Artmaking Rhythms
I did a bit of carving on Saturday morning. (I was at the monthly meeting of my local art group.)
These blocks are EZ Cut – which, as the name implies, are REALLY easy to cut. So it was a contemplative and therapeutic time spent with simple tools.
They are used for relief printing (stamping) fabric. Sometime in the next few weeks, I will experiment with cutting them out, inking them up and creating some overlapping images. I look forward to experimenting.
But not tonight.
I’m right at the finish line of the two large projects I’ve been working through in the studio, and my body and mind need a break.
(I also think my little sewing machine needs a break too. I’ve been working it pretty hard.)
I was thrilled today to receive in the mail two novels I had ordered. Just in time for an evening with my feet up, tucked into the sofa with pillows.
And this will be part of artmaking too.
Sometimes you need to make the stuff.
Sometimes you need to simmer thoughts about what’s next to give them time to coalesce.
Sometimes you need to rest.
Sometimes you need to feed your brain a good book, or some poetry, or good music.
And sometimes you head back to the studio to finish things up.
In the next day or so I will have two pretty large quilts all constructed. What’s left is the final surface painting and touchups—always some of the most enjoyable moments. Then I’ll bind the edges with hand stitching. That is also pleasing work.
For those who are artmakers—I hope you are somewhere along this line of creating, learning from each stage.
I’ll end with a little snippet of one of my works-in-progress. This is the bottom edge of a quilt, and I created it with wheat paste resist – neutral cream fabric showing through a deep blue overprint. Then on a whim, when I had some orange on my palette, I added just a little watercolor blush to a few of the circles. I like what it added!
For all the artmakers: Happy creating
For all the art lovers: Happy appreciating
Thank you for reading. I always enjoy questions and comments.
--Bobbi
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