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The Art Machine

10.03.2019 by Barbara Grant //

Cigarette-size painted block

The first time the Oddball Art Machine was presented to the public, we were there!

My grandson inserted a five dollar bill and out came a cigarette pack-sized block with a poodle painted on it! The first work of art he ever purchased by himself 🙂

It was so fun to be included with the other artists participating in this fund-raiser, some of whom have been my friends for many years.

I’m so impressed by the way they have continued to make their artwork and meet weekly as a group – all while working day jobs and raising families – very disciplined! And best of all, they bring this creativity to the community by sharing their fun energy with the city of Elgin.

Presently, they are gearing up for a scary halloween celebration. If you click on this link to their blog you’ll see delightfully creepy artworks: Hub of Weirdness.

Oddball Art Labs is a non-profit artist based organization created to advance the presence of the arts in the Fox Valley and greater Chicagoland area. It specifically works to build individual artist recognition and to create opportunities within these communities for artists to show their work through various ways:

  • Hosting art shows
  • Featuring artists of the month through various social media platforms
  • Building relationships with local galleries and area businesses
  • Providing resources to artists in preparing grants and putting on their own shows
Oddball Art Machine

Categories // Limelights on my friends Tags // art community, cigarette machine repurposed, halloween, pups

Dandelions & Dogs

09.12.2019 by Barbara Grant //

A big treat for Roxy & Ringo is to visit the doggie park, but it’s a bit of a drive so it doesn’t happen as often as we’d like. When we get a couple miles away they know their dream has come true; they can smell it! I love watching my pups run free and play inside a fenced and safe environment.

  • Roxy & Ringo at the Doggy Park
  • Roxy & Ringo at the Doggy Park
  • Roxy & Ringo at the Doggy Park
  • Roxy & Ringo at the Doggy Park
  • Roxy & Ringo at the Doggy Park
  • Roxy & Ringo at the Doggy Park
I made this painting referencing a photo I snapped of them playing in the snow last winter. I was longing for spring, so I transformed it into "Dandelions & Dogs" with lots of green!
Dandelions & Dogs

I made this painting by referencing a photo I snapped of Roxy & Ringo playing in the snow last winter. I was longing for spring, so I transformed the white into “Dandelions & Dogs” with lots of green!

Categories // Creative Process Tags // dog park, happy pups, painting of dogs

Whirlybird

04.11.2019 by Barbara Grant //

Whirlybird

My friend Marilyn is a talented watercolor artist. She’s sort of a perfectionists, though, and sometimes when she messes up she throws her paintings away. I’m the type who saves everything just in case I can make it into something. So I tell her, “Don’t throw away that good paper; give it to ME!” Well, this is one of her throw away birds. I cut up the paper around the bird and saved it for the center of this piece. I think this red bird is adorable! I can’t take credit for it’s body – that’s Marilyn’s work. (*See more of her wonderful paintings here 🙂

Categories // Creative Process, Limelights on my friends Tags // artist friends, Repurposed artwork, sharing, Whirlybird

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