Remembering your Voice, Finally!

Open Windows 1997

When do you start to listen to your own voice?
When the hollows of your check begin to sag and
you realize the gift of life?
When the voices grow so loud, you can't ignore them
anymore?
When the desire to create overtakes the desire to be 'good'?
Or when you see a process you started once upon a time and nobody thought much of it and you stopped because you listened to them?!
You did!
Why!

detail

The construction of Open Windows is very similar to the digital work I am doing now- doing work in segments. This was done in sections with hand dyed cottons and wools. Each segment was created separately but in unison.  Intuitive curved piecing and applied "free appliqué". Encouraged hanging threads and fabric. It was not accepted in many shows then and was 'retired'. Today, I attended an opening today in Philly and there was a piece there that reminded me of this work. Maybe I should update it a bit and send it back out into the world!
What do you think?

Beneath the Surface

I have been accepted to a juried invitational exhibit by the Dinner at Eight Artists. They will present Beneath the Surface, a special exhibit at the International Quilt Festival in Long Beach, CA - July 22-25th at the Long Beach Convention Center.

detail

Shaking the Tree of Imagination Statement

In the artistic process, I discover more techniques, and inspirations along the way. This leads to more discoveries, an evolution. I make the art and then the art makes me. Each work is individual and a communication between my inner imagination and later, the viewer. This communication is the dream, wish and hope for my artwork.

I am a process person. My process is fed by my love of being outdoors. I’m passionate about coming up with ideas and working out the kinks. It speaks to me. Part of that process is photography. I can see the most exquisite scenes or combinations of patterns and want to share that beauty. My art represents these moments. They are what lie beneath. I bring them back to share, to remember, to remind. These moments become my source, my well. This is when inspiration strikes, allowing thoughts percolate up from the unconscious and become my art, or poetry or prayers.

Layers peeled back reveal the source, the inspiration, and my mad desire to capture thoughts, dreams and the beauty of nature.

Process

I made Shaking the Tree of Imagination for the Beneath the Surface Invitational by the Dinner at Eight Artists. I decided I wanted to explore my current interest in Photographic manipulation. The layering techniques I use in this process seemed suited to the theme.

I layered 3 photographs together to merge as one. The photograph started out as image from a walk taken in my local area’s forest. This is often the first layer to my artwork. The idea becomes reality though the process of my art, the inspiration. That is how the title of the work came to be Shaking the Tree of Imagination.

The other two photographs in this layering process were images of my painted fabric. This provides a rich source of color that can influence and change the final result, the digital layer. The photographs were divided on the computer into sections and printed using an Epson 2400 onto pre-treated inkjet cotton broadcloth. They were assembled on batting, cut apart and physically collaged. This was another layer, the physical. I printed 3 more sections on silk organza and fused those to the piece. Each section was creatively stitched with a spontaneous design. I added metallic paint accents, drawn with a fine nozzle bottle. The final pieces were mounted on a hand painted backing of cotton duck.

The piece was drawn from the imagination, layered digitally, printed, layered physically and then collaged.

Time for SAQA's Auction

SAQA 2009 Benefit Auction 
This year's Benefit Auction will start Thursday, September 10th at 2:00 Eastern.  SAQA has already received 214 donated artworks and more are on the way.  All the artwork is 12" x 12".  You can see them on the SAQA website.

http://www.saqa.com/newsebulletins/Squares09_1.aspx  
Mine is on the first page. It's called Angels will Listen.

Best Thinking

Following a thought...

Where do you do your best thinking? Where do those ideas, inspirations and sudden flashes of creativity come from?

 I get some of my best ideas on walks. I can jog out of the house in a burst of frustration and churn up the tunes until I get to a very steady incline near a heavily wooded part of the road. Then, slowing down, I take in the scene- the birds, deer sign, trees, the way the sky looks, you know.  I just melt into the surroundings. It calms my mind and then the magic happens. A idea will pop up or a solution to a piece I am working on.  This peace and excitement are part of my art. Those feelings from that place becomes the energy I use to work. It propels me forward. It is an essential part of my art.