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. 

Clarify

A few days ago, I started using a new filter in Corel Paint Shop Pro Photo X2 to sharpen my photos.  The filter is called CLARIFY and it sharpens the focus of the image--it's a wonderful little one step tool.

Clarify-- to me, it means to clear up or clean up, to put things in sharper focus.  For me, it's a metaphor.  The clarify filter takes all that data called pixels and transforms them just enough to make the data more understandable to the eye.

 Lately, I've been thinking that CLARIFY is a great filter to use in other areas of my life.  So, here are some things that I plan to CLARIFY in the next few weeks:

MY STUDIO:  I need to clarify what tools, materials and stuff I really do plan to use now in this stage of my work.  Actually, I started clarifying by giving the studio a thorough vacuuming with my NEW wonderful cheap lightweight and effective vacuum cleaner. Presto, the floor was clarified. And, in the process, I did some dusting around the shelves, tossed out some junk and organized my paints and some other tools.  Final step--I will sell or give away some fabric that I just know I won't use.  CLARIFYing my studio helps me work more efficiently because I'm not fumbling around looking for the supplies I need for a project.

MY PHOTO FILES:  I have a fairly good organization scheme but occasionally, I go looking for a set of photos (like my doorway series) and can't remember which folder they are in.  I'll go through and do some moving and tweaking and make the folder labeling on my PC super CLARIFIED.   

ART GOALS FOR 2009:  All the other clarifying I'm doing is to make space for the most important clarifications.  How do I want to spend my time this year?  Which medium calls to me?  what type of shows to enter?  How do I activate my business   plan?   

 

Yes, the economy is bad, but what better time to start building gallery and museum relationships!?!  Maybe we will start looking for that combined gallery and studio space we keep talking about?  Goals need to be CLARIFIED, then activated with daily/weekly steps. 

  HOW ABOUT YOU??? What will you use the CLARIFY filter on today, tomorrow or next week? 

Baltimore Show October 4 and 5, 2008

Hello Everyone,

 

Forgive the LOOOONNNNNGGGG silence but I've been traveling overseas (more about that in a future posting) and getting ready for my Baltimore group show.  Here's the details. And, following the show, I promise to be more regular with my postings.

"Voices in the Cloth" was our successful 2008 Quilt & Fiber Art Show and Sale by the African American Quilters of Baltimore. Thanks to our many friends and supporters who visited the show! 

Regards,

Carole

Abaca Tissue

In response to Michelle's comment,  Abaca is a wonderful paper.  It is very easily cut and tears easily.  However, it isn't fragile like some other art tissue paper.  Think of the paper that most tea bags are made of and you'll get the feel for it.  It  has a smooth surface so there's no texture to it. You can double it and sandwich materials like dried leaves or flower petals in it(use a bit of glue or acrylic medium to hold them down) and then paint that. If you double it, you get an even stronger paper, but you may have to make sure the paint or glue is on both pieces--acrylic doesn't seep through very much unless you use a lot of it.  Anyway--experiment with it and see what works for you.

By the way, I also do photo transfers on it by taping it to a piece of card stock or regular white paper and running it through my printer.  It works really well in a printer with a straight through feed path such as the HP 9180 but not well in a printer that curls the paper around. 

When I want more texture in a paper, I go to my stash of purchased handmade, Japanese, Indian, Thai  and other exotic papers.

Manhole covers

OK...I have no idea why the manhole covers in my neighborhood have captured my attention!  When I walk, I try to remember to take my camera.  So far, I've captured several of the covers in different types of weather.... I love the textures in this one.  The contrast of earth, rust and metal with the barely legible writing.  Maybe it's the circular shape that grabs me first.  Or the fact that these covers are doorways into an underground world that most of us never see.

26 Letters Series: How it began

Several weeks ago, I became totally fascinated with an alphabet stencil, and started using it when I was creating some paper and fabric.

Here are some of the alphabet stencils and general shape stencils that I use.

I then bought some alphabet stamps and other lettering stencils.  Letters: what powerful symbols they are!  We use them to tell stories, tell secrets, tell lies and tell the truth.

And, here is one of the completed pieces--acrylics & inks on watercolor paper.

I'll post others as the series unfolds!