tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70085838431162769002024-03-14T04:21:43.071-04:00pamelartpamelalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02629574310534874799noreply@blogger.comBlogger35125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7008583843116276900.post-41187912966764970752015-11-02T10:53:00.000-05:002015-11-02T10:53:49.741-05:00Serious issue in HoustonThe last two days, the artquilt email group has been abuzz with a discussion which (alas) took place last year for the same reason. Certain art entries who ended in the winners circle, have been proven to be almost direct copies of another's work. The PORTRAIT category has a direct copy of a Vermeer painting done with Kaffe Fasset fabric!!!! Worse is the multiple prizewinner in another category PAINTED ART QUILT both of which appear to be copies of photos in the public domain.<br />
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The first prize winner in the painted category appears to be a cropped exact copy of a photo from a website<br />
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http://www.freeimages.com/photo/jamie-lee-1385122<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-d5LDiar6K-U/Vjd9nHTXRVI/AAAAAAAAgkc/KvSBIc17UIo/s1600/verrmeer%2Bcopy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-d5LDiar6K-U/Vjd9nHTXRVI/AAAAAAAAgkc/KvSBIc17UIo/s320/verrmeer%2Bcopy.jpg" width="320" /></a> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GaTt1eb0xXE/Vjd9txyvc-I/AAAAAAAAgkk/kGWhZp3wACM/s1600/holliswinner.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="134" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GaTt1eb0xXE/Vjd9txyvc-I/AAAAAAAAgkk/kGWhZp3wACM/s320/holliswinner.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Hflvkazwpek/Vjd9I6nGyCI/AAAAAAAAgkU/HgwIZXJ1NVc/s1600/holliscopy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Hflvkazwpek/Vjd9I6nGyCI/AAAAAAAAgkU/HgwIZXJ1NVc/s320/holliscopy.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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Many people have made comments about this. Most are discouraged and
questioning why a category that is supposed to be ART, has resulted in
entries that been rewarded for appropriation of others' work!<br />
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"<i> I realize Houston show officials can't be all knowing about photos and
art quilts that copy them, but surely there is something that can be
done to correct this, at least in the future, or is there? Again, the
Master's piece with girl in earrings should be recognizable by anyone
associated with art. "</i><br />
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<i>" </i><i>T<span style="font-size: small;">he
issue is using another artist's work as the basis of your own art quilt
and no matter how dazzling [the ] work is technically, if she copied
some existing work even if it is out of copyright, it is not an art
quilt in the eyes of the serious art quilt world."</span></i><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: small;">" </span></i><i>I was always under the understanding that to do work on a national level especially at the amazing Visions, your work needed to be truly original."</i><br />
<pre wrap=""><i> </i></pre>
<pre wrap=""><i>" <span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> I complain because I once was VERY excited to show my work there and I feel that, with so many copying other forms of art, I'm not competing with other quilters but with Vermeer or photographers or famous Art Nouveau ads, or what have you in a category that is specifically about
personal creativity.</span> "</i></pre>
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<span style="font-size: small;">The same issue arose last year when a major prizewinner was a stroke for
stroke copy of a modern painting....same colors, same composition
different colored background. ( Admittedly the artist gave credit to the
original artist....but what were the JUDGES thinking?)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">There are those also who complain bitterly that we are somehow spoilers for stating that the emperor has no clothes! And some are tired of the repeated cry for ART in ART quilts.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><i>" </i></span><i>Please do not get into YET another beating a dead horse series of
messages. Quilt exhibited, got award, move on, move on!! (and next year,
everyone can copy an Old Master painting :)" </i></div>
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<i> </i></div>
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<i>" Until I can create work that outshines that of another artist do I have a right to criticize how they work and consider them not worthy of the prizes and awards they win?"</i><div>
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<i><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">We are PROFESSIONAL ARTISTS who are trying to maintain some credibility in the art community.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I am particularly outspoken about this issue....I agree. Maybe I am a bit of a brat. But I have also become so disheartened that I have not entered Houston for several years now because the criteria is so NOT professional. This is my livelihood as well as my passion. Others share my opinion. So if IQA has dropped the ball, we have to keep nudging them to pick it up yes?</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GaTt1eb0xXE/Vjd9txyvc-I/AAAAAAAAgkk/kGWhZp3wACM/s1600/holliswinner.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></span></div>
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<br />pamelalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02629574310534874799noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7008583843116276900.post-67093899283114551032015-10-02T12:57:00.004-04:002015-10-02T12:57:58.997-04:00Creating line in fabric art. Line is an artistic element that can be used to describe the edges and contours of an object. Line can also define a direction for the eye to travel. Line of various thickness and weight can also generate a mood; calm for lyrical curved lines, tense for jagged irregular ones. In art quilts, lines can be created by adding narrow strips of fabric or cutting a thin channel through which the underlying fabric reveals itself (as in reverse appliqué) or by stitching. Let’s make a sample to explore some of these techniques. We will start with a small piece of fabric with a large linear pattern.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0-hrRcM3uP0/TnZBj1wR8rI/AAAAAAAAAMs/DQs2yEN6w1s/s1600/LINEAR1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="248" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0-hrRcM3uP0/TnZBj1wR8rI/AAAAAAAAAMs/DQs2yEN6w1s/s320/LINEAR1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Your one rule is that you cannot cover or cut this original piece. It’ll be a challenge to make a unified composition from this almost arbitrary start, but it can be done!
This fragment is from a rayon sarong measuring about 7 inches. You can see the lines are in a yellow color, so I am placing it on a yellow background in anticipation I might be cutting some other fabrics to reveal the underlying colour. The object of this exercise is to create a fully realized linear composition by extending the already existing lines in the starter fabric.
The first thing we must do is to fill the rest of the space with fabrics that relate to those already there.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HoKJPZlaBqs/TnZBmXOOcII/AAAAAAAAAMw/fteWhvkAqw8/s1600/LINEAR3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HoKJPZlaBqs/TnZBmXOOcII/AAAAAAAAAMw/fteWhvkAqw8/s320/LINEAR3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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These do NOT have to match in color, but rather need to be sympathetic to the tone and color family you are starting with. Notice the entire surface is now covered.
