Not a waste of time
I meet each week with artist friends, to share our lives and discuss art related stuff. We call it Tuesday Morning Art Coffee. Some people stay one hour and some people stay 2 or more hours.
Inspiration Found in Relationships
My artist statement has drifted this way and that over the years, but one thing remains the same.People Together. Relationship.
Conceptual Art
There is often a mystery around abstract artwork. What was the artist saying and why? How is it done? When starting an abstract conceptual piece of artwork, sometimes the idea is a small one that is born out of a combination of fabrics that suggest something.
How is it done?
When you purchase artwork, you are also paying for the many years of practice and expertise of that artist. I have been using the medium of fabric for 50 years. There are hundreds of decisions that go into the making of artwork.
Cat Fights and Tornados
Does planning relate to creating artwork? Yes. Does planning relate to marketing artwork? Yes. One must plan to succeed. One has to show up and do the work. And, just like the planning for a big party, the ideas are conceived and nurtured, the setting repaired and weeded.
At the Art Reception
When I attend an Art Reception, I usually seek out the company of another artist, preferably to sit one on one in a quiet corner.The patrons are OK too, but the conversations differ. I have thankfully out grown the extreme shyness of my youth. It is no longer impossible or painful to talk to new people about my artwork.
How Small? How Big?
The size of a project makes a difference.You might have to get a riding lawn mower! Buy lots of trowels, so the kids can help with the weeding! Budget more than one quick weekend to paint the house!
Powerful Habits
Those boring and powerful habits. The bed time routine started in a timely manner, really does help me go to sleep. Cleaning the studio between projects, really does get me excited about the next project.
Using again in a new way
Recycling is not just for plastic, cardboard, and newspaper. The concept of using something again, in a new way, can be applied to many parts of our life, from letter writing, to baby toys, to recipes, to artwork.
Harder than arranging the towels
Salon style means lots of artwork hung close together top to bottom and side to side. The idea is to balance out the visual weight of the TV with the artwork behind it.
Seasons of Life
There are a bunch of seasons of life- family related- young to old- with and without pets, that ARE the subject of my artwork.
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 weather promises to change
I am entertained by asking those in-the-now questions: How does this day feel? How does it smell? What are the dominant colors and textures? What would I like to say about that?I am interested in taking a longer look at Seasons Seasons Seasons.
A day in the life- mid August
Summer time has less of a get-into-the-studio-and-begin-working protocol and more of a which-garden-do-I-work-in-today protocol. The work of the garden is really the same as the work of the art studio.
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.
Everyone is happy
As an artist, we love it when the client gives us a lot of freedom to make any changes that will improve the work as a piece of art. The client wants a keepsake and the artist wants to create quality artwork. When both happen then everyone is happy.
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.
New Order and Taking Stock
Some forms of creativity have less of a pile accumulated - for example the choreographer, composer, chef, novelist, and designer. The visual artist must acknowledge that by making stuff we also create the burden of accumulation.
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.