A Book, by any other name
Posted on May 18, 2008 - Filed Under Being an Artist
Sometimes I ask myself what I think I am doing in the book world, or am I really in it? As a book artist I am not traditional, I do not make books with what is ironically called the “Simplified Binding”, especially after having made one with my teacher friend Laura Wait. That title is an oxymoron if there ever was one! I do not make on-layed leather covers, although I have tried that too, with Gabrielle Fox. Taking classes from highly skilled people has been a great challenge to me, and I am very happy with the books I made. That said, I do not expect to make them again. There is a current stream of conversation going about nearly every form of art out there, and especially with calligraphy and book arts, the two areas most applicable to me, about qualification. At what point do we admit our fellows into our fold? If they follow the “rules”? What if, like me, they know the rules and choose to break them? And when, as teachers, do we insist on adherence? My stance has been that you need to know the rules you are breaking. You can only “abstract” something that you understand. This thought occurred to me when I saw an exhibit of Picasso, years ago. The exhibit was set up chronologically, so you wandered through his life and process, finally to arrive at the ambitious purpose of cubism. Whoever set up the exhibit knew what would happen for some of us, and it did: we finally got it. Picasso never could have started with Cubism, he had to make that educated and studied journey through everything that came before it. He learned the quality of his tools and craft with the best teachers and materials available. And then, when he finally knew all the rules, he broke them. I just realized that I appear to be comparing myself to Picasso, holy cow! Wouldn’t that be nice. What I really am is a hybrid, a swimmer of the middle seas, an observer, and perhaps, a bit of a hypocrite. What I want to teach and learn is how to make art with quality craftsmanship and integrity, all the while expressing my innermost arty thoughts and ideas. And, I never want to make a simplified binding again.
Oh hi! to Ojai and spring off to Springfield
Posted on April 26, 2008 - Filed Under 2008 Workshops
September 24-28, 2008 I wander off to California to teach at a new venue called Artful Living, which is a victorian house on a quaint street near a beautiful B&B in a cutie pie of a town called Ojai (I am normally not much for cute, but I make an exception here). Ojai is outside of Santa Barbara, which is north of Los Angeles. I grew up in Orange County, raised by the only Democrat within many miles, and we vacationed in Ojai in 1964, when I was seven. Coincidentally Mary Poppins was released that summer, and I saw it at the Ojai theatre seven times. I also sailed high on my uncle’s broad shoulders off the diving board of the community pool and saw the entire world, and my life, pass by quickly. Those are my memories of Ojai. Oh yes, and the apple cider, and the cuteness. It appears that cuteness remains a strong selling point for Ojai. Leslie A. Westbrook from the SF Chronicle describes it well: “Ojai excels as an oasis of tranquility. Rural setting for ‘Shangri-La” offers peace, ‘pink moments.” I’m pretty excited about the pink moments, I think you see one here.
In Ojai we will be doing two days of painting paper with everything but the kitchen sink. Then we will transition into Artists’ books for three more days. In three days you can make one book, or lots of books. I seem to always veer in the “lots” direction since art and being surrounded by artists energizes me. So, if you come, be tanned, rested and ready.I am teaching a similar class in Springfield, Illinois at the Prairie Art Alliance also in September 12-14. In this case it is three days, and eight books plus painting up a storm. This is a very impressive place that began as a Women’s Art Alliance. They have everything there in the way of outreach, exhibits and workshops. And of course, Springfield is the home of Abraham Lincoln, so while Ojai will win for cute and pink, Springfield wins for presidential relevance and red white and blue.
Sam, the Seer of Beauty
Posted on April 15, 2008 - Filed Under About me
My son Sam has a profound sense of beauty. He noticed colors and textures as a toddler. One time in the car when he was three he suddenly shouted “Mama, it is SPRING!” Looking out the car window, trying not to crash, I see winter. How do you know it is spring Sam? He shouts “Because the GREEN is coming!”. Sure enough, tiny green shoots were coming from the otherwise bare trees. He told the next door neighbor the next day how great the color of her sweater was, and how it looked good on her. He was right, it did.
Sam asked a few weeks ago, right before a visit from Grandma Jo, if he could be in charge of “plating” while she was here. We watch Iron Chef and all of us love cooking, but plating is what Sam likes best. One night he ushered us from the dinner table so he could “plate” in private. He was given a huge lot of beautiful strawberries, and some chocolate syrup. He worked away in the kitchen for some time and then called us in. This is what we got.
