Redressing of MacArthur

Redressing of MacArthur
Originally uploaded by colormuse

This large wall painting in the "Museum" building is a left over from the old days at Camp Meade...MacArther landing in the Phillipines. Its presence occupied the whole room and was rather off putting until we could see it in another light. Yes, light with laughter and support when we could cartoon the words and turn the room into a portrait gallery. The exhibit will be open more in these next 2 weeks in the hopes that more people will come on over to check out the whole display...we've had some wonderful comments on the exhibit.

Beauty in Decay

Rainy day. Time to play. Trying to understand what I have in this new CS3 on Mac and how I can work it. How far can I take one of my images and still feel the original? Studying texture, form--this agave still has a flatness in the white area. Why am I allergic to white? Perhaps I wouldn't be such a dyer if I weren't so allergic to white....Could I take these forms into a painting? All questions on a rainy day when away from the studio and my art play is on the computer.

My boys play

My boys have come together again and they play as they always have. There is competition but good natured, teasing but with love, and gentle caring. Jonah the younger at 30 works in town here, but is so busy, I see him little. He works in customer service at the Hunger Mountain Coop and is president of the union which means he is always in some meeting with employees trying to settle disputes and problems...to keep everyone on an even keel. He takes it seriously and has been elected to a national Workers Union thing which takes him out of town once a month to conference....next month he will go to Mexico as representative of unions. His brother Ezra, 32, returned from Cameroon, Africa for a 4 day visit here in Vermont. We packed a lot into this visit. We lunched with his oldest college friend visiting from Idaho with his wife visiting other friends in Burlington...wonderful new baby to hold. A gathering of "family" at Camp with very disorganized cookout and large fire on the coldest night yet, dark of moon and so starfilled sky, but why hadn't I at least bought tiki torches? Ezra spoke of his travels and job in Cameroon working with reforestation and his girlfriend sadly still in Cameroon and his trip to Chiapas coming up working with other experts on forest growth and climate change. Jonah entertained and enthralled us with his poetry. Such a proud mama I can be!

More days of feasting. Ezra taught me the fine art of sushi making with some fabulous tuna just right for the job...oh, and that striped bass! We did get a leaf changing ride into the north country to walk the land just purchased by Bruce for the yurt. Ezra was thrilled with all the tree species available in that 7 acres woods...I found an old apple which pleased me! All a joy, having Ezra with us and we made the most of it. Jonah could join us for the last night when I grabbed the funny shot of them together just after a late dinner, before they moved in the recycled dresser for me and got out the monstrosity! Then the card game....we all played and enjoyed being together. We will indeed make time to be together again.

Improbable Play

Improbable Play
Originally uploaded by colormuse

Odd, but it captures my imagination. I've gone back into rework it, but find the painting doesn't want to change much. perhaps i am glad and surprised to see one with glazes and watercolor aspect after so many paintings thick with wax. Finding texture and surface quality still. Makes me find the question "When is a painting done?" This painting seems to be beg to be seen in this state, so let it be seen. Anyone looking?

A scarf of a different flavor

I must admit to myself that I am puzzled about this scarf...it is different and doesn't fit in. It rather shocked me when it came to the ironing board for the first time. It surfaced again when I was looking for an 11" chiffon to go to Etsy with a lesser price, but then I put it on my form for photos and the scarf came alive and had so many different views whether the bluish lavender was in or out. It is bold and exciting, changeable and dramatic. Is this what one is looking for in a scarf? And who is this one and how do I find her while this scarf is fresh from its its ironing and ready to make someone happy? It changed my mood.

My son is visiting for 4 days from his job and home in Cameroon, Africa. It is fabulous to have him around. Great energy, but I give too much of myself away. He is off in my car now with his brother seeing old friends and I have had to wrestle the disappointment I was feeling because he didn't help to get the dresser moved out of the bedroom and another moved in. Was I hoping for too much? yes. Was I pushing that this be done? I had worked a lot of the day clearing, preparing, I was anxious. It will take some energy, strength, good humor. Shoot, I didn't have any of that when he got back from a bball game with his brother, before he rushed off to his friends. It was better to let it go and thankfully, I could think about taking some pictures in the the last light of day, not too cold yet...doing my own work. Not waiting for someone else to help to make something happen. Bruce says,"Isn't it wonderful to have your sons around?" I was trying to feel that today, and was upset with myself that I wasn't there in that thinking. Ease up, Maggie, you did a lot yesterday to make a party; you have a right to be drained and low ebbed today. Think I'll recline on the couch......

