Camera Findings

Miss Pumpkin

This is Miss Amelee Rose.  She prefers the recliner.

This is a detail shot of a quilt haning on my wall.  It has special meaning.  These are the jewels of our family tree.

Another detail shot of the same quilt.

This little fellow was stuck inside the screened patio.  He was freed as quickly as he was stuck.

A pen & ink with colored pencil, mixed media piece.



Inchies and Twinchies Go to Space

I am part of an art group working with fiber.  We also happen to be quilters.  We make artist trading cards, some we swap, some we give, some we keep.  Same with fiber art postcards.  Lately, we have become involved with inchies and twinchies.  These are 1" and 2" sewn squares used in creating art.  I'll show you one in a second.  Last week, we decided to create an art piece to mark the final shuttle flight, and the national change in focus we (especially Baby-Boomers) have experienced.  Our parameters were a minimum of 6 square inches, and max of 8, assembled on theme.  Then swap with designated partner.

These are fun exercises.  For many, they are strictly that, and are classified as craft.  Some of us are fine artists through and through.  Many times while exploring craft, we tend to naturally take it to the next level.  Most of our pieces just turn out as fine art.  It is who God made us (thank you Lord), and we couldn't stop it, any more than we can stop the sun shining. 

My piece did just that.  It was fun.  It began as craft.  It jumped the gap.  It is now fine art.  We are not allowed to share the images of our pieces until they are received.  So, we talk abstractly about them.  This is what I told them.

Y'all are calling this Connections in Space.  I am calling it Changing Space.  We are changing space by living, by creating, and by our choice in medium for this challenge.  It is about national and international space travel/exploration that changed a nation and a world.  It changed the tomorrow of yesterday.  As this program ceases from our national emphasis, it may now change the national and international tomorrow with just as great an impact.  I will sit and watch, wonder, and see what is to be in another personal way, because we entered this realm through a door of art.

I'm done, I'm done, and I'm going to be done.  I think I'm off to my third and fourth ones here.  Then to choose.  I like the first two.  One was an inchie shy of the minimum, but so pretty.  The second piece is incredibly interesting.  This may be a bit long, but I really would like to share something about it with all of you.

 You see, creating this piece was not just fun.  It did something clearly, that happens with almost everything I handle.  It is so plainly clear, it is exciting to me, and I want to share it with you.  It went from being craft to fine art.  The jump of that gap seemed narrow (may or may not have been), and was exciting to see happen.  It was the adventure of art.  I'll go to the other end of the block and begin at the beginning.

This 2nd piece needed to be at least an inch larger than the last.  Fine, 1st piece for hostess.  This time begin with enough pieces to measure the minimum and see how they will play in space, figuratively and literally.  OK.  Arrange.  Embellish.  Embellish some more.  Connect.  Ahah moment galore (explaining soon).  Embellish some more.  Add words.  Add pocket, or door (pending, for added hidden words).  Sign.  Send (pending, tomorrow, far, far away).

Here is the good part.  The words will change this from a craft well done to a piece of fine art.  One of the tiniest and smallest pieces I have ever made.  No drawing or painting.  Sculpting?  Kind of.  The story, the meaning this began to have made all the difference in the world.  I have two artists for neighbors on each side of me, one world renown, and one locally known, who I want to bounce this off of.  They may give me insights yet.

I was up until 3am developing this more NASA piece vs. outer space piece.  The first was the cats in space inchie you may have already seen.  Reference animals sent to space.  This 2nd piece does deal with the philosophy of the NASA space mission, and keenly addresses their other missions few are aware of (like their underwater sciences).  It applies these to all of us individually, collectively, and creatively.  It addresses yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

Have I rambled and confused you?  Has this given food for thought?  Does it tease you about the piece?  I want to tell you what I have used and done some of, without giving it away, but am afraid it would spoil the surprise.  How about if I add, there is a mirror in it?  Yes, a real mirror.  It's on the inchie piece.  The twinchie is for other stuff.
I can share with you some of the more complete thoughts.  A few more tweaks, and I will add the image of the completed piece later today.

NASA marked a difference in our nation, and the world, when we began to explore space with more intent by national involvement.  Our world is completely different because of these things.  Space is what artists are always dealing with, in different formats:  2D, 3D.  The concept of space is among the elements of design we must address constantly.  Most of the time we double check to make sure we did it in an appreciative way.  Our pieces sit upon its crux, and without it, falter from measuring up to fine art...even craft. 

All of this verbiage is inherent in the media.  Mine includes a mirror to make the viewer an integral, changing part of the work.  Mirrors creep into pieces now and again, depending on applicability.  If they work, they will be there.  I personally create to tickle brain cells, laughter muscles, and inspire involvement in my art, others art, and creating their own art.  Be it a venture into outer space, or inner, we will change this entire world, if only by an iota.  I share this to change it for the better.

This is what a pile of inchies looks like, as they are in my studio today.  They await their transformations into arts and crafts.

Unburied

A couple of years ago, I decided the art board from art classes was still not being used.  I took a little of this, and some of that, added a favorite quote, and turned it into art.  The quote reads, "Ships may be safest in ports, but that's not what ships are for."  I love to collect quotes, and artsying them up suits me to a "T".  What might you take to the next level with some of the excess supplies in your studio?

