Making Marks

Inspiration - Beryl Taylor

Some ideas and images linger in my mind long after I initially see them.  Mixed Media Explorations: Blending Paper, Fabric and Embellishment to Create Inspired Designs by Beryl Taylor is a terrific example of one of those books. While her color schemes are drastically different from what I choose, she employs gorgeous layers of colors and texture that continue to provide me with inspiration.

Additionally, I can readily see how her techniques on fabric can be applied to a variety of other media. Her concept of joining many small pieces to make one larger piece is not new. However, her generous use of rich materials, often embedded with skilled embroidery stitches, creates sumptuous depth. I'm inspired to think about how that might work with the small grid-type collages I've recently been doing.

Aside from terrific projects and images included throughout the book, I'm jealous of the guild she was a part of in England. Too often ideas are quickly chewed up and discarded by contemporary crafters. Sticking with a concept, medium or technique for an extended period is an idea whose time has come. Take a look and see if you agree.

Before and After

Not all of my work survives the test of time.  The image here is a revision of a piece I made in November. A few months ago, I was working on making "more interesting" backgrounds, but the original background just looked chaotic and confusing. Of course the piece didn't sell, so I brought it home and re-made the background. I think this one works better because there is both interest and harmony. The music adds texture without being overwhelming.

The purple bird piece also received a make-over. The original background was very dark. While the  contrast made the bird stand out, the overall feel was disconcertingly dark. I think this revision allows for the bird to remain the focal point, but the background is now more engaging.

Since I really enjoy the process of making art, revisions aren't usually distressing to me. I almost always like the second version better, and I get positive feedback from others regarding the changes. I liken this to the writing process I teach my students. The first, second and sometimes even the third draft still needs improvement. I know that artists through the ages over painted their work that didn't stand the test of time; why should I be any different? 

Live well, Laugh often, Love much

It's easy to get bogged down in the drudgery of life such as tending to chores, visiting the dentist and sorting through frustrations at work. The complications of life are present in so many days. At home they can be vicariously lived through soap operas and reality tv, which capitalize on the basic human interest in daily "drama". Sometimes the human condition is entertaining, but the less pleasant facets of life can be exceedingly draining if I'm personally involved.

The quality of life is found in living well. I try to find joy in daily life: my husband and sharing our lives, friends and jokes, color and texture. These moments are easily lost in the day, so I have to pay close attention to capture the joy. (I've found it's better for me to pay attention on a daily basis than rely on memories.)

Once place I've found it's more likely to live well is when I'm creating. I often feel satisfied (if only for a moment) when I see parts of a collage unify into a whole piece or when an unexpected color combination really sings. These moments help explain why I am compelled to create and why a few days without some artistic activity leave me feeling cranky or out-of-sorts. Art helps me live well.

That's Clever!

I'll be on tv this month (Feb. 16th at 1:00 on HGTV) demonstrating how to make the clock on the right. This program was taped in April 2006, so it seems like old news to me. I think the best part is that I've gained a lot of perspective since then, so the story now seems less traumatic than last year.

Applying to be on That's Clever seemed like a great idea at the time. I figured it would be some work; however, I'd taught classes before, and I knew how to make clear instructions. Also, the segments are pretty short (5-6 minutes), so how difficult could this be? With that logic in mind, I applied to do two segments, a main one and the short one they show at the end of the program.

My first contact was with a pre-program taping gal who wanted me to basically change the whole design of the project I sent in. I had made a clock with an orange-burgundy-ochre color scheme using daisies. Mostly it was an assemblage project, putting the different pieces together. She thought that was too simple, so she wanted me to dry my own flowers, perhaps something from my garden. (We have deer. Enough said.) She also wanted me to change the text (punched out into diamond shapes) from a dictionary page to my own poetry. (When did I become a poet!?)

Because it was February in Oregon, I had to figure out what kind of flowers I could 1. find to make a "hero" clock (the clock that is done and ready to go so there is  something to show at the end in case the in-progress clock is very messed up) and  2. would also be available whenever they showed up to do the taping. I decided on hydrangea flowers, which completely changed the color scheme of the project. I had to get a device to dry the flowers (a Microfleur) and figure out how to dry hydrangea. Taping a segment had started to turn into a full-time occupation.

My next contact was with a gal who would actually be coming to the house to tape. In our first phone call, she directed me to create "step out" samples for each step of the clock making. I'm sure she'd had plenty of experience with crafters who really didn't estimate well, so even when I told her the paint would dry in 5-10 minutes, she insisted I have a sample with dried paint. That means I had 5 clocks in various stages of completion. Now the project was getting labor-intensive and a little costly.

Two days before the taping, the step-out gal and the producer visited our house to scout the location. I'm sure this was also to confirm I was a real person and wasn't going to beg off at the last minute. The step-out gal had me show her all of my in-progress clocks and explain the steps. The producer wandered around our house while I was trying to communicate the steps. He wanted to know why the gumball machine wouldn't work for him.

The next day the producer and step-out gal arrived with a camera guy and a sound guy. They took over our kitchen with lighting and rearranged most of the furniture in our kitchen and dining room. It was a super-intense day (from 3-9pm) filled with a little drama and a whole lot of smiling. I didn't realize that each clip needs a few seconds before and after a shot for the editors to "grab" when splicing tape. I ran on adrenaline for at least three hours and collapsed when they left.

My last contact was with the web gal who posts directions for the show. She had seen the tape and was asking me about directions that didn't make sense with the clip. Since it had been almost a year, I told her to make whatever changes she thought were necessary. My fingers are crossed! I decided to quit being a chicken and tell people the show will be on Feb 16th at 1:00 on HGTV. I hope I don't regret it!