Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Studio, Day Two: Too Cold To.......


...get anything in the studio to DRY yesterday! I am not joking; I have never had this happen since I built the studio on.
I started out with great plans and excitement and slapped down the gel medium beneath the paper hearts, as shown in the above and below photos. I like some depth on the pieces---I go back in, color the edges, things pop and it looks great. Simple technique, a bit time consuming to dry but usually in an hour or so, it is far enough along that I can work on other parts of the piece.


The caveat of that is...of course...that the gel medium is DRY or on the way to DRYING. Yes, it was cool in the studio, and I went in the house to attend to a few things, but when I came back out, the paper was cold and the medium wet. As in, really cold and really wet. And the studio did not seem as warm either. So I checked the furnace and it was okay and I wandered through the back of the basement, looking for an enclosed oil heater to plug in down in the wet studio to start getting heat there and hoping it would rise.


Alas, this was the work of the day. The wind picked up before noon, and since my one studio wall is on the west, where it was taking a full hit of frigidity, the temp dropping was again a problem. Not only for the drying (and I use that word loosely!) papers but for ME too. Body parts were being most uncooperative. Not being able to feel scissors is bad.....especially on precision cuts! LOL!!!


So at the end of the day (or as you will, this morning) I had squat to show for my good intentions other than a warmer studio---the oil heaters take a while to start getting heat going---and a nice, colorful, visually pleasing mess on the table.
Which is where I was yesterday.
At this same time.
And yes, I will try it again today, hoping that it will be warm enough to work out here. I don't even want to think about what the electric bill will be......that would definitely take me out of my *heart-y* mood and produce something much more ominous.  >:-)


If nothing else, it was fun taking some photos of the colorful bits and pieces, and maybe that was what I was suppose to be creative with instead. Sigh.....
I hope the inspiration has not frozen or been blown away during the arctic blast yesterday. And I can honestly say this is the first time in my life I am glad I cannot drive because it is too stinking cold to be out!!!
I don't know....maybe I should just crop some of the photos and print some cards and say it's done.
Frustrating.....utterly frustrating.
Well, I'm off to the tables again, after a trip to the wet studio to gather more supplies; collage medium, glitter, pens, paint.....pretty soon it will all be upstairs and then I will have to sew, and back it will go again. That is why, on days like this, I am ready to let the sewing go out of my life......
I wish you all a LOT of warmth today, to make your creativity flow and not freeze up in a big lump or require retreating to your big comfy chair with a hot cuppa and an afghan. (though that does sound GOOD!!!)

Pax.

23 comments:

Anonymous said...

Ah, well life in the frigid zone!! Not any warmer here as we get the same temps you have only about a day later. My afghan is coming along & is finally big enough to be warm on my lap while working on it... ((good plan on my part))!! Hubby was up at US Salt Co. in Watkins Glen, NY yesterday & said it was arctic!! For once he was glad to deliver in NJ where it was a bit warmer!! LOL!!
Cleaning Kitchen cupboards today!!aaarrrrgh!!
Have a Great Day!!
Love,
Marilyn
xxoo

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hi Marilyn,

I am once again this morning trying to work out here as I checked the weather and by the weekend, it is supposed to be down to 3 degrees....their forcast was "Cold"....ya think????
Boy, this sticks big time! And I am cooped up and can't do much....I'm thinking maybe napping is the way to go! And I'm to lazy to start another afghan, though it sounds pretty good right now!
Stay warm!

XXOO!!
Anne

marianne said...

i think that last photo would make a wonderful card! here's to things warming up for you in the near future-

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey Marianne,

Thanks---I kind of thought it looked pretty good too! If Only I would get off my butt to learn Photoshop to put lettering over the image.....not today! :)
The studio is FINALLY warm, I have gel medium on my hands and the heart in that last pic has been bordered and stuck to the canvas panel BG.
Life is good....as long as I can stay awake! LOL!!!

XXOO!!
Anne

yoborobo said...

Your pics would make lovely cards - why don't I think like that? Maybe because my brain is FROZEN. It's supposed to warm up here, which would be lovely, and if the dang wind would knock it off, that would be a bonus! I do not want to see our electric heating bill for this month. Or the propane bill, either. Or our food bill - hahahah! Thanks for the skelly back-up, Anne! You made me laugh! xoxoxo Pam

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey Pam,

The skellie thing---it would have gotten ugly had I been with you. I get fed up with people *deciding* why things are so wrong.
Maybe they should get off their collective butts and do something GOOD??? DUH??? Just an idea there for Miss Judgemental-Pants.
I'm with you on the bills....just paid the CC....don't want to acknowledge any of the rest. ACK.
Maybe I'd better sell some of this crap--get that Etsy store open instead of EMPTY! LOL!!

