Getting Started may be the hardest part

When I first discussed my 52 week 5" x 7" challenge here on this blog, I really didn't think much beyond my desire to get myself in the practice of creating and being accountable to do my work each week to my readers.  However, since then I've recognized that many of you also may have the same issues as I:  not enough time, too many competing demands for the little time we have, the desire to develop ourselves as artists, and the big one... fear of failure.

Well, I've made the commitment and have extended the invitation and I hope you'll join me in going for the challenge!  I admit I'm a little ahead, as I started my first week's piece back in early December.   I finished up my freehand machine embroidered Zebra over the holidays and today I spent my studio time making a "pillowcase binding", practicing micro-stippling, and starting the quilting for the piece.

I was inspired this last week when I went to the LaConner Quilt and Textile Museum and saw a piece there that was made by Cathy Erickson (no relation, but she's also a member of CQA.)  Cathy's quilt on display had won the best machine quilting for the LaConner International QuiltFest last October, and it's no surprise.  Cathy has some of the most beautiful micro-quilting that I've ever seen.  If you're not aware of micro-quilting, it is quilting designs in miniature... almost microscopic.  Lines may be as close as 1/16" apart.  In general, you need to use lighter weight threads to get this incredible lace-like effect.

To get some practice, I started with one of my favorite blogs, Leah Day's Free Motion Quilting Project and found her instructions and video on Microstippling.  I did a sampler using Leah's instructions and then made several samples of micro-quilting, using different pattern ideas... one with a squared edge stipple, one like grasses, one irregular stripes (like the zebra) and another grid pattern.  I looked at each of them alongside my zebra and then chose one for my quilting background.  Which one do you think I picked?  Tune in next week....

I also found from Leah's site a wonderful blog which shares work in progress each Wednesday.  It's called "Freshly Pieced".  Make sure to check it out!

Tonight I spent a little time thinking about my next design.  As you may know, I've had windmills and the Moulin Rouge on the brain for many years.  Since the late 19th century, the Moulin Rouge has been an inspiration for artists.  It has symbolized the bohemian lifestyle and served as a gateway to Montmartre, the neighborhood in Paris where writers, artists, and philosophers congregated.  Most notably, Henri Toulouse-Lautrec captured many scenes of the Moulin Rouge in the 1890's, helping to assure its fame through his lithographic posters.   Most people are familiar with the Can-Can, a dance popularized at the Moulin Rouge.  My quilt pictured here is the exterior of this famous windmill (Moulin in French) at night, from a photo I took in Paris in 2009.  The reader board image, freehand machine embroidered, of "120 ans" is celebrating the 120th anniversary of continuous operation of the infamous nightclub.

So, I was playing around with colored pencils and here is my potential for next week's 5x7 challenge.  I'm thinking of doing the four areas in between the windmill blades in two pieced groups of complementary colors (blue & orange, violet & yellow). I'm still considering how I want to do the windmill blades.

I think getting started is the hardest part... I feel a little bit of trepidation about whether I'll be able to sustain my production or not.  Anyone else sharing this fear?  I can't wait to see what you create!

You might also be interested in:

52 Week- 5 x 7 
Challenge to Readers

52 Weeks of Art- 
A Personal Challenge

Making Fabric

Designing for a theme

Do you shudder with fear or turn away with disdain when you see a show that has a theme?  It seems that many calls to artists request the artwork to meet an aspect of a theme, and some jurors are stricter than others about how closely a piece meets that criteria or not.

Moulin Rouge Deux (on right) at the Airport Appetizer show

As the Co-chair for Exhibitions for the Contemporary QuiltArt Association, I've seen both jurors who would drop a piece for not seeming to have anything to do with a theme, and others who were open to a very broad interpretation (such as the title had a word that related to the theme, but there was no other discernible connection.)

 Being more of a representational artist, working with a theme usually works well for me.  I like having a launching pad for my ideas.  For instance, at one show at the SeaTac international airport, my quilt "Moulin Rouge Deux" was displayed, along with other quilts with international elements.  You can clearly see the pyramids in the other quilt alongside mine.

Currently, SeaTac has another exhibit from CQA, this one with the name and theme of "Journeys."  In this show, we had some fabulous entries which took many different interpretations of the theme.  I have two additional pieces in this show.  Here are some photos from this exhibit:

 Many interpretations of a broad theme.  After all, we can take literal journeys, by foot, car, horse, rail, air, boat, etc. or we can take spiritual journeys, journeys of the heart, or journeys of our imagination.

Rainier: Two Views by Colleen Wise

But what about when the theme is more difficult or restrictive?  I'll go into that more tomorrow.  Pleasant dreams...yet another type of journey!

