Damaris, The Gutter Artist, creates, "What Matters"

June 16, 2018
Art-4-Art ATC Swap
Lyons Regional Library
Every 3rd Saturday

Title: "What Matters...."
Artist: Damaris (aka, The Gutter Artist)

Medium: Heavy tan paper; moldable foam stamping using stone impression and rainbow stamp pad; black Sharpie non-bleed pen; Faber-Castell PITT artist pens, big brush, multiple colors.

Text: Copyright 2018, Zinette #13, Lyons Memorial Labyrinth, Individually Signed Edition of 24 Cards

Inspired by Lab #23, from the book, "Print and Stamp Lab: 52 Ideas for Handmade, Upcycled Print Tools," by Traci Bunkers.

Back prior to numbering edition of 24 cards

Architecture and Death, Alexandra Van Orsdale

"A project that uses as its starting point the fact that death is inevitable and that coming to grips with one's mortality is an essential part of living an authentic life. Such an exploration is important at any stage of life but becomes increasingly poignant as one ages and approaches one's own end." 

See video here:  https://vimeo.com/18012018

The Gutter Artist, Lyons Regional Library, Art-4-Art

Facing Down Dragons of the Deep

Title: "What Kind of Day Is This?"
Artist: Damaris O'Trand
a.k.a., The Gutter Artist
Medium: Finetec Water Colors, Germany

What's Done
Is Done
First Day
Last Day
Only Day
Every Day's
A Good Day

Are the wounds too deep?

How many sleepless nights must be embraced before the truth is told?

How to move forward?

Something bad happened, cruel, beyond measure.

Secrets only whispered, but never shared aloud.

Must this be faced alone?

How many silver tears must fall in silence before a frozen heart can be healed or mended?

What must I let go of?

How many deadly dragons remain to be slain before enough blood's shed to satisfy the Gods?

For what am I responsible?

For what must I atone?

Am I at fault?

Can I be blamed for having been taken hostage by circumstances not of my own making?

What am I holding onto?

There's only one sure way to be free of dragons: Accept the gift of being loved and know what's done can't be undone, but a secret once told no longer is one.

The Gutter Artist, ATC Swap, Lyons Regional Library

Damaris, The Gutter Artist, says, "Practice, practice, practice."

Title: "Join the Revolution"
Artist: Damaris
Medium: Yarka (Russian) Water Colors
Resources: Tumblr: The Near Sighted Monkey; Book: "The Magic of Mess Painting" by  Virginia Barclay Goldstein (1999); Book: "The Creativity Mobilization Technique" by Wolfgang Lythe (1976); "Cultural Amnesia: Necessary Memories from History and the Arts" by Clive James (2008).

Damaris, The Gutter Artist, invites you to join the Lynda Barry Revolution

The Gutter Artist Finds a Side-Kick

This month's ATC's (Artist Trading Cards) are morphing into honoring Lynda Barry, Cartoonist extraordinaire. She is one of the finalists (again) for the Reuben Award, which will be presented to the winner May 26, in Philadelphia, PA. I know I should list the other nominees, but I'll just link to the Comics Super Blog and let you find out for yourself: http://smashpages.net/tag/awards/

Just posting into the void. The Gutter Artist Out.

Damaris, The Gutter Artist asks, "What Kind of Day Is This Anyway?"

The Gutter Artist commits to having a good day, no matter what, no matter what.

Damaris, The Gutter Artist, explores "Disco-Very"

Artist Trading Card Swap
Lyons Regional Library
March 17, 2018
Title: "Disco-Very"
Artist: Damaris
Medium: Torn art papers, glue, Willow Paper, 80 lb, on Sienna Cardstock

Text: Zengo from book:
"Shodo: The Quiet Art of Japanese Zen Caligraphy" by Shozo Sato