first proofs of the wing and snow!

 First proofs of the second wing!   I finished the 4th of 4 blocks for the second life-scale wing this week and started proofing the 2 smaller blocks.

Maybe I shouldn't admit to it, but I'm pretty surprised that the blocks are ready after 5 weeks of carving ( :o !)

...but while having the blocks is (big) step, it's not quiiiite the same as having them printed, assembled, and partaking in a meaningful artwork. They're fragments. (very nice fragments!), but still...miles to go  (eyes on the prize!)
 
Having cleared out room and mounted the cork boards to the wall two weeks ago,   I've gotten back to working on the life-scale figure.  The printing part has been done, but there's still work to be done attaching the pieces and adding dimensional/ found object elements - like this lovely faux-mother of pearl button shaped like tracery ( heart!) and the chain.

Admittedly, it doesn't look much different, but all the parts are now attached , so that's good O:) . 

In creature news - Honey saw her first snow!

"Human, what did you do?! (Can we go play now?)"

Hmmmmmm [sniff, sniff, sniff, pounce, sniff, sniff, pounce] 

This brave delphinium held on and
bloomed one last time after the snow.

I just thought this was funny - a mushroom sprouting
from a branch cavity up high

and still more (more) feathers...

And still more feathers...

block with powder

In my wild fantasy, I was going to finish the 4th and final wing block this week. (No.) Still, I got close...I held off on doing this block until the end, because it's the most complex and difficult (dramatic sigh.)  I kid, but while I did do some para-art stuff, cleaning and organizing the studio and attended a lecture about Golden Paints, mostly I focused on the last wing block because I have a feeling like if I don't get this done soon, the whole thing will languish.  

With the tips of my shoes on the left for scale.

My creatures were good helpers, keeping me company and going on breaks. Looking at my little bear this week, I thought it's about time for another puppy timeline: Honey at 7.5 weeks, Honey at about 4 months, Honey at about 8 months. I can't believe that 6 months ago, I could carry her in my arms - she's grown so fast! My beautiful pup :).

Honey at 7.5 weeks

Honey at about 4 months

Honey at about 8 months

Always a good time for (Princess)
kitty in a box 

 The human loves all the creatures -

Junior is changing into her winter coat
and her belly fluff is extra soft. 

Enjoying the last blooms of the year - it won't be long until winter. I have a few ideas of what art-direction I'd like to go in next, but I'm letting them percolate as I try to finish the wings (carving, carving, carving...).

wing block 3 of 4 and NYC fieldtrip

A busy week in Artlandia!  - Blocks, digital collage, framing, adventures to the Met and an excellent performance.

First - life-scale wing block 3 of 4 - done [check!]

block with powder

Then, the final digital print for the En Masse III exhibition arrived.  I framed it and delivered them all [check, check!] 

blue bird 1, from May

If this looks familiar, it's because I wanted to see what it would be like to modify an existing group of files to create a new print; so, I went back to blue bird 1, my very first digital collage, and changed things that I would prefer to be different, now that I have a little more experience making them: ( I apologize in advance for any jargon) -brought color into the background pattern and plant, changed the color of the flowers, added a background color into the bird with variation in select cells, darkened the bird, modified the distortion of the bird, changed the position of the bird, darkened the ants, added a gradient fill to the ground, got rid of the internal border and arched clipping mask, added a slight shadow under the bird...)  Haha, you know, just a few things I wanted to change O:).

I also framed an artist proof of the parrot with this gorgeous Walnut Hill frame - that's a satin finished, splined, walnut frame with museum glass - Mmmmmmm.

I love how the warm wood brings out the parrot's eye.  

Besides art making, framing, and delivery, I also had a studio mission that I've been plotting for a while, but have been waiting to be recovered enough to implement. This week, I finally (finally!) think I made the first step toward solving the challenge I've had of getting works in process up on the wall easily. I used foamcore corkboards and stickied them to the wall. I was all proud of myself...for about the 5 minute it took to fill it. [doh.] I still want to see the figure with the fox and bunnies and maybe the unicorn, and they don't fit (yet), but it's still a step in the right direction - so much better than the way I had this before, hanging from a clothesline in pieces [shame-face]. Even though I don't have any long, unbroken up walls, a friend pointed out that I could wrap the composition around the corner, photograph it, and see what it would look like flattened out on the computer (Thanks Tom McGill!)  I do, however, need more corkboards.

with the stool for scale 

I also made a special art trip to the city.  

