Small Works

Brookie
3.5 x 5 inches

I seem to be obsessed with trout.

Protective Armor

I've been spending a lot of time closeted in my studio.
Over the last year, I have felt almost suffocated by some of the art that I made.

Well, maybe not that dramatic but I felt like I couldn't get to MY art.
I had spent the year or two before that creating art for classes and I love those classes, love the art from those classes but I kept feeling this tugging in my heart.
Trying to pull me in a different direction.

If you were to look at the photos that I have taken over the past year or so, you would find a lot of abstract shots.
Texture, color blocks, peeling weathered pieces of wood.
Ancient broken-down boats, driftwood...

There are pages in my handmade books that reflect this "look".
Most of the pages that I paint for backgrounds (for books) portray this.

The last five or six pieces of art that I created have been from a place of deep longing.
A longing to find the sweet spot that I know is there.
That I feel I am getting close to.

I worked on a small piece of art this weekend, a tiny piece measuring 4 inches x 4 inches that felt like I was just basking in that sweetness.

I love it.
Just love it.

I like the color combination in this.

Love the texture

I also like the depth of the canvas - almost 1 1/2 inches.

While I loved the piece as it was above, I felt that it needed a bit more grunge or more decay to it.
Like a protective armor might have.
One that was well used and worn from years of  protecting the wearer.
So I aged it a bit more.

Protective Armor
4"x 4"
plaster, gauze, acrylic paint, joint compound, soft gel,
crackle paste, cold wax

More Experiments

Drawing into plaster & molding paste.

The beginning of many layers of glazes of acrylic paint.

I've been playing around with molding paste & plaster the past couple of weeks.
I love adding acrylic glazes then sanding part of it off so I can add more glaze.

Experimental play is good for the creative muscles.

Busy Little Bee

Honey Bee

I wanted to add a bee to a piece of artwork after researching the symbolism of them.
Instead of redrawing the image every time, I decided to create a thermofax screen out of my drawing.

I love it!

I actually made three different sizes so I could decide which one I wanted to use.
If you're interested in purchasing one, drop me an email.

Personal Mark Making on a mixed media piece of artwork.

Experimentation as Creative Play

Learning to make a niche!

Artful counting
and
symbols of affection

Learning to make a niche is a lot of fun and requires a lot of fore thought...
Or in my case, a lot of after thought that eventually becomes fore thought.

But I am tenacious.

When I set my mind to figuring something out, I do not quit until I have done just that.
I am sure that it would have been easier to read some instructions first but I had an idea and just jumped right in.

I know that if you know me or read my blog regularly you will sense that this is a recurring theme in how I approach things.

It often leads to awesome discoveries as well as abandoned artwork.

Sands of Time

Like the days of our life...
I can't believe that so much time has passed since I last posted a blog entry!
Time just flies by, doesn't it?

I've been working in my studio - as usual I am working on several pieces at once (wouldn't want to get bored, now would we?).
Here's a couple of peeks - no big secrets just pieces that will go into books, shows and private collections.
And I can't show you until I show the people writing the books, curating the shows and hanging the art on their walls (wouldn't be fair, would it?).

I am drawn to certain shapes and draw them often.

This is waiting for another layer of translucent color
and maybe more plaster or molding paste.

Artful counting.

I love to add found items to my artwork.
This is a piece of broken Indian pottery that I found
while on a kayaking trip. I love the decorative
lines on it.

Another piece of pottery - of history actually.
It's a piece of history full of grace and beauty in my eyes.

I love the texture and shapes that you can get
when you sand down through layers.

I vowed to myself a few months ago that I would work with more color.
I usually work with a neutral palette but am really drawn to bold, colorful works of art. So I am trying to add more color to my own work.
Plus it should be easier to photograph.
Even though a couple of the pieces are not bold in color, they are more colorful than what I usually use.
And I am loving it.

What about your color palette? Do you have your "go to" colors?
Do you work with one palette yet are drawn to another?
And if so, I wonder why?

October Theme

This is a repost from the "Sketchbook Challenge" blog.
Original post here.



Carol here, welcoming you to October.

A month that brings many changes to my Southeastern US landscape... the days become shorter and temperatures drop cuing leaves to change color and fall off the trees, gardens mature with their harvest and are tilled under signaling their rest period.

Here in the South Carolina we are getting a much deserved break from the relentless humidity that we have suffered through this summer.

My husband and I kayak in the local rivers and can often be found tromping through the forest on any given trip...we're noticing things now that we didn't see all summer – whether it's the changing of the leaf color or the filtered light through the trees – our landscape is changing...

Which brings me to the theme for this month.

