August Quietude

In the painting studio

A little clothes sewing from Tina Givens wonderful patterns

And August art daily is wrapping up.

work in progress

Just a few of the pieces in the studio with me now. No titles yet, but much sewing/dyeing/embroidery.

each one is part of a series..

waterdress

waterdress, a photo by Lorie McCown on Flickr.


One of 4 art dresses I've made based on the 4 elements of earth, fire, air and

water.  Made of hand dyed fabrics and fibers, each one took me over 2 weeks

to make. Hand and machine sewn, embroidered and appliqued. This dress is a

bit 'fish' shaped, with positive and negative kelp and fish shapes all over. 

It's over 70" long and wearable. I have made hangers for all of them as well.

Here's a detail shot of the dress..

Maybe a 'wave' dress next..

Words do matter

Many many thanks to those who stop by and comment, look and keep up with this blog. It's not much of a word blog, there are plenty of those, but more of a visual and image blog. I do try and explain some of the thought process that goes into the making of the art.  Much of my work is word related, if not exactly with text directly, but by books, movies and poetry. I have much admiration and a bit of envy when it comes to those who are, as the Irish say, have the gift of gab. Musicians, poets, and writers amaze me with being able to evoke a feeling or scene, merely by using words. Over simplified, perhaps, non the less, still an amazing feat.

I am very fortunate, that the well does not run dry for me. I do not have 'blocks' or lack inspiration. I do get lazy, and lack direction, occasionally. When this happens, I go back to the basics, line, form, shape, color, etc.. working in my sketchbooks, going back to black and white. Simplifing. Luckily, it does not happen a lot.

I work on several series at once. It does not confuse me to do so. I am lately very interested in bluring the line between 2-D and 3-D.  Very interested, as well in dark to light and contrast, both in color and shapes.

And always hope for a little (or a lot!!) of narrative and story telling in the pieces.

Raising the surface and the bar a bit.

..and a little poetry to go on..

When my love comes and sits by my side,
when my body trembles and my eyelids droop,
the night darkens, the winds blow out the lamp,
and the clouds draw veils over the stars.
It is the jewel at my own breast that shines
and gives light. I do not know how to hide it."
Rabindranath Tagore

To the paint studio

Also sewing some as well.

With all the news and world events, I retreat somedays to block out the constant chatter. The wonderful transitional season of Spring is here and with it, the blooms and green that can't help to inspire.

New work

The studio has been buzzing! I've worked on two new series of paintings. One is abstract and organic, one is figurative and moody. I love painting and I'm never giving it up. I have my sights set on a few shows to enter, so if I can get these done, photographed blah blah, I'm going for it. Painting is so personal for me, for some reason. Maybe just because I love it so. Here's a few studio shots. All of it is work in progress.

And of course, always something going on the sewing table. Lots of color.

A visit to my LibertyTown studio

Even though it's small, it's workable. This is my studio (#7) at LibertyTown Arts in downtown Fredericksburg. All the studios there are open, so people can stroll by and watch and talk to potters, painters, jewelers etc..

The whole building is a converted garage.

Obiviously, a working studio! No pretense here. This is the work in progress area..

Almost every single thing in here is for sale (well, not the sewing machine) And I try to put new things in every single month.

heart

Ah February, what is it about this month? It makes me crazy. I think it's like August, because it comes at the end of a long season. Anyway, been sort of working on some yarn love.

and I'm not sure what this is going to be yet, but it is shaping into something nice, I think.

this picture is hanging on the inspiration board, holes, tatters and all

japanese boro

...and more to see

after months of house neglect, christmas-y things and countless hours spent in my cold hole studio..

a forest fire..

seeds sewn by the wind

and a stroll through the grass

Winter studio time

Halloween

Not my favorite holiday, but I LOVED it as a kid. Who can argue?, candy, out past dark, dressing up. Some lovely, fall weather here lately, I've managed acceptance into the FCCA's Dec/Jan show, "Small Wonders" with this piece.. sorry the pictures are amatuer, I'll clean them up later.. It's "Stone" Hand and machine quilted, appliqued, and sewn. Made with hand dyed and commercial fabrics and floss..

done!

A lovely commission done and off to it's new home in Ca.. Based on Shakespeare's character Ophelia in "Hamlet".  Hand dyed and commercial cotton and silk, hand embellished and embroidered.

Also finished submissions to a couple of shows. I swear, I spent hours on the technical aspect of taking/uploading/processing photos of my art as much as making it! It's a learning curve.

ebb and flow

This season seems to be a regrouping of sorts. Many works on the table and on the easel, waiting to be finished. It's OK, I like the cycle of creation as much as I like the creations themselves.  A few unadulterated shots of things in progress..

This is a piece for the 'Uniquely Fredericksburg' show due very soon.. a bird's eye view of the Rappahannock River that flows through Fredericksburg. In the stage of 'ug' right now. I am calm, though as all art goes through this stage, I'm sure.

With help from Google maps for the course of the river..

Trial and much error

and of course taking a little time to harvest from the garden!

how to get ready for a show

sew!

Sew some more!

sort through everything you've sewn!

Piles of it!

did I mention sew?

Be happy with what you did!

Hanging 'Fresh Fields' tomorrow (whew) pretty pleased with how it all came together, as far as quality/quantity.

Full show pictures here next day or two..keep working!

evolution

A few shots of this piece, that went through several stages, my pic's are out of order,, the top one is the finished one. With hand-dyed fabric (fun fun!) and machine and hand quilting, applique and embellishment.

about 28x36"..