And a couple more...

A couple of weeks ago, I experimented with the bandanna technique of making backgrounds. Today, I decided it was about time to do something with them.Here are the results-

I have finally gotten around to photographing and uploading the completed beach huts piece. I took people's comments into account and then thought about what worked for me. So I added texture in via modelling paste in the sand area and some clouds. I didn't want to add too much to the sky. Then I used the deck chairs to join the beach huts but tried to put them on different planes, so they didn't just lined up. I think the car, behind the palm tree is a bit too small, but that's all that would fit. It would have been lot easier if all this had been planned before I started, but then I wouldn't have had the benefit of everyone's advice! So thank you to everyone for their comments.

Let them eat frogs!

The Burmese government apparently cares so little for its people that it has decided the people in the Irrawaddy delta who haven't yet received any aid, don't really need it. They can live on frogs. ASEAN finds this "regrettable"- an absolutely stunning response, which is bound to shake up the Burmese junta!

Because governments have been so weak in their response to this, I believe the citizens of the world have a greater responsibility to donate and to pressure their own governments to act.

Keep in touch with what is happening around the world through the voluntary organisations such as AVAAZ and Medecin San Frontier. You can also make donations to both. AVAAZ is raising money for the Burmese Monks Association so that they can distribute aid, and Medicin San Frontier works directly with those in need.

Work in Progress

I finally had the time to try one of the techniques we did at the Artjourney Retreat a couple of weeks ago. I did a piece a la Traci Bautista. I'm not sure about it though. I don't know whether to add an element or two or leave well enough alone. So I've decided to be brave and ask for some constructive criticism. What do you think? I have wondered if I should add a black internal border to the beach houses. I also thought about some footprints down to the edge. Never having had any art training, I am always so uncertain about when to stop.

Ban Cluster Bombs

I have lifted this directly from an email sent to me by the activist group Avaaz .

Avaaz.org avaaz@avaaz.org

I'm sure they won't mind as they want as many people as possible to email their governments to sign the treaty. I think that if you click on the link above you can go directly to the letter to sign, but you may need to be a member. Anyway if you think it's important to ban something which aims at causing as much damage as possible to as many people as possible, find a way to contact Kevin Rudd or your local member. As individuals most of us may not be able to make much of a difference but a lot of individuals working together most certainly can.

Final negotiations are underway right now in Dublin, Ireland on a treaty to ban cluster bombs. Arms manufacturers are pushing governments to riddle the treaty with loopholes and delays -- and the final text will be decided in the next 72 hours. Cluster munitions don't just kill during war. They scatter small, shiny, unexploded "bomblets" on the ground that hold their deadly charge for years. When children pick them up, they are often maimed or killed. Most governments agree that these weapons should be outlawed, but back-room pressure is rising to undercut a strong ban. We're hearing the Australian delegation is one of the problems -- so we need to send an avalanche of messages from Australians to Kevin Rudd

Other governments such as that of the USA also oppose this treaty. Make sure your government, wherever it is, knows you want them to support the treaty.

Collaborative Book Page

I completed my page for the Arty Oz collaborative book some time ago but didn't scan a page. I found my extra pages a couple of days ago.

I wanted a retro look and originally decided on an image of Audrey Hepburn. Then I found this beautiful photograph of Marilyn Monroe and decided use it. The idea of using the cuttlebug embossing pad didn't come to me until I had completed the background and thought it just needed something more.

Strangely I didn't connect the diamond embossing with the stone on her finger and the quote until I has completed the page and showed it to my sister, Kathy. It was simply a fortuitous coincidence.