NEW

reading & designing sketchbook & marker

new ideas coming

theme of currents?

minimal

less is more

can be a challenge

later........

STITCHING CLOSE-UPS

I completed the new series of 3 dye vats, made with painted papers and machine stitching.

Click here to see the process of creating them.

They were inspired by aerial views of the tannery in Fez, Morocco. I found a great video that takes you to this amazing place!

Ancient Leather Tannery Madness in Fez Morocco

Pictured: 2 design close-ups. Will post the 3 finished pieces at a later date. Click on photos to enlarge.

NEVER ENOUGH HORIZONTAL SPACE

I smile whenever think about inadvertently hogging the table, at workshops I used to take.

There would always be 2 people assigned to each long table. Gradually 'my space' would slowly take over most of the table, crowding out the person at the other end.

There never seems to be enough table top space here. I have a couple projects going at once right now and need more places to put things. Chairs. game table & even a garbage can are making it work but I'm still looking forward to that IKEA run!

STUDIO LIGHT

I am posting pictures to show where the natural light comes from in my windowless studio.

I turned the track lighting off and just used the natural light to shoot these photos.

My studio is a loft which over looks the great room. I have no windows but the room is light and airy.

There are 2 skylights over the studio space and 2 more in the great room. Windows in the great room also spill light into my space.

When I'm working up there I turn on the track lighting. All these light sources make my studio light and bright.

"STAND HERE"

I always say that one of my husband's best qualities is being long-suffering.

This comes into play every time I call him out from 'his cave' & away from his computer, to take pictures of me working in the studio.

He likes me to explain clearly with words not hand motions - whatever it is I'm explaining.

Today I said, "stand here," as I pointed to the spot where I wanted him. He headed for the opposite end of the room.

OK. He made his point again!

Nelson's pictures from this morning.

QUADRANTS & COLORSCAPES

For the current project, I'm working on several series - all abstract but I do have some themes.

If you've been following the blog, you've seen the dye-vats.

Started a series on weather yesterday.

Today I began quadrants & color-scapes.

top

color-scape in progress-at end of the day

lower

earlier today began working on 1st in quadrant series

PUSHING AROUND MAGENTA

A call for some magenta in these collages. So painted papers last week and started putting together a night at the dye-vats.

Little time to work yesterday and today. Been out and about plus engaged in other things but I did put down a collaged background today.

Now I'm at the point of thinking about how to define the dye-vat squares.

Oil Pastels? Stitched lines? Will I put more marks, texture on the circles.

Perhaps circle around the rim with stitching?

I usually make some samples to see how the techniques look. I'll do that next.

TABLETOP SPACE...

is there ever enough !?

I was putting the room back together where we hung up the leaning shelves.

Freed up one of the tabletops in the studio by moving the sewing machine into the spare room right by the studio. It's on a game table now. Not sure that will work - not enough table top space.

I can sew the collages in there when I get to that point. We'll see how that goes.

Also moved the extra BFK and other large flat art work in there too.

Figuring out how I can make better use of the table top space. I need areas for painting, drying papers, organizing the painted papers to be able to see what I have while I'm working, glossy picture box, fabric scraps, and of course a working space.

Nelson says, "Do you want to buy another table at IKEA?"

:-)

Table top shots while working on the dye vat collages in the studio today.

LEANING PICTURE SHELVES

2 leaning picture shelves in the spare bedroom. Nelson's had this project going for a couple weeks. Being busy, the project's been in start and stop mode for weeks, but we finally got them up & painted.

He uses poplar for all the art shelves in the house. This wood resists twisting in the drying process, so the boards are great for shelves.

• Shelf with wall taped during final painting.

Used same 'ivory' as on the walls, though this was a low semigloss. Keeping the look minimal.

• 2 closeups to get an idea of the construction.

LET THERE BE BETTER LIGHT!

I work in a loft. No windows but my space overlooks the great room which is filled with light. I also have two skylights in the studio.

As the sun moves during the day, the quality of the natural light in my studio changes. I find myself moving the tables around to catch the track lighting as the day goes on.

The 'heads' have been pointed at the art work on the ledges, rather than the work tables. Not helpful when I need the light beamed on the table tops.

My husband, who is always available for a 'job' came in and redirected the track lighting.

Nelson adjusting the heads & looking at the redirected lighting.

Thanks, my dear!

PAPER PLATES ARE PAINTED PAPERS TOO

I worked in the studio today but interruptions made for not much progress.

Emptied the studio garbage. Take a look.

Some will be alarmed I'm throwing these beauties out but I can't save everything!

The paper plate centers are being used in the dye vat series. Great color mixtures on these rounds!

STITCHING A DYE-VAT

I want to incorporate machine stitching into the dye-vat squares.

Tried a couple stitching possibilities and like this one - to the right.

Some think my studio is always neat. Not so!

When I'm in the heat of the creative battle, so to speak, nothing is put back in it's storage spot.

No cleanup in sight. Just pushing things aside for now.

WHAT IS RIVES BFK?

My box of Rives BFK came yesterday.

BFK is a very versatile printmaking & drawing paper.

It has a smooth surface with a slightly velvety feel.

It's 100% cotton rag, mould made & the color is highly fade-resistant.

I created collages on grey BFK a couple years ago & have been wanting to work with it again ever since.

It's impossible to find the grey locally, so I mail-ordered it from Utrecht. It came in 2 days. I was very impressed with the packaging.

I cut 6 -15 x15 pieces. Ready for next step tomorrow.

SEEING THE CREATIVE PROCESS

Continuing to work on the Moroccan dye vat series today.

Looks like I'm adjusting my glasses to see the creative process better!

More squares.

Thinking I'll make this a series of 6.

Rives BFK grey came today. Used this for collages a couple years ago. Great surface & neutral background for mounting this particular series.

SQUARES & CIRCLES

In my studio today

working on painting papers,

cutting squares & circles

and trying different layouts

continuing tomorrow

OPEN CANS OF PAINT?

Pictured is my Dye Vat series, created in 2010. I've been thinking about doing more with the imagery.

Got the push I needed last week and now I'm working on the new series, also inspired by the aerial view of the dye vats in Fez, Morocco.

Maybe I'll call this series 'dye pots' instead of vats or 'paint pots' or 'open cans of paint!' Back on Monday.

TACKING PAPER BAGS

a verb: 'to tack' - to follow a zig-zag course.

Yes, that's what's happening in my studio.

Was going to paint today but got inspired by brown paper bags.

So I took a zag in the path to cut down, iron & gesso 5 bags.

I worked on paper bags before and liked the results.

So getting paper bag surfaces ready for paint.

My dear friend, Marcia, brought me the turquoise T-shirt I'm wearing, back from the Cambodia Hope Organization aka CHO. She did art in Cambodia with women and children suffering from traumatic pasts, including children rescued from sex trafficking. Marcia is one of my heros. She has taken art to very hard places-where I could never go-Cambodia was one of them.

Marcia is on another journey now, to an even harder place, at home fighting cancer. Her story is compelling, sometimes humorous, sometimes raw, but always very real. She pulls no punches & is creating art all along the way. Meet my friend Marcia on her blog and website & be inspired!

Marcia's blog about her Cambodia trip:

http://creativecallcambodia.blogspot.com/

Marcia's website:

http://www.thecreativecall.net

TACKING DYE VATS

changing course

tacking dye vats & abstracts

earlier Moroccan art on ledge

continuing to paint

brown tones today

some magenta tomorrow

reds on the ledge

another dark overcast day

not good for photos