Many Many Cherries (Originally uploaded by randubnick)
Here are many, many bowls of cherries, ready for a celebration in July! This morning I made this pattern in Painter from the image I posted yesterday: a photo (posterized) of cherries in July. The little song about cherries is a reminder to relax and enjoy life: "Life is just a bowl of cherries, so live and laugh at it all!"
Bowl of Cherries (Posterized Photo) Originally uploaded by randubnick
Tonight I created this digitally manipulated version of a photo that I took and posted here back in July of 2005. I came across the original photo tonight and thought it would look good posterized, so I opened it in Painter IX and tried it. I liked the result. So while I was at it, I used Painter's magic wand tool and added some light blue color overlay to the background. Well, as time goes by, I guess some things don't change that much: every summer I look forward to bing cherries, I always enjoy eating cherries on a hot July day, and I am apparently incapable of looking at this image without hearing a little soundtrack in my head ("Life is Just a Bowl of Cherries").
Manhattan in the Morning (From the Train to Boston) Originally uploaded by randubnick
I took this photograph on Thursday morning, from the 6:55 AM train back to Boston. You actually can't see much of New York City from the train because travel in and out of the city involves going through a tunnel under the river, and directly to or from Penn Station. But you can catch a glimpse of the Manhattan skyline as the train travels through Queens, but you have to wait for just the right angle. That is what I did on Thursday morning, and I had pretty good luck this time. I used the zoom on my new digital camera. This is one of the best of the photos I took and today I cropped it to get this composition. I also adjusted the brightness and contrast to compensate for the tinted windows of the Amtrak train. The morning light was beautiful and I wanted to make sure that came through in this photo.
Basket of Apples (Matted and Framed) Originally uploaded by randubnick
This is an oil pastel drawing that I did back in September of 2006, and posted here daily as the drawing progressed. When I found out that my aunt admired this drawing, I decided to give it to her, so on one of my trips down to New York City, I took it along on the train (unframed) in a portfolio. Yesterday I visited my aunt and saw this drawing matted and framed for the first time. My aunt picked out the color of the mat and I think she did a great job! I took this photo yesterday in New York City; tonight I opened the image in Painter IX and used a little digital chalk to tone down some reflections visible in the glass.
New York City Fruit Stand (Posterized Photo) Originally uploaded by randubnick
I took the train down to New York yesterday to spend the day visiting family. It was a short visit, but we made the best of the time we had. At lunchtime, we took a walk down Broadway. We passed this fruit stand on the corner. I love the outdoor grocery displays in New York City, so I took a couple of pictures. Tonight I cropped the image to focus on the pineapple, mango, and kiwi fruit displays (which seems appropriate, given the tropical weather in New York City yesterday). I also posterized the image in Painter IX, and used some color overlays on the kiwi and the yellow sign. Now I have a little souvenir of my one-day Manhattan get-away.
Niantic Bay CT (Originally uploaded by randubnick)
I did this sketch with my PDA (handheld computer) using Pocket Artist software. The image was inspired by views of Niantic Bay, Connecticut, which were whizzing past because I made this drawing from a moving train. I was taking the train from Boston to New York for a quick visit to family. A fellow passenger kindly identified the name of the bay. The trip down to New York took place was yesterday so I am back-dating this post as July 16th which is when I did the sketch. I returned today (July 17th) which is when I actually posted it. Although I did just a little bit of cleanup on this image before posting it, the image was created entirely on my handheld computer.
Three Nectarines (Pencil Drawing) Originally uploaded by randubnick
I am teaching a beginning drawing class at Red Brick, and tonight was the second session. When the students are doing an exercise or drawing, I try to do it too, whenever possible. Tonight I set up a still life of three nectarines on a plate. I started this drawing by following the contours of the fruit and the plate, paying attention to the negative shapes. Then I added shadows and shading. This exercise was fun, but it made me hungry!
