my purse:

phone, nano, lime tictacs, mini notebook, black marker, $

In my car:

cds, drumsticks, beach bag (never took it out from last season so I’m ready!)

Who to tag?  Audrey?  Celine?  Sarah? YOU?

I LOVE GRAFFITI!  The writing, the graphics, the color, the randomness……yes, it’s considered destructive, but I love looking at it.  This is a compilation from a run down building on the beach front at Asbury Park.  Very sad to see the entire boardwalk in ruins.  In it’s heyday it must have been spectacular, with art deco pavilions and an old merry-go-round.  The main building is now a ghost of what it once was and contains mounted blown up picture postcards revealing it’s lovely past.  The Jersey beaches we visit are not like this – they are so filled with life, and activity, with amusement rides and vendors.  It’s going to take alot to bring back Asbury Park to it’s "Glory Days".   Here’s to hoping they do.

EDIT:  I meant to include a link to an artist I found a while ago.  He has cool stuff on his site, and has published a book on graffiti based on his magazine – BloodWars. 

Check it out: http://www.sfaustina.com/