Tag Archives: art

Spring Rain

15. springy

This is for Jen’s Stetch Yourself Challenge #11.  The challenge for me on this one was getting the pictures downloaded.
I went on a couple of little day trips and got a bunch of great pictures, I filled my camera’s memory stick and couldn’t find my download cord, so I thought I would try out one of the card readers on my laptop! big mistake.. as it wasn’t the right size and I had to get the help desk to remove the card for me… thankfully they managed without damaging it or the laptop so I finally found the cord and got all the pictures uploaded to share.
This one was looking out the window at my NCCE Conference in Seattle.

Stretch Yourself Weekly Challenge Week #8 the comic challenge

 
(photo proof of Charger’s relaxing here, here and here)
So I tell my students that they should create art based on what they are passionate about… I also tell them that if they look at MY art they can tell pretty quickly what my biggest passion is… my dog! (see ceramic scupltures, photos, digital art and now this!)
This week’s Stretch Yourself challenge is to create a comic of your life… who else could it possibly feature?

Stretch Yourself Week #8 the comic challenge day 2

(and photos of me and scruffy Shawn)

Jen’s Challenge Week 7: Simplicity

simple hands

“Simplicity is the property, condition, or quality of being simple or un-combined. It often denotes beauty, purity or clarity.”

I think of simplicity as very spiritual and for me the color that came instantly to mind was white. To simplify your life is very ZEN and reminiscent of monks or nuns that give up all the trappings of the world to seek a higher power. So I knew I wanted to create something that was very simple in color with a subject that has a peace about it. I also wanted to include circles, round edges have more simplicity than hard straight lines.

When I went to pick an image, I realized that I have a sketch on the work table that would be perfect. Originally, the plans for it were very colorful, layered and complex. So I decided to deconstruct the drawing to some main lines and do a simple single colored stitch. Although, I am not a big ‘pink person’, I am actually very thrilled with how this came out and might do a few more like this.

When you look at this piece, what do you see? I would like to know if the image is obvious to the new viewer, or if it is too abstracted or too subtle. Click here if you want to see the photo inspiration.

About 81/2″ by 12″ totaly including ribbon. Created by simple zigzag stitch on fabric with satin trim. For Jen’s Challenge Week 7 Simplicity As usual, a great challenge that I am glad to have accepted!

Glossy Challenge

 
I wasn’t really sure I was going to like this weeks Challenge but I have to admit I am pleased with the results. I used a pretty thick layer of gesso so you can’t see anything through, then I scanned them in because I decided to play with some color in photoshop. Overall, it was intersting becasue I  don’t think of myself as a painter or having any painting skills… and this made me feel like, maybe I could paint!

colorchallenge

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February Gallery Opening at Canvas

Let Lust Lie when Love is Lost

February 7, 2008
First Thursday Art Walk

Canvas Gallery will be featuring many artists including Nicola Carpi/Nelli, William DeBilzan (Santa Fe), Lynn Shirmer, Chis Sheridan, Greg Boudreau, June Sekiguchi, Nichole DeMent, Stephen Rock, Cynthia Gaub, Jenny Simon (Pasadena), Ryan Molenkamp and Friese Undine (Chicago).  Along with these wonderful artists we will also be showing these New Artists:  Ryan Molenkamp (Seattle) and Alan Van Natta (Norway)

http://canvasanartgallery.com
located @ 617 Western Ave. Seattle, WA 98104

Personal Imagery

Faith

My larger work consists mainly of nude women. But within each is a collage of images and textures. WORDS, text, lettering and numbers are always within a layer or area of my work. I have drawers of book pages in many different languages.

03AFredhead.jpg

Even when I moved to fabric for my artwork, I continued to find, collect and use fabrics with printed text. Although being able to read the text is not key, I want there to be that attempt. An interaction or even a conversation between me and the viewer. One of my older pieces even has shreds of actual journal pages and love letters as the background.

In addition to text, I see SPIRALS and Butterflies commonly make an appearance in my work. Both speak to me of movement, flight, dance and beauty. Looking at some of my smaller ATCs (not made for a specific theme) I tend to notice flames and flowers used as crowns and more butterfly wings. The cycle of life and death being ever present, perhaps.

I have noticed rulers making an appearance lately, and wondering if it is strictly related to sewing. (As sewing patterns also are often used as backgrounds) or if a deeper meaning of needing to “measure up” to something, or insecurities about my size, may be behind their inclusion in my work.

 Eye Dream of Love

I have done a number of pieces that are focused on eyeballs! Which is am sure is simply because I am a visual artist! (ha!) well, I am a visual learner too…

So I hope you have enjoyed my little trip through my personal imagery. If you notice a pattern that I have missed, please point it out! it is amazing what I learn about my own art from other people!