Posts Tagged ‘art’

Madrid Is Full of It …

Posted: August 12, 2024 in Art, Personal / Travel /, Travel
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Art that is. Lots and lots of Art!

Three art museums in 3 days taught me a lot.

Before I talk about my Madrid Art Appreciation Education, I’ve been to Madrid, including El Prado, before…it was 38 years ago. Things change, I change, but my memories stay still.

The main thing I remember is a group of us from a Youth Hostel went to El Prado together and before we entered we got high. I did not get high a lot, but this is one of my favorite highs. High in an art museum is a whole new world.

This time I searched El Prado and it’s countless old paintings for the one that had me sit still for a long time, a long time ago. Me and a hostel friend stared and talked about it for what now feels like an hour. We did not let things escape us at the time. Now, I fear some of it escaped my memory because even though I found that mesmerizing piece, I was not enamored like I was as my 22 year old high self.

Now back to what the 3 art museums taught me, this time in Madrid. I learned a lot about myself, a bit surprised. I’ve always thought I was a lover of all art from all time periods, but I’m telling you I am so loving modern art way more than the old stuff. I still admire the old art, but honestly sometimes I love the workmanship and skill that went into making the elaborate frames on those pieces even more than the art. Sooo…El Prado bored me a bit this time. The Thyssen and Reina Sofia was so much more my jam. I learned upcycled art is not a new thing. I learned Picasso, Dali and Miro did so much more than what we see all the time. They were multi-faceted geniuses. My favorite art experiences this time in Madrid, Even though I was not high this time, I sat dumbfounded and mesmerized when one of Calder’s huge outdoor mobiles slowly danced with the wind. I felt lucky.

Of course Madrid is so much more than just its museums. Who wouldn’t love countless book stores, tapas, music, sangria, cafes, murals, graffiti and the people.

Not to mention funky little bars like Tupperware and La Via Lactea (The Milkyway)! It’s always good to get out of the tourist area and into where the locals go.

I was waiting to post this until after we went back to Madrid at the end of our trip, but at the last minute Jim decided to not go back to Madrid, and to see more of Spain by driving from Barcelona, stopping in Zargoza for a couple of nights before our flight back home. That trip, and blog post, will be the last of our Southern Europe Adventure!

Once again I thank you for visiting MY GNOME LITTLE WORLD!

An ICON in my own mind.

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You say Nomad, I say Gnomad!

Love You Barcelona, But Really You are Just Gaudi-ville to Me.

Posted: August 12, 2024 in Art, Travel
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I saw 3 of the Gaudi buildings in 1986 and have been a fan ever since. His buildings may have instilled the love of all architecture that I have had all my adult life. I was only 22 when I saw his curves, spires, tilework, and flare to be different for the first time. I felt them all deeply within,  although I only got to see them from the outside.  Back then people were actually living in them.

They are the love of the city now. There are 7 Gaudi locations in Barcelona that are now in the Unesco Heritage Convention, and I dragged Jim to 6 of them.

Barcelona is a great city on its own, but I do think all the Gaudi locations up the tourism several notches. It was crowded and we were there at just the beginning of the tourist season.

Barcelona is more than just Gaudi, it’s the City by the Sea, it has a fair, it has beautiful old churches, it has a Gothic area, it has La Rambla, it has food markets, it has great dining, it has a flea market, it has palaces, it has beaches, parks, art museums, and it even has other great architecture.

Did we see ALL of that, no, because I was on a Gaudi mission. But in between Gaudi buildings we got around to see the city. It was very rainy so we opted for “hop on hop off” bus transportation, which was a first ever for us. The open topped (when it was not raining) double decker bus showed us how big the city really is. We also saw a lot more than we could have if we didn’t use it. We saw the sea and beaches, we saw the views from the top hillside parks, and we saw architecture from the top of a double decker bus, which put us at eye level with stuff you cannot really see from the street.

We also ate the yummy food, walked a lot, window shopped, ducked into The Gothic area, rambled down La Rambla…and we looked and we saw and we definitely experienced!

We did a last minute change and instead of taking the fast train back to Madrid we, by we I mean Jim, decided we were going to drive to Madrid and go on the last adventure before the end of our trip. That will be coming up next. I’ve slowed way down on posting our trip, but I will finish!

Thank you for taking a trip through..

MY GNOME LITTLE WORLD!

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Ancient Athens with a Twist

Posted: June 5, 2024 in Art, Travel
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Ok we did drink in Athens, but that is not what I’m talking about when I say “Twist”.

The ruins are scattered about as much as the graffiti.

