Passion Art

Finally made the leap and opened my Etsy shop ( www.etsy.com/people/janabvargas), listing a few of the collage cards I have been making of late.  Quite taken with using recycled print material, junk mail, magazines, etc to find interesting images, textures, and colors for use in collage, I started a series using postcard style cards with coordinating envelopes, creating a small piece of textured original art that can be used as a card or as artwork.  I have found that I incorporate into everything I make a bit of the message I carry: live fully, live passionately, be present in your present moment, be fully who you are.  Whether I express myself in writing, as with my book, or in art as I have this year - this is what resonates.  In this collection of stamps my friend Carol recently gave me was the quote, "art is a shadow of what a person is thinking", no wonder it comes through because this is what is held in my mind at all times.  As I work through this journey striving to be who I am and live completely and honestly I am blessed to be have the freedom and support it takes to live a creative and authentic life.  I am grateful everyday.

Creating again

My broken arm sidelined me for a while, but really allowed ideas to germinate and my passion to build only to spill over once I was able again.  In between a huge variety of summer visitors and activities, I have begun a series of "Collage Cards".  Pictured here is a collage of the Retirement card series I did for a colleague as I considered how she might spend her week in retirement.  This has led to a multitude of collage card ideas and an explosion of possibilities with this latest medium.  From sets in the fan folders to individual cards with coordinating envelopes, this latest expression allows me to dabble freely and frequently with simple thank you cards, to more involved individualized birthday sets.  These sets will be available through Etsy soon as I build an inventory and expand and explore various methods and materials.