Stripes Morph into Grids

I am still working, slowly, on my Stripes, but I started some smaller works that are becoming grids. They are very much inspired by the Quilts of Gee's Bend, in particular, the ones made from work clothes. I want faded, neutralized colors, like the worn out clothing that is given a new life in a handmade quilt.

I started by painting the center of the 9x12" bristol substrate in a kind of variegated neutral, and then started adding collage bits and some paint to the border. Not sure where this is going.

This is an example of the beginning, in this new series.

Beginning to add collage around the edge. I love the wonky stripes of gray on gray.

This is another one at Stage 2. I want to use minimal color, and emphasize the subtleties in the neutrals.

Still in progress

This one is resting.

This and the next one are a little more colorful. I like the wonky edge around the neutral center. Maybe I'll play with that a little.

Student Work from Calgary

Here is a sampling of student work from my "Series as Process" workshop at Leading Edge Art Workshops in Calgary. What a great city this is! All within easy walking distance of the workshop are loads of excellent restaurants and cafés, a great yoga studio, the Esker Foundation, a terrific book store called Fair's Fair , and lots of parks and paths along the rivers.

The assignment is to work with a combination of neutral colors and bright colors in a grid format. The first is one of my examples, the rest is student work.

My example, 10"x10"

All work is on paper, with dimensions between 8" and 12".  Thanks for visiting!

New Wonky Grids

I was teaching at Dillman's Bay Resort last week, and I have a LOAD of pictures of fabulous student work. I'll post a slide show of them later this week.  Meanwhile, let me show off a few pieces that I got to do.  And I'll post a few pieces of student work just as a teaser.  This was a fabulous group in an idyllic setting.  Can't get better than northern Wisconsin in the fall.

The Setting

Paddling on lunch break

Huh?

The following are all 8"x8"

Something About Being On A Lake, 8"x8"

A Little Extra "Wonk"

Pink Lifesavers

Turquoise Lifesavers

Scribbles in the Fog

The Assignment, Straight Up:  Contrasting Scale of Pattern

And for a few gems of the student work:

Stay tuned... there's more.

You Can Own One Of These

Yup. That's right. Just e-mail me to indicate which one you want (middle row, third from left, for example), and I'll have the Moore Free Library hold it for you.  The pieces are $250 each, and some of that goes to support the library.  I'll ship it at the end of September.

See a slide show of individual pieces here (or click on Slideshow above).

OR.... you can make your own!  It's really fun.  Make yourself a big stash of patterned papers - make sure to include patterns of all different scales, colors, degrees of contrast, etc.  I use Cheap Drawing Paper for the collage papers (see My Favorite Materials).  Cut some printmaking or watercolor paper (see My Favorite Materials) to 8.25"x8.25", and start making stuff.  Work on a few at a time.  Don't plan them out, just let one move inform the next and follow your intuition.

Choose the ones you like, the ones you want to display, and mount them to wood panel.  Choose your hanging mechanism, and hang them in a grid.

A Few More Collage Grids

I am in the middle of Abstract Painting In Vermont this week, and will post a few pictures of student work a bit later.  Meanwhile, here are a few more pieces that are a continuation of these pattern grids.  They are all 8"x8", and I will mount them on wood panel.  I will be exhibiting them for the month of September at the Crowell Gallery at the library in Newfane, VT.

A Few More Grids

Here are some of the grid pieces I did while at Pacific Northwest Art School a couple of weeks ago:

I was having fun playing with contrasting scales of pattern, as well as varying the colors, and the shapes and sizes of elements.  I did a few more on Friday:

Love this lipstick bright pink/red

I'm enjoying getting a bit more minimal.

These are small - all 8"x8" and will be mounted on wood panel.  Fun!