The Surprising Art I Didn't Know I Was Making

Sometimes we make art without knowing it.  Back when I did more traditional painting with acrylics, I used a glass palette.  It was 9 X 12 piece of glass that was stacked on top of a piece of white foam core and taped around the edges.  It fit perfectly inside a Masterson Sta-wet pallete box.    I never liked the sta-wet thingies...they moved when I mixed paint and reminded me of diapers.  I found if I spritzed water on the acrylic paint on the glass palette, it would sometimes stay workable until the next painting session.  The advantages of this glass palette is I could scrape it down with a straight edge razor and start fresh. Sometimes in the cleaning of the palette I would see beautiful artworks.  

This morning, in a discussion in the Marketing group in the MAIDA Dolls Group, I realized that the sites that I write and organize ARE part of the art I make.  I have spent a lot of time feeling frustrated that I am not making "real art" in the form of actual objects.  And all the while I have been nurturing these other artworks - an informational site on Izannah Walker Dolls, a more general site on Making Antique Inspired Dolls & Accessories, and a place where doll artists can connect and encourage one another. 

I want to take the time to acknowledge the art I didn't know I was making. I would like to be able to make big gestural works like this.  

But for now, I'll enjoy the surprising art I didn't know I was making. 

I may get some of these printed up in poster form.

AND

~ Dixie Redmond