I have been working on various projects as a result of the trip to Uganda...finishing my journal (which still isn't finished), creating note cards made from paintings done by the kids at Sunrise House, creating a pattern for a small cell phone case to send to Sunrise House for them to create and sell, selling the cards, printing out the cards, etc....
And then there is the art which I have been doing a lot of lately. Mostly small things, lots of 5 x 7 pieces with the most recently finished pieces using bristol board and then stitching fabric on to it.
Now I am working with canvas which I have been painting and creating multiple layers of glazes, adding silk screening, sketching, mark making and what ever else I come up with. There are also layers of fabric and now I am at the point to putting more fabric on it and doing the stitching.
This is a small series called Hidden Science. The underlying image is a page from an old science report hand written and corrected by the teacher, then painted over multiple times with glazes and then a glazed piece of fabric was stitched down. There is a lot of depth in these although it doesn't show up well on the web
Hidden Science 1 
I have been spending a lot of time thinking about my art and trying to understand my voice and style. I have been reading about the importance of having a cohesive body of work which I don't really feel I have. I seem to do series of works in different styles and then move on to another series. I am not sure this builds a cohesive body of work.
I especially enjoy working with glazes and being able to create depth and layers in that way. The incorporation of images via papers, drawing, silk screening or stamping and then adding more layers really fascinates me. Now I am working at bringing this all together in fabric, using canvas as the substrate instead of paper.
So I have decided that I need a mentor, someone to discuss my work objectively with, someone to give me honest feedback, someone who will push me in my art work. I don't need a coach. I am not afraid of doing the work, I do a lot of it. I need help in the mentoring area. I have mentored others and now find myself in need of someone with a lot of expertiese. Oh well, this shall happen at some point.
My husband and I are babysitting our 2 year old grandson, Ashton, for about 6 weeks while his babysitter is off on maternity leave. Ashton starts out at our house, I get breakfast taken care of and then head off to the studio for a good 3-4 hours of intense, focused time, and then come back, pick him up and take him to his house for his nap, which means I have a couple of hours of quiet time! We have just finished week 2, although the first week was not as great as my husband was sick with the flu and consequently I spent all my time with Ashton for the week...not much time at the studio a week ago!
I have just finished a new piece based on my mediation along the pathway which is about how I am not walking the pathway alone. It started out with white fabric and then I fused painted fabric cut out like stones to create two pathways and then decided to paint in between the stones. It is filled with a lot of machine quilting. Not sure if I will show it for now or not...have to see what else I come up with!
7 comments:
Liz, I am so happy to see you're back. I was beginning to worry!
You know, from where I sit at my computer it certainly looks to me like you have a cohesive body of work. I've been following along with your journey since your 'Circles of Life' residency.
Yes, you work in series, and yes you explore different media, and yes, the scale of your work varies. But throughout your work of the past two years there are recurring refrains: circles being an obvious example, but not the only one. Your palette tends to be cohesive too; warm neutrals and smoky lusciousness, with the occasional jolt of brighter color to wake things up.
Perhaps, instead of thinking about the differences present in different series/media, it would be useful to pull together the commonalities, and then do some deeper thinking/exploring about what those elements truly represent to you, why you keep coming back to them, and what they are trying to say for you and too you.
OK, that's my 2.5 cents!
I am very much enjoying 'Rust and Patina #2'. It reveals more of itself over time, and I love work that does that.
I love these. Would like to see them in person. I'm so close today yet so far away. It is nice being back in Sonoma county for a few days.
This is a beautiful series. I like the simplicity of the colors and shapes with all the quiet layers behind them.
I like your new series and the title. I want to get up close and see what science is hidden below.
thank you very much Nikki for your comments...this is something I struggle with...what is my voice, what is my style...but you have given me a lot to think about...thanks
I love your work but I know what you mean about finding your voice ...you create something then struggle is it good because you love it and will others feel the same. As I see it there are people out there who will love what we create. I have many pieces right now I am not loving...but could I destroy them no because I know someone out there will ...just like when I made my collectable teddy bears for adult collectors if the face didn't match my heart thought it was ok ...because someone fell in love with the one I created
Liz, I love Rust and Patina 1; it is even more beautiful in person as it is in your blog. I will definitely cherish it. Your work is wonderful no matter where your muse leads you!
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