seaside quilt

seaside quilt, a photo by Lorie McCown on Flickr.

Wordless Wednesday

microbe II

microbe II, a photo by Lorie McCown on Flickr.

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

Lazarus II

Lazarus II, a photo by Lorie McCown on Flickr.

Mixed media, acrylic and metalic paint, fiber, thread, fabric on wood. 20x20"

Farewell

Farewell, a photo by Lorie McCown on Flickr.

Prairie poetry

Prairie poetry, a photo by Lorie McCown on Flickr.

chesapeake color [explored]

chesapeake color [explored], a photo by Lorie McCown on Flickr.

Library Show is up..

My June show at the Central Rappahannock Library in Fredericksburg Va. is hung, and looks great. It's nice to see them all together in a great, well lit spot.  It will hand the entire month of June. Normal library hours.
All works are for sale.

http://www.librarypoint.org/arts

                       Detail shot of  "Prairie Poetry"  hand and machine stitched, appliqued and embroidered.

New work

"Taken refuge"  24x30"  fiber/mixed media/hand dyed fabrics

Adding fiber and paint

Mixing the media..

aspects of the 'lazarus' series

June Library Show

Next up is my show at the Headquarters Library in Fredericksburg. .. Lots of new work going up! Here's a sample..

Acrylic on canvas 36x24"

Mixed media on board 18x18" Paint, fiber, thread, fabric.

..and of course some poetry!

When I kiss your face to make you smile, my darling,

I surely understand what pleasure streams from the sky in morning light,

and what delight that is that is which the summer breeze brings to my body

---when I kiss you to make you smile.

Rabindranath Tagore

Fredericksburg Art Festival

If you are looking for something to do this weekend, come out to Hurkamp Park and visit the Festival. I will be there with new fiber work, and knitted items, tent #6. Sat. 10-5, Sun. 11-4.

Sketch book for May

Doing pretty well keeping up. Lots of painting in it this week. Here's a peak. All of these are water color.

I don't always get to it each day, but I'm pretty consistant, week by week. No rules, just marks.

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.

Nice way to start a Friday!

That was fun to watch... Good luck!

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.

Monday poem

 Love

My river runs to thee:
Blue sea, wilt welcome me?

My river waits reply.
Oh sea, look graciously!

I ’ll fetch thee brooks

From spotted nooks,—

Say, sea,

Take me!


Emily Dickinson (1830–1886)

                                               From Jane Campion's movie "Bright Star"

The Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef

The Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef exhibit in D.C. is coming to a close next week, still time to see this beauty! It's at the National History Museum.

An amazing display of nature and art coming together..

Words cannot describe the work done here. Hours and hours of crochet. With every type of fiber or non fiber you could imagine. Cassette tape, twist ties, every sort of yarn possible.

Color color color

These 'towers' were treasures. Fiber sculpture. Unbelievably beautiful.

All iridescent beads on this one

And a 'toxic' reef all made of plastic stuff, bottle tops, beer cans, netting, all types of trash.

Ends April 24th..

Poetry April

WHEN I HEARD THE LEARN'D ASTRONOMER
by: Walt Whitman (1819-1892)

HEN I heard the learn'd astronomer,

When the proofs, the figures, were ranged in columns before me,

When I was shown the charts and diagrams, to add, divide, and measure them,

When I sitting heard the astronomer where he lectured with much applause in the lecture-room,

How soon unaccountable I became tired and sick,

Till rising and gliding out I wander'd off by myself,

In the mystical moist night-air, and from time to time,

Look'd up in perfect silence at the stars.

Epiphanies

Epiphanies , a photo by Lorie McCown on Flickr.

40x42" art quilt, made with hand dyed fabrics and fibers.