|
Like AWB sings in School Boy Crush, I was "just out walking," getting some fresh air and exercise. The other reason was to get to know my new, refurbished camera, a necessary tool for visual artists. It is 84 degrees and 9:30 a.m. By the time I get going, it's nearly 90 degrees. Mask on and sweating, I make my way to Riverfront Park along the Monongahela River. Funny thing about sunshine and breezes, the 90 degrees part of the equation is not a hindrance, rather a blessing. People all over the world are sick, some dying or dead. No complaints from me. I walk for them. The following is a photo and video journal of my morning walk.  On the path.
This first image is a mistake, the camera did its job as it swung around my neck. I forgot to turn it off and this is a picture of the path I walked. Mistakes can be good things. Like Miles said, "There are no mistakes, just new music."
This little bird allowed me to take its picture. Then suddenly turned in the other direction so I could get that side too.
Texture and color theory. The first is a close up of a huge boulder situated along the path. The second is the same boulder where someone spay painted across the bottom, lines of pink.
Lots of shades of green and majestic trees along the Monongahela River. And then bursts of fushcia.
Next came geese walking. Time to sit, relax, reflect. Pardon my shaky hands.
Since I began with AWB, here's School Boy Crush. Back in the day I knew the number to this song on the jukebox at the bar. Here's to relaxation and good times. Listen with earphones so you can hear the baseline. Enjoy!
0 Comments
 Underwater, detail Remember finger painting, how much fun that was? So messy and rewarding at the same time. Why is it that when we become a certain age, we stop needing to be messy. I was reading one of my art journals yesterday, looking for inspiration and came across this quotation by the painter, Howard Ikemoto. He said, "When my daughter was about seven years old, she asked me one day what I did at work. I told her I worked at the college -- that my job was to teach people how to draw. She stared at me, incredulous, and said, You mean they forget?"  Horse, by Howard Ikomoto Saturday, I was out walking and decided to visit the Goodwill store by my house. I found canvas boards, new ones and at a much cheaper price than regular art suppliers. Thinking of Mr. Ikemoto's daughter, I decided to get messy. I never could draw, but what about the feel of a brush in my fingers, letting the paint become an extension of my good mood. Here's the result that I titled Underwater. Underwater: canvas, acrylic paint, glitter, embroidery thread, chain stitch This is art as therapy. Try your hand. There are no mistakes or rules, only paint, a surface, your hands and heart. The first one will probably feel a little tentative, but then watch how you feel the next time you try.
Here’s to happiness! #ArtAsTherapy  Free style quilting allows the quilter to relax and sew. There are no preconceived notions about block construction. You simply reach into the basket, pull out the next piece of fabric and attach it to another piece of fabric. Before long the design wall is filled with interesting and delightful blocks, colors and textures playing nice. For this quilt and others like it, after your design wall is filled with your blocks, start to rearrange them. See where the quilt is taking you. After several weeks of piecing and finally arranging and rearranging quilt blocks, one block emerged as the spokesperson, displayed a window motif, hence this quilt's name, Golden Window.  When I was piecing this quilt, I watched a documentary about the great jazz musician, Sonny Rollins, titled Beyond the Notes. Mr. Rollins said something about horn, without the words and I thought, quilt without fancy technique. Simple movement through color, shape, lines, texture and thread. In this same documentary, the bassist, Christian McBride, said improvisation is the genius that allows for music composition on the spot, while the thing is going on. He also said, "Learn everything you can about playing jazz and then forget it." That's how I feel about quilting. Learn everything and then have fun. Those techniques are your foundation, your toolbox to pick, choose or discard as the need arises. We needn't be overburdened by doing something "right," as opposed to doing what feels "right." The Golden Window  This quilt and it's fabric may look familiar. They were born from the same scrap basket. See Golden Window's sister quilt, Bit of Raspberry. Thanks for stopping by and happy creating! |
AboutThis is a blog about how we make things. 
cathleen margaret
Categories
All
Archives
October 2020
|
RSS Feed