Carolina Wren

Holgas!

Took some winter landscape photos with my dear old Holga today.
Susan- I wanted to play with the idea of taking a roll, then sending you this Holga with film in it, so you can expose over the photos with your own. What do you think?
Have you done this before?
How do I 'rewind' the film so you can expose over it again?
Do I need a black bag for that, or can I do it without opening the camera?
Then, do you send your 120 out to be processed, or develop it yourself?
It's been 100 years since I've been in the darkroom.
Hope you're doing well!

Plates from Connie!

I was lucky enough to play with clay in my friend Connie Norman's studio in Cheyenne this fall. She has this genius method for making little plates, pressing textures into the clay. I messed around with them for a few hours, then promptly forgot about them. Connie was kind enough to fire, glaze and then send the ones I made! Surprise! The glazes are so beautiful, I don't know if I can bring myself to eat off them. She also included a very generous gift of one of her bowls. I now have THREE of her pieces, and consider myself a Connie Norman collector! She is an amazing artist, who is also a full time art teacher and new mom. Incredible. See better photos of her clever, well-crafted, beautifully texted artwork here: www.connienorman.com (Ps- She's also a follower of our GIYS blog!) Thanks, Connie!

Bird in the Hand (Sketch)

Pillowcase Bag

Inspired by the famous owl bag Jodie made me last year for my birthday in Oregon, (Which I take with absolutely everywhere- from the Goodwill in Michigan to grocery shopping in Wyoming- Thank You!) here's a Holiday gift for my neighbor's kid sewn from a Eddie Bauer pillowcase salvaged from the secondhand store.

Cookie Tradition!

My mom, my sister Lisa and I spend a day making holiday cookies.
Then, Lisa and I make a few of the gingerbread boys and girls anatomically correct, to irritate Mom. (I think she secretly thinks it's funny...)
Happy Holidays!

Multimedia message

Scarlet's new 'lucky stripey' hat.

Multimedia message

Crocheting some hats today.

Yay! I finally figured out how to post with my phone:)

Kris = Inspiring

Well, I'm not sure how you do it but I'm impressed. With Scholastic I feel like all my creative energy has gone to the students, state of Oregon and Portland Metro area. No time for studio. I've been staring at the same painting for months now.

Kris I'm liking the idea small, carry with me ideas, taking the studio on the road.

Does decking the halls, decorating a Christmas tree, Christmas shopping and cookies and parties and all that stuff count as creating? It feels like a creation, like I give birth to the glitter of the season every year because my children will it to be. It's hard not to begrudge it all. I just want to be selfish and read, paint and do nothing. This is such a small chapter in my life, where my children will insist on me making all this happen. In time I'll be sitting in an empty studio wishing I could decorate the house for some little imp.

Wow, I just went off on a tangent. Don't get to do that often. Felt good. Jodi, how's it going for you? Do you feel torn or are you working out the mommy time with the studio time better?

No painting in the foreseable future for me. I did get a piece accepted into a juried show in Feb. Tis the season to celebrate my students accomplishments and cherish the time with my own children and family.

Thanks for letting me vent, share and feel safe.

Seahorse w Too Much Purple

Drawing Under the Influence

Painted Presents (Recycled Groc Bags)

Must post more often!

Yesterday I took a Soul Collage workshop and created two new cards:)
The first one has yet to reveal it's purpose to me--but I know it's there.
It has something to do with aging, beauty and decay.

The second has a lot to do with GIYS, It is called "I have Work to do"
It's about the place I often find myself in--with work to be done but
feeling unable to dive in.

I have been making all sorts of things for the holidays--lots of aprons!
I need to figure out how to send pics to the blog from my phone.

