Archive for June, 2010

Daily sketching

June 23, 2010

I’ve been trying to start each morning with reading a few pages from a terrific book by Danny Gregory (Everyday Matters) called The Creative License and making a daily sketch.

metal garden sculpture made by my amazing daughter-in-law, Bennett

I usually bristle at books like this but Gregory writes with a lovely light  encouraging tone that I have found just what I needed to push me to sketch more. The trick for me was to frame it as keeping a sketch journal-daily quick sketches/collages/whatever that are created by really focusing in on whatever happens to be at hand.

my reading glasses

This helps me break the feeling of frozen incompetance that can hit me when faced with a blank page. Though these sketches will not directly show up in my fiber art, I know this process is doing some deep down magic that loosens up my creative juices. It all springs from the same well…

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Posted in Inspiration, Process, sketching | Leave a Comment »

My art returns from Dili, East Timor

June 15, 2010

Two years ago, I heard about  a program run by the US State Department that selects American art to be hung in US embassies around the world. How cool is that? So I sent in a submission of my work to the curators and was thrilled to be quickly contacted and invited to have my work hung in the Ambassadors residence in Dili, East Timor. Of course, after the first whoop I had to look on a map to find where the heck Dili, East Timor was (it’s near Indonesia). These are the pieces that went on this exotic trip:

Life Goes On II

Touch II

This program also produces a beautiful full color catalog  documenting the artwork selected for each location. It’s then offered to embassy visitors.

The Ambassador has returned to the US so my work was delivered home this morning.  What a wonderful use of tax dollars! Spread art!

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Posted in Exhibits | 2 Comments »

A pile of newly dyed silk!

June 13, 2010

I happily spent a good part of Friday at my friend/artist Kris Mcdermet‘s house acid dyeing eight yards of silk- both crepe de chine and charmeuse. We tend to have a lot to talk about when we’re together but have learned that we’re incapable of simultaneous communication and dyeing without disastrous results. So we schmooze first and then try to focus. Kris is a more careful dyer- following recipes that include exact measurements such as 1/64th of a teaspoon or “dip wet toothpick 2″ into dye powder”.

Newly dyed blues and purples

Not me. I usually try to start with a recipe but it quickly morphs into mixing dye colors with abandon. I got mostly very luscious results though! Our plan is to sell some of this beautiful fabric at our joint upcoming studio tour – a part of the September 25-26  Brattleboro West Arts Studio Tour.

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Posted in Dyeing, Process | 4 Comments »

Fundamental Change IV-part 6

June 5, 2010

After a week of dithering- yesterday there was Decision and Action! I’m not sure what shifts when that happens. I stop over thinking it so much and get out of my own way.

I gave the green cell barrier a few more couched lines and definition. That still has a little more stitching to go.

Fundamental Change IV- in progress detail

And I had a blast cutting and fusing on the “cilia” hairs. I thought this step would be tedious but I loved playing with the spatial interrelationship between the individual cilia-those tiny negative spaces created. I wanted then to look in motion and I’m pleased with how that turned out.

Fundamental Change IV- in progress detail 2

Today’s a perfect rainy day for listening to podcasts and stitching down all those lovely little” hairs”!

Posted in Process | 2 Comments »

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