Fire Starters with a Flair (Flare?)

I really, really, (really), enjoy making things when all the ingredients are handy, found or recycled.  Such it is when I do my annual batch of firestarters.  What is a fire starter?  Most folks use newspaper...but it's becoming scarce and frankly, boring.  My firestarters are little cupcakes that, when lit, burn a very long time lighting your kindling and then the logs.  Mine are pretty to display and easy to make.  And they are fine gifts for folks who camp, have a firepit or live with a fireplace indoors.

You will need paper cupcake liners (on sale Michaels), cupcake pan, paraffin or soy wax (the latter is environmentally preferable), a real or pretend double boiler, sawdust, and all the burnable elements of nature that you gather on your walks.

After using two thrift shop pans as my double boiler I finally bought a candle making pitcher which is easy to pour from.  Just set it in a pan of water for a slow wax melt and easy pouring.

I can't hike without filling my pockets with acorn hats, tiny pinecones, moss, gumballs, oak galls and lichen covered twigs.  One can only collect so much til it needs to go...somewhere!  I was sweeping sawdust from my son's workroom one day when I asked him if I could have it.  After a very funny look he nodded.  My first efforts involved the gulf wax paraffin you can buy at Walmart.  A candle making friend turned me on to the many advantages of soy and I bumped into another friend who had just salvaged tons (literally) of candymaking soy wax from a candy company about to dump it.  I had my soy almost free. Obviously this is not an exact recipe.  You can google and make up your own formula.

When these piles start taking up too much room along with large jars of pinecones and acorn caps I know it is time to begin!

Slowly melt your wax over a double boiler while filling your muffin tin with the liners.  Fill the liners with saw dust but leave "head room" as the wax and decor take up a little space.  When the wax or soy is melted pour it into each liner...I like to take a chop stick and stir it up a bit to get the wax to sink down into the dust.  Now, while the wax is not hard, the fun begins.  I usually lay out all my little treasures so I know how much of what I have.  I begin making little scenes and vignettes on the top of each using a variety of the accoutrements.  Push them slightly into the wax or if a twig, as far in as you can.  Remember this is all burnable stuff, it's not green, it's not rock and it is not terribly dense.

Let the wax cool overnight.  Sometimes I have to take a knife to the edge to get them out if I dripped a lot but it doesn't ruin the look or use.  To light I usually peel back a bit of paper and hold the flame there til it catches.  Pretty soon the entire cake will burn...for quite a while!

I've given these as gifts and folks are more inclined to set them out as decor than to burn.  Well, I can't help that!  I just don't give them any more.  I do try to explain that I really consider this another form of ephemeral art, it's not meant to last.  Every one of these items would be crushed and gone before the winter was over...I just let them get admired one last time and then return them to nature.

I've kept a pile of these for us as we love using them when we head out camping.
Hope you enjoy making some yourself.
Oh, and some folks swear by adding a wick to ease lighting...fine, but I never found necessary.

Cindy Michaud
www.cindymichaud.com
questions: art@cindymichaud.com

Maker vs. Painter

Sometimes I think I would rather be called a "maker" than a "painter." Both are considered artists but I have never wanted to feel limited or boxed in to only applying paint to canvas.  No matter the medium I get a real thrill out of seeing something that did not previously exist come to fruition with my help.

When my husband and I decided to replace our dining room table I wanted it to be something special - a creation that spoke of all we have come to love living in the mountains.  I also knew that I wanted it to be one of a kind and that we wanted to shepherd it into being.  I knew that my neighbor Bucky salvaged trees, dried wood and supplied some furniture makers with quality pieces so we picked his brain to start.

Wood needs to be kiln dried for a very long time so that the moisture moves out of it slowly - rushing this process means that whatever you build is very likely to warp and move as it finishes drying over time.  Bucky had lots of large pieces stored and was all too happy to share them and discuss the type and history of each piece.  Above my husband measures an eye-catching slab to see if it will work for us.

Once we selected our piece Bucky had to further plane it.  This is when we took chalk and discussed where we wanted cuts for our table.  We definitely wanted to preserve the "live edge" and knew there was a split at one end as well as a knot in the mid-section.  Creative minds could plan but the tree would have the ultimate word as it would react to our plans with a plan of its own.  Bucky hooked us up with Boone, a unique and colorful character who would make the final cuts and work on the endless sanding and polishing.  We had selected very plain metal legs for our table and guessed we would have pieces leftover to use for other designs as well.

