Another Year... Another Thanksgiving

Thanks God for every year that we are able to spend time with our families. The Path every year leads to an unknown, and sometimes less traveled adventure...May WE all find peace and comfort being with our Families on this day. Take a moment to be thankful for what we have in this country of ours. Thank back to where our parents and their parents have struggled and the obstacles they overcame to help us all be where we are today! Be Blessed!

The Jury has decided!

The Moth is out and Pompeii is in!... Well it was a very interesting Saturday. I attended a public jury process for the Indianapolis Art Center I had entered the Moth to a Flame Piece and Memories of Pompeii Piece.

There were a lot of pieces being considered for this Art Center. I believe most people turned in more than 1 piece and some I know of had done 5-7 pieces to be considered.

Alot of information was talked about the process and not critique's of the works. I believe most people were there hoping to hear critiques, but that would have been days to go over I'm sure.

They broke the categories down to Beginner (1-2 classes taken) Intermediate (3-5 classes taken) Advanced (6+ classes taken) and Professional (If you had an Art Degree or have shown in a professional show before). In order to enter you had to have taken at least 1 class at the IAC.

Overall the experience was a very positive one for me. It validated what I do is acceptable, I was not dissapointed that both pieces went in. After all the Moth piece was my first first attempt at a completed piece and Pompeii benefited from any of the mistakes I made in the prior piece. (And now it rests in my daughter's home)... That is rewarding enough, knowing your own child would like to hang it in her home!

So whats next. The opening reception for the show is December 5... This I am looking forward too. They will be awarding prizes, but that was not the reason I entered. Just being in a show at this point is worth the experience for me. So if your in the area on 12/5 visit the IAC and check out the works. From my notes there were only 2 Fiber related pieces accepted in the whole show.

Memories of Pompeii

This is a piece I finished last night. I had dyed some cotton printcloth one of my new colors "Mist Grey" and it came out this lovely grey with a sky blue hint to it. I knew then I wanted to use images that my boss had taken on a trip to Pompeii. I just can't imagine a city buried in ash for century's. So this is my interpretation. I took the fabric and gel mediumed the dickens out of it to duck cloth which had been covered in gesso. Then I did layers of Paper, Photo transfer from transperencies and the tree in the foreground is used by taking clear duck tape and covering the print out, soaking in water and rubbing the white paper away... this gives a great trasparency to it as well. I'm very happy how this has turned out, actually a lot better than I had hoped.

The nice thing is its only 12" x 24" and was quick to complete, which also allowed for me to work quickly and not "THINK" it through, but to just let it flow. What an interesting concept huh?

They Grow up so fast

I was rummaging through some photo's last night and came across these. Our Daughter Leah and Son Zach. Here we all are at his graduation from High School. Whew he made it :).

Pictured from left to right (Me, Zach, Tina (my Fabulous Wife), Leah. They do really grow up so fast.

This is rather relaxing

I think I have settled in... Knitting is not so much kicking and screaming now but rather just enjoying.. its a great relaxing way for me to start my mornings and think with a big cup of Coffee. It allows me to think without thinking so much... get my thoughts in order and what I need to do to finish the day. The new yarn is this Cascade yarn that is a purple heather color with some flects of magenta running through it... I think I'm getting along just fine with the needles and the yarn now.

Well she's 95% There

All that is left is the sheer layer of Black to be trimmed down and ready for the show submission. This will be the last post on this piece because I feel I'm done with it. Ready to move on. Subtleness just doesn't come across in pictures, which I feel this piece has A lot of layers that allow you to look beyond just the surface. To me its amazing how in my mind a simple piece of dyed silk/rayon can manifest itself into something not even thought of. I guess thats what happens when you let go and go with the flow!

Almost finished

Well I have been working on and getting close to finish this first collage since coming back from the Fabrications retreat.. It feels great to be creating and seeing the end in sight of finishing something!

So I did multiple layers of thermofax Screens over the entire piece in Brown, Green, Red, and black.

Then I added some transparent Cocoons and the letters I printed on the printer.. put packing tape over them and rubbed the paper away and it left the toner from the copier on the tape.

Now waiting for it to dry for the final 2 layers.. I think I need to tone down the green just a tad.

Frustrations of a Beginner!

Ok the Perfectionist.. I AM NOT... but I started doing my very first knit project.. I hadn't knitted since I was in grade school. Now, I also undertand why I don't like hand work... Do your hands cramp when you knit? But alas, I had started knitting this wonderful wool yarn and started with 18 stitches.. well after about 4 hours last night I couldnt understand why the yarn was taking up so much of the needle compared to how I casted on... so I counted my stitches and somehow I ended up at 45 stitches on the needle. So after a few expletives, I remember something I had learned from Alex Anderson once. Don't be afraid to rip seams out... So I thought ok here goes.. So I ripped it all out, knowing I would probably not be able to go back to where I had 18 stitches and start again.. so I did... and started again this morning.. making sure as I finish each row I stay at 18... I think the problem is this yarn is bulky and thin and its easy to catch a 1/2 stitch and split the yarn.. I know as I get going it will be easier. But here I am this morning with about 4 inches stitched and looking so much better. Yes I know Patience is a virtue, but like most men.. I don't do instructions very well! Its do it and figure it out type of thing for me. LOL Have an awesome day!

The Moth Piece is Developing

I have been infatuated with the Atlas Moth. 14" wingspread and only a few days of life. The pattern that you find in the wing of the moth almost mimics that of the fabric that I dyed. I combined the 2 pieces via Gloss Medium gel and I just love the look and feel. My son asked me how in the world I was able to paint canvas like that. Using a brush as a final brush over with the gel medium left the brush strokes in it and so far its developing.. This piece is 3ft by 4ft and I'm wanting to add text to it as well. More to come but here are a few pictures

I'm Still Kicking and Screaming

Ok Lynn..... here's proof :) My visit to the yarn shop today... do you know how guilty I feel walking out not buying anything! Well here goes! Another Addiction...

Finally accomplishing some work

I'm Currently working on a large 3'x4' piece. This is a large piece of duck cloth that has gesso painted on the back. and on the reverse side its been painted with Golden Liquid Acrylics mixed with Gel Medium. I have been fascinated lately with looking at images of Large Moths. So I am planning on working that more into this piece.

This is a piece of Silk/Rayon Sheer that I am going to layer over the top of the above piece so yo ucan see imagery through the piece then I will layer more images over the top of this.

As always I'm curious as to your thoughts?

View from Office

Hmmmm What a great view from my office... The leaves a blowing, the tree's turning, justs tells me the winter is on its way and the grey and asphault waiting to be the color pallet for several months ahead. This is my absolute favorite time of year.. now if only spring flowers would bloom during this time.

Did You?

Finally.... 2 hour wait this morning and decided to go back during lunch got in and out in 5 minutes! So Did you Vote? I knew I would get my vote in and I just couldn't believe the people complaining.. I can understand.. I had just chosen to leave and come back..... Its all our choice and what will yours be? (I'm not asking who your candidate choice will be :))

Just imagine if your right was taken away and you could not vote! Us Americans tend to take WAY too much for granted in this country of Freedom that we have.

*No Negative comments please.. they will just be erased!

End of Dyeing today

Well I finished up ironing all the 1/2 yard cuts that I dyed over the last few weeks.. Here are the pictures. a total of 20 yards in all! WOW.... Most of these are being prepared for

going up for Sale!!! Be on the look out!

There's more to come!