And now for something a little different

While working away on a couple of art quilts (one of which will be posted tomorrow) I took a break and did several watercolor and ink. These are ATC size (2.5" X 3.5") and are inspired by several of my favorite photos I took of doors and windows and the bridge.

Crooked Little House

This little house used to sit at a local nursery. I'm glad I got the photo because it is no longer there.

Weathered Shed

This is a shed on a farm not far from where I live.

Missing Door

From a trip to Texas several years ago. In a very small town there was this very old shell of a building with several missing doors and windows.

Stone Arch Bridge

A landmark in Minneapolis its curved arches cross the Mississippi. Now a footbridge.

This is a new medium for me and I have to say...I'm begining to really enjoy it!

Works are in Progress

Ok I have several works currently that are in process but since a few of them will be completed by next week, I'll just wait until they are done to post about them. But there is one that will be more of a long term project so I will post progress on it periodically.

Wil, my friend from the Netherlands, is currently here and we are playing daily in the studio. And planning handwork to do while watching evening TV.  One project is a shibori embroidery piece. Started with a piece of shibori that I already had and now am doing the hand embroidery to make it something totally different.  Now I can't tell you just what it will be like in the end because I'm just letting it develop as it pleases one step at a time. 

Step one is to embroider around one of the shibori circles.  This is how it looks after three evenings (told you it would be a long running ordeal!!) Here are the photos.

The Whole Piece

And a close up



Hope to have at least one other piece to post tomorrow for another project!!

EXPERIENCE

This piece is for one of the art quilt groups I belong to. The theme for this one is Who I Am.

I was inspired by the saying, "We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a human experience." This is a concept that struck a very deep chord with me and I knew it wanted to be a quilt for Voyage this year. It took a while to come up with the technique for expressing such an ethereal concept but it finally came together. I chose a rather non-descript woman (no facial features, etc) because I didn't want that part to be the focal point. I chose a slightly shiny bronze tulle to express the lightness of a spiritual being. I placed the "spiritual being" just inside the "human being" to give the feeling of the spiritual being living through the human being.

EXPERIENCE

EXPERIENCE - detail

The next insallment will be Where I Am Going. Now if I only knew just where that might be!!! A few concepts floating around in my head just now. Have to wait and see where I end up!



Directions

Funny, when I dropped by today to post one of my latest art pieces I realized I must be on a Black and White theme lately!  (see previous post) Hadn't noticed really.

Anyway, I was in one of my "I wonder what would happen if...." moods recently and felt inspired to try something similar to a piece I saw somewhere (can't remember where at the moment - it was just in passing). So I got out my black printing ink, black pigma pen, white ink and a credit card (art is about the best use for one I think!)  And here is what I ended up with. The title is "Directions". Some of the directions of the ink smears seemed headed in all different directions so I just extended them. Then the texture of the swiped ink needed extensions of the black lines or even new directions of their own. I'm very happy with the results. Only problem....printing ink when applied in this manner takes FOREVER to dry completely!! And those of you who know me are familiar with just how much patience is NOT one of my sterling virtues! But I managed...this time!

DIRECTIONS



Latest Piece

In Sky-Is-The-Limit group the most recent theme was "Inspired By". I was inspired by Victor Vaserely. This was a significant moment in my artistic journey because it was the first time I FULLY realized just how much I appreciate other kinds of art!! I saw a presentation of his work (online) in an old church. The juxtaposition of pop art on ancient stone walls was so intriguing. Then I found I loved his work on its own. Found his two zebras next. Now I do love black and white so these were especially delightful to me. Then I found Markab which he did about 1956 or '57. It isn't as much of an optical illusion as some of his other work but it grabbed my attention big time. So I decided to render it in fabric (at least as much of it as I could in 12"X12"). I've wanted to do this one for a few years. In fact...had already started it and got distracted by other things for a bit. But this theme afforded me the opportunity to complete it and enjoy it all over again. Markab in Arabic means "something to ride". And since finding Vaserely opened up a whole new vista for me, I titled this piece "Enjoying the Ride". As for the process, let's just say I'm extremely glad someone invented those really sharp and tiny scissors!! The white fabric was stitched onto black Kona and then trimmed according to how much black was to show through. Required a bit of patience but I'm happy with the results. It still needs a binding (which will be in black Kona) but at least it is done enough to post.

Inspired by Victor Vaserely

"Enjoying the Ride"



Markab by Victor Vaserely - 1956 or '57

Oil on Canvas

Still working on catching up on several projects but at least this one is MOSTLY done and I'm ready to move on.



A New Voyage

I have the privilege to belong to another art quilting group with people from all over the world.  This one is for an art quilt every two months or so. This is the first piece for that group.

So the theme is "Where I Am". The answer came very quickly for me as did the initial concept. Then it was just a matter of bringing it to life.


Where I Am - LIMBO, that's where I am these days. In just about every aspect of my life...LIMBO. Not in the theological definition. More in the idea of so many things not settled. Everything is up in the air. So that is where I am taking you with this art quilt - to my state of limbo.

I do feel as though I am barely balanced and no definite (or sometimes even a hint of) direction to go to solve any of these issues. All of them are mostly out of my control. Others are left to decide my fate. The green verdant background is the beautiful fields of abandon where I long to frolic and play....just almost within reach. The cliff on the left is the sturdiness of knowing at least my immediate future plans. But now...I'm struggling in mid air and always feeling like any day I could plunge into the roiling tumult below me. The solid part on which I can still put my feet is my faith. It is often the only thing that keeps me upright.

So that is my story of Where I Am.

LIMBO

The next theme is "Who I Am".  Again the concept was immediate but this one is even MORE difficult to decide how to put it into tangible form. But that is the fun of a challenge....to stretch and experiment on ideas and/or techniques that I haven't done before.



And So Begins Another Year!!

And now to begin the year with posting some art.   I belong to a small group of art quilters that work in 12" X 12" (remember the hot air balloon?) and the current theme is  "Size Is Not Important". And here is my art quilt for that theme.


Title: Five Smooth Stones

Concept: This was the first idea I had when I read the theme for this quarter. (OK, the second idea!) Anyway, I thought of David and Goliath. Truly size was not the determining factor in that confrontation. So I decided on the five smooth stones that David took to take to the battle along with the type of slingshot the used back in those days (and still do in the Middle East I believe). All the fabrics are my own hand dyed fabrics, the slingshot is made of a very soft leather, the leather straps I've had for years (no clue where they came from now). The straps by the slingshot are bound with a speciality yarn I had in my stash. I did minimal quilting because I used the two colors of "sand" fabric to create the undulation of the sand. Also, I sprayed the two sand fabrics with a textured spray paint called "Stone" Not sure if you can see that in the photo.

Five Smooth Stones

Now I'm ready to find out what the next theme is!! Hopefully this time it won't take me so long to get it done!
Oh and BTW -- HAPPY NEW YEAR to all of you! Hoping 2012 will be artful and creative and fulfilling!