When it Rains, It Pours - Inspiration

As I type, there is another thunderstorm outside with rain so heavy it's difficult to see across the street. This seems to have become the norm this summer. Lots of precipitation this year. Record snowfall last winter, now record rains. This past winter, when my environment was nothing but gray and white, I spent the time creating with that in mind.

North Wind is one in a series of work from my winter contemplation. Matted and framed to 8 x 10, it is made of silk from Japanese wedding kimonos, hand dyed silk, hand dyed cotton, rayon threads, beads and pearls.

When surrounded by snow, my creative spirit took it in. Water, in it's frozen state. Now that I'm surrounded by water in it's liquid form, what might my creative spirit do with it?

International Spring Quilt Market

I was fortunate to be able to accompany a friend of mine, Ilene Bartos, to market. She was there to promote her new book, Spectacular Rectangles published by Martingale. They were kind enough to give me a badge which was my ticket to enter. Market isn't like a show where you can pay to go view the quilts and visit the vendors. It's the wholesale part of the business.

I had gone with the intention of supporting Ilene and not really thinking about opportunities I might have. This was a very exciting experience for me. I was asked to "try" some new products and let the manufacturers know what I think of it and I have some things to design. The people I met were wonderful and the possibilities are countless.

Creative Lulls and Cycles

It's been quiet here on my blog, and quiet in my studio of late. I used to think there must be something wrong with me if I wasn't producing art work on a daily basis. While I do think it's important to be in the studio with my hands in "something", I have come to recognize that my creative energy comes in cycles. There are times when production is fast and furious and the ideas are coming so quickly I can't always get them in my sketch book in order to remember them.

Then there are the other times when nothing seems to work, and even the inspiration for things escapes me. I can only clean the studio so many times in a week, so what then? What is one to do when creative energy is at an all time low and everything that worked before, isn't now?

The past couple of months has been the longest uninspired time I've spent in many years. It's been excruciatingly frustrating and a bit depressing to just sit and stare at the unfinished work on the design wall. What was it asking for? Why doesn't it seem to be working? Where do I need to tweak the composition? - Nothing. Nada. Zip. No answer. I was staring at it, and it was staring back at me. So I left. I left the studio and headed out.

I began a drawing class at the art center. I thought perhaps this might kick me back into gear. At least it would keep my hands in something and take me back to my roots. Drawing in pencil and charcoal. The class is over for now and I found it quite enjoyable. Even have a drawing or two that turned out fairly well and will keep my hands in the charcoal and pencil for awhile.

At the same time, I began painting a house. Every wall of every room and closet. Every baseboard, door and piece of trim. Methodical. Quiet. Dip the brush and stroke. Push the roller, back and forth. Mindful. Meditative. Five weeks later, finished. Job accomplished. But something else happened. While moving that roller and brush, I began to focus on my unfinished art on the wall. Not really thinking about what it needs, just seeing it in my mind. Nothing concrete occurred, but, with the house painting finished, I am back in the studio filled with creative energy. The work on the design wall has been taken down, stitches ripped and sewn back in different configurations. It's working. I like where I think it's going, at least for now. Ideas are flowing again and I'm struggling with the sketch book and making lists.

I know there will be other non-creative and/or low energy times. I hope they don't last as long this one did. I don't want to have to paint another entire house, but . . . . .

Looking Back, Looking Forward in a new year

Here it is the end of January and I have so neglected my blog. Where does the time go? Holiday hustle and bustle, finishing year-end work, commissions and paper work. Now is the time to look back and revisit what occurred in 2009 in order to look forward to 2010.

I traveled a great deal this past year. I actually drove, or rode as the case may be, from coast to coast beginning in the Spring, with a great trip to Hudson Valley, NY for an art workshop, ending with a visit to family in California for the holidays. In between were several trips to Wyoming to visit family and a niece's wedding in Texas. This year could find me traveling just as often, with two babysitting weekends in Wyoming for our granddaughter and a nephew's wedding in Texas already scheduled.

In spite of all the travel, I've also had a good deal of time in the studio. I sold enough work to make a small profit this year. I participated in several local and regional textile shows in Des Moines and Fairfield, IA. You will also find several of my works at the Perfect Setting in Marshalltown, IA. It's a wonderful gallery filled with a great variety of art.

In the Beginning
Sierpinski's Triangle Interpreted

Two of my art quilts, In The Beginning and Sierpinski's Triangle Interpreted, were juried into a show called "Art Meets Science", through the Studio Art Quilt Association (SAQA) that will travel for two years. The first venue is Birmingham, England in August 2010 at the Quilt Symposium. I would love to be able to go visit them in England. I may travel frequently, but I think my work travels further than I do.

Currently in the studio, I am working to finish some things left undone in 2009, while sketching and thinking about new works. The visionings project through SAQA is still on my mind although my subject matter seems to be shifting. Let's see where this will take me by the end of the year. Show opportunities abound. It's time to make a list of those in which I think my work will fit, while the purchase of a new camera has me snapping away and viewing the world through a smaller, more focused, lens.

The Changing of Season

The fall colors are wonderful and I'm spending time trying to drink in their beauty, to breathe the crisp fall air and soak up the little warmth the sun holds as it moves further South. That said, I have been productive in the studio.

October has been busy with local and regional shows, as well as a deadline for a juried, international show and work on several commissions. I made the deadline for the show, barely, but don't know if my work has been accepted or not yet.

This is a piece that is currently hanging at the Polk County Heritage Gallery in downtown Des Moines, IA. The title is Tide Pool. It shows the many stages of silk from cocoon to silk rod, silk hankie, and the woven background.



