Flight of the Phoenix

Making an Original Diorama

I created this shallow diorama for the Episcopal Bishop of Arizona, The Rt. Rev. Jennifer Reddall to celebrate her fifth anniversary as the leader of the Diocese. Inspired by the Bishop's Cope, a liturgical cape used during special ceremonies, I used recycled materials, watercolor-painted cut paper pieces, fabric scraps, and embroidery to create a unique composition.

Do you know an organization that needs a unique piece of art for their venue? Or someone who needs a unique gift for an event? I’m here to help!

My eclectic style combines vibrant watercolors, cut paper illustrations, and stop-motion animation, to inspire fresh perspectives and help connect people more deeply with themselves, one another, and the Earth.

With a background in marketing and creative consulting, I offer creative & marketing services to help bring visions to life strategically.

Interested in collaborating or know someone who could use my help? Click here to connect.

🎺 Exciting news—I'm available for work!

Do you know someone or an organization who needs their story or message amplified? 📢

Here is what I offer:

🎨 Content Creation: I specialize in developing unique art tailored to tell a brand’s story. I can craft captivating visuals that set projects apart (for events, brands, campaigns, & more). I also consult on strategy to ensure a message has a broad reach.

📹 Animation: Whether it's educational, promotional, or a music video, I love bringing creative ideas to life with captivating stop-motion animations.

🖌️ Illustration: From commissions to book covers to full brand identities, I create vibrant illustrations tailored to your needs.

Scroll down to view examples

(swipe below for more)

A bit about me: I’m an award-winning artist and content creator in Phoenix, Arizona who uses whimsical illustrations and animations to inspire fresh perspectives and help connect people more deeply with themselves, one another, and the Earth.

My eclectic style combines vibrant watercolors, cut paper illustrations, and stop-motion animation, evoking the beauty of nature and human connection. With a background in marketing and creative consulting, I offer creative & marketing services to help bring visions to life strategically.

Interested in collaborating or know someone who could use my help? Feel free to share my work along with my website, contact me here, or reach out via email at amydecaussin@gmail.com

Usher’s Halftime Show | A Review

After having a career as a dancer and choreographer, I have always wanted to blog about the Super Bowl Halftime Show. So this year, I am finally going to do it!

I was excited to hear that Usher was performing at the Super Bowl because I enjoyed dancing to his music when it came out. The show opens with my personal favorite, “Caught Up.” I was surprised to find that right from the beginning, the vocals were really weak. I’m guessing his voice is not the same as it used to be, but it almost sounded like he was already winded before he started. Perhaps the mic that he was wearing wasn’t quite catching the sound well enough, however, I expect such kinks to be worked out by the time such a big performance is ready to take place. If you have heard the song before, you know it is a catchy tune with vocals that give off a rich feel, as you can see below. To be honest, this song never gets old for me. I have and could play it over and over again.

Regardless of the sound quality, the production was exquisite. Usher begins all dressed all in white, clearly separating him from all of his dancers behind him. His dancing was on point, hitting every pop and lock. The choreography was original and fabulous.

To me, what makes a successful halftime show is maximizing the use of such a grand venue. I think it should be filled with performers, lighting, sets and props that match the scale of the space. The performance should be an experience that fills every sense and is a visual masterpiece from every level. What I mean by this is that it should be captivating whether you are on the field, the stands, the press box, flying overhead and from every camera angle you might see on TV. There should be movement and choreography that use the space well and the audience should be left feeling exhilerated. The best performances leave a person feeling so enveloped, that it is almost overwhelming to experience so many emotions all at once.

The first number of Usher’s halftime show was a blaze of diverse performers surrounding him as he made his way across the field. The ladies in the gigantic purple feathered costumes well and truly matched the grand scale of the show. Usher stepped onto a stage platform that was lit with a warm glow of flames with a full marching band backing him up. In my opinion, a marching band is always an excellent choice, especially in a stadium, because that is what they are made for! The audience was fully engaged as they waved red lights in the air and bands of red-lighted banners on each level of the stadium illuminated the entire space, highlighting the full breadth of the show.

