Interview with an artist "beading"

We went to the Rocky mountain bead bazaar this weekend.
Yep, extra husband points for Drew!
It was overwhelming, but I managed to purchase two cabochons (see above) so I can learn how to do bead embroidery. The iron pyrite is for healing, the face for love, I love faces!!
I won a ring kit too...

as we looked around I was stopped in my tracks at this artist's booth

youtube video about classes

Diane used to be a swarovski crystal representative and boy did her booth sparkle! She is a designer who teaches, sells patterns, and her work. She sparkles too!

It's rare for us to meet another couple who we could be instant friends with, but Diane and Bob were so  interesting, and we all had a lot in common. I asked if I could do a mini-interview with her and she agreed.

Me: what condition is your studio in at the moment?
artist: a mess (lol, everyone says that!)
She and her husband share a large studio space but when your art is your business one must be organized.

Diane never lacks ideas for new techniques and designs. Her husband laughed and said on the drive to this show, she came up with several. I asked what takes an idea from concept to actually making it?
I am very interested in this concept and ask most artists but it's not an easy question. Most people think about it and it comes down to that magical spark.

 I agree. For me, The idea that comes in the night, sneaking into dreams..,, or in the shower, or on a walk. It's so cool one must make it! Dropping what you might be in the middle of, at an odd hour, when you're on your way out the door... stop the presses and make it.

Diane said it can be a color combination she sees, or landscape, or a shape she wants to interpret in beads.

I asked her husband what it's like for him being married to an artist. He laughed and said he is an artist too, so he understands her drive. After a lifetime as a teacher, he turned his creativity to making lures, and supporting his wife's business.

How do you organize your supplies, I asked. He was a science teacher, and was aware of a certain type of specimen jar, so they ordered many of these, and trays from staples that stack. They keep a spreadsheet of items that are stored by type of bead, and color.http://dianehertzler.blogspot.com/2014/01/one-solution-to-bead-storage-problems.html

Wouldn't you just love to see her studio space? I would.

the underside of the first bracelet!

I asked what are her roadblocks and how does she overcome them.
She replied that a cross country move with downsizing has thrown her off balance for the last couple of years. Don't I know it! All the changes, the letting go of your possessions, the physical moving of what's left and finding new places to store it, learning new roads and finding new networks... it's difficult.
That said, I was surprised to see two new really exciting classes she's developed and the jewelry is astounding.

these bracelets are two sided... note the geese inside are background color and outside colors.
She seemed to have worked through the stress!
I asked if she worked in her studio at a table or where? She likes to work in a tray on her lap while watching tv.
Me too.
I asked how she goes from a lovely object to pattern, and teaching. She says it's the most difficult part, drawing diagrams, deciding how to word a pattern, and prefers to do multi day classes but is often called on to do a 6 hour class.
I can relate, it's all the same for me. It takes a long time to pace out a class, to do step out examples, to figure out how to present skills in order so that the student feels a sense of mastery when they leave.

inspired by petroglyphs

My husband and hers had a lovely conversation about teaching, and I was reminded of my Berlitz training before I began teaching there.
Lead the student to knowledge.

As if the show and meeting Diane weren't exciting enough, I received a birthday gift from my friend Cindy. A total surprise! She is a beader and quiltmaker, a pattern designer and a creative.
I love her and our friendship which makes living in different states very hard.
Want to see a little of what she sent me? I had told her earlier that I wanted to learn how to do cabochons and bead embroidery, so lookie here:

Beads! Shared from her precious stash! Fireline thread, cabochon stabilizer backing,

a beautiful instruction book for a new to me technique, a cool necklace and bracelet combo, a lavalier necklace with a gorgeous crystal dangle. A poodle picture from a craft show. And more.

I have been painting lately, and drawing because of the online workshop I am taking.

but it may be time to do some beading! Wanna come over and bead with me?

Linking to these parties
https://paintpartyfriday.blogspot.com/

Interview with an artist studio tour

Today's post is about studio organization. Look at the sewing machine cover here. Amazing!
You might want to click on the image to see details. I often interview artists for my blog on living the creative life, so when I was invited into the studio of my friend Cindy I asked if I could share some of her organization techniques.
She has a sunny room and wanted to protect her Bernina so she designed this cover. Where I might throw a piece of felt over mine but don't, I let it go bare, she designed this lovely cover with log cabins embroidery and hand beading.

So when Cindy got full possession of this room when her husband moved his office to another room, she decorated it in calm green and blue, coordinating chair, table, and storage units with fabric draping. The whole room, though not large, now works as a unit. I asked how it felt to come in to the room, and she said it is "her" space of comfort now.

