LANA, ARE YOU HOME?

The city of Wallace, Idaho recently celebrated the 100th birthday of one of their most favorite daughters, Lana Turner (or aka Julia Jean Turner).  I am going to guess there may be a few people reading this not familiar with Lana, but she was a famous (and also somewhat infamous on occasion) actress whose popularity was predominantly  in the 40's and 50's. She often played the part of a good girl gone bad, and sadly, life often imitated art in her case. Despite fame, hers was not a life to envy, even from her earliest years. After winding up in a foster home in California, she suffered abuse as a child, and like so often happens, that pattern of abuse followed her into adulthood.

 Lana Turner

Her childhood home still stands in Wallace and several years ago I took photographs of the house 'just because'.  I loved the style of the home, reminiscent of something you'd see in the old south.  Any grand ideas this home may have had though, have long vanished. 

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a wee bit of my art . . .

"BUT, DO YOU THINK SHE MEANT IT?"

4 x 4" Mixed Media Collage 

comes with a stand for display

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 CLOUDS OF THE DAY . . .

INAUGURATION DAY 2021

See the Eagle in the sky? This was our sky over Ajo the morning of Jan. 20th.  I don't think it could have been any more appropriate!

Shortly before the Eagle flew in . . .

'IN THE EAGLE THERE IS

ALL THE WISDOM OF THE WORLD.'

~ lame deer

BYE!! SEE YOU IN THE SPRING!

WELL, I'LL STILL BE 'HERE'.  I JUST WON'T BE IN IDAHO!

WAVING GOODBYE TO THE SNOW,
SAYING HELLO TO THE SUNSHINE.

THE BACKSIDE OF LIFE:  JIVIN' TO THE MOONBEAMS'

18 x 24" Collage on wood 

for more information on this piece Please click HERE

'just sayin goodbye in order to take on a new adventure'.

~ me  :)

LITTLE SISTERS . . .

The Little Sisters are at it again ...

"I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU SAY.
 I KNOW GRANDMA LOVES ME BEST."

"UH, OH.  MOM'S NOT GOING TO BE HAPPY!"

Both Pieces are 8 x 8 and come nicely framed.  They can be found on my Website HERE under Figurative.

A Sister is like yourself in a different movie, a movie that stars you in a different life.

~ deborah tannen

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Instead of Clouds of the Day ...

Let's try the Teleidoscope again.  These two photos I took with the camera, held up to the lens of a Teleidoscope, viewing one of our evening fires.  Every breath the flame takes creates a totally different scene.  I find these fascinating.

Charleen

DREAM A LITTLE DREAM FOR ME . . .

'WISH I MAY, WISH I MIGHT'

'EACH IN THEIR OWN DREAMS'

Both Pieces are 6 x 6" Mixed Media Collage

(Sorry.  I forgot to photograph both of these until after I varnished them so unfortunately neither photo is as clear as it should be)  :(

For more info Please click HERE

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This is an old Hotel/Bar in Wallace, Idaho (currently for sale ... and it has been for a very long time).  Obviously, from the photo of the outside that you can see above, it doesn't look like anything special. The inside though is a little more interesting. The bright turquoise surrounding the mirror behind the bar is a mosaic made up entirely of tiny glass tiles.  A touch of flamboyance and color in another wise pretty non-descript room.  When you look in the mirror you can see the rest of the barroom ... rather plain.  Maybe that was the idea ... when you sat at the bar and looked in the mirror you got to be framed in diamonds and sparkles thus making you be the most important person in the room (and enjoy your bar time even more?).  O.K. Maybe that's a stretch but you have to admit, it does pull your attention that way.     

                                    And, this too, was someones dream . . .                                                                                              

FOR BROKEN DREAMS, THE CURE IS DREAM AGAIN ... AND DEEPER.

                                                                        ~ c.s. lewis

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CLOUDS OF THE DAY . . .