The transitions in this show were seamless, never losing the energy as it flowed from one set to the next. Usher motioned to Alicia Keys, whose bright red dress that seemed connected to a massive red fabric flowing behind her made it so easy to spot. She sat at a matching bright red piano, a profoundly colorful sight popping broadly in the center of the dark stadium. The visual aesthetic for this was very well done. As the camera zooms into her up close, you can see the dress is structured with broad bedazzled shoulders draping over her arms, a unique look I would love to have for myself! I think it was here, as Usher came in to harmonize with her that the vocals found more strength.

As the show moved on, Ms. Keys dropped her cape to unveil a red full body skin tight bodysuit. What I find remarkable is that in the era that this music was debuted, there would have been full conversations about her body, and honestly, in her current size, if she had worn such an outfit, it would have been a bit of a scandel. When the music came out, there was a general expectation that one needed to be ultra skinny and otherwise covered up. As a full figured woman msyelf, I drank up Ms. Keys confidently dressed, healthy body. Against the backdrop of nostalgia, a sign of the changing times was made starkly obvious.

Following the elegant duet, Jermaine Dupri came out leading the crowd to “bounce” their arms up and down. This emphasis on the rythm set the tone for the song “Confessions.” I always thought the lyrics to the song are a little off color, but never the less, the song threw me back in time when it was a popular one in my own life. I appreciate the audience engagement, keeping the energy going as the changes in the music took on a more subtle tone. Usher centered himself on the stage which lit up like a clock as he meandered through a selection of some of his slower hits, continuing on the nostalgia train. Meeting anticipation from fans leading up to the day, he tore his shirt off revealing a six pack causing the crowd to go wild which was immediately followed by a dramatic guitar solo by H.E.R., a femenine symbol of strength to compliment his masculine move. At this point, a group of skaters came out on stage, with Usher joining them on skates too. The skates were a fun and different addition as he moved into “O.M.G.” It was so fun to see Usher skating in a circle as he sang.

Usher and his group of dancers moved into an ensemble where they performed on skates in unison creating a sense of wow factor. The white backlighting against the dark blue and black costumes created a an added layer of shadows from each of the performers. At this point, the energy level goes into high gear as Will.i.am pops up in the crowd and starts singing, a prelude to the final song, Usher’s “Yeah.”

When the song “Yeah” began, my heart sunk. I don’t understand how time and time again, the artistic directors make such poor choices for the overall vision. This epic song was expected to be accompanied by a stunning dance performance, but the caliber of the performance was lost to the sea of black and blue costumes against a black and blue set, making it unable to decipher the movements. If I were the choreographer, I would have been truly dissapointed. I think for this type of production, the dancers should have been made to contrast with the background, highlighting the excitment of the dance moves. Perhaps it was a creative choice to help cater to insecurities Usher may have had about his aging dance abilities, but if that were the case, then why was he contrasting in white at the very beginning? And, of all the things worth critiquing, I don’t have any for his dancing! Not only were the costumes dark, but the dancers jumpsuits were composed of large blocks of shapes seemingly put together randomly, making it impossible to make sense of what they were doing. Usher was adorned in a sparkling black and white suit that, at the very least could have been nicely contrasted by dancers dressed in white. At this point, Usher was once again struggling to maintain the vocals, missing words. I suppose the lighted stage provided a nice contrast for those sitting in the stadium, but from the tv angle, it was a bit of a let down.

The energy was high as the show came to a close. It looked as though every person in the entire stadium was dancing. You can hear the sound of the horns from the marching band, adding a festive embelishment, while the baseline carried the production. You could see the stage visibly shaking, and we worried that it was going to give way and collapse. Fortunately it did not. The music stopped at the end and gave way to Usher and friends chanting, an underwhelming end to such a high energy song.

Overall, the halftime show as entertaining with a consistent flow of energy throughout. With the exception of some rough vocals, a lacking visual direction during “Yeah,” and an unresolved ending, it was an exciting throwback to a nostalgic time for those of us who came of age during the rise of Usher.

Concerts on the Desert

When Robert Heyde, the music director at Saint Barnabas Episcopal Church in Scottsdale, Arizona, approached me for the Concerts on the Desert music series for the 2023-2024 season, I saw an exciting opportunity to delve into the diverse themes of each of the eight concerts. 

