Got up early and spent the entire day framing and packing pieces to go to Miami. "Thicket" looks awesome framed... I wish I could keep it here and look at it for a few days....
This piece and another required special framing because they have a medal sewn into the paper with hair, so I had to make color coordinated spacers to keep the paper surface away from the glass. Been listening to "The Age of American Unreason" by Susan Jacoby while working (thanks, Sarah!), and it is really good/frightening, though it is not necessarily a revelation... if Obama doesn't win, I am convincing my husband to move to Europe.

I am off to Fed Ex, then return home to embroider veins.

"Thicket", 2008, gouache, collage, hair, medal on colored paper, 24 x 18".
(click any to enlarge)

Still not happy with the pics. will shoot on the camera stand tonight, and send it out if I am still not happy. Losing lots of subtlety in the painting, and the colors not accurate or as intense as they are in the painting. I redid the medal, and it is still not right. I think the tie-in with hair worked in this drawing, but does not work in this instance, because the hair is too light. Will remove the ring, and sew the top of the medal to the paper with hair.

Trying to work from an especially intuitive place these days, without asking too many questions. That place is leading me to guardian angels, roses, thorns, martyrs, relics, Virgin Mary Blue, red, hair, light, framing devices, ovals and circles, playing with picture planes...

Amended medal attachment: