Weavings at Allied Arts

The Desert Fiber Arts show at Allied Arts, Richland, is one of my favorite shows.  So much lusciousness. I love seeing Agent Carter again, Patti, and Schweitzer is absolutely breathtaking.  

Tapestry Loom, dressed in Winter White

Tapestry Loom, dressed in winter white!

Partially dressed Tapestry Loom, waiting for it's first half pass of the Cherry Blossoms/Enso design.
Sett at 8 ends per inch and woven with ALV Norwegian wool and USA milled wools.
11"w x 14"h woven
Weaving tapestry is Zen like, a daily ritual that cannot be rushed.
Patti Kirch

Water Color Sketching

 5x7 Water color sketch on Fabriano ex white 140 lb.
 Jan 1st

Sketched from a photo of a stained glass section @ Sainte-Chapelle

5x7 Water color sketch & ink on Fabriano ex white 140 lb.

Jan 2nd

Sketched from a photo taken at The Gorge White House cutting garden 

I have been desperate to pick up my brushes and do something, anything since Thanksgiving.  I believe I have cooked the last meal for the holiday season last night! Phew!  Now that family and friends have retreated for the moment I am back in my studio but with just enough creative energy to play with little bits of color on little bits of paper.  I am glad even this meager display of unction was a result of my resolve encouraged and supported by this page and this yearly activity that may or may not keep me going every day but definitely gets my butt in gear again for the new year.  I have lots of paintings to complete from a summer of plein air attempts.  So most likely that will be my first main focus.  For now though I will get my creative spirit re- lit by playing with water and color. 

What is Black and White and Red all over?

Cherry Blossom and Enso
Water Colour and India Ink
Bamboo Brush and Water
Simplistic

White Elephant Journal for a White Elephant gift exchange
I used bees waxed hemp for the coptic binding and braided closure. The journal on the right is for mammoth and or small ideas, filled with 5 bundles of engineering paper and the journal on the left, a combination of 140# watercolor and hemp papers.
Bobi,
Thank you, for the Art a Day blog opportunity, Patti Kirch.

I did a painting of a chicken today.  This is the Chinese year of the rooster as was the year I was born. I wished every on a Happy Clucking New Year.  Wish I could post the picture.  It is on my facebook.

Happy New Year

I love that the calendar rolls around eventually and gives us another chance to renew all those good intentions. Looking forward to seeing all of your beautiful works and becoming inspired. - Tracy

Mandala painting in ink and watercolor by Tracy Horner

Welcome to our 9th Annual Art-a- Day event!

I'm super excited to get to the studio everyday this month and make sh*t!

Let's do this thing!!

A snip from my Astrolabe 2015

Schweitzer Mountain Sunrise, tapestry

Schweitzer Mountain Sunrise
Hand woven Tapestry
16.5" H x 45.5" W
May 2015
Patti Kirch

Outcome goals are difficult to accomplish because they tend to have factors that are not solely in one's control.  Layne Goldsmith, a University of Washington Professor of Art and Design was the juror and selected 36 tapestries, including the above piece, for the Pacific Time Zone tapestry show.
The show will be in Corvallis, Oregon
August 18th - September 20th, 2016
The artists must live in the Pacific Time Zone, including Mexico and British Columbia.
TAPS, ( Tapestry Artists of Puget Sound) is the sponsor organization.
My personal goal was a stretch but I completed weaving Schweitzer Mountain Sunrise by one of my daughter's May 2015 graduation.
This view was so inspiring, 6:20 Christmas morning, apricot to azure, I had to weave it!

The Altered Page: Purge or Splurge

The Altered Page: Purge or Splurge
Recently I had a major "art emergency"! From my outside hose spigot, water leaked into my art studio and adjacent kitchen causing a lot of damage. Antique and vintage books got wet! Since I hoard art supplies and ephemera, this has force me to clean up, organize (dirty word to me) and purge. After its all over and I have a new "wood" floor, it will be worth it.

