Useful
Thanks to Google+ group Kraafter Kommunity and member Peggy Gabrielson of Georgia Mountain Arts for the wonderful article she wrote about me. Color Wicki blushing! Can't wait to see how she can turn my Ozark linguistics into a listenable podcast! TBA
xxoo and big hugs for Peggy! Please comment on her post and let her know you read it...
The Rice Paper Screen. Just WOW.
I've not been able to play with my colors in a week or so. Ran-DEE's dad moved to an assisted living facility, and he had to clean out their apartment. Whew.
That took him over a week, even after his sister cleared what she wanted, and our auctioneer moved the big stuff. Left Randy with all the toilet paper, laundry soap, magazines, etc., over 20 picture albums from 1940's to present, his dad's tour of duty in Korea (many pics of barracks...2x3" b/w faded images). Over 100 small framed family pics that had not been unpacked since they moved from their house in Little Rock five years or so ago.
We are both guilty of hoarding to a certain degree, so our place can't hold their hoarding too. However, it was a pleasure going through most of it since they lived in Japan when Ran-DEE was 7-10...and Teiko still had family there. The Japanese cards and papers! Even the envelopes were saved (stamps already cut out). A huge box of odds and ends from her sewing room in Little Rock. I've got enough elastic to last a lifetime. Teiko worked at Hancock Fabrics several years and must have bought ends and pieces of stock. I'll be looking for an innovative way to use those, for sure.
Big sacks of embroidery thread and spools of sewing thread. Postcards, 1920's b/w images from Japanese descendants, tchotzkes, genealogy files, medical files from 2000 detailing every letter, empty envelope, surgery and doctor visit Wesley had. THOSE were easy to recycle!
Anyway, I got some treasures! Have removed every picture from every little frame, all ready for donation to our Helping Hands.
The answer to GUESS? Waterproof pads. They measure 24" x 24" -ish, and are GREAT for studio work. The bookcase was made by Wesley, and will give us some much needed vertical storage for books we have, as well as all those scrapbooks of Teiko's. Insluded in those was a book of pictures of our house that isn't with us anymore...and some pictures of Sarah we didn't have.
That was the toughest part of the going through, for me anyway. I'll share more of the Japan ephemera later...great fodder for art. I will digitize the images and use those, passing on the originals to Betsy Ross Noble.
I'm ready for color and my studio! Bring it!
xxoo
Was reading a good blog post today by Lynn K (not gonna try to spell her name) wrote a post that caught my attention...titled "Where I Stand Sunday". Several comments were made about blogs that reveal more of the life of an artist, not just the available workshops, paintings for sale, or other self promotion. Been there, done that. And it does throw a wet blanket on spontaneous postings. She also mentions the self imposed pressure of detailed tutorials, or other more formal posts.
White Rose, Encaustic, Xerography, Oil on mounted paper, 7"x7" $245 Available HERE. Will be on exhibit downtown Bentonville at pop-up art show, Majesty Gallery on the square, Oct. 4 and 5.
i built a strong group of followers for blog posts that I'm afraid we're based on some of those things. Not anymore! In fact, I've begun loosening up in my art as well. Some of it has already flowed over into my blog. SO, welcome to the Wonderful World of Wicki.
i realized that as an artist of realism that there was nothing new I could say about a tree that hasn't been covered by so many others. My studio was neat as a pin, with supplies organized in the closet where the doors would close...and my workstations...one for soft pastel, and one for oil. Then, I added another work area for encaustic (hot wax) painting. Because so many more relaxed processes are involved there, from collage to xerography to mono printing ....papers, threads, stencils...3-dimensional works...
Flag Ball, 9" round, encaustic. Available HERE, or visit and purchase from Two25 Gallery on Main Street, Bentonville, AR © V.N.Ross
Mixed Media roared into my life a few months later. I now have a tsunami in my neat as a pin studio. A die cutter, embosser, acrylic paints and decorative papers. Stamps, spray inks, fun foam and torn cardboard.
