This is my brain on hyoids...

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Good golly -- ya know, when I chose to write "how to" articles, I really need to consider my penchant for well -- fiddly detail -- when I decide on subject material. Oy! Between other projects, I'm working on the head sculpting series because I figure I need to get this rolling a year in advance. There's a whole process and sequence that has to be worked out, let alone written about! And right now, I'm working on the hyoid bones in the head in terms of text and sequence. However, what strikes me -- now -- is that at roughly 1/12 scale, what size are those tiny bones and teensy muscles going to be? Teeny weeny, that's what! Yet they are important features for an artist to know, even though they do lie within the head. This may seem counter-intuitive, but the hyoid apparatus actually is important for horsemanship issues, and if an artist wants to sculpt riding that doesn't hurt horses, well...she needs to know about the hyoids. Especially in this day of modern riding that appears to abuse the hyoids with wild abandon. I'll just keep reminding myself of this when I actually have to sculpt those puppies and I feel my sanity start to slip away...

Anyway, aside from this, I'm in the midst of editing trip photos and sundry other things -- hang tight for a trip log! I had a nice distraction this weekend though -- went to Art in the Park with Mom and a gaggle of buddies. In a word, Art in the Park rules. I love art festivals, and I gotta say -- this one is definitely one of the best! So many amazing, inspiring works! Here are some examples:
Batik art (The birds, especially the ravens and herons, are my favorite)
"Artimals" (How fun is this?! I got myself the blowfish t-shirt!)
Scratchboard art (These pieces have to be seen in person to be believed!)
Art glass (I love the organic look of these pieces)
Fun garden stuff (Love the rusted finish!)
Lovely mosiac mirrors (Love the polka dots!)
Pottery (I love the rustic "relic" feel of these pieces)
Fused glass fun (Love the insects!)
Gorgeous braided leather goods (Does a miniature horse count as a "long tailed dog?")
Super cool didjeridoo musicians (I bought two of their CDs -- hypnotic! To me the didjeridoo sounds like the sound of time and eternity itself -- I've always loved it. One of my favorite tracks has the didjeridoo set against Buddhist chanting from Tibetan monks. Didjeridoo and Tibetan monks. Two good things that go better together!)

And loads more! So much inspiration and novel ideas! It was a welcome boost to my "arty mojo" as I contemplate diving into stockie again! And boy -- the ideas swimming around in my head beg to made real soon. I really must engineer time to materialize them. Art in the Park also a culinary delight, too -- introduced Mom and Hubby to Basque croquetas. Talk about decadence! Wow! They're dollops of sin and oh-so-good!

"The most important source of inspiration for painting ideas is our own lives...and what we like most." ~ Jack Dickerson

This is my brain on hyoids...

Corn Dogs and Kettle Corn

Hazzah! It's September! That means it's BAM Art in the Park time! That's my Mom in the blue T-shirt and hat, and Hubby, of course, on the left.

We look forward to this intoxicating immersion into arty chaos every year, to again marvel at how clever the creative mind can be! The crowds were out, the weather was beautiful and the vendors had lots of eclectic and inspiring pieces for sale. The festival is a fund-raiser for the Boise Art Museum (BAM), so we always make a point to buy something, although we typically cart bags of unique loot home, regardless. So we ventured out among the tents, well supplied with our ritual sustenance -- me with a wad of fresh roasted candied almonds, Mom with a piping-hot "Pronto Pup" corn dog (with lots of mustard!), and Hubby with a bag of fresh popped Kettle corn.

This year was a particular thrill for me since I got to meet one of my favorite modern artists, Will Bullas! YES---he was there! I shook his hand! He was so friendly and fun! I'm enamored not just with his artistic style, but also with his sense of humor, of course. I bought three prints from him, and he graciously personalized them with dedications. What a hoot! Another highlight was a man who created outstanding "paintings" with inlaid woods and mother-of-pearl, depicting scenes right up my alley -- koi with lilypads, mantarays and sea turtles in ocean scenes, flowers and vines with butterflies and all sorts of critters, in a realistic style, but with a touch of art nouveau, too. You can see his work here, but you really have to appreciate it in person.

I love art festivals -- not only as a feast for the eyes and senses, but also to gain inspiration and ideas for my own work. I always come back with my brain swimming in new directions, with new concepts and renewed energy! It's also good research to see how other artists package their work, and how they present themselves, then watch how the crowds react to them, and their work. It must be exhausting having to be "on" all weekend, and in that heat...my hat is off to them! Although all this does light a fire under my hiney to get my tile press up and running in full force...

"When any one of us is aligned with our purpose, there is an inexhaustible source of energy. Once you're aligned with your purpose, the energy is always there to do whatever you need. You never get tired, and you do everything with a sense of joy. It's actually effortless – it's a flow." ~Dennis Kucinich

Corn Dogs and Kettle Corn