Tea, Books, Henna, Lotus Flowers and Barracuda

Hey guys!!!

I hope this year is going well and folks are continuing to create art even after January's Art-a-day challenge. This is what I have been working on!

If you live in the Tri-Cities you can go check out my henna and lotus flower inspired tea artwork at Barracuda Coffee in Richland. I am really excited about how the large piece turned out... The work will be up Through March and into early Aprily (dates TBD).

Feel free to watch the video below (or if you want to watch it on YouTube and subscribe to see more of my art click here.)

Makerspace in Tri-Cities!

The Confluent Space recently had their big grand opening and Red Show Art Exhibition. There were over 30 artists involved in the event and I think it's safe to say that we all had a fantastic time. It is a beautiful thing when hard work pays off and artists come together to make the world and our city a better place.

This video shares some of the ways that the arts community in the Tri-Cities, Washington was able to have fun and share what they do.

Pugs completed at last.

Finally. I'm satisfied. 

Tapestry Scroll, Hanafubuki and Tea for Two

Tapestry Scroll of a Hanafubuki event while sharing a cup of tea, delightful weaving in the month of January indeed!

A cherry blossom landing in one's cup of tea is good luck!  

Hana is a cherry blossom and fubuki is a snow blizzard.
Hanafubuki event is a Cherry Blossom Blizzard!

Tapestry Scroll, Hanafubuki and Tea for Two,  5 3/4" x 33"
Bobi, thank you again for this great challenge during our mostly grey sky January, mine was swirling with Cherry Blossoms while sipping aromatic tea.
Patti Kirch

With Gratitude and Appreciation...

Thank You! for your posts, your work, your sharing.  It is such an honor and pleasure to witness each unique process, share the ride and experience your wonderful art.  

Clearly it hasn't been a 'making' or posting month for me. What's typically my quiet time of year has been jam-packed so my appreciation for all of you who have contributed, commented, encouraged and kept this community going is huge.  Huge.  Thank you. 

I'm hoping for more time in the studio and making in February  - and maybe even posting.  The blog doors remain open - feel free stop by and hang out!

 

joy in all things,

Bobi

   

Pugs progression.

Pugs. Think I'm almost done. 

  

Compote heart in process

Thus far...

The picture shows the parent materials up top.  And both front and back (inset) so far.   I flatten a piece of the very thin, crinkly base then soldered it to a piece of side trim (also flattened), then cut out the heart shape.

Both of them are very thin so I soldered a piece of the hammered bowl to the back to give it some stability.

It has potential to become a fun, bohemian piece but pretty ho-hum so far (bo-ho-hum?). My only ideas of added wire and rivets are pretty boring too.

This is from yesterday.  I hope to get to the studio yet tonight and have a wild and crazy idea take hold.

Progress

Pugs are coming along slowly. Will probably finish today or tomorrow. 

sketching Paris

I attempted to sketch another Paris building - hubby took this photo of the Paris Opera House.  My first dome attempt :)

source photo

There's a lot going on in this photo so I did some editing - also wanted to begin to use shadows and introduce some of the darkest darks.

And then, for something different, I tried a quicker sketch and simpler subject (except for the cars).

source photo

We walked home to our rental apartment many days on this street - the beginning of fall in Paris. Again added color with my Inktense watercolor pencils and a water brush.

Thanks for checking in - Bobi, thanks again for reminding and including me - it's a great way to start the new year!

The cat, adjusted

I am so grateful with the inputs from Chris, Bobi, and my teacher, Yichien, so here is the cat peeking out.

Helping out in a time of need

The music teacher at Scott's school was trying to reformat her student's wonderful art by copying and literally cutting and arranging components on a photocopier to make a poster.  Poor babe was about to pull her hair out trying to align things and find space for words and sponsors.

I'm not a graphic artist but  even rudimentary photoshop skills are 100 times, ...no 1000 times easier than photocopying.

The young artist is rightfully proud.