Mixed Media – Page 9

The right answer to “how?”

I’ve been a long time subscriber to Quilting Arts magazine. Over the past decade they have truly inspired me to pursue my artistic interest. This past week I received my Dec17/Jan18 copy of the magazine. It’s always a surreal moment when you see your artwork in print. The honor is even greater for me this time, since I’m such a big fan of the publication.

All of this is about taking a leap of faith. That’s what I truly hope to inspire in other people. If you really want something don’t say “can’t.” Try to come up with the answer to “how?”

This idea has long been in my head, but it took several things to push me over the edge. One thing that happened was I met Lea McComas while I was at Quilt Festival in Houston about 2 years ago. I knew who she was, had admired her work, and saw her a number a times during my visit at Festival. On my last night there, I went to dinner with my sister and a friend and had to use the restroom. Lea happen to be in line waiting and we started chatting. Just casual chatter. On our way back to our respective tables, she asked me “Why haven’t you published?” I know I came up with some excuse, but our conversation hit a nerve. When you’re at these shows, its interesting how random encounters become meaningful and inspiring events.

I really don’t know why Lea asked the question, but it hasn’t left me. I even jotted her question down on a piece of paper and tacked it to a bulletin board in my studio. I wanted to be reminded. At the time, there really wasn’t a good answer to her question. But her question left me pondering my personal barriers and eventually finding the right answer to “how?”

See my work and discover my process of “Creating Highlights & Shadows”
Quilting Arts Magazine
December 2017/January 2018
available book stores or online at Interweave Press

Put yourself out there

It has been over 10 years that I began reading Quilting Arts Magazine. It has always been my bucket list dream to grace the pages of this inspirational publication. I came close in 2012, when my pet portrait of my dog “Storm” became Mr. September of their calendar.

Since then, I pondered to myself, what do I have that’s worthy of their reader’s interest. I use a lot of tools to create my art, but everything felt ordinary. A few years ago I began experimenting with Prismacolor pencils on fabric. I was so impressed with the depth I could create (my piece “Silenced,” on my home page, was enhanced using them).

I’ve been asked several times by artists I admire, “Why aren’t you publishing?” I had no answer. Early this year I decided to take their challenge and submit a proposal to Quilting Arts. To my joy, they accepted. This summer I wrote the article and created the supporting artwork, I’ve been waiting to share the news since July.

Having worked in the publishing business for many years, I was always told don’t talk about it until its in print. Anything could happen along the way. Today I got the OK to share the news, but to my surprise I get to share even bigger news. My summer tanager gets the limelight as the cover artwork. I cannot explain how amazingly surreal this is. Dreams come true when you put yourself out there.

See my artwork at your local newstand
Quilting Arts Magazine
December/January 2018

Take time to listen

We’re living in unsettling times. There are so many things that seem uncertain, upsetting and chaotic. If we seek balance amongst the chaos, we have to look inward.

The only thing we can change is ourselves. So when dealing with troubling times, maybe its as simple as seeking a different perspective or just seeing the good things around you. Find the calm within you, because its there.

My looking inward has me focusing on the fire in my belly. What gives me motivation and inspiration? Answer: my art. I can sit here waiting for the uncertainty to resolve itself, or I can keep moving.

Right now, I’m working on a songbird series which brings me joy. To keep the inspiration going, I stop and make a bird between larger projects or when I get artistically stuck. Up next in the series is the Eastern Towhee. They make me smile when I see them foraging in my yard. The male bird tells us to “drink your tea” or some say he just says his name “Tow-hee.” Either way you hear him, just take some time to listen.

Gathered along the way.

In a couple days, we’ll be at the official end of summer. For me, it’s been a long one filled with a lot of good things. I got to spend a few days at the beach and I worked on an exciting professional opportunity. This opportunity presented me with 2 deadlines. One was at the end of July and the other was this week. I look back on the days and I’m proud of my accomplishments. High-five to me, I did it! I also realize I enjoy what I was doing. Now I have to figure out how to continue with this momentum.