I have added more blue and black shapes to begin to connect the composition to the edges of the rectangle. Notice that some connecting lines are also appearing by cutting through the top layer and aligning the underlying line with the original fabric pattern. In the lower right, where the black fabric completes a shape, I have cut a space that reveals a red line instead of the yellow. I LIKE it for its variety!
The top part of the composition seemed neglected so I begin to introduce lines to connect the bottom to the top of the rectangle.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2HyexzLjMxk/TnZBqA1XAhI/AAAAAAAAAM0/Hb6w1ffAGBM/s1600/LINEAR4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2HyexzLjMxk/TnZBqA1XAhI/AAAAAAAAAM0/Hb6w1ffAGBM/s320/LINEAR4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Remember that ALL of the composition is important, so be mindful of the rectangle as you develop the image.
I felt I needed another black shape on the left edge to draw the eye across from the others. Again I was able to cut out a red line around it.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ooe0ZFbHLsw/TnZBtkWyS7I/AAAAAAAAAM4/k8GGjvC-8uQ/s1600/LINEAR5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="251" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ooe0ZFbHLsw/TnZBtkWyS7I/AAAAAAAAAM4/k8GGjvC-8uQ/s320/LINEAR5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The composition is becoming more unified and balanced.
The final addition of line by means of long running stitch with embroidery floss, adds a decorative stitched line. The finished piece offers the viewer a unified integration of the original fragment that concentrates on line as an element of art.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iAQwcl3Vl-A/TnZEa0Q_MjI/AAAAAAAAANA/ac-gB1j7sew/s1600/linetexture%2Bfini.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="248" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iAQwcl3Vl-A/TnZEa0Q_MjI/AAAAAAAAANA/ac-gB1j7sew/s320/linetexture%2Bfini.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">A WORD ABOUT UNITY
One of the joys of creating comes from the “dialogue” that begins to occur between you and your art. Without some initial shapes, colors and arrangement, however temporary such a dialogue cannot take place. We need something visual and complete upon which to bounce our next idea. Strive to maintain integrity in your work at all stages. By that I mean you should be able to appreciate a unified image at all stages of development. The process of creating a successful composition involves a kind of stream of consciousness thinking that is stimulated by what is already present in the work in progress. You can analyze the fragment for instance, and notice the direction of the lines. This will give you a clue to where they will go and how they will engage the rectangle. “ What if I make this diagonal into a more lyrical wavy line? What if I change the colour of the line where it meets the first one?”. And so on. Then of course, you must actually try your idea and see if it will work! So LISTEN to your work and act on what it is telling you.</span>pamelalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02629574310534874799noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7008583843116276900.post-33433213262766891202015-09-04T09:40:00.000-04:002015-09-04T14:24:33.243-04:00New Klimty workTalk about shameless self promotion. I haven't posted on my blog in ages, but now that I want to "show off" my SLEEPING BEAUTY finished art, I come here to blow my horn. I say that because I REALLY like how this one developed! I have been gleaning my rather pitiful stash in the last months. If it seems ugly to me, I have over dyed it . That in itself is a small excitement because you never know how it will turn out. Now I am a BIT more selective knowing that if I over dye something in its complimentary color , it may very well become exotic and mysterious as a result. Admittedly a few have become "mud" but even then, I have over dyed the over dye with some success. It is reassuring to be the kind of person I am....sort of cavalier about the ultimate results. I am NEVER disappointed that way! HaHa.<br />
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However in ALL my work, I have big problems with the finishing touches. I know HOW to block, square and bind my work. I'm just not very good at it! Especially squaring up. And I even have a cross hair laser level to be as accurate as I can. So this latest one has a slight wonk in the top....but better than usual. Maybe 3 out of 5 on the binding!<br />
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I AM a bit worried/guilty about using Klimt's charming female face so blatantly. It is slightly altered in shape but more or less a direct transfer via the computer of the sleeping face. And me so vocal about others who "copy" other artists' compositions and colors. I would welcome any comments and opinions about this as a matter of fact.<br />
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Here is they are....somewhat elderly couple smooching on the couch.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jG6iNokBCR0/VemdwvTIuhI/AAAAAAAAf-0/JHu1gRALPMA/s1600/FINI.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="259" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jG6iNokBCR0/VemdwvTIuhI/AAAAAAAAf-0/JHu1gRALPMA/s320/FINI.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />pamelalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02629574310534874799noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7008583843116276900.post-24989811049638361792015-03-06T12:23:00.004-05:002015-03-06T12:23:47.631-05:00Judith Scott with her work<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Lh2ZGPAG-lY/VPniiftYgQI/AAAAAAAAePg/Frzo6gEs2dg/s1600/judithscott.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Lh2ZGPAG-lY/VPniiftYgQI/AAAAAAAAePg/Frzo6gEs2dg/s1600/judithscott.jpg" height="319" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />pamelalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02629574310534874799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7008583843116276900.post-66020613530929287382014-12-20T21:55:00.000-05:002014-12-20T21:55:14.009-05:00Neutral means more than beigeWell I know now that the length my thinking when I decided to try more neutral palette was about one inch . I was thinking NEUTRAL EQUALS BEIGE. Now others are showing their attempts at neutrals and I am slapping myself when I see such beautiful COLOURS that are muted and almost neutralized. <a href="http://lisacall.com/" target="_blank">Lisa Call</a><br />
for instance just blew me away in their beauty.<br />
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Nevertheless I will show you in the spirit of what NOT to do. When I was in art school, a prof once told me "Your first idea is your worst idea" I was irritated at the time but his adage has proved very true. I just forget every now and then and get lazy about developing an idea. These two are only okay. A sort of what's not to like image but not very exciting.<br />
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pamelalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02629574310534874799noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7008583843116276900.post-27659923423049313742014-11-17T10:38:00.001-05:002014-11-17T10:38:30.291-05:00Chicken cluckingJust so people understand that I am a chicken lover from way back despite what I said on quiltart this morning.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rvVxtsYuijs/VGoWWLyvcII/AAAAAAAAAUE/0Spk1x-Ehlw/s1600/chicken.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rvVxtsYuijs/VGoWWLyvcII/AAAAAAAAAUE/0Spk1x-Ehlw/s1600/chicken.jpg" height="320" width="308" /></a></div>
