Little Andy Goldsworthy Inspiration

Feather Your Nest

This little piece is an inspiration from looking at Google Images for Andy Goldsworthy's work for the Fast Friday Fabric Challenge for April.  I didn't realize how much of his work I had seen before and never knew that this was his work.  I really seem to be more focused on the Name of the artist now when I see work that inspires me.  6 hours of Art History in college never seemed as important as it does now.  Guess I wasn't in "the place" then, to appreciate art and how it can inspire your own work.  Thanks Mr. Goldsworthy.  

April Showers

April showers are bringing flowers….just in time to my yard.  The bleeding hearts which had started to bloom last week before the “spring snow” are toast but the rhododendrons has sprung forth in a beautiful display of hot pink.  The bleeding hearts may come back.  They multiply like weeds in the bed and I usually have to thin them out.  I vow that next fall I will plant the daffodils and tulips that I crave in spring and have never gotten to pop up.  

My FFFC groups latest challenge uses the art of Andy Goldsworthy.  I read the challenge and as has happened before, my brain took off in its own direction.  I made a piece with my “different background”  and undulating line.  Then I researched his work.  I am planning a new piece now.  Stay tuned for it.  But this is the piece I made originally.  I intend to post it and get critique.  

It's wool blend scraps with wool fibers and synthetics needle felted to the background.  Felt balls were hand stitched on to add yet another texture,  I love it when my brain designs a fully finished project and then I'm able to actually construct my vision.  Doesn't happen often but is such a joy when it does.

Members from our SAQA NE group came to see Grand Island last Friday to see the Gallery our show will be in next March and April, during the Crane Migration.  Our little community really brings in visitors for the galleries that are also here for the migration.  Cranes and crane art are very prevalent during the migration but our focus is on Nebraska shown in square formats.  A one foot, two foot and three foot square format. 

We also got to go to one of the local quilt shops, my favorite, Material Girl.  Deb’s shop did not disappoint.  Only one of the four had been here before and they loved it, of course...

An Artist's Gym

I have an idea....I get so many....It's implementing them that is difficult.  I want to start an Arist's Gym, a place to stretch your "creative" muscles.  I want to teach there as well as offer space to other artist's for creative studio space and teaching opportunities.  I have been doing research online and reading about studio coops.

The Artist's Gym in Brooklyn, NY is really my dream in reality.  But this is Nebraska, not NYC.  Don't get me wrong, we have many artist's here who need space for a studio and would like to teach.   I don't know if there are enough people who would pay their share of the rent on this type of space or enough people that could teach or would take classes to "cash flow" this idea.

I want a large studio area with classroom space and lockers for each artist's supplies.  I want classes happening and childrens sessions in summer and adult sessions in the winter.  I want all media types used and taught.  I would love a gallery area and a lounge and library area for research and inspiration.  I think I need an old building in downtown area near parking areas that I can afford.

I've been planning this idea in my head for 5 years.  It's not going away.  I want to work with adults and children teaching what I love as well as giving people a chance to really "play" and see where their own ideas and creativity can take them.  We don't get enough of this stretching in our schools and colleges today.  People work in straight lines and don't think in creative ways as much as we need today.  I want like minded people around me that make me stretch my creative mind too.

There...I've "put it out there."  Now what?

NE² Show

Sneak Peek

We have a show scheduled for July at the Jewish Community Center in Omaha.  OUR First show with the Nebraska Studio Art Quilt Associates group.  There are nine artists with three pieces each.  Each piece is based on the theme "Nebraska Squared" (Nebraska inspired pieces in a square format.   Size restrictions of 1 x 1, 2 x 2, and 3 x 3)  I missed the show and tell in November but saw the previews of some of the work last fall and know that this is an exciting show.

We have a member of our group that is a well known and respected artist.  She is "hand holding" the rest of us as we have never shown before.  I plan to watch her like a hawk and absorb all that I can.  We are readying our pieces for hanging now.   We will use aluminum slats in the sleeves to hang the show.  Our mentor assures us this is a great method.  Sturdy and light weight.

I am making the gallery cards.  I have approached a local gallery for our exhibit as well as the Museum of Nebraska Art in Kearney, NE to host us...we shall see.  The local gallery is in for next fall.  More info as it becomes available.