                                                              ~ photo by Indy Behrendt

Not too much to see in these clouds, except maybe rain, but the Rainbow at the end of the road is certainly worth a smile . . . and a wish.

Charleen

SMILE FOR ME. PLEASE.

TEN FOR SOME SMILES . . .

SMILING MOON, DANCING PEARS

12 x 12" Mixed Media Collage on Canvas

THE PEAR FAMILY:  EIGHT IS ENOUGH

12 x 12" Mixed Media Collage on Canvas

BOTH OF THESE ARE CURRENTLY AT ENTREE GALLERY 
IN NORDMAN, IDAHO

more information can be found on my website
www.charleenmartin.com

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EVEN WHEN SOMEONE WE LOVE IS FAR AWAY,
REMEMBER, WE ARE ALL UNDER THE
SAME SUN, MOON, STARS AND SKY.

JUST LOOK UP.

.

CHARLEEN

AT THE MARKET ...

AND A LONG DAY UNDER THE SUN ...

THE BASKET SELLER:

LONG DAY AT THE MARKET

12 x 12" Mixed Media Collage on Canvas

Another of my sisters Series.  Interestingly, when I recently brought some of my newer pieces into one of the Galleries I'm in, the owner was surprised, and pleased, that some of these newer pieces were on white backgrounds.  She had recently been in a Gallery back East and saw some work done on a white background and she said she thought to herself " Why doesn't anyone work on a white background anymore?"   Voila!!  There I was!  :)

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We went camping this past weekend on the St. Joe River here in Idaho.  Overall we had beautiful weather ... a little warm (95ish) and the skies were a little smokey from the fires  :(  in the area, but we had a spot right on the river so why would I complain?!  :)  I did get some great reference photos for future paintings too.  :)  (And for my Artist friends, please feel free to also use them)

This is evening over Black Lake as we headed for the St. Joe.  Smokey, but beautiful nonetheless.

Another scene from Black Lake

This is the old guy in our family.  Well ... in dog years, he's the same age as I am so I guess, really, he's just a Spring Chicken!  :)

I followed this fellow down the River for a while until he could get into places I couldn't!  My presence didn't seem to faze him one bit.

Some flowers from the old Train Depot in Avery, Idaho.  They also have a very nice Fly Fishing tackle shop there that serves the best Ice Cream!  :)

I think the photos over Black Lake can serve as cloud photos for today.  :)

"When I am no longer rapping, I want to open an Ice Cream Parlor 

and call myself Scoop Dogg".

~  Snoop Dogg

CHARLEEN

IN CASE YOU STILL SEND CARDS ...

JUST A FEW SAMPLES OF MY MIDNIGHT SERIES NOTECARDS ...

I am going to be discontinuing my line of Midnight Series NoteCards.  For those of you familiar with my work, then you already know I have two lines of cards ... ArtCards (5 x 7 single panel cards very suitable for framing) and the Midnight Series NoteCards.  The Midnight Series are on black cardstock (white writing space inside) and include Birthday, some Sisters, and other General Occasion themes. These are handmade, and because I will now be spending half my year away from 'this' home, access to doing these will not be readily available. I will miss them ... they've become like extended family.
:( Anyway, I have marked the inventory that I have left down to half price ($2.00 ea.) and when they are gone, they are gone. If you are interested to see the choices left just click  HERE.  They can be purchased right through the Website.

The Midnight Series are also 5 x 7" and can be framed

 

"My spelling is Wobbly.  It's good spelling, but it just Wobbles

and the letters get in the wrong places."

~ a.a. milne

SUMMERTIME ... WHEN THE LIVIN' IS EASY ...

LET'S START OFF WITH A SONG.  :)  

SUMMERTIME ... AND THE LIVIN' IS EASY.

