Saturday, May 12, 2012

Hodge Podge and Thank You

Donna Watson, Acrylic and collage

I am leaving for NYC very soon... my son is graduating from Columbia University with his Masters of Fine Art degree.   He has been living in NYC for several years and is in the Davidson Contemporary Gallery in Manhattan.  You can go to the gallery link here to see more of his work.

Matthew Watson, oil on copper, 6"x6"

I have been very fortunate lately to receive a number of wonderful gifts in the mail... and in person... from artists I have met in person or through my blog.  I want to share some of the creative artistic gifts here.  I have met some very generous friends and I want to thank them for their support and generosity.

  First up is Elizabeth Bunsen.  She is into circles and dots like I am and she sent me the most fabulous packet in the mail.. filled with all sorts of fabric and papers stamped with circles and dots.

Elizabeth also included some of her wonderful rocks... she knows I love rocks and collect them.
Her warm colorful dot and circle filled blog can be found here. 

Lynne Perrella sent me the most creative envelope above...  a large envelope inside a plastic sleeve with the stamps placed outside in the most amazing way.   I had a lot of fun opening up such a wonderful envelope.  Her website can be found here. 


Leslie Avon Miller is a good friend of mine.  She recently gifted me with one of her beautiful hand made tags...  and a clay Asian coin made by a friend of hers ... which she knew I coveted.   You can find more of Leslie's tags and collages and art work at her blog here


Cathy Hegman sent me a bird's nest some time ago.  Thank you Cathy for such a wonderful gift.
Her blog can be found here.    Mary Ann Burke lives on the east coast.  We met online through my blog and when she came to Seattle for a ceramic/clay event she came to visit me.  She gifted me with these large clay 'eggs' because she knew how much I admired them.  



Seth Apter came to the Seattle area (Bellevue WA) for one of his wonderful book signings for his book THE PULSE OF MIXED MEDIA.  He gave me one of his wonderful art works above.  

  
Seth also gave a short demo of one of his collage works.  You can find out more about his book, his book tour and travels and his art at his blog here.  

What we make, why it is made, how we draw a dog, who it is we are drawn to, why we cannot forget.
Everything is collage, even genetics.
There is hidden pleasure of others in us, even those we have known briefly.
We contain them for the rest of our lives, at every border we cross.
--- Michael Ondaatje

35 comments:

Emma said...

What special gifts from your friends. It is a gift they have to understand what is special to you.

Renee Howell said...

Thanks for sharing the wonderful gift photos. I'm going to come back and view their blogs when I have a bit more time. Maybe tomorrow morning! Love the dots and circles!

susan bowers said...

What beautiful treasures Donna. Isn't lovely to be wrapped around with so much creative support and energy. I have been drooling over your last couple of blogs enjoying your art and the work of others you have shared. Will enjoy taking some detours into places you have linked. In particular love the quote from Michael Ondaatje who would be one of my favourite authors. A gorgeous quote to cover your beautiful LAYERED collage work. Overlaps and crossing borders ... Delicious.

ZenDotStudio said...

what a lovely collection of treats. Have a wonderful time in NYC. Going to check out your son's work. Exciting times, another artist in the family and a graduation.

Valerianna said...

Great work by your son... !

And, what a great collection of gifts! I've been thinking about doing a post of gratitude myself for all the wonderful packages I've recieved from bloggers. Isn't so amazing? I was just thinking the other day how incredibly generous bloggers are. I then thought about how we offer up our artwork and process and spend time crafting these inspirational blog-spaces and how that is already generous. But then there are give-aways and surprise packages in the mail just because. It got me thinking about it... and still am. Its a wonderful co-inspiring, co-generous ( made that up) community that I had no idea about two plus years ago. I feel gifted in so many ways from it!
Thanks for sharing all your goodies and for awknowledging blogger generosity - its really quite something!

Ms. said...

Hey--bon voyage and have a wonderful life--but I only just found you (thanks to Valariana) a short while ago, and will miss seeing your posts. Hope you will continue.

Ms. said...

Chalk it up to eyesight, but I just realized your are coming to NYC, not leaving it. Well, that's where I live and so, perhaps there will be more. Your son, by the way, is an amazing artist!

Tammie Lee said...

congratulations with your son!
awesome to see the wonderful gifts you have been receiving, they are quite artful. Wishing you a wonderful trip ~

Jill Zaheer said...

