Archive for August, 2013

two monkeys down…

Tuesday, August 27th, 2013

It’s now the end of August and I am still hard at work on my two large pieces for the Earth Stories exhibit. I had a trip cancel this week so have taken this as a great opportunity to fill my unscheduled days with studio time. Today I was so successful to that end that I have high hopes that I might possibly finish construction this week.

Meanwhile two of the monkeys that have been on my back during construction of said piece were dealt with today. I out-sourced two stress-filled aspects of this project.

I asked a professional writer to craft my artist statement for this work and she replied with something like she would love to do it! Imagine that? I love to write, as evidenced by my blog postings but this artist statement was giving me a headache. So I have given her all the components and now wait for the magic to happen.

Then I contacted the Pixeladies about cleaning up the edges in PhotoShop after I photograph the completed work, followed by printing the image to fabric for the requisite 12″ x 14″ companion piece. I might possibly lose my mind if I were to construct such a small duplicate in that none of the edges of this work are even. So now my decision will be whether to include the background in the piece or not but I have plenty of time to fret over that!

Today’s image of this piece (that is not to be shown en todo before the exhibit premiere) is of a panel of buildings. I broke up the chaos of the neutral hue structures with paint. I am thrilled with the effect…it was just what I wanted.

One thing I can say for sure is I have pretty much enjoyed this all the way through as the design challenges have kept my creativity stimulated. Three months and two monkeys down…

 

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my art group…

Wednesday, August 14th, 2013

Almost a year ago I started an art group! I had been feeling adrift from colleagues and peers in my reclusive art-making state. I had also been thinking about it for over a year when my own life stories got to the point that I needed a reprieve. And so I figured out how to start an art group by just doing it.

My top criteria were that the artists create in varied media and also had something to teach me as well as my sharing what I have learned. I had been in other groups before where I was the most accomplished and there was nothing for me to learn. Life is just too short to spend with people who don’t lift me up.

I perused the local art center’s website and selected from the membership directory. I chose 8 mid-career artists who I knew personally or knew of their work. Six accepted my invitation with a seventh joining us at our second meeting.

We have met monthly for nearly a year. We remain untitled, having come up with some funny names and acronyms along the way but nothing that has stuck. We design in varied media: painter, photographer, sculptor, fiber, textile, metal and paper artists. We all have exhibited, have websites, sell our work, dabble in social media, etc. Some have art degrees while others have no formal art training. Most of all we all learn from each other, inspire, critique and laugh. Nearly every month someone thanks me again for starting this group which has far outweighed my own expectations! This group of wonderful strong women is truly a gift I gave myself.

Two have exhibits worth mention…

Karen Preuss, photographer, has an on-going solo show of her botanical photography at Frogsong in Cotati, CA. The reception is this Sunday, August 25 from 3-6 pm, 8280 Old Redwood Highway, Cotati, CA

Jonna Ramey, sculptor and brand new Arts Guild of Sonoma juried member has work in the San Luis Obispo Museum of Art California Sculpture Slam, August 23-September 29 with an opening reception on Saturday, August 24 from 5-7 pm.

Some of my favorite work by Jonna are these incredible hand held (he)arts! Each one is so unique in stone choice, shape, color, composition, lines, fractures, fossilized components etc. True love.

Clearly the artists in our arts group are all gifted. I hope to one day own a piece of art or more from each one!

 

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so much anguish…so little time

Tuesday, August 6th, 2013

As I continue designing this mammoth work for Earth Stories I am reminded of a couple details. One I cannot publish online the entire work anywhere, anytime until after the exhibit opens in May 2014. So I provide snippets of it to illustrate my anguish.

Secondly I am reminded of the challenge of designing this humongous piece, intended to fill up most of a 72″ square. I managed to wallow through the first half and now am working on the second half. While the debut exhibit is not until next spring the photography is due this November which means it has to be finished!

My theme has to do with building sustainable architecture particularly in natural disaster areas, specifically structures that will withstand earthquakes and tsunamis. So half of the work was about the earth and now I am working on the piece about the structures.

My original thought was to hang this at 90 degrees of what this work generally hangs. This worked for the earth section but to design the building section at 90 degrees looked more like sea which was not the look I was hoping for. So I decided to design it vertically while hanging at 90 degrees…lost yet?!

Now my concern is it is so abstract that no way does it look like what it is intended to resemble. Aha … this is where the artist statement that accompanies the work which will explain to the viewer what the heck they are looking at! After all we often look at art and wonder what in the world was the artist thinking? How the heck does that relate to anything? So I decided after much consideration and hours wide awake when I might be sleeping otherwise to just hang with it and proceed forward. I also decided to ask a writer friend to help me craft the artist statement.

All I know is I am learning a lot about puzzles, patience, process, and trust. I just have to trust that this is going to work out. I also look forward to showing it to my art group so someone not engaged in this anguish can say what about doing this and the hallelujah chorus will sing!

This is one of the gifts I acquired from forming this mixed media art group nearly a year ago. I’ve never been one who liked critique. I had a vision for my work and I was sticking to it. Gradually I have eased into so welcoming their input which is always brilliant and often jettisons me away from the anguish.

When I finish this project I plan to make something really easy!

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