Let's consider the concept of space. We all create and it is a big deal having a space that encourages us to feel comfortable and relaxed. When my studio is in order it gives me such joy to enter. Every place I look gives me joy. Cindy has created a space that gives her joy.

She organizes her fabric by color, and by subject (Christmas, designer collections, etc) and to protect them as well as give the space unity, she made a drape. Plywood was covered in muslin on the top, velcro attached by tabs allows for an easy release cover.

Her cutting table is simple table on risers with storage under the drape made with coordinating fabric. So tidy and restful. Note she did not just line the four walls with furniture, this cutting work table leads you into the room.

The room's original closet has been filled with usable storage drawers to hold tools, beads, embroidery thread, etc. Labeled of course. She can pull out a drawer one at a time, take it to the work table. She replaced the folding doors with another drape in the same soft green but different pattern.

Just a side note. A system can be beautiful when tidy, but if it doesn't work for your supplies it won't stay that way. Like me, Cindy has amended her systems over the years til she reached one that works for her. Now it makes sense, is easy to put items away and find them again.
 Do not be reluctant to redesign a space as you use it.
You change over time and your storage needs change.

Lovely and usable. See the design wall across from the work table which now holds the drawers we pulled out to look into. She has special decorations and plants in here also, to reflect her interests and inspire.
On her design wall are some heavily beaded "twinchies"(2"fabric) and other works in progress.

I asked if she tidied up at the end of each day or after the close of a project. She tends to leave a project out at the end of the day so she can step right back in next time. Like many of us, she will tidy up at the end of a project. I think the smaller your space to create, the more one needs organization that works, and the tidier you need to be.

Right now I can't see a flat surface in the studio for the piles. I create in a downstairs bedroom turned studio.

Cindy has been making quilts for a long time. She has designed paper piecing patterns for sale, as well as personal patterns for her own use like my recent needle book and her machine cover. She is creative, and if she learns from someone else or a pattern source she usually changes it to suit her needs.

That's how I work too.
When you are sewing purely for relaxation and hobby, it's comfortable to follow directions. When you learn a new technique from someone it's a good idea to follow their directions to learn. We all enjoy this kind of handwork.

Artists approach it a bit differently. They usually want to express themselves in whatever medium they choose. They learn what is needed in that medium (fabric, clay, metal etc) to make well constructed art, and then take it to new places as they express themselves in their art. I often interview artists I come across because I like to hear how someone working in another medium works. I think we all approach it from a place of inspiration, taking inspiration from life.
To a person they say their studio is a mess. Ah, there is comfort in that.

I have a quote on my wall (not Cindy's)  that has unfortunately faded (identipens,  grrrrr) so I can't say who said it.

Artists create from what they see, but what they see is primarily what they look at.

 Like many artists Cindy quietly creates in her space. Luckily I got to peek into her world today. I hope you enjoyed it too.

PleinAir Painting

Every day while staying in Lake Placid I walked around the lake on this...

beautiful brick sidewalk. A three mile walk around Mirror Lake. Smelling the fresh pine, hearing wind through the trees, seeing many people and dogs,  and taking a lot of pictures of flowers and rock walls.
I did this walk in the morning, and again at night.
Lovely.






One evening near sunset I met this man, Patrick,  http://www.patrickmcphee.com/

Plein Air painting. He was painting this view...

with these oil paints...

Isn't it a bit of fun to see an artist palette? I think so.

The artist looks at the object to paint, chooses or mixes colors to use, has all the tools to use, and the magic happens.

I spent about 10 to 15 minutes talking to Patrick about his art, choices, capturing light, realism vs abstract, and other aspects of art. So fun!

He said the other plein air artists think one must paint quickly and sort of sketchy if it's outside.

He does not roll that way. He is painstakingly careful about each stroke of color, and I watched him dab a tiny amount of light onto a branch then dab away extra color to blend the teensy dab further. He regarded the painting and did it again on another branch.

We also spoke about the current painting's size. I asked if he always painted this size and he said, "oh no, usually much smaller. This one is huge" then he pulled out detailed replica's of the mountains in sizes of about 3 to 4 inches.
WHAT!!??

When I told him I am most comfortable working at 40 X 50 he was astounded!

Having seen him at work, I can understand his reaction. He is incredibly focused on each tiny detail.
He said his family will say, the art is done.
He knows it isn't because there is a bit more light needed, one more tiny dab of paint here...

