SNOWY WINTER WEATHER

As I was passing by the work table at the end of the day yesterday, it occured to me that there are too many 'snow' fabrics! Today I narrowed down the choices.

Direction? Came to conclusion that I simply want to picture snowy winter weather. Yes, there will be bright houses & maybe some cats peeking around...but really it's about snow. Story? Minimal. A descriptive word or 2 on each page.

Think I'll bypass heading towards a 'book' & do what I really want to do...an accordion book. I made one today & temporarily clipped snowy squares to the pages.

A lot of changes in this creative process today! New emphasis, story line & book format. Tomorrow? Maybe more changes!

PS. We had an inspiring 6-8 inches of snowfall today. Beautiful !

SNOWY GROUND

Made snowy ground by painting gesso on canvas. No thinning just dabbed it on. I like the effect. Drying.

Sat down at the work table and pondered, what am I doing & where am I going with this? Would really like some general idea so I can experiment in that direction.

Collaged more snow and sky on the 6x6 papers.

Found rubber stamped images of cats in the snow folder. Cut them out & pushed them around in the snow with the little houses. Hmmmm. Maybe I'll use the cat stamp instead of drawing my own.

Back at it tomorrow!

SNOW & RAIN

Had good intentions of painting gesso on canvas this morning to make snowy ground. Found some I painted a couple years ago. I liked the weight of the fabric & effect of the white gesso w/pale cream canvas peeking through. Thinking this will be the snow covered ground all the way through the story. Maybe.

Got everthing set up but time got away from me and it never happened. But I did take a photo of my snow fabric to show you. I'll be using these in the sky but more to it than that. Should be fun. My pile of white on whites would not show so they're not on the photo.

What did take my attention was working on the Sketchbook Project 2011 web profile page - uploading a portfolio of 12 pieces with info about each. Took all afternoon. Here's my book, RAIN. Not sure I ever showed the completed cover. I need to send it down to NYC very soon. Scanned all the pages the other day. This project got my attention today. Click for process of making RAIN.

SNOWING ON PAPER

Today I played with the 'snow' fabric I've been saving for this project. Cut 8 squares of paper & began to put together some simple scenes of snowy ground & sky.

For fun I cut a couple houses out of painted paper & pushed them around in the snow. Even had some printed text from when I wrote the story several years ago. Put that on a blank page next to a snow scene. Hmmmmm I like it.

But just experimenting. Trying things out. No direction yet but playing is essential to finding my way. That's The Creative Process.

SNOW, HOUSES & CATS

A few years ago, I started working on a children's story about snow. It's been in the drawer ever since. Time just wasn't right. That is until the inspiring blizzard came through last week!

The quilted collages, cat drawings, and storyboarding are back on the table top now and I'm looking at them. Houses in the snow...all laboriously put together with wonder-under and quilted machine stitching. Hmmmm. Quilting. I not there anymore.

Changing course and taking the the snow, houses & cats in a new direction...the world of acrylic painted papers & fabric collaging fixed to paper with glue...maybe some touches of machine stitching. Experimenting definately ahead.

Not sure where I'm going with this...but come along on this new journey!

ART AT THE DOOR

Our time in the back of beyond, was coming to a close. We had been in the country 2 weeks, presenting to groups in 3 cities. Now we were back in the city where we started the trip.

We just gave our final presentation to an NGO group at one of their homes. After dinner & conversation, traditional style around the dinner cloth on the floor, it was time to go. We needed to get up the next morning at 3am to start the long journey home.

When saying goodbys to our friends at the door, the NGO's daughter appeared. "I made this. It's the houses. It's for you!!" Indeed it was!

In each of the 3 cities I spent time showing my art work to the children of the NGO workers. This young lady saw the quilts & collages on the front end of our trip. She was inspired by all the little house collages made with painted papers. Creating her own painted papers with watercolors & some crayoning, she designed the delightful street scene you see above. (click to enlarge) What an unexpected & gratifying surprise to see she had been inspired & motivated to create. And she gave it to me! Maybe I'll frame it ! With it comes alot of memories.

A note came a couple days after arriving home. "_____was SO thankful and encouraged. She really valued your visit and saw what a difference it was making in peoples lives."

Our trip was about coming alongside of people, giving, sharing, encouraging, listening, caring & pouring into them. Purpose accomplished but not in our own strength, I assure you!

This post concludes my story to the back of beyond. Thanks for coming along. I've enjoyed sharing the journey with you.

A new journey begins tomorrow - in my studio. See you then!

COLORFUL KINGS

The Star & The Magi

After Jesus was born in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked,

"Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose & have come to worship him."

Mathew 2:1-2

collage by m.malwitz

created with assorted fabrics, metalic effect thread & cording

#9 in Advent Series

TERROR IN THE FIELDS

Birth Announcement

And there were shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shown around them, and they were terrified.

"Do not be afraid, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people. Today in the town of David, a savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord." Luke 2:8-11

collage by m.malwitz

created with commercial batik & painted fabrics, printed images, metallic ribbon, cut up pictures.

in private collection

#8 in Advent Series

HUMBLE BIRTH OF THE KING

The Baby King

...she gave birth to her firstborn. She wrapped him in cloths & placed him in a manger...

Luke 2:7

collage by m.malwitz

Created with hand-painted & commercial fabrics, metallic effect thread, sequins,

photo on acetate stitched to fabric, machine stitching.

#7 in Advent Series