Artwork in progress, studio mishaps, and a Strange Tale

So… after months of drawing, painting, sewing, and beading, I am happy to be nearing the end of my current drawing with only a few milliliters of blood here and there (thanks to sewing needles and X-actos), and only one major mishap.  For the most part, it has come together beautifully…. Ah, the best laid plans of mice and men. Apparently, paper is not always as predictable as I want it to be and can have a mind of its own, so one of the last steps of my drawing fell to pieces – or, rather, it did not work as well as it should have, so I tore it to pieces – and I had to rethink on my feet.  Fortunately, my two favorite studio pastimes are 1) drawing and 2) figuring out a problem, so the mishap turned into a breakthrough.

I am really enjoying the process of finishing this piece, but I am resisting the urge to post full pictures until the piece is done (there could always be another mishap).  In the meantime, here are some snapshots of the beading and stitching throughout parts of the drawing (click to see these pictures larger):

The good thing about working with paper is that if my current solution does not work, I can always tear it apart and start again.

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The False Mirror show at Artworks in Trenton continues through this Saturday, February 22. Here is a review of the show.

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And, lastly, a Strange Tale that was completed in December, "Equinox" graphite on Moleskine sketch paper, 8.25 x 10.5 inches:

The higher quality jpeg is on flickr.

Well, here’s to the prospect of finishing a drawing and being very thankful that I do not work under deadlines…hopefully I will be posting the completed drawing soon.

Lead and Leaf

The end of summer is approaching - so time for a quick studio update!

I will be exhibiting work at the McGraw Gallery at Newark Academy during the month of September:

The reception is Thursday, September 12 from 6 - 7:30 PM

More details are on the Newark Academy website.

I have been busy in the studio this summer and a trip to the art photographer is scheduled for next week, so new work will be posted soon! A quick detail view of one of the pieces that I will have photographed next week:

"Selfie (We Create Our Own Mythologies)"

My snapshots of the two most recently completed works are a bit lousy - thanks to the highly reflective gold leaf on both drawings - so I will wait to post the finished pieces until I have nice photos available.

For now, here are a couple of new Strange Tales ...

Strange Tale #40: Dancing With The Ever-Elusive Muse

Pencil and glass beads on Moleskine sketchbook paper, stitched onto Arches hot press, 10 x 10 inches (a much better flickr view is here)

Strange Tale #41: The Snake Charmer Realized That She Had Met Her Match

Pencil and glass beads on Moleskine sketchbook paper, stitched onto Arches hot press, 10 x 8 inches (a much better flickr view is here)

Strange Tales #37, #38, and #39

The South Orange Maplewood Artists Studio Tour is a little over a week away and I am just starting to organize and prepare some of the pieces that I will have on display. In addition to drawings completed over the past year, I will also have current works in progress, giclée prints of many of my drawings, and an assortment of my sketchbook drawings.  Here are a few of my recently completed Strange Tales sketchbook drawings:

Strange Tale #37: Theodora kept her wicked words precariously balanced at the tip of her tongue

Pencil on Moleskine sketch paper, 5.25 x 3 inches (For the flickr view click here.)

Strange Tale #38: She Could Think of Ten Reasons to Celebrate

Pencil and glass beads on Moleskine sketchbook paper, stitched onto  Arches hot press paper, 8.75 x 8.75 inches. (For the flickr view click here.)

This drawing will be part of TEN: The Soul of SOMA, a group installation piece by artists who have participated in the South Orange & Maplewood studio tour. This will be on display at the Pierro Gallery in South Orange as part of SOMA: Engaging Art, which runs from May 23 – June 22.  The gallery opening for this event is this evening, Thursday, May 23, from 7 - 9 PM.

And...

Strange Tale #39: The Death of an Artist (for A.)

Pencil and glass beads on Moleskine sketchbook paper, stitched onto Arches hot press, 14 x 12 inches. (For the flickr view click here.)

The 10^th Annual South Orange Maplewood Artists Studio Tour is Sunday, June 2^nd, from 11 AM – 5 PM. This self-guided tour is free and open to the public. A map, as well as more information about the event is available at the Studio Tour website. If you are in the area, drop by and say hello!

Strange Tales From My Little Black Book #36

A new Strange Tale is finished; this one is in pencil on Moleskine sketchbook paper (with stitching at the fold), 8.25 x 10.5 inches. Strange Tale #36: Later that evening, she found herself entangled within her own creation

The flickr version (always much nicer detail) is here.

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The catalog for the Beautifully Strange exhibition that will be opening in late March is now available for presale.  Profiles on artists in the show and details about purchasing the catalog are here.

Strange Tales From My Little Black Book #35

I have several drawings underway in the studio right now and I will post images of those next week.  In the meantime, the newest Strange Tale... Graphite on Moleskine sketchbook paper, about 8.25 x 10.5 inches:

Upon reflection, Colleen realized that she preferred to be only loosely moored to reality; her dreams were far more alluring

And, as always, the flickr view has the nicer detail.