I have to admit, I love getting snowed in. It helps me focus on getting so much done for the Talismans exhibit opening March 15. Having a fire in the wood-stove and my husband home for days on end made it an extended Valentines week. As I write this, our 1/4 mile driveway is still impassible. My husband, on his favorite toy, mowed the drifts (my idea, since we do not have a plow) His car got out to the end of the driveway before it drifted over again. A few days later he delivered  a cheerful bouquet by tractor.

Snow was too tall, so he mowed it with the tractor and bush-hog.

Snow storm flowers delivered by tractor from dear husband.

Meanwhile, in the studio I started on three new collages. The light radiating from snow makes the perfect non-shadowing light to paint by. The energy of  Prime, on the wall above the brushes, by paper artist Col Mitchell inspires the process. She and Marcie Scudder, yogini and photographer,  are my accountability partners. In our call I set my goal to finish these by our next call. Along with being snowed in, accountability helps keep me focused.

Watercolors for Talismans for Earth and Water

Watercolor elements on Talismans for Earth, Water, and Fire on the right, doodles on the left

I have finished Talisman for Air, which I will write about soon. If you guessed that the next collages will be Talismans for  Earth, Water and Fire, you are right.

Starting to place watercolor elements on Talismans for Earth, Water, and Fire

View from the north window with paper beads that haven’t found their purpose yet.

It was so fun to create these rainbow colored paper beads with scripts. The idea I had didn’t work out, so they are resting until their time comes. Yes, I was becoming a bit distracted by taking a photo tour of the studio. But hey, I had time on my hand being snowed in.

An unfinished bridle decoration, longing for Nantucket in July, inspiration from Sulamith Wulfing and the Dalai Lhama.

The catch-all corner.

This is an area of the studio that is in constant flux. It’s duties range from being the shipping department, the framing department, a secondary collage station, adhesive area and cutting corner. The  paint station is an indispensable piece of furniture that I can hardly remember not having. It first served as my kitchen table when I lived in a school bus. The top is enamel, the two sides can be up or down, it has a great little drawer and two shelves. When my kids were toddlers, my dad made the swinging door that can be locked, and ever since then it has stored my paint. Oh, and it is on wheels so it travels all around.

View from the studio with Talismans for Eastern Bluebirds on the central wall and a few talismans on the wall to the right.

Scale is deceiving. Talisman for Eastern Bluebirds is in a 20 x 20″ frame. It’s a style I love, a Neilson brushed gold molding with a very deep profile that accommodates the beaded artifact. You’ll have to see it in person at  MS Rezny Studio/Gallery to get the full affect. The reception is March 20.

Recent bead necklaces that await identifying.

There is so much to do to prepare for Talismans, like creating the identification tags for these new necklaces. One blessing is that they were photographed by the incomparable Sam Johnson, just two days before the winter vortex hit, so I have files to work with.