this is so good...

March 23, 2015 in Inspiration

So I have been reading my art crush blog, Lisa Congdon, recently, who writes great posts about what it is to have an art career. And how to do it. I found one of her posts recently that linked back to a column written by Cheryl Strayed for The Rumpus. It is brilliant. It addresses how to get out of your own way, how to do the work, how to practice. And it is a practice, this creative life. Just like exercise and meditation and eating well and taking care of oneself. You have to do the work even when you don't want to. Even when the work is shitty. You just have to work. This line sums it all up for every one of us creatives, even though it is addressed to a writer:

"Write like a motherfucker."

I am trying to.

SPRING BREAK!

March 19, 2015

I am so thankful you are here. My son has been at school and my husband at work and the house quiet except for the refrigerator hum and netflix. I have gotten a lot done. Completed two commissioned drawings and been sewing hook and eyes. And watching House of Cards, the Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and Season 2 of the Fall. Jamie Dornan and Kevin Spacey are such amazing creeps. Images soon, and only one day left of my break.

Installation images...

March 09, 2015 in Work

Thank you so much to my husband who braved the temperatures to get some shots of my piece at the Minnesota Center for Book Arts fully installed!

"Ligatures" is up another month or so if you would still like to see it.

March?????

March 06, 2015 in Work

I can't believe it is March. I hadn't meant to go so long between posts, but after finishing the piece for the MN Center for Book Arts, it was time to jump right into class prep and planning. And then it was time to go to class. I am teaching Drawing 1 and 3-Design this semester. This is my second semester of 3-D Design and I think we are getting some pretty good results. My students just finished a helmet/headgear piece dealing with line and planar shapes and I am really pleased with the results. Take a look at two:

Another two got into the Juried Student Exhibition. Congratulations!

Corinne Botz....

January 26, 2015 in Inspiration

was recently in Hi-Fructose magazine, which is where I discovered her. Look at these fabulously creepy photos. I have been thinking of creating little tableaus for my dolls that I could then photograph, and these have me so excited.

Much of her work flirts with fear and death. You can visit her website here.

Keren Kroul....

January 23, 2015 in Inspiration

Congratulations on the Minnesota State Arts Board Initiative Grant! It is well deserved.

I can't wait to see the work that gets made by Keren this year. She paints these lovely, large multi panel watercolors that are map like depictions of memory. Her use of color is really quite lovely. But I think one of my favorite parts are the negative space shapes. Please visit her website to see more work, and venues at which you can see it in person. She is booked out nearly three years!

Anne Siems...

January 17, 2015

I just love her work. Love. I wish I could see one in person. Please check out more of her work at her website.

I think I need a lot of...

January 15, 2015

these. These squares were hanging on the wall at my exhibition "Stitch and Rend." Each square was actually suspended by different length stitches that ran from the square to a nail and back again. When it was time to come down, I asked my friend to cut the threads at the nails, and send the squares back to me. I just love how the thread becomes hair like from the hook and eye scab. I think I need to make more. Many more, that then might be attached by hook and eye to one another, quilt like, hanging on a wall.