52 Weeks of Art- a Personal Challenge

OK, I know this has been done before, in fact it's been done in a much bigger way that I'm going to suggest. But you have to start somewhere and I know personally what my bandwidth might be able to withstand.

I'm so hesitant to type this out... I feel a tightness in my belly... fear. Can I really say that I'll do this? Will it compromise my other art and goals that I want to do?

Artist: Gwen Lowery

As part of my journey this coming year, I'm going to make one 5" x 7" composition each week. I'll post pictures along the way, here on my blog. Notice I didn't say fiber composition. Part of the reason why is that I consider myself a fiber and mixed media artist. While fiber is my favorite chosen medium, I think I can learn a lot through using different materials. I also think combining techniques can be quite effective. Why did I choose this size? It seems doable, but it's also more than an artist trading card... it feels like it can be be art in and of itself, rather than just a practice piece. Not that these items will necessarily be successful- that's part of the process. But I do hope to find satisfaction with some of these pieces I create. I think that having a manageable size will help me really work at producing, something I think I need to do, to increase my skills.

Artist: Deborah Zibrik

One of my favorite teachers, Gail Harker, had an exhibition and online auction of some of her student's work. The show was called Black White and Red and it was all 5" x 7" works in values of those colors. She still has the pieces up on her online gallery. I was extremely happy to be able to purchase three of these small works, which are pictured here, and which I am displaying as artwork in my home. I had planned to do a piece for this show/auction, but didn't end up making it a priority. When I went to the opening, I was somewhat ashamed that I hadn't. I could see that making a 5 x 7 piece wasn't all that unattainable, even with the demands of work, a family, my volunteer work for other fiber organizations (CQA and SDA, primarily), and everything else that puts demands on my time. So, it's time to put it to the test.



Artist: Judy Alexander

In case you're wondering about my fascination with windmills or 'moulins' in French, I am passionate about France and Paris. My husband, Randy, works in the international aerospace industry, and travels abroad regularly. He proposed to me on the shores of the Mediterranean and we've enjoyed visits to Paris and many areas in France numerous times. I started studying French in the fall of 2008. Between the beauty of the French countryside and the iconic portrayals of the Moulin Rouge in late 19th century art, I've developed a fondness for the imagery of the windmill. Guess I should add Holland to my list of places to travel someday!

Let's Journey Together!

jour·ney

noun

1. a traveling from one place to another, usually taking a rather long time.

2. a distance, course, or area traveled or suitable for traveling.

3. a period of travel.

4. passage or progress from one stage to another: the journey to success.

 



Moulin Rouge dans la Nuit

I've been on this journey for some time now... years, really.  It's only been in the last few years that I've felt the need to look towards my destination.  Where do I want to go with my art?  How will I know when I've arrived?  How do I stay on track and not get distracted from my main objectives?

 



I've practiced goal-setting and creating plans to accomplish my goals for years, both in business and in my personal life.  I've seen the power of declaring your intentions publicly.  So, starting today, I'm beginning this new journey... one which I invite you to join, whether as an observer, or as an active committed participant. 

Whether I am detailing my plans for the future, documenting my ongoing progress, learning new skills, or sharing the things that inspire me to make art, I hope to both inspire and be inspired through regular writings on this blog.  I look forward to an incredible time of growth together!



Caverna Magica



To introduce you to a little of where I am currently at, here you can see my quilt, "Moulin Rouge dans la Nuit", currently being shown at SeaTac International Airport in an exhibition named "Journeys" put on by the Contemporary QuiltArt Association (through January 2013.)  The original design is from photographs I took of the Moulin Rouge in 2009.  It is made of both artist hand-dyed and commercial cotton fabrics, which I have then freehand machine embroidered and quilted.

 



The Caves of Nerja

Also in the "Journeys" show is my "Caverna Magica" whole-cloth quilt. When I completed the dyeing of this fabric, it reminded me of seeing the Caves of Nerja, in Andalusia, Spain.  Filled with impressive stalactites and stalagmites, sections of the caves are open to visitors and are lit up with many beautiful colored lights.  I hand-dyed this piece of fabric and then densely freehand machine quilted it with cotton, rayon, and silk thread. 

 



Detail of Caverna Magica



Each day we can make a choice... to further our artistic career and take a step on the journey, or to postpone for yet another day.  When I look back at all the times I've postponed, I have to admit it makes me very sad.  Our time is finite here on this earth.  What do we want to leave behind?  How do we want to spend this limited amount of time?  I know that I want to create.  I want my children and hopefully others to have something tangible that I've created that they love and which, through it, they can feel connected to me.

 

Where are you starting from today?  Do you know where it is that you'd like to get to?  Do you have a plan for how you're going to get there?