Zoom in to see the details.  Didn't have a place to take a better pic.  Maybe next time.  Certainly not porfolio quality.  Good enough to inspire you though.

Another Quilt Finished

Whew!  A baby gift quilt is finished.  One thing about traditional quilts, they are pretty, tactile, useful, but boring to make for me.  I love the finished look.  Below are three images of the finished quilt.  Black is an unusual color for babies, but one we should explore more of.  Science has proven the higher the contrast, the stronger a babies eyes develop.  This is a fun way of incorporating black.  I love this green with black.  I think black makes colors pop far more than white.  In this case, success was achieved. 

This is an ABCs quilt, that does not forget the power of the mark.  Look at the border, and you will see reference to this.  As an artist in many media, it speaks to the importance of the arts working with education.

A New Challenge for Your Creativity

It's time for us to play along and challenge one another to grow our creativity.  To that end, I will be posting a theme every three weeks.  Jump in and create something based on it.  It is not media specific.  Draw, paint, do something in fiber or clay, 3D, 2D, paper, ephemeral, jewelry, whatever you want.  Be sure to include your contact information, if you want people to track you down and purchase your goods.  As long as it is not illegal, unethical, or vulgar, it will show up. 

FIRST CHALLENGE:

Transparent

I am into photography, along with many other things.  To launch this quickly, and because photography is what I have ready for this challenge subject, I offer these. 

This channel marker is transparent.



Beads in transparent containers, maybe not a garden, but all in a row.

So, let's see what you've got.  Show and tell.  

Egg Art for Easter Season

Eggs have been being prepared for doing zentangles on them.  This is the first.  I believe it will already become part of a private collection.  There are plenty more to follow.  The next one will be pink shadings.

Tropical Palms

I am working on several projects at once.  One of them is this tropical palm tree quilt.  You can see how the palm fronds are being created.  There are more plants to add on the left, trapunto, and stitching, to name a few things this quilt needs before it is finished.  It is 38Hx29.5W at this point.  The size will finish differently.

Creating

For the past month, and then some, I have been creating right and left.  Here are some of the things I am working on, or have finished.

In February I made valentines.  This had an antique flavor.  It uses upholstery fabric.  It is all hand stitched embroidery, and machine quilted.  Part of a private collection.

This next valentine has a door.  Adding the unexpected makes it a surprise for the recipient.  This is also hand embroidered, machine quilted, and part of a private collection.  The first pic shows the front, then the door open.

The elephants were part of a drapery/upholstery trim.  I just happened to have the right beads to go with them.  The copper corner indicate there is a door, and were from a scrapbooking store.  When you open the door you see...(sorry it is sideways).



I have done a couple of traditional things.  There was this quilt for my husband.  Since we are from Texas, and miss it very much, he wears cowboy boots and hat when he can.  I think he's hot when he does, and could not resist celebrating him, and his service in the navy.  It is only a top.  I look forward to the piece being quilted and bound.

I also learned how to zip this block out from a current magazine.  I cannot remember the title, or I would credit the publication, and the author.  This was the test block.  I am working on a black and bright green baby quilt in the same pattern.  I will post pics of it soon.

The anchor fabric scorched incredibly easy.  There is more of the fabric, so I will keep going.

This piece is called Tough as Leather.  I am not sure who the lady is, but I know she was my maternal grandfather's mother.  I wanted to preserve the deugerotype print.  The image is from around 1870-1890.  Where the portrait was taken is as unclear as who she is.  The broken strap hints at the title.  The qualities of leather would probably describe the qualities of this woman.  Life may have seem well improved to her, but from our 21st century, you had to be tough as leather to live through those days so long ago.  I am happy to welcome her into our family.  This piece is in the artist's personal collection.

I love doing trees.  This one is in progress.  No working title has even been decided.  We shall see what it ends up as.



As part of a challenge to make zentangles, through a fiber exploration group, I made a couple of one inch pieces.



I have been adding yo-yos to a quilt.  There are two of these.  One has fabric repeats, and one does not.  They grow slowly, but they grow all the same.

I have also been working on a quilt for my daughter.  It seems there is no fabric available to make the outer border...yet.  I love the zing of the colors, and the pic cannot do it justice. 



This is not nearly all I have been up to.  I have made lots of other quilt tops, quilt squares, and lots of embroidery.  I've also done some collage work, photography, and embroidery.  I need to take about another dozen photographs to update you on those.  Check back.  This blog will be kept up with once again.  See you later.

Art Board Creativity

An art board is usually a support for creating.  In this instance it a piece of art.

Pics Posted on Pages

Thanks to Jamie Fingal, who is a wonderful multi-media artist, I have gotten pages set up with some of my art work.  The first pages show only a small portion of my drawing and painting media.  I have yet to add the fiber arts, and the hundreds of pics from photography.  I think it will keep until tomorrow. 

Without the wonderful help from my fellow SAQA.org members, this just would not have happened.  Thank you all for helping me. 

We are not merely of our own choosing, but a what we make of ourselves in the light of others, in one person.  The positive influence of my fellow fiber artists, has allowed me to share with you, lots and lots of art I have been priveledged to create.  Keep watching, because there is so much more yet to be.