still at it - the Amazing Changing Canvas

before

after

If I were smart I could have planned this, but I realized only yesterday how I had all the right conditions for an easy fix ---- because I did the first several layers in acrylic and am now working in gouache, I was able to totally wash off a part I didn't like (it didn't help that I ran my arm through the wet lettering and tried to correct) Take a look at the writing in the upper right section - I like it so much better now! Though in the photos its hard to see why - hopefully when you see the entire piece finished it will be more apparent.
The plan is to have this done, stretched, and to the Art Bazaar - though it won't make it with my other things on  Monday to start getting my art up for the "Featured Artist for April" (waiting for stretcher bars to come). I've given up on one of the pieces I planned to finish but I think everything else is going to make it AND for the first time I've ordered some giclee prints of four pieces  to see if there is interest. Everything should be there before the reception on the 12th -- and there will be cookies!

Calligraphy in exhibit goes online

Art Exhibit goes online You can see the entire exhibit with great features for zooming in and out and moving around to see detail, so if you want to get a close look and read the lettering, here you are (click on the beginning phrase above). AND you can vote for your favorite...... You can see the whole exhibit or scan the bottom row or go alphabetically till "Joan Merrell" for the piece entitled "All Things Denote There is a God"

The background was done with a technique learned in a Randall Hasson workshop at a calligraphy conference using watered down acrylics and unevenly applied medium. The writing is acrylic inks - often watered down or blotted off -  and gouache and some colored pencil. The gouache was sturdier than I expected through many rollings and unrollings of the canvas.  The bottom writing on the water was washed off and redone a couple of times - and unanticipated bonus of finding gouache easier to handle writing over acrylic. Most of the writing was done with metal pen nibs. The writing all around the edge was added in by tracing it on with Saral transfer paper after working it out in pencil, and then using colored pencil plus more watery paints around it to help it stand out.

Purchase Award!

Not only did this piece make it through the final judging, it received a purchase award.

http://letterdesignstudio.blogspot.com/2012/02/just-heard-passed-2nd-round-of-judging.html

attending the awards ceremony and opening has delayed finally getting the next casting tutorial posted - of course, having my two granddaughters in the same part of the country has nothing to do with it.

Fiber Exhibit at Capital Arts

Today I took four pieces and some pins to the Capital Arts gallery for their annual fiber exhibit - "Weave a Vision" is the name (I think!) and it will be up until early April. As usual, I was rushing to get everything done and framed - I had to cannibalize another frame because somehow my box of d-rings to hold the wire on the back had an uneven number left and I was short one.
If I ever make big bucks, the first thing I'll do (after getting an accountant) is hire someone to do the framing.

My very favorite was the "Garden" piece that only got finished today -

I gave up on finding a title for the rather wild round one, made by putting silk "fusion" over basket reed. It's definitely colorful.

One piece is "pulp painting" with added pieces of cast paper plus writing with pens and gold foil - art that has been on display in St. Louis that I retrieved last Saturday.

Then there's a smaller silk one that is squares within squares, and a batch of silk pins.

Whew!
Now I can get on to other things - like catching up on the casting tutorials and back to finishing pieces for the Art Bazaar "Featured Artist" display coming up. I'm getting better at achieving the results I want with the silk fusion and having fun mixing it with paper casting. Some of the silk "tiles" I did to look quilt-like may end up in a piece that's more like Frank Lloyd Wright stained glass design - whichever way ti turns out, it will be at the Art Bazaar in  April.

So, if you are in Jefferson City, head over to Capital Arts and see the fiber art! Reception is Sunday March 10, 1-4 p.m. if you want to meet artists (though I probably won't be there - but I will be at the reception and awards ceremony for the International Church Art Competition in Salt Lake City on March 16)