Thursday, January 31, 2013

"Markings"

13" x 13" bleached, over printed stamped cloth and stenciled cloth, leather piece, canvas sides cross-stitched and blanket stitched top and bottom framing, Hebrew, Aramaic & Greek writing examples found at Qumran.

Creating this piece was interesting and involved many efforts and changes. I was considering the forty years of desert life reported in the bible and for a time it felt like this piece might take me as long to finish! It started with the frustration of tearing apart my old leather purse.There was a fuzzy backing glued to the underside of the leather making it impossible to remove or to stitch. I wound up using a decorative panel from the purse as it had the X stitching motif. A high point for me was teaching myself cross-stitching. The two white narrow side panels have a row each of my cross-stitching. I like learning and getting out of my comfort zone and I'm all for breaking rules but I do find in these older years high levels of brain freeze! I really had to practice on those cross stitches and looking at examples and reading instructions became a waste of time. On that same note I'm going to attempt screen printing. In all my printmaking courses, I never took silk screening? I want to explore some innovative approaches but before I do that, I need to familiarize myself with the basics. I'll post some of my samples in the next few weeks. Still staying with the desert series focusing on texture & colors. Wish me luck....might need a few dinners out, some catalog shopping therapy and if all else fails....champagne!

24 comments:

  1. I love your comments on making this. The brain freeze, I know that well. But I say no matter what have a few dinners out, some shopping AND champagne. You deserve it.

    The cross stitches and painted crosses are most affective. And I love the writings from Qumran which place i have not heard of before. this is a powerful series. Maybe that's another characteristic of older years. Diving deep.

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    1. Suki, I'm taking your approval and planning on all my treats!
      Caves at Qumran where the scrolls were discovered...this area holds so much history.
      I love the colors of the desert and hope to find them in paint in the next few weeks...so more drinking!

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  2. I've been waiting to see what you would do with the leather. It's a lovely piece Mary Ann, despite the brain freeze :-) and I think you should celebrate with champagne.

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    1. Robyn, I had big plans for the leather but I'm happy with this piece I was able to salvage. Champagne for all!

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  3. This turned out beautifully, love the rich, ancient feel of it. Always enjoy your insights and look forward to your next explorations

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    1. Bren, Thank you...next explorations have a fair amount of anxious feelings and then once I get started I imagine things will smooth out...part of the process of beginning.

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  4. oh my just crazy about this piece, it is a wow for sure, would love to see it up close and pet it ever so slightly...

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    1. Caterina, Thank you, high praise and much appreciated! I like framing these pieces under glass for the museum effect?!

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  5. wow! love the mixed textures and shapes!! you always amaze me with your experimenting!! xo

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    1. Jeane, I amaze myself, disappoint and generally enjoy my experimenting....as you have said so often 'putting something forward" ...a thousand ways to just say begin!

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  6. I'd love to see your paintings in 3D - they always look so touchable

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    1. Bridget, Up close allows for the small bits to show up...photos don't always capture the levels and layers.

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  7. Hi Mary Ann, I have been such a lazy blogger these days but I am working on my resolutions. I love the complexity of this piece and lately I am so attracted to x marks. I don't know why. The layering and texture of this piece as well as your great description of its evolution is appealing. I look forward to catching up.

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    1. Margaret, It has been too long...glad you dropped by! I'm finding the layers of paint, beads and embroidery on fabric to be very interesting!

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  8. Blue Sky--I received my copy of your wonderful book today and already spend some lovely hours reading your prose and looking at your collages and other art. you have such an interesting perspective, always. This feels like a very meditative book. It is just what I need right now. Congrats on putting it together and on making the artworks and poems. Thank you for this gift. Suki

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    1. Suki, I'm almost speechless and smiling! I feel like it has taken me a lifetime to paint like myself and I'm so glad you appreciate my words as well. Thank you and enjoy!

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  9. The aged feeling of this piece works perfectly with the theme and the colours really evoke the desert. The crosses bring to my mind planes flying overhead and make me think of the scene in the movie "The English Patient" where their plane crashes in the desert.
    I did some silk screening many moons ago in art school and made a terrific mess all around myself. Keep that champagne on ice!

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    1. loudiao, Oh, I remember the desert scenes in 'The English Patient"...beautiful!
      I'm working my way around screen printing...resistance on this one!

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  10. "I feel like it has taken me a lifetime to paint like myself".

    Wow Mary Ann, how powerful this is. And how glorious. I am breathing that in, and noticing how sacred your statement feels.

    And I love your desert series and X's. After I watched The English Patient I painted with similar colors, which I love, love, love.

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  11. Leslie, Thank you. So good to read your words...sacred lessons indeed!
    I'm finding the desert colors to be really colorful...this is a special journey for me!

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  12. I love what you have created!You are so talented. What a wonderful idea to use and old purse for your project! I have a few that could be used that way, but it is easier for me to donate them. I am with you about the limitations aging presents us. I have no patience for reading anything. My books without pictures are headed for the same donation box.

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    1. Eva, We are kindred spirits in the area of art books. Thank you for your comments...very encouraging!

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  13. This is incredibly beautiful! The colors and textures just beg to be touched. One needs to view this in a larger mode, too, to get the full justice of the work. Bravo, Mary Ann!

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    1. Kelly, I'll take that Bravo and will enjoy it for the rest of the day....thank you!

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