The theme for October is VIEW

View/Views

noun

1. An instance of seeing or beholding; visual inspection

2. sight; vision

3. range of sight or vision

4. a sight or prospect of a landscape, the sea, etc

5. a picture or photograph of something

My suggestion would be to look the word up in a couple of different dictionaries (here, here, or here), check out the synonyms and see how it is used in a sentence.

This is what I usually do...but I can get rather intense from time to time. The research phase is one of my favorite parts when beginning a new project.

I am choosing to begin the month with a more literal interpretation of the word.

If you're been reading this blog (here and here) and my personal blog, you'll know that I've been doing a bit of (much needed) work in my bathroom.

I purchased and altered a shower curtain, which by the way, turned out very nice. Now I'm painting a triptych for an empty space on the wall.

I knew that I wanted a landscape painting. I wanted bold, bright colors (aren't you proud of me Kelli?) that would just jump off the wall. I also wanted to try out an idea I had about the house paintings that I had been doing.

So the first step in my “journey with a view” was my trusty sketchbook.

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You know, we've all been so brave this year in sharing our sketchbooks.

I don't know about all of you loyal readers but there are marks in my book that are, um, less that stellar. As a matter of fact, they are almost pitiful! But there is one thing that I have learned in this Sketchbook Challenge journey, it's that we all make marks like that. We all have room to grow and improve. And when you share your bad marks along with your good marks, people connect with you on a different level.

That view is the same for all of us, isn't it?

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Kinda got off topic, didn't I?

Anyway...

I started painting a series of houses and landscapes last year called “It Takes A Village”. I envisioned a village of wonky skinny houses that had tall skinny trees and odd skinny flowers in the garden.

I fell in love with the whole project and I am still painting them a year later. I wanted to take that idea up a notch with this triptych.

I sketched out my idea – which was to have the painting flow through three separate panels of wood (my substrate).

This was my first idea (sorry, I didn't scan it before I painted it).

I also used this page ( Moleskine Folio Sketchbook A4 ) to try out several different colors of paint. I have to jot down the name of the color or I will forget it. I was using the Derwent Intense Watercolor pencils on this page.

I liked what I had on this page – it was bold and colorful, it was in keeping with the “It Takes A Village” series...but something just wasn't clicking with me.

I really wanted to let my wonky little houses grow up a little bit.

I began thinking of how I loved the “Rainbow Row” houses in my beloved Charleston SC. I decided to look at some images pertaining to that type of structure.

When I begin a project or get stuck with one, I often turn to Google for help. I click on “images” at the upper left hand corner of the main page and type in what I looking for. The returns are usually pages and pages of images to calm or confuse you.

In this case, I found just enough to get me going in a different direction.

I went back to my sketchbook.

These pages are a sample of what I sketched out after my Google search.

I really liked a couple of the houses this time and began another “test” painting.

This is what I came up with (again, I didn't scan before I began painting).

I laid out the landscape as one continuous scene, then drew the lines in to separate it into the triptych panels.

You will also see the smears of red paint on the left hand side. I was trying to make up my mind about which color to paint the houses. You will later see that I used almost every one of the colors in my shading.

I also added a bit of the ocean to the background in the "real" painting.

The scene is a compilation of views that we have when kayaking in the Charleston Harbor.

I used a bit of artistic liberty but that's what we do, right?

I'll give you a tiny peek at how the painting is progressing. Throughout the month, I'll post updates and let you see how it's going.

I hope that you will enjoy a small view of the work that started in my sketchbook this month.

Please share yours as well!

The theme for October is VIEW

How to be eligible for prize drawings:

In order to be eligible for one of the October prize packages you must post at least one photo of a sketchbook page related to the October theme to the Sketchbook Challenge Flickr group and you MUST tag one of your photos with the code "oct489".

IMPORTANT: PLEASE ONLY TAG ONE OF YOUR PHOTOS with this special code!

It is not necessary to tag more than one and it will not increase your chances of winning.

Information on how to upload photos to flickr can be found here.

Winners will be chosen based on random draw on 10/31/11 and announced on the Sketchbook Challenge blog either on that day or on 11/1/11.

Painting and Rusting

I've been doing a little bit of mixed media painting this week.
Getting ready to go to a local gallery tomorrow (!) to show my work for a possible "visiting artist" spot.
I've been a bit nervous and really excited (since they ask me to come!).
Hopefully I'll have the opportunity to show and sell my work there.
I'll be taking books, fiber collage pieces and mixed media paintings.
Here's a peek at three new pieces from the "It Takes a Village" series.

I'm also thinking about starting a batch of rusting this weekend...
My husband and I rusted a bunch of fibers (and things) last year but haven't done any since then.
I'm getting low on a couple of my favorite pieces...it should be perfect weather this weekend to throw together a batch of rusty goodness outside.

What's on your table today?

Painted Lady

Here she is...

all finished.

