Firstly, I'd like to thank you for all the interest in Three Ravens from last week. They've all SOLD! Yay! Love when that happens. I may have mentioned here, in the past, that I don't actively sell much these days...or at least don't MARKET my work (other than y'know the socials)...as it felt/feels SO forced. But I do love it when someone (maybe you?) wishes to buy something. Warms the cockles of my heart. Thank you! Thank you!
Last Friday, I spent the day, cleaning up the studio, putting everything in its place and shoving my easel to the side and hauling out my folding table because I NEEDED to do some sewing and really that's the only way it was gonna happen. It literally took me four days before I said, "Nope. That's all I'm gonna do. I need to MAKE. ART!" I did manage to alter 2 dresses, a couple of tops and make a tunic but the other dress and tunic are just going have to wait. Six days without my studio is five days too long. I'm really gonna have to think about how to make that work for NEXT summer (the year of heading to the Yukon. woohoo!) or I'm going to be one cranky customer. Let me know your favourite take-along art kits in the comments.
I received a (GORGEOUS!!) package of collage papers from long time friend, Amy. OMG. They are stunning. I oohed and ahhhed and fondled them every day until I got back into artmaking mode. That dotted paper particularly made me swoon. The technique is from Cat Rains wonderful (FREE!) class Collage Kickstart. I tried it but because I didn't have any molding paste(?!?!) and tried using gel medium which really didn't work well (in case you want to try it) so was thrilled to have some dots of my very own! Thank you Amy!
Also. I need to get this stupid painting OFF the easel. For the last few weeks all I've been doing is lightening, then darkening, then lightening the areas around the houses. I need to rethink those stripes as its still waaaay too close to its original inspiration. I HAVE to decide what this is about. Do you ever do that? Invest time and effort into a piece of art and suddenly realize you have NO idea what you're trying accomplish. Oh. Don't get me wrong, much of my work (most?) starts off with a burst of inspiration-colour palette, a particular technique, slapping paint onto the surface- a purely physical reaction to the substrate. And that is awesome! But. Eventually, you...I...need to focus on the "intent" for the work to have any substantive direction. Or you'll end up going back and forth (light to dark to light) ad nauseum.
Play needs to evolve into a plan.
Not much else to report this week, other than...if you have refillable acrylic markers/Posca pens whose nibs have splayed, check out Bombing Science for extra nibs, plus other cool art supplies. I was very disappointed in my regular art suppliers who didn't have any replaceable nibs. Dudes! If you sell Posca pens? Sell the nibs too. (y'all know you can refill posca pens, right?) Highly irresponsible in this day and age to have throwaway items without at least giving us the chance to reuse them. /soapbox
Have a great week!