He is not into portraits like his girlfriend, he paints landscapes. He's done it all his life and makes his living at it. They are incredible in person.



I learn so much by talking to artists working in different mediums than I do, and although I paint, I like watercolors. I like how they behave, how I apply the paint, how they smear and blend and show the paper, or fabric, under them.  Patrick  takes time and care with details. I already do that with my quilts but it was good to see another artist ignoring the people who tell him just do it fast, or that it's done. Know what I mean??

There is a fab book store in town that also sells artist supplies. I visit several times during our stay and this time I left with these supplies...

I have been writing a lot. Words are my passion along with color.
DH found this spiral bound, hard cover, lined book for me to pour out my stories. He bought this and a wonderful pen that lets ink flow out smoothly, as I prefer to write in longhand. Then, I found these pens and books ...

The pens are like old fashioned fountain pens, but easy because they are self filling. Oh it's so satisfying to write with them. And the colors!!

Reminds me of my teen years, and I was the only one writing with fountain pens, with the cartridge that you pierce with the nib. Scritch, scritch.

These are fabulous, and I've written many essays already in my book. I don't share them here but am considering starting a blog just for them.

I met an editor for the NYTimes on this trip and he asked what my genre is. Well, that's a hard question, as my writing style like my personality defies definition. Essays, characterizations, reflections, humor, fable, details noted about a moment in time or a person in particular that caught my imagination.
My engineer husband loves them, which is a rave review.
Writing is another art form and I'm all about the details.

How to get your groove back and interviews with artists

 I was initially attracted to Kim Roluti's art because of the soulfull faces looking at me. The colors are lush yet gentle at the same time. When I see an artist among 300 who's work I want to take home, I stop to see if they are also welcoming.
That was definitely the case with Kim ( Link to KimRolutiArt) I ask questions like what is your process? how do you come up with ideas? inspirations? studio? overcoming down times? I must summarize her answers as it's been a week

 Her work looks like regular paintings but they start as a sort of collage of paper and laces on canvas. She then paints over with acrylic and oil. This explains the texture and text, two components I LOVE. She is inspired by life and like me starts with a concept she wants to convey.
I was drawn to a piece where two women are together, yet looking away. It was drawn from personal experience, that I related to, and in a gesture captured the feeling of separation while together.
When asked how she deals with those times when you don't feel like working, she said she has work going in different stages, and one of them will prime the creative pump. She works through it. I liked her!!

The next artist to really catch my eye was Ashley Kriehn (link here) who's booth was titled Metallist

 

  I started our talk with the question of how she came to label herself that way as I'd never seen it done.

She was quiet and unassuming, yet very friendly and open to a chat. I was drawn in to the wonderful shape and texture of her work.
It reminded me somehow of my work, full of texture, cool graphics, and oh! The three dimensional birds so reminded me of mine done in fabric (see the post here! )
Again, she is inspired by nature and her graphic designs are inspired by microscopic images of algae ( I think) In person they are dynamic designs. She chemically etches sheets of metal with the design then shapes it into the birds.  Her family is very supportive of her artmaking,.

We all experience times where we might not feel like working. Ashley doesn't let that interrupt her process. She just goes in the studio, and starts making a component that she has made before, an element that doesn't require as much creative decision making, so her hands are going on automatic until she finds the groove again. I LOVE that.
 I do that by mindless sewing. I just start sewing something together, so my hands and mind get back into the groove, and the Muse doesn't want to be left out so she joins me in the studio. Happy creativity returns. Hilarity ensues! Creativity is never too far away, but it hides. I think this is what other creative people have described as "just do the work" For me, sometimes it's sorting fabric, clearing the studio table of components, just being in a space where I've created before.
There is a kind of kinesthetic memory of your hands.
I hope this was enjoyable, the connection between different art forms. I have interviewed at least one artist at every craft show I attend for years. I love to hear how they live the creative life, and hope you do too.
LeeAnna

going for a ride in the car part 4- purchases and Interview with a painter

We went for a ride in the car, we three, to Connecticut. While there we toured the grounds of Hill-Stead Museum (house and grounds) a beautiful estate in Farmington near our hotel. While there I also toured the gift shop full of fun artsy stuff. Drew and Cole waited outside and when I rejoined them, I was putting on my new beaded bracelet. I said, I had a hard time choosing the right one, but went in the shop because I had to have the Emily Dickinson Finger puppet with the magnet head....of course!
Drew chuckled. Of course I wanted her! I also wanted the Georgia O'Keeffe finger puppet but she looked more like a pilgrim man...(and a bit scary looking)

Lots of pictures later in the post  but first...
Because of Cole's naturally magnetic personality, we met a fascinating couple also enjoying the fall day.
Jane Zisk (contact info) who organized the CT Plein Air Society, first chatted with Cole. When I learned she was a painter, I asked to do an interview for the blog. She agreed and we had a wonderful time talking about living the creative life. Wish you had been there but these are the highlights as I remember them.