"Our Lady of Guadalupe"

acrylic, watercolor, wax pastels, molding paste

on 5"x7" canvas panel

Our Lady of Guadalupe

After getting ready for the retreat, the art festival and vacation,
I was very tired...

I had to take a break from drawing, painting and
making "completed" artwork.

Oh, I still did some doodling in my sketchbook
but nothing other than quick little reminders to myself
of things I might go back to later.

When I went to Colorado Springs for the "Textile Evolution" art retreat,
my friend Liz gave me a cool book mark.




It was for the "Guadalupe Festival" in Phoenix, AZ (from 2009).
It was the image on the front that had drawn her attention (and mine),
not so much the festival info itself.
I've had the book mark in my studio,
in a spot that I can see it every time that I work at the studio table.
She has been calling me...

So instead of doing housework, writing class proposals,
sending out artwork or any of the 18 other things that were on my "to do list",
I started painting.
I've asked my friend Sharon Tomlinson (check out her classes!)
to critique my work for me as I go.
Here's what I have so far.

I did have to adjust her eyelids.

I also moved her eyebrows down (they were just too high)

and lower her chin (also too high).

All in all I think that she is coming along.

Not an exact copy (which I wasn't trying to do) but coming along.

In the past, I have just made up faces to draw or paint (usually)

but I am enjoying having a reference image.

It can make things a lot easier.

This is a mixed media painting.

I've used acrylics, watersoluble wax pastels (Caran D'Ache Neocolor 2),

a tad of watercolor and graphite.

I'm painting on a 5" x 7" canvas panel that has a layer of molding paste

and a sheer fabric overlay.

I'll try to remember to scan it and post my progress as I go.

We're getting rain here in South Carolina.

And we're very thankful for it!

"Strong Roots"

"STRONG ROOTS"

Carol Sloan

8" x 10"

acrylic, watercolor, india ink

mixed media collage on wrapped canvas

I used vintage papers/ephemera in the collage including a power bill from 1928!

The papers are wrapped around the edges of the canvas so it is ready to hang as is.

Email for price of original and/or prints.

Creative Play, I mean Work

At the Textile Evolution Retreat, I am teaching two different classes.
One is the Scraps, Fragments and Artifacts class.
Check out this post (and this post) for info about that one.
The second class is only one day.
It's an exercise in creative play called "Play, Create, Explore".
It's going to be so much fun!
We'll be making an 8" x 8" piece of mixed media fiber art. I supply the kit
so all the participants have to do is show up!
Well, maybe bring one or two sewing machines in the mix.
We'll scrape some paint around, collage some images, ponder on some words to add to our rusty fiber/bird's nest paper background.
Oh, let's not forget the beads, the button ribbon,the sheet music and the flowers...
I think there is only a couple of spots left!
Sign up NOW!

The other thing I've been doing (among the 872 other things) is getting ready for the WGAF - which will be four days after I get back from Colorado Springs.
Yeah, I realize that everything is all jammed up together...
I'm going to have some cards ready to sell - note card type- some with prints of my paintings and some will be original tiny paintings.
Here is one that I painted.

You can't tell from the photo, but it has a narrow white border around it.

Sometimes it takes me a while to warm up to some of my work,

but I really liked this one right away.

I have been putting in 10-12 hour studio days getting ready.

I should say "work days" instead of "studio days" since I work all over the house...

Does anyone else do that?

Another Bird Painting...

Well, I must be overly attrached to Chickadee's and didn't even know it! I started this new painting yesterday and thought I'd share the first phase of it. I have a good bit more work to do on it.

And when my husband got home from work yesterday, he checked the mail...made me chase him to get a package from Oregon...I had sent the front panel of my mixed media book (from DJ's class) to DJ for her to fix an over heating problem for me. This is what I go back yesterday!

I had forgotten how beautiful the coloring was on the panel. This is DJ's drawing we used in the classroom. She did a little touch up painting on it (she said just to fix the boo boo from the iron - but I don't remember my painting being this beautiful!). So now I can head back to the studio to begin putting the book cover together. It's going to be so awesome!

Creative Offerings

Here's a small (4" x 5") collage for the mixed media book that I am spending way too many hours on...but totally lovin' it! That is DJ Pettitt's image (from a cool postcard).
Hey, look at what I painted when I got home from Weaverville NC today! I had THE most wonderful day with three beautiful and talented women. It was a totally inspiring day! What about you?
What about a little Funky Chicken? Everybody needs a Funky Chicken in their life...
here's one just for you!

finito a meta'

Half finished? What do I mean by that?
Well, I think I'm finished with the painting of the painting
but I plan on doing so much more with the painting itself...
Maybe a mixed media fiber piece?
A nice vintage looking wall hanging?
Give me a few days to mull it over and I'm sure I will come up with something.
I've got to get better pictures so we can use this face in transparencies for Jane.
But for now, here she is.

