12 Days of Christmas

Yep, it's that time again! I have to admit to loving Christmas for the sheer joy gift giving gives me. It thrills me to know I have given the perfect gift to someone. This year i was invited to join a 12 Days of Christmas Swap hosted by curbsidetreasure at AFA. The pressure was on as this swap was invite only and filled with amazing artists. The goal of the swap? To give and get a gift a day from Dec. 14 to Dec. 26. How does it work you ask? Each participant (13 of us so you can open a gift on your day) were asked to pick a day, mine is day 7, 12/20/08 we were also asked to create 12 handmade gifts for the other participants and wrap them beautifully. The gifts are then sent to curbsidetreasure who distributes them to each artist. From 12/14-12/26 we open 1 gift each day. On the 7thday the other artists in the group will open my gift which is an ________ ___________ ___________ (I'll spill the beans after the gifts have been opened!). We were each given clues as to each artists preference so we could make gifts specifically for them, or we could make the gifts all the same. What I did, as well as most of the other artists, was to make the same type of item but personalize it with the artists favorite color. My gifts have officially landed at our hosts home and any day now she will be mailing a huge package to me! Woot! Here is a sneak peack at my wrapped gifties:

Strength!

You are Strength

Courage, strength, fortitude. Power not arrested in the act of judgement, but passing on to further action, sometimes obstinacy.

This is a card of courage and energy. It represents both the Lion's hot, roaring energy, and the Maiden's steadfast will. The innocent Maiden is unafraid, undaunted, and indomitable. In some cards she opens the lion's mouth, in others she shuts it. Either way, she proves that inner strength is more powerful than raw physical strength. That forces can be controlled and used to score a victory is very close to the message of the Chariot, which might be why, in some decks, it is Justice that is card 8 instead of Strength. With strength you can control not only the situation, but yourself. It is a card about anger and impulse management, about creative answers, leadership and maintaining one's personal honor. It can also stand for a steadfast friend.

What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.

I have this weird hangup, one that doesnt really make sense--although I am in love with the work of some incredible collage artists I feel, on some level (for MYSELF) that to be a true artist I must be able to draw. First off, what the fuck is a true artist? How did I get that nonsense into my head? Secondly, why drawing? Why is that the TRUE for of art and collage or photography or mixed media not? See? I am kinda nuts.

BUT, going along with this strange supposition I have enrolled myself in Suzi Blu's Mixed Media Les Petite Dolls class (yes, she's the zany but adorable woman who makes out with her dog on youtube--also a GREAT artist!). I will be the first to admit the idea of learning to draw online is kinda silly, but the class works for me. Suzi makes videos of her lessons, I download them and watch at my leisure. She gives homework and there is a support network on her site to get help from.

I am posting a couple of pics of stuff I have drawn after a couple of lessons. Believe me, this class has not made me into a genius drawer, but my fear of drawing has lessened dramatically. I have even signed up for a drawing swap on atcsforall.com. This is HUGE for me! Anyway, here's to doing the hard and challenging thing...