Over the next couple months, I’ll be working to make changes with my professional journey. After a year+ hiatus from teaching, I’ve decided to get back into it. I’m going to be approaching it all differently this time. I want to share my enthusiasm for “art” quilting and encourage other’s who feel the cravings like I did when I first started this journey.

I’m going to use the motivation of my summer deadlines, to continue moving forward. Using the symbolism of my bee friend, I will continue to explore the possibilities while remembering to enjoy life’s nectar, to work hard on my goals, and to share the information that I’ve gathered along the way.

Keep looking forward

Doors have been opening for me lately. I think that’s definitely a circumstance of me knocking on them and putting myself out there. I also think it’s because I’ve started putting my aspirations first. For the past year, I’ve been focusing on self-development. I’ve pondered my dreams and wondered how to get them to come true.

For over 10 years, I’ve had a bucket list dream that always seemed to fall just a little short of reality. Although I did try, I really don’t know why I didn’t try harder. I suspect it was the perfectionist that lives in my head. She likes to tell me that things need to be a certain way before I can put it out there. I call myself a “recovering perfectionist,” but that doesn’t mean I’m recovered.

I’m not too concerned that sometimes my alter-ego drives my thinking. Right now that pesky little voice has put me somewhere that I’m pretty confident about. I’m ready for this and its all because she used to tell me “not yet.” Maybe that’s the key to our dreams, maybe we need to be ready for the next step. It doesn’t mean give up. It does means continue learning and developing yourself, because with knowledge comes confidence. If life doesn’t seem to give you want you dream, keep trying, keep looking forward.

The force is with you

Several years ago, I took a class given by textile artist, Dottie Moore. I was immediately drawn to her spiritual interpretation of creativity. I noticed as she walked around the classroom meeting students that she would stop and ask them thought provoking questions. Her question to me was “What’s holding you back?”

Recently, I’ve been reminded of this question and it has me thinking. I’m moving forward on my path, setting goals and executing them. But, goodness it seems slow moving some days. What’s going on with that? Every now and then, it’s good to ask yourself questions like this. Do you have a good answer?

Sure, I could answer the question by laying blame on all the outside forces impacting my life. But really? If I wanted it bad enough, wouldn’t I just get to it? What really is really holding me back? The answer, to be honest, is … me.

That’s the key, you know. When we question what we think is holding us back, we’re likely to realize that its in own power to change the situation. AhHa! So there lies the magic of Dottie’s question. It’s like Star Wars and Luke Skywalker … “Luke, the force is with you.”

Fine-tuning

The past few weeks, I’ve been trying to fine-tune some techniques I’m using. Right now, I’m revisiting the Carolina Parakeets.

The attached photo shows the same quilt at different stages of the process. (If you click on the image you’ll get an enlarged view to see the details.)

With the image on the left, you see the fused fabric pieces and a little bit of coloring on the head/beak of the parakeet.

The bird on the right bird is completely colorized and has a sealer on it to keep it from smudging when handled.

When comparing the 2 images, look closely at the wing, tail feathers, and feet. The image on the right has more shading and definition. It doesn’t look so 2-dimensional. This is what I’ve been playing with.

I’m trying to make 2-dimensional applique look more like a painting. There are many different things I can use to accomplish this. Right now, my weapon of choice is colored pencils. There are limitations to using pencils on fabric, but there are also limitations to using pencils on paper. I’ll be experimenting with this process over the summer. I like where its going, so stay tuned, it still needs some fine-tuning.

Shoot for the moon

I’m working on some plans. There’s a check list of things to do. This year I really need to make a difference on how I approach my life and art. It’s somewhat scary to set out to rattle the cage, but that’s what I feel I need to do this year.

I’ve been living my life inside a bubble, but now it’s time to move outside that comfort zone. Someone recently advised me to focus on what gives me “fire in my belly.” Boy, do I understand that concept. Do you understand? It’s a feeling that something has ignited in your gut and there’s nothing that will stop you. Staying so focused requires a lot of energy. It’s easier to settle into the normal rut and lose motivation.

