Mary in Aya's Mole

Madonna and Child with the friendly Breezes

 Turner Acryl Gouache

Why was I in a Hurry?

 pen and watercolor

Down the rabbit hole

pen and watercolor

Sweet Treat

Pitt Artist's Pen

This is my collaboration with Mike Kline and an open collaboration for Steve or Aya. (So far just by me.)

Alice and the White Rabbit

 Watercolor and Pitt artists Pen

May I present the White Rabbit

 Turner acryl gouache

The Mad Hatter and the Cheshire Cat

 watercolor, pen and marker

Chines Shadows--the Rabbit

 after Ferdinand du Pulgaudeau

Keith as the Caterpillar from Alice in Wonderland

Pitt Artist's Pen, collab for Steve Spetseris

Happy Holidays--back of envelope

 Acryl Gouache and Faber Castell PITT artist pen

front of envelope--I'm not the Easter Bunny

Acryl Gouache and Faber Castell PITT artist pen

pocket items, small cards

Mary in Aya's: "I dream someone is drawing cards that will determine not only my dreams, but also my future"

"I dream someone is drawing cards that will determine not only my dreams, but also my future"
by Mary Stebbins Taitt
water color, pen and ink

This is my last piece in Aya's Mole this round.  (I really had this dream!) Yet to do is one or more pocket items and the envelope.  I was going to start the envelope NOW, but the top is stuck on the gesso and I can't get it off.

We have NO power at home, and slept at the studio last night.  The internet here is unbearably slow, and we don't have a smart phone, so I won't be online much until we get our power back at home.

As part of a dream yesterday morning, two small children were turning back and forth from kids to a snail and a slug and ricing through hot soapy water.  It was nerve-wracking to watch/dream!

Mary in Aya's: I Dream I need help securing a prisoner

I dream I need help securing a prisoner
by Mary Stebbins Taitt
in Aya's Moleskine

I got new pens and failed to test them for water-resistance--they SAID they were water-resistant but were not!  DUH!!!  I messed up--should have tested them.  They drew really nicely but bad when water added.  I do that intentionally sometimes, but in this case, did not want the ink to run.  I would have painted over the lettering but it would have been a disaster.

Collab for Mike

So, I have one more to do and I will mailing this off to Mike.  Sorry about the big delay with Ballookey's--I was having difficulties getting a good picture for my book.

Mary in Aya's--the Dream fish coming home

The runaway fish return to their tank
by Mary Stebbins Taitt
watercolor and pen and ink
5 x 8

I dream that the free-ranging fish must be back in their tank before dawn or they will die.

Mary in Aya's: I Dream the fish swim out of their aquariums at night

I Dream the fish swim out of their aquariums at night
by Mary Stebbins Taitt
in Aya's book

I did this tonight, September 2nd, but accidentally put the wrong date on.  This is a real dream I have.  Or, used to have repeatedly.  Haven't had it recently (I no longer have an aquarium; that may be why.

Also, I finally mailed Ballookey's mole to Mike.  Sorry it took so long, was having scanner and camera issues.

Andrea and Mary in Aya's: Breathing underwater

Breathing Under Water
collab Andrea and Mary
click to view larger

I have not mailed Ballookey's mole to Mike yet, because I have spent several days trying to get decent and usable scans or photographs, which I need for the book I am working on.  But last night, I did my first piece in Aya's mole, a collab with Andrea.

in Aya's Moleskine: Mary's Nightmares

Nightmare:  The Lion
Click images to view larger

Mandala in Earth Tones

Half a husband
1st half of a collab for Mike of Biker Buddy

We have out-of-town company and I am sick.  When they are sitting around talking and drinking, I keep them company in my nightgown doing art.  I have completed my work in Aya's Moleskine, and will send it on to Mike.  Soon, will let you know when I do.  Obviously NOT today, since it is Sunday.  Also, I'm so sick it's hard to get to the PO.  I already made 2 too-big pocket items, so I may something smaller.

MIKE, feel free to darken and thicken the lines and make it more graphic.

In the nightmare, which woke me up in literal terror, I was at the coliseum watching the lions about to eat the Christians when one of the lions spotted me in the stands, bounded over the wall and up over the seats toward me.  He was coming for ME.

The mandala was done primarily with pens given to me by Hennie Mavis (Heidi).

In Aya's: Nightmare: When you get him home, he's not what he seemed

Nightmare:  When you get him home,
he's not what he seemed
(Glass eye, wig, wooden leg and silver nose.
Click image to view larger
Faber-PITT pigment pens
+watercolor

I started working in pigment markers, because we have company and I didn't want to get out the watercolors, water, brushes, palette, etc.  They went out, and I switched water color--I have to say, I like water color so much better.

