Creative Crafts Council Show

The Creative Crafts Council exhibit opened at Strathmore Mansion in Rockville, MD

on May 4 and will continue till June 15, 2013. There will be an opening reception and awards presentation on May 16 from 7 till 9 PM.

Fiber, metals, wood, glass and ceramics are represented.

 Winged Chairs as seen above is hanging but the 9 panels are quite a bit further apart than seen here. 

 A detail of one of the 8 by 8 inch panels, free motion machine embroidery on painted canvas.

They are not quite as straight as seen here due to the hanging system used at Strathmore. 

However, hanging a 9 panel piece with this system took a lot of work.

Reflections on K Street is also in this show and again hung further apart than seen here.

These 8 by 8 inch panels are completely covered with thread in free-motion machine embroidery.

This show is worth seeing and spending time to view even the smallest jewelry.

Geraniums and Zinnias

 In January I added the above left picture to my blog stating it needed reworking.

The composition was boring and the design of the wall was dull. 

I did not like it but several friends gave me ideas to rework it.

The picture to the right has been reworked and the detail is just above.

The stone images in the background fabric are stitched into a shaded material from Taiwan. 

Free-motion machine embroidery on a cotton fabric. 22 by 11 inches

 I was given these zinnias in a larger bouquet of mixed flowers.

 The zinnias lasted much longer and have always been a favorite of mine.

The bright colors last. The one on the table was drying up but is still beautiful.

The flowers and vase were created with free-motion machine embroidery

 on a painted canvas.

23 by 11 inches

Home again from L.A. and the South Bay area.

 I always have to spend time just looking and walking along the beach.

Here from the Esplanade in the Hollywood Riviera

looking toward Palos Verdes Peninsula on an overcast day.

I love the small of the ocean and watching the waves roll in

is mesmerizing. A couple of brave swimmers in the very cold Pacific.

 Around the west side of the Peninsula looking toward the 

San Vicente Lighthouse I am standing at the

 Interpretive Center and Museum.

Marineland used to be near here.

 Looking in the other direction we, and a few others, 

are watching 3 whales frolicking.

 Further around the west side of the peninsula is the 'new to me'

Terranea Resort. Standing below the large pool and looking toward 

Portuguese Bend I can see the adult pool on the lower level.

A final view of Terranea's large pool and the levels 

of huge homes up on the hills of Palos Verdes.

That is where I spent my last day in California 

before having a favorite Mexican dinner.

Then back to DC.

I have not tried this web site but it looks interesting.

Maybe for the next trip.

www.flightnetwork.com

April 1 deadlines

 Reconstructed Strangeness is 12 by 12 inches.

Free-motion machine embroiedery using both my commercial and home sewing machines.

and adhered to a stretched and painted canvas panel 1.5 inches deep.

This piece will be going to the Surface Design Ass. member show at the

17th International Surface Design Association Conference, INTERFACE,

in San Antonio in June.

Fractured Lyricism is also 12 by 12 inches.

Free-motion machine embroidery on a variety of pieced fabrics.

This piece is headed for the SAQA Benefit Auction usually held in the Fall.

Both deadlines are April 1 and I made them both.

Drawing Pad App for the iPad

It has been some time since I have reviewed any of the art Apps for the iPad and have put off writing about Drawing Pad since they were upgrading it. Another reason is that I felt it was more for children but has  qualities we all could 'play' with and enjoy.

There are 5 marking tools as well as a tortillon for a bit of blending. The limiting factor is there is no sizing of the drawing tools so it is left to the 3 sizes of eraser to accomplish an approximate size change.

Another reason I thought this may be a child's App is the many stickers that are available. I've added a few to this flower drawing. They can be resized, reversed and locked into position but I have not given them much play, yet.

The same flower drawing with a black background.

This App has so many variations available for backgrounds that I tried several on the next drawing.

A checkered background.

 Multi pastel......

blue green shading.....

And several border backgrounds are available. When you erase on a set background the color stays in place and I enjoyed this feature.

 The blender works well with each of the tools and an abstract tends to be easier than precise drawing.

 Trying the same abstract idea on a blue background with added bright colors.