My plate was a house full of furniture. I had an armchair, a bed with pillows, a swirly rug and a bedside table. Steve and Jo had sculptures, about five inches high. Sydney’s plate was architectural; a piazza surrounded by buildings, with a fountain in the center. All of this was fashioned from strawberries and chocolate, and every bit was beautiful.
This picture is one Sam drew when I was showing him how to use a pointed calligraphy pen. The story below he wrote for our Christmas card. I hope to keep the Samness in our house forever, even after he grows his wings.
WINTER
by Sam, Age 8
One fine day I woke up with a cold nose. It look like a painted white land of snow.
I yelled hurray, hurray it is Winter! I want to go sledding! I see small little snow flakes on the ground!
I hear crunchy snow flakes on the ground that I step on. They go crunch, crunch, crunch.
I feel the warmth of the fire. I smell and taste hot cocoa.
I see the hot cocoa bubbling in my cup that I slurp from when I am thirsty.
I see a big sled and a snow board. So I said, I will go snow boarding right now!
I hear a big owl who goes woo, woo, woo! I even hear a big coyote at night.
Sometimes I wake up and look at the coyote. I am lucky at night.
My blanket keeps me warm. I see a snowman who is the same size as me.
So, I go and play with him. I feel the snow brush a small cast of cold snow on my face that makes me laugh like crazy.
The snow feels mushy cool in my mouth. It feels nice having little snow flakes dripping from my face.
I feel icy cold Winter snow falling from the sky. The cocoa feels warm in my tummy.
I even feel a small glaze of cocoa on my lips. I know that Winter is my favorite season now.
Make it New
Posted on March 20, 2008 - Filed Under Written Inspiration
What an amazing roller coaster my life is right now. The good parts are wonderful, new and exciting, the bad parts are deep-in-the-soul painful. On the side of great things is my new exposure in print, more than four publications already this year, including Somerset Studio. Yesterday Jenny Doh at Somerset asked me to work with the following poem (her favorite, no pressure there!)
As the sun makes it new
Day by day make it new
Yet again make it new
—Confucious
Coincidentally I was drawing these houses that are scattered on the prairie that surround me. They are disappearing, in their numbers and in their bones. The wind blasts them, the sun bakes the stone and timber, the rain falls through their roofs and long broken windows. These prairies houses are sinking into the land that they came from, taking their stories with them. Nature will make a new soil for a new life. Yet again make it new.
Kindness and the Election
Posted on March 13, 2008 - Filed Under Artist Friends
I am having a complex time of it lately. First of all, I am an election delegate for the first time. Seems I have some rather strong views that, interestingly enough, are being satisfied by this process. It also means that the phone rings all day long from people who want my support. Add on a layer to this big cake: I am the mother of two spirited darlings, 8 and 9 years old, and I am trying to teach and make art. The layer on top of that is that my friends in San Diego suffered enormous losses in the fires there this year. My heart is full of concerns.
Driven by a strong need to help in some way, I decided to make ink from the fire remains and use it to make calligraphic prayer flags as a fundraising effort for my friends at Camp Stevens, a summer camp in San Diego that is dear to my heart. They have extensive fire damage, and serve so many people per year I am putting my effort there. One of the internet groups I belong to was helpful in the ink making recipes, and off I go to the races.
How do all of these subject hand together? Last week I had a long and very frustrating day of election and grade school issues. At the end of it, I arrived home to a beautiful package in my post box. I am telling you, it pays to have artists as friends. I open that package and inside is a flaming orange tie-dyed t-shirt from Virginia Tech. You know what happened there. It is from Ann Van Tassell, someone on my cyberscribe group I have never met. A student group from Virginia Tech made these shirts as a fundraiser for the San Diego Fire Victims, and she was moved to send one to me. She also made the beautiful calligraphy here, and sent a warm personal note on the back.
The note ends with these words “all it seems we can do is keep on being as kind as we can to each other.”
If Ann ran for office, I would vote for her. If someone like her was my child’s teacher, I would be happy. If everyone acted like she has, and kept the river of benevolence winding through the country, wouldn’t we all be dancing? Thank you Ann. I so very much appreciate your lovely gift.
Symbolic Language and All the Elements
Posted on March 12, 2008 - Filed Under 2008 Workshops
This is a page I made yesterday and just tore down today to make a book. I started with symbols from Africa and various other places, drawing them with a Sketch Wash pencil, and coloring them in with watercolor crayons. Then I did a layer of watercolor in the background and put it aside to dry. When it was dry I did another layer with colored pencils. The backside of the paper is painted in neutrals. Today I tore down the pages and am getting ready to stitch it to a wooden spine (My husband makes these for me) and adorn it with beads and charms. This project is the “All the Elements Book” I am teaching at the RAEvN’s Nest Art Retreat in Cedarburg, Wisconsin in October. After the pages dry I fold them and arrange them together into two sections, or signatures.