<br />pamelalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02629574310534874799noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7008583843116276900.post-67311278260431621662014-06-16T18:05:00.000-04:002014-06-16T18:05:01.819-04:00Novel about an art quilterBy <a href="http://www.joshilynjackson.com/jj/books/the-girl-who-stopped-swimming/" target="_blank">Joshilyn Jackson</a> the novel THE GIRL WHO STOPPED SWIMMING features a main character who is an art quilter. Her artistry was based on MY work that Joshilyn admired. She commissioned an art quilt which was described in detail in the book. Of a bride, who uses recycled materials with bizarre embellishments like her child's baby teeth hidden in Victorian shoes! I got model teeth from my dentist to fulfill that particular request! The author sent me the description before the book was even finished. The headress had to be detachable because Joshilyn was taking it on tour for book launchings! I bought a wedding dress at the Salvation Army which is reborn as the subject's dress. I also did a dozen framed post cards for her which I believe she gave as gifts to certain people. Here is the quilt. Also a couple of the post cards.<br />
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Joshilyn gave me a nice write up in the acknowledgements section of the book. It was a real honor to be remarked upon in this way. I felt sort of immortalized! haha. <br />
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<br />pamelalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02629574310534874799noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7008583843116276900.post-9709886183751421402013-02-10T11:05:00.001-05:002013-02-10T11:06:51.131-05:00ABOUT SAILPAST<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y1x7nswhgg4/URfA-Bk9HaI/AAAAAAAAAP0/g_HyThwLoo4/s1600/sailpast+2011+23x20.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="278" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y1x7nswhgg4/URfA-Bk9HaI/AAAAAAAAAP0/g_HyThwLoo4/s320/sailpast+2011+23x20.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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SAILPAST,2011, by Pamela Allen<br />
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Soon Virginia's big fundraiser will start with a bang. You might want to know a little about the work I have donated to the cause. It's ironic that I have done a number works on the subject of sailing. It's true I live on Lake Ontario. It's true the wind is so good that they held the 1976 Olympic sailing event here,. It's true I once took sailing lessons. BUT....I was hopeless at actually sailing a boat. Not only could I never tell which way the wind was blowing but my one adventure on the water I forgot to put the center board down and was drifting all over the inner harbor much to the amusement of everyone on shore!<br />
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Still there is something elegant and romantic about sailing. This particular one was a test piece for a class I was teaching. I was going to ask the students to make a small narrative art quilt, then ( heavens!!!!) cut a fragment from it. They were then to enlarge the fragment into an entirely new composition but without slavishly trying to match all the fabrics. Of course it is only fair that I try a couple myself to make sure it was doable.<br />
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So , the smaller piece is the fragment I started with...a detail of another quilt. You can vaguely see it in the finished piece on the right. Different but the same. Makes for an interesting slightly cubist rendering. I hope someone likes it enough to pay the BIG bucks for it. But not to be greedy, the lesser donation is welcome.<br />
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AND...You might win the humongous grand giveaway prize too.<br />
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Thank you to Virginia, and all of you who intend to participate.<br />
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<br />pamelalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02629574310534874799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7008583843116276900.post-32526254265907365092012-10-12T16:20:00.000-04:002012-10-12T16:20:04.569-04:00Versitility of our medium?A poster on the SAQA list, Janice Dawes, has introduced some new ideas about why she has decided to embrace the description QUILT art . <a href="http://thedistoriatedquilter.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://thedistoriatedquilter.blogspot.com/</a> One sentence made me take notice....so much so that I decided to blog after ignoring my pathetic page for many months( years?)<br />
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The sentence reads<br />
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" I don't think a painter has as many options to express themselves in their art" [ as quilt artists]<br />
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Coming to fabric art from a long history of painting I couldn't agree more. I think the many more expressive possibilities that fabric offers has kept me interested now for 10+ years and I still haven't discovered all that much. As a teacher I try to encourage students to see what fabric does that paint can't. You can dye it, print it, stitch it, bend fold and mutilate it pleat, scrunch, stuff and fray it, You can embellish it with whatever is suitable to your intent.....all for the sake of a unique visual expression.<br />
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The only problem with MY argument is that with all this potential, why do we not see more variety in the various pictorial possibilities? Why does FIGURATIVE OR PICTORIAL OR NON ABSTRACT OR REALISM give us more or less the same image .Generally an image derived from a photo that has been reduced in tonal shapes on the computer then collaged with either realistic palette or not. And these images ARE amazing in some cases. But they tell one story IMO and rarely evoke any questions or controversy or dialogue about the person, or environment, or interior. Surely the WAY we choose to depict something says a lot about that something. And fabric offers so many more ways than painting can. But why do we not see more figures like these?<br />
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Why aren't people exploring landscapes like this?<br />
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Or still life like this?<br />
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This kind of diversity is what I want to see more of so that our medium can be used to it's full advantage.<br />
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Now I know I may have offended some who may see themselves in my descriptions. It is not intended as such. I respect anyone who pursues a creative endeavor of any kind. It gives people pleasure to look at them and gives the artist pleasure to create them. I just want to see our repertoire expand a little more.<br />
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<br />pamelalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02629574310534874799noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7008583843116276900.post-78165788908794122722011-09-20T09:17:00.000-04:002011-09-20T09:17:49.883-04:00Mark makingTerry Grant has introduced some good ideas about mark making on the quiltart list. Marks that are not necessarily surface design types like screening, or painting, or airbrushing. I love how she categorizes the history of mark making, from cave painting to the universal methods children use.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EgMjCQc6Rtg/TniQKIwrcVI/AAAAAAAAANQ/fqEvYOX5QDA/s1600/petrog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EgMjCQc6Rtg/TniQKIwrcVI/AAAAAAAAANQ/fqEvYOX5QDA/s320/petrog.jpg" width="212" /></a></div> Petroglyphs from the desert southwest.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zHNcFPi_4Vk/TniQOikzFcI/AAAAAAAAANU/VJj7BUtszGo/s1600/Image1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="257" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zHNcFPi_4Vk/TniQOikzFcI/AAAAAAAAANU/VJj7BUtszGo/s320/Image1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> Child's drawing...wow what a lot of different marks!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9xDaok8R7eM/TniQUJAsu8I/AAAAAAAAANY/TPz4LYphKE4/s1600/vangdraw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9xDaok8R7eM/TniQUJAsu8I/AAAAAAAAANY/TPz4LYphKE4/s320/vangdraw.jpg" width="226" /></a></div> Van Gogh, I've always admired how he directs the eye simply with the direction and weight of his line.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WOFrEB2GJKg/TniQaU_FW8I/AAAAAAAAANc/utUCCKC-hBU/s1600/Twombly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WOFrEB2GJKg/TniQaU_FW8I/AAAAAAAAANc/utUCCKC-hBU/s320/Twombly.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Cy Twombly can make a cacophony with the various thicknesses and agitation in his line.<br />