Every move you make, every step you take, no one is watching you, but you may run into a ruin.

Well, that is a lie, I may be watching you from one of the many sidewalk cafes!

And splattered in between and around there are sprays of paint. Graffiti, mostly tags, some political statements, and fortunately some art as well. It makes an already chaotic scene even more busy for the eyes. I will gladly say, I did not see any graffiti on any of the ruins.

Getting back to what is important…the ruins. Some still in somewhat of a building form, some partially there and some are just in piles.

The history and the stories of the people that lived back then are way more interesting, than the ruins themselves. If you ask me.

There was so much more to Athens then just ruins, history and graffiti.

Like the meat and fish market, a Soccer event and the cats!

And finding cool little spots, that have big personalities!

To Athen’s flora & fauna!

A big city of history and we just learned a tiny bit of it.

You have to spend time to go through it all because modern life lives over layers and layers of history. It may take a lifetime to peel them off.

We are in Rome now and leave tomorrow, so not sure what my next post will cover. I may do one just for Rome. Although we were here only a short time, we crammed a lot of big buildings in.

Thank you once again for visiting

MY GNOME LITTLE WORLD!!!

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Not a Gnome, but a Gnomad Goddess

I’m 60 Damnit!

Posted: March 11, 2024 in Art, personal journey
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So I did a thing for my 50th Year (see previous post…link below) where I did 50 things. I did things I never did before, but also traveled, saw friends, learned new things and explored. I enjoyed pushing myself to do new things the most!

I took a Trapeze Class in my 50th Year!

Click Below to see “The 50 Things I Did to Celebrate My 50th Year!” https://henderbalz.com/2015/07/

Not only did I go to the Antique Road Show…I got in several background shots on the actual TV show. None of my antiques made it on the show, but we did stump 3 Experts!

For my 60th I want to grow as a human, be a better person, explore myself and the world, and generally improve who I am, inside and out.

I’m 60! I can kick, Stretch and Kick!

These are my ideas on what to do…and what I’ve done so far, 34 days into the year.

1. Travel – Trip to FL to see friends/home: Jan., Trip to Columbia: Feb, Trip to FL to see friends/home: March, Weekend away for our Anni planned: March, Big Trip planning: May June, FL Trip to see friends/home planned – June

Christmas Tree Burning Bonfire Indialantic FL

2 Travel to New Places – Columbia, Feb; Turkey & Greece, May/June

Fort San Fernando, Cartegna, Colombia

3. Regular Massages – So far: Jan , Feb

4. Face masks – feb

Very Sunburn After a Great Beach Day

5. Work out 4-5 times a week: Joined a Gym Jan, Gone 4 times a week: Jan, Feb, March

6. Join social groups – Joined a girls FB group..Girls Gone International: Jan.

7. Meet people on my own – Did a Gb girl group activity: Feb

8. Drink less alcohol – Did Jan/Feb, but go up and down, on a down swing March 8 now

It was my birthday damnit!

9. Drink more water 4 glasses / bottles a day – I have, and still trying to drink more

10. Facials – not yet

11. Read better books – not yet, but read every day

13.  Therapy . Not yet 

14. Tell close friends how much you appreciate them – March: sent out Woman’s day post to nearest/dearest

I Love and Appreciate My Bride Goddesses

15. Figure out other ways to sell my art – Found a cafe that’s interested: March

Note to self …make appt with owners to show them my art in person.

16. Keep on making art no matter what – I have stopped for awhile, but will get back on it (Jan/Feb)

The piece I’m working on. Found seaglass & pottery surrounded by pink air dry clay bubbles.

17. Update book, edit book, look for publishers, literary agent or self publish (Each one of these will be an individual item on my list)

18. Maybe get laser hair removal (if you know you know)

19. Maybe get a skin peel (I’m afraid).

No makeup, freckles, sunspots and wrinkles.

20. Stop unloading on people. It’s kind of negative. If I need, write it out in a journal instead.

21. Stop complaining about people in my life. Again more negativity. Love and accept.

22. Be positive. I always try…but try harder…but not annoying so.

23. Push doctors to help me figure out some health issues that have been with me for years but doctors just ignore.

In for stomach issues.

24. Maybe get a full body scan.

25. Eat better. This one is hard…because in general I don’t eat bad. I do need to lose weight but the only time I really have lost weight is when I went way too low on calories and worked out 5-7 times a week, sometimes twice a day. So maybe learn how to eat better for my metabolism/age.

26. Figure out my hormone levels. I did this in my 40s, but still having some menopause issues (like weight gain/hard to lose).