I LOVE ELLA FITZGERALDS SOFT, SMOOTH VOICE.  THE ABOVE LINK IS JUST ONE OF A FEW OF HER VERSIONS OF THIS SONG.   IT STARTS OFF SLOW BUT THE TEMPO PICKS UP.  GREAT TO READ THIS BLOG BY!  :)

THIS PIECE OF TWO SISTERS REMINDS ME OF SUMMERTIME ...

TWO SISTERS:  WHEN MEMORIES ARE MADE

12 x 12" Mixed Media Collage on Canvas

For more information on this Piece Please Click HERE

'A SISTER IS BOTH YOUR MIRROR ... AND YOUR OPPOSITE.

~ elizabeth fishel

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I did a few more Pourings.  These may not look like it, but they actually do take a bit of a thought process.  :)  There is an unknown element due to the viscosity and weight of each color, that, unless you use the same brands and colors consistently, the final outcome will still be a surprise.  I'm still in the experimental stage (and may always be! :) so, even with a plan, I have a nice element of surprise with each Pouring I do.  

FLAME DANCE

10 x 10" Acrylic on 1.5" deep Canvas

NIGHT BENEATH THE RED SEA

10 x 10" Acrylic on 1.5" deep Canvas

_{More information on both of these can be found} 

HERE

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CLOUDS OF THE DAY ...

Can clouds read . . . ?

Charleen

LAUNDRY DAY!

THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT CLOTHES HUNG ON A CLOTHESLINE.  REMEMBERANCES OF A SIMPLER TIME . . .

'WASHDAY CONVERSATION'

12 x 12" Mixed Media Collage on Canvas

For more information on this Piece Please Click HERE

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SHARING SOME FLOWERS  . . .

Fuchsias that fell off and were floated in a Wine Glass
(I love the color!)

I'm including this rose just so I can tell you the name of it ...

It's called 'Mustard and Ketchup'

It's a little hard to see but the new petals in the center are a mustard yellow.

Someone had a sense of humor.  :)

"I must have flowers, always, and always ..."
                                    ~  Monet

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CLOUDS OF THE DAY . . .

These Clouds seem a little Spiritual, don't you think?

CHARLEEN

TO DREAM, OR NOT TO DREAM ...

HOW ABOUT DREAMING IN COLOR?

IF THE NIGHT CAN DO IT WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO ...

THE NIGHT DREAMS IN COLOR

6 X 8 Acrylic on wood panel

For more information on this Piece Please Click HERE

Did you know that approximately 80% of people dream in color, that the color is usually more to the pastel shades, and ... those of us that wake up and can remember specific colors from our dreams are usually people who are more attuned to color during their daytime life.  Like maybe Artists?  :)

'All of our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.'~  Walt Disney

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New 4 x 4" Mixed Media Collages

I decided I wanted to work on some smaller pieces when we are on the road.  Paintings would probably be the easiest but for some reason e a sy is a word I seem to neglect more than I should.  I decided to work on small, fun Collages and below are some of the results.  The actual artwork is 4 x 4" and then adhered to a heavy watercolor paper (7 x 7").  They can easily be matted and framed, or even better, at Michaels they have 8 x 8 frames with 2 glass inserts so the artwork can be centered between the 2 pieces of glass.  This way the whole piece shows, including the deckled edges of the watercolor paper.

'No limit on smiles'

      

                           "What do you mean,                         "Let's ride!" 
                      we're out of chocolate ...?"

                                          

'A prickley situation'

 In my March/April Newsletter I talk about our visit to Jerome, Arizona.  The whole town lines both sides of a fairly high switchback road for several blocks (or, several switches :).  The old car in 'Let's Ride!' sits permanently outside one of the many great shops up along the main road.  If you have never been, it's an interesting place to visit.  Just make sure to bring good walking shoes and a walking stick!

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CLOUDS OF THE DAY . . .

This was one of our night sky's over Ajo.  Besides just being a beautiful Sunset this one almost seems to be talking.   Wisdom.  I hear wisdom.