Collaboration with Andrea: The Moray Eel App Nightmare

The Moray Eel Nightmare
Andrea Martinez & Mary Stebbins Taitt
in Aya's Mole
Faber Castelle Pigments pens
Click on the image to see it MUCH larger

We have out of town company and after dinner, they decided to play poker.  While they were drinking and playing poker, I did art, if you can call it that!

I've been painting so many Moray Eels that I am starting to have nightmares about them.  Even innocuous dreams morph into something terrifying!

Arrove: Aya's Mole in Mary's entryway and Garden

The arrival of Aya's Mole
cell phone shot

Sorry about the crappy cell-phone shot.  Looking at the pix in the mole as always is such a joy and they are so much better in person than on the blog, although they are nice to see there, too!

A small bit of bad news of sorts, the two pocket items I made for Aya's pocket were made for the larger size mole and as they are 7 x 10 inches, a good size the bigger moles, they will never fit in her pocket, so I either have to mail them to her directly or enclose in the next mole, to be removed by her when that mole gets around her.  WHICH should I do?

I have to let you know I am still sick AND we are having out of town company for the weekend, arriving today and staying through Monday.  Dunno whether I'll be able to do any art or not.

For Aya's Pocket: Goat rowed his boat With his friend Stoat

Goat rowed his boat

With his friend Stoat watercolor, arches 140 lb cold-pressed paper 7 x 10

"Goat rowed his boat

With his friend Stoat" San Cassimally, painting by me, for Aya's pocket.

I painted the boat and the stoat (weasel) with a small koi waterbrush and koi paints from my field kit, because we have company coming and I didn't want to make a big mess, then I got everything out anyway and painted the rest with Windsor Newton paints and one BIG round brush.

I'm hoping to make a kids' book for my grandson.

Mary in Aya's: half collab for Gretchen and pocket item

Sakura pens

Benny and the Xenotarsosaurus, Benny and the hyenas,
Benny and the Skunk, Benny and the Crocodile.
3 in acrylic andone Artrage digital painting.
For Aya's packet,
because all my main 4 pix for her are from (for) this book.

Okay, this completes my visit with the lovely Aya and her lovely Moleskine and I will be mailing it to Gretchen as soon as I can.

Mary in Aya's: Q is for Quetzal, J is for Jaguar

Q is for Quetzal, Quetzalcoatl, and quail, J is for Jay and Jaguar--these are acrylic sketches in Aya's book.


I have to do the first half of a collab and a pocket item and I'll be ready to mail to Gretchen.

Mary in Aya: Benny and the Rhinoceroses

Benny and the Rhinoceroses
Acrylic and watercolor

Mary in Aya's: Benny and the Iguana

Benny and the Iguana
Gouache

Aya's book headed to Claudia

The remaining full pages in Aya's book. A pencil drawing of Ginger (Aya's pup), some silly blobby doodle creatures in ink and watercolor, and some more folded-up naked ladies (this time it's Aya, from her 365-photo project). I swear, I won't fill anyone else's mole up with nakedness (unless you want!); I just know Aya is ok with it, and figure I should sneak some in now!

Also: hereby promising to ship on time from now on.

awkward self in Aya's book

I swear I will get this in the mail on Tuesday, Claudia! I apologize that it's a week late!

Collab w/ Aya in Aya's book

I don't know if I'll add more to the white space or not... I think I like it as is. Aya's drawing was so lovely, I hated adding anything at all!

Selected an Owl, tho I'm a Turkey!

I've already confessed directly to Aya that I am shamefully behind on Ellen's book, which I swear, swear, swear to finish over the holiday weekend. As if to punctuate that plan, Aya's Mole arrived from Ash! It seemed only fitting to open the mailing pouch in my local cafe, since much of her work is created in a cafe near her.

Her book gave me entertainment while I gulped a hot cup of coffee, between a 5 mi. walk w/friends & my yoga class. I may be creatively sluggish this month, but at least I'm fit & healthy, HA!

Puzzling me, however: wasn't I supposed to get Anders' book first? I thought Aya's book would be my last one before my own Mole returns, but I don't think I've seen Anders yet. Something else to look forward to, then :-) Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Makin' Money - also in Aya's book

Ever since I saw an article about the prop money created for the long-since cancelled TV show Firefly, I've wanted to design my own currency. These were my first effort, printed on 16lb vellum, and I've started including them in the book pockets along with the stickers and trading cards.