Paulette Insall "Faces"

I've been doing a lot of drawing here lately...
painting on fabric too.
I'm working my way towards making a book.
I want to add painted faces, ephemera, old documents,
transfer pictures of my family...
that kind of thing.
Oh, and room for documenting, for capturing a
moment in time.
Anyway, I've singed up for
Paulette Insall Faces on line class.
Even though I can and do draw and paint faces,
I have admired Paulette's work for a long time.
I'll be glad to add some new tricks to my art tool box!
Here is one of the newest faces that I have sketched out.
Now remember, it's only a sketch!
I have plenty of tweaking to do on it...
and I'm sure it will change as I paint it.

This last picture was before I went back and

did a little darkening of my sketch lines...

you can see the difference in the eyes especially.

The hair has also been worked on a little bit.

I've Been Painting Again...

But it's a secret...
well, not really.
Only because my camera is not behaving...
For some reason, each time I try to take pictures,
you have to set it on a different flash setting to get a decent photo...
and then it's not that decent.
Go figure.
But, the Good News is this -
I've completed one of the fiber pieces
that I've been so busy with!
Great!

It's for a class at Random Arts.
A Rust Media Wall Hanging.
And I would love to share it with you
but
well, you know...
the camera issue...

But I can tell you this much.

It involves a stack of rusty strips of fabric, Kim Wipes, lace,

old tee shirts, pantyhose (new not used), tyvek,

drawer liner, mixed media fabric paper,

crocheted lace (by me!), gilded images,

drawn faces, beads, hand quilting

machine quilting and driftwood...

wow...

Doesn't that sound great?

All the rust dyed pieces have been

done by my husband and me.

Check out my teaching schedule

and

Random Arts for more details on this awesome workshop.

It truly is a

"One of a Kind" wall hanging!

Judy, Judy, Judy...

This weekend I traveled to Atlanta...
a 2 1/2 hour trip by car

to meet the most extraordinary woman by the name of

Judy Coates Perez.

(hey, is she standing on a box? I look like I'm about 5 foot tall!! Oh, I am...)

She is one of the most generous and talented artists that I have ever met.

I went to Fiber On A Whim for 2 days of classes with her.

The first day was a Mixed Media Fabric Painting Class.

Oh What Fun!

We transformed a plain white piece of PFD fabric .

into a riot of color and texture.

I loved the non-stressful way of creating the most beautiful piece of fabric

I wanted to make a tote bag out of it
but my husband suggested making a wall hanging out of it...
hmmm...
I can solve that dilemma by making more fabric!
Yay! An excuse to get back in to the studio and
Play The Judy Way.
I'll post pictures of my creation (keep in mind it was my first time!).


Oh, and guess who else was there for the first class?


My buddy Cheryl Prater!



(I'm seeing double!)
How much fun was that?!?!

Cheryl and I "met" online and have been talking to each other for a while
so it was great to meet her in person.
She hasn't been feeling too good lately, so she had to leave a little early.

If you read this Cheryl, I hope you're feeling better!


Here are a few pictures of the class.

This was one that Judy painted. Looks great!

And here are a few samples of her work that she brought for us to see. Beautiful!

The second day was even more exciting!

We played with Tsukineko Inks.

Have you ever painted with them?

They are awesome!

I loved the organized way that Judy presented the information...

the way that she led us through exercises

that helped us to gain confidence with using the inks.

I'll post pictures that show the progression of my own work with them.

This is the first one...just getting used to the applicators...
trying to do some shading..

Notice how flat everything seems,

no real shading on the leaf at all..too dark.

Here's the next exercise.

Shading is getting better with the help of a few tricks that Judy shared. Now, try my hand at a flower. Looking better!

Here is the final painting that I did.

I picked a beautiful beetle and, encouraged by Judy, added some bold colors to it!

That was quite an improvement, wasn't it?

I will definitely be using them more, not only in quilting but general art work as well.

I may use them in the piece that I will have hanging in the Pickens County Museum

this October...my art class will have a show.

How exciting is that?

Back to Judy...

Here is more pictures of things that she brought to share with us.

Paintings with Tsukineko Inks on fabric.

Awesome...

I had the pleasure of having dinner with her, Kristin and Jan on Saturday night.

We sat at the restaurant for about 2 or 2 1/2 hours during a horrific lightening storm...

but not as bad as what Judy had when she went back home on Monday...

We had a blast! Great food and fun, entertaining company.

Judy and I met for breakfast on Sunday am as well.

It was so awesome to get to spend so much time with her...

she really is as sweet and fun as everyone says she is!

So, if you EVER get the chance to go to one of her classes,

RUN DON"T WALK

and sign up!

They are well worth the money, the drive...

you will NOT regret it!