Wrapping and a Rug

Instead of tagging the boys' gifts, this year I color coded.  I'm sure a lot of twin moms do this when their twins are infants, it helps keep pacifiers in the right mouths and is a courtesy to those who can't tell the babies apart.  Reese was red-baby, Connor was blue-baby.  So this year it looked like Christmas in July under the tree.

While I fell miserably short of my 52 canvases for the year, I took on this last painting project today.  I was tired of looking at the bare concrete, so I painted a rug onto my studio floor.  It's just acrylic and graphite.  It was a fun project, but man my knees are killing me.  I now have the urge to sing the theme from Aladdin every time I walk in there.

Georgia Snowmen

If you got the most recent Cloth Paper Scissors magazine, maybe you have been itching to try your hand at Sue Pelletier's snowmen too.  I finally gave in and broke out the mica flakes. Using only what I had rattling around the studio (and emptying out some syrup bottles) here's my bunch.  If I can stand to part with any of them they may end up being hostess gifts.  I got about 8 snow ball heads out of one little package of Delight paper clay.

The one with the green wings is made from a shot gun shell. It's mounted on the lid of an ammo can.  That one's for Mark.

Now I want some hot chocolate.

Last Call, Aunt Sandy

Well, our lucky winner hasn't contacted me with her mailing address yet.  If I don't hear from Sandy soon I will be forced to draw an new winner for an autographed copy of Mixed Mania.  

Today, a new Beazlebot for ya.

Lucky Winners Announced!

Sandy alias Aunt Sandy - you won the drawing for an autographed copy of mine and Debbi's Mixed Mania!

Julie has won Cate Prato's MM Self Portraits!

Please email me your addresses so I can ship your books out to you!

You can send it to c.prater[at]comcast.net

Congratulations and have fun media mixing!

Prato, Prater, Repartee (not a Latin verb conjugation)

Update: Leave a comment to enter a random drawing for a copy of Cate's Book!

Today I am interviewing Cate Coulacos Prato, aka Vintage Cate, author of Mixed Media Self Portraits, a wonderful compilation of art, techniques and inspiration featuring me, Cheryl Prater, and lots of other great artists you may know.

Is it true that you have the same initials and a similar sounding name as I, Cheryl (Karounos) Prater, co-author of Mixed Mania, now available at all major book stores and online booksellers? 

Yes, Cheryl Karounos Prater and Cate Coulacos Prato, are similar names but that's not really surprising considering we are Siamese twins connected at the Acropolis.  

How much fun was it working with me, Cheryl Prater, for your book?

It was wonderful working with you, as always, especially when I could get you to focus on MY book, Mixed-Media Self-Portraits, instead of your book with Debbi Crane, Mixed Mania, which you were producing at the same time. I especially enjoyed the part where I had to threaten to send Photoshopped pictures of you with Bill Clinton to Mark to get you to meet the deadline.

Cate, why is it that you didn't go with the title I suggested: “Cheryl Prater and also a bunch of her Mixed Media Friends Make Self Portraits and Stuff"?

I was tempted. Really. But aside from Debbi Crane who is also featured, the 21 other artists in the book are not your friends.

Many popular films have been based on books, for example, The Secret Life of Bees is out right now, who do you think will play me, Cheryl Prater, in the movie version of your book? 

Michael Chiklis.

Aside from me, Cheryl Prater, who are your influences?

Cheryl Praton, Sherry Prado, Cherry Potato, and Edith Wharton.

 

Why do you love and admire me so much?  Because we share a Greek heritage? Because I'm so funny and talented? Because I'm co-author of Mixed Mania with Debbi Crane? (I know it's difficult, but due to space constraints keep your comments brief.  Limit 50,000 characters.)

Um. Okay.

Finally, what response do you have to the rumors that your youngest daughter is promised to one of the Prater boys?

I would say, save the date: May 23, 2018. Zeus and the Olympians have already been booked for the reception.

Well, enough about you Cate, let's talk about me for a change.

Sure. Buy Mixed Mania by Cheryl Prater and Debbi Crane. You'll find it at quiltingarts.com and Amazon.com, ranked right below the best-selling book in the category, Mixed-Media Self-Portraits by Cate Coulacos Prato.

Thanks Cate.  As always, it's been a pleasure talking with me.

Don't Hang Up!

You know how you have a friend that you think about all the time.  You plan to call or email them everyday but for some reason you don't.  And then inertia sets in and so much time passes since you've contacted them that you're kinda embarrassed to even call?  

Um, yeah.  Hi!  It's me!  I have a really good reason for not checking in sooner but you'll just have to take my word for it. I'm better. I'm fine.  And no, for those of you speculating, I was not forcibly institutionalized, but thanks for your confidence.

Now that THAT awkwardness is out of the way: This is my 200th post.  So in honor of that nearly missed occasion and the upcoming release of Mixed Mania here's the deal:

Leave a comment to:

1. Tell me you didn't notice I was missing
   
2. Enter a random drawing to win an autographed copy of our book
   
3. Prove that I still have readership (besides you, Dad, and no you can't win the drawing)
   

While alienating and ignoring all of my old friends, I made a new one. You know, just in case you all moved on without me.  Heather wasn't my friend until she reviewed our book, but that's not why I like her.  I like her because she gave us a good review. You can hear all about it as well as listen to Heather's other engaging podcasts here.  

Under the "close encounters with great artists" heading, I barged into Dan Essig's studio in Asheville on Sunday, forcing him to meet me. I had to.  Debbi has been talking about Dan and his influence on her own bookbinding since I've known her. He was busy and as I told Debbi, I was polite and brief and subdued and generally unlike my usual self so as not to embarrass her. 

The shop at Grovewood Gallery has a couple of Dan's exquisite books that they generously let us handle and admire.  These books are beautiful, like ancient reliquaries. The one Mark is holding in the picture below is a dosey-doe.

Finally, the boys turned 13 yesterday.  An unplanned part of the weekend-long celebration was their buddy John breaking his arm at the skating rink --  three hours away from his parents.  The radiologist said that they called this particular fracture of both the ulna and radius the "dinner fork."  Wanna know why?

So that's about it.  Three months away and that's the best I can do.  Oh, and I'm on FaceBook now for those of you who partake.  

Flip through the pages

Last year, Debbi made me a gorgeous book for my birthday. It took me until last week to get the guts up to make a mark in it. Now I can't stop.

This is the doodle on which I based my lino cut.

Then I started practicing my drawing techniques from "Right Side" and drew and watercolored this topiary that sits on my mantle.

Then some doodles and faces and other things, including a cat that looks like the kind of creature Katie Kendrick might draw.

These faces are sort of androgynous, but lean toward the masculine to my eye. These were freehand with a reference.

I have always admired Judy Wise's paintings and tried my hand using one of hers as a reference. Nowhere near the level that Judy works, but it was fun to do. On 6x6 canvas.

This last one is a painting over a collage based on one of the sketches above. I really enjoyed this method. The marks were made with a General Pencil, the kind that writes on glass, drawn over acrylic and caran d'ache on a 6x6 canvas.

Next post: 200