Thursday, September 30, 2010

I'm Putting it on Paper


I think I may have given the impression that I'm into paper lately. I am.


I'm loving the texture of vintage papers. Unless I am working with a huge piece of paper, which is very rare, I prepare the paper for additional elements by applying matte medium with my fingers.



Not all of the paper I work with is vintage. I'll use whatever I have on hand. Above is a sheet of printer paper. The squares are from a vintage textbook, though.


This photo shows one of my favorite papers -- used, brown paper bags. I get great ones from the liquor store (ha ha). They are thinner and crinklier than grocery bags.

I'm trying to work with these bits and pieces without an end product in mind, but that is so hard for me. Three pieces have been "completed". I have no idea whether they will end up on Etsy or if they will just hang around for further inspiration (or as guidelines for what NOT to do).

It is a dark and stormy day. The paper in the studio is calling. So are the paints, brushes, stamps and glue.

Monday, September 27, 2010

Put it on Paper

Here's a small gathering of art links. These fave new artists of mine draw, paint, glue and stitch on paper.

Have a look if you have the time!


Missouri Bend Studio

Cerulean

Artsyville


Coffee break is over and I'm headed back into the studio to play with paper.

Friday, September 24, 2010

Things I've Done Instead of Creating

So far today, I have:


eaten all chocolate in the house

read blogs

watched YouTube videos

cleaned rancid gunk out of the disposal

escorted bugs out of my house

fed child a ham sandwich for breakfast

dressed myself inappropriately for the weather

stepped over things in my way (laundry basket, large dust bunnies, boxes and bags)

wished for things

hoped for things

sat on my butt

craved more chocolate

looked for my motivation button

wondered if I should have a chocolate milkshake for lunch

sighed that I have wasted time

dreaded running errands

been irritated about my empty wallet


Now, I'm off to the studio to be incredibly creative. Until it is time to run errands, of course.

**UPDATE** Now I can add that I've thrown away this weeks failed experiments. That's progress, right?

Monday, September 20, 2010

My Favorite Season

No more dragging the dog (and myself) through the cloying heat, looking straight ahead to the end of the walk, desperate for a glass of water.


The Sages I, 9 x 9" © 2008 Kim Hambric

Now I can look up at the leaves taking on color against the (more frequently) blue sky. Looking down, I see the last of the pink and purple summer petals scattered among the newly fallen leaves. Yeah, so they are mostly coming from the sick maples this early in the season. I'll have to enjoy them while I can, before the trucks and men with saws come and take them away forever.


Spice Route III, 16 x 16" © 2008 Kim Hambric

It's time to visit the farmers' market and buy apples in brown paper bags. Hopefully those bags will find their way into some new artwork soon. I've developed quite a think for brown paper bags.


Thanksgiving House III, 15 x 10", © 2009 Kim Hambric

I'm hoping that the fresh air and harvest colors will whip up my creative energy.

Thanks to all of you who commented on my last post. Hope I didn't come off as arrogant, implying that all artwork had to have vast depths of meaning to avoid being a worthless piece of poo. I'm trying to discover the reason(s) behind my latest slump. I know I am lucky to be able to even entertain a slump for any length of time. This one is a long one, though.

What do you do when trying to crawl out of a slump?

Thursday, September 16, 2010

What's the Meaning of All This?

I just watched a YouTube video of an abstract artist at work. Lots of interesting techniques -- paint spread over huge boards with huge metal spreaders (can't think of a better word). Thin paint splooshed on over artwork. Artwork tilted so paint runs and spreads. Random dabs of paint. More paint spreading.

Voila! Art! While I did enjoy the video and enjoy looking at the artwork, I think that my enjoyment would be short-lived if I had to live with the artwork.

I could not see the meaning behind the piece. Yes, I'm sure the artist enjoyed making it, and from what I can tell, his artwork sells. A photo of a restaurant displaying his work was included.

Hubby and I went to close on our home refinancing the other day. Lawyer's office. Lots of "corporate" art. Hubby suggests I think about this approach to art. Other than an "arrangement" of splotches of color, I could see no meaning behind the work. I guess that in a corporate environment, it is best to avoid meaning in artwork, lest someone be offended.

