Art at Stone Lake

Artomatic Washington DC -- New Work on Exhibit in May 29 to July 5, 2009

Hi,

This summer, I will exhibit artquilts at Artomatic.  Click here to go to the Artomatic Site  for all the details about this wonderful monthlong event. Artomatic is run by volunteer artists, and there are several hundred artists on display, along with bands performing and workshops all month long.  Best of all, you can directly get to the building by using Washington DC's Metro system becasue we are right over the Navy Yard station--Note that there is very, very limted parking in the area so Metro is definitely the way to go!!  DATES: May 29 through July 5.

In the meantime, here are some sneak peeks at in progress photos.  I'll post finshed photos here and on my website when Artomatic opens.

Artquilt made with Batik fabrics.

What do you see?  A seascape? landscape?  moutains and villages?

   A detail view of another Batik artquilt.This is a wild variation on the traditional 9 patch...smile....

When you look very closely at the completed piece, you can see the 9 patches--all of which are the same size. From a bit of distance, the 9 patch grid is almost invisible, but it does give subconscious structure to the piece.  And, I am quite proud of the way the intersections of the 9 patches actually line up...I know that my early quilting teachers would be sooooo proud....

A very early stage of another Batik artquilt.  This one is an abstract based on the central image of a doorway. At this stage, I am working from a base drawing of my own, cutting the shapes indicated by the drawing, and then playing, and playing with shapes, values and color. The final piece may or may not be close to my original drawing.

I love doorways....I photograph interesting ones that I see on my travels. 

Watercolor!!!

For the past 2 months, I've been learning about a new medium...new for me, that is!  I've been taking classes in watercolor painting with  Marilyn Evans, a teacher here in the Baltimore/Washington area.  I'm excited to say that under her mentoring, I've actaully begun to undersand what this fabulous medium can really do.  In previous classes, I walked away feeling discouraged about my ability to learn to use this medium.

Now, I am still very much a raw amateur at it, and I don't intend to abandon textiles or acrylics.  Nonetheless, some magical things are happening because of this study.  First of all, I am begining to SEE the world differently.  I can actually see watercolor paintings everywhere I look these days.  My sense of value and design is sharpening.  In addition to the classes, I've also been reading great watercolor instruction books from the library.  I'll share more about that in future posts, but in the meantime, here are some of my first attempts.  I still find it miraculous that I can take water and paint and come out with something close to my intention.  

 This is a monochromatic landscape using burnt sienna.  My own design.

This is a detail of an 11 x 17 inch painting. 

I used a drawing from one of my instruction books but then deviated a bit.

It's a spring day with bluebells.

Another detail of the Spring day painting. 

I'm just tickled that I can DO this....I love the delicacy of watercolor and its emotional qualities.

My best so far....I did this in about 2 hours in Marilyn's workshop.  It's based on a drawing from Terry Madden's workbook. 

wow...so much fun and sooo much more to learn as I just sit and paint, and paint, and paint......

Inspiration and Independence Declaration

A friend and I went to visit the American Visionary Museum in downtown Baltimore yesterday.

 

As always, I came away fully inspired to go home and make art.  Why?  Well, it wasn't just the enormous creativity that sparked me.   (However, every time I visit this Museum, I am awestruck by the genius of these outsiders.)

 

 

American Visionary Museum Link

 

 

 

 

Instead, it was some other insights that truly touched me. 

 

First of all, I was reminded how truly powerful the impulse is to create art.  No matter what circumstances we are in, human beings will find a way to make something, some 'stuff', that expresses emotions and thoughts and visions.  The artist within will not, cannot be denied.   People can make art using ANYTHING that will leave a mark.  And, somewhere, there are people making art with nothing...by that I mean, people without any other material will make art in their minds. 

 

Sometimes we call these Dreams....or Visions....or psychotic episodes....

 

I was also humbled by my awareness of how truly blessed my life is.  I have a home, a supportive partner and family and friends who encourage and appreciate my art.  I have more materials than I can use.  I have time.  I have quiet.  I have more than everything I need to be creative.  I live in an Open and Democratic society that does not censor me. I can make anything I want. 

 

So, no excuses for me.  