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All good stuff. But how to translate it to fabric. Yes I could quilt in these types of lines ...even vary the thickness.But it occurs to me looking at these, that there are a multitude of fabrics with similar linear patterns. I'm going to try an image by combining linear patterns and see what happens.pamelalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02629574310534874799noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7008583843116276900.post-55349682618263350302011-09-18T17:45:00.000-04:002011-09-18T17:45:01.841-04:00Texas Quilt MuseumJamie Fingal has shown us her funky donations to Karey's new project, the Texas Quilt Museum. I also wanted to be part of this so have sent these two for the Museum. It's sure a better place than under a pile of other quilts that have been retired from the show circuit and relegated to "maybe -they- will- sell sometime- when- the- economy- gets- better" ! I was reminded of an artist whose solution to older work was to walk around town and just leave them in a park or bus shelter with a little sign saying "take me home". Here they are:<br />
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CHILD`S PLAY REDUX<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f8Za0xCkqto/TnZmC4eP_yI/AAAAAAAAANM/lPJUkRrMMow/s1600/Vases+like+soldiers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f8Za0xCkqto/TnZmC4eP_yI/AAAAAAAAANM/lPJUkRrMMow/s320/Vases+like+soldiers.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> THREE VASES ALIGNED LIKE SOLDIERSpamelalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02629574310534874799noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7008583843116276900.post-45299044416695903532011-09-18T15:37:00.002-04:002011-09-18T15:43:01.362-04:00Making LINES in art quiltsSandy Snowden on quiltart list has asked for any suggestions about making marks that are not stitched or quilted. Since nobody wants to publish my book, I can share the exercises I wrote whenever the occasion arises. Here is my linear exercise which can create a line type mark in various configurations....either jagged or organic- thick or thin. I could see the kind of spooky swirky lines in Eduard Munch's THE SCREAM being done this way.<br />
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<h1>Linear exercise</h1><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyText">Line is an artistic element that can be used to describe the edges and contours of an object. Line can also define a direction for the eye to travel. Line of various thickness and weight can also generate a mood; calm for lyrical curved lines, tense for jagged irregular ones. In art quilts, lines can be created by adding narrow strips of fabric or cutting a thin channel through which the underlying fabric reveals itself (as in reverse appliqué) or by stitching. Let’s make a sample to explore some of these techniques. We will start with a small piece of fabric with a large linear pattern. Your one rule is that you cannot cover or cut this original piece. It’ll be a challenge to make a unified composition from this almost arbitrary start, but it can be done! </div><div class="MsoBodyText"><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyText">This fragment is from a rayon sarong measuring about 7 inches. You can see the lines are in a yellow color, so I am placing it on a yellow background in anticipation I might be cutting some other fabrics to reveal the underlying colour. The object of this exercise is to create a fully realized linear composition by extending the already existing lines in the starter fabric.</div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7LymBfv0AOU/TnZDI1q41YI/AAAAAAAAAM8/LbxrVYXjZ0U/s1600/LINEAR2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">The first thing we must do is to fill the rest of the space with fabrics that relate to those already there. These do NOT have to match in color, but rather need to be sympathetic to the tone and color family you are starting with. Notice the entire surface is now covered.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">I have added more blue and black shapes to begin to connect the composition to the edges of the rectangle. Notice that some connecting lines are also appearing by cutting through the top layer and aligning the underlying line with the original fabric pattern. In the lower right, where the black fabric completes a shape, I have cut a space that reveals a red line instead of the yellow. I LIKE it for its variety!</span></div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2HyexzLjMxk/TnZBqA1XAhI/AAAAAAAAAM0/Hb6w1ffAGBM/s1600/LINEAR4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2HyexzLjMxk/TnZBqA1XAhI/AAAAAAAAAM0/Hb6w1ffAGBM/s320/LINEAR4.jpg" width="320" /></a> <br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">The top part of the composition seemed neglected so I begin to introduce lines to connect the bottom to the top of the rectangle. Remember that ALL of the composition is important, so be mindful of the rectangle as you develop the image.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">I felt I needed another black shape on the left edge to draw the eye across from the others. Again I was able to cut out a red line around it. The composition is becoming more unified and balanced.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div>This<span style="font-size: 11pt;"> shows the final addition of line by means of long running stitch with embroidery floss. The finished piece below it offers the viewer a unified integration of the original fragment that concentrates on line as an element of art.</span> <br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">A WORD ABOUT UNITY </span></div><div class="MsoBodyText"><b>You may have noticed my advice in these first two exercises, to quickly establish a background for the whole work. One of the joys of creating comes from the “dialogue” that begins to occur between you and your art. Without some initial shapes, colors and arrangement, however temporary such a dialogue cannot take place. We need something visual and complete upon which to bounce our next idea. Strive to maintain integrity in your work at all stages. By that I mean you should be able to appreciate a unified image at all stages of development. The process of creating a successful composition involves a kind of stream of consciousness thinking that is stimulated by what is already present in the work in progress. You can analyze the fragment for instance, and notice the direction of the lines. This will give you a clue to where they will go and how they will engage the rectangle. “ What if I make this diagonal into a more lyrical wavy line? What if I change the colour of the line where it meets the first one?”. And so on. Then of course, you must actually try your idea and see if it will work! So LISTEN to your work and act on what it is telling you.</b></div><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=7008583843116276900&postID=4529904441669590353" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
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</div>pamelalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02629574310534874799noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7008583843116276900.post-87507174981667845912011-09-03T08:38:00.009-04:002011-09-03T08:55:22.365-04:00VISIONS INTERPRETATIONS 2011<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mxosTW2efag/TmIiWViFq2I/AAAAAAAAAMo/IHxGr99Vp-Y/s1600/fishingderby.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 370px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mxosTW2efag/TmIiWViFq2I/AAAAAAAAAMo/IHxGr99Vp-Y/s400/fishingderby.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5648114649808612194" border="0" /></a>
<br /> FISHING DERBY MESOPOTANIA 2000 B.C.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jk_f6_44ctI/TmIiNj2AtxI/AAAAAAAAAMg/uB0IsFn_YDo/s1600/standarur.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 374px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jk_f6_44ctI/TmIiNj2AtxI/AAAAAAAAAMg/uB0IsFn_YDo/s400/standarur.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5648114499031447314" border="0" /></a> The Standard of Ur circa 2400 B.C.