Oddments and Topophilia

investigating the idea of a daily practice.
watched the movie 'Julie and Julia' in the chicago hotel.

http://duanekeiser.blogspot.com/
'credited in USA Today and the New York Times with starting the internationally recognized “A Painting a Day” movement in 2004.'

oddments, a thousand small paintings: http://athousandsmallpaintings.blogspot.com (he's selling his giclee prints for $25- how can he do that??)

my favs:
http://keiserprints.flyingcart.com/index.php?p=detail&pid=6&cat_id=
http://keiserprints.flyingcart.com/index.php?p=detail&pid=7&cat_id=

i am amazed by his mastery of depicting light.
from his blog:
'Topophilia is a word I discovered in Gaston Bachelard’s book, “The Poetics of Space.” Although it is not included in most dictionaries, literally translated it means “ a love of place.” '
and 'We bring our lairs with us.'

visits today, then a 6 hour drive. stopped at a hotel in wisconsin for some sleep. looking at images online for my studio time today. also sketched a bit on the seahorse. hoping to make it home tomorrow.
:)

Red Octopus

Sketches from the Shedd Aquarium

for reference

Sea Nettles

more nettles that seemed really painterly and reminded me of the movement in susan's kites

Photos from the Shedd Aquarium

clockwise from top: sea nettles, moon jellies, seahorse and beluga



and a clownfish for susan!

i went with the intention of sketching what i thought were jellyfish (actually sea nettles) and otters. the otters didn't cooperate, but the invertebrates didn't seem to mind.
a few of these might be really nice as painted color on black gesso.

Magdalena Abakanowicz in Chicago

one of my favorite artists, and i never visited these pieces here in chicago before!

the texture of the iron is so yummy, i want to lick it. http://www.abakanowicz.art.pl/

Bleach Painting

(just realized the text i've added to these last few posts doesn't show up when i add them from my phone this way. so... adding text the right way this time...)

Set the timer for 5 minutes to look at a book of drawings before bed. Found this painted with bleach on paper. Been bleach painting on garments, but didn't think to try paper! Or maybe on fabric then cut up and assembled? Hmmm...
Shannon- thanks for suggesting blogging from my phone. :)

Taking the Studio With Me

I was frustrated to leave the studio for this trip. So, I decided to take the studio with me! I brought drawing and fiber supplies and a few art books from the mcad library with.
During December, a very busy month, I'm comitting to doing something art related everyday. I'm proud to say the first 7 days have been a success!
Tonight I'm flipping through 'Drawn from Artist's Collections'- Rosenquist on the left, Schwitters on the right.

Pomegranate Meditation

Recently, I have been obsessed with these beautiful things. I've decided to approach peeling the skin and picking out the succulent seeds as a meditation. In my crazy busy days, I set aside a chunk of time to only disect and eat half of the pom. It's funny how focused you can be when you give yourself permission to only think about the task at hand! This has been a good grounding excercise with a tasty finish! Here's a star pom drawn reclining in my Wausau hotel room a few nights ago.

Revisiting images

Since I have been recovering from foot surgery, I have been thinking about other ways to get around hence the "wish I could fly" posting awhile back. Looking at some of my images from the last few months. In flight at the Oregon coast.

Vicodin and I are working in the studio tonight. Folding book pages
and coloring!! :)

less two teeth of wisdom

I have so much to write about!!
But, I'm oh so tired,
so just a bit for now.

Yesterday was the last day of my travel season for work (flew back
from two weeks in Michigan) and the day I had wisdom tooth surgery.

Here they are!!
I can't wait to draw them- maybe use the contour line and tracing
paper watercolor method from Bend?
I can't believe these were buried in my gums.

Too many heavy painkillers to think clearly about that now, but I will
say that I'm back to my home and studio and have a week off work!

Artmaking, here I come!
Watch for images soon...
:)

testing...

testing the 'mail2blogger' feature, so I can add to the blog via an
email or photo from my phone...

Communication Arts - Again

So I've reconnected with Communication Arts and I have to say, I'm a big fan. I posted part of an article on ownership last month this month there is a great article titled, Blogging with a Different Perspective. Great stuff. Here are some nuggets to ponder.

"Blog, blog, blog. Every time I thought about starting to blog, I felt annoyed and guilty. Each new blog I came across increased the pressure to have one. I have my reasons for avoiding the task. First, I don't like throwing my opinions or visual concepts into a public space without giving them time for considerations and refinement. Second, if I think someone is looking over my shoulder, I am self-conscious about having bad ideas, which is a surefire way to crush the seedling of a good idea. Third, I resent the obligation of posting on a regular basis, whether I have something to new to present or not.....

