Work-in-progress: alternative framing
The altered books I'm finishing up have a rustic feel, especially with the twine and rope framing I used to highlight the niches.
Like most art, it just doesn't feel finished without some sort of frame. But what kind of alternate device is visually and physically solid enough to do the job? What works, without fighting the story being told within the niche?
Washboards. (This one was lovely, but too pricey.) It's big but not huge, and weathered enough to evoke the Old West feel of the book cover. With a little help, I found three.
For once, the weather was sunny enough to allow me to spray-seal the wood outside.
Before using this antique washboard as a framing device, I'm spraying sealant on the wood elements. The washboard will surround an altered book later. As always, use products like spray sealant outdoors if possible, for better ventilation.
Two of the three books are now mounted. As soon as the third is done and all three are professionally photographed, they'll make their official debut here on the site!
Work-in-progress: slow but steady
I've had a productive week working on my goals as well as working in the studio. (Plus my six-year-old has been behaving himself consistently too. I don't know if this is a miracle or a sign of the apocalypse.) I'm working on a series of five pieces.
I have the ideas and symbolism adequately fleshed out, but weirdly enough, that hasn't sped along the process. I think I may have a little trouble switching gears between 2D work...
... and 3D work. I was trying to work on the assemblage and two altered books at the same time, and I couldn't establish a good work rhythm. Kind of like hearing a new driver mangle stick shift gears. Things picked up speed once I decided to work only on the book elements.
Tomorrow I'll be back to tearing a niche in another book. The assemblage will have to wait a while.
Experimenting with intoxicating art substances
I've been experimenting with some addictive substances:
StencilGirl stencils. Don't judge.
Credit: College for Creative Studies, Detroit, MI
Full disclosure: I've been friends with the StencilGirl herself, MaryBeth Shaw, since LK Ludwig introduced us back in 2010 at an art retreat dance party. (Hence the blackmail photo below.)
Gettin' down with LK Ludwig (center) and MaryBeth Shaw (right) at Artfest 2010.
So I felt I could ask her to let me take a couple of stencils for test runs. I ended up making three new pieces, two of which you'll find on the StencilGirl Talk blog on Thursday, March 19th. Bonus: using my new stencils turned out to be so much fun, I accidentally got some WORK done in the process.
This piece (which you'll also see in my guest blog post) has been accepted into an upcoming exhibit: "Black Lives Matter" at Columbia City Gallery! The show opens April 18th. More details to come...