I have stolen a Moleskin sketchbook from Kevin and started sketching, but I am reminded once again that I have no drawing skills. I am told practice might actually help. I can envision what I want to make, but my skill is so hopelessly far from my vision -- it's paralyzing. I tried to make a series of collaged paintings for WisCon last year, but no one bought them. I don't think they were bad, but I do think the economy was awful. And also, they were rushed.
I want to go back to those pieces and do more with them, layer in more subtleties of paint, add stitched metallic thread and glittering embellishments. I am more than a little obsessed with those people who cut apart books to make art, and while on the one hand I find that somewhat horrifying, there's a power in the horror that can't be ignored. I am tempted to cut up a hundred of my remaindered books that live in boxes in my basement. Maybe I will build a tower of them, and escape to a better world.
Books I'm reading, The Cloth Paper Scissors Book, Barbara Delaney; Masters: Book Arts: Major Works By Leading Artists, Lark Books; Sew Wild: Creating with Stitch and Mixed Media, Alisa Burke
Some gorgeousness:
"Doorway Crown," Margaret Couch Cogswell:
"The Dream of the Dirty Woman: Bread and Puppet," Clare Van Vilet:
Jellyfish in cloche, I believe by David Stark:
"Out of Narnia," Su Blackwell:
"Wonderland: The Queen's Armada," Kristy Mitchell:
I am quite impressed, especially by the last one.
These are gorgeous, MAM! They make me want to create something, too…