Many clients approach me for event posters, but in today's dynamic marketing landscape, I advocate for a more comprehensive approach. Beyond standalone visuals, I create a versatile title graphic that serves as the backbone for diverse design assets, ensuring a consistent and impactful brand presence across web, social media, print, and more. 

This approach maximizes the reach and effectiveness of your project, making every design element work cohesively to capture your audience's attention.

Below is how I guided my client through the creative process for this event:

Step 1: Establish a captivating theme

I kick off the creative journey by developing an iconic title graphic (shown above) that serves as the cornerstone for the entire season. This artwork sets the tone, providing a cohesive look and feel for each concert. Quality is paramount during this phase, as the title graphic becomes the foundation for all subsequent promotional materials. The time invested here pays off exponentially as it forms the basis for a range of stunning deliverables.

Step 2: Create a Library of Design Assets

Once the main artwork is finalized, I go on to craft a variety of design assets. This comprehensive library empowers marketing and communication teams to effortlessly integrate custom graphics into various mediums, including web and event pages, email campaigns, social media promotions, as well as print materials like flyers and postcards. Below, you can see examples of the web assets that are part of the deliverables.

Step 3: Season-Wide Promotion

With the title graphic in hand, we launched a season-wide promotional campaign. This not only serves to build anticipation for individual concerts but also encourages the sale of season tickets at a discounted rate ahead of the first event. The large print poster below is just one example of how the title graphic is strategically utilized across different platforms.

Step 4: Individual Concert Illustrations

Building on the overarching theme, I then crafted unique illustrations for each concert. The images below provide a glimpse into the detailed creation process.

By taking a holistic approach and carefully curating a suite of design assets, I ensure that my client gets the most value from their investment. 

If you're looking to elevate your project or event, let me guide you through a process that goes beyond mere visuals, creating a cohesive and impactful experience for your audience. Let's bring your vision to life and make your project a success. 

Contact me here to get the conversation started.

Meaningful Work | An Interview with Canvas Rebel

I recently had an interview with Canvas Rebel who asked me to discuss what it means to do meaningful work. I was delighted to comment on a topic that is so close to my heart!

Here is an excerpt:

We were lucky to catch up with Amy DeCaussin recently and have shared our conversation below.

Amy, appreciate you joining us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

Recently, I left my full-time position as Communications Manager for Saint Barnabas Episcopal Church in Scottsdale, Arizona to focus solely on my company, DeCaussin Studios. My time at Saint Barnabas was filled with very meaningful work that subsequently afforded me many lifelong lessons too.

Saint Barnabas has a reputation for its culture, providing a safe, peaceful space for all different kinds of people and perspectives. The way the community cares for each other and the community at large is incredibly moving, and that deepening sense of connection is meaningful work. This culture, especially with the challenges of our world today, did not develop solely on its own. It is carefully cultivated by the leadership. One core value the leaders focus on closely is the skill of listening. Although there are many topics to be addressed within a faith community, listening touches on all aspects of them. The more you think about it, the more you realize that listening can be difficult. This is where I feel my work resides. Storytelling is a way to break through barriers and help bring a diverse audience to find common ground.

Through my effort to support the mission and vision of Saint Barnabas, I was focused on inspiring the community to see the value in themselves, each other, and their work as disciples. By doing this, it leads them to see abundant hope and endless possibilities. For me, the most rewarding projects were the time-based pieces that moved the viewers to tears. It was being a quiet observer of every contributor to the community, and then reflecting the wonderful essence of who they truly are back to them. Lifting up the community and empowering them was incredibly fulfilling.

My illustrations and animations are a way to open up to new perspectives and ideas. They serve as a tangible aid to developing better listening and connection. The profound effects of this can be seen in a child calmly taking in my work, slowing down to contemplate what they see. Observing this enlightened me to realize the power it can have in supporting the overall success of meaningful projects.

Peace in a Quiet Moment

Some of the most delightful moments in life are the simple ones. Personally, my favorite part of being a Mom is when I am spending time with my young son, outside, with no scheduled agenda or interruptions. This girl is in that moment in time when there is peace and joy in caring for her beloved animal.