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<br />Yay! My quilt FISHING DERBY MESOPOTAMIA 2000 B.C. will be on it's way to the Visions Art Museum in San Diego for their INTERPRETATIONS 2011 show. I'm so glad I became a member of Visions years ago, as it is such a good opportunity to get your work over to the left coast once in a while. Here's my quilt. It's one of several "historical" quilts based on a particular style in History. In this case the Standard of Ur with it's quirky little people. I figure people at all times in history must do essentially what we do now. Thus the fishing derby fun.
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<br />pamelalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02629574310534874799noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7008583843116276900.post-67007760474992058322011-08-26T16:11:00.002-04:002011-08-26T16:15:37.372-04:00Multi Paneled Piece<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iTF00bK11H8/Tlf-0zDhufI/AAAAAAAAAMY/mX7f_5ye_kQ/s1600/out%2Bof%2Btouch.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 340px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iTF00bK11H8/Tlf-0zDhufI/AAAAAAAAAMY/mX7f_5ye_kQ/s400/out%2Bof%2Btouch.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645260840943860210" border="0" /></a>
<br />Brenda my friend has asked how people have attached segments of multi panels to the main part of the quilt. I have one called OUT OF TOUCH about my alienation from my family. I did a portrait of myself and a bigger one of family into which I cut a window. Because I wanted to illustrate the tenuous nature of my association, I decided to safety pin it into the window. It took ages to get all the pins lined up too!
<br />pamelalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02629574310534874799noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7008583843116276900.post-42972032499750507972011-08-26T16:06:00.000-04:002011-08-26T16:07:09.810-04:00This is a test to make sure I still have control of my blog!
<br />pamelalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02629574310534874799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7008583843116276900.post-51902829139797956242009-07-22T22:58:00.004-04:002009-07-22T23:01:46.501-04:00Lowell Invite<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XM-SfAm4JU0/SmfSVg89P0I/AAAAAAAAALc/PCH9hSHdEJE/s1600-h/lowellposter.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 256px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XM-SfAm4JU0/SmfSVg89P0I/AAAAAAAAALc/PCH9hSHdEJE/s400/lowellposter.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361485148472557378" border="0" /></a><br />I was just tickled to open an envelope from The Brush Gallery in Lowell containing 25 postcard/invitations with MY quilt on it! Here is a pic although it didn't scan all that well.pamelalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02629574310534874799noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7008583843116276900.post-53447560558442233092009-05-05T20:19:00.017-04:002009-05-05T21:06:58.321-04:00I bin everywhere.....Since April 16th I have been to Santa Clara , and Asilomar in California and Mahone Bay in Nova Scotia on teaching tours. What a whirlwind ! ALL the students created wonderful work, and I wanted to showthem off to everyone. In Santa Clara, I hooked up with some cyber friends ( QuiltMavericks to be pricise) that I had taught and visited with before, and as always, there were many giglgles at high decibal levels! At Asilomar, we had a whole week to really get to know each other, and during the THINK LIKE AN ARTIST workshop, everyone produced SO much work and seemed to be SO enthusiastic and hard working, that you just won't believe the results! Finally my trip to the East coast of Canada was so beautiful, as well as productive. I think Mahone Bay is about the prettiest part of Canada I have ever seen. I had a cottage by the ocean, and spent each morning sipping my coffee and watching the day begin over a tranquil bay ! Such a good time with the students too! Below see their exercises.....I think some are worthy of national show entries myself!<br /><br />Santa Clara had a mini THINK LIKE AN ARTIST lasting 2 days.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XM-SfAm4JU0/SgDbwyHyeKI/AAAAAAAAAKc/BY9ps5Der7M/s1600-h/juliestripe.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 254px; height: 198px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XM-SfAm4JU0/SgDbwyHyeKI/AAAAAAAAAKc/BY9ps5Der7M/s400/juliestripe.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332503589941311650" border="0" /></a> <span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XM-SfAm4JU0/SgDbw4Eb7OI/AAAAAAAAAKU/Z2ZdwnaGxxM/s1600-h/julieline.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 242px; height: 192px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XM-SfAm4JU0/SgDbw4Eb7OI/AAAAAAAAAKU/Z2ZdwnaGxxM/s400/julieline.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332503591537863906" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Julie (a Maverick) rearranging printed fabrics and below, her linear exercise.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XM-SfAm4JU0/SgDbw--UuXI/AAAAAAAAAKM/xlfo_Pt8HJo/s1600-h/doloresline.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 278px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XM-SfAm4JU0/SgDbw--UuXI/AAAAAAAAAKM/xlfo_Pt8HJo/s400/doloresline.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332503593391274354" border="0" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XM-SfAm4JU0/SgDbwr7C2CI/AAAAAAAAAKE/7Asgdz61SbA/s1600-h/carolyn2col"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 235px; height: 218px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XM-SfAm4JU0/SgDbwr7C2CI/AAAAAAAAAKE/7Asgdz61SbA/s400/carolyn2col" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332503588277245986" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Dolores' linear study. Carolyn's manipulated stripes below.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XM-SfAm4JU0/SgDdRw1EfTI/AAAAAAAAAKk/zDCnN1ZYbyQ/s1600-h/maryellenstripe.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 257px; height: 225px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XM-SfAm4JU0/SgDdRw1EfTI/AAAAAAAAAKk/zDCnN1ZYbyQ/s400/maryellenstripe.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332505256041676082" border="0" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XM-SfAm4JU0/SgDdR6A2iUI/AAAAAAAAAKs/ZcHKte-Kl9A/s1600-h/2col.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 261px; height: 198px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XM-SfAm4JU0/SgDdR6A2iUI/AAAAAAAAAKs/ZcHKte-Kl9A/s400/2col.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332505258507012418" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Mary Ellen's composition with stripes. Yikes I can't remember whose the lower one is, but a wonderful two colour study!<br /><br />Next came a whole week at Asilomar with the full version of THINK LIKE AN ARTIST. Each day brought two exercises concentrating on a particular element or principle of art.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XM-SfAm4JU0/SgDguzyyGGI/AAAAAAAAALU/9G3i6UkPl8k/s1600-h/janiceoutput.