Jane paints, teaches and lives the creative life.
When I asked what condition her studio was in, she said a mess. Her newlywed husband said it wasn't so bad. She likes to paint nature scenes mostly with oils.
When she said she wanted her husband to try painting, my advice (not that anyone asked but that never stopped me before) was to paint what he loved. She agreed with me that a person should paint (or any other medium ) what one loves, as it makes for a stronger piece.

 She keeps a lot of raw materials (ahem, like my stash?) such as quality paints and brushes, and what she needs to do her best work.

She often visits art galleries & museums, spends time with other artists, reads about painting, as it all informs her work. Like me, making art is in the front of her mind most of the time. I know quilters who don't go to shows so they won't be influenced by other quilters. What a waste! If you're a writer you should read a lot. Hanging out with other artists and seeing their work won't cause copying, it is stimulating to share our process with others of like minds.
Her husband responded to the question, how does her family accept her painting, by saying he is her biggest supporter and fan.

I asked if she ever experienced a slump, a down-time,  and she said, she wants to give it up every other day!! We chuckled, as every artist goes through times like this, but her new husband and long time friend, said he just tells her, "stop that, and go to your studio and work!" (Lover and slave driver)

Once again I am reminded we artists are very similar. We get each other... the process, the drive, the need to make.

So I felt like we made new friends, and the day was richer for it. Want more? click here for interviews

We reluctantly left this area to explore other little towns. Along the way I made a few more purchases, want to see?

Beads... for the upcoming Georgia O'Keeffe quilt.
(From Artful Beads in Pennington NJ)

I've not seen this kind of pyramid shaped bead before, and the colors are so soft and Southwest.
Don't know how they'll be used but they will.

In Stockbridge MA I found this tin box...

Quirky, in a quirky shop full of old quirky stuff as well as new quirky stuff. Whee!

I love a little container, and the tag on this one says
Curious Girl, Imagine the Possibilities.

Can't get better than that... It will hold beads or threads or geegaws like these in the studio...
For more studio shots click on the page at the top or the label on the side-->

Crystal Essence in Greater Barrington MA welcomed us in... a woman who said she was a dog psychic "read" Cole.  Apparently he's sad.
He picks up on our moods, so she moved on to me,  and noted that I was unsettled causing him to be.
Oh my.
We discussed our desire to relocate and she said I must let go and follow the little steps put in my path... that I am holding on to some parts of our area but the move will be good for us... all righty then.



The card I chose says, "Everything comes to us that belongs to us if we create the capacity to receive it"

Drew got a calendar of Thich Nhat Hanh, who's books he enjoys, I got the terrific card and a precious little piece of rhodochrosite to put on a female figure I plan to make soon.
See, always thinking about art and the next piece.Are you?? LeeAnna

Fall Farmer's Market and interview with two spinning artists

 We went to the local  farmer's market on Saturday to get a few more pumpkins. What a display of beautiful and somewhat unusual pumpkins! It was visually exciting to see all that orange, as well as the exotic ones.
We got enough small ones to go on the porch's flower boxes for the fall. Then we looked at the bounty of fresh vegetables and decided on some zucchini. So beautifully displayed!
Had to show you the odd but real variety here...

 We also bought two loaves of bread, cranberry pecan and Cinnamon Raisin. So moist and fresh we have eaten half of it already!! Save us from ourselves!

 Among the vendors and crafts people were these two women spinning hand dyed wool. I did a short interview with them both and thought you might enjoy learning a little bit about spinning.
Lori Beard of just lori creations  was using a treadle spinning wheel to make yarn for socks and other projects. She was spinning a mix of wool and silk in lovely bright colors. She was sure a few sessions of spinning and a person would get the feel of the process. I asked why she was attracted to wool and spinning as a textile. She loves the feel of it and it's something she can do in the evenings while being with her family.  It is a soothing meditative process

An important point she made was that there is a lot of tactile learning, or learning by doing. A person can be taught a skill but they really learn by doing it. She tries different patterns with different wools and learns from each item she makes. I am like that as well. She is inspired by the Md Sheep and Wool Festival each year, and folks if you haven't been, it's a dream come true of fiber love!

