Snippets of this and that.

I have such a hard time keeping this blog rolling, as evidenced by the fits and starts of my postings.  I've decided to take a page out of Austin Kleon's book, and instead of struggling to write a long, somewhat cogent article, just patch together random snippets.  Austin publishes a weekly newsletter of 10 things that might interest his readers.  He's an over-achiever.  I'm not.  I'm going to post FIVE things I'm interesting in, that more or less relate to quilting, art quilting, and/or being an artist, and then I'll have another cup of coffee.

So here are this week's snippets:

 1.  If you're in or around San Jose, California in the next 3 months stop in at the San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles to see the H2OH! show organized by SAQA (Studio Art Quilters Association.)  You can see details from some of the pieces here.  The show runs from April 20 to July 14, 2019.  

2.  Are you trying to make a living, or even part of a living from your art?  Then you need this book by Lisa Congdon.  Art, Inc.: The Essential Guide for Building your Career as an Artist.  The book has lots of practical advice on how to start your art biz, a few pep talks about snapping out of the mindset that artists need to be poor and long suffering, and interviews with artists who are making a living with their art.  Though Art, Inc. has been out about five years, it is extremely relevant.

3.  As long as I'm promoting books for artistic types, and stealing a format from Austin Kleon, I should mention his book.  Actually, series of books.  Steal Like an Artist was Kleon's first book, followed by Show your Work! and recently, Keep Going.  

Keep Going was just released, and Kleon is out on a book promoting tour.  Check his schedule to see if he'll be at a book store, brew pub, or library near you.

4.  This is a sad story about a phenominal work of art languishing in a closet.  Around the year 2000 nearly 60 artisans came together to create a tapestry the exact height and length of the Bayeux Tapistry (28 inches high by 108 feet long), and using the same materials--linen and wool yarn. The tapestry depicts the history of Vancouver, Washington.  It is believed to be the only project of its kind in the country.  Unfortunately, after briefly being displayed at a few venues, it has languished in a closet for many years, unable to find a permanent home.  It is worth your time to take a couple minutes to watch this video showing the entire length of the work.

5.  And lastly, here's what I am working on this week:

I've been thrashing in the wilderness trying to figure out how to make the random thicket of twigs and branches you see as you look back into a forest.  I tried stitching, painting, and drawing with permanent ink and markers, but none of them pleased me.  Finally, I happened upon, and stole,  a process from Bobbie Baugh. (Theft seems to be a recurring theme this week.).  Baugh uses wheat paste resist and acrylic paints to create amazing textures in her work.  I knew it was just what I needed to make the background of my Hoh rain forest of giant trees on the Olympic Peninsula.
 
This piece is a long way from being finished, but now that I have a background and some tree trunks in place, I'm unstuck and able to move forward!!

That's it for this week.