White Day In The Studio

Yesterday was what I refer to as a *white studio day*. These are the days when bundles of canvasses are opened and the gesso comes out.
 

The above photo pretty well describes my world. I am in the throes of prepping these, to get them (and a few others) acceptable for paint and collage. The new gesso that is used is not to my old fashioned liking; it is nonabsorbent and many of the techniques that make my work my own will not function on a slick surface.

The backs require attention as well; being mass produced means little details like extra canvas showing from the front is the norm, so everyone gets a haircut. (I notice these things from years and years of doing my own canvas, raw, from the sizing up.....maybe I would have been better off born into this pre-made world we live in! LOL!)

And *THIS* is much more ME...color.

And MORE color. As I sit in my little world of nothing but white, I am taunted by these gaudy girls and brushes that seem to beg to be used.
Instead, I reach for the broad priming brush and keep to the job at hand.
Two coats minimum; frequently three depending on the substrate. For my box canvasses, it is many more (they require both sides to be slathered and filled) as I build up texture and air bubbles with layers of the gesso~~well worth the work for the effect it gives.
But sometimes, at the end of the day, all I have to show for my efforts is this...

.....and I suppose that is okay.
Artist's hands are not clean, not manicured.
Not when we're working.
They bear proof that indeed I did something productive all day.
I think today though......I would enjoy COLOR!!!


Pax....

The Last Big Hurrah

Dear old Blogger was *supposed* to have had this post up at about 6:15 this a.m.  I see they are having another Bad Hormone Day......anyway......to the post at hand!

Despite waking to the company of flying ants in my powder room yesterday morning, it turned out to be a productive day after all.

Above is the sketch of probably the last *large* liturgical hanging I will be doing, unless I can get the arthritis under control, or can find a better work set up. I'm open to suggestions.....as long as they don't cost too much!

This will be a fiber art piece as opposed to the traditional banners I usually do. The church is more modern and they have this massive wall in the gathering area that BEGS for something wonderful!

I began pulling fabrics---it was an almost unconscious thing. That is normally how I know a project is ready. I find myself rummaging through the supplies, making lists and taking notes. You may wonder why the top sketch is as vague as it is. Well, I seldom do anything even that detailed! It will be fun to see the piece progress, and no doubt change.

I ran to town for two colors of felt (the top pieces) as they will hopefully work in a stitch and burn-away technique. I want that for the tree bark. All that nice texture and warping should give it some life! The rest of the fabrics are first pulls from the stash---I will do second pulls and sometimes thirds....depending on what happens when I get going.

While I am working on this, I am afraid the blog will be mostly nature photos and my abnormal ramblings and incoherent rants.......sorry! Duty calls!

The close up of these leaves shows the layering and stitching that is done, and then the felt is burned away. It is relatively easy as long as you don't get your fingers in the way of the embossing gun! LOL!!! Fingernails burn. And smell bad.  ;-)

Oh yes, it hurts too.

I think with a lot of samples, and then layering of fabrics and felts, and stitching, the burn away will leave an absolutely wonderful, aged trunk for a grand walnut tree! I found some fringe that has satin-fiber covered small wood balls, and they look like green walnuts on a tree! I think it has 2-3 different colors of soft green, so it will give the appearance of light and shadow.

Today I hit the *73* point in leaf making. The machine was grinding and smelling hot. I am not sure we are going to make it to 100. There is still a tremendous amount of work left to do on these, since each will be washed, pressed and cut from the backing fabric by hand. They will line the creek in the sketch at the top of the post. There will also be text from one of the Psalms, and I am considering doing that part with fabric paint. In fact, I may be able to do this commission in sections, with the backing fabric pinned to the wall so that I am not crawling under tables or standing atop them. The hip issue, ya know. LOL!!! (and I don't want to worry any of you.....heehee!)

It feels good to have the various elements thought out and know exactly where this is going. It's been a long wait for the good folks at the church, but I would rather have them wait and get something spectacular than to hurry and end up with nominal *stuff*. Y'all know what I mean.

Anyway, if I disappear from visiting blogs for a short while, I beg you forgive me and bear with me. Sometimes I just have to start these big monsters and work straight through or until a body part gives out.

On that note, I hope everyone has a creative wonderful day, and enjoy yourselves! Life's too short not to!!!

Pax...