The left overs from luscious Fanny Mae chocolates were destined for an art project. Like the chocolates, too good to waste. I’ve been saving that piece of fabric for something special and wish I had more of it. My favorite go-to product for mixed media is Mod-Podge. Superior for glueing and sealing. Stay tuned for the finished project.
Today’s Robert and Sara Genn newsletter was particularly great. They are all great, but some resonate more than others.
Today it was all about style, or as we sometimes call it, voice. It talked about finding your uniqueness that makes your work above simply ‘nice’ work. I know a lot of painters and quilt artists who’s work is nice enough, competent, but lacks something so that the viewer looses interest. Its that difference that sets your work apart from standard fare. And is probably that illusive thing that juries and judges look for. You can read the newsletter here .
I hope I’m on that road to finding my own uniqueness as I set out on a few new adventures in 2015. I guess that’s my word for 2015. UNIQUENESS. I hope I can live up to it.
Arts in the Cards group inspiration theme for December was Seashore. My cards are titled “A Line in the Sand”. I’m always fascinated when I get a chance to walk a beach at the seashore or the fresh water lake shores. There is always a line in the sand that catches all the detritus washed ashore. In the case of our water supply it isn’t always a pretty sight. The water may be murky and anything but crystal clear blue. I am lucky that our beautiful White River where I live and the twin lakes that include Lake Bull Shoals are usually so clear you can see the fish swimming under the surface.
Though they turned out to be ‘pretty’ cards, the intent wasn’t to be pretty. I feel strongly about all the garbage that is thrown into our oceans, lakes and streams. I constructed the cards by collaging squares of fabric, with a vintage scarf layering. Then stitching, painting and embellishing. I wanted to illustrate that even though we can see shells and coral along with a line of seaweed along a saltwater beach, it is an indication of how we are killing our oceans and life is dieing to be washed ashore.
Its been awhile since I linked up with Off the Wall Friday, but I need to finish the year up right!
This de cluttering is a slow process. I’ve started it but seem to loose focus when there is a path in the stuff , both real and psychological. That allows a narrow window to create something small. Then it starts all over again. I need to make this a priority in my creative life. It will be life and soul changing.
When practicing slow stitching, it is sometimes easy to forget that the concept of “slowing down” in a comprehensive, life-affirming, and creative way is more than talking the talk. Stitching slow means more than just occasionally focusing on one or two tenets of The Slow Stitching Movement.
This past week, I put my money where my mouth is. I simply could no longer write my morning process pages, stitch with intention, take my three photos a day, etc. without committing to, or throwing a little action behind, all of the elements of the slow stitching philosophy that is designed to open and flex my creativity. That’s why I have decided to step up and get rid of everything in my studio that will not serve my greater creative purpose.
I have been collecting fabric, books, notions, threads, needlepoint canvas, linen, wool…
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JP Dawes Contemporary Artist 