Raspberries Everywhere (Posterized Photo) Originally uploaded by randubnick
Tonight I used Painter IX to posterize this photo, which I took back in 2005 with my late great phonecam (that made soft focus images). I posted the original photo here back in 2005, but I thought this would be a good time to revisit the image. Raspberries are ripening now, and just as in 2005, they are growing all over everything. I am cutting them back some. (Well I have to, because the thorns on those things are murder!) But over time, I have learned to cut back less and pick more. Confronted with raspberries, you can focus on the brambles and thorns, or consider the beautiful little berries. If you want the raspberries, you have to put up with the thorns. So out I go to trim a little and pick as much as I can. I usually get only a few berries at a time, enough for cereal or waffles. It is a funny little harvest. The tiny berries are few and far between, but it is best to make the most of whatever is beautiful, whatever is sweet, however much of it you can find.
Heart Shaped Box as of July 10 (Originally uploaded by randubnick)
This is a photo of my collage and decoupage project as it looked the last time I worked on it, which was last Thursday, July 10th. I am recycling the heart-shaped box, which originally contained a Mother's Day gift from my daughter. I am covering all the surfaces of the box with designs made with decoupage and collage, using printed metallic ribbons. I have been concentrating on the edge of the box top (covered with a predominantly red pattern). It is almost complete, except for a bit of patching, as can be seen in this photo. But the gold pattern below, on the outside of the box, still has a long way to go. To be continued. . . .
Clematis in July (Originally uploaded by randubnick)
Last week there was a bad wind storm with hail, and a tree came down in the yard. It is fun to garden, but not so much fun to deal with tree removal and getting rid of the debris. But the other morning, I took a little break to notice that the clematis had opened. I took a few photos with my digital camera because the blossoms looked so beautiful in the morning light. This is the best of the three photos I took. In fact, this is the image exactly as it came out of the camera. I didn't adjust anything and didn't even have to crop it. The aqua peeking through the leaves at the upper left corner is a glimpse of swimming pool, and I considered cropping it out, but I like the combination of colors, and I think the strong color in that corner helps balance the composition.
Heart Shaped Box, Closeup of Side as of July 5 (Originally uploaded by randubnick)
I am continuing to work on this project whenever I get a chance. I am covering this heart-shaped box with collage and decoupage patterns made from printed metallic ribbons. The box itself once held a Mother's Day gift from my daughter, and I am going to give her this project when it is finished. This is how the box looked as of July 5th. In this closeup of the side of the box, you can see the tiny collage compositions that I am making from pieces of ribbon.
Cascading Petunias (Posterized) Originally uploaded by randubnick
Last weekend included a visit to a wonderful garden store in Marblehead, Massachusetts. The plants are outside in rows of beautiful displays and you can wander around through the flower carts and hanging plants. It's a great place for gardeners, but also for photographers. This image began as a photo of a hanging basket of pink petunias. Tonight I cropped the image to get a closer view of the flowers. I liked the pattern of flowers and foliage, so I posterized it using Painter IX.
Sailboats on the Ocean (Originally uploaded by randubnick)
We have had a string of hot summer days here in the Boston area. Here is an image to cool things off a bit. Even when the air is hot and muggy in Beverly, it is almost always better near the shore. I took this photo from a tiny park off a residential street near the ocean, and tonight I cropped the image to get this composition. Beverly has several half-hidden parks where residential side streets run up to the shoreline. These little pocket parks are marked with signs saying "Please Enjoy This Public Way." And I do! They have flowers, park benches, and even steep staircases down to the water. Best of all, they have cool breezes and great views of the ocean.
Composition with Three Textures (Drawing Class Exercise) Originally uploaded by randubnick
I am teaching a basic drawing class at Red Brick Studio and tonight was the first of four sessions. Because it is a small class, I am trying to participate in (or at least demonstrate) as many of the drawing exercises as possible. That makes it more fun for me, and also helps me to understand what is and is not working in an assignment. One of the first exercises for the class was to create a composition using a repeated shape filled with three different textures. This is my demo. This small drawing (maybe 3 by 4 inches) is done with a fine tip Sharpie pen on sketchpad paper.
Heart Shaped Box (View of Side as of July 1) Originally uploaded by randubnick
Here is how the heart shaped box looked as of July 1. I am covering this box with collage and decoupage, using printed metallic ribbons. (The box itself originally held a gift from my daughter for Mother's Day.) This view shows the progress on the side of the box top (red pattern), which I have been trying to finish, while at the same time working on the gold pattern (on the side of the bottom of the box).
