Saturday, July 26, 2008

I have neglected this blog for way too long. I need to write about what is going on with the art in my world. I have been taking an online class with Sharon Boggons called The Studio Journal, The Workhorse of the Studio. This class is designed to create a habit of using a studio journal on a regular basis....and while I don't get into the studio daily (sorry, Sharon), I do get there at least twice a week to play...and yes...what I do is play...even on those projects that have been fully designed and are nearly completed...I get to play.

This morning, I went for a walk to photograph interesting textures and shapes to use in my designs and there were some surprising results...an ancient cement...well, maybe not so ancient...ball that was covered with moss. What a delight it will be to use that in one of my designs. The photo will have to ferment in the studio journal for a while until I can decide how to use it...but that is exactly what the studio journal is for.

I need to get back to my needle-felting machine. I am still trying to figure out how I will use it. I have seen so many beautiful things on different web sites but am still trying to find my own style with this machine and technique.

Saturday, July 5, 2008

Studio Journal Class

I am taking a class from Sharon Boggon called Studio Journals: The Workhorse of the Studio. It is a 6 week online class that started last week. The assignments last week were fun. We did frottage which was taking rubbings of various surfaces and incorporating them into a design. This week we are concentrating on color. One of this week's exercises is to focus on a particular color for that day. Today, I am focusing on green. Now it is mid-summer here and there are lots of examples of green. But what is fascinating to me is that while the leaves on the trees are green, the green today is different than what it was in spring and by the time August arrives, the green will take on a darker, dustier hue. For the evergreens, the winter makes them take on an even darker hue so that often the green appears to be almost black. I am enjoying the class and having fun learning how to keep an active journal and use it in developing my art work.

Now all I need to do is find out how to add pictures to this blog!!