Art at Stone Lake

Shrines and Memory Boxes

I'm back....and I want to give a Shout Out to The Queen's Ink--a wonderful local shop here in Savage Maryland. If you live inteh Baltimore Washington Pennsylvania area, please check out their website of upcoming classes.  Every class that I've taken there has been absolutely full of useful information.  The Queens Ink Website--click here!

 I had a 'breakthrough' weekend at the shop, taking part in a Tim Holtz workshop where we learned at least 1,000 techniques....Just Kidding!  We only learned about 150! 

Anyway, it was a breakthrough for me because I really learned a lot about completing my assemblages.  Here's an image of my first completed work, and I plan to make many more of these using all kinds of personal and found memorabilia and objects.

I've decided to call these my   Shrines to Past and Future Memories (a name I have copyrighted, by the way).
because some of these works are about dreams of a past that may not have happened yet. 

Here's the first completed Shrine in a Shadow Box. It's called Secret Dream.  You may not be able to tell, but the key says "Secret".   It's spoken for but I will be posting more that are for sale on my website in the coming weeks. 

Artomatic Exhibit Photos

Hi Everyone,

Well we put up the show yesterday--all fiber art!  Here are a few photos to help you locate my space.  I'm on the 7th FLOOR, my space is on an end of a row along the walkway (not on the end near windows).  Can't miss me--you'll see all the bright colors!

Be sure to check the Artomatic site for the fabulous entertainment schedule and hours. And, it's all FREE!!  

 The Venue is located at 55 M Street SE, Washington, DC 20003 and opens May 29.  Hours: 

Open W-TH Noon-10 pm       F-Sat: Noon-1 am             Sun: Noon-10 pm

GETTING THERE:  Take Metro! Located directly above the Green Line Navy Yard Metro Stop, West Entrance.  IT VERY, VERY EASY TO GET THERE BY METRO AND PARKING IS VERY EXPENSIVE, especially when there's a ball game.  You exit Metro right outside the Artomatic building.  The building is wheelchair accessible.

OK--here's a shot of my wall......sorry that it's a bit dark...

HERE'S A CLOSE UP:  I am finally working on my doorways series in fabric after collecting photos of doors for about a year....You can see an early in progress photo in an earlier blog. 

Here's the second doorway piece in this show.

Artomatic Washington DC -- New Work on Exhibit in May 29 to July 5, 2009

Hi,

This summer, I will exhibit artquilts at Artomatic.  Click here to go to the Artomatic Site  for all the details about this wonderful monthlong event. Artomatic is run by volunteer artists, and there are several hundred artists on display, along with bands performing and workshops all month long.  Best of all, you can directly get to the building by using Washington DC's Metro system becasue we are right over the Navy Yard station--Note that there is very, very limted parking in the area so Metro is definitely the way to go!!  DATES: May 29 through July 5.

In the meantime, here are some sneak peeks at in progress photos.  I'll post finshed photos here and on my website when Artomatic opens.

Artquilt made with Batik fabrics.

What do you see?  A seascape? landscape?  moutains and villages?

   A detail view of another Batik artquilt.This is a wild variation on the traditional 9 patch...smile....

When you look very closely at the completed piece, you can see the 9 patches--all of which are the same size. From a bit of distance, the 9 patch grid is almost invisible, but it does give subconscious structure to the piece.  And, I am quite proud of the way the intersections of the 9 patches actually line up...I know that my early quilting teachers would be sooooo proud....

A very early stage of another Batik artquilt.  This one is an abstract based on the central image of a doorway. At this stage, I am working from a base drawing of my own, cutting the shapes indicated by the drawing, and then playing, and playing with shapes, values and color. The final piece may or may not be close to my original drawing.

I love doorways....I photograph interesting ones that I see on my travels. 

Watercolor!!!

For the past 2 months, I've been learning about a new medium...new for me, that is!  I've been taking classes in watercolor painting with  Marilyn Evans, a teacher here in the Baltimore/Washington area.  I'm excited to say that under her mentoring, I've actaully begun to undersand what this fabulous medium can really do.  In previous classes, I walked away feeling discouraged about my ability to learn to use this medium.