Tiger Lilies and Rock (Originally uploaded by randubnick)
Recently I have been exploring a new neighborhood to walk in here in Beverly. There are lots of hills and rocky outcroppings, contrasting with beautiful old homes and gardens on winding streets. I loved the way the tiger lilies looked against the boulders, so I took a photo with my Blackberry (phonecam). Tonight I cropped the photo to get the composition I wanted, and here it is.
Fabric Flowers and Vase (Day 2) Originally uploaded by randubnick
This is a work in progress, a collage made out of pieces of cloth, applied to the background by using a sticky backing and ironing the pieces on. I started this piece in the fiber arts class at Red Brick (see post for June 27th). Since then, I have been thinking about what to do with the background. I haven't had a chance to buy more of the sticky backing or get more fabric, so for the moment, I am working with the leftover scraps from the class. Yesterday I finally had a chance to try out my ideas, so I got out my scissors and the iron and went to work. I created a surface to hold the vase, using the same purple pattern as in the flowers. I am almost out of that pattern, so will have to come up with a solution for the foreground. Right now I am considering using some darker material (deep blue or purple) to create shadows and the side of the table. To be continued. . . .
Fourth of July at Independence Park (Originally uploaded by randubnick)
I took this photo tonight at Independence Park in Beverly, Massachusetts, a great place to watch fireworks. This is a beachfront park, and fireworks from at least three nearby towns can be seen: Salem, Marblehead, and Beverly Farms. Because of the distance, the sounds are muted, but the water reflects and enhances the visual effects. In addition, there are lights along the shore, and even on the water because some people watch the fireworks from their boats. I took my new digital camera along, thinking I would try to get some pictures. My camera has a setting for fireworks. Well, I loved the fireworks, but was disappointed with most of the photos I took, and none of them do the scene justice. For one thing, it took me a while to figure out that this was a slow shutter speed, so to get a clear picture, the camera has to be held very still. So I got a lot of mistakes. But a few of the mistakes were interesting, and this is one of the best! I adjusted the contrast to enhance the bright lights, and cropped this image to get the composition I wanted.
Heart Shaped Box as of June 25 (Originally uploaded by randubnick)
Although last week was really hectic, I did manage to slip away for an hour here and there to work on this project. This is a keepsake box that I am covering with collage and decoupage made of printed metallic ribbons. I received the box several years ago. It held a Mother's Day present from my daughter, and when this project is finished, I am going to give the keepsake box to her as a gift. A few days ago, I posted a closeup view from the side. But this photo, taken a few days later, shows more of the box. I have been concentrating on the outside of the box top (predominantly red ribbon) and the outside of the bottom of the box (predominantly gold ribbon). I am further along with the red pattern than with the gold, but I am seeing progress. There is a lot of detail work to this project, but I am really enjoying it, and have to force myself to stop working. To be continued. . . .
Found Art (Posterized Photo of Pool Filter) Originally uploaded by randubnick
Today I was asked to take a picture of the inside of our (malfunctioning) swimming pool filter, to e-mail to the swimming pool company for a diagnosis. After launching into my customary rant about "The Role of the Artist in American Society," I complied, using my digital camera. Although it was hard to see what I was doing, I did my best, and the results were very useful to the swimming pool people. But family members who saw the photos thought they were interesting, and I had to agree, even though at first I laughed off the suggestion that I post them here. So tonight I cropped one of the photos and posterized it, and here it is, a piece of found art (with apologies to Marcel Duchamp). This is funny, but also serious, because I really do believe that art can be found anywhere (even in a broken swimming pool filter), and that beauty can be found every day, if we are willing to look.
Swampscott Beach in Fog (Originally uploaded by randubnick)
I took this photo of the beach at Swampscott, MA, from inside the Red Rock Bistro during brunch last Sunday. Tonight I cropped the photo to get the composition I wanted. One of this restaurant's many attractions is its view of the Boston skyline, but it was much too foggy Sunday morning to have any hopes of seeing that. But that doesn't mean there was nothing to see! I think fog is visually interesting because it calls attention to details that are often overlooked. I loved watching the waves come up onto the beach. In this photo, I was trying to capture the way the curve of the ocean waves mirrors the line of the shore, seen in the houses on the curving road on the right.
