Sample Some Daily Art

I am loving the daily art assignment.  No rhyme or reason, just creativity.  Enough to move my mind and my fingers.  Here is a sample:

 

"Shadows and Texture"

Fabric, painted Misty Fuse, silk fibers

 

 

"Cellular Growth"

Dried latex paint, recycled card, glue

 

 

"Almost Black, Almost White"

Recycled card, fabric, glue

 

Today Came and Went

Today was Sunday - a football day- a day of expectation and surprises and a different result than expected.

I had plans to be in the studio the better part of the day.  But- like most days, things go their own way.  It's not a bad thing - just not the way it had been envisioned.

I wasn't going to watch the football games, but I did.  I did do my daily art project and I looked (studied) the run off series pieces as a whole.  But---- I didn't get any farther than that, and I have so many projects to work on.  Maybe too many.  We had a nice visit from our nephew and a long distance call to my brother-in-law.

The nice thing is that I am not stressed about the direction my day went.  I AM hoping tomorrow will be more artistically productive.

It's a New Year!!

I belong to his wonderful group of very creative, talented and supportive women artists.

A challenge to do daily art has been made to the group and I am going to try to do my best.  The requirement is a 3x 5 inch or 3 x 21/2 inch format. What I have done has been fun and has been drawing me into my projects. Sometimes I don't push through and really work. I have almost as many daily pieces as I should by now.  I'll take some pictures and share the fun. Naming the pieces is as much fun as making them.

I also went to Tamara's 'Golden Fiber Arts Studio' and attended a very good art critique.  There were three pieces critiqued.  One of them was mine.  I came away with an appreciation for professional presentation.

I am working on my thermal run-off series - adding fabric pieces to complement the acrylics  with which I started the series. This could be  lifelong series, I have been in love with the concept for so long!!

Next month I start another series class with a new concept. There are a lot of things I want to do with leaves.  Hopefully this will kick start several ideas I have been thinking about.

Our group have also proposed another challenge to be hopefully shown in the Castle Rock Library some time this year.  I think I will be very busy for the next few months.  Now--- if I can keep you all updated!

Has it really been that long??? August?????

OK - see how easy it is to break a habit.  Let's see how easy it's going to be to restart!

The trip to Yellowstone was fabulous!  Many images to inspire.  The thermal run-off was especially colorful.  Visited some sites we had not seen for a while.

The six month series class is over.  My series was acrylics with fiber, featuring thermal run-off.  I am now working on companion pieces in fiber with acrylic.  I want to be finished with this section by mid January.  I will still continue the run-off series.  There are so many ideas to work on.

A new six month series class will start in February.  I'm mulling over a couple of new ideas for that.

The show at the Douglas County Library went extremely well.  A small art group from Castle Rock that I belong to presented almost 90 pieces, both fiber on the wall and beading and dimensional work.  We were all very pleased with the positive response from the library and their patrons.

I think I'm somewhat caught up with the major artistic events since August.  I better get the show on the road for the new year.!

Hiatus

I am producing-----organization,  I hope.

I've taken a week or so to re-organize my studio.  The amount of fabric, tools, magazines and books, cardboard, paint, beads and general stuff is much more than my room can hold.   I am being ruthless!  Ha, ha.  But- -I do have several piles of books and magazines and many sewing patterns to share with someone---- anyone?  I have pitched scrapes too small to use , bubble wrap, bags, dried up glue, bent pins and some things I'll never use.  I think I'll never use. I have found forgotten UFO's, project ideas, and things I couldn't find and therefore bought more. I don't practice just one art form.  I dabble!!!!!  Where do I put the rolled paper?  the flat paper? the pine cones I picked up last month? the paint, the dye? Where do I put the paper towel rolls? the broken eye glasses and the onion skins? I save for future use, even if I have no idea how to use it. How to sort? To categorize or not to categorize?  That is the question. I need to separate!  I need to combine!  I have an empty tub!  I have a half filled tub!  All my tubs are filled, I'll have to buy more! Will I remember I stored these two types of materials together?  Out of sight - out of mind. Oh my! There's not enough room for everything to be in plain sight. I need a step ladder to reach the top two shelves. Maybe in a few days, the table top will be clear again and I will start something new or finish something old.  In the mean time, sometimes it's  finding treasure and sometimes it's the sad decision to throw something away.  Either way, it needs to be done.

WOW! Natural colors from cold bundling

This is truly cool!  I opened my two dye bundles last Saturday.  The Coreopsis and yellow onion was very good. I had used a small apple branch and metal washes as mordants.  The area of fabric that was wrapped against the wood took on the image of the wood beautifully. I think I have devised a way that more fabric surface can be bundled tight against the wood in a future bundle.  The washers worked in some places, creating a dark mottled area under a few of the washers and a very nice circle in at least one place.  Now that the washers have lost a little more of their surface shine they may react better in the next bundle.

The bundle with the sunflowers was fairly moldy but probably should have stayed bundled longer to achieve a deeper color.  This one was not as wet to begin with  and was harder to keep a tight surface because the flower heads were so thick.  Again, where the wood was in direct contact with the fabric, the image was great!  The cotton in this bundle could be re-dyed in another bundle.  The colors were not as well defined as the silk.

I want to try so much more before the snow flies and when kitchen compost may be the only dye sources available.

One Down and So Many More To Go

I finished the Seminole quilt for my grand daughter.  She will be going off for her freshman year at college this week.  Time flies and things change.  I haven't made a traditional quilt for quite some time.  It was fun and this technique is fast.

So, one down and so many other projects to choose from!  I want to finish the other Coral Bell projects.  Two of the three are half way done and I have the idea for the forth.  Best to proceed with those.  Although I am working on the run-off series in my mind.  There is so much there to explore and techniques to experiment with.  Switching to fiber with paint, as opposed to the paint with fiber that I have already done, will be a challenge.  Texture will still be the star, but the color range of mixed paints is hard to match in fiber without dying.  I am not set up for anything but limited dye experiments.  The eco-dyed bundles are still hiding in my downstairs pantry.  Peaches are in season and I'm saving peach pits and waiting for the rabbit brush to bloom. As always more in the mind than under the machine.  I'd better get to work.