art quilts

Making a Pastel Box

| JP Dawes Artist

I have been organizing all my art supplies. My pastel collection has been growing and I need a way to store them, use them and be able to take them into the field for en plein air. My search of commercial pastel boxes that were within my budget was not successful. If you have known me for a long time you know that I am cheap, like to repurpose and if all else fails DIY.

It didn’t take long to know that I am at the DIY stage. I looked at all the pochade boxes I have as well as vintage art boxes and they were not going to work out. They were like Goldilock’s bears, either too big, too small but none were just right.

I looked at buying a couple of letterpress drawers/trays from old print shops but none were exactly right. So I started looking on Amazon which is the next best thing to thrift shops for odd purchases. I found these great lightweight divided trays. The size is perfect with a little tweaking. I plan to attach 2 together to make a larger tray. Then after the glue is dry on the 2 larger trays I will hinge them together to make a box.

Next will be adding a latch and a leather handle. The individual areas will be lined with foam in the bottom to cushion the pastels. Then I will need to make a foam lined lid for each side so the pastels don’t get too jostled around when I transport them.

While waiting for these trays to be delivered, I spent some time on the patio making my own sanded pastel boards. I have one more purchase of pastels coming and then I will be ready to get to work.

And 3 is the magic number!

| JP Dawes Artist

I am totally surprised that all 3 of my art quilt entries into this regional exhibit were accepted. Here is a little about the exhibit and the juror. Now I need to check the quilts over and make certain bindings are tight and sleeves are secure.

The Arts Council of Southeast Missouri’s Seeing Stars: Regional Quilt Exhibition was developed to provide a forum to demonstrate the talent, skill and diversity of quilt makers working in the five-state region (MO, IL, AR, TN, KY).

JUROR: Rachael L. Baar

Rachael Baar is the curator for The National Quilt Museum, Paducah, Kentucky. She has over twenty years of experience in the visual and performing arts as the past director of Preston Arts Center, formerly Henderson Fine Arts Center in Henderson, Kentucky. She has Masters’ degrees from Brescia University and the University of Kentucky.

Getting Back in the Saddle

Image | | JP Dawes Artist

There was a call for entry for Star Quilts for a regional exhbition sponsored by The Arts Council of Southeast Missouri. The prospectus specifically encouraged art quilts. I realized that I had a few art quilts with stars in my inventory so I dug them out to photograph and enter.

This has always been one of my favorite pieces. It has never been exhibited or entered in a show. It started life as an Amish style stretched star quilt. Pretty ho hum but a perfect base for some experimenting. Lots of free motion machine quilting, some beading and then acrylic paint. It looks so much like the colorful Mexican pottery that I love.

I have no idea if any of the 3 quilts entered will make the show but it was fun to get back in the groove.

Pandemic Anyone?

| JP Dawes Artist

Some of my artist friends are like me, at loose ends with art projects never quite getting off the ground. Others are continuing to work, making good use of their time while sheltering in place. We are all doing our best to stay physically and mentally healthy.  

I am the kind of personality ( type A++++) who works best on deadlines. There are no shows or exhibitions to enter in the near future that I am interested in. The Arkansas Guild gallery and gift shop is now open limited days. I have plenty of completed work to send there but future plans with the gallery and closures due to the virus are open ended. I could photograph current work and populate my Etsy shop and I even have a great photo area set up in the office.  But nothing is particularly exciting me, especially if it demands too much effort.  I started this time thinking I would destash and organize the studio….please, stop laughing!! 

Every morning presents itself as a new day with new possibilities. I have files full of inspiration. A computer with endless inspiration just clicks away. The thing is, after awhile it becomes just so much visual clutter. And too much clutter is like being in a tornado with thousands of things swirling around you and nothing to hold onto that is your own. There really can be too much of a good thing.  **Note, flash back to the studio disaster***

The outcome of this isolation period has been the gift of time to reflect and evaluate. I have stepped away from too much online surfing time to reduce the mental clutter. I have pulled books and magazines off my shelves and revisited why I kept them. Was there a  technique I thought I could incorporate into my own work? I have revisited photos of my older work that is now  living someplace else, trying to analyze what spoke to the person who now owns it. What was it about pieces that were juried for exhibits and publications that caused it to fit? 

 So what is the answer for me creatively? I think it is to regularly take time out and reflect. Take time  to do things that give you joy. That cluttered studio will still be there whenever I get around to it. In the meantime, I will enjoy my gardens and reflect. Enjoy some of my favorite garden photos.