As for wool and yarn organization, and she said she has a lovely IKEA shelving unit full of colorful roving and yarn she has spun. Sounds much more contained than my stash of supplies!

I asked how her family accepts her spinning, and she said they really like to get hand knitted items, so they accept her wool love! I asked both women if they also wet-felt and they do, Lori sells felted soap bars as well as other items in her etsy shop.

BTW, She can't use the spinning wheel with shoes on, and I can't use the sewing machine foot pedal unless barefoot. Fiber people are tactile sorts!!

Her companion this day was Marseille Bunk who also loves  vintage dolls. She was using the drop spindle, a quite small tool that spins around to create the yarn from roving. (Roving is carded wool) Both women prefer to buy dyed wool instead of dying it themselves. Marseille's family loves getting her hand made items, and she loves the feel of wool running thru her fingers as it's soothing at the end of a long business day.
She just bought this unusual tool for weaving thin items like belts. Cool isn't it??
I'm reminded again that artists are more similar than we realize.
 Tune in tomorrow for pictures of our Fall decorations using said pumpkins. LeeAnna
Want to see more interviews with artists? click here!

interview with an artist #2

Just look at those beautiful flowers! Just my kind of bouquet because they are a mix of texture and color and shape.Look at the colors in this one sunflower! If I painted that and quilted it, someone would say, that's not the way they look.

And what in the world is that apple looking thing? There are four red ones and a green one on the stalk.
And the next picture is the other oddity in the bunch. This thing has white balloon looking things, two on a stalk.

 Nature is grand isn't it?

 The flowers came from the 'First Sunday'  festival in Annapolis. We three had a great time looking at art.

  Cole has a few words:  (from the poodle's mouth)
"I wanted to go because I knew there would be people to pet, other dogs to see, to get out of the house, and hey! I like art more than most poodles.
 I have joint issues now that I'm mature, so I was content to lay in this little doll house on the porch while my people and I had a slice of pizza and listened to this band. I was plenty tired by the time I got home, and had to walk all the way through the house to get to my water bowl. I need servants"

Me again... this band called Bumper Jacksons was rollicking! They played clarinet, bass, slide guitar and some odd percussion instruments as well as a washboard. Just about quirky enough for me.

Reminded me of my 20's when I followed a band much like them all around Tampa. Drew and I even got in some swing dance moves while listening.

As to the artists... I interviewed three this time. The first one was a man who makes sailboats out of driftwood and canvass as well as tiny glass ones.

Bayshore Art & Design in Cambridge MD. He couldn't take but a moment to talk but said his studio for driftwood sculptures is usually messy, but his jewelry studio is very tidy.
He got the idea for the driftwood boats from the wood itself one day.

The next artist was fascinating.... we talked for at least 15 minutes, long enough for Cole to pet him and his friend and recline in the booth to cool down. I was so engaged in our conversation I forgot to get a card! Or a picture! The thing is, he was so  interesting I must include him in this post.
He paints in a whimsical and humorous way. I told him there are some people who dismiss my art because it's humorous and whimsical, does he run into that? He considered and said, people who tell him they enjoy a different style are fine, but the naysayers should be blown off, and he waved his hand. I asked how he got the ideas to paint his figures. He said he loves painting figures, but paints the crabs and sea scenes for customers who love them.
I noted that his style was the same for the human figures or the boats. He centers one item, uses bright colors with wonderful shading, and the segments are all slightly separated on whatever he paints. Like the hands are slightly apart from arms, slightly apart from shoulder, etc. Same with components of boats, or crabs.
He looked around the booth, and said he had never thought about it, but it was true. He just paints.

The next artist also segmented her work...

Sara Knox (http://www.saraknoxart.com/) who works with clay, accidentally broke an edge one day, then proceeded to break the entire piece. She then thought what if... and look what she makes now! You can't tell in the photo but the shards are varying sizes, then painted. So cool. But the coolest part was the connection we forged while talking about art. I told her a bit about my art, and that one of her pieces reminded me of quilting...

See the intense line work on that vase? Very quilt like. When you touch it, and I just couldn't resist, I reached out and ran my finger over it not even asking first as I lost my mind for a minute, it feels textured like quilting lines.

Anyway, she was gracious about my touching it, and didn't even say anything like back away from the art.
She said she loved to sew earlier in her life so that led to this piece. Visit her website for better pics.
To summarize,
1.we are more alike than we are different.
2. every artform you explore informs your current work
3. when you make a mistake (something breaks) it can lead to great things
4. do what you love, some people will love it, some will not
5. talk to an artist, they are fascinating