I went to the Met to do some research.  A few scavenger hunt missions:

Mission 1 - looking at Gothic architectural ornament and trying to understand the parts and how it fits together ( - if I wanted to make a modular, architectural framework...)

Mission 2 - I looked at Gothic foliate ornament, because I love it so, so much (especially when it has bunnies, or things with wings, or beasties).  With the exception of the stained glass, these are from the horse armor.

Mission 3 - drapery (particularly with leg(s) bent), can never too much source material for drapery.

As much as I always enjoy a fieldtrip to the Met, the main event was going to see a performance of Circling the Center by Nene Humphrey(!!) This is a terrific, multi-media piece that integrates sculpture, video, music, poetry, and movement to convey a complex narrative about loss, mourning, and regeneration (love!)

                             Before the performance of Circling the Center  by Nene Humphrey 
                                - my stills don't do it justice, but follow the link for more/better.


Also, outdoor adventures with my trusty side-kick Honey (- who graciously got out of the stream so I could take these peaceful-seeming nature shots - she's a very good pup.) She loves to swim now after slowly warming up to the idea in her puppy pool this summer.) 

And finally - last roses of the season?

Do they smell extra-sweet?

and still more feathers...

A busy week in Artlandia! 

First, I framed the new digital collages for an upcoming exhibition, En Masse III at Thompson Giroux Gallery, Nov. 16 - Jan. 8 (I really enjoy these and think they make a nice set - thumbs up!)

loving these 12 x 12" digital collages :)

and the raptor - 20 x 26" 

I'm excited about the current and upcoming exhibitions, and also continuing work on the second wing.  To start off a new season, early in the week, I sharpened, polished, and re-color coded all my tools.  Then, put them to use.  I'm just about to finish the second of the 4 blocks (whew!)

second of 4 blocks - almost there!

detail - the stripes are extra challenging, but so worth it O:) 

print block to block

I'm always hesitant to say it's going better than expected (because that seems like tempting fate), but it is definitely moving (carving, carving, carving...) I also printed the last two parts onto the same transparent blocks that the originals are carved from. I had two medium sized blocks awaiting prints, so it seemed like a good idea to keep the block material the same when it was possible to do so. It seemed like a good idea, and the prints look clear enough to work from...but the ink isn't drying on the block (doh.)  I'm going to give it until I finish carving block 2, but if they don't dry by that time, I'll either wipe them off and try a different ink or print them onto MDF.

With the second wing, some things have gotten easier and some things have gotten harder the second go round.  Having the first wing to print as a template is helping these go much (much) faster, and working with the MDF is helpful because it's readily available and economic. One of the challenging things is staying very engaged with every mark.  One of the things I like about these is the way every mark is unique and individual, trying to see every mark as special and particular is even more of a challenge the second go round.

It helps taking creature breaks. Speaking of the creatures...I mentioned last week that I got a second carving pillow because my Princess loved the first one so much...well, now both carving pillows have now been claimed by my feline assistants, (and my mom totally called this -  "Oh, you're getting a new pillow? You're probably going to need 3 - one for you and two for the kitties." - indeed.) I love having them next to me purring and/or having kitty dreams all the time though, so totally worth it.  

and the pup has her own blankets

O, look, two carving pillows, and two kitties - perfect

I also left the studio for some short art adventures. Checking out art in the shop windows - I especially like the carving on this chair and this bird collage. I also went to an opening at Art Omi and got to see an awesome new zoetrope, "Active Turn: The Devil's Wheel," a collaboration between Freya Powell and Kahn & Selesnick.  (I admit, I sort of have a thing for zoetropes and any kind of pre-film sequential art that can turn stills into animation while maintaining the integrity of the still (like how with a Muybridge sequence - any image can be removed and stand on it's own.)) This has been on my mind a lot recently as I've been thinking about ways to expand my digital work into animation [hmmmmmmm - still thinking, thinking, thinking...]  There was also this awesome piece, "Squirrel Gang" by Charley Friedman that made me smile.

 "Squirrel Gang" by Charley Friedman 
at Art Omi

Finally, wrapping things up in the garden.  Now, every bouquet, I wonder if it's the last of the season.