Preparing for Feline Assistant, Jr., Dia Beacon, and sphinx collage

A busy week in Artlandia!

Getting ready to bring this
 adorable creature home!

I rarely take days off from the studio, but this past week I took a few days out to clean, paint, reorganize my bedroom in preparation of my feline baby's arrival.  Naturally, Mini helped, and apparently it was exhausting. I also did a lot of work in the garden, since I feel like between the late spring and show preparations things had gotten a little behind. I think we're back on track.

Mini exhausted by hanging the tapestry.

Honey helping in the garden

It was also Mother's Day, and I got to spend it with my Mom, Grandma, brother and brother's girlfriend at Dia Beacon - family togetherness amidst art!

Yes, I took a selfie with my favorite -
Robert Irwin's "Excursus:
Homage to the Square^3"
https://www.diaart.org/collection/
collection/irwin-robert-excursus-homage
-to-the-square-
19982015-1999-013 

Celebrating Mother's Day surrounded by Dorothea Roackburne's work at
 Dia Beacon

 It was good to spend a few days taking care of non-studio related things, but I don't like to be away too long.  I reprinted this little gem, which for various reasons, keeps getting edited out and is yet to make it into a finished collage.

With the exception of the rocks, a lot of these parts hadn't made it into a collage yet, and I think it's time :).

30 x 22" collage in process

In a blast from the past - this chimera figure with a snow leopard body and my head in a dark landscape goes way (way) back to my school days, pre-blog. Here it is in a piece from January 2008 - my techniques have changed a lot since then, but I still heart chimeras, and it's funny to me how much the current collage in process reminds me of this student work.

Throw back to a collage of mine from January 2008! 12 x 12" graphite, color pencil, thread, decorative paper.

 Lots of landscapes this week and adventures with Honey.

I really, really like this tree in my neighborhood and am thinking that feline
baby's name is going to be Momiji, Japanese for red maple :)

Opening at Tremaine!

Me and my Nana!

It's up!  A big week this week with the opening of solo show "Ex Animo" at Tremaine Gallery in Lakeville, CT. After delivering a second round of artwork, checking and adjusting hanging hardware, and installing the unicorn piece, I handed the reins over to gallery co-director Terri Moore who curated and hung the show.  Saturday was the opening, and I think it looks great - thumbs up! It's always exciting to see the final results, and it was the first time for me seeing many of these pieces on the wall. It was a lovely opening and I'm very thankful to those who helped, came out to support, and sent good wishes (heart!). I was extra-excited that my sweet cousin came with her family and brought my grandmother. It was so much fun sharing the artwork and seeing family and friends. 

me trying to work the "pano" feature on the camera to get the whole room

Honey in her favorite swimming spot :) The human even
waded in a little bit.

Between the final delivery day and the opening, I rested a little bit and took Honey, Wonder-pup to her favorite swimming spot. I also gave Honey a bath and the next day, we hiked all the way to the Hudson River. Naturally, Honey went right in one of the muddy creeks along the way (doh. - but it made her so happy!) 

In a slightly muddier spot, but still one happy pup!

Now that the shows are up, I had a lot of cleaning to do...thankfully my Feline Assistant kept me company while I got things back in order.

Before

After

The studio isn't the only area that needs a little spring cleaning.  I also cleaned in my bedroom, taking everything out, washing the rug and curtains, etc getting things all ready for my new kitten's homecoming.  He isn't even home yet and already has a cache of things: collar, scratching post, toys, and I broke down after years of resisting and bought a cat tree. 

Mini came right over to investigate - she definitely knows something is up.

Honey seems to know too. 

 Spring came all at once and I feel like I'm a little behind on the yard. I made my first trip to the nursery for some of my favorites.

Last but not least, this week's landscape shots

Preparations continue

A bust week in Artlandia!

Preparations continue - framing, framing, framing.

Each framed piece got corners and a bubble wrapped sleeve and made it into a box - thumbs up!

Then, it was onto the very last piece to be prepared for hanging. The fox got sewn to a new border - I was so excited to have a perfect thread match. 

On the wall! 

I also printed a new round of bunnies to make a new piece that's headed to an exhibition at the Woodstock Artist Alliance Museum for a show of small works, May 5 - June 10. 

New 11 x 14" collage

...more framing, but at least it's small!

Mini being a helper in the studio

Mini was excited to be back in the studio and was a big helper!

Meanwhile Honey and I are back in training class, and I'm so proud of my smart pup (she also graciously donated her hiking time so that I could make the trip to drop off artwork). But the biggest piece of creature news...(drumroll)...I met my future feline assistant and got to hold him for the first time!(!!!) It was so much fun and so kind of his foster mom to have me - I've been so wanting to hold him and he is the sweetest, softest kitten.  I got to see him in full out rambunctious kitten playtime mode, and then he fell asleep in my lap. My heart is filled with happiness - I can already see his personality shining through and I can't wait to bring him home in a few weeks - I know Mini will be as besotted as I am and I think Honey will love him too.  

Framing, framing, framing

A very busy week in Artlandia!  In preparation for the upcoming exhibition I've been framing, framing, framing.

This week, I framed 8 things, (or 8.5 since one of them got framed twice.) The visual breakdown:

I painted and cut custom spacers for this frame to create a space between the glazing and the artwork, since the eye of the automaton is a 3D element.

This one didn't need any custom matting. That pattern over the whole surface is a protective film on the
glazing that I will leave on until the last possible moment to avoid scratches.

This I floated over the mat to match it to already framed pieces in the series.

This one, I initially used the last black frame that I had, unused from the earlier framing...
and then I got a reminder of why I never ordered these frames again - the glazing was cut too
short so that it bowed out in the middle.

So then I got to re-frame it in white.

I ordered custom mats for the 3 deadly sins pieces. I decided to go with a large chain store about 45 minutes away because they were economical and able to complete the job in 48 hours. The mats were cut correctly and done on time. I did a little bit of refining - sanding a few areas on the interior edges and going over the edges with a bone fold to smooth them - overall, thumbs up. 

The last piece I framed this week is the only horizontal in the batch. I saved it to the end because the wiring is a little different - I used two small cleats with wire as a "back up." It was nice seeing this piece again. It's one of my favorites and looking at it, I remember why (haha, I think there is about 12 rounds of different marbling and, at quick count, maybe 32 blocks in it, so even though it's not that big, it's complex. Also, it has the mini tiger, which I have a soft spot for.)  Nice to see it all framed and ready to be exhibited for the first time.

The framing is going well. Still a long way to go - packing, loading, transporting, and unpacking each of these in addition to the pieces that were already framed. Also, now that they're framed, I'll need to work on finding or making a safe, long-term home for any that return after the show - baby steps. 

In creature news, Honey and I went to the Lake Taghkanic State Park. 

Always so happy to be near the water.

Mini has been beside herself this week since I didn't let her "help" with the framing. She is such a devoted assistant and has gotten lots of pets and cuddles to make up for the temporarily closed door.  It seems that she is taking it in stride.

Nature shots from Lake Taghkanic:

And last, but not least, I haven't forgotten about the projects that were in the works and put on hold for show preparations - I printed the 12 x 16" rose bush block in gold on black.