Here they go, ready or not…..

The new work has to be delivered to the Gallery Uptown for the April exhibit.  Time to stop playing and get the hanging hardware on.  I may do a little tweeking after that but they have to go out the door this week.

I have a variety for the hanging committee to choose from.  The one above is 8”x8” and I have 2 more similar, same size and 3 that are 4’'”x4”.  And I have some stitching that needs to be finished up today.  Here are two of those.

This one is almost done

The exhibit opens Friday, April 4.  Reception 5:30 – 8, if you’re close by come see the rest. 

Still Evolving

Remember last week, I really didn’t like the way the piece was going.  Well, it’s back in play.  I still don’t’ know where it will end up but I’m liking the turn it took.

First, I removed some of the black and the cream color with alcohol.  I didn’t think I liked acrylics but I’m loving the look of texture that results by rubbing it away.  I also like that it can be rubbed away.

I probably should have taken another photo before I went to the next step but, as often happens when I’m “what iffing,” I was too engrossed to think about photographing.  So, you ask, what was the next step?

More collage.  While searching for something for another project I came across New York Times Magazine and National Geographic pages that I had treated with CitraSolv.  Colors and texture were perfect so here is the latest phase of that WIP

And here’s WIP 1 next to last weeks

And here’s WIP 2 next to last weeks

Here I’ve indicated where the collage is so you can see what got wiped away.

These are all the same size, it’s the camera angle that is off.  The 2nd one has been turned so the dots are now vertical and I know I’m going to add a couple more.  Beyond that I have no idea where this is going to end up.

I’ve been working on the small ones too along with the collages and some art quilting.  Photos haven’t been taken of that progress yet,  That will be next week most likely.

Oh, and the dailies…. here are two, actually 4 because I did the drawing one day and painted the next on both of these.

That’s it for now….

The WHAT HAVE I DONE stage and other better things

The next stage of the WIP had me wondering what in the world I was thinking when I started this project.  This sure is looking hopeless.  That white block at the top is the clip on my wall holding it up.

But there is still hope, I should have taken a photo of the next stage before I cut it into the 2 8x8s and 4 4x4s but I was so anxious to see what I had that I forgot.  Here they are:  the 2 8x8s followed by the 4 4x4s, still WIPS but I’m feeling like there is hope.

Feeling better I started another mixed media piece.  This one started by collaging a lot of color on the surface.  It’s brighter than this shows on my computer, not sure how it will show up on yours.  I’m planning 4 8x8s out of this one, we’ll see how it goes.

In the meantime, I’ve joined the Lighthouse Quilt Guild and through the Guild took a quilting class from Mary Bajcz .  What a fun experience and here are two WIPS from that day.  The first one is suppose to be a circle but I didn’t cut the curve quit enough…. the fear factor, sewing curves; however, I like it and now to add me to the process, some handwork.

The second one I got a little braver and I’m really liking how this one is evolving.

I also finished a block for the quilt in process that I started a year ago.  I thought it was done but once I layed it out I decided I needed 10 more blocks.  This is the first of that 10, a wonky star.

I do love wonky.  Here is the first log cabin block I did 35 years ago in a quilting class.  The teacher told me I had to “cut perfect strips, it was the only way to make a log cabin block.”  My response to that….

I loved it, she didn’t.  I decided quilting wasn’t for me and didn’t do another until the one I started a year ago.  I’ve done a lot of experimenting with quilting since I got back to stitching.  Still finding my way but having a great time doing it.

I think I may need to start another blog for my dailies.  This is already way to long and I should post those daily.  Something to think about.

Dailies, Fiber and WIPs

Last post I mentioned the synchronicity… daily challenge, windows, book on my coffee table, Windows to the Soul and then finding scraps that looked like windows.  Continuing along that vein I used the scraps to do a little digging into my likes and loves and why. Water was big, that is so obvious to me that I didn’t bother writing it down right away.  I was looking for things I had to think about, searching.

I spent a couple days here, two windows, before moving on to narrowing it down to the basics. Sine water related items came up 6 times in the regular list, it ranked as #1 on the new list.  One window for the whats and 1 window for the whys, another two days covered.

I’m not sure where all this is going but it’s sitting on the back burner for awhile.  Once last window and then on to other things that have been going on the last couple weeks….

All that writing around this window is testing pens for a Lenten project we’re doing at church.  A weaving….

This is the frame made by a very talented couple, Suzanne and Mike Moynihan.  We’re using strips of unbleached muslin and asking members of the congregation to write a favorite hymn title, a prayer, a bible verse, whatever they would like on a strip. We’ll be weaving as we get finished strips. The strips of fabric have been ironed to freezer paper for ease in writing. Hope it turns out the way I have envisioned it.