Painted in watercolor..an original, one-of-a-kind piece would look great in a cozy cottage core style home, cute rustic farmhouse, eclectic bohemian flat, a child’s room or nursery, or perhaps as part of a collection of unique pieces collaged together on the wall. It would make a lovely housewarming gift for you or someone you love <3

Follow along with me on Instagram: @amydecaussin

Handmade Baby Boy

This special little boy is 5 Months Old! I recently did a little photo shoot with him highlighting a few handmade items that were made just for him. As we love all things handmade, these are not the only gifts he has received, but they are particularly special. You can find more handmade items in my blog post about our nursery.

1. GRANDMA MADE HIS BAPTISM OUTFIT

Shown in these photos are his adorable white romper and bonnet handmade for his baptism day. My Mother, Kay Hofacker and I went to our favorite store in Phoenix, SAS, a local fabric store and selected the white fabric with pinstripes. Mom took to her sewing machine and made this amazing outfit. Needless to say, this outfit will be treasured forever!

Marcel is laying on my baby blanket that my Grandma Great made me!

2. BAPTISMAL BABY BLANKET

On Marcel’s Baptism day at Saint Barnabas, we received this gorgeous blanket made by a group of ladies who get together every Tuesday morning at church to craft and socialize. A special thank you to Shirley Adelmann <3

3. GREAT AUNT HAZEL’S TIME CAPSULE

When we shared the news of our new baby’s forthcoming, my Mother pulled a gift box out of the back of the closet. It had been wrapped and ready for gifting for twenty years and came with a note inside. Around the mid-1990s, my Great Aunt Hazel came to realize that she was losing her sight. Even though I was only a kid, she wanted to plan ahead for the future. So she secretly made this sweater and booties for when I have a baby and asked my Mom to give to me when the time comes. Aunt Hazel passed away in 2006 at the age of 97. My Mom kept her promise throughout the years. In the summer of 2018, she gave me the box. It was like opening a time capsule. There was a special note from Aunt Hazel and these precious heirlooms still wrapped in tissue paper. I was so touched that she thought of me, and so long ago too! Like connecting with someone across space and time, I couldn’t wait to dress my baby up in these sweet items and introduce him to his Great Great Aunt Hazel Braal. She was an amazing person.

And like all proud Mothers, I had to share a few more photos below from our special photoshoot. My husband Cam and I will be married 7 years this fall. It was so wonderful to place Marcel with our wedding photo and marvel at how our lives have grown <3

He is holding a special cross necklace from his God Mother, Sarah Petersen, and her children.

Formal Request to the Tooth Fairy

July 13, 2019

Dear Ms. Tooth Fairy,

I am writing to inform you that on this day, at the age of (nearly) 5 months old, Marcel Frances DeCaussin has two teeth which have appeared.

I request that you add him to the Registry of Children with Teeth for future consideration.

Cordially,

Mother DeCaussin

The Fascinator

Marcel was baptized at Saint Barnabas this past month. It was a very special day. For the occasion, I made the fascinator to go with my dress and I wanted to share this handmade item with you.

I started by creating a base out of felt. I took my wedding veil apart and added the lace from it. (My maid of honor and I made my wedding veil, so it wasn’t too scary to take it apart!) I added hand-sewn flowers I created from fabric scraps. This pink broach was my Grandma’s.

I added pearls from my Mother and some flowers that I painted in watercolor and cut out. We live in Phoenix, so we don’t usually have to worry about the rain too much.

We had many loving family and friends present with us. Rev. Robert Berra even gave a special sermon. We had a gathering afterward and I made my Grandma’s special sugar cookie recipe with little white chocolate boats on them. Everything was water-themed to go with the idea of water baptism.

The fascinator was perfect, and the day was perfect.

Read about Marcel’s handmade Baptism outfit <3

Nursery Adventure

With the completion of our nursery, Cam DeCaussin and I are feeling more prepared to welcome our new baby home in the coming days or weeks. We decided to take the opportunity to make this project a collaboration and treat it like an art project. So we brought our two styles together and each contributed our creativity to make the nursery a special place for baby. We had a lot of help from my parents, Kay and George Hofacker (who came to visit from Michigan) putting the space together and tons and tons of contributions from friends and family. Our community at Saint Barnabas has especially played a huge role in supporting us. Most of the furniture was given to us by other parents and almost everything in the space was either a gift, or something we made.

