school work...

These tiles have been stained and glazed.

Here are some photos from the project I've been helping with at EKES. They have been stained yellow.

This tile can be seen below before it was trimmed and fired

These tiles have been fired.

These  tiles have been sculpted.

thoughts and catching up, Haiku edits

My art work on the last post looks like it was done after the earthquake in Japan.... but no, it was done before. The photos and situation there is heart wrenching. My thoughts go out to Miho every day...

This first day of spring began with the full moon setting and the sky a pale pink in the east prior to the sunrise.
I've been working on a Haiku. The first attempt reads:
                                                       round full moon revolves
                                                       very close to earth, sets yellow
                                                       announcing spring's return
                  
Then I revised it three times. They actually read pretty well together:
                                                   
                                                         round yellow moon
                                                          approaches its earth, yellow
                                                          peepers still sleep, cold

                                                          eastern blue sky
                                                         edged with palest, baby pink
                                                         moon sets at spring's birth


                                                      full moon revolves
                                                      closely to its earth mother                                                         
                                                      a new season's birth

Now to make a visual statement....

Yesterday I made new curtains for our bedroom. The fabric has a Marimekko look to it with a combination of aqua, lavender and pale green, highlighted with touches of red, deep eggplant and gold. I have about a half yard left and am thinking about making a strippie quilt to go with the curtains. This would be  a great way to use som of my fabric supplies. And of course, I'm thinking I need to check JoAnne's to see if they have more of the curtain fabric.

Last Sunday, I went to see "Mary Poppins" in Boston at the Opera House. It was a Fabulous - with a capitol F- production. Everything was simply mesmerizing. My sister got tickets for my birthday through her bank. They included the trip, lunch at Maggiano's and great orchestra seats. Now, how do I say thank you for such a wonderful, generous gift.
 I've been at work in "ART JOURNAL 2011".  Of course, one spread includes the "Playbill" cover with Mary floating into the sky in a bright red dress. I didn't cover the image enough to publish it here. My favorite spread was inspired by my trip to Lowell to the Brush Gallery and I used their postcard and I don't know whose print it is.If I can find that out I'll publish that also.  It took about two weeks to get "right". And it inspired a new stamp.
I have several  other pages to photo and publish later.
At school, I have photos of clay tiles we're doing with Emile Birch at http://ekesartistsworkshop.blogspot.com/



                                        

Winsor-Newton Master class, Zeek & Deezel

I was in a Master Class at the Currier Museum of Art yesterday, "Watercolor Collage". We used Winsor-Newton watercolors, brushes, and paper. All are fabulous to work with. We got to experiment with using mediums with watercolors. The blender medium was  a pleasure. It made the watercolors richer and wetter without more water. Also,  we used resist,and  permanent resist.

landscape

We made some papers, then cut or tore them up to arrange in collages. Mine was okay. The instructor complimented me, then I worked too long on it and lost the spontaneity I'd been enjoying. Nothing had been glued; I dumped all the shapes off the substrate/background and started over. Finally I glued them in place.
I worked at the same table as my sister, Anne, and her 3 art friends. They did fabulous work.

journal page

I tore one paper into journal page sized pieces and will use one today to write about  the experience. It's actually quite nice in the photo. I'll strengthen some lines and perhaps place the text among the shapes.

CUTE PET PHOTOS

I got some photos of Deezel and Zeek. She loves his bed. He shares, with reservations.

vacation day trip, artful thoughts

Today has been a lovely, sunny early spring/late winter day. Deezel keeps coming to me, staring at me for minutes, and then leaving. He's desperate for somebody to take him on a loop through the woods. It's still forty degrees, but the wind is very strong.
I drove to Lowell today to see the SAQA exhibit "No Holes Barred". There were several inspirational pieces. Check out http://www.nequiltmuseum.org/  It's all experimental work done with great skill !!!  I love visiting the museum, brings back many pleasant memories of my days there as Program Manager.

I had lunch at Life Alive. It's a snazzy restaurant with organic and healthy foods. It's a pleasant atmosphere. All Lowell Arts has opened a gallery in the building opposite the Quilt Museum, but I chose rather to see the prints at the Brush Gallery. WOW You can get more information and the names of the artists, but not many images at http://www.thebrush.org/ .
One piece, an artist's book had pages cut in the shape of hands. The paper must have been hand made. Primarily white, each had a relief printing on one side. Truly inspirational, it's one of those "why-didn't-I-think-of-that?" visions. The maker is Christiane Corcelle-Lippeveld. http://www.christiane-corcelle-arts.com/ When you go to the website, check out "Project 52".

Yesterday, I had  afternoon tea with Mimi. We shared projects - her writing, and visual art, my scroll and Art Journal 2010 Aug- Dec. One topic we touched on was my switch from fabric to collage/paper art. It was a fairly easy switch. I do miss fabrics in my hands.
I have two small pieces for fabric in my mind, and I may finish one and make the other. I may, but it's not the drive it once was to create in fabric. As long as I have a satisfying, fulfilling artform to be part of, I'm good.

When I see the work that I saw today, I think I might get back to quiltart; I have the fabrics. I bought two Japanese fabrics.  I even bought two Sashiko needles, because they are long and would be easier to pull through the fabric ( I read that on the Cloth,Paper Scissors post today).
Suddenly, the sky is a cool grey, and a snow squall is blowing through. Again, suddenly, the sky shows a bit of blue, the sun glares behind the clouds and breaks through, creating blue shadows on the white snow. The winds remain strong.