I want to prove a point this year, so my focus needs to remain fired up. I don’t want to lose momentum. I need to shoot for the moon.

What’s holding you back?

This month has turned out to be yet another busy one. I haven’t spent nearly enough time in my studio. I think I’m in a little bit of a “writer’s block.” This happens sometimes, even to the best of us. When it happens, I think we all can blame some of it on time. There just never seems to be enough of it. There are so many things I want to do (accomplish) this year and I feel the time slipping away.

Creative coach, Lesley Riley, sums it up well by stating, its not the time…its our priorities (read it here). When it comes to things we want to do, we’re actually choosing to make time … or not.

I realize I’m having mental blocks because of clutter. I just have too much creative “stuff” hanging around and its distracting me. Oddly enough, last week I received an email describing how our local Arts Council is collecting art supplies for the public school system. They report that there’s just not enough funding for the teachers to provide art supplies to their students. Lightbulb moment!

So here I was sitting, feeling a bit claustrophobic in my surroundings and I receive this epiphany. Just clean the room and donate the good, unnecessary things to the schools. I’m viewing this as a win-win in many ways.

1) I’m inspired to help the schools advance art education.
2) I’m clearing clutter from my life, so I don’t feel so burdened with stuff.
3) I’m not creating, but I’m still working with what I have. I’m getting rid of the dead weight and seeing what I have to use. What’s staying are things which inspire me and will be used for future projects.
4) Above all, I’m making it a point to “show-up” every day in my studio and do some work.

Showing up is half the battle to creating art. I’ve made the conscience effort to place more value on my time in the studio than other things in my life. Becoming aware of what’s holding me back is essential to changing habits. For me, I’ve realized that I have to show up every day, even if its only for an hour or 2. I’ll never reach my goals without that commitment. So what’s holding you back?

Where this road takes me

Four weeks from now, I will be hanging a show at the Arts Council of Moore County’s Campbell House Galleries. The exhibit entitled “Paper, Canvas, Cloth” features my work and that of 2 of my friends. We have known each other many years and we each have very different styles. Sharon who paints and draws is a classical realist. Marilyn paints in oils with a tonalist style. I am mixed-media art quilter. Although very different styles, I know our art will look good together because we share similar themes and color palettes.

This is a pivoting point for me. I’ve been in art exhibits before. I’ve been a featured artist in several local art galleries. But, I’ve never been in an art gallery show where I am featured with just 2 other artists who aren’t art quilters. It will be interesting to see how people view this exhibit. Will they consider what I do as art?

Because this exhibit is pivotal point for me, it makes me ask what’s next? What is the long range goal? Some decisions will be based on the reception I get in November, but more so, it is about what I plan to do personally to move forward.

Working to prepare for this show next month has given me time to process my feelings about what’s next. I know that there are exhibiting opportunities that I plan to apply for at the end of the year. I know I have a solo gallery show scheduled 2 years from now. But I also know I’m going to have let it all play out, because part of the challenge is affording to create the art.

When you exhibit, you have to hoard your work so you have enough to hang on the walls. If you’re hoarding, you can’t sell your work unless the owner is willing to give it back to you during the exhibit dates. But then, some galleries want all or a significant portion of your work for sale. Some exhibits want to keep your work for several years. There has to be a balance of making enough to sell and making enough to exhibit. I’m considering ways to streamline my processes, so I can make things faster.

What others have done is seek teaching and publishing opportunities. This is something I’m seriously considering. But, teaching and publishing also takes time away from making; another balancing act. For now my goal is to get this show hung, then use November and December to re-group and set the stage for what’s next. My plan is to start 2017 with boots to the ground, running. We’ll see where this road takes me.

Join me for:

“Paper, Canvas, Cloth”
November 4 – December 17, 2016
Campbell House Galleries, Southern Pines, NC
featuring the work of
Sharon Ferguson, Marilyn Vendemia, & Nanette S. Zeller