27. Be a better sister/friend/wife/aunt/daughter. I’m not sure what this looks like, but I am sure working on the sister thing right now! See #13

28. Understand my anxiety better. See #13

29. Play with my cats more. Pickles needs more play and Mommacita always needs more pets.

Mommacita & Pickles

30. Make more quality time with Jim…even if I have to force him! Have more patience with him.

31. Continue to grow my white/silver/grey hair out…but keep on temporarily dying it fun colors along the way!

Pink for now…Teal next!

32. Go Diving and snorkel more.

33. Get better at under water photography.

34. Do more with my photography. Entering photography Contest this week, March.

Contest is put on by the Circo Fest

Sixty is a lot of things…but I will number every trip as 1 item on the final list . I probably won’t number every massage and such, but maybe. I won’t put something on the final list that I really did not accomplish, like unloading on people about whatever is stressing or angering me. That will be hard, but I’m already working on it.

A lot of my list will be done on my own, a lot will be with my partner in adventure, best friend, love of my life and husband, Jim. This month we will be married 17 years.

Love you.

Thanks for taking a trip through…

MY GNOME LITTLE WORLD!

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Sold and Sold!

Posted: January 24, 2024 in Art
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SOLD!

Yes, although I’ve sold my art before, it was not in a gallery, store, or even cafe. It was more like a yard or market type of sale where people wanted to buy for way cheap.

SOLD!

I priced the above pieces at a decent price, but higher than I would sell it for myself because of the high commission the store requires. But with that said, I still sold them for more than I have ever sold anything. The buyers didn’t haggle and just bought them because they liked them! This feels good.

I actually went in to tell the store that they could lower the prices if they wanted, and they said, “Silly, 2 sold already!” That felt so good.

The above two are the more mild out of l the pieces I have in the store. The others have not sold. Yet.

For Sale!

I am so into the super bright, even neon colors, right now and they work in my Puerto Rican Apartment…

Neon Jungle For Sale, together or separate.

But I realize it is not for every home. Should I go more mellow in color for future art to place in the store?

Here is something I just did…

I call it “Cat’s Eye” and it is For Sale.
It is from a series I call “Te Veo” (I See You)

The wood base was found by a tree stump that is being carved. It stared at me and I stared back.

The Assemblage started with bits, beads, bobs, stuff, and yes, with the above cat heads and other micro mini thingies.

Two unfinished…but startling pieces.
Beads & Bits
Shrooms, Duckies & Ice Cream Cones.

I love finding things…and love the process of how they come together.

See what I did to this framed print that I found on the sidewalk in my next blog post.

Thanks for visiting MY GNOME LITTLE WORLD!

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Oh My Goodness…

Posted: November 16, 2023 in Art, Jewelry, Upcycle
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This Happened!

I am now selling my art in a cool concept decor & clothing store in the Condado neighborhood in San Juan Puerto Rico!

If you are in the area, it is called Nifty Cure and it’s on Avenida Ashford near Calle Cervantes!

Squeee! Happiness! Joy!

Now I wait for more of that when one sells! I am manifesting it.

I have to say I think I need to suggest to them how to display my art…most of it needs to be on a wall.

I go back today to bring vintage stuff, some clothing for consignment as well as these cuties I just made!

I can sell from anywhere, so message me if you are interested. My pieces are one of a kind, but I can try to get as close as I can if that is what you want!

Thanks for visiting My Gnome Little World!

OUT of MY Comfort ZONE

Posted: October 9, 2023 in Art, personal journey, positivity, Upcycle
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Yep, I went out of my comfort zone, way out.

Pickles, the Kitty Art Kritic watching me in action.

I did something that caused anxiety.

Pickles, the Sometimes Art Assistant, gives good advice.

Actually, Anxiety has kept me from doing this for quite a while.

Pickles may be a lazy Art Assistant, but look how cute he is!

I feel the positivity/art TikTok algorithm I’m on has helped me.

Love making art with my constantly curious cat, helps the mood!

Art is everywhere where I live. It has opened its arms to me. I want to feel the embrace, I crave the embrace.

I can’t believe he did not mess this up as I was upcycling old bread ties.

To get the creative cradle, one must put themselves out there. I needed to reach and go beyond my limit.

Mommacita, Pickles the Kitty Art Kritic and Sometimes Art Assistant’s Mom, even got in one the art action.

I went way out my comfort zone. It’s freeing, yet terrifying.

No cats, just me and some of my art.

When I know the outcome, I will tell you all the outcome. I have to teach my anxiety, good or bad, it’s all gonna be ok.

Thanks for strolling along with me on this art anxiety walk. Like I said in a previous post, regarding this same exact issue, BABY STEPS!