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 218px; height: 363px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XM-SfAm4JU0/SgDguzyyGGI/AAAAAAAAALU/9G3i6UkPl8k/s400/janiceoutput.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332509053588478050" border="0" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XM-SfAm4JU0/SgDgunGOGdI/AAAAAAAAALM/4xds6vTSHvM/s1600-h/janice2col.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 233px; height: 217px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XM-SfAm4JU0/SgDgunGOGdI/AAAAAAAAALM/4xds6vTSHvM/s400/janice2col.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332509050180344274" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Janice was a newbie to art quilting! A very talented and determined artist.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XM-SfAm4JU0/SgDguieeXsI/AAAAAAAAALE/xpZGy10JnH8/s1600-h/Img_2420.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 258px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XM-SfAm4JU0/SgDguieeXsI/AAAAAAAAALE/xpZGy10JnH8/s400/Img_2420.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332509048939896514" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Here am I critiquing Josephine's portraits.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XM-SfAm4JU0/SgDgucoZweI/AAAAAAAAAK8/qpYRYLbbS1s/s1600-h/delblk.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 169px; height: 226px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XM-SfAm4JU0/SgDgucoZweI/AAAAAAAAAK8/qpYRYLbbS1s/s400/delblk.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332509047370924514" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Del's black and white study...a delightful bathroom!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XM-SfAm4JU0/SgDguQulnXI/AAAAAAAAAK0/DwoPXzLd8F4/s1600-h/cindytript.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 166px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XM-SfAm4JU0/SgDguQulnXI/AAAAAAAAAK0/DwoPXzLd8F4/s400/cindytript.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332509044175641970" border="0" /></a><br />Another quilt maverick, Cindy made her triptych from her beautiful portrait of the previous day.pamelalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02629574310534874799noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7008583843116276900.post-20728572165523685872009-02-17T17:32:00.002-05:002009-02-17T17:39:26.731-05:00Transitions quilt<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XM-SfAm4JU0/SZs8YVfeTFI/AAAAAAAAAJs/tHqcvm2M-nM/s1600-h/womanwaitingI.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 303px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XM-SfAm4JU0/SZs8YVfeTFI/AAAAAAAAAJs/tHqcvm2M-nM/s400/womanwaitingI.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303899374942571602" border="0" /></a> <br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XM-SfAm4JU0/SZs8eol8PgI/AAAAAAAAAJ0/ppFOEjMgqg4/s1600-h/womanwaitingIdet.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 394px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XM-SfAm4JU0/SZs8eol8PgI/AAAAAAAAAJ0/ppFOEjMgqg4/s400/womanwaitingIdet.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303899483149188610" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />I too have been accepted into the PAQA 2009 show "Transitions" I have been so preoccupied with hubby's health, that I had forgotten I even entered! Here is my quilt called WOMAN WAITING I. It is entirely hand stitched ( not quilted all the way through tho') and was a good project to have while sitting bedside at the hospital.pamelalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02629574310534874799noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7008583843116276900.post-33794229384125652622008-12-14T13:54:00.005-05:002008-12-14T14:25:52.592-05:00"DULL" coloursThere has been some talk on the quiltart list about colour....how to learn about it, how to experiment with it. Colour has always been problematic to me too, as every now and then, I get antsy about the palette I use over and over again....sort of the queen of blue/violet/red syndrome. Recently, I have been trying to explore other less appealing colour palettes and I must say, I am beginning to like more grayed down hues , especially when spiced up with a small amount of more saturated colour.<br />Two years ago at my first FOCUS ON FIBER at the Atlantic Center for the Arts, I spent time making a number of odd shaped colour sets. I THOUGHT I was trying to use duller colours with a touch of higher saturation. I look at them now, and see it was more DARK but fairly intense colours combined with lighter and higher value hues.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XM-SfAm4JU0/SUVYUYIJbKI/AAAAAAAAAIs/NAv72p2UjdM/s1600-h/dullcolorstudy1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 333px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XM-SfAm4JU0/SUVYUYIJbKI/AAAAAAAAAIs/NAv72p2UjdM/s400/dullcolorstudy1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279723245259025570" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XM-SfAm4JU0/SUVYVDNR3uI/AAAAAAAAAJE/qbE5q-f0YDE/s1600-h/dullcolorstudy4.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 269px; height: 288px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XM-SfAm4JU0/SUVYVDNR3uI/AAAAAAAAAJE/qbE5q-f0YDE/s400/dullcolorstudy4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279723256823275234" border="0" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XM-SfAm4JU0/SUVYUxhmOSI/AAAAAAAAAI8/-kzKBOnzPpg/s1600-h/dullcolorstudy3.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 142px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XM-SfAm4JU0/SUVYUxhmOSI/AAAAAAAAAI8/-kzKBOnzPpg/s400/dullcolorstudy3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279723252076656930" border="0" /> </a><br /><br />Two years later, once again I became impatient with my colours. This time I really did order some greyed down fabrics and started seeing what I could do with them. At the very least the colours certainly changed the mood of the work. This one is rather anxious and even gloomy:<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XM-SfAm4JU0/SUVcmxI4CFI/AAAAAAAAAJM/CKPni_aj8Yw/s1600-h/nice+catch.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 350px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XM-SfAm4JU0/SUVcmxI4CFI/AAAAAAAAAJM/CKPni_aj8Yw/s400/nice+catch.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279727959257122898" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This one is getting closer to the kind of more subtle colour range I was hoping for. I am going to continue this duller palette for a while, I think.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XM-SfAm4JU0/SUVdfX9LOLI/AAAAAAAAAJU/WZ0XXKK40XU/s1600-h/spreadlegsfigure.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 307px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XM-SfAm4JU0/SUVdfX9LOLI/AAAAAAAAAJU/WZ0XXKK40XU/s400/spreadlegsfigure.