Trying to create a precise drawing on one of the set backgrounds turned out to be difficult but with practice using the tortillon and the eraser some images are possible. I did enjoy playing around with the many background choices and there were many colors available for the brushes, colored pencil, marker, crayon and pastel. I will try some work blending the stickers into a drawing and give this Drawing Pad App another try on another day.

Two Days to Inauguration

 It has become a tradition for a friend (Andrea Uravitch) and I to take pictures of the Inaugural festivities on the Mall a day or two before the actual Inauguration. We get to see changes to the Mall, building of stands, TV channels and reporters setting up, first aid tents, jumbo trons and rehearsals.

We start at the Hirshhorn on the south side of the Mall as there is a huge window on the top floor where you can see both directions of the Mall. This year it was closed (security?) However the wonderful Ai Weiwei exhibit was on so we saw much of it before going on.

We walked out on the Mall and watched as the covering was being put down to protect the grass from the thousand of feet that would come the next day or so. There were also thousands of porto potties (a design element?) along the edges of the Mall.

 We walked closer and closer to the Capital.

To see the decorations. 

It was a beautiful warm day, so different from the well below freezing day 4 years ago.

From the Mall we went to the National Gallery of Art to see a couple of exhibits. Going from the East Wing over to the main building we found the newest sculptural addition. 

Michelangelo's David-Apollo, one of his unfinished marble sculptures is here till March 3. 

This small (compared to the David in Florence) sculpture was last here during the Harry S. Truman's Inauguration.

We walked up to the National Portrait Gallery to see the twin tapestries of President Obama designed by Chuck Close. They were approximately 8 feet high.

We also spent time viewing the Drawing on the Edge exhibit.

In the huge covered atrium between the Smithsonian's Portrait Gallery and the Museum of American Art a stage was being set up for one of the Inaugural parties.

Now, rather than join the crowds, we stay at home and through TV are able to see every direction of the National Mall as the festivities unfold on this celebratory day.

Palm Springs to Redondo Beach and Home

 Happy New Year from Palm Springs.

A few days on the desert........then.....

 Next a stay at the Portofino Hotel in Redondo Beach.

A view from their restaurant looking toward the Marina.

 Looking back toward the hotel while walking to King Harbor

on a cool gray day.

 Another spectator watching for food.

Home again with a good group of friends at a holiday luncheon with a fun gift exchange.

Now back to the studio with thoughts of some art work to finish and more to start.

High Fiber and the Holidays

Diverging, Merging, and Flowing was sold during the High Fiber 2012 exhibit at the San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles.

It was  28 by 12 inches with free-motion machine embroidery on recycled gray denim.

Autumn Forest Floor was bought by Shareen Lawrence at the same show. This hanging is approximately 15 by 15 inches with the leaves curling out from the background.

Our front door is decorated with a wreath of yarn wound balls.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays 

till next year.

Studio holiday

 Creative work seems to be put on hold at this time of year.

 Life and assorted necessary events take place.

The studio then has a life of its own completely different in a messy congested way.

The result can still be beautiful but temporary.

Happy holidays from the studiio.

Mistake below

The previous blog, below, published a mistake. In the preview there was a picture of Robert Genn's book followed by my comments. The first 3 or 4 lines of text should be skipped over to get to the actual blog.
My technical ability to follow directions didn't follow correctly, with apologies to readers.

Robert Genn twice a week art letter

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="http://clicks.robertgenn.com/" title="The Painter's Keys - A community for artists"><img src="http://clicks.robertgenn.com/images/ads/fal-banner.jpg" alt="The Painter\'s Keys - A community for artists" border="0" width="150" height="200" />
<br style="clear:both"/>The Robert Genn November 6 letter seemed so apropos to me.
Commenting on the art apps of the iPad Robert Genn discussed the pros and cons of these magical apps and how various artists may or may not approach them. Since I had given mini reviews of a few of the art apps during this past year I was especially interested on his take regarding his paint and canvas art.

I was so taken for the magical abilities of these arts but do find myself, not using them in actual studio work like I thought I might.

Above are two examples from the Inspire Pro App on the iPad. I have never used these initial experiments in my studio art work, but now looking back, I just may some day. Stay tuned and don't miss any of R G's Twice Weekly Art Letter.