My Mother made this rabbit and bear special for baby. We picked out the patterns and fabric together. Our favorite place to shop whenever she comes to visit is SAS Fabrics in Central Phoenix. Love and support from far and wide–the fox was made by Jo Gage, a friend from the arts community in Grand Rapids, MI where we used to live who shipped a bundle of stuffies to us.

This original illustration was created just for our baby by one of my closest friends, Clarissa Krajewski. She used pen and watercolor to draw a scene of adventure.

The changing station was given to us by a family at church. My Dad stripped the wood and together with Cam, it was painted and treated with tongue oil and new feet were added to the bottom of it to give it a more modern look. My Mom made several covers for the changing pad and I layered them with changing pads in between, so when they need to be changed, the top layer can just be removed and another one is already on it.

We were on a road trip when, in Yosemite, we discovered that we were expecting. Along with our theme of adventure, we have illustrated posters from Yosemite (where he was “discovered”), King’s Canyon, Sequoia and Grand Canyon National Park, all places we have enjoyed traveling to. We had a lot more need for storage, so we purchased this credenza on Craigslist. Cam added the legs to give it a more modern feel and he painted the drawers tiffany blue. The nursery is shared with our bedroom, so I needed a place for my jewelry box too. The lace under the jewelry box was made by my Great Grandma. We added the plant to help soften the lines in the space.

This blanket is oh so special by Wildship Studio, designed by our close friend Bree who we went to art school with. This is such a special gift to us. The crib was given to us by another family at church and Cam transformed it from black to yellow.

I created this illustration diorama special for my baby. All of the parts in the picture are drawn, painted, cut out and placed in a three dimensional space. Then it was photographed and finessed in Photoshop. This large print was then placed in a frame and hangs above the crib. You can view this illustration in full detail here.

As the midwives at Babymoon Inn, (where we receive our care and plan to give birth) requires the first 5 days to be spent in bed, having our bedroom and nursery in one seems like a great set up. Having a new baby is all new to me, but the best adventures are had in unexplored territory 😉

Speaking of adventures, Cam and I have had a lot of opportunities to travel. We’ve been to the Rockies, Patagonia, the Mogollon Rim, and even whale watching just to name a few. We printed photos from many of our trips to hang near the bed–I feel this will be so nice to have to look at during recovery. The wood frame was given to us by a friend who was cleaning out her house. We tore off the very worn canvas and weaved twine across it. I’m happy with how the photo collage turned out. We added a shelf above our bed and slid our wedding photos over to make room for our new maternity photo taken by my Mom on South Mountain in Phoenix. You can view our maternity photos here.

Cam built the light himself using parts from Ikea and the shade is a basket that he flipped over and modified.

Inspired by a piece I created for Saint Barnabas for Community of Hope, (a program that provides lay led pastoral care to those who need it) we added delicate wood embroidery hoops to the walls. I drew leaves with micron pens and painted them with watercolor. Then I cut them out and glued them to the hoops to compliment the straight lines and embellish the “green natural” feel in the room.

Who knows what adventures we will have with the addition of Baby!

Cam built this hanging blanket ladder using wood dowels and twine. There are so many special blankets hanging on it. One is made by Cam’s sister Kris, one is by a close friend and professional seamstress Wendy Raisanen, my baby blanket made by my Great Grandma and one made by my cousin Sara. The table is a basket with a boppy pillow inside. I added the fabric weaved into it to brighten it up. The glider was also given to us by a family at Saint Barnabas and I sewed the yellow and red flap over for some color. The hot air balloon in the top left corner was a centerpiece at our baby shower handmade by Cam’s crafty sister Kris 🙂

Here is a close up of Wendy’s adorable “Bear Lake” blanket.

I put together a nursing station with snacks and burp clothes hand sewn by my Mom. I wanted something that could easy be removed so I could get inside our basket of pillows easily, but I didn’t seem to have the ideal thing. The next day, I walked into work and on my desk was a gift box from a family at Saint Barnabas. It had an adorable outfit in it and a baby book. This box seemed like just the perfect container!