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279728931749705906" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XM-SfAm4JU0/SUVYUdjOO_I/AAAAAAAAAI0/NJ2bXKrGUCQ/s1600-h/dullcolorstudy2.jpg"><br /> </a>pamelalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02629574310534874799noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7008583843116276900.post-57801762761492994222008-12-11T19:24:00.000-05:002008-12-11T20:03:37.970-05:00NON academic colour studiesThere was talk on the quiltart list today about learning about colour. Some people do well with colour theory and the making of colour wheel, tonal charts and tint charts, and doing<a href="http://home.ipoline.com/%7Elegends/Insatiable/artbasics/html/colortheory.html"> Itten</a> inspired contrast studies. Others, like me, are less than inspired with these formal exercises and do better with a hands on approach to learning about colour; how it can sing when next to another colour, how tints and tonal variations can enrich the pallette, how unusual colour contrasts can express emotion. When I used to teach painting, I found that hands on exercises with a tangible finished product was very satisfying to the young student as well as an intuitive way of understanding colour.<br /><br />One favourite exercise was to select a painting by a modern master and reproduce the image in complementary colours to the original. The tones and tints must remain the same however. This made the student really analyze the original and really SEE the colour...not as a simple red for instance. But a medium toned reddish green perhaps. The opposite would be a medium toned greenish red. The results were quite wonderful and taught the student more than colour theory in that they became aware that amazing colour contrasts can be achieved with more subtle forms of a given hue. As a corollary, they also discovered that the colour palette of the original was carefully selected to achieve the artists' intent. Here are some examples from a highschool class:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XM-SfAm4JU0/SUGzlPsMrZI/AAAAAAAAAIU/yPSo7SycF0E/s1600-h/reverse+colour.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 242px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XM-SfAm4JU0/SUGzlPsMrZI/AAAAAAAAAIU/yPSo7SycF0E/s400/reverse+colour.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278697690703375762" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />You may recognize some of these ...the top left a Matisse interior, left middle top Picasso portrait and the far right Van Goghs chair. The contemporary yellow blue face is an artist whose name escapes me.<br /><br />I offer similar exercises in fabric where a limited palette of only two colours in all their permutations plus black and white, results in a rich exploration of ALL the possibilities within the parameters.<br /><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XM-SfAm4JU0/SUG3isYBvyI/AAAAAAAAAIc/VqSGCnf7ER4/s1600-h/Vases+like+soldiers.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 316px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XM-SfAm4JU0/SUG3isYBvyI/AAAAAAAAAIc/VqSGCnf7ER4/s400/Vases+like+soldiers.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278702044910305058" border="0" /></a><br /><br /> So for people like me whose eyes glaze over at the mention of theory, this kind of alternate method of hands on discovery may be just the ticket!pamelalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02629574310534874799noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7008583843116276900.post-2917193086599812732008-05-20T23:30:00.000-04:002008-12-10T21:52:45.203-05:00The ART of Gees Bend<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XM-SfAm4JU0/SDOc29wmRNI/AAAAAAAAAFg/1aZl008Sdv8/s1600-h/pettwayrothco.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XM-SfAm4JU0/SDOc29wmRNI/AAAAAAAAAFg/1aZl008Sdv8/s400/pettwayrothco.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202674462648321234" border="0" /></a><br /><br /> Pettway/ Mark Rothco<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XM-SfAm4JU0/SDOc3dwmROI/AAAAAAAAAFo/BUUf53OlJBk/s1600-h/pettwaystella.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XM-SfAm4JU0/SDOc3dwmROI/AAAAAAAAAFo/BUUf53OlJBk/s400/pettwaystella.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202674471238255842" border="0" /></a><br /> Pettway/Frank Stella<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XM-SfAm4JU0/SDOc3dwmRPI/AAAAAAAAAFw/FkKspYHnVmA/s1600-h/bendolfmondrain.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XM-SfAm4JU0/SDOc3dwmRPI/AAAAAAAAAFw/FkKspYHnVmA/s400/bendolfmondrain.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202674471238255858" border="0" /></a><br /> Bendolf/Mondrian<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XM-SfAm4JU0/SDOc3twmRQI/AAAAAAAAAF4/H-fkN1TpTwI/s1600-h/rachelgeorgenewman.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XM-SfAm4JU0/SDOc3twmRQI/AAAAAAAAAF4/H-fkN1TpTwI/s400/rachelgeorgenewman.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202674475533223170" border="0" /></a><br /> Pettway/ Barnett Newman<br /><br />There seems to be less than universal accolades for the phenomenon of the Gees Bend quilt/art. Well at least amongst art quilters I hear on various e-lists I am on. The most recent was to question whether the popularity and critical acclaim these artists have received may be just clever spin doctors and self serving curators trying to drum up business. I confess, I am puzzled that some fail to see the remarkable beauty and ART these works display. A lot of the nay sayers mention "poor workmanship and materials" as a reason to dismiss them. Others don't see how outsider ladies could be possibly be making art when all that they were doing was making warm bedding out of reclaimed garments. I was struck by the originality of the works when they first appeared at the Whitney in New York, and that was only from looking at the online pictures. When I actually saw the show in Orlando I felt MOVED by them...not just from the history of their makers but for the amazing instinctive beauty of the designs and use of the faded pentimento in the fabrics. I wish I had that seemingly ingrained intuitiveness as I design MY work. One of the artists when asked HOW she developed the design replied that she cut up the various colored shapes, moved them around on her bed until they "looked right".<br /><br />Well isn't that what all artists do? At least those that pursue excellence and personal input in there work? I googled some well known modern artists such as Paul Klee, Mondrian and Rothco and was struck by the similarities of composition and expression to the Gees Bend work. I am convinced....these are ART!pamelalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02629574310534874799noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7008583843116276900.post-84675903211474526512008-03-14T09:23:00.000-04:002008-12-10T21:52:45.628-05:00IKEA design wall<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XM-SfAm4JU0/R9p9nH27ACI/AAAAAAAAAE4/JrOj7Mf_92Q/s1600-h/ikea+stand.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XM-SfAm4JU0/R9p9nH27ACI/AAAAAAAAAE4/JrOj7Mf_92Q/s320/ikea+stand.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5177588832693583906" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XM-SfAm4JU0/R9p9JH27ABI/AAAAAAAAAEw/ku2pG8jAy9c/s1600-h/DWback+bottom+pg.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XM-SfAm4JU0/R9p9JH27ABI/AAAAAAAAAEw/ku2pG8jAy9c/s320/DWback+bottom+pg.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5177588317297508370" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XM-SfAm4JU0/R9p9AH27AAI/AAAAAAAAAEo/omTIB1uQpVA/s1600-h/DW.backjpg.