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.