Tips, Thoughts and Techniques:
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| Sunrise Abstraction 2017 |
It is important to work in a series. Is it? Really? If so, what constitutes a series? This maxim, stated as unequivocal fact by many has haunted me for years. For someone who is rule driven by inclination, my art is one of the few places where I do what I want and not what I think I should be doing.
There are very brief times when I work in a series. I am much more likely to flit from idea to idea or technique to technique, to whatever feels compelling at the moment. I do return to certain themes and techniques. Rather than a clear linear trajectory of work, I would say my work, if graphed would look more like a spider web, with connecting spokes and ever expanding categories of work.
This week's obsession is Sunrise Abstraction 2017. I have made half a dozen other works featuring sunrises over the past few years. The construction methods, palette, and techniques used are varied. This one features a palette I have nicknamed HoJo's. For those of you reading who are younger than me and/or leave outside the US, HoJo's is shorthand for a chain of restaurants called Howard Johnson's. They were easily recognizable by their orange roofs with turquoise spires .
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| The moon block from Sunrise Abstraction 2017 |
Next week's obsession is likely to remain Sunrise Abstraction 2017. If I get a hankering to do something else, I have a few other studio projects to turn my attention to:
1) Finish piecing Sunrise Abstraction 2017
2) Finish WIPs (Works in Progress)
3) Pot(s) made this week
4) Free motion quilting practice
I am now linking up to two blogs on Fridays. The first is Nina Marie's Off the Wall Fridays and the second is Free Motion Mavericks.
I am now linking up to two blogs on Fridays. The first is Nina Marie's Off the Wall Fridays and the second is Free Motion Mavericks.
Although I have absolutely no problem working in a series (or three or four of them), I too have been haunted by the many times I've heard others insist upon such an approach as if the only way to build a successful body of work. The suggestions made to others are equally stifling. How many times have we read that others ought to pick a theme, keep the same orientation, make works the same size, explored design options within narrowly defined constraints? This happens to other artists working in other media too. Eventually, I wrote a lecture called "Beyond a Series" to address the fact that working in this manner is only one option and sometimes it isn't the best option for particular artists. Glad to see success coming from another approach! Keep it up!
ReplyDeleteWorking in a series doesn't do it for me either.
ReplyDeleteI get bored with a series. I enjoy looking at someone else’s but it’s just not for me and I like you, am in this for my enjoyment first and foremost. If we had to worry about what other people think of our work I’ll bet a lot of us would stop creating. Of course I’m thrilled when others do like my work but it’s not my focus.
ReplyDeleteBtw I love the Ho Jo’s nickname of your quilt! And your now your moon makes me think of vanilla ice cream with chocolate sprinkles - a Ho Jo’s favorite ;-)
I had to laugh at your HoJo reference. I worked there all summers through college and how well I remember those colors and uniforms. Your quilt is looking good.
ReplyDeleteI, too, have felt like you about 'working in series' until I realized:
ReplyDeletea. this does not have to mean working in linear chronology and
b. the series might be continued in parallel or interwoven with other series.
:) Linda
I really likes your blog! You have shared the whole concept really well and very beautifully soulful read!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing
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