Now, I am still very much a raw amateur at it, and I don't intend to abandon textiles or acrylics.  Nonetheless, some magical things are happening because of this study.  First of all, I am begining to SEE the world differently.  I can actually see watercolor paintings everywhere I look these days.  My sense of value and design is sharpening.  In addition to the classes, I've also been reading great watercolor instruction books from the library.  I'll share more about that in future posts, but in the meantime, here are some of my first attempts.  I still find it miraculous that I can take water and paint and come out with something close to my intention.  

 This is a monochromatic landscape using burnt sienna.  My own design.

This is a detail of an 11 x 17 inch painting. 

I used a drawing from one of my instruction books but then deviated a bit.

It's a spring day with bluebells.

Another detail of the Spring day painting. 

I'm just tickled that I can DO this....I love the delicacy of watercolor and its emotional qualities.

My best so far....I did this in about 2 hours in Marilyn's workshop.  It's based on a drawing from Terry Madden's workbook. 

wow...so much fun and sooo much more to learn as I just sit and paint, and paint, and paint......

War Honor Freedom: New Work on Tour

I just completed another work in the War, Honor and Freedom Series.  This is a small piece (about 24 inches square) that just left home (smile....) to tour the U.S. and other countries.  Judy Howard, of BuckBoard Quilts and Heavenly Patchwork has organized a show of small artquilts called "God Bless America".  The show fees and sale profits support a project for creating quilts for wounded veterans.  If you would like to book this show for your organization, please contact Judy Howard at BuckboardQuilts@cox.net

My piece is titled:  War, Honor and Freedom: African American Veterans,  2-27-09.  I've now started using DATES as part of the series titles. It's just easier.  The date is the official completion date of the piece.

Here is a full photo. the photo with the word HOME on it is of my Mother and Father. 

Inspiration and Independence Declaration

A friend and I went to visit the American Visionary Museum in downtown Baltimore yesterday.

 

As always, I came away fully inspired to go home and make art.  Why?  Well, it wasn't just the enormous creativity that sparked me.   (However, every time I visit this Museum, I am awestruck by the genius of these outsiders.)

 

 

American Visionary Museum Link

 

 

 

 

Instead, it was some other insights that truly touched me. 

 

First of all, I was reminded how truly powerful the impulse is to create art.  No matter what circumstances we are in, human beings will find a way to make something, some 'stuff', that expresses emotions and thoughts and visions.  The artist within will not, cannot be denied.   People can make art using ANYTHING that will leave a mark.  And, somewhere, there are people making art with nothing...by that I mean, people without any other material will make art in their minds. 

 

Sometimes we call these Dreams....or Visions....or psychotic episodes....

 

I was also humbled by my awareness of how truly blessed my life is.  I have a home, a supportive partner and family and friends who encourage and appreciate my art.  I have more materials than I can use.  I have time.  I have quiet.  I have more than everything I need to be creative.  I live in an Open and Democratic society that does not censor me. I can make anything I want. 

 

So, no excuses for me.  

 

I Declare my Independence.  From this day forward:   I will revel in my freedom, I will play.  I will challenge myself to break through any emotional barriers.  I will sing and shout and dance around the studio.  I will always learn by looking at and loving the artwork of others.   I will follow my deepest  instincts, my Spirit and my Heart.   I will be an OUTSIDER Artist -- working in any way that I CHOOSE. 

 

Look for new "stuff"...soon...

 

 

Obama Artquilt Book Published!

Hello Friends!

As many of you know, I had an artquilt in 2 different exhibits celebrating the Inauguration of President Obama.  Sue Walen, the organizer of one of the shows, suggested to the participating artists that we self-publish a book!  and, we all pitched in a small financial contribution, and self-published our complete catalogue of the show in FULL color.  It's now available. 

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE THE BOOK.