So here is a great story: I asked my Dad to raise the glider stool up a few inches and he thought it would be great if it had wheels on it so it could be moved out of the way even if I had my arms full with Baby. So he went for a walk through the neighborhood and came across an old bed frame in a back alley. Within an hour of his absence from the house, he walked back into the house with four perfect wheels in his hands. We were all in awe of his resourcefulness, even though this type of inventiveness is so typical of his character. The wheels work perfectly.

This Cuddle + Kind stuffy was another gift from a family friend. What is so cool about these little critters is that with every purchase, 10 meals are provided for children around the world who are in need!

We got one of those hi tech baby monitors with a camera and our big plant makes a great hiding place!

Ok ya’ll–the due date is February 7th, 2019. We’ll see how it all goes! And we can’t wait to announce his name 😉

Maternity Photos

I didn’t think I wanted maternity photos, because they didn’t seem necessary to me, but toward the end of my pregnancy, I started to realize that this is a special stage in my life and that it might be nice to capture it. Still set on not making it a big deal, I asked my Mom if she wouldn’t mind taking a few photos when she came to visit from Michigan. So one night my Mom, Dad, and my husband Cam and I drove up to the summit of South Mountain. It was a very cloudy day and had been raining–unusual weather for desert-set Phoenix, but we were determined to make the best of it. Both Mom and Dad took some snapshots and while the light wasn’t great, we were grateful to have the photos. We were about to call an end to it when suddenly, the sky opened up and this amazing sunset appeared right at the very end. The whole sky turned pink and the rain over the valley caused a great rainbow over Phoenix. Yes, the rainbow was completely real and not Photoshopped as I was later asked. We were so pleased with the results and had a really great time enjoying a special family moment. All photos are by Kay Hofacker.

Choosing from our photos, we created this New Year postcard to send out to family and friends.

Why Stories Matter

In this talk, John Green touches on an idea that is close to my heart:  Using stories to escape mental illness.  I completely understand what he is talking about and I think it is a wonderful technique.  It may seem like it is a way to avoid problems you are having, however I viewing life through different characters is a way to get out of your head and gain new perspectives.  A new point of view can inform other parts of your life, including difficult challenges you might face–like OCD or anxiety.  The magic of storytelling–it is an important tool to living life to the fullest.

Amy DeCaussin specializes in content creation, cut paper art illustration and animation.  View her work here, amydecaussin.com.

For creative projects contact Amy: amydecaussin@gmail.com.

©Amy DeCaussin All Rights Reserved.

Behind the Scenes of Cactus Living

A few months ago, I devoted some time to a project called “Cactus Living.”  This is a behind the scenes look.

The inspiration behind the project stemmed from my constant desire to be out in the middle of the wilderness.  I love being on a trail (or off the trail) in the mountains, or on a boat in the water, soaking up my surroundings and filling my soul with creation.  I especially like to be as far away and secluded from civilization as possible.  There, I can clear my head and find peace.  I also wanted to do a project that took advantage of the Arizona landscape.  This project included nature and macro photography–which I LOVE.  Ever since I was a young child, I’ve loved the idea of creating tiny fictional worlds deep within the woods.  I used to write stories on that theme, climb trees, play with dollhouses and day dream. What fun to revisit this!

The process began in the studio.  I created the house out of paper was painted with watercolor and embellished with colored pencil.  I added scraps of paper to it, glued and sewed different parts to make the whole piece.  The colors were chosen based on what I thought would contrast well with the colors in the mountainous landscape.  The house took multiple days to create, but once it was complete, it was time for the adventure to begin.

I drove to South Mountain with enough time before sunset to scout for a good location. I parked the car on the side of the road and went walking onto the terrain.  Once I found the place I wanted to shoot, I went back to my car to get all of the equipment. This included my camera pack, the fragile paper house in a box and a big bottle of water. As predicted in Phoenix, it was hot.

A big challenge was realized as I began to settle into the location.  I wanted the house to sit on a cliff with spectacular views of the sky at sunset.  I ended up working literally on the side of a mountain.  I easily slid down the rocks.  I would grab onto a rock only for it to break lose from the ground and fall.  The way down was about 40 feet to the road below.  Trying to prop myself up while holding the camera took all of muscles and energy.  I had no idea that the task was going to be so physical.  I appreciated the flexibility I have from my background in dance when, at one point I laid backwards a rock backwards, shooting the scene upside down.  Since I am not native to the southwest, I had no understanding of the danger the cactus can pose.  I brushed up against the cactus several times only to learn just how damaging they can be.  At one point I panicked, afraid I wasn’t going to be able to pull the barbs out that were deep into my skin.  Everything worked out, but it definitely caught me by surprise!

