THE WORLD IS ON YOUR SIDE

BATIK - EXPECTACLE

 
 

  

This is the sketch for this design, EXPECTACLE.  I deconstructed this mandala drawing that I did and reassembled it into this more linear and geometric design.  I would love to see this in a fabric or as carpet! It would look really beautiful in black and white.

 

GRAPHIC GODDESS - A BATIK FOR MY GRAPHIC DESIGNER

I call my graphic designer, Sara Sjol, my Graphic Goddess because she has gone above and beyond the call of duty for me and Urban Bird for many, many years.  She is also astoundingly talented.  She has the most clever ideas and freely shares them with me. 

One of her ideas was to name my batik designs after friends and people that I would like to honor and thank - Sara being at the top of my list.  So I am calling this new design that I created for her kitchen window "Graphic Goddess" to honor and thank her for her continued enthusiasm and support of my work.  I credit her a great deal with any success that I may have. Thank you Sara!

"GRAPHIC GODDESS"

Close up.

This is before I have ironed out all the wax. 

This has the first two colors done. You can see that each square is surrounded by wax which keeps each color in its square becuause the dye is acting as a resist. As I add each color I cover it in wax to keep any further dye from getting in that area.  Eventually the whole piece is covered in wax, like you see above. I remove the wax by soaking it up into newspaper with an iron.

BATIK - GOOD POINT

FINALLY GOT GOOD PICS OF CARRIE'S CURTAINS

My friend Carrie commissioned me to make these curtains for her office last year.  Her office isn't big enough for me to photograph all of the panels in one shot.  So I finally picked them up and got some shots in my loft. 

 I enjoyed having them in my house for a while.  When I walked into the living room first thing this morning it felt so different. They cast a totally different light than my usual orangy-yellow curtains.  You can't underestimate the power of color and light and how it affects your experience in a space.

BATIK - SPACE BLOSSOMS

  

 

MAYOR AT MANOR OF ART

Here is a link to a video of Mayor Sam Adams at the Manor of Art show. You can see me in the window behind the mayor when he is addressing the crowd in the courtyard!

BATIK - BUTTERCUP

 

 

 

  

THE END OF THE OVER-ENGINEERING ERA

Here is part of my artist statement from the Manor of Art show that I just did........

There is part of my process that is intentional.  If I batik a flower or a pattern and make it blue or purple, that is my intention.  The paper that lies underneath that pattern or flower soaks up the dye from the paper above it and creates something abstract and unintentional.  Often, I find the unintentional part is the best part.

This is how I find life to be.  I manifest and create in all different areas of my life with great intention.  It is when I allow for it and stay in the moment that the universe responds with people, places, events and opportunities better than I imagine for myself.  I call that magic.

Something that I have been working on is not over-engineering things and trying to control them, especially as it relates to the creative process.  I want to know where it's going, how much it will cost, what I'll call it, who will buy it, how I'll make more - all before I even start!  I figured out a while ago that this approach to creating was no longer serving me.  I had to start the creative process from a much more organic place.  A spontaneous place where the exact perfect idea comes to me at the exact perfect time, which only happens when you are in the now and not trying to control things.

This has been my creative practice most recently, to create spontaneously and let go of my controlling tendencies. With only a few weeks to prepare for the Manor of Art show I was able to put my practice to the test. This was one of the first times I allowed  myself to create exactly what I wanted to see and make the space feel how I wanted it to feel.  I didn't put expectations on the outcome, or selling anything.  It was successful from the start because I created from an organic place without attaching to any outcome. My practice paid off!

Well.......Back to the artist statement where it says  "It is when I allow for it and stay in the moment that the universe responds with people, places, events and opportunities better than I imagine for myself.  I call that magic."  I didn't sell anything at the show but I did have the perfect person approach me with the perfect opportunity that is absolutely better than anything I had imagined for myself. 

I will share more about what I am working on next as it develops.  Right now I want to share this story with you about how letting go and allowing served me in the most amazing way. My creativity isn't engineered in my head it is in each moment that I allow it. Magic happens.

 

MANOR OF ART SHOW UTUBE VIDEO

Here is a link to a utube video where I explain I explain a little about the batik process at the MANOR OF ART show.  Thanks Stephanie and Angelo for shooting and posting this!

MANOR OF ART

Well this is it!  This is what I have been working on for the past month.  You can see this body of work through August 24th at THE MANOR OF ART show.  It is worth going just to see the strange building the show is in!

You have to imagine the 18' x 12' room filled with the sounds of my Sharper Image sound machine set to the everglades.....crickets chirping........and the aroma of clary sage enlivening the room and creating a peaceful, healing atmosphere. 

You can click on the images to see them bigger.