Autumn Transition

Autumn Transition
Originally uploaded by colormuse

As the winds chill and the sun shortens our days, the scarf comes into play...hand painted as a painting, but so much fun to see how the colors play when wound around the neck. Luscious paj, the lightest of silks, like as a feather, 22x72, on sale for $60 on colormusings.etsy.com

Earth and Sky Silk

Earth and Sky Silk
Originally uploaded by colormuse

Just started a shop on etsy.com called colormusings and posted 2 scarves as a beginning. It is time consuming to learn the basics and to post multiple images, but the beginnings have been accomplished. This scarf seems to speak of the coming of autumn in more ways than one.

Abstract silk jacquard

I am working toward posting on esty.com. Today I ironed again and worked out a form to hold the scarves. The sun was in and out ---unsteady lighting effects. I was out on the back deck...my favorite place to be. There is not enough light in this home and the walls are not large, white, and bare for background so I go to my favorite background of the shed door...am I a creature of habit or do I really have so little choice? The green of the growing yard doesn't suit my needs. I love the sky as background, but my yard is in a bowl, a dip, and the sky doesn't fall easily into camera angle. I have been making a bit of study of esty and how others go about it...also most silks are small in size and I am so fond of the larger silks that I think I will begin with them. This one is silk jacquard and chiffon stripe with a hint of gold woven in. Lovely blank which seems to handle an abstract coloration. It is 18x80, generous and transforming, and the colors shift in presentation and with whatever it accompanies...ah, trying to work up the wording. There are so many aspects to making and selling art!

Art Hop fashion

I was asked to take part in the fashion piece of art hope (ha! hop) which really meant that we were involved as a way of helping to pay the huge cost of erecting the gigantic tent which was needed for the fashion show in late afternoon. I ironed silks all day on friday to get them presentable. Early sat I scooped up a few structures to give form to the 10x10 space I was allotted. It always feels like an art piece to make up an installation at a show. The light coming from the back was gorgeous, but anything under such a huge tent loses its color glow. To set up a spread for only a short day especially when so few folks knew to come view....well, another hope dashed, another lesson learned, but really i knew it would be light in attendance and money is definitely tight...still some good comments like "this is quality!" The best I've seen." After I packed up the car, I was too tired to stay for the fashion show, but went in search of food and water and some quiet art. What a crowd was out and about. Today the car is unloaded, but the carriers of silks are unpacked...maybe tomorrow I will iron again. For more on art hop check out Janet's piece on Vermont art zine

Appearances

Appearances
Originally uploaded by colormuse

This painting was started last month and progressed whenever paint was on the brush and the board was in evidence. Forms were coming forth. A few days ago clarity came after working on a landscape and those colors were on the palette. The path through a painting is not always a direct line and not always from the mind,,,thank goodness! I could almost claim another entity came through with this one, but so glad it did. I can find wonder in my work of my brush when so assisted. 20x40 on rough canvas, no stretcher so the finish is still to come.

Element

Element
Originally uploaded by colormuse

Discovered a larger canvas I had made up last month, maybe 32x34. I had primed it with medium grey gesso...just to make me think differently and it did! I dove into this painting and let a non thinking part of me take over and now when I look at it, I am charged and curious and still in the discovery place. Under deadline for the upcoming show changes time and charges the energy to move through blockages. This painting is hanging on the outside of the cabin against the deep red wall and can be seen from a great distance. No rain is predicted. I am really starting to look forward to Sunday's gathering for Peace by Piece.

The Red tent

The yurt has been progressing for the last 2 months. A new covering was needed to pull it together for the final photos for the yurt book Bruce is writing. He purchased a roll of fabric at the local Restore at $1 a yard, but who wanted to roll it out and measure, so a small price was agreed upon. When Bruce got to the Camp he began unrolling the roll of red and it went on and on. Such a length! Such a bargain! It was more than enough for the skirt. Could a cap really be designed and made? I said I would sew it and began a drawing of the layout of the gores, a giant gored shirt with each gore measuring 8' on the sides, 15" on top and 60" on bottom. What a sewing job. it took me several pieces before the machine was in total compliance with the task of flat feld seams, 11 gores, banded on both ends. But how well it fit. How Mongolian it seemed even with that redness! And the glow inside is glorious. A palace of a healing space. Hurrah for us to pull it off just in time for our gathering this Sunday. Yes, that deadline thing again. Hopefully we will have tucked the blue petticoat up under the red dress before the photo shoot. For more about the yurt...forloveofyurts.blogspot.com

Racing to the Moon

Racing to the Moon
Originally uploaded by colormuse

Finishing up paintings for the exhibit at Camp opening this Sunday. I am inspired by a deadline, the paintings are finding resolution and names are coming from the ethers to christen each painting. i found at the Restore 2 old silk screen frames and they made up into inexpensive stretchers. When one is not selling many paintings it is hard to keep forking out the money for supplies. i have been very thrifty this summer with my surfaces...out of need and the rustic cabin space seemed to encourage my rustic self....still i am racing to the moon in moments.
16x20 in size.