Heart Shaped Box, Closeup of Side as of June 22 (Originally uploaded by randubnick)
Life has been even crazier than usual around here, but I haven't forgotten about this collage and decoupage project. I have a heart-shaped box that once held a Mother's Day gift from my daughter. I am using printed metallic ribbons to cover it with collaged and decoupaged designs. This photo shows a closeup view of it from the side. In fact, I left this "work in progress" on display during open studios last weekend. It was very hard to sit in the studio and look at this project and NOT work on it. On the first day of open studios, I didn't work on the piece, but did use any quiet time I had to look for pieces of ribbon. On the second day, with just a few hours left to go in open studios, I decided to do a little work on the piece between visitors. Here is how it looked by the time I packed up to head home.
Mountains and Sun (Artist Trading Card) Originally uploaded by randubnick
Yesterday I posted a self-portrait crayon sketch that I drew at a recent reception at Red Brick Studios. Making a self-portrait was one of two activities for artists at the reception. The other activitity was to make an artists' trading card. These little cards are maybe two by three inches. I made a very quick little painting of mountains and red sun, imagery that comes from growing up in Colorado. Left alone to draw anything I'd like, I almost always begin with a sun (a point) and the mountains (a line). I guess you could say this is a signature image. Before I left, I took a quick photo of my little painting, using the top of the stool as a background.
Parlor Game (Self-Portrait in Crayon) Originally uploaded by randubnick
Last weekend was open studios at Red Brick, and the events included a reception. People were invited to make self-portraits. Although I was short on time, I decided to participate in this little parlor game because I love art activities at parties for artists. I made a quick crayon sketch on the square panels provided. I didn't have a mirror anyway, so I just drew a kind of cartoon of myself, without worrying about getting a likeness. (Some of the people who were watching me draw said that the sketch looks like me. It was nice of them to say so, but I don't think it does, or at least it looks as much like Carol Channing as it does me.) Anyway, I didn't care either way, because I was just having fun. As I was finishing up, I learned that this was for a composite portrait of Red Brick artists. So this little sketch became part of a panel of self-portraits by Red Brick artists, and was hung on the wall the next day for open studios.
Fabric Flowers and Vase (Day 1) Originally uploaded by randubnick
I have posting projects from the fiber arts class I have been taking at Red Brick. Last night I posted a felting project that was a disappointment for me. So tonight I am posting the project that I am most excited about. This is a work in progress that I started last Monday night, the last session of the class. We learned to make mosaics or collages out of cloth. The result looks like applique, but no sewing is involved, (although quilting or embroidery can be added for decoration). The process is iron a sticky backing on to fabric, cut the pieces of fabric out and arrange them on a background fabric, and iron them to make them stick. I decided to do a still life because the imagery is familiar and something I can produce from imagination. I noticed some blue and white printed fabrics that reminded me of Chinese porcelain pottery, so I decided on a blue and white vase, and some rosy purple fabric for the flowers. Although I already had a basic idea in mind, the instructor suggested sketching first with tailor's chalk, so I did a very general sketch. (The white lines of the chalk are still visible.) I have been making collage with paper, so creating an image out of pieces of fabric was familiar, but I did have to get used the mechanics of the process. But I have to say that this is the most fun I have ever had with an iron!!! I loved doing this, and I can hardly wait to get more fabric and backing so I can complete this project on my own.
White Fleece with Hardly Any Blue (Felting) Originally uploaded by randubnick
Last night's post was of a felting project from the fiber arts class I have been taking. The photo was of a blue and white design laid out in fleece. To make felt, you have to wet the fleece with warm soapy water, and knead it like bread dough. But when I added the water, the blue dye began to run almost immediately, fading to a faint green. When I rinsed it (the final step), almost all remaining color disappearing, leaving only faint traces of blue. My hopes for this piece were literally going down the drain! The dye is not supposed to run this much, so I guess I had a bad batch of blue fleece. Well, this photo looks like an image of an invisible rabbit in snow, as we used to say in high school. But I am posting it anyway as an example of a very real part of making art: disappointment. To make art, you have accept the accidental as an opportunity, not a disaster. It helps to laugh, and I did, thinking about standing for three hours with my hands in soapy water kneading fleece only to create a schmatta that looks like it a very fancy dog bed. Although I was disappointed about the color disappearing, I still like the texture. So now I have a new problem to solve. Can I make something with this piece of felt (a pillow, bag, scarf, etc.) and find a way to add color in the process (perhaps with yarn or beading)? To be continued. . . .
