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Sketchbook Revival: Shari Blaukopf

3/27/2021

One of the things I'm learning lately is that I CAN draw and paint! Who knew?

Because I'm mainly a fiber artist working with fabric and stitch, drawing and painting was a mystery to me. But the more I do it, the better I become at these skills. And, not thinking about whether I'm good or bad compared to other artists, makes me more confident following my own ideas.

A ,lot of instructors give you a step by step way to draw and paint from a reference photograph. I watched and listened to Shari's video but chose my own photograph and did my own thing. Perhaps her voice was in my head while I was doing this but regardless, I was very happy with the result.

Here's her website:
https://shariblaukopf.com/

Enjoy!

Sketchbook Revival: Jeanne Oliver

3/20/2021

My sketch

A photo I took of a sidewalk that was my inspiration

I'm taking this free course called Sketchbook Revival. I love the idea of learning from many artists, each with a different style, medium and attitude.

Here is a sketch I made today, using graphite and water and some gesso. I had purchased vine graphite many years ago but never used it because it was so delicate, I thought I would break it immediately. But Jeanne taught me how to hold and rotate the vine so it made wonderful marks.

I loved her techniques and made something I actually love.

The only problem with this course is that it's too fast. Viewing two videos every day with two different artists, doing two different techniques is exhausting. I prefer a more laid-back approach to making art. Still, just viewing the videos is interesting. Don't think you have to make anything as a result. I love just seeing how artists work and hearing their thoughts along the process.

So if you are in need of some inspiration, for free, check this out. It's going on now and when you sign up, you can view the videos from Day one!

Stencil Art

3/13/2021

There are so many inspiring artists to follow on YouTube and here's my latest inspiration. Dan Tirels is the artist I'm following right now.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAg1qb2ivko
I have made my stencils using my laminator so I can use them many times but you could also do this with just cardboard as well.
Dan works with oil paint but I made this piece with acrylic. Luckily, a friend of mine gave me some oil paint so I'm going to try this next.
I love the process and the results and will be interested to experience the difference between acrylic and oil paint.
His style reminds me of patchworking. So obviously, a connection between my fiber art and mixed media.
I might try this technique on fabric. Who know where our creative minds will lead us next!

Featured Artist: Linda Laird

3/6/2021

I received a postcard announcing a new solo exhibit by fiber artist Linda Laird. Luckily, there was a virtual exhibit on their website where I could zoom in and see every piece close up. The gallery is open by appointment only and you can see the actual pieces and how they are wonderfully hung to show off all both sides of these wonderful pieces.

I loved the alphabet theme of these works. And I loved the sayings on each of the pieces. I asked Linda to tell me more and here is what she had to say…

“I made the first 2 pieces, A and B, for the SAQA poster call for entry in late 2016. They were declined for that show, but I had so much fun making them I thought, “Why not the whole alphabet?”, and was off and running. I had been using text in my work for a few years before, but choosing aphorisms that featured a letter of the alphabet as a key word gave me a focused direction for the 26-piece series. I also used the size from the SAQA call for entry, 32”w x 48”hl as the standard format, as I was wanting to work bigger and bolder. From my costuming career, I work very clean, tight, and “stage worthy”, so I purposely made these pieces as loose as I could, with raw edges, torn pieces, large hand stitching, and the minimal quilting to hold the layers together. More like a man artist, than a female seamstress!

There was not an overall context for the aphorisms. I collected them from several books, websites, and general reading. “Real Simple” magazine prints a pithy saying each month on the spine of each print copy. I chose sayings that spoke to me about real life in the present day world, even though they were written by men and women from around the world and often from distant times. Each piece has a manila hang tag with the author’s name, dates, nationality, and occupation. My object was to connect ideas from the past to the present, and encourage viewers to think about those connections.

“The virtual gallery is completely imaginary, but it looks huge and beautiful. In the actual gallery, the pieces are hung from single wires attached to slender metal brackets fastened perpendicular to the walls in a way that allows them to move at angles to the walls. It’s quite a festive collection of 26 posters that overlap each other, permitting the viewer to walk in between and around the pieces, seeing both fronts and backs. The fabric posters also move around from the hanging wires as viewers move past them. This hanging system comes with the show; the works can also be hung flat against the wall, or hung from a dropped grid ceiling to form aisles and passageways, thru which viewers can roam.”

If you cannot visit the actual gallery, be sure to visit the virtual one. Links below.

Linda Laird
https://lindalaird-studio.webs.com/

Manitou Art Center
Hagnauer Gallery
https://www.manitouartcenter.org/
Now through March 14, 2021