I have already learned a lot from this group of like minded ladies even if I must travel to Omaha to take part.  It's only 2 hours...if I drive fast!

think thursday

Thoughts become things!!!

Okay, this is easy isn't it.  If we think good things...good things will happen.  I suppose the converse is also true.  If we "think" good art or design, will the product be good?  I'm not sure but I hope this is true.

I have studied art history, design, textiles, color theory...all good things for an artist.  Now I must stop thinking about art and actually MAKE art.  We will see if it's good, later.

Fear of making bad art seems to get in the way of just making art.  I have stacks of almosts,   maybe if I..'s, 
and otherwise questionable pieces.  They scare the bejesus out of me.  Will it all be that bad???
When I get the right thing going will I know.  Most of the good pieces that I have made are gone...sold, given away or "waiting" to be seen by this show or that show.  I can't seem to get them all together in one
place to see what makes them mine.

A post on QuiltArt today from a "real" artist reminded us "wanna be's" to look deeper into what works and what doesn't and then do more of what works.  Seems simple; good advice often is.

Manic Monday

Ok this is the first post on Manic Monday and should be the post about how I did this month on the LIST.

This is the LIST that helps me plan-track all my TO DO's, my goals and my things to avoid.  On the first of Monday of every month I make a list of all the things that need to be accomplished this month along with a list of the regular stuff that needs doing for the week.  At the beginning of each month I will post the list and keep ya'll posted on how it's going.  At the end of the month, I will do a crititque of the progress, fix what's broke and move on.

January's list looked something like this...didn't photograph it...

1.  Blog 3 times a week
2.  Loose weight by walking regularly or otherwise "moving" 30 min/day
3.  Clean desk
4.  Reorganize the studio
5.  Sketchbook project
6.  Silly Class
7.  Start taxes
8.  Antiques to the shop
9.  Vacation
10. Put away Christmas stuff

Ten is enough.  I find that more than ten items makes me not want to do ANY of the items...seems too daunting to finish.

1.  Well that sucks....blogged like 3 times total...will do better.  I did get the blog notebook set up and actually have planned some blog posts for later one...better than nothing I quess

2.  Loose weight...not so much, see #9 vacation...did walk or clean or otherwise move for 30 minutes about 3 times a week all month.  Lost about 5 pounds before the vacation...gained them back....haven't given up!

3.  Clean desk...check

4. Reorganize studio...got it started....have space now on the table...will never be done

5.  Sketchbook project.  this month the theme is "highly prized"  Have made sketches and am ready to place them in the sketchbook.  Won't be done tonight but feel confident that I will post my 3 pages by the 10th of Feb.

6.  Silly class.  I have followed the class and have only a few pages to do to catch up.  It has been fun

7.  Start Taxes...check  JIL taxes are as right as we can get them and personal taxes are underway.  Sales tax report filed on time!  YES

8.   Antiques to shop.  Got one trip made and got the inventory up to date.  Bought more inventory and even got an etsy store set up for the vintage stuff...Over the Moon Vintage.   My daughter is my partner and she has listed the first stuff.  I plan to add to the inventory this week.  YES

9.  VACATION  Spent one glorious week at our family vacation home in Gilbert, AZ 70-73 degrees....fabulous.  It was a working vaca, getting the house set up but we had a great time...going back in March!

10.  Put Christmas away...this is a Super Bowl Sunday tradition at our house.  Got started by organizing the storage bins we use.


All in all....not too bad.  I'll work to get more done for my Art Career in February.

Stay tuned!

Art of Silliness 3

Pre-Workshop 

Lesson 1

Lesson 2

Lesson 3

Ok....I'm not as loose as some in my class, but for me...this is ridiculous!  When I couldn't get the scanner to work I chose to photograph them.   These are not "fixed at all"  so paper looks yellow not white.  These lessons are really "silly" but I think that's the point.  We all need to loosen up...our thoughts, our lives, our line quality.  

It's helping...I'll keep going...now to get on the treadmill and get that resolution underway!  Drawing is easy compared to the treadmill!  hahaha