Here's the cover...it's one of the artquilts in the book--fabulous isn't it?  And, all of the Profits from this book will be donated to a Scholarship fund for students at Montgomery College in Maryland.  Montgomery College has a wonderful arts department and their gallery is where we held the show. 

 

Thanks so much for your support.

My Online Interview: Obama Inauguration Artquilts

Hello!

Recently, I was interviewed by Karen Musgrave of the Alliance for American Quilts Save Our Stories Project.  It was fun talking with Karen about making the first two artquilts about the Inauguration. 

Here's the link to the interivew transcript. Carole Lyles Shaw Interview     I hope you enjoy it, and I would love to hear your comments.

Clarify

A few days ago, I started using a new filter in Corel Paint Shop Pro Photo X2 to sharpen my photos.  The filter is called CLARIFY and it sharpens the focus of the image--it's a wonderful little one step tool.

Clarify-- to me, it means to clear up or clean up, to put things in sharper focus.  For me, it's a metaphor.  The clarify filter takes all that data called pixels and transforms them just enough to make the data more understandable to the eye.

 Lately, I've been thinking that CLARIFY is a great filter to use in other areas of my life.  So, here are some things that I plan to CLARIFY in the next few weeks:

MY STUDIO:  I need to clarify what tools, materials and stuff I really do plan to use now in this stage of my work.  Actually, I started clarifying by giving the studio a thorough vacuuming with my NEW wonderful cheap lightweight and effective vacuum cleaner. Presto, the floor was clarified. And, in the process, I did some dusting around the shelves, tossed out some junk and organized my paints and some other tools.  Final step--I will sell or give away some fabric that I just know I won't use.  CLARIFYing my studio helps me work more efficiently because I'm not fumbling around looking for the supplies I need for a project.

MY PHOTO FILES:  I have a fairly good organization scheme but occasionally, I go looking for a set of photos (like my doorway series) and can't remember which folder they are in.  I'll go through and do some moving and tweaking and make the folder labeling on my PC super CLARIFIED.   

ART GOALS FOR 2009:  All the other clarifying I'm doing is to make space for the most important clarifications.  How do I want to spend my time this year?  Which medium calls to me?  what type of shows to enter?  How do I activate my business   plan?   

 

Yes, the economy is bad, but what better time to start building gallery and museum relationships!?!  Maybe we will start looking for that combined gallery and studio space we keep talking about?  Goals need to be CLARIFIED, then activated with daily/weekly steps. 

  HOW ABOUT YOU??? What will you use the CLARIFY filter on today, tomorrow or next week? 

Obama Art Show Reception

Please join us at our Opening Reception for a show of Artquilts celebrating the election of President Barack Obama.  You will see many different perspectives on what this historic event means to a group of very diverse artists.

Here are the details!

President Obama: A Celebration in Artquilts

Montgomery College Cafritz Art Center, 930 King Street, Silver Spring MD.  Open February 9 through March 5, 2009. 

Opening Reception   February 13, 6 to 9 p.m.  Gallery PH: 240-567-1368 .  PARK IN THE FENTON STREET MONTGOMERY STREET GARAGE .  there is no onstreet parking in this part of Silver Spring on a Friday Evening. 

 Regular Gallery Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

This show, organized by Sue Walen, is an exhibit of artquilts created by an all-volunteer, grassroots, multi-ethnic group of fiber artists from all across the United States and as far away as Australia.  The work in this show is a tribute to our new President, in gratitude for the hope and inspiration he has brought us. 

Here's a photo of the work that I will have in this show.  It pays homage to the service of early 20th century African American soldiers who served in a segregated armed forces until 1948, and then in very restricted roles until the Vietnam War era.  How very proud they would be to serve under President Barack Obama as their Commander-in-Chief.

 

 

And, here's a detail of one section of this artquilt.  As you can see, this piece is very content dense, so I would call it a story quilt or narrative quilt. To start the quilt, I painted a piece of canvas with red and white stripes to simulate an American Flag. I then added photos & memoriabilia from my collection (including things from my Father and Uncle).  I also added materials relating to the civil rights movement, Election Day and the Inauguration.