I’ve also been getting ready for the April exhibit at the Gallery Uptown,  “Fire, Fiber and Color”.  I’m one of the fiber artists so have been busy stitching.  These are a few of the pieces I’m finishing …

And April also means we need new work for our walls and I really need to get painting.  Synchronicity again…..

These art quilts are basically abstracts.  I’ve never done abstract painting for a lot of reasons that I’m not going into now, this post is way too long already.  However, after looking at my little quilts I decided maybe it was time to try some abstract paintings so this is a start, a WIP (work in process) that has the first three layers done. 

Layer one, an old watercolor painting that didn’t work.  Layer two, cover the painting with gesso and color.  Layer three, add some collage elements.  It’s going to be a mixed media piece.

I had watched a Jane Davies video about doing postcards all at once (one piece of paper and then cut out the postcards.)  Why not with paintings…. so…. this one will be 6 small paintings, 2 8x8 inch, 4 4x4 inch and maybe some Artist Trading Cards to boot.  (I’m hoping small will sell.)  At this point I’m not paying attention to composition, just getting something down to work with.

I’ll post my progress.  Sorry I didn’t think to photograph stages 1 and 2.

Art Quilts and Dailies

 

This is a work in process.  It’s a small  quilt, about 9 x 12 right now but still need to add it to a background.  I’m off to the fabric store today because in spite of having almost every color imaginable, I don’t have the exact color I want for this background.  Any excuse to buy more fabric.

And more of my dailies…. this month, windows.  And all of the squares with Zentangles…. beginning to think beyond the obvious.

I haven’t done anything with them yet but in the process of clearing some space in my studio I came across papers I had used to do gelatin plate prints on tags for Christmas gifts.  Perfect windows so I’ll do some collage with them.

Serendipity, Windows and the Dailies

 

This week my Tuesday Morning Painters group went to our Loutit Library to paint.  My sketch was looking out one of the many windows at the courtyard.  I didn’t get what I had intended but that’s okay, I had fun with the branches on this bush….

And now for the serendipity…. while I was there I realized it’s time for the Snowbound Readers challenge, 10 books by the end of March and there is a cute soup cup to get if one meets the challenge.  Time to check out a book and there was one I had been looking at… The Sketchbook Challenge. 

Back home I read the book, it’s a quick read.  And the suggestion for the challenge was to pick a theme.  That’s often a challenge for artists, most of us work that way but beyond doing it daily I don’t have a theme for my sketchbooks.  Something to think about.

Then while I was checking other things on line that evening I decided to check out the Sketchbook Challenge blog.  Hmmmmm, a different theme every month and this month it’s windows.  Maybe but I’m also thinking everyday objects or circles.

Later I went into my studio and there, sitting on a coffee table I made from a print tray my son gave me for a birthday (he does come up with good gifts) was another book I had been meaning to read but hadn’t gotten to…. Windows Into The Soul.  On the way out, another book, this time a reference book for colors but … Painted Ladies has some really interesting windows.

And then I remembered an exchange I did with a group from wetcanvas.com … windows.  I took a ton of photos of windows for that exchange.

Seems someone was trying to tell me something so….  my theme for the rest of this month is WINDOWS.  I’m not sure where it will take me but I’m ready for the journey….

I know I’ve missed posting several because of problems getting them to my computer… it’s the operator, not the computer.  I was going to go back and try but decided I’d rather not spend the time.  If, every now and then I can get one on here I will.  I don’t think anyone cares if they are out of sequence and if they do…. I’m sorry.  From now on I’m going to download a different way, it worked on yesterdays and todays.

This is one of the dailies I’ve been having trouble with.  I can’t open it in Photoshop to adjust the contrast so it’s hard to see.  Not a real good likeness but note, he made the W because he recognized himself, probably because he was the only kid in the house at the time. 

A give away of sorts…..

One of the art bloggers I follow, Karen Musgrave, is doing this and invited her blog followers to do the same.  I did it last year on my Facebook page and have those ready to send out finally… my year on that one is up the end of this month. 

So now I’m ready to do Pay It Forward 2014

I will send a small piece of artwork, sometime in 2014, to the first 5 people who comment on this, saying they are in. In return, you must post this on your Facebook page or blog, and send a piece of artwork whatever number you decide. You don't send to me, unless I comment on your post as you have done on mine.

It may be something quite small, like a postcard or trading card size. Or you may send a piece as large as you like. The only rules are: 

1. You must post a Pay it Forward on your own Facebook page and/or blog

2. You must send a a piece of artwork during the year. 

3. And you must send me a link to your post.

Remember, you must tell me you are in! Any other comment doesn't count. I will need your address (send by email so it's private).

Doesn't this sound like fun? Are you in?