I began to see a different perspective: Blogging in the original sense ('blog' of course, is a contraction of 'web log') can be a tool to foster and reflect upon the development of one's work. So instead of using the blog as a way of speaking out, I realized I could use it to speak in."

Other nuggets out of context but interesting:

'But a blog, because of it's nature, gives permission - even encouragement - to share work in progress. One of the toughest battles in the creative process is to maintain a balance between keeping ideas open and making conclusive decisions.'

The late artist Agnes Martin said, "The bad paintings have to be painted and to the artist are more valuable than those paintings later brought before the public." Keeping a log of the so-called bad ideas is a great way to see the evolution of your work. Often when you look back, you see discarded elements that may now have value.

"Like most artists, I need to have deadlines and destinations for my work. But even with those two taskmasters, day to day progress can be difficult. A blog is a sort of personal trainer. And as I think about the nagging requirements of having something new for each entry, I remember one of my own basic rules: By seeing what repeats you discover what has lasting value. A blog lets you fast-rewind and fast-forward."

Some interesting thoughts on blogging.

Happy Halloween!

Scarlet's Halloween costume:) She is so much fun to take pictures of when she is in one of
her sillly moods.

Jodie's Goals

Okay so besides the usual goals of finishing my pieces on time and working in my studio in general I've been thinking a lot about HOW to get more time in the studio and how to get it
on a regular basis and I've come up with a studio re-vamp plan:

-I am almost done polishing the floor & touching up the walls paint to help make it somewhere I WANT to hang out:)

-One of the problems with my studio is that I have three small surfaces to work on instead of just one large one. For me too many surfaces=places for clutter and half finished projects. My sister is helping me design and build a desk that will be higher (more ergonomical) and larger to replace my current mish-mash.

-Create a space for Scarlet to work along with me & spend time working together! (Duh! Long overdue!)

I will take some pics of my progress and let you all know how it works out!

Susan: I'd like to do something photography related with you:) Any ideas? topics you are thinking about? Do you want to collaborate or just challenge each other? Let me know!! I'm up for anything that will get me off my arse;)

Kris: I've been collecting things but haven't started tubes yet...I'll let you know when I do!

More soon:)

Wish I could fly!

Definately not for the Birds....For me!

Hello Ladies - I've been spending lots of time thinking about art, not so much doing. Kris - You were asking about studio habits. I've noticed, I'm a thinker. I spend my dreams, extra time, and driving time, thinking about what I want to do in the studio. It's not mixed with guilt, I feel like I'm there in my thoughts. Weird. I find that I just want to create in the studio not think. I wonder if I can change that habit. Maybe I should read in there, or just be in there and that would change? Maybe I don't need to change that. Now I'm rambling.

Idioms - Yes, Kris let's do Bird of a Feather Flock Together

Jodi - are you interested in exploring As Free as a Bird?

Susan - Can I talk you into... A Bird in the Hand is Worth Two in the Bush?

I'm going to the studio right now!!!!!! Cheers ladies.

shannon in the studio!

contemplating the chickens...

writing from the studio tonight

so good to be home for almost 24 hours.
(arrived up north at 3:30am last night.)
lush and quiet and cold here.
unpack, laundry, work, cook... studio.

and here i sit.
i have a list, but not sure where to start.
tempted to climb in bed, read, sleep.
but i'll stay here a little longer.
struggling a little, but giving myself permission to just be in here.
cutting out prints, mindless work, and typing on this blog.

sometimes, i seem to need to putz around in here a bit, before i can actually start making.
tidy up, organize, shift things around, play music, light a candle.
do you guys do this?
have a ritual? process?
or am i procrastinating?
wasting valuable time??

i have decided, i'll fill one sketchbook page tonight, at least, before bed... here it is!
two birds with one stone?

'studio is a sanctuary'

i loved seeing the studio spaces at the open studios in oregon this weekend with shannon.
i especially liked seeing sara swink's space and clay pieces.
take a look:

http://www.claycircle.com/

also, a vid about her here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPM6KzfYnPA

she speaks about her process, and i can really connect with what she has to say about her subconscious ideas and thoughts revealing themselves through the clay.
she really seems to trust her way of creating.

found this bit of writing in sara's studio, and asked her permission to photo it. (click and zoom for easier reading.)
'studio is a sanctuary'