panorama 2

 A busy week in Artlandia!

Work continues making new collages for En Masse at Thompson Giroux. This week I used the second piece of the paper I marbled a few weeks ago and made a second panoramic piece to be cut into sections.

Pre-division

 Post-division:

I tried some new things with this one, adding a mist of gold to unify the whole thing and spraying a fine mist of white before adding the relief prints in the foreground (for a sfumato-like effect to create atmospheric perspective.) I also added a wash of green like a gradient so that its slightly greener in the foreground and gradually shifts to gray.  Overall- thumbs up! I might be almost ready to try this on a slightly larger scale.

The swallows project also continues with a second life-scale swallow on the same block




Fall figure drawing has also started up.















In creature news - a funny kitty story. So this week, I had a studio visit and consequently spent 2 days cleaning all the studios. My feline assistants were excellent helpers - jumping up on recently cleared spaces and pouncing on any stray papers.  In consolidating some of the storage containers, I had an newly-empty supply box, which I set in the hallway to be put in the attic...

Jr. in the box

If Jr. gets to sit in the box, then, obviously, the Princess needs to sit in it too.

But Jr. is quite capable of waiting until the Princess is distracted to re-claim the box.

...and the drama continues...

 Haha - I wish the photos were time stamped to show how every time I would walk by, a different kitty would be in the box.  It was like they were lining up to ride the worlds most stationary roller coaster, hahaha. (Who knew - all I needed to do to be "Human of the Year" was put a roughly kitty-sized box out in the hall :P ). 

While the kitties were occupied inside, Honey and I went on outdoor adventures.  It still feels like summer, but the leaves have started to fall and the light is changing.

still (always?) multi-tasking

A busy week in Artlandia! Making new work for an upcoming group show, En Masse at Thompson Giroux Gallery. I tried something new with this.  The goal is to have many, small pieces for the show, so I made this panoramic piece to be cut into sections.  The sections can be read as stand alone pieces, or they can be combined/ lined up to make an extended narrative - this way, adding, subtracting, and rearranging the pieces changes the story (an art build-your-own adventure).

I'm happy with how these turned out, but I admit, cutting them apart was hard.  Also, while I'm happy to see that I think they do work as I'd hoped, for this particular show, they won't be hung together . So I know that the concept works, but it won't be put into practice this go round (unless someone were to buy 2 or more, that is O:) ).  

 These will join the Phoenix, and I'm hoping to complete one more panoramic style piece that can be divided into 3 before the deadline (we'll see - it's an ambitious goal.  I'm relieved that these are done and framed, knowing I'll have something good for the show whether or not it's as many things as I'd like).

face balloon
from April 2015

I also got some encouragement to make a figurative piece and picked back up a project that's been set aside since April 2015 (yes - that long ago.) I made a collage where I wanted to put the face in a balloon... but it didn't work out (so there is no face on the balloon in the piece). I saved the attempt though, wanting to get back to it at some point.  

This failed attempts was just one of the many things that helped motivate me to pursue a certificate in graphics that I worked on January - November 2016.  Going back to it with additional skills, I was more able to make what I'd originally envisioned. Though, the first attempts did not totally go to waste - I used that face as the starting point, scanned it, worked with it digitally, and put the resulting image on a polyester lithography plate.  

I got pretty into it and ended up making 4 variants - I started with the one on the lower right and got more adventurous from there.   

Once again, filling the drying rack O:)

I also (re-)carved some insect blocks that I've, temporarily I'm sure,
misplaced and carved the knot and end of the balloon 

In para-studio work, I've continued work on the basement (where I marble my paper). I've been parging the old walls with new concrete and then sealing them with drylock.  It's been slow going, but progress is being made. It's a very functional repair (prevents the walls from leaking), but it also makes the space look much brighter.

In creature news, Honey continues to love hiking. We switched to a longer (retractable) leash and she really seems to enjoy being able to run ahead a little bit (but not too much :) ). She was very good about waiting for her human.


The garden is winding down, but still some beautiful flowers - I was especially surprised by these lantana. I love that this plant is multi-colored, and it did really well this year - but now, the late blooms - look how some clusters are completely pink and then, only inches away, others have only yellow blossoms (?!) I don't know, I just find this a surprising degree of variation on a single plant.   Also, very excited that the blue morning glories bloomed for the first time this year.  

I took this while Honey and I were in the conservation area and I think it's funny - these clouds are so archetypal that, in a painting, they would probably be criticized as "too idealized," haha, but they really did look like this. 

It really does look like this.

multi-tasking

I really enjoy the eye on this (though at times it can be a little unsettling,
feeling like it's watching me).

A very busy week in Artlandia!  Energy going in a few different directions.  First, work continues on the fox.  I'm in the process of doing the final sewing down of the parts.  This is very slow going and frustrating, because it looks done, but...  

At an angle - all the parts glued and ironed down.

Using the thread both to hold things down
and add to the composition.

Even though there are still many hours of sewing left, it's entered it's final stage; so...new things!

I'm making new work for an upcoming show at Thompson Giroux in November. There are size guidelines, so the goal is smaller pieces. I'm trying something new - making some larger panoramic pieces then cut them into smaller parts. Then, they can be rearranged to make different scenes, like and art build your own adventure. I started by marbling some paper. Then used the pattern in the marbling as the guide for a landscape and added acrylic washes.

new collage in process (in front of the fox)

I'm still testing all sorts of parts, and because of the scale, I reprinted some of my old favorites that I haven't used in a while - some rams and bulls (and planes and boats and houses).

The goal is to have two sets of 3 pieces - we'll see O:) .

I also did framing (and paper work) for an upcoming exhibition. I find this difficult while it's in process, but exciting when it's done. 

I also am continuing to work on the swallows installation.  I don't want to dwell on that too much, since it will get it's own entry, but it was something I spent time on this week and it's moving along.

polyester lithography print on toned block with added white ink

carved block

state 1 and state 2 of proofs

proof of state 2 (a tiny bit more refining left on the lower wing tip - almost there!)

In para art news - I got to make a site visit to First Presbyterian of Albany and see their beautiful Tiffany Window!  Love that cobalt blue (heart!)










In creature news...I thought this was funny. My feline assistants have been faithfully keeping me company as I've been working late - the shot on the left is from around 2 am, calling it quits, and both kitties are completely sacked out...the next morning, I come back home from walking Honey to find them ready to go - back in their exact same spaces, waiting for me to get going, haha.

In pup news - Honey continues to enjoy her weekly adventures with her human, and she's an excellent helper as I photography interesting plants, bugs, etc.

Lots of beautiful sunsets of late:

The garden is winding downs, but still enjoying some beautiful flowers.