Art Smarts

Sometimes I think that there is no limit to the lessons I have not learned. This in spite of enough years to have learned some of them, one would think. Do you remember the Preliminary Sketch I wrote about recently? I've been working hard to make that into a finished project. I've been doing a lot of paint and ink layers to create a background, adding the text I want, etc. (More on that to come.)

The last little bit I need to finish is the substrate to which I will attach everything. I decided to go with a canvas panel. These are inexpensive (I like that!). They also work well for gluing something down, as there is no "give" like a regular canvas would have. I think I've got the color I want on it, but I thought I'd add some splatters of white. It didn't dawn on me until too late that repeated hard strikes with a paintbrush on my finger wasn't a great idea. I noticed immediately after I finished that my middle finger hurt. Upon closer inspection, I saw that I was bruised and swollen from the abuse I'd dealt myself. I wonder how typing will feel tomorrow when I'm at work???

I'm left with the inescapable conclusion that art smarts and that I lack "art smarts"!

Until next time, be safe out there!

Scrapbooking Video

 

I regularly read the blog of a well-known scrapbooker,  Ali Edwards. Ali has a very down-to-earth approach about scrapbooking and is very passionate about telling your story. Most of her work focuses on the every day occurrences of life. I came across this video on her blog today and really enjoyed it. It's somewhat long, but I thought it worth sharing. I think this captures the heart of scrapbooking and creates freedom to enjoy this hobby without pressure. Enjoy!

In Praise of Ironing

I bought some fabric the other day for a project I've been meaning to do. Now, generally speaking, ironing is not one of the things I'd put on my bucket list. I will pass over a blouse in the closet waiting to be ironed any day of the week. There's something about ironing cotton fabric, though, that I really enjoy. When I wash new fabric, I like to take it out of the dryer while it's still a teeny bit damp. When that nice, hot iron hits it, the steam rises and I can hear it hissing as the moisture evaporates. And the smell! I don't know what it is, but the fragrance that cotton gives off when it's ironed is delicious. It's intriguing to watch the color of the fabric change ever so slightly as it dries under the iron. The wrinkles are smoothed out, and the fabric is lovely to the touch. I enjoy lining up the selvedges and folding it carefully to put away until I'm ready to use it. Ahh! What a great simple pleasure!

Preliminary Sketch

Somerset Studio (one of my favorite artsy magazines) regularly encourages submissions of art work from readers. In the back of the magazine, there is always a page with themes that are going to be used in the months ahead. Recently, one of the themes got my attention: the power of words. I immediately thought about the verse in Hebrews that talks about the word of God being living and active. I got a picture in my mind of a vine, and thought it would be interesting to pursue the idea. Here's a preliminary sketch of what I'm thinking.

The idea I had is of a rather free-flowing, kind of crazy vine, with a part of that verse written on it. In the middle, I'm thinking about using "YHWH" rather than "God" - possibly using Hebrew letters. I'll definitely need some assistance with that!! I think the vine would be cut out and collaged onto another surface, but I'm not sure yet what I'll use as a substrate - maybe a canvas. I'm thinking about submitting it just to say I did. I've been promising myself for some time now that One Of These Days I would do just that. I'll keep you posted!