Ups and Downs

Another in what seems to be my ongoing love affair with hearts and portals. There are so many hills and valleys in our lives. Let's hope this one doesn't become a mess like the last painting did. Seems that hills and valleys occur in creative expression too...so...my advice to all of you is to just keep on keeping on!

Gorgeous Colors

It was sunny and warm on Saturday so I dyed some cloth. I love the vibrancy of the colors in these four pieces. They look great folded and placed on top of one another. I'd like to inspire others to make use of this cloth too.....so....I posted some for sale in my Etsy shop.

Cosmic Static

The photo isn't so great because this finished piece is under glass in a clip frame. It began life as the gelatin printed monotype cloth in the post below. I added free motion quilting, hand stitching, dyed cheesecloth and rusted silk organza then I secured it all to the back board of the clip frame. This is the piece I will bring to the Newburgh/Cornwall Historical Society for their benefit art auction next weekend. I already saw all the lovely landscapes and still life paintings that have been donated. I don't remember seeing anything like this - although there was one very cool assemblage that I fell in love with.

On another note, apparently the Stone House Window collage at the top part of this blog is pictured in the new issue of Cloth, Paper, Scissors. I was told there is an article about Virginia Spiegel's benefit auction for the American Cancer Society and this piece is one of the collages featured. To find out more about this benefit please check out the following link: http://www.virginiaspiegel.com/NewFiles/ACSFundraiser.html

J-E-L-L-O

Some more gelatin printed cloth from class last night. Right now I plan on keeping this as a whole cloth piece and to add hand stitching with some beading and other embellishments.
On another note I rusted some silk organza yesterday and like how it turned out (husband did have to call me at work to inquire what was in that old rusted tin sitting out in the sun). Right now I'm not sure how I'm going to use this but the thought of revisiting my fascination with cairn and standing stones has resurfaced. This organza might make some great ethereal appearing stone images....we shall see.....

Lovely Weekend

It was a lazy kind of weekend here in the Aumick home. Didn't really get much accomplished in regards to cleaning, organizing and getting-things-in-order but who cares?! It was a gorgeous day on Saturday and we went tooling around back roads, stopping for a picnic lunch and poking around in shops. Today it's much more overcast and just a quiet, mellow kind of day. I did get these 2 ATC's done - I do love sitting on the back porch, rocking away while hand sewing...doesn't get much better than that! Both of these are currently listed for sale in my Etsy store.

Music

Music has the ability to transport me to other places. I can get lost in it and have often felt that I might be in another times and places while listening to certain artists, melodies or compositions. I'd like to share Eva Cassidy's gorgeous version of 'God Bless the Child'. Eva died at a very young age but her voice can still be treasured. Enjoy and kiss your child! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0RZ6thzUWD8

Idealistic Ramblings

I'd like to philosophize a bit this morning (sorry). As some of you know I have a day job. In this day job I wear the mask of a competent employee who cares about the work she is being paid to do. While I am there that is the persona they are renting and expect from me. In my real life, I don't care much about this business - it doesn't contribute much (if anything) to the well being of man and just serves to make $$$. Now this is all fine and dandy and is the way of the world but wouldn't it be great if we could turn things upside down and honor those people and trades that benefit mankind? When was the last time a personal care aide for the elderly was searching for investment opportunities for her 'extra' income?

The piece above was created using more gelatin printed cloth I printed this weekend.

Have a great Wednesday everyone!

Productive Weekend

This might just be my first piece of whole art cloth. It was made by gelatin, thermofax & wood block printing. The photo doesn't show the underlying colors but they are there!

Last night this collage came together. The background is one of the gelatin printed papers I did a couple of weeks ago and the image is a photo I took of an old building in the Catskill mountains. It's secured onto a painted artist's canvas.

Now it's time to start the work week (sigh). Happy Monday to all!

Some Creative Moments

Remember this? I did a bit more work on it - adding some more color and rub, rub, rubbing with alcohol. I think it's about ready for stitching. If I'm happy with the end results I believe I will donate it to the Newburgh Cornwall Historical Society benefit art auction. I was asked to donate a piece and have been putting its creation on the back burner. Have I ever shared how often (and sometimes - well) I work under pressure?

Meanwhile, I hand stitched this little ATC last night while watching the movie Margot at the Wedding. The movie was interesting but I can't say it is a favorite.

Layers

It's been one heck of a busy week and it's not over yet. The only creative time I've been able to carve out for myself was at gelatin printing class last night. I tried printing on silk for the first time with limited success (but there was enough possibility to continue). I don't do well in classroom environments. I feel internal pressure to produce exceptional work - my guess as to why is somehow wrapped up with a need to be validated as a real artist. So....take an insecure mind, mix it with a creative soul in a venue where people are watching and you tend to not see stellar results! Be that as it may, I do like the print above and will continue down the gelatin printing road.

Visiting ATC Land Again

One of the very bestest (!) things about ATC's is that I'm able to sit quietly and work on them. It helps to alleviate the guilt associated with plopping in front of the television. Last night I worked on these while my husband quietly read in the chair next to me and the television was turned to the 'Americana' (yes! I do like folky, rootsy, bluegrassy music with gospel overtones) music station. It was a very good Friday night that I'll remember with fondness for a long time.

Gelatin Printing - continued

This piece definitely needs some design/compostion work but I wanted to share more of my gelatin printing adventures. I still have a long ways to go before I feel comfortable with this art method but the possibilities still excite me.

Have a good Friday everyone!

Small Study - Finished!

Tomorrow night is the second gelatin printing class - forget paper....I'm bringing cloth! I love the possibilities this technique holds. The soft, ghostly effects are exciting to me. By the way, those 2 embellishments in the top left corner? Those are very cool shells I found in a close out bin in a bead shop in Woodstock, NY.