Something is missing. Meaning, context, story, love, hate, some kind of emotion. Is it just me, or do others want something from their art? I must say that I don't care for art that displays blood, gore, violence, etc. But, there's gotta be something. I've got to connect. Apparently, there is no need to connect with corporate art. Its just there to look pretty as you pass by the lobby,sit in the conference room to sign a few papers, or wait for an empty table.

I don't want to just throw some art materials at a surface, hope something sticks, sell it, and do it again and again. Or do I?

I sure would like to make some money.

What are you looking for in art? What draws you to a piece? What makes you want to own it or visit it over and over again in a museum? If you are an artist, what makes you want to create something?

Help me here. I'm looking for meaning.

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Messin' with the Tooth Fairy

My daughter lost her 2nd top front tooth Sunday while at a friend’s house. We lovingly put it into a baggie and transferred it to a tooth-fairy-appropriate envelope when we got home.

In the past, when a tooth was lost, my daughter would place it in a hand-colored envelope and put it on her bedside table for the tooth fairy. A small pile of money in its place would greet her upon waking. Easy peasy for the “tooth fairy”.

Questions have been asked lately about the reality of the tooth fairy. We try to avoid lying at all costs in our house, but Santa and the tooth fairy still exist here. Barely.

This time the young one wanted to make it a bit difficult for the tooth fairy. She asked what would happen if she shoved the envelope down inside her pillowcase with her nightgown shoved in next to it to block the opening. We told her the tooth fairy might just not be strong enough to get to it.

Indeed not. The tooth fairy left a note, written in a lovely fairy hand, wondering where the tooth was. My daughter was disappointed.

Last night, she promised to put the tooth under her pillow. When I tucked her in, she had placed the envelope close to the left side of her pillow, and the note, with questions, (Where did you get the pen and paper? How does a fairy write? Does the tooth fairy like to be tricked?) close to the right side of her pillow.

At 10:00, tooth fairy A (me) goes in for the envelope and letter. They have now been shoved further under the pillow, right under her head. My small hand now feels like a meaty fist as it lifts and bobs her head with great ferocity. I grope and twist and wrench. Finally I have all the goods. Amazingly, the child does not stir.

I give the note to tooth fairy B (hubby) and he supplies the answers to the questions (downstairs, like this, no). He places the note and money on her bedside table.

This morning, I wake the child and pretend to check under her pillow (knowing full well that the loot and note are next to her bed). The money is under the pillow and the note is gone. Later, child looks under her covers at the bottom of her bed and pulls out the note. The sneaky beast is waiting for me to say that can't be right because Daddy has put it on her table.

I hope some stinkin’ kid at school tells her the truth about the tooth fairy. She’s got some interesting plans about where to hide the next tooth and I just can't deal with it.

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Thinking

My favorites kind of people are the ones that think before they do.

I'm going to do some thinking. If that goes well, I'm going to do some doing.

I may or may not let you know how that goes.

Anyway, off to think.

Friday, September 3, 2010

Journey

I have chosen journey.

These past several weeks, I have cleaned, watched YouTube videos (intellectual ones, of course), done laundry, piddled and paced.

I have avoided the studio like the plague.

Several times I have forced myself into the studio. I've piddled and paced and run back downstairs to watch more intellectual YouTube videos.

Slowly, bit by bit, and piece by piece, experiments have been tried. The failure rate was high in proportion to the amount of time spent in the studio.

This week, I've been just a tad less reluctant to get into the studio. More experiments have been tried. Less have failed. There has been a success or two (actually three).

As I left the studio just a minute ago, I was thinking that I wouldn't have the opportunity to return until Tuesday. That thought saddened me. Then I realized that I had enjoyed my time in the studio today.

I have decided on the journey rather than the destination. For now.

Thanks to all of you who have sent me positive comments. I especially appreciate those who have sent me encouraging emails.

Soon I will share some photos. Not that they will show any completed pieces. They may show bits bound for the garbage, but that's better than nothing, huh?

Have a great holiday weekend!