This is in Boone's workshop - a fascinating place of creativity.  If you can dream it, he can build it as evidenced by the amazingly artful home he constructed all from materials found on his property.  Boone was kind to include us in every stage of the transformation, he answered my endless questions and took an interest in the supports we had chosen.  He really made us feel like collaborators in this effort.

We are thrilled with the results!  It was even his idea to make a bench for one side of the table (which will fit lots of little grandchildren butts).  He filled the knot (far left in photo) to look like an endless black hole and polished every mark of the wood to optimum advantage.

We had enough of a slab left for a small end table and decided to put "hairpin" legs on it.  And below he made us a coffee table with some silver legs I selected.  While he was interested in my leg sources I was endlessly interested in the various grits of sandpaper he had to use to get this light maple wood so soft in texture.

I shared with Boone that while I loved our new furniture it made me sad to realize "our" project was over.  I told him that while some folks might spend more money no one, no one, would have more enthusiasm for his work.  He grinned one of those humble mountain smiles and responded, "gosh, that compliment means more than money to me."

See? We makers can't help but get excited when anything unique is created.  I know Bucky is an artist in his field of wood preservation and Boone is surely an artist as well.  I love to paint but I think becoming a "maker" is my true calling. I enjoy the collaboration of artistic minds and talents.

Cindy Michaud
www.cindymichaud.com
questions: art@cindymichaud.com

Love and Hope

By Cindy Michaud

Art Print "Love Grows" by Cindy Michaud

Love Grows When it is Given Away....

Art with a Heart! Selling these special prints is my way of helping my son and his wife become parents via adoption. Choosing adoption today means incurring fees totaling $40,000 in addition to the costs associated with baby-needs. 

This Grandma-to-be imagined two colorful blossoms encircling a third, tiny one.  Share my excitement and help put a dent in the expenses by purchasing one of these high quality, hand signed prints that will come matted in an appropriate color.  The almost 5 x 7 design will easily slip into your 8 x 10 frame for display or gifting.

The print has two versions, each with its own special message. The price of $35.00 includes USPS shipping; $30.00 of each sale will go directly to the fees incurred as Alex and Daniel prepare for their new addition. Click here for more information and to visit the Shop page.

REFLECTIONS...

Moroccan Mint Tea

It didn't take long  to fully embrace the custom

of Moroccan mint tea while traveling.  Served in a metal tea pot

and drunk consistently in glasses, it was offered everywhere:

during sales of goods, after dinner, mid-morning and late

afternoon.  It was almost too sweet for my palate

but always served with sweeping arm motions (which made 

the pour long and arcing) that always made it

into a visual ritual of celebration.

I began to call this painting a jig saw puzzle

I would find myself lost in the color blocks, duplicating shapes without regard to

what they were....it became a very zen painting experience, slow and methodical

the strain was not to rush into the "fun" highlights too soon,

nor give in to the urge to use the real "gold" paint too early.

Moroccan Mint, 12 x 12, oil on board

black frame, SOLD

@CMichaud

Zen Fully Yours,

Cindy Michaud

p.s. just for fun, see if you can find at least 3 people in this piece, any luck?

Reflections on Moroccan Mint

It didn't take long for us to fully embrace the custom

of hot Moroccan mint tea.  Served in a metal tea pot

and drunk consistently in glasses, it was offered everywhere:

during sales of goods, after dinner, mid-morning and late

afternoon.  It was almost too sweet for my palate

but always served with sweeping arm motions (which made 

the pour long and arcing) that always made it

into a visual ritual of celebration.

I began to call this painting a jig saw puzzle

I would find myself lost in the color blocks, duplicating shapes without regard to

what they were....it became a very zen painting experience, slow and methodical

the strain was not to rush into the "fun" highlights too soon,

nor give in to the urge to use the real "gold" paint too early.

Moroccan Mint, 12 x 12, oil on board

black frame

@CMichaud

Zen Fully Yours,

Cindy

p.s. just for fun, see if you can find at least 3 people in this piece, any luck?