I've found an entire community of artists who like to create just for fun...not for competitions, sales, or galleries. AND they share and ask questions and interact! I'm gonna have fun. ITPS (It's the Process Stupid), not the product. You are welcome to play along with me.
SO,
what did I eat for lunch today? A juicy cheez burger and homemade fries from Rons Hambergs in Bentonville. I'm not nicknamed "Wimpy" for nuttin!
What am I reading now? Art books, always, by my chair (real books) and (electronic) on ipad. Current favorite is "Printmaking Unleashed" by Traci Bautista. These get studied after studio time, with adult juice at my side. In bed for that last hour of awakens, whatever novels I've downloaded free on my kindle app.
what I'm making? Stamps, free stitching on fun foam for stamps, screenprinting screens, stencils, all for eventual inclusion in art journals, or collages.
what am I wearing? Before 5pm, Jeans, crocs with socks, and a gimme T-shirt, the better to sling paint! After 5, all the above except sweatpants instead of jeans!
Stencil of girl made from magazine. Stencil made from glue gun, Gelli Plate printed on deli paper. Image was originally vertical, but I like the idea of swimming upstream in heels :) These papers will find their way into all kinds of mixed media art!
xxoo
When I read this blog post today, I immediately knew I wanted to share it here. Lynne Knowlton writes about how pulling out the knitting needles for an easy project helped her struggle over the grief of losing one of her hairy kids last week.
Zakly (exactly...hey, a new wick-word) what we talk about here! How busy hands help your soul...when you are counting stitches, there is no room for anything else. Same with mixing paint colors...quilting a patchwork quilt...You know...all that 'stuff' we do for fun.
Enough of me...now here's a short snippet of Lynne's post (and she includes a free pattern!)
February 28th, 2014 | 20 Comments | Posted in Design Your Blog Life
Thanks, Lynne!
Would you lurve to knit a chunky wool blanket? Good. Me too. I knew I liked you. This blanket can keep you from unravelling, one stitch at a time.
No worries, there is other juicy stuff in this blog post for you too. Skip to the end of the post, I need your opinion on stuff. You are my trusted advisor, don’tcha know? I count on you to give me the straight goods.
Read the rest of the post here:
xxoo
PS: Be sure to tell Lynn you read about it here!
click above
screen shot. click link above to see the TED video
This is totally awesome, and uplifting!
Using laptops, tablets, etc., and the internet it is possible for home-bound people, home-schooled children, schools with no art budget...to enjoy the wonderful world of making. It is about a stress-free experience guaranteed to bring a smile to faces. :)
Enjoy!
Chief Muse, Vicki was the guest host today on become.com 'become.com's pocket change' page, about her color charts in oil.
Thanks, Ben! Look forward to more contact with your vast network...and hope I can drive some attention your way.
Who'd a thunk it? Me, a writer! I just type it like I would say it.
xxoo
ps: give become.com a look and tell 'em Vicki sent'ya!
Utilitas...an ugly word even in Latin. Functional. Utilitarian. BOR-ing! Granny panties, anyone?
Choosing a visual for USEFUL was a wee bit tough. Yes, I agree that art is useful, but not shelter like architecture (see blog post on Solid). Not very romantic...reminds me of Wear It Out...Use It Up...Make It Do...Do Without. blech. How in the world could I relate that to art, let alone create a visual! Time for the Muse...
Eureka! A bridge is useful, like architecture...and Monet certainly epitomized Art! Another good combination. Cookin' with gas now! I imagine dragonflies were plentiful and I can just see me on a raft paddlin' around.
Monet's Garden is definitely Beautiful. Watch video clip below, by clicking on the image of Claude.
All knowledge is useful to some extent, if not today, then tomorrow. Some Beautiful, some Solid, but not always immediately Useful. Maybe it is about the balance...too much Useful can be boring. I guess pottery would be art that is useful.
By the way, the music soundtrack is 2nd Movement of Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 2.
Stay tuned for the third and final Word in the Vetruvius Triad
I don't think I could have done this en plein air...especially with my skill set at the time!
I can say I could smell the wisteria as I worked on this in my studio.
In Monet's Garden
11l" x 14", pastel
V.N.Ross