And thanks to Jim, Randy and Patty for hyping me up and supporting me on this tiny journey.

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I went out of my comfort zone, out of my own self determined box and turned my world upside down. TRY IT, THE VIEW FROM HERE IS FUN!

Big Steps

Posted: September 15, 2023 in Art
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Usually it is a lot of baby steps that create a big step. And some of those little bitty movements feel really big.

— Step 1: We don’t usually use plastic water bottles, but I had a bunch. One day I did this baby step. —

I just had a baby step towards something I really want and inside my core it feels huge. I put it off for around 2 months. Why? Well, that’s for another blog.

— Step 2: Then I curled the edges for some odd reason. —

I am not going to talk about it in detail as I want it to come to fruition before I announce it.

— Step 3: I put one or two cut up & curled bottles on the canvas and played. —

With that said, believe in yourself. Don’t listen to the negatives from inside and out. Do what makes you feel good, but also push your comfort zones. Positivity is key.

— Step 4: I ended up using the smaller canvas. I love this as is. I used a glue gun, so they would not be permanently adhered in case of future changes. —
— My assistant, Pickles is sometimes part of the process. —

I just got big chills after I wrote that. I’m a bit of a sensitive. I feel things. My Mom died in 2021 and after she moved on I started to get these intense chills just at the base of my neck. I knew it was her, now she is telling me she is happy for my little big baby step.

— Step 5: I am so into color, bright fun colors right now, so I knew I had to add something to it. I tried seaglass. Good, but not bright enough.

My Mom always had confidence in me. Way more confidence than I have ever had in myself.

— Step 6: Then I tried plastic fruit that are, interestingly so, filled with water to be used as ice. Who doesn’t love colorful fruit? —

I’m trying to change that, so baby steps are everything. I try not to jump ahead and think of the big picture, just one step at a time.

— Step 7: I then used Dinosaurs and Dragons. It’s so very fun.

It’s kind of like my art. It starts with an idea or even an action, the first baby step.

— Step 8: Then I put plastic beach picks I find regularly in it. I dig it.

It sits and then later I play with it, the second baby step. This may go quickly, or it may be a very long process, baby steps 3 to maybe 3000.

This is now in the Ruminating Stage waiting on Steps 9 to maybe 9000. Well, I already know of some changes…but do you have suggestions?

As in my art, sometimes I reach out for ideas, suggestions, advice on which way my step should go next. Maybe I should do that in life too. And besides just asking the Hub, I should reach out to the professionals in the area I want my steps to lead me.

Getting advice from Pickles the Kitty Art Kritic

My advice to myself and to others is said best in this quote. It was given to me on a magnet from a teen boy I worked with when I was leaving that job for something different.

Do Not Go Where The Path May Lead,

Go Instead Where There Is No Path

And Leave A Trail.

– Ralph Waldo Emerson

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Thank you for visiting MY GNOME LITTLE WORLD. It’s cozy in here and we love visitors.

The Gnomo Abode Guest Room Gnomes!

TRASHION

Posted: July 17, 2023 in Art, Found Items, Travel
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I just learned that word. Trash and fashion=Art? Another phrase for it is Junk Art. Whatever you want to call it, it is art made from what most people would call garbage.

A lot of my art is made with stuff I found for free or thrifted or gifted….but some of the stuff for these projects are downright trashy garbage. The worst of all worse garbage, plastics found on a beach where I wish all Sea Plastics went to die.

(PHOTO: One particular bad plastic garbage day at what I now call “Plastics Beach”.

Last month my hub and I went for a drive and without our knowledge we ended up on what may be the most sea garbage filled beach on the island. It’s in a corner of a bay and the wind and tide seem to go straight to the particular area of the beach. I was overwhelmed with the amount of it all. I didn’t just see garbage. I saw color and I saw childhood laughter. And even though I didn’t know it at the time, I saw potential. That place never left my mind, so much so, we we went back. This time, I was prepared mentally and with reusable shopping bags.

(PHOTO: My sweet husband collecting plastics and beachcombing)

This time to “Plastics Beach” it wasn’t as bad, by “not as bad”, I mean there was less bigger pieces. It was still very bad. I focused on collecting the most colorful plastics. While I was on the hunt, I noticed some big black bags at the edge of the beach in the trees. I assumed they were filled with the beach garbage. This made me feel good, but I also wondered what colorful fun things could I find inside them. Don’t worry, I did not open them. They are destined for the dump for the rest of their long plastic life.