Cindy's View

Today, I am sharing a blog post from my fellow artist and friend, Cindy Michaud.


Have you ever listened to music and had

a line just jump out?  Often I am in the car and think

to myself "what would that lyric look like painted?"

I rarely go further as I can't make a note

while driving but every now and then...

Does the Title Affect Your Viewing?

Titles for paintings are funny things.  To some artists they are merely a locale, to others they become a marketing gimmick; sometimes one struggles for a title and once in a while the piece instantly names itself.  Purchasing a piece, I once asked the artist where it was. "Oh," he answered, "that was from Siena, Italy."  I paused writing the check and looked up. "Shoot, it reminded me of a place my husband and I stayed in Provence, France," I replied.  He grinned, "yes, that is just what I meant to say!"  We both laughed, I finished the purchase and simply re-christianed the piece.  All the same...

What does a title mean to you?

I am serious.  My husband and I go round and round (I won't say out loud that he likes trite references which he thinks are literary....oh, did I say trite??) and I wax and wane between what I feel and what I see.  Frankly I have rarely bought something for which the title was a critical component, yet I usually ask.    The selection is often a point of reference or at least starts a conversation with the maker.

Which brings me to the piece I share today.

We stopped by an amazing "You-Pic-Em" flower farm in Oregon which also had a winery and a gourmet food truck.  It was a spontaneous stop on a long but spectacular drive and with one eye on the dark clouds rolling in we stood in awe of the acres of flowers ready to be picked.  Wine, lunch, flowers...a few photos and we happily resumed our drive.

Can one ever re-capture that experience?  I think not.  The dark, mountainous backdrop and the swaths of floral color are perhaps better rendered in the abstract of masses.  But on another rainy day in the studio I can play and remember.  So I did.  And then to title, humming...I will borrow, with respect for Joni Mitchell's endless talent,  a line that is laden with meaning...for me.

"The Dizzy, Dancing Way You Feel"

24 x 18, oil

available

How do you feel about titles?  Do they influence your view of the art?  Or do you prefer a numbering system? I am really curious, so please share.

contact me at: art@cindymichaud.com

see more work at: www.cindymichaud.com

https://www.facebook.com/CindyMichaudArt

Dancing in Color,

Cindy

Healing Ceilings, a story of love by Carol Schiff

I recently came in contact with a wonderful woman in Raleigh, North Carolina.  Amy Jo was a fan of my facebook page and sent me a link to her wonderful page called Healing Ceilings.  Amy Jo's husband just came through his second brush with cancer.  She and her husband were spending lots of time in the Cancer Care Center of North Carolina, he, getting treatment and she, waiting and observing. Observing the same people day after day, as they came in for their chemo or radiation treatments.  She decided to do something to brighten their lives and encourage them in their fight.

BlueBird of Happiness by Kathy Garvey

Amy Jo believes in the healing power of art.  She decided to brighten the days of these patients by giving them something inspiring to look at while they receive their treatments.  Out came those old, white, boring ceiling tiles to be replaced with individual tiles turned into creative art.  How she did this, I do not know, but she has single handedly installed hundreds of tiles in cancer care centers in the Raleigh area.

Peaceful Beach by Denette Schweikert

She contacted artists through Facebook and asked them to donate their work on ceiling tiles that she somehow supplies.  Nothing stops her.  When I saw her posts and decided to donate, she arranged for me to go to my local Lowes (in Florida) where I picked up a box of the proper tiles at no cost to me.  Naturally, I involved my painting group, Pieces of 8 and gathered additional volunteers from them. One of the group, Cindy Michaud, who summers out of town, was following the journey on Facebook. Being a person who does not let grass grow under her feet, she contacted Amy Jo and so far, has painted 6 tiles for the project.

Road to Sunshine by Cindy Michaud (2 tiles)

Garden of Inspiration by Cindy Michaud (4 tiles)

Everyone wanted to do peaceful scenes filled with inspiration.

Sailing the Bay by Mary Warnick

Ocean Sunrise by Carmen Beecher

I decided to do 3 typical scenes of North Carolina:

Abstracted Sea by Carol Schiff

Carolina Marsh by Carol Schiff

Mountain Mist by Carol Schiff

Did I tell you each tile is 24x24"?