When I get them arranged the way I like, I put the two signatures together and then go through it again.
Now I wait for my husband to come home. Just sit and wait, reading romance novels with Fabio on the cover, and eating bon-bons. I wear a very cute house dress and pearls, and sometimes I talk on the phone, depending upon whether I am caught up on the local gossip or not. I never worry my pretty little head about things like the global situation or election (who is running for what?) because that would cause wrinkles and goodness knows, I am not interested in that! When Steve comes home and makes the wooden spine, I will stitch the pages on. For now, ta ta!
Tempting Taos Workshops
Posted on March 11, 2008 - Filed Under 2008 Workshops
This summer I am headed to Taos to teach for two weeks. The first week is a book class using just about everything I can get my hands on. We will paint papers and incorporate them into books, working in copper, wood, all kinds of found objects. It will be a lot of instruction in an organic kind of way. My friend Gwen Fox and I used to teach for the Taos Institute of Art (which has since closed) and loved it so much we decided to go it on our own, and we will have the second class together. It is collage and books, and the Abstracted Landscape. We are helped by the Taos Center for the Arts, and will use their Stables Gallery for our classroom. It is right in the heart of downtown. We have casitas to rent within walking distance so no one has to drive at all if you don’t feel like it. It is my idea of heaven, having a week in a great place to paint and make books among fellow enthusiasts. Last year we had a great group, and it looks that way again this year, so check it out and join us at the Stables Gallery Taos Workshop! Read more
Somerset Studio and Sunday-go-to-Meetin’
Posted on February 25, 2008 - Filed Under 2008 Workshops, About me
Yesterday someone gave me the newest issue of Somerset Studio, the one that my work is in (for the very first time!). It is very exciting to be in there, especially surrounded by artists whose work I know and admire, such stunning company! My article is in the front with large photos of three pieces, and there is another piece (the one in this picture) on page 101. Since this is new to me, I did not include instructions for this one, so they wrote some on my behalf. Unfortunately, they were not at all what was going on here. This is a house constructed out of painted paper, that part is correct. However, the roof is a hymnal, a book, with pages of painted and textured tissue and vellum, and inscribed with the lyrics of an old hymn, “This Ole House”, as sung by Rosemary Clooney.
Ain’t a-gonna need this house no longer
Ain’t a-gonna need this house no more
Ain’t got time to fix the shingles
Ain’t got time to fix the floor
Ain’t got time to oil the hinges
Nor to mend the windowpane
Ain’t a-gonna need this house no longer
She’s a-gettin’ ready to meet the saints!
The hymnal, or book, is sitting atop the house and is removable. There is no glue involved. The book is stitched, with the thread ending up on the outside middle, from which the charms and jewelry dangle. I call this one “Sunday Go-to Meetin” because she is so ready to show off her finery, and she loves this hymn. I have been working with copper, turned wire, and house images for a while, so this combo seemed a natural. Then I saw Michael Jacob’s book and he has one similar called a Sky House. Check out his book, Books Unbound, for some great ideas.
The beach, and taking notice
Posted on February 22, 2008 - Filed Under Being an Artist
Today I am daydreaming about the beach, which is pretty common for me, especially when it is snowing and I am frazzled. I grew up on the water, and crave it even more than I do potato chips. Currently I live on the opposite side of some pretty formidable mountains from the salty shore, but I know that I still share the sunset with the coast. We see it sink below the Rockies before it shows up in California in all its glorious hues. This is one of my many journal pages of the beach, in this case the coast of Mexico. It is so simple, and I am glad I took the time to draw it. I used the No-Blot ink pencil that works so well with water themes and water colors, and gives you a lot of bang for your buck (we will work with this technique at the RAEvN’s Nest Art Retreat in the All the Elements class). The picture does two things: it reminds me that I took time to really enjoy this small bay, and it reminds me of how great it felt to be there. That is what journaling does for me, it makes me take notice for longer than I would if I was just sitting on that small beach reading a book. Taking notice is something I really need to do. Hmmm, that reminds me, I should perhaps be taking notice of what is here: six kids, no dinner plans and bills to pay. Or, I could just pull out that old artists’ license and go on with my journal!
Sumptuous Sumi and other Stories
Posted on February 11, 2008 - Filed Under 2008 Workshops, About me