Blue and White Fleece (Felting) Originally uploaded by randubnick
I am finally getting around to posting more of the projects from the fiber arts class I have been taking at Red Brick. In the second class I attended, the instructor was teaching the class how to make felt from fleece. The idea is to pile up fleece in different colors, and then wet it down with soapy water, and knead it like bread dough until it starts to stick together, and then rinse it. This is a photo that I took of my design before I put water on it. I decided to use blue and white fleece, and added some of the brighter curly pieces of fleece. At the time, I was thinking about how the fleece reminded me of clouds, which is why I was going with the delicate blue and white color scheme. I am glad I took this photo because once I got the fleece wet, things did not progress as I had planned. To be continued. . . .
Daisies for a Summer Day (Originally uploaded by randubnick)
On a recent walk, I saw lots and lots of white daisies with yellow centers. I liked the way they looked in the sunlight, standing tall in the green grass, so I took a photograph. Today I cropped it to get a good composition. It makes a nice image for a summer day.
Geese at Cummings Center Pond (Digital Woodcut) Originally uploaded by randubnick
This is a digital woodcut, made with Painter IX, from the photo that I posted yesterday, of a family of geese at the Cummings Center Pond. It is somewhat less colorful than the photo, but the digital woodcut emphasizes the textures in the scene.
Geese at Cummings Center Pond (Originally uploaded by randubnick)
When the weather starts to get hot, as it did last week, one of the best outings with a dog is walking around the Cummings Center Pond. (Around here, dogs aren't allowed at the beaches between May and September.) It is always a little cooler at the Cummings Center Pond because the breeze across the water cools the air. You wouldn't think that a little pond in Beverly's office park could be so interesting, but there is always something new to see. Lately, the main attraction has been this family of geese camping out very close to the path. I have been trying to get some photos of the geese, but it is not easy because I don't want to scare them. This image is from one of the best photos, which I cropped tonight to get the composition I wanted.
Pink Rose by the Wall (Posterized Photo) Originally uploaded by randubnick
This is the same photo I posted yesterday (a pink rose near a brick wall), posterized in Painter IX. In this closeup, the brick wall is barely visible through the leaves, but I like the contrast of the color of red brick with the sweetie-pie pink of the roses and the acid green of the leaves.
Pink Rose by the Wall (Originally uploaded by randubnick)
On a recent walk at Long Hill Gardens, there was just one rose bush already in bloom, near a brick wall in the garden, so I took some pictures. Some of the blossoms were already dropping some petals, perhaps because of the heat, but one of the roses was perfect! It looked like it belonged on a birthday cake! Tonight I cropped the photo to focus on that one perfect rose, and here it is.
Self-Portrait Photo with Free Lace Scarf (Originally uploaded by randubnick)
On Monday night, in the fiber arts class that I am taking at Red Brick, I finished up the free lace scarf I have been making. I just added a little red ribbon as fringe on each corner, and I was done. Tonight I decided to photograph it to show how it looks over clothing, and this turned into another project! I wanted to learn to do this with my new digital camera. It was a little tricky getting used to the camera and I discarded a lot of mistakes: blurry photos, bad aim, missed shots, not to mention photos in which I looked like hell. Finally I tried taking the photo in front of a mirror so I could see what I was doing. That worked better, and I got a useable image of myself wearing the scarf. But then I noticed the background! I had captured a corner of the air conditioner, a window shade, a stack of papers, and a pile of books. Well, I wasn't about to start over, so I opened the image in Painter IX and used some quick digital airbrush to clean up the room! (I resisted the temptation to apply the digital airbrush to my face!) Anyway, here is the photo of me wearing the free lace scarf. It is fun to have it, it goes with everything, and I am planning to wear it to open studios at Red Brick this weekend.