Now that the tiles are complete, Amy Jo has done a "shout out" on Facebook to bring them home to Raleigh.  In her words, "The Love Train is leaving the station".  She will find volunteers who will transfer the tiles from place to place until eventually, they will be delivered to her hands for installation.

A story of love and compassion and determination.  The next time you think "What difference can I make"?

Think of Amy Jo.

Wandering & Wondering...

You know that feeling you get when a project is complete? That whoo-o-osh of relief and pride? I am about to roll around in it, as soon as the glue dries and stamps are on the envelope. I am really done!

Last Christmas I received this wonderful package from my eldest son. He had paid my way into "The Sketchbook Project," a traveling library of artists' books created by thousands of people from over 135 different countries.  And what's more, he 'super-sized' it by assuring that the finished product would not only travel around the U.S. but would be "digitized" for others to see on line!  How exciting...what pressure!

While my beautiful little manila covered book sat in my studio for many months, it always occupied a space in my brain.  I kept mentally going through my roladex of 'great ideas' searching for the right topic, style, medium etc.  The word 'wander' kept circulating; I think I may be a professional wanderer....but how to depict?

I Wonder As I Wander  is a favorite hymn of mine.  My research revealed that it was based on an Appalachian song fragment collected by John Jacob Niles in 1933 in the town of Murphy, NC.  A young woman sang this haunting tune at an evangelical fundraiser for 25 cents a performance.  Niles completed the song by composing more melody and adding lyrics.  It was first performed that same year at theJohn C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, NC.

I got the chills learning this as the Appalachian Mountains, Murphy and the Folk School all hold dear places in my life.  As a wanderer at heart and a lifelong wonderer, the theme of the little book came together quite easily.  I set to work writing the "poetry" and planning the pages.  Here's a sneak peek:

There is a path (hmm, is that the yellow brick road...?) that connects each

page to the next.

  

Simple? yes, but that is what I like about it.  No angst, no ax to grind, no rant or diatribe.  Just simple, happy thoughts that could appeal to any age, simple easy drawings that share the wistfulness of the original song.

See the barcode on the back?  This is an important part of the entire project.  As soon as I pop this baby in the mail they will match it to my registration and set about photographing it for the on-line viewing.  You can use my name as author to find it (after the Jan 15 deadline).  But wait there's more:

the book will also go "on the road" in a little bookmobile of sorts that travels to different venues across the country.  They camp out in public places for a day and visitors can freely punch in tags or subjects they might enjoy and voila! they get matched with several sketchbooks to "check out."

Someone asked me why in the world would an artist want to pay to send their work to a collection project.  I wanted to ask why wouldn't they?  I suppose that for me the Mission of the project so closely fits my own:

     "We think art should be collaborative.  Using the Sketchbook Project as our vehicle, we have connected tens of thousands of artists from all over the globe.  We are the largest collection of living artists sketchbooks in the world."

Art should be available to everyone, art should contain pieces that appeal to a variety of people, if one is not exposed to real art (as in touching, smelling, connecting with the media) one will never, ever become a collector.  If I can find a way to get "it" out there, I will.  

And besides, it's kind of fun to think that my grandchildren could wander into the Brooklyn Art Library and wonder if grammy has anything in it.

Guess what? She does.

Wondering and Wandering,

Cindy

Please: SIT ON MY ART!

I love to paint...but I also have a tendency to chase shiny objects!  These distractions are great fun while I am working out the solutions to more "serious" work.  Now my husband will remember 2012 as the year of glass flowers.  They were everywhere!  But he thinks 2013 is shaping up to be the year of the chair.  And while this abundance of chairs has been great fun for me, HE is ready to see some of them march out the door....sooner than later.

These works of art are ready for new homes...a little corner that needs some brightening or maybe beside a door to hold all the items you need to remember to take with you.  For years I had a special brightly painted chair in the bath to hold towels etc.  If you find your walls full of art, chairs is another way to bring more in.

These will all be available at our annual Holiday Sale and Show on December 7 at Carol Schiff's home.  I hate to admit that I have more underway so please do my husband and me a favor and drop by to see if any will work in your home.  And I didn't forget the kids or grandchildren, here's a look-see on a tot sized table for a playroom.  It's ready for crafts or games and it needs a new home!

