Seasons of Life

“To every time there is a season, a time to live, a time to die” —or something similar to this. And also the bit about under heaven. This sentiment makes it’s way into wedding vows and sympathy cards.

A time to get hip replacement (modern miracle)

A time to breast feed your newborn baby non-stop (so…so….tired)

A time to burn the rice (Rats!)

A time to find new bras (or attempt it – Yug!)

A time to practice your music (on a loop in your brain while falling asleep)

These things will not make it into my artwork. I promise! However, there are a bunch of seasons of life– family related- young to old- with and without pets, that ARE the subject of my artwork. I love showing humans in relationship with eachother and their environment. And I prefer to focus on the positive interactions rather than the devisive ones.

Summer Afternoon 31 X 46 SOLD

Summer Afternoon 31 X 46 SOLD

Gray Day Frolic, 10.5 X 14.5, SOLD

Gray Day Frolic, 10.5 X 14.5, SOLD

Two, 9.5 X 12.5, SOLD

Two, 9.5 X 12.5, SOLD

Flight Zone, 51.5 X 49, $2,500

Flight Zone, 51.5 X 49, $2,500 .

 

In each of the three interpretations of SEASONS, (weather, politics, and life stages) the act of paying attention and listening is a key component. The length of the day, the tone of an email exchange, listening to grandpa’s long story, the quality of the air, and the delight of baby’s response to a peek-a-boo game …. each make a difference, nudging our lives this way and that. Even when we aren’t paying attention to current trends or the weather, we are in it anyway, and a piece of a whole, always changing, day to day.

Feet 30.5 X 48 sold

Feet 30.5 X 48 sold

I choose images that are non judgemental and universal. People are making connections of the non digital sort, with real sun and air, time and place. I have the luxury of responding in real time to this flow of stuff – the clean water as well as the bits of trash. Because I am insulated from most of the horrific stuff, I am floating on top in a safe boat. So my perspective is mostly detached observation.

 

detailMotherboard

 

 

 

 

 

 

Discovery 10.5 X 7.5, Sold

Discovery 10.5 X 7.5, Sold

Grandfather with Baseball Cap

Stories Told, 26 X 19 $450

Green Shoes Leading, 10.5 X 7.5, sold

Green Shoes Leading, 10.5 X 7.5, sold

Sunday Afternoon 36 X 49, $1,200

Sunday Afternoon 36 X 49, $1,200

 

 

Push 25 X 38 $840

Push 25 X 38 $840

 

Easy Cauliflower Salad: Break up cauliflower into chunks and place in bowl of water. Remove and place on clean towels. Pat dry. Cut up cauliflower into small bite size pieces and put in a bowl. Add feta cheese and dried cranberries. Add olive oil and a generous amount of freshly squeezed lime juice. Toss and serve soon or hold until later. Top with unsalted roasted seeds (sunflower and/or pumpkin seeds). The quanities of ingredients are variable. If you want to leave out the feta just add some salt. Optional stuff- chopped cilantro, parseley, and celery.

On Stage 18 X 28 $275

On Stage 18 X 28 sold

Pendulum Swinging

Politics also go through a seasonal cycle, but instead of the sweet and nurturing circle we experience within seasons of the year, political climates are right and left, pendulum swinging back and forth. The trapeze is up so very high! The political tribes have opposite view points on so many things – Are rules for the… Read more »

The weather promises to change

Can you guess which one of these images represents December and which one represents March?   Which image is April and which is October?     I have been creating small (10X14) abstract artwork for each month of the year. I use a combinatiion of hand painted and commercial fabrics. All applique and quilting is done… Read more »

A day in the life- mid August

      The mid-August brisk air (55 – 65 degrees) is perfect for removing the algae from around the edge of our small pond. This task is only done while wearing knee pads (making crawling easy) and in the early morning cool air before the yellow jacket wake up bell. Before this task I… Read more »

Just add purple and chartreuse

I’m starting a new series of work that will use (spiritual) purple and (rebirth) chartreuse as major players. At least that’s my current thinking. I will use a lot of a formerly used Wyoming color palette with these strong colors added. Here are some examples of older work using many of the same colors.  Taken together they… Read more »

Make Over

Get out the rotary cutter. Sometimes the best thing to do with a piece that isn’t so good, is to visualize cutting it up, and then have fun doing it!  Since you didn’t like it anyway, nothing is lost. Making artwork is always a risk, so I say, go for it. I cut ‘Abstract Figure’… Read more »

Everyone is happy

When a commission turns out well, everyone is happy. The woman who asked me to make a piece based on a photo of herself and her children, was already familiar with my artwork. She knew about my medium, style, subject matter, and my love of light and shadow. She could safely feel that I was… Read more »

Something to Say About the Digital Age

New inventions have always been both delightful and frightening. An autonomous car is no different than a telephone, except for the century in which it is imbedded into human lives.  My Voice (the artistic voice of Joan Sowada) is exemplified by using images of people and animals, usually in relationship with each other and the out… Read more »

New Order and Taking Stock

After reading “The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up” by Marie Kondo, I have given myself permission to devote several months to the task of going through everything in my house that is mine. It is simple enough to ask the clarifying question of “Does this thing bring me joy?”, but after that it is… Read more »

Inspiration from Photos

I am often inspired to create art quilts based on my own candid photos. Here are some examples of pieces that started out this way. I am drawn to photos that have good composition and strong contrast of light and dark. I sometimes combine multiple images of a subject to add impact. (Magic Wall also has… Read more »