At the risk of seeming like I am fishing for compliments (I’m not, however don't let that stop you if you feel so inclined) I'm going to post individual images of the art of the notecards and framed prints. I should have done that last post I guess but there was just too much other stuff weighing on my mind. But not just those. I’m posting all the colored pencil drawings in my sketchbook in the order in which they were done. I'm showing them on the page in my sketchbook so you get an idea of the size of each drawing. The pages in the sketchbook are 5 1/2" x 8 1/2".
First, I think I have finally admitted to myself that I am not going to be doing any more glass sculpture. While I have several unfinished models and ideas of what I might create I seem to have lost any desire to do that work. It is time consuming, it is labor intensive, and while I did enjoy the submersion in creating in 3 D form, of sculpting the models out of blocks and sheets of wax, I’m just not feeling compelled to get in there and do it because the rest…the mold making, filling the molds (tedious and also time consuming and a process that really needs to be done in one sitting taking an average of five hours to complete), the firing, the finish work with my very old worn out expensive to replace equipment…was just work. And to start again would involve having to go into the city and get fresh plaster and silica flour and moving the kiln over here to our garage from the shop since Mikey is using the bay with the appropriate plug. I look at my shelves of frit and wonder what the fuck am I going to do with all this.
I suppose I could post on the glass SM groups to sell it all, first come first serve, but I’m not quite ready to do that. As for the sculpting part, I could switch to ceramics but again no kiln, no glazes though there are a couple of people here in this town that I might possibly be able to get to fire my pieces for me. So, something to think about.
In the meantime I’ve turned to colored pencil drawings and watercolor paintings but I’m not very productive with the drawings or paintings. After 40+ years of making art every day I’m finding time for other things like gardening and yoga and reading and sewing (again, some).
So here are all my colored pencil drawings. The ones with two drawings on the page was just because there was space.
Blue Jay Feather
White Orchid Tree Flower and Bean Sprout
Poppy Seed Head and Wren Skull
Morning Glory Bush Flower and Acorn
Green Pecans
Amaryllis Bud
Zucchini Flower and Zucchini
Iris Bud
American Lotus
Heavenly Blue Morning Glory
Yellow Trumpet Flower
Chinese Tallow Tree Leaves in their Fall Colors
Buckeye Butterfly
Honeybee (I don't have the original anymore and I seem to have deleted the picture of the whole page but the bee itself is 3" square)
I have even fewer watercolors so that can wait.
I guess creative people let their instruments go at their own rate and ways. A lovely artist friend had a garage sale, and at least was able to give/sell all her unused canvases to one young woman. She still has a great easel. I have most of my clay tools gone, but still have a few, as well as some clay that may be useful. I'm pretty sure I won't get it out. Pretty sure that my creativity now is on blogs...or maybe just keeping up with my physical needs. Today I looked at the many circles of dried skin on my forearm, where I'd already slathered on sun-block, and decided each circle must be a landing pad for teeny tiny aliens. With all the micro-stuff that exists all over, inside and out, of this creature that can walk, talk and type...why not?
ReplyDeleteI got rid of all the sheet glass and bevels and jewels I used in the etched glass and the frit I had that I never used as the colors turned out to be too dense for my work about a year ago, just gave it away. Maybe in another year I'll be willing to get rid of the rest of it.
DeleteI like seeing your work! I can't even draw a very good stick-person.
ReplyDeleteThnks. Skill comes with practice though I'm not above taking shortcuts.
DeleteCodex: Give it time. It'll easily sell. I cycle through mediums then rediscover it. My acrylics sat in the garage for years until I found a use for them in art journals. (Glad I didn't sell them).
ReplyDeleteHa!Knew it was an Iris. Love the buckeye. Watermark for copyright. Rip out a sheet for sampling, stick it back in when done.
I'll be back. Bookmarked, but started the day by pouring oats in my coffee as one does for efficiency. (It's been downhill from there)
You'll note that the various colors stopped appearing on the edge of the page because I started using a sheet of paper but didn't keep any of it. Don't watermarks appear visually across the image? That doesn't appeal to me. I'm generally not concerned with posterity or copying. I rarely signed my architectural glas because I thought it was tacky.
DeleteCodex: It was just a suggestion. Glass work images, no one can do much with it. Art work is a different matter.