(PHOTO: This is what we brought home in our 4 large reusable shopping bags)

I cleaned every single piece, a lot to be cleaned again. While doing this, I thought of the price of art, even art made from free stuff. It took hours to do the initial clean. I can use old, scratched, marked, broken things for art, but I can’t use dirty stuff with sand embeddeded in it with the potential to smell over time. A lot of this time consuming. Even though, I’m not big on selling my art, I support artists that do and their prices. Oh, I will sell my art, just ask me. Anyway, I recently picked an old frame out of the trash area of my apartment building. Do you see the trashy thing going here? And here is me playing with my idea of art.

(PHOTO: The first juxtaposition of pieces inside of the frame.)
(PHOTO: I almost love this view of the piece better)

I really like it. I go through many processes with my pieces. Here is where I was before creating the one above (mind you it is not done…the things are in a box now), I recently went on a trip to where I got things for cheap or were gifted them. Fun, bright, cheerful things, including beads, miniature stuff, and vintage cabochons, but not limited to that. Here is where I went with those items when I got home.

(PHOTO: I put all the stuffy things together, added items I had already and this is what I got.)
(PHOTO: I love the neon and brightness of this piece and I will make smaller versions of it when I can thrift some fun frames.)

If you haven’t seen my art, besides using upcycled materials, I love texture for the eyes and hands. I love surprises to be found. I love that I see art when others see magazines, belts, twine, and garbage. I love that I can see how to use things in unconventional ways, like beads not beaded, a belt buckled around a canvas, old rough twine in macrame, and torn maps not used for directions.

(PHOTO: My art in my home)

Here are other versions of pieces I may do with my plastic beach finds….

(PHOTO: I love the idea of one or two bold colors. So, yes, I love this small 5×7 piece, but if I do it I will paint the frame a brighter blue.)
(PHOTO: So, I love anything round, circular, spherical, and globular including balls, orbs, globes sport supplies, decor, plastic caps and so on. This piece is a mixture of all found or saved round things. Honestly, I’m notot as fond of this piece.)

Since I’m on this maximalism, lots of stuff in one piece journey, yesterday I was playing more with some of the beads and cabochons I got at General Bead in SF recently (and vintage plastics from a friend there too). Also, I recently have been enamored with miniatures, and bought some while traveling and at a store near my apartment. Yes, new stuff. Ack, but give me a break, they are so cute. Look!

(PHOTO: I Call this “Bunny Bubbles #Yellow)
(PHOTO: See the Adorable tiny Bunny? It is actually what is called an “Nail Ornament)
(PHOTO: I call this “Bear Bubbles #Purple.) (Sorry for the bad photo.)
(PHOTO: But look at the bears…this time 2 sizes!) (Squeeee!)

Okay, before you go crazy making orders and wanting to buy…none of these are made yet! 😉

But I did just paint the large frame, and I am looking for a back to adhere items safely to it. Will update this post when I’m done!

Once again, Thanks for visiting… My Gnome Little World!!

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I live there.

PURGE

Posted: June 24, 2023 in Art
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I feel I need to purge toxic balls of words that come at me now and then. I delete those words a lot, but they come at me again and again. So, I am taking those words, and adding my own in All CAPS AND BOLD. Right Here, Right Now. I feel it may help me purge the word cancer that lives inside me.

The written word sent quickly.

Filled with emotion.

So easy to slap down words with your thumbs, or index finger like I do.

Some bring joy, laughter, love

Some don’t.

We played Nice But What Was Under the Surface? (Painting by Cecily Brown)

I’m placing these photographs to hopefully convey beautiful chaos, lovely negativity, awesome anger, and general all around pretty pettiness that happens in life. Although the photos are my own, they may be of other people’s work.

What is below the layers?
(Store Logo)

Just last night I plunged backward into the sea 7 times to help remove negativity. But yet, negativity keeps on coming. Last night I figured it out, you cannot plunge negativity away, but you may be able to purge it.

I wrote the words. They are out.
Different Pieces together Make a Whole (Street art mural San Juan, PR)
I turned my words into art, Word Art.
And if only we could all accept. (Art in an exhibit at the PR Contemporary Art Museum)
For you to see, but for me only to know. It’s my own rainbow to bare.
So many layers.
So many Complications
It Runs Deep (Toxic pollution in a sidewalk crack)
Let it blur so much it becomes invisible.
Not locking it up nor holding it inside anymore.

If I could throw up emotions, feelings, words, and even memories…I would be sticking a toothbrush down my throat right now. But I can’t, so this is my way of purging them all. I call it art. Some art isn’t pretty. Truth isn’t either.

Thank you for visiting my darker than normal Gnome Little World.

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