I think it was about 40 ft down to the road.

On top of the physical challenge, shooting at sunset is working against time. The color changes with every second and there are many angles to consider. As I packed up “camp” and left, I felt exhausted, but accomplished.  I was able to capture what I set out to get. I walked back to my car only to find a ticket on the windshield. Apparently I didn’t park in a designated area. Note that there are no parking areas on South Mountain that have signs designating them as such. Unfortunately, I had to pay the fine. The price you pay for adventure.

Although it was a big challenge, I’m proud of this project.  I learned a lot too.  I learned that I may not want to create something quite as three dimensional in the future, but allow the watercolor to be the central focus.  I still think that any excuse to go and enjoy the natural landscape is a good excuse. Through all of the challenges, it is so rewarding to look at the images and perhaps be transported to a little fantasy world.

Life: Love & Collaboration

Life is about love and collaboration. John Green says it so well.

“Everything will be easier, if you see yourself not as the protagonist in your own heroic journey, but instead as a collaborator in a massive sprawling humane epic.”

“In the end we’re making humanness up together.  It’s a collaboration.  All of these so called horrors of adulthood emerge from living in a world where you are inextricably connected to a world where you must listen.  Those conversations are how we are going to get through together.”

And getting through together is what life is all about.  Life is about building relationships.

Joy in the Rain

For this illustration, I painted individual patterns along the same color theme to create the different papers that make up the umbrella.

No Fear

This collage illustration is very personal to me. A struggle with fear stunts growth in my life and work.  In the last year, I came to realize just how all of my fears were holding me back. I have been afraid of what people think, making decisions, creating art, letting my art be personal, including human characters in my art and even talking with others about my work. And these are just the fears on my list that pertain to my art!  Creating this piece is part of the effort to cast away my fears so that I can move forward.

Truth be told, our fears hold us back, whether you are aware of any fear you might have, large or small.  Whatever negativity you hold inside of you will hold you back from being more amazing than you already are.  It is important to acknowledge those concerns and find ways to overcome them if you want to grow in your life. Identify your fears, think of a way that you might work to overcome them, and take action. You don’t have to take giant leaps, like jumping out of an airplane. What you are trying to accomplish may require smaller steps that build towards an end goal over time. Adding a small habit to your daily routine, such as a prayer in the morning, or writing in a journal at night can be a wonderful way to slowly work on overcoming your fears. For me, making this piece of artwork was attacking much of the problem in one project, but I have many techniques that I use on a daily and weekly basis that address my fears step by step.

The process of creating this has been cathartic. I forced myself to make decisions in the composition and color palette. I chose the subject of water, because it is one of my favorite things, adding a layer of comfort to the idea of facing fears.  My fears tend to go away when there is a sense of adventure and exploration to be had. This piece embodies the essence of that enchantment in the natural world–my favorite place!  Just imagine everything that is possible when you let go of fear!

This illustration is on masonite and has an acrylic paint base. Ink, cut paper, colored pencil and watercolor on paper are added. The goggles are sewn onto the character’s face.

This piece was promptly sold following this blog post :)

The Welcoming Committee

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Bowers Holiday Tradition Cram-o-Rama

Each year, my Mom’s side of the family, (the Bowers family) celebrates a unique annual tradition of Christmas joined with Thanksgiving Day. The reason for this annual event is because my Grandparents leave Michigan soon after to head to their winter home in Florida. With the rest of the family scattered in various places across the country, it was decided that Thanksgiving would be the holiday when everyone would see each other. Part of our celebration is the annual Secret Santa activity. Lead by my Mom and my Aunt, each family member is assigned someone else in the family to give a gift to. Unfortunately, for Cam and I, we will not be able to fly back home this year.  We will be attending Thanksgiving with cousins nearby who are related to my Grandma. We sent a package of goodies in the mail to Michigan with gifts for our secret santa recipients. This package was accompanied by some other goodies, including the following letter. Like a spectacle-clad duck at a cocktail party, it was written to be both formal and funny (although some of the humor may be lost on an audience that goes beyond family):

Dear Family,

Congratulations! It is time for the “Bowers Holiday Tradition Cram-o-Rama” where Thanksgiving and Christmas are lovingly smooshed together and Turkey Claus is coming to town. Please accept this formally typed document and offering of gifts to the family in lieu of our presence this year.