Heart Shaped Box, Closeup of Side as of June 12 (Originally uploaded by randubnick)
Life has been pretty hectic lately, but last week I did get a chance to work on this project at the studio for a while. I am covering a heart-shaped box with collage and decoupage designs made with printed metallic ribbons. (The box originally held a Mother's Day gift from my daughter.) This photo shows the box from the side. The top of the box is just about finished. I am now working on the side of the box lid, which I am covering in ribbon that is predominantly red, with a little bit of gold. I have also started working on the side of the bottom part of the box, which I am covering in ribbon that is mostly gold, with an occasional touch of red.
Hy 1937 (Rescued Photo Posterized with Color Set)
Yesterday and the day before, I posted two versions of a snapshot of my father. The first version was the photo cropped, with scratches removed and focus sharpened on the face. The second version was a posterized version of the rescued photo. This is the third version, the rescued photo posterized in Painter IX with a color set. The color set added some green to the ivy, and some additional color variation to the foreground. But I also decided to use a color overlay to add muted rose tones to the face and to the brick. Although the first version is my sentimental favorite because it is the clearest picture of my dad's face, I think this version is the most successful visually.
Hy 1937 (Rescued Photo Posterized) Originally uploaded by randubnick
Yesterday I posted a rescued snapshot of my dad, taken as a young man, back in 1937. I used Painter IX to fix some scratches, improve the composition, and correct the focus. (My father's face was out of focus, but the background focus was quite sharp.) I liked the composition better and it was easier to recognize my dad's face, and for that reason, the version I posted yesterday is my favorite. But I also thought the photo might look good posterized (in Painter IX), so I tried it and here is the result. Even though the photo was black and white, the posterizing introduced some colors into the image. I liked the effect. Then I decided to take it further and try posterizing with a color set, and I will post the result tomorrow.
Hy 1937 (Rescued Photo) Originally uploaded by randubnick
This image started as a snapshot of my dad. Several years after he died, one of my aunts gave me a box of photos taken of him as a teenager or young man, and a few taken when he was a boy. Most of them were photos that I was seeing for the first time, and I was very glad to have them. Tonight I was looking through them (because it is Father's Day) and came across a snapshot of my dad as a young man, standing in front of a brick building with an ivy-covered porch. The words "Hy 1937" are written on the back, several years before he enlisted and was stationed in Colorado, where he met and married my mother. From the looks of the building, I would guess this was taken in Brooklyn, where he was born and raised. I really liked the snapshot, but it was scratched up, and although the background was in focus,the face was not. I decided to try to rescue the snapshot, so I scanned it into the computer and opened it in Painter IX. First I cleaned up the scratches, and then started working with the focus, selecting and sharpening individual areas. The result doesn't have the smooth finish of a "perfect photo", but I like it, mostly because I can see my dad's face much more clearly, but also because I like the rough look of the image. Finally, I cropped the image to get the composition I wanted, and here is the rescued snapshot. But then I began to wonder how this image would look posterized, so I tried it, and I will post the result tomorrow. To be continued. . . .
Closeup of Purple Iris (Posterized Photo) Originally uploaded by randubnick
The other day when I was taking a morning walk here in Beverly, I saw purple iris, the very same color as those that bordered the driveway back in Lawrence, Kansas. So I decided to take a couple of photos with my digital camera. Tonight, I cropped this image out of one of the photos, and then posterized it with Painter IX.
Two Mountains (Needle Felting) Originally uploaded by randubnick
On Monday I took my first class in fiber arts at Red Brick, and learned to make free lace (described in yesterday's post). I also learned how to do needle felting, which is working wool fleece into a felt backing with a very sharp needle. The photo is of the needle felting project that I made Monday night. I used a piece of yellow felt, about five inches square. I didn't like the color, but that was what was available. I didn't think I was going to like the process or the project, but I put a little bit of red fleece on the felt and got started. It suggested the sun, so I started creating the outlines of mountains. I began to approach the process as if I were painting, using different colors of fleece in transparent layers, and mixing the colors on the felt as if it were canvas. I got so involved in this that I didn't perceive time passing. The instructor mentioned that the process worked with yarn as well as fleece, so I outlined the mountain shapes with a little pink yarn. I covered almost all the yellow felt, but it peeks out here and there, and now I like the way it breaks through the fleece, adding complexity to the colors and perhaps suggesting a little sunlight on the mountains.
