The World Is My Studio!
Photographing Artwork
I look forward to this event more than most tasks concerning the business of art. Yesterday morning I was able to spend several hours collaborating with my photographer Ken Ek who makes my art look the best it possibly can. We met about 2 years ago and he started photographing my textile art and watercolors. Every time I complete a series the first thing I do is have Ken come into the studio. First I cannot say enough good things about Ken, his work ethic is exemplary and his skill set is varied, he has a great eye for color and finds creative ways to place the work in its setting to show it to best advantage. He is not just a technical wizard but a creative one too.
The new flower series, Bloemen, was done yesterday with a few pieces of miscellany thrown in for good measure. Working with Ken is such an inspiration that I am starting a new series of prints that will be photographed soon and I am planning on having him work on the older prints from my early years as a printmaker. Documenting art is something I don’t take for granted, its one of the most important tasks associated with my business. If you are fortunate enough to be close to KenEk Photography by all means call him soon and make plans to have your work photographed. But where ever you are find a good photographer and have your art documented.
On another note, I also use several online servers to preserve the photos for future reference. I don’t use hard media anymore, but I do have external storage drives that I can back up to if needed. Stay tuned to see the new work photographed properly and my website updated in blooming color.
Flower Cafe series.
This is the third painting in a series I started this week after a long cold winter. The studio needed a swift clean up which I did while some backgrounds I painted earlier finished drying. Then I set to work laying out some ideas that I sketched while in bed with the flu this year. Once backgrounds are set, I choose paint colors and mix them in small batches. Then make notes in the sketchbook near the sketch about the colors and using a small hog bristle brush, I paint color mixes and tints on the page for reference. This painting is titled ‘Flower Cafe 3’ and is 18″ x 24″. I hope to finish this piece soon. The completed pink painting is 6″ x 6 ” titled ‘Flower Cafe 2’. The cream and white piece is 8″ x 10″ and first in the series.
The Other Key
Recently I acquired a large vintage wooden flat file and was thrilled with it, had it refinished and found the missing (hidden) key. When it was finally delivered, it wouldn’t fit through the studio door. I was a little upset, but thought, oh well its not meant to be mine–because it would not fit through any door of any building I could conceivably move it into. Yes, friends and family all tried to come to forth to rescue said treasure–but no door could accommodate it. So, I put it on the block, but I had a chance meeting with the previous owner and mentioned the problem. He revealed the box had one more trick to reveal–it comes apart with the removal of two bolts. I will number the drawers and remove them, remove the large bolts and collapse the box, move it in and re-assemble it in my studio. Even better.
Hiding in the Petals
I am working on the old wooden table from the Log and Stone house today. The windows are open and I am surrounded by the gardens: the birds chippering lingers on the fresh air. The drawing that I am playing with this morning is a flower somewhat like a magnolia flower, although its as folkly abstract as most of my drawings are. I so admired the large waxy magnolia blooms when I lived in North Carolina. I can imagine the little creatures shyly cloistered in the petals and making their home in the tree.
Recently I got a bottle of Dr. Ph. Martin’s Bombay India Ink in Violet, or as my friend Cleveland named it Vivacious Violet and a booklet of Strathmore Drawing paper in the 4″ x 6″ size. I thought that I would use the violet ink everyday and complete a series of 24 small drawings. I also got a bottle of green ink. So far, 3 are done and 2 are in the hands of some very special people.
Blue Ribbon
Blue Ribbon – 11″ x 15″ – watercolor and ink.
The linework in this is extra fine and detailed and more based on geometric forms and less on natural or organic forms usually found in my paintings. The soft blue and grey background with earthy oranges and the red central place from where the drawing emits the Blue Ribbon that is surrounded by shapes consisting of fine lines. I look at it and wonder about the origin of the form, of life in general, the sea and sky, the universe. Blue Ribbon is among my top favorite pieces and prints are available.
Inklets
These small pen and ink drawings are engaging to create.
The Violet Smudge
Birdsong : Listen
I found Birdsong Radio several years ago when I was in the midst of a significant life transition. Familiar music has attachment to memory that is so refined it can take us back to the first moments we heard it, who we were with and what we were doing. The changes in my life made my former musical choices obsolete, painful memories were brought to the surface and I could not find comfortable sounds except for silence. Bombarded by music that is ubiquitous now in every store, office or elevator was another discomfort. I lived near a railroad and could hear the trainwhistle at all hours when I could not sleep and felt separated and alone. To this day hearing trains reminds me of those long nights.
Nature abhors a vacuum, wrote Spinoza, and it is a quotation I treasure. I adapted to my new life and found events that would fill the void. Walking the dogs, CoraBella, Rory and Cleopatra in the park every morning was one of the most important events of the day. Walking to the sounds of nature, I realized that this was the music I could listen to and try to achieve the peace I was seeking. The music of the birds, the wind in tall rushes, cicadas, crickets, croaking frogs and nearby whinny of the horses in the fields was the morning walk symphony that I craved at home. My exploration for sounds of nature led me to find Birdsong Radio. I downloaded the mp3 and subscribed immediately and began following the station.
I played the station while I painted, sketched and sewed. The bird calls are a sweet part of the tapestry of my artistic life and much of my work is created while listening to the station. During artists meetings I played it instead of music and people commented on how much they liked it. I have no proof, but it seems that the mellow naturalsounds made the atmosphere calm and our creative ideas flowed with ease.
This week Birdsong Radio released an updated website and phone app, see the links below to participate and support their endeavor.
http://birdsong.fm (- shiny new website)
http://bit.ly/birdsongfm (- iPhone app download link)
Bessesdotter Studio at ArtsQuest
Bessesdotter’s Studio at ArtsQuest during Musikfest in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Boundless 