Thanksgiving in Arizona will take place at the Parsey residence. Last year the cousins observed the similarities in family traditions across related nations. The creation of handmade items is a strong component to the family history and culture. Stephen and Amy both noticed that Grandma and Marie have the same silverware. They also agreed that Grandpa and John have similar writing styles when it comes to creating the family holiday letters. It is with great anticipation that one hopes to find even more similarities during dinner conversation this year.

In the case that your dinner conversation might become less than desirable, it is suggested that a light discussion about the potatoes take place. Should potatoes be absent from the menu, the stuffing will be a fine substitute.  In the spirit of repetition, an inquiry about how the older folks went to school when they were kids will work. One could also ask one of the youngest present to tell a story. Another great topic is “who put Grandpa on Facebook?” Really, though, somebody should ask, because Amy really wants to know.

Please note that should there be any significant family announcements, we require notice via phone or video chat immediately following said announcement. Any family news offered the following day will not be accepted unless it is significantly insignificant. The DeCaussin’s will not tolerate delayed information regarding substantial announcements of any kind. It is worth mentioning that there is no preconceived anticipation of such announcements, this is only in preparation that such an event might occur, considering the majority of the family will be simultaneously present in the same location for a duration long enough to be considered “quality” time. This paragraph satisfies Amy’s need to always be planning ahead.

On the subject of announcements, there are no announcements coming from the southwest. Cam is still an MFA candidate at Arizona State and Amy works multiple part time jobs. Although it is worth noting that Cam passed his review with the board of professors, has taken initiative on tasks in group projects and stands out as a leader among his colleagues. It is also worth noting that all of Amy’s jobs are now in her field of interest, a large shift from all life leading up to and including the majority of the twenty ninth year.

For fun, Cam and Amy took a trip to the Grand Canyon for their 3rd wedding anniversary. Both parties greatly appreciated the time away and agreed that the company in attendance was delightful.

The fluffy one known as Mikey is still present in the DeCaussin home. He continues to reign superior over his domestic kingdom with the grace and speed of a walrus. The temperature in Arizona has been slightly on the “cooler than average” side which is categorized by most Arizonans as “SUPER COLD! LET’S GO INSIDE!” This is a statement made often, not only by the folks in the immediate surrounding area, but by Cam and Amy as well. Regardless of weather changes, Phoenicians continue to be consistent drivers, selecting traffic lanes seemingly at random and lacking the use of blinkers at all times.

Complements to those who have read this far down the page. Your fourth grade teacher would be very proud of you. Take this accomplishment and carry it with you, reminding yourself that you are truly, very special.

Sincerely,

Cam & Amy

A card for my grandparents featuring my Grandma’s very special Black Walnut Pie.

A gift card for my cousin.

The Mini Violin

I started playing the violin when I was eight years old. Learning to play demanded lots of focus and discipline. I have a weird obsession with repetition.  If I like a movie or a song, I will watch or listen to it over and over again. If I write something–anything–a story, an email, even a text, I read it several times before moving on. When I was coaching a dance team, I think my students knew I was notorious for making them “go back to the beginning and do it again.”

As for the creation of this piece, I am exploring a more focused direction in my work, recently. I am very interested in creating work that integrates watercolor with collage and three dimensional elements.  I have always had an obsession with miniatures and photography. I love macro photography. This violin is only about two inches tall and made out of watercolor paper, painted and cut out. It is hand sewn together.  The strings are made of fishing line. This style is the direction that I am planning to take my work in.  Stay tuned! –pun initially unintentional, but definitely intended.

Happy November

Happy November! I created this little table scape with cut paper. I also included hand painted watercolor, machine sewing and embroidery. This piece was photographed to create an illustration diorama. I’m looking forward to Thanksgiving!