I'm Beat

A non-art thought, but occasionally that happens, even to me:

The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not.    Thomas Jefferson

discuss. 

Two art related findings I found interesting:

An artist is an explorer. He has to begin by self-discovery and by observation of his own procedures. After that he must not feel under any constraint.    Henri Matisse

 Joanne Mattera on how she sees no reason to 'adjective-ize' artists.  Very interesting blog, but be sure to read the comments too.  

Had a busy two full days in the studio-  first hunting for my little blue 'Bridges' book that has completely disappeared off the face of the earth.  I am so bummed, was planning on an entry but I guess that is not going to happen.  My other books wouldn't be eligible for one reason or another.  I am completely beflumoxed as to how it could just disappear.

Yesterday I had my picture taken and interview done for a real estate newsletter that will be going out on a monthly basis-  I AM the maiden voyage apparently.  Since it was for real estate, it was more about why I picked this space rather than my actual work, oh well.  Maybe someone will possibly stop by to say howdy, and buy something-  seems to be how it's working lately, not a bad plan.  Anyway, I had cleaned up some of the piles so the photographer could fold himself into the place-  a very tall kid!  And balked when they wanted to take a picture from below me looking up, not a very good angle for anyone not on a cruise ship leaving port.  As soon as they left I started setting up for today's marbelizing marathon with Beverly.  I had already soaked the 10 yards of fabric in alum, but it needed pressing, then I needed to make the swimming pool noodles into shallow baths for the methyl cel.  It took a roll of tape and then I had to get into the duct tape to attach them to the table.

The newly purchased Pool Noodles

The two trays set up and ready with the cut up pool noodles (which, by the way, are hard to find 'out of season'!)

Fabric dripping off it's alum soak

And I noticed my table is bowing in the center so I will have to roll the supports closer together (someday... After I get the weight of the loaded trays off!  10 gallons of goop is heavy.)


I sorted my paints, I laid out more tools and supplies, I jeri-rigged a clothesline across the whole room, I took down the blocked scarves from my other friend and folded them up, I moved piles, I moved quilt logs, I cleared chairs-  this stuff took all friggin day, I got home at 6 PM and was in bed at 8.   Geesh, I used to do this without blinking!

An array of new and old acrylics in differing states of usability

(some were with me in college-  those are the metal tubes!)

Today I was at WalMart bright and early buying a $10 coffee maker to heat water.  They didn't have a tabletop burner, they didn't have an electric kettle, they didn't have an imersion heater, and they didn't have a party size coffee maker-  I couldn't believe it, but the cheapo coffee maker worked fine and actually it took 2 gallons of tap water to cool down the 12 cup capacity hot water to room temp.  I arrived in time to disassemble my tool bucket to use it to mix 5 gallons of methyl cel.  Beverly arrived with her stuff and we prepped for a very long time and she gave me tips as we set it all up. She has taken classes with Elin Noble up at Pro Chem and knows the drill.  And thanks so much for Elin's knowledge being sent to me through Beverly, a tireless and enthusiastic---and PATIENT--- teacher!   

Over filled clothes line

Dripping mess to clean up later

The space worked well, we had everything we needed plus lots more, but our pieces were unpredictable-  many of the paints wouldn't work in my tray but did work in hers or vice versa.  She spent most of her time trouble shooting while I just went at it willy nilly (see above quote), and still we never arrived at a conclusion of what was going wrong.  At one point we even started over with a new mix of methyl cel but we didn't see much real difference.  But in the end we each got maybe 6 pieces, and working large was fun.  Actually it was necessary to have two of us to handle the larger fabric so it won't be something I do alone at that size.

This is what I ended up with, all are about 24" square, some a bit more 'attractive' than others but I have enough experience to know by now that the ones I like the most are the least usable and the yuk ones are probably what are 'most likely to succeed'.  Note:  Beverly's are much more interesting, subtle, and nuanced.

It got to be almost 5 PM and I had to be out to dinner at 5:45 so it was all called to a halt, the mess was abandoned, and away we went!  Will deal with the clean-up tomorrow.  Ugh.










I just can't stay away!  When I got home there were two boxes waiting for me, one from Deanna, who makes these cool little birds:

And one from eBay where I found a teapot to match all my tomato stuff I had no intention of collecting! I just love the color and keep finding more of it.  However, when I unwrapped the bubble wrap an overwhelming odor of smoke hit me.  I simply can't believe that the smell attached itself to ceramic and plastic and traveled from Arizona to Florida!  Stuck it right into the dishwasher and threw out the box 

and now it's fine, but wow, what a revelation!  Now I know why people claim 'smoke free house'.

                                                      

Ok, I will go away now.   S