In the Eye of the Beholder

What do you see? What do you feel?

Acrylics on 140lb. watercolor paper.

A Different Sort of Creative Pursuit

"Just as an illustrator begins with words and moves to creating an image, a writer can begin with an image and be moved to create a flow of words."

These were the words my friend Melanie used to advertise the creative writing class she conducted at the Wallkill River School yesterday. It was a marvelous class. I learned a lot. (Thank you, Mel) Interestly enough, since I don't consider myself a writer I had no workshop performance anxiety. How freeing that was!

Using Van Gogh's painting as inspiration I wrote the following:

Patina

A common pair of time worn shoes

ready to step away.

Earthen, subdued colors

Time tattered ragged edges.

Rich and complex textures rendered as a whole;

indistinguishable individual layers.

History's experiences apparent on their surface.

Been around the block a few times shoes ready to travel.

Saturday Morning

Quick post of the fabric piece I started this week. The black lines are actually shadows but I kind of like them so, perhaps, some dark fabrics will be inserted to replicate what the camera saw. Off to take a creative writing class today...more about that later...

Disintegration Continues

It was a bit of an art night tonight. I messed around with some fabric (no photos yet) and finished this...at least I think it's finished. These abstracts are just happening....layers upon layers upon layers. Tonight I realized this is what I'm always trying to do with fabric but doesn't meld the same as paint it isn't as fluid...I can't get the same effects....although I had one of those 'what if' moments tonight. This weekend I'm going to try something with dye on cloth that I'm hoping might get me close to this type of look...stay tuned (if you're so inclined).

Disintegration

Not so sure the photo does this one justice. If I do say so myself...it's gorgeous, mysterious and filled with interest (sorry, I'm thrilled with it right now). I finished it late last night. When seen in person you can get lost looking, seeing how the underneath layers contribute to the more apparent uppermost layers. These abstracts I'm doing are large at 22x16". They're going to be even larger when I mat them. I think I'll offer these at an upcoming art show matted and ready to be framed. I'm going to put a nice-on-the-wallet price of about $50 on them. They deserve a good home.

Passing Time

Acrylic paint on 140lb watercolor paper. About 20x16". Disintegration. Fun on a Friday afternoon - more fun than being at the day job.

Inspiration

I've always been fascinated with the disintegration of things...be it an old broken down tractor rusting in its field graveyard , a weathered piece of wood textured with layers of paint colors or a ramshackle structure whose story is forever lost but can almost to be heard if one imagines and listens hard enough. I think the mold on this pepper is gorgeous. I want to carve it as a stamp and also paint it as an abstraction. Dust to dust, ashes to ashes - to be reborn, renewed or evolved.

Sweet Dye

Cotton fabric at the top and silk scarves at the bottom....all done up with desconstructive screen printing. I think I'm going to make some scarves using the same method I used on the cotton. Now it's time to go to the store and get something for dinner...it's been a busy day.

Hot Summer Creativity

I have screens drying in the sun with print paste dye on them. As soon as they are ready I plan to deconstruct screen print them onto silk scarves. While I'm waiting for the dyeing festivities I finished this piece of paper fabric. I'm loving the textures I got with this one.

I have been messing around with making pickles and, after 3 attempts, have developed a recipe we love. If you are a fan of crisp, garlicky, kind of sour pickles here's my recipe. (I share well, I don't get that it's a secret thing some people have with recipes.)

- Find a crock or jar that suits you and add pickling spice (I add about 1/4 cup to this crock that is about 3/4 of a gallon).

- Fill the crock with quartered spears from Kirby or other pickling cukes.

- Slice in half 4-6 garlic cloves and then place them in between the spears.

- In a separate bowl combine 4 cups bottled water, 1 cup white vinegar & 1/4 cup salt. Stir until the salt is completely dissolved.

- Pour over the spears.

- Add as much fresh dill as you think is good.

- Close tightly and shake.

- Cover and put in a cool, dry place to do its thing for 48-72 hours (I like to leave it 1-1/2 days).

- Put in the refridgerator and eat within 2 weeks (they'll really only last about 2 days because you won't be able to stop eating them).

Rainy Sunday Continued

1.) Take sheer nylon fabric and stretch it over an open wooden frame.
2.) Apply matte gel medium to both the front and back, allow to dry.
3.) Apply torn pages from discarded books or other sources with matte gel medium.
4.) Apply torn tissue paper with matte gel medium, allow to dry.
5.) Layer on the paints! Use rubbing alcohol to blend paints or to pull back in other areas. Use tissue paper, plastic wrap or other materials to do this.
6.) Let dry completely.
You now have fabric paper that is ready for stitching and cutting - whatever you are inspired to do!

Rainy Sunday

Today I made French Toast with Blueberry Maple Syrup for breakfast, my husband made a blueberry pie, I froze some green beans (we have them coming out of our ears) and then made some split pea soup. Industrious, huh?

I also took a silk screen I had made of one of my designs, printed it on a gelatin plate and then printed it onto 2 gelatin prints I had done awhile ago. Industrious, huh?

Next I'm going to start work on that fabric paper I make because I've forgotten how special this stuff is. Yesterday at the Pine Bush Art Walk I was reminded when person after person seems fascinated with how it looks. Industrious, huh?

Abstraction Isn't the Same as Abstracts

My husband doesn't quite get abstracts. He does but he doesn't. I've taught him that abstracts are art pieces that create a personal, intimate relationship with the viewer. If a piece keeps drawing you in it is reaching down inside, calling to you. He gets that on some level but being the science guy he is he understands art images that realistic. They can be identified and quantified. I'm getting used to his asking "so when are you going to paint the tomatoes in the garden?"

Did these paintings yesterday that started as gelatin prints and then went on to have many, many other layers added.

Fertile

I haven't been very creative lately - the desire has been there but...for some reason...the will has been lacking. Anyone ever struggled with this? I found myself thinking of art I wanted to create but didn't seem able to get myself up out of the chair to do anything about it. Seemed like too much effort.

But yesterday I sat down at the machine and free motion quilted on a piece of cloth that I had previously dyed and painted. I then overdyed it in black. As the last step I added pigments and more paint . The word 'fertile' keeps coming to mind when I look at it.