Studio Wednesdays - Week 3 & 4

So - Last Wednesday was the 4th of July holiday...and I really did take a holiday.  Falling asleep mid-afternoon. 

About a year ago I found this item on the side of the road (near a stop light).  I've been wanting to use it in a piece for a long time.   I think I've finally found a way to do so.

This week ( July 11, 2012) I went over to my friend Marie's house and spun while watching the Tour de France at 7:30.  I am participating in the "Tour de Fleece" on Ravelry; hundreds of fiber artists spin during the race.  There are some prizes (by random drawing) but I mostly want to improve my technique and ultimately the quality of yarn I spin.  I did half of this in the 4 hour sprint this morning:

I plan to ply to the two together tomorrow after dinner.  I have another yarn I spun earlier this year, which is about 200 yards of worsted weight I think this will be a similar weight.  I would like to use the two of them together in a sweater.

Studio Wednesdays - Week 2

Went up to Ace to buy some epoxy and finished the 24 x 48 painting.  Quite the debate over whether it's a vertical or horizontal piece. Decided that landscape looked best, although I'm still not positive about which way is up.

 

Also devoted a fair amount  of time to the website today.  Wanted to scan and upload some drawings to the site, but scanner wasn't being cooperative.  Very disappointing that. Otherwise looked for "Calls for Entries". 

Studio Wednesdays - Week 1

So - This summer I decided to work four 10-hour days at my job in accounting and devote Wednesdays to art work.  So far, I feel it's been successful.

(6/20/12) : I went up to Home Depot and bought a 24" x 48" hardboard sheet.  Much nicer than plywood .  I don't have to cover it with papier mache (although I could).  Painted it black and coated parts of it with Venetian Plaster.... that takes time to dry, so the next layers went on in the following days.  It doesn't sound like much but also had to prepare for Mudman's grad party.

 On scenic routes

Today, I forgot that one of the roads I normally drive to work is down to one lane due to construction.  Fortunately, I realized that before I got too far. 

I decided to take Centerville Road, which avoids most traffic and the construction in question.  When I reached a certain point, I realized I could take the route I knew would take me from point A to point B. Or... I could take a chance and take a route I was pretty sure would take me from point A to point B.  I decided to take the second route.  And was very pleased with myself.  The road (Vadnais Blvd) runs along a lake that is protected, because it is a watershed for the area.  Tall pines grow along the winding road.   For a few moments, I forgot I was in a suburban area of the Twin Cities.

Maybe it was because of the trees.  Probably it was because of the trees.  A phrase popped into my head: "That very night, in Max's room, a forest grew..."  I allowed myself the brief pleasure of reciting the text of Where the Wild Things Are in my head.  And went on to work.

This afternoon, I found out that Maurice Sendak died.  I'm pretty sure he approved of scenic routes.

On drawing and oysters

So I've been drawing lately.  Just some little 3.5 x 5.5 inch pencil drawings.  I like that size.  It's very portable.

As I draw I find that I think about the drawing: what do these silly little lines mean.  A few elements keep coming up.  lines that could be cracks.  or edges. or both.  semi circles.  tiny circles that seem to have wedged themselves into spaces between lines.  These last elements seem to be irritants - like those that create pearls in oysters.  Or like a pebble caught in a whirlpool that grates against a softer rock, making a groove.