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XM-SfAm4JU0/R9p9AH27AAI/AAAAAAAAAEo/omTIB1uQpVA/s320/DW.backjpg.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5177588162678685698" border="0" /></a><br />Just a few pics to show the portable design set up I use. It's a wheeled coat rack from Ikea with an 4x8" insulation foam covered with felt. Very cheap, works a treat!pamelalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02629574310534874799noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7008583843116276900.post-54180795489259577532007-11-18T13:11:00.000-05:002008-12-10T21:52:45.745-05:00Matisse getting it right<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XM-SfAm4JU0/R0CAnD4ruVI/AAAAAAAAAEg/2JTr52oj0JM/s1600-h/08_Matisse.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XM-SfAm4JU0/R0CAnD4ruVI/AAAAAAAAAEg/2JTr52oj0JM/s320/08_Matisse.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5134244983748671826" border="0" /><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">For those Interested...this phenomenon of revealing the earlier attempts <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">in</span> a composition is called <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">PENTIMENTO</span> in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">artspeak</span>.</span><br /></span></a>pamelalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02629574310534874799noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7008583843116276900.post-34240202396174478272007-11-12T23:14:00.000-05:002008-12-10T21:52:46.145-05:00Runaway Tooth Fairy<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XM-SfAm4JU0/RzknCDt79OI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/nobkJOHwiV0/s1600-h/tooth+fairy+finished.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XM-SfAm4JU0/RzknCDt79OI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/nobkJOHwiV0/s320/tooth+fairy+finished.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132176166676591842" border="0" /></a><span style="text-decoration: underline;"> </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XM-SfAm4JU0/Rzknjjt79PI/AAAAAAAAAEY/XPkjA7n4zBE/s1600-h/fairyII.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XM-SfAm4JU0/Rzknjjt79PI/AAAAAAAAAEY/XPkjA7n4zBE/s320/fairyII.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132176742202209522" border="0" /></a><br />I thought I would throw this one out there forthe quiltart list. This is a second tooth fairy as a memento of the saga of my broken front teeth. It's been a year since the damage was done, and at that time a made a rather "pretty" tooth fairy, similar to a medieval illustration. At least that's where my starting point was. Now that the full enormity of it all has hit, I needed to make another one...bigger, more substantial and downright scary...something like my dental bill. It measures about 50"x60". I sort of started it with the same influences in the back of my mind...medieval hyper decorated and precious. But she would have none of it and became a kind of Frankenstein! So now I am embellishing and have come to a standstill. I can see that baubles and gemstones won't do. I am toying with the idea of using dental instruments ( which my dentist kindly gave me) as embellishment. I dunno....maybe too wacko?pamelalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02629574310534874799noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7008583843116276900.post-3713703475394285362007-10-01T00:02:00.000-04:002008-12-10T21:52:46.636-05:00Motivation<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XM-SfAm4JU0/RwB4qVFwzDI/AAAAAAAAAEI/PWcqpkhxeSo/s1600-h/vuillard+3.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XM-SfAm4JU0/RwB4qVFwzDI/AAAAAAAAAEI/PWcqpkhxeSo/s320/vuillard+3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116221845304036402" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XM-SfAm4JU0/RwB4aFFwzCI/AAAAAAAAAEA/kOKSft5bQDo/s1600-h/vuillard+stg+2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XM-SfAm4JU0/RwB4aFFwzCI/AAAAAAAAAEA/kOKSft5bQDo/s320/vuillard+stg+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116221566131162146" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This evening one of my husband's sons was visiting. We began talking about what makes us do it so to speak.....make art, I mean ( both DH and step son are painters). Our son, Luke, had just met a man on a work site who it turns out is an artist he has admired for years and who is now exhibiting in our local museum. This had made Luke feel discouraged as he himself seemed not to be doing as good work, not having sold much and not getting any exhibitions offered. This led to a more general discussion about why we work at all.<br /><br />Now my husband Ralph ( who is 80 BTW, and has painted now for 62 years!!!!) seems to need to paint as an personal expression. And that's IT! He has not shown his work in over a decade, but continues to go into the studio every day as usual. His drive is purely private and self contained and it sustains him through fertile periods and blocked times as well<br /><br />I on the other hand am almost manic in my drive to get the work I make OUT THERE and enter every show going where my work might be suitable. My friends call me a show slut!!! It got me thinking.....do I do it to make a living? NOT...even tho' I do bring in some income , it is hardly a living wage. Do I do it to gain acceptance, or better yet, accolades? I had to accept that the answer there is yes. But only partly.There is also an element of "what else would I be doing" if not making art. I wake up most days eager to go to work. I think about the projects I'm working on constantly. I spend quite a lot of time taking care of the business side too...online or mailing off proposals and such. And I keep in touch with like minded people all over the world thanks to the internet. Having a creative career seems to make life richer, more hopeful and full of pleasure because of this. So I guess I am not one who is compelled to make art for it's own sake. I make art for the rewards of being part of something bigger and richer.<br /><br />I get on a roll sometimes....not frequently as most of the time it's a lot of problem solving and a bit of a struggle. But isn't it a great feeling when you get into a sort of creative groove, and the conversation between you and your work is lively and productive?<br /><br />Just to keep the post visual as well, I'll show a WIP that's got me atwitter right now. I recently took a fat book out of the library on an artist who was a big favorite when I was a student. Eduard Vuillard (see painting of two figures). Very intimate, domestic scenes done in a very narrow range of tones and colour. It got me enthused again and I started a piece with the same restrictions of tone and pattern. It's a slight departure from my normal "in your face" humor and subject matter. In fact as the work progresses the narrative became very tranquil. Usually at some point my figure starts to tell me what she's doing....like getting a haircut, or playing a violin. In this case the only action is taking a coffee break! Haha!pamelalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02629574310534874799noreply@blogger.com5