What a treasure trove of enormous proportions of beautiful gifts you've received. Thanks so much for sharing them. These artists are so creative and generous. Congratulations on your son's graduation! It will surely be a wonderful mother's day for you.

Lisa said...

lovely gifts Donna...and the best I'm sure is yet to some when you travel to NYC for yours on's graduation.. what a joyous occasion!

Leslie Avon Miller said...

Congratulations to Matt, his family and his parents. It takes a village...

Friendships, artful gifts...they make the world go round.

mano said...

your sons work is really impressive - you can be very proud of him. congratulations!
friends are so wonderful - the gifts are great!
enjoy your trip to NYC!

Teri said...

What detail in your son's work. The subject matter he chooses certainly expresses a realism about what we see every day around us and sometimes cringe. This makes such a statement and elevates the status of "people" to another level....love all the gifts you have received lately. How lucky you are! There is just nothing like opening up the mailbox to find wonderful gifts like these. It is one of my favorite parts of the day when I go to the mail box. Have a wonderful time in New York. Fun that you got to meet Seth too. I had hoped that he would get down this way but he will not.

eb said...

such fun
in sending out
circling
always
round
and round
again...

xox - eb,

ELFI said...

les artistes, le net, une grande famille..j'apprécie toujours tes billets qui sont magnifiques!

Barry said...

D-so many wonderful goings-on. Congratulations to your son - talented work - you must be filled with love and pride. The artist and blog world never ceases to amaze - such wonderful people willing to give and share such tiny treasures it is good. May your trip to NYC be filled with joy. Go well. B

Lynn said...

Congratulations to your son.
What wonderful items you've been gifted with. That spirit of creating and sharing is so uplifting.
The Ondaatje quote is perfect.

Andrea Wedell said...

I'm really enjoying your blog posts. They have so much depth and generosity of spirit. Thanks for sharing your gifts for all of us to enjoy. Andrea

Laura said...

Wonderful gifts and enjoy your travels to the east.

anca gray said...

such rich
outpouring
of beauty
and love.
thank you
for drawing us in
to the celebration!

mansuetude said...

You are lovely and deserve

your son's talent is mind boggling to me, the series at the gallery very emotional powerful.

enjoy your celebration trip.

Jo Murray said...

very special treasures from your friends. Seth is a treasure too.

Seth said...

Such a pleasure to meet and spend time with you Donna. Your family is loaded with talent and I hope one day to meet your son since he is in my neck of the woods. Enjoy all those wonderful gifts and your trip out East.

Sweetpea said...

Happy Trails, Donna...may it be everything you're wanting and more.

Fiona Dempster said...

Travel safe Donna and enjoy your family time together - with pride in your son's achievements. The blogging word is a sharing, generous place I find, and the joy moves around the globe...

Petra Eller said...

Beautiful gifts from your friends. I wish you and your family a wonderful time in NYC '. Certainly it is very exciting and you may be proud of your son. I'm happy for you.

ArtPropelled said...

You must be very proud of your son, Donna. His work is extraordinary! Lovely to see all your beautiful arty gifts.Enjoy your trip!

Lucky Dip Lisa said...

Good things happen to good people Donna!

Donna Iona Drozda said...

What a proud Mama to have birthed such an exceptionally talented son...and how proud he must be of all the beauty that you bring to the world...a dynamic duo for sure!

Ya know...that adage...'what goes around, comes around' fits so well for your gorgeous post...

but of course... you would receive abundant treasures from so many of your gifted friends...

look at all that you give to us, so continuously, through sharing the view seen by your voraciously attentive artist' eye.

Thank you so much Donna...and your closing quote is STUNNING!!

Kathy Johnson said...

Donna,
Your trip must have been wonderful on many levels - seeing art in museums & galleries and, of course, Matt's graduation. Talk about gratitude....to receive so many nice gifts in the mail!
Kathy

nancy neva gagliano said...

"there is hidden pleasure of others in us"..."we cannot forget".
generosity of spirit abounds, going out and coming in.
and Matt's paintings are extraordinary. my goodness, such precision together with humanity, feeling.
no wonder.
he was a gift from you.

rivergardenstudio said...

Dear Donna, your gifts are so lovely, I can see how dear they are to you, and how dearly they were given!
roxanne

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