DeleteCodex: You know you're talented and the work is quite good.
DeleteI am in the same boat actually, what to do with all of my supplies!!! My vision dictates what I am able and not able to do anymore so have decided to accept that , adjust to larger expressions of art and to watch you tube - "Portrait artist of the Year" . There is a second hand shop in the back of a gallery here for artist's supplies so shifting them won't be a problem , letting go is the problem. Letting go of eyesight is a sad event.
ReplyDeleteYep, letting go is the problem. There are enough glass artist within a couple of hours drive that would gladly come and get the stuff especially as I wouldn't charge full price. This shit is expensive.
DeleteThe honeybee is amazing. The others are just beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThanks. I impressed myself with the honeybee. Really wasn't sure if I could do it.
DeleteHere's my opinion which is worth nothing- although I love the botanicals, I think the bee and the butterfly are absolutely so good.
ReplyDeleteIt is hard to let things like your glass work art go, isn't it? But sometimes when it's time, it's just time.
The bee and the butterfly were the most challenging. Wasn't sure I could do them justice so pleasantly surprised with how well they turned out.
DeleteYes - those last two are pretty amazing, but I I do love the morning glories.
ReplyDeleteI think the Heavenly Blue might even have been from one of Dr. M's photos.
DeleteYour sudden willingness to let the glass art go reminds me of my stopping sailing. I loved it when I did it, and I did it for years. I immersed myself in it, and eventually it led to a new occupation, but one day I was just done. Occasionally someone will ask if I don't miss it, and I say no, I don't. I'm just one with it now, and have moved on to other things, like wandering around nature with my camera. I'm just as happy -- and wandering around is much less work than sailing!
ReplyDeleteI love all your drawings! For some reason, the blue morning glory and the yellow trumpet flower are my favorite. I like seeing them next to one another; the colors go well together.
Not really sudden just a final recognition. This fall it will be 3 years since I've done any pate de verre. There have been other time periods when I didn't do any but this is the longest I've gone.
DeleteThose are two of my favorites as well.
Your Blue Jay feather is really quite wonderful.
ReplyDeleteThanks! Though I think I could do a better job now.
DeleteThose are fabulous, Ellen. Codex has a good suggestion to watermark them so people or AI can't steal your work online.
ReplyDeleteDon't watermarks show up across the image? That doesn't appeal to me. I'm not really concerned about theft.
DeleteYou are really so talented!
ReplyDeleteThank you Marcia.
DeleteYour Art is Beautiful, it would be difficult to choose a favorite one, you have Talent. Sometimes you lose interest in an Art Form or a Hobby, it happens, letting it go isn't something that has to be permanent if you have renewed interest again later on... or not.
ReplyDeleteThanks. Talent or affinity developed through decades of practice? Who knows. Talent alone is not enough.
DeleteTrue which is why I'm not quite ready to let go of all the frit, That stuff is expensive and I'd hate to have to buy it again.
Terrific drawings! I love the morning glories -- those graceful petals.
ReplyDeleteI think it's admirable that you know it's time to step back from the glass work. If it's no longer fun and just seems difficult, why keep on? I bet someone else would be happy to take all that frit.
I think maybe it's because the process is so time consuming and can take months to produce one piece and while most of the work in that medium has sold, I never have been fully compensated for the time investment.
DeleteAge really does change the medium. I remember this one old painter lamenting he couldn't do giant canvases anymore. I said "So go trout fishing instead of deep sea fishing"? Yep you're done with glass and I will buy a shit ton of frit from you because I can. Although keep the fruit for ceramics for sure, when the advantages of the fire arts.
ReplyDeleteOne of the advantages of the fire arts is cross pollination
DeleteI think it's more the time to produce one piece which can take weeks or months that I'm no longer willing to invest. That and my aging equipment. Getting rid of the frit if and when will be no problem.
DeleteEllen, the drawings and watercolors are just beautiful. I really like them all, and the Honeybee is one of the best.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jim. I wasn't sure I could do the bee justice so was pleasantly surprised at how well it turned out.
DeleteI love them all, the butterfly and bee are amazing!
ReplyDeleteXoxo
Barbara
Thanks Barbara. Those two were the most challenging.
Delete