Free Lace Scarf (Originally uploaded by randubnick)
This is the free lace scarf that I made Monday night in the fiber arts class at Red Brick. This is the third of three photos that I took of the process. (See posts for June 10 and 11.) It was great to watch the pattern of ribbons on cellulose paper turn into lace as the backing dissolved in water. And it was also fun to see the two-dimensional pattern of ribbons take on the three-dimensional properties of fabric. This photo shows how the scarf drapes and moves in three dimensions. Well, the scarf is basically finished, though I plan to add more fringe to the ends. After that, I may post another photo to show how the scarf looks when it is worn.
Free Lace Scarf (Drying on Rack) Originally uploaded by randubnick
I am taking a fiber arts class at Red Brick Studios, and last night we learned to make free lace. This is free-form lace made by arranging ribbon and yarn on sticky cellulose paper, covering with a layer of clear cellulose, and stitching a grid through the layers. The cellulose layers dissolve when immersed in water, leaving just the lace. Last night I posted a photo of my project with the ribbons attached to the cellulose paper. The photo that I am posting tonight is also from last night's class, and shows my free lace scarf, drying on a wooden rack.
Free Lace Scarf (Ribbons on Backing) Originally uploaded by randubnick
I am taking a fiber arts class at Red Brick, something new for me, which is exciting but always a little scary. (Back in college, one of my all-time favorite painting teachers once said, "Randi, you are just not three-dimensional" and I fear he was right! But I managed to get through a required sculpture course with my sewing machine.) Anyway, the list of processes covered in the fiber arts class looked interesting, so I signed up. Last night we learned to make free lace, and I decided to make a lace scarf. The first step is to create a design with ribbons and yarn on extremely sticky paper. I used red and multicolored ribbons and yarn to make a geometric design, and the photo shows the design after I had stuck down all the ribbons. After that, the next step is to cover the whole thing with a piece of clear material that looks and behaves like Saran Wrap. This is NOT the sort of thing I am good at, and at this point, I felt like Lucille Ball doing fiber arts, but I managed to get the piece of film on straight. Then a grid is stitched over the whole piece, which the instructor did for us last night with a portable sewing machine. Once the sewing is finished, the whole thing goes into a tray of water. The clear material on top and the paper backing on the bottom are made of some kind of starch, and they dissolve in the water, leaving the lace! Tomorrow I will post a photo of the result. . . .
Colorado Landscape (Near Pinon), Posterized Originally uploaded by randubnick
This image began as a photo that I took a few years ago from the passenger's seat of a friend's car, as we headed back to Pueblo, where I grew up. I came across the photo tonight, cropped it, and then posterized it in Painter IX. To be more specific about the location, this is close to Pinon, Colorado which is about 15 minutes away from Pueblo. This is the landscape of home, the view out the car window on every road trip north to Colorado Springs, Denver, or Boulder. It has been quite a while since the landscape around Pueblo was part of my everyday life (forty years, to be precise) but on visits home I have come to appreciate it more. The side of the road at Pinon was a destination we all joked about as teenagers. But this landscape has a stark beauty that stays with me, along with wonderful memories of Colorado.
Boston Blues (Originally uploaded by randubnick)
A friend from Northern Ireland has been visiting the U.S. recently, providing a great excuse for a bit of local sightseeing. This is a photo from last week's outing, a trip to see the new ICA (Institute for Contemporary Art) on the Boston waterfront. But the first stop was our friend's hotel, to see the view that he was so excited about. He was staying at the Westin Boston Waterfront, on the 13th floor, which is where I took this photo. He said the view was even better after dark. (I should mention that he is a big fan of "Boston Legal"). The view was great, so I took some pictures through the window. Well, the weather was unusual last weekend, cool, very overcast, and threatening rain. The skyline was a combination of muted grays when I took the original photo. But when I had the image in the computer, something mysterious happened while I was trying to adjust the contrast or some such and it went blue! My theory is that this happened because I took the photo through the window, and perhaps the glass was polarized or treated in some other way. In any case, I liked the effect, so here is the image, Boston in blue.
