Art museums online

I found this wonderful video today, all about Google's new Art Project.  You can now see the art of 17 international museums online - up-close to the tiniest bush stroke, if you're so inclined.  That's the work of 486 artists in 385 gallery rooms!  See more at their website here.

A sample of what you can see up-close:

The Birth of Venus

Sandro Botticelli

Uffizi Gallery, Florence, Italy

I've been crazily distracted lately, helping my daughter plan a semester abroad.  I'll even be going along to introduce her to some relatives she's never met, and I haven't seen in decades.  Stress!  But happy stress!

I'm so sorry for not posting here for a while!  I'll be back soon - I promise!

Portraits, masks and other obsesions

Mblo portrait mask

I'm obsessed lately.  I react to so many things that I see or hear about with an "Ohhh, I want to do that!"

I'm obsessed with painting a portrait just right, and then painting the dozens of other ideas that are floating in my head at any given time.  I'm obsessed with Tumblr.   I'm obsessed with Facebook and blogging, and trying to work on some new ideas in textiles and sculpture.  And now I'm obsessed with portrait masks.  

I want to do it all!

I also want to visit all the wonderful bloggers who have been leaving comments and e-mails.  I will do my best to get back to you soon, but in the mean time I'd like to share a wonderful video with you.  I first learned about Margaret Fabrizio a few months ago, when I saw a video about her fabulous quilts.  She is an amazingly accomplished woman who has been a concert pianist, world-traveler, artist, writer and free spirit.  She is my new role model for so many reasons!

Margaret has a number of interesting videos on YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/user/atree3), but today I'm totally in love with this one about the portrait masks she made several years ago.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

I also just love the cover of this book, too.  Don't you?

currently available from Amazon here