Silk and Reflections on travel

 Back to painting silks and I can feel my trip coming through on the flow of dye.  It's late and I can't believe I am trying to make words for these images.  Finally getting to look and mess with my photos from trip.  I told my son who is working in Africa that I'd be loading some images on the blog.  Ezra is back in the capital of Cameroon so internet is available.  Hope he checks in here....but must get some for him to see.

 Love seeing red and the cracking cement of this hot springs tub.  Did my art eye pick this up and frame it out?  It feels like making a painting with my camera eye.

 My sister Martha who adventured with me.  I see her 9 year old self in this image.  We realized later that this form represents a turtleback for the turtle back mountain which overlooks this hot spring.

Yes, here is Martha again with her partner Terryl.  We were up in the Catalinas, the sky island where the weather is cooler.  We had rain that day and scurried off the mountain not to be caught in a monsoon swell.

Drove into Barre this afternoon after steaming scarves.  I had to get to my studio.  My art today was in "home decor" as I spent the time there changing furniture around, washing floor and windows, and hanging paintings.  Such fun to see the paintings making conversations with each other.  I am liking being in this new space.  Not sure if I want that futon couch that came with the room but when I put the hollow core door on it, I had a whole new surface for working or at least spreading...and if I do get guests.....Homecoming on Sat in Barre.  Some great music and fireworks can be seen from my back porch.  Want to come over?

Seeking Order from Chaos--new studio

Being an Aries, I find that I can butt my head into many situations, whether a new studio, a new painting, someone's blog, or comments on others work.  This new studio has me a bit intimidated.  It is a large space, shared by Joelen, a strong woman and painter, who found the space and asked me to join her to share the rent.  Why am I intimidated?  That is my question and glad I could find the question so I could work toward the answer.  It is a precious space, an antique which needs care and tending....but there are more answers to reveal themselves.  I worked there yesterday and this painting got more wax and paint.  It felt so good to start working again.  The name "Seeking Order from Chaos" seems to apply to more than the painting. 30x15 on linen with collaged fabrics.

My first attempt at making this room mine.  I could lay a large silk on the floor and see it from a distance.  What a revelation!  I cut this piece of silk jacquard noil into a simple jacket design before I left.

Studio from the door with Joelen's space defined with large painting wall, rug, and contemplation chair.  My piece of silk which is 44x 90 appears shrunk in the space.

 

Front entrance, proud, and well conceived, 1903, made with money and promise when the granite industry was booming in this prospering city 100 years ago.  Now the building has 2 floors of Body Tech with the smell of bodies working out...but still holds a grandness.

The three windows on the front right mark our space.  One window is open and we can't seem to close it.  Thankfully the air is not in winter chill and the rain doesn't come in.  We have a bird's eye view of the city.

And the neighborhood will be something to watch also.  Taken from my car as I was about to drive off.

My first exercise was a drawing taped to the slate, oil pastels, because I hadn't quite got the paint out yet.  It is always such a reminder when I put color on a surface that I love to make lines, forms grow, and play with color.  It is my therapy, my joy, as I bring order from the chaos.

This is a large silk hanging which has been hanging around, or rather folded away, for a long time.  I thought I would cut it for a jacket, but it cried out "NO!"  I could hang it from the rail on the slate board and photo it.  It has been reborn in my eyes in this new light.  I think I ought to put it up for sale before I squirrel it away again....maybe etsy.  44x90, dye on silk jacquard.