"In The Wild" currently hangs at the Fairfield, IA Art Center. This piece was done by painting with dye, then "thread painting", a free-motion technique with the sewing machine. It's an interesting process which I could blog about when I begin the next dye painted works I have in the schedule.


Then there are the small pieces. Exercises in composition, but also with a purpose. These, 4x6" pieces make great postcards. A first class stamp sends them anywhere in the USA. What better way to give someone an original piece of art?





As October moves into November with shorter days and longer periods of darkness, the shadows become stronger even in mid-day. While the stronger light of summer brings warmth and brightness, the longer shadows of these months seem to bring a clarity to the environment. There is so much to see; so much to wonder at.

Balancing Act - Part 2: Visioning

I'm not balancing very well yet. I am spending a good deal of time in the studio, which is good. But not enough time focusing on writing. Why is this a problem? Because writing my thoughts adds a great deal to my creative process. As I think through the possibilities, they become more concrete in writing. Once ideas are on the page (or the computer), I can't forget them, therefore they become more of a reality. If I am to create a more consistent body of work, then I need to focus and balance both of these creative aspects.

The Visioning Project officially kicks off on October 1st. I have made my list of goals, which need to be refined, and made a choice on the theme. I have become fascinated with quantum physics, quantum mechanics and particle physics. Do I understand it? Absolutely NOT! (Math was never my strong suit, either, but I have a great appreciation for it.) But there's a challenge in there that leaves me breathless and excited at attempting to understand - and filled with awe at the complexity of the universe. Because this subject matter is so wide, I have decided to narrow things a bit, at least to begin with, and explore the aspects of space/time. There are so many questions and really very few answers. The sketch book is new, but has words written now, so making other marks in it won't seem so intimidating.

Not sure where this will take me - but it certainly will be interesting. Stay tuned . . .

Balancing Act

It boggles my mind that I haven't written in more than a month. Where has the time gone? It's not that I haven't been busy, or that I haven't been working. I have. I've just ignored some of my networking responsibilities in order to take care of other things. It's time to get back to work here.

I have committed the next year to focusing on building a consistent body of work. In other words, I'm going to attempt to actually focus on one theme throughout the year. The Studio Art Quilters Association will begin "The Visioning Project" this fall. I have committed to this one goal and the group of artists who are also taking part, will, hopefully, be able to hold me accountable for getting the work done.

This means I will need to create balance between my daily life and my art studio, as well as create a balance in working on my art. I am interested in so many different things, there are times I feel scattered and unfocused as I work - jumping from one technique to another, from one project to another.

It's going to be interesting to see what happens as I actually attempt to focus myself and work intentionally in a different manner than I'm used to. I will be blogging on my experiences as I work. Because a year long focus is new for me, as well as the type of work I'm contemplating, I have no idea what will happen other than, I know I will learn much about myself.

Vacation's over - time to get to work and create my balancing act.

Why So Difficult to Write an Artist Statement and Bio?

What goes into an Artist Statement or Biography? And why is it so difficult to actually write them? I need to write one of each for an upcoming show. It sounds so simple when others say, "tell why you do what you do, and how you do it". Finding words for these things isn't always easy. Why do I do it? I have to, I'm compelled. How does one write about a compulsion and have it sound romantic? I guess it's a more positive compulsion than some others I can think of, so why not romanticize it? I'm working on that.

The biography is another story (literally). What does one say about oneself in two or three paragraphs that lets the viewer know who you are as an artist? What if I don't know myself? What if I just like making stuff and sending it out into the world? I guess the difficult part is pulling it together into something that makes sense to someone else. When it comes to my creative self, she's a little bit skittish. She doesn't like being tied down with words. She likes her hands in the "stuff"! So I'm attempting to reign her in enough to get a sentence or two out of her. Wish me luck!

A 60 Year Celebration

Today is my parents 60th wedding anniversary. We celebrated last Saturday with a reception. Family came from all over. It was the first time in many years that all four of their grandchildren and both of their great grandchildren were present at the same time.

I keep thinking about the longevity of this relationship and the partnership they have formed over these many years. There's an interdependence that exists between these two, who have complete trust and reliance on each other. They make a good pair. Not many can celebrate this milestone. (Perhaps that's why I could find nothing in the stores to say congratulations on 60 years. No cards, no napkins, no invitations.)

Aging is not for the weak, they tell me, and I laugh at the irony of that statement. But as I watch them move through their daily lives, and experience the many losses that come with age, I also witness a grace that has come upon them. One that gives thanks for the abilities that remain, and the gift of still having one another in this life.

For all this, I am very thankful.

Inspiration

What inspires each of us to create? It's probably different for each person. For me, it's usually something found in nature, but it can also be an emotional experience, a cause that I believe in, or the plight of others.

Lately, it's about texture. A camping trip to a friend's ranch in Eastern Wyoming has provided much to think about. The first photo is looking up from the bottom of a slot canyon where the water has carved the rock. The visible swirl patterns mark the path of rushing water over the centuries. It's hard to imagine as this is a fairly dry climate - high plains, but when it runs, it runs quickly. The canyon is only about 50 yards in length, and tells a long ago story.

The smooth texture of the rock as it's been carved is wonderful to feel while walking in. It narrows to about 12 inches in some spots, even narrower at the ground forcing one to "walk" on the sides pushing against the rock with feet and hands to move forward.

Then there's pine bark. What wonderful pattern and shifts in color! Different pines have different bark. I found this one to be most interesting.

Now I just need to see what happens when I start playing with art stuff.