Trying to Get to Blank

July 8, 2008

blank_wall.jpg

Finally had to admit that to start a new series of work, I had to get rid of all the old stuff on the walls. So that meant taking down all the old PaMdora quilts that were pinned up on this wall for display for the last group tour.

But it also meant putting away all the little cutouts that I like to leave hanging around. As you can see, I still have trouble giving up everything. How can I give up my precious banana peel, a pink-polka-dot cat, and fuzzy pink mittens? Not to mention the headless dress form wearing vintage ribbons and the PaMdora screen print… Each one pains me to put away, but I don’t know why.

blank_wall21.jpg

That’s better. Nothing like a totally blank and boring wall to motivate you to start some new art.

blank_wall3.jpg

Finally after ditzing around all day trying to recover my water-stained (only on the bottom edges) pin boards, I get started trying to block in color and fabrics for a new series.

I like to look at the colors and abstract shapes to decide if I have a good design. I think these compositions look sort of static and that worries me, but the idea here is that I’m going to make a series of small quilts to hang around a central concept for an upcoming show in September, so the design of each one will be simple.

Filed Under process, quilts, studio 


Comments

7 Comments so far

  1. heidi on July 9, 2008 8:25 am

    I feel your pain - taking down things you love to look at? Never easy. I spent the day thrifting yesterday and found myself consciously looking for melamine ashtrays!

  2. roz on July 9, 2008 5:19 pm

    Wow, I’m so excited to see how these develop over the coming months!
    Thanks for sharing.

  3. Mai-Britt on July 9, 2008 5:33 pm

    Can’t wait to see what you are up to, the start looks exciting.

    Funny thing, once those much loved things are down and out of sight, you forget about them - that’s why they are up there in the first place - but sometimes it’s good to start all over…..

  4. Judy on July 10, 2008 7:01 am

    What great colors! MMMMM

    and yes: I’ll be out looking for Melamine ashtrays this weekend!

  5. Gerrie on July 15, 2008 10:57 am

    Arghh! I should probably do this, but I love being surrounded by my work. Guess that is a good thing, but not helpful when it comes to doing new work.

  6. Sarah Ann Smith on July 20, 2008 7:07 pm

    The green and yellow one looks like a carnivorous vacuum cleaner to me! I’m having fun just thinking about it….
    Cheers, Sarah

  7. PaMdora on July 22, 2008 8:17 pm

    haha, vacuum cleaner, I like that one…..

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