 

I Declare my Independence.  From this day forward:   I will revel in my freedom, I will play.  I will challenge myself to break through any emotional barriers.  I will sing and shout and dance around the studio.  I will always learn by looking at and loving the artwork of others.   I will follow my deepest  instincts, my Spirit and my Heart.   I will be an OUTSIDER Artist -- working in any way that I CHOOSE. 

 

Look for new "stuff"...soon...

 

 

Memories and Dreams

I am falling ever more deeply in love with colalge work that integrates my photography with painting.  I rarely start with a sketch, but I often have a mood or even a spiritual sense for the piece.  they are emergent paintings, meaning I don't really consciously try to control this process.  Instead, I work with my intuition first, then let my rational mind make changes using artistic principles of balance, compostion and color as the painting take shape.

three new works are on display in my Touchstone Gallery show and on my gallery website.  to visit, CLICK HERE

This one is called trees.  I took the photo on a very misty morning in my neighborhood.

  

This one is called "A Matter of Time" and the photo is of an unkown female relative on my Father's side. I found it in my Grandmother's house.  People have commented that she does resemble me.  I love the photo and plan to use it more.  The photo of the chairs was taken in the Virgin Islands of the hotel patio on a rainy day.

 

More Inauguration Artwork

I've also created more collages in the Obama Inauguration series.  Here are a couple of them celebrating the extraordinary participation by so many American citizens in this election campaign.

My collages are on display at the Touchstone Gallery in Washington DC through early February.

These works are stretched on canvas, using acrylics, photos, fiber and more.  Here are some detail shots.  To see the work, please visit my gallery. CLICK HERE.

Here's a detail shot from "American Dream" with the words "On the Wings of Hope" and a copy of my absentee ballot.  I voted Absentee because I had to travel to Toronto Canada on Election Day.  That was a wonderful experience because so many Canadians were congratulating me as an American. 

 

Here's a view of a full collage called "Wired Democracy".  I think it speaks for itself.

Hong Kong and Singapore

Sorry that I've been away from my blog for so long.  I must do better...smile...While I was away, I was actually...AWAY!  I visited Hong Kong and Singapore for the first time.  I loved the energy of Hong Kong--I am a City Girl for sure so the bright lights, 24 hour vibrancy was wonderful.  I wish I had spent longer there and explored the art scene. 

One of my favorite photos from the trip is of the city skyline near my hotel.  I'm sure it will end up in future art pieces.  Of course, part of the magic of the image is the result of the smoggy haze filtering the sunlight. 

I also visited a lot of small shops and market stalls in both cities and purchased some lovely old books and paper to use in collages.  I quickly learned to bargain and the prices were wonderfully low.  Hmmm...I should have bought more old paper....  I also collected some daily newspapers in Chinese for collage work and saved other bits and pieces.   

Creating Fabric and Paper

I love working with paint of all types, but especially  acrylics. Many months ago, I decided to start creating my own palette for collage by painting and stamping various types of tissue, watercolor paper, handmade papers and white fabric. Of course, I started by finding books and DVD's that taught me some techniques and then took off on my own. 

Here are some samples of what I make. The pieces on the left are acrylics on Abaca tissue.Abaca is a wonderful surface--very smooth and strong--it takes repeated applications of fluid acrylics and other heavy paints and inks.  You can purchase it at art stores and online.

On days when I'm not in a creative space to work on an actual piece, I pull out the paints,inks and stencils and start messing around. 

More papers on watercolor and other artpapers here.

Sometimes, I actually end up with a piece that feels close to complete as is. 

You can see some examples of pieces that are more complete in the 26 Letters series of postings by clicking on the Works in Progress link.

In the Mist

I find inspiration everywhere in my neighborhood. 

This is one of my favorite special moments--the mist drfting down the hillside with golden sunlight illuminating the landsacape.  This image and others that I took that morning will show up in my work--it's already in one of my handmade books!

Welcome

Welcome to my Blog.  I'll use this site to give you a glimpse into my studio and my life as an artist.  Please visit often to see what I'm working on, where my inspriation comes from and how an early idea may...or may not....show up in finished work. 

Thanks for visiting!!

Carole