Music in My Heart

I don't know if it is all interesting that I am sharing my artistic angst (!) with this piece. It has morphed from a geometric something into an ethereal sappy something. The word 'sappy' aside I do have to say that this latest image is the one that I feel the most association with....I guess it is the one that has an emotional componet for me.

Someone recently told me that my art is packed with feeling. I found this remark intriquing because I am a person of strong emotions....I don't think I've ever been described as 'laid back'. Her comment keeps playing in my head. As an artist, isn't it incredible to emotionally touch someone with our work? Amazing. This certainly isn't a new concept but it is one to consider when contemplating why art is important on both an individual and cultural scope. Perhaps this ability is one of the defining differences between us and other species.

Decisions

Now I'm thinking circles.....

Ethereal

Suggestive. Filmy. Floaty. And nutritous too???? Someone told me this technique reminds them of creamy yogurt. This one has a base of multi colored hand dyed cotton with hand dyed silk organza laid over top. More hand stitching will be added.

Work Continues

I added some hand stitching over the weekend. At first I was going to load up this piece with stitching but I'm thinking maybe not....perhaps subtle is the way to go...but I'm going to let it sit for awhile before moving forward. I've often found that I need to step back from pieces about mid-stream and let ideas and thoughts come to me as they will.

Respite Saturday

What have I been up to this past week? Besides trying to maintain a semblance of sanity while at my day job? (and the jury's still out on how successful I was at that). I was messing around with silk and silk organza that I had dyed over the past weeks. I created this base and plan to enhance it (well...let's hope that's the result) with hand stitching. This is such a complete departure from my usual work that I'm very intriqued and excited. It's also a larger than typical piece, coming in at about 18x13". Change can be good.

Lost in the Right Side

Those of you who do it know this....doodling is a drug that doesn't hurt you, anyone around you, is very cheap and can be done just about anywhere at any time. It is a drug that takes you to another place where time is lost and your connection with the physical world fades back into the distance. I encourage you to get your dose of drug therapy today!

Script Images

When I made the screen for these images suggestive of ancient scripts my husband tried to read it. I think he came up with some sort of Dick and Jane type story but the main characters were called The Man and The Woman and were involved in the pursuit of everyday tasks - maybe preparing food? cleaning up the house? laundry? Do you think he was using my art to suggest the need for a bit of domesticity over here? Ha, ha, ha....

Painted and screen printed cotton cloth with overlaid hand dyed organza and hand stitching. Finished off with a bit of sparkling pigments.

Not that far out of the cave

To any of us who have physically or emotionally experienced the effects of what humans are capable of doing to each other in the name of religion, greed, culture, or any other absurd rationale...I send you thoughts of peace.

A Small Universe

Hand dyed and painted cotton cloth, with overlaid hand dyed organza and hand stitching. Mounted on hand dyed silk and a painted gallery wrapped artist canvas. All at only 6x6"!

Art or Not?

There is a movement right now in the SAQA (Studio Art Quilt Association) group asking for exhibition venues for small art pieces. I do have to laugh a bit since most of the artists in the group are considering 12x12" - 24x24" small. That is large for me! One person remarked that art smaller than these sizes could be thought of as doodling. Doodling? Are my 4x6" pieces doodling? What do you think? What are your thoughts on art and size? Does size make a difference in regards to artistic value?

Harvest Time

It's a beautacious day here in the Hudson Valley. We were out this morning scoping out fresh veggies at a farmer's market and on the way home I was telling the husband person to pull that car over so I could snap photos of the apples ripening on the trees. Can a home made apple pie be far behind or Greek yogurt mixed with home made apple sauce? I think not.

Inspired by the photos this is a pastel painting I did this afternoon.

Beyond Our World

I am a huge fan of Roots/Folk music - be it Americana, Brazilian or African. While there are many songwriters and performers I revere there is one whose words and music seem to reach me on a visceral level. Dave Carter (please do click on the link and read the informative review) was an educated mathematician who periodically left the world of numbers to seek spiritual guidance and musical creativity. Profoundly intelligent, accessible complexity and a magical connection with his partner Tracy Grammer mark Carter's recordings. Gentle Arms of Eden is one of their trademark tunes. My personal favorite is the song Ordinary Town from their Drum, Hat, Buddah CD - who can resist a song with the opening lines "Common cool, he was a proud young fool in a kick-ass wal-mart tie. Rippin down the main drag, trippin on the headlights rollin by"?

Dave Carter died (again I encourage you to read Wikipedia's entry about Dave) in Tracy's arms of a massive heartattack in July, 2002. I often miss the music he will no longer make but cherish the music he left behind.

Postcard Mosaic

Here are 13 (lucky?) 4x6" textile postcards that are finished except for edge stitching. If you're interested in seeing some of the details click on the photo is will get much larger. I hope to have them completed and in the mail this weekend. The Danforth Museum of Art is reopening for the fall season this week and these are destined for their gift shop.

Have to run....that day job is calling....good Wednesday everyone!

Budding Textile Artist?

My daughter's boyfriend's daughter (did you get that?) came to visit with them over the weekend. Emma spent hours making beaded earrings, helping us dye fabric and creating the art quilt above (with some free motion quilting additions from moi). Do you see her artist's signature in the lower right corner - EC '08? She signed it without any adult prompting, which made me smile. Didn't she do a fantastic job on her first ever work in fabric? She got the hang of that needle and thread in no time flat.

Celestrial Impressions

In last week's art class I replicated one of Van Gogh's self portraits in an exercise designed to help us expand our use of values. The piece above reminds of me of Starry, Starry Night and I wonder if I was inconsciously influenced by Mr. Van Gogh. It was created from hand painted cloth, foiling, painted Lutradur, and pigments.

It's been a busy weekend so far...lots of company, cooking and general mayhem. I haven't been able to do much art except for the piece above and some incredible hand dyes that my daughter and I did on silk, cotton, organza and chiffon. I'll try to get some photos of those up in the day or so.

Enjoy your day everyone. Eat, drink and be merry!