We'll be ready for business between 9 am and 4 pm so come visit us by printing the map here:

If I can find new homes for the chairs and the table (hint: I'll be easy to bargain with around 3 pm) then my husband may take me out to dinner!  We will all be happy.....and I can dream up a new shiny object to chase NEXT year.

See you at the sale,
Cindy Michaud

Our Patron Saint

Trying to get 8 women, 8 artists, to agree on anything very quickly is asking for trouble.  The saying about 'herding cats' is most applicable.  But there is one thing we all quickly ascribed to and that is the fact that our fellow painter, Denette, is worthy of sainthood.  From her stroke several years ago to her paintings today, she has shown nothing short of miraculous courage and determination.  No debate.

Here's Denette in all her Modigliani-esque glory depicted as the patron saint of those who are determined to reach a goal.  You can even see her altar icons in the upper corners which are trophies...signifying her goal met!  She's colorful, lively and looking towards an exciting future.

You can read the tribute to Denette as well as others in a special little book just published by one of our members, Cindy Michaud.  In Sainted & Painted, Stories of the Not Wholly Holy, Cindy has taken 12 real women who deserve, in her opinion, to be sainted. Not only has painted their portraits but she has written vignettes describing their modern miracles and why they should inspire us all.  Feel like lighting a candle yet? You will because reading these tributes makes one realize that we are surrounded by saints...that while relating to the cannonized saints of long ago may be difficult and foreign, this group of anointed women stand tall and proud when it comes to setting examples for living.

For just $12.99 you will meet Saint Jane of the Generous, Saint Kathy of the Courts, Saint Sharon of the Survivors and many more.  You will enjoy creative art and touching stories.  Order now here or by clicking on the title above.  

And oh, there is one other thing we all agreed on rather quickly: this book makes the perfect gift.  So take our collective word for it, order several and have fun sharing them for birthdays.  

A Story of Love by Carol Schiff

I recently came in contact with a wonderful woman in Raleigh, North Carolina.  Amy Jo was a fan of my facebook page and sent me a link to her wonderful page called Healing Ceilings.  Amy Jo's husband just came through his second brush with cancer.  She and her husband were spending lots of time in the Cancer Care Center of North Carolina, he, getting treatment and she, waiting and observing. Observing the same people day after day, as they came in for their chemo or radiation treatments.  She decided to do something to brighten their lives and encourage them in their fight.

BlueBird of Happiness by Kathy Garvey

Amy Jo believes in the healing power of art.  She decided to brighten the days of these patients by giving them something inspiring to look at while they receive their treatments.  Out came those old, white, boring ceiling tiles to be replaced with individual tiles turned into creative art.  How she did this, I do not know, but she has single handedly installed hundreds of tiles in cancer care centers in the Raleigh area.

Peaceful Beach by Denette Schweikert

She contacted artists through Facebook and asked them to donate their work on ceiling tiles that she somehow supplies.  Nothing stops her.  When I saw her posts and decided to donate, she arranged for me to go to my local Lowes (in Florida) where I picked up a box of the proper tiles at no cost to me.  Naturally, I involved my painting group, Pieces of 8 and gathered additional volunteers from them. One of the group, Cindy Michaud, who summers out of town, was following the journey on Facebook. Being a person who does not let grass grow under her feet, she contact Amy Jo and so far, has painted 6 tiles for the project.

Road to Sunshine by Cindy Michaud (2 tiles)

Garden of Inspiration by Cindy Michaud (4 tiles)

Everyone wanted to do peaceful scenes filled with inspiration.

Sailing the Bay by Mary Warnick

Ocean Sunrise by Carmen Beecher

I decided to do 3 typical scenes of North Carolina:

Abstracted Sea by Carol Schiff

Carolina Marsh by Carol Schiff

Mountain Mist by Carol Schiff

Did I tell you each tile is 24x24"?

Now that the tiles are complete, Amy Jo has done a "shout out" on Facebook to bring them home to Raleigh.  In her words, "The Love Train is leaving the station".  She will find volunteers who will transfer the tiles from place to place until eventually, they will be delivered to her hands for installation.

A story of love and compassion and determination.  The next time you think "What difference can I make"?
Think of Amy Jo.