Sunshine and Pink Peonies (Digitally Edited Photo) Originally uploaded by randubnick
This photo is from an afternoon walk at Long Hill Gardens in Beverly, at the tail end of May. The peonies were blooming all over the place, and so big that you would think you were dreaming! They were blooming in many colors, but I especially liked the pink ones, maybe because when I lived in Lawrence, Kansas, I had pink peonies in my backyard. In any case, it was a lovely afternoon to be at Long Hill Gardens. I liked the way the sunlight was playing on the flowers, so I took some pictures, and this image is cropped from one of the best photos. Tonight just as I was ready to post it, I noticed a pesky string of tree pollon hanging on one of the blossoms. (That stuff is everywhere and I am not surprised it worked its way into my photos.) So I opened the image in Painter IX and brushed off the pollon with a little digital pastel. But apart from that, I did not change the image. The color is just as it came out of the camera, and I did nothing to enhance the amazing afternoon light.
Heart Shaped Box (Side View with Tray, As of June 2) Originally uploaded by randubnick
Yesterday's photo was of this heart-shaped box, seen from above. Today I am posting the side view. I am covering all of the surfaces of this box with collage and decoupage, made from metallic ribbons printed with paisley and floral patterns. (In the background of this photo is a corner of another such project that I did last year, a collaged styrofoam tray. The posts for that project can be found by searching for "Ribbon Roses".) Well, at this point the top surface of the box is basically finished; now I am working on the sides. I am using red and gold paisley print for the top edge of the lid. I will use mostly gold, with maybe an occasional touch of red, on the sides of the box itself. I chose gold rather than a pattern or color because the sides of the box will need to work with whatever patterns are on the inside of the box as well as on the bottom. (I don't know what those will be yet. I am making this up as I go along!) Apart from the acrylic medium and a little gold paint for the trim, all of the materials for this project are recycled. The box was the container for a Mother's Day gift from my daughter, and the ribbons were in a batch of art and craft materials that a friend was giving away.
Heart Shaped Box (Collage Day 8) Originally uploaded by randubnick
On Monday morning, I went back to the studio to work on this project. The heart-shaped box once held a gift from my daughter. I am making it into a keepsake box, decorated with a collage and decoupage design made with printed metallic ribbons. I arrived at the studio excited about my idea for the sides of the box, but I forced myself to finish the top first. I had to find the right pieces of brown ribbon to cover any remaining gaps. Now I think the top is basically finished. This is how it looked in the morning sun. I did go on to work on the sides of the box and tomorrow I will post a photo taken from the side.
Red Boat at Kennebunkport (Digital Woodcut with Color Set) Originally uploaded by randubnick
Here is one more go at the image of a red boat seen through a screened window of a Kennebunkport restaurant. Yesterday I posted a digital woodcut of the image, created with Painter IX. This image is also a digital woodcut created with Painter IX, but this time I used a color set. I also used a color overlay and the "magic wand" tool to get the teal green color at the bottom and sides of the image. While I was at it, I used some digital pastel to cover up a pesky advertisement on one of the boats. This image is far from where I began when I saw the boat through the window at Kennebunkport, but this is the version of the image that I like best.
Red Boat at Kennebunkport (Digital Woodcut) Originally uploaded by randubnick
Yesterday I posted a photo of a little red boat seen through a windowscreen at a Kennebunkport restaurant up in Maine. This is a digital woodcut made from that photo using Painter IX's software. The colors are simplified, and the textures are enhanced, including the texture of the window screen.
Red Boat at Kennebunkport (Originally uploaded by randubnick)
A friend from Northern Ireland has been visiting the States, which has been a lot of fun and a great excuse to fit in a little local sight-seeing here and there. One rainy day in mid-May, we headed up to Kennebunkport, Maine, to have lunch. I took this photo from a little restaurant by the water. It was raining and still cold, with trees just barely beginning to leaf out. The highlight of lunch was Maine blueberry pie and the view! I loved the red boat and tried to get some quick photos. This is the best picture I was able to get -- through a window with a screen! Not ideal, but I decided that the texture of the window screen offered some interesting possibilities. To be continued. . .
