HIVE (has landed) -kes

Please click here to view HIVE on my personal site

Sewing Frenzy (SKF)

Hi Folks,
   
As usual I was in my art fog and forgot to post on time.
Last Sunday night I received a spark of inspiration and couldn't go to sleep. So I got up out of bed and drew all of the images that flooded in. FABRIC VASES, FABRIC VASES! My mind scrambled through the history of art translating various shapes and sizes, creating each memory anew in textiles. I saw Greek, Chinese, French, Egyptian vases. Each done in the numerous swatches I had inherented from a guy in the building who clears out his storage space by graciously leaving the books in front of my door. Thank you Joel! I love free materials, an artist's dream! These are my first attempts, hopefully with more to come. I'm still learning the techniques of  forming fabric into 3-D vessels.

                                                     Enjoy,
                                                                                                                            SKF

Kalendar Project (Part IV) - az

This is a multiple entry project see April 7, 2015 (base),  May 5, 2015 (part II), 

and May 26, 2105 (part III). 

The Magician.

 I did not like the face so I was telling Karin how I could not resolve it and she suggested that I do what I always do and collage over it. Genius! You can always count on a friend for a good critique. 

How she started....

This is how she ended up. Add some watch faces, a scrapbook letter with glitter, some Lumiere paint, and instant resolution.  Lumiere paints have this really wonderful pearly quality that add an atmospheric quality. I also discovered white gel pens in this project. I love them because they write on most of my artistic surfaces. 

Now you are viewing the Warrior. 

There is still a little of steam punk theme going on. The background consists of motorcycle rims and bike parts. When I was madly cutting out the rims, one of them fell on the picture where hand was and it looked like shield so I kept it.  I added a layer of black mica paint to the rims which made it darker but still visible. The trim on the bottom is a belt. This also was finished with glitter paint.

The one thing about painting on un-stretched canvas is that it has a mind of it own. It does not quite lay flat which is why I could not get the full detail of the belt when I was photographing it.  

I will return with the final installment of this project at the beginning of July. 

Kalendar Project (Part III) -az

 This is a multiple entry project see April 7, 2015 (base) and

 May 5, 2015 (part II).

   It is ironic that this piece is called The Jester. It was laughing at me the whole way.

This work was like a chess match.  Every time I thought I had a idea that worked and I realized my strategy was suspect and chaos reigned.

In the beginning, my formula was to have a certain base color for each tarot flag, which was not to happen.  Her face was originally wonky so I ripped it out and drew another- several times. I liked her dress which is why the face had to work with dress. 

When all else fails, make ample use of rhinestones, ribbon, confetti, embellishments, clock faces and a generous layer of red glitter paint.

Below is the Angel and this one went much easier. I didn't intend to go steam punk but that is the way it went. I tried walnut ink with this one. It produced an interesting effect on around the clock faces. 

The beginning....

Adding the wings....

The completed drawing..

Amazingly, no glitter or rhinestones were used in the Angel. Instead I opted for metallic snakeskin ribbon and chain. 

Stay tuned next week for Part IV of the Kalendar Project. 

Micro Moments in Beauty(SKF)

Hello Again (Do you like my hat?)
(I do not!) ( Good-bye!)( Good-bye again!)

Oh I'm sorry, I was stuck in 'Go Dog Go". Lovin' reading time with my grand kids.

It does relate to my little rant. Taking time even if it is a micro moment to appreciate our own lives.It's amazing that we find ourselves on rare and beautiful planet.Yes, I know, how cliche. There's an unexpressed poetry to every person's life most of which is unacknowledged. As artists, we have hard won skills by which we express how precious our passing perceptions are to ourselves and hopefully, like- minded others. We are often compulsively driven to communicate our visions to a broader community. Then , again, sometimes not. We stand in  the world like small children and their plastic buckets at the seashore, pulling out treasures to share with any one who is interested. I'll let the high and mighty  judge and rule. It's a dishonest exchange for the faithless and the fearful. I prefer the simplicity of my own being and my soul's pleasure in the world that was created for me.
Please enjoy my prayers of praise.

hive preview -kes

Concept-June 2014;
I asked the art connection about an installation donation project, instead of the typical 'piece of art' donation routine I've been engaged in since 2003. I wanted to push myself, I wanted a new routine. Often I wonder what life would be like if I just enjoyed daytime TV or following popular sports teams. I'll be wondering a long time since those things aren't likely to occur in this lifetime.

Update-May 2015;
I've been working at this concept for almost a year. My collaborators at the site [Massassoit Community College in Brockton] and I have been diligently working since December 2014.
Here is a sneak preview of a small section, install in progress, onto the 25' wall of the Student Center Cafe.

To see the full story of the HIVE with honey comb and bees click here

right corner, ~ 7x6'

Kalendar Project (Part II ) - az

** For Part 1, please go to 4/7/2015.**

When I started this project,  I had an initial idea and then I got some input and so became the idea for twelve flag type tarot cards. I did have a formulaic idea for these tarot flags which was to help speed the completion of this project but I realized formulas in my work work best for cohesiveness but not necessarily time. I like to enjoy the process so I gave up speed  decided to let the work guide me.

The following is the Pretender.  This piece was inspired by the book 'Fairies' by Alan Lee and Brian Froud.  I had fun with this one. I used spray paint, spray glitter, alcohol paint, punches, rhinestones, silk leaves, and quite a few scrap booking stickers and embellishments. I used a white gel pen because I thought the image was looking a little dark and the white brightened up a bit. I finished the edges with ribbon.

Here is the original. I copied the image on watercolor paper then adhered the image on the canvas.

 I am always amazed the moods, artwork goes through as transitions through pencil, pen, color, and finally embellishments.