XXOO!!
Anne

Unknown said...

I don't care how much it costs- I am all for staying warm!So glad it finally warmed up for ya in your studio!

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hi Ralonda,

Yep, the older I get, the nicer *warm* is....I'm thinking New Orleans warm!!! LOL!
Having a happy creative day here! :)

XXOO!!
Anne

audrey said...

Anne...
Still cold and blowing here, as well. We will ALL be grateful when this cold dip leaves the country!!
It is great that you are being creative! Love the heart art!
Be warm.
♥ audrey

Georgina said...

Hey, everything dries here with Noooo problem...and sometimes, that could be a problem, especially if your a ceramicist. I recall many of my pieces drying too fast and creating huge crevices, so it can work against you too!!

It's going to be 58 today and tomorrow, 61, but we're getting some cold air on Thursday, so I've decided to self-clean my oven...should heat up the house nicely!!! LOL

Talk to you soon,
G

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey Audrey,

Had to take a break...guess I last till about 11 or so, then eat and snooze time kicks in.
Still COLD here!!! I'm ready for Spring!

XXOO!!
Anne

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Quit bragging Georgina!!! I'm freezing my butt off here!!! Heading back to the chair and blanket; that seems to be a good place for the moment! LOL!!!

XXOO!!
Anne

Deborah said...

Oh LoVe ♥ the Paris one...the colors are delightful, happy, De-Lovely! The high in the desert will be 71. Oops. Sorry.
**blows 2010 kisses** Deb

Leslie said...

Jumping on the bandwagon and have to say, loving the Gay Paree theme. Cold does tend to put a cramp in work. Off to see Sherlock Holmes. Love and continued healing prayers to you!

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Thanks girls!

Took the afternoon *siesta* and now back to paint and glitter, which is nice!
And yes, it's warm, thankfully...!

XXOO!!
Anne

Anna Rosa Designs said...

Hi Anne,
The red heart on damask print is eye popping-oh meaning attractive!

Have you thought about using a hair dryer?
I'm a very impatient person and use a hair dryer in most painting sessions.
Warm hugs,
Anna

Anonymous said...

Oh pretty pretty. It is cold here in Ky. too. That is why I am working in my kitchen. Can't seem to drag myself upstairs where the studio is an the heat is off trying to keep the elec. down. Tomorrow I will have something heart warming for you if you will check over here. Blessings
QMM

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hi Anna,

Yes, I do use a hair dryer, but with the heavy gel, it has to dry on it's own due to the outter edge drying and the inner portion staying wet.
But it was just mostly the room temp that affected everything. Today, with it warmer, the mediums dried and behaved fine.
I kinda like the red on the B&W too---it will be more eye-popping when finished! :)

XXOO!!
Anne

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hi QMM!

I quit at lunch, had good eats and found the chair and the afghan...not wanting to overdo things.
Yes! I will be by your blog tomorrow----and I love that vintage pattern you had posted a few days ago! Tres cool! (I still wear retro clothing....)
With a furnace and an electric heater, the studio finally is warm enough for things to dry....sigh....but I'll be out there again tomorrow.

XXOO!!
Anne

Jan said...

It is fairly warm here but of course so wet. I guess that is better than frigid in my book. I love my wood stove! I have a big rack on top of it and put all my pieces on there to dry, they are dry in a few minutes usually. Not that I'm bragging or anything;-) Your pieces are coming along real well but yes, they will be even better when they dry! Couldn't figure out what you were showing in the first couple of pictures at first. Then I noticed the gel under the hearts, still wet and white. It is always a problem, carting things around between the studio and the house. Sure is nice to be able to be alone out here though, away from Mr. Talksalot.

Magpie's Mumblings said...

Brrrrr.....it's cold here too. I hate it! Had to lay in food today and that wasn't a fun chore. Got to make a trip to Michaels and Chapters though which almost made going out worthwhile. Got enough yarn for 4 projects AND succumbed to far too many Somerset magazines. I was bad, but I'm blamin' the cold having frozen the frugal side of my brain. That's my story, and I'm stickin' to it!! Stay warm.

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey Jan,

I was having wood stove envy the past couple of days....I know how warm they are and how quickly they heat when the fire is going PLUS the drying addition.
Alas, I have what I have, nothing with real fire, and it's okay. At leats the gel dried and I could proceed.
Aren't studios lovely quiet places??? ;)

XXOO!!
Anne

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey MA,

I am thoroughly jealous of your getting OUT and getting the Somerset mags!!! Yep, they are expensive but they are soooo well done. I think, over all (and sadly) their work has eclipsed Cloth Paper Scissors since Interweave Press purchased them. And I saw they had a new editor....wonder what my next issues will look like.....OY.
Just enjoy the reading/browsing time!

XXOO!!
Anne

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