Artwords--The Online Art Journal

Topic #71--Outsider

2007-09-23T13:28:00.001-04:00

After much deliberating, and back and forths in my mind and heart, I have come to a decision that feels right. It is time for me to let go of Artwords. I have so enjoyed this journey with all of you--all 71 topics!--but am feeling it is time to move on. Thank you from the bottom of my heart to all of you who have participated and visited--it has been an incredible, collective experience. I will not delete this blog, but keep it here as a sort of Artwords 'digital coffee table book'--for you to enjoy whenever you please.

Please keep in touch. Peace.

Susan Tuttle

This week's topic--our final topic for Artwords, is from Laura Taylor Mark

Topic #70--Water

2007-09-17T00:33:00.000-04:00

Sorry for the slight delay in posting this week's topic.

Topic #69--Home

2007-09-10T08:11:00.000-04:00

This week's topic is from Julie

Topic #68--Literature

2007-09-02T07:50:00.000-04:00

This week's topic is from Ian Russell

Topic #67--Cupcake

2007-08-26T10:03:00.000-04:00

This week's topic is from Mary Ann

Topic #66--Storyteller

2007-08-19T19:04:00.001-04:00

So many wonderful ideas to choose from--thank you to everyone who submitted topic ideas last week. I will be dipping into the list regularly! This week's topic is from Lori Grace

A Call For Topic Ideas

2007-08-13T00:00:00.000-04:00

Hi everyone. For this week's challenge, I'm asking you to post an idea (word) for a future topic. Please leave your idea in the comment section for this post. I will be drawing from the list for future topics.

Thanks!!

Oh--and feel free to submit more than one idea!

Warmly,
Susan

Topic #65--Internalize

2007-08-05T20:33:00.000-04:00

Topic #64--Candid

2007-07-29T08:22:00.000-04:00

Topic #63--Numbers

2007-07-22T13:46:00.001-04:00

Topic #62--Curl

2007-07-15T10:11:00.000-04:00

Topic #61--Grunge

2007-07-08T00:16:00.000-04:00

Topic #60--Cube

2007-07-01T14:22:00.000-04:00

Topic #59--Fabric

2007-06-24T11:34:00.000-04:00

Topic #58-Center

2007-06-17T21:59:00.000-04:00

Topic #57--Exotic

2007-06-10T00:40:00.000-04:00

Topic #56--Dwelling

2007-06-03T09:27:00.000-04:00

Topic #55-Birthday

2007-05-27T09:18:00.000-04:00

Topic #54-Bustle

2007-05-20T09:54:00.000-04:00

Topic #53--Figure

2007-05-13T00:00:00.000-04:00

"Seated Figures on a Sofa"Ann Marie Wakely

Topic #52--Eyes

2007-05-06T00:01:00.000-04:00

ANNOUNCEMENT:
I wanted to share with all of you some recent news--my book proposal that I have been working on for the past year has been accepted for publication by North Light Books! I am so excited to embark on this project, which will involve both my art and the art of contributing artists. I have two little kids and my family comes first, so to make this project fly, I need to make some adjustments in my life. I want Artwords to continue, so have found a creative way to do so. Plus, Artwords may even be tied into the book!

Since I will not have time to post people's individual entries, things will run a bit differently. I found this great "guestbook" feature at slide.com which each of you can use to upload your entry photo to the Artwords blog. Just click on the "sign this guestbook" button of this slide show, fill in your name, location, title of your entry, and upload your photo. Don't forget to leave a comment in the Blogger comment section, with a direct link to your entry post. I will include a new slide show for each new topic. This is the best I could do for now, and I hope you all will be agreeable. Let's keep Artwords going!!

On that note, this week's topic is: TOPIC #52 "Eyes"
This piece is entitled "Eyes" by Susan Norris

Topic #51--"Botanical" Entry

2007-05-05T22:48:00.000-04:00

From Patrick!:

"i honestly almost didnt do this one.

i couldnt think of anything to do, until i was outside earlier watering my moms plants...

i really dislike the yardwork but due to my current situation i really cant complain. well i could but not in good faith.

the thing is, and this post kinda illustrates the point of the 52 fridays project. i started it for a few reasons, on of which was to see how much my life would change over the course of a year, week by week. and a year ago i would have never thought id be where i am today, not that its a bad place, there are far worse, but unexpected.

so here i am looking for employment and watering plants."

Topic #51--"Botanical" Entry

2007-05-05T22:20:00.000-04:00

From Cynthia!:

"Today, quite unplanned, in a moment of venting rage and emotion, I smeared paint all over a canvas. Once my pulse returned to normal, I began to see a different picture and painted in flowers. Then I remembered that this weeks theme is Botanical."

Topic #51--"Botanical" Entry

2007-05-05T22:18:00.000-04:00

From Wendy!:

"I love everything about botanicals and I love the vintage aspect of the word.
For this piece I've used tea stained paper on card stock. I've applied an image from an old book and added words of my own composition. The hand made paper pieces are from a collection I made a number of years ago. They have dried herbs and flowers from my own garden added. I just made the shipping tags with some herb seeds I had leftover.
And the words, in case you hadn't realized, are really about this:
"the most difficult part
standing back
watching her grow"

Topic #51--"Botanical" Entry

2007-05-05T22:11:00.000-04:00

From Amanda!

Lost (in the Garden of Eden)

"The title for my entry this week comes from the fact that the original photo which is the basis of this work was taken in a place called Eden, on the south-east coast of Australia, close to the border of New South Wales and Victoria. Eden is an old whaling town on a rugged but beautiful area of coastline, and it really stays in my mind as a highlight of that trip.

We stumbled onto the town, having not heard of it before but some time later saw a special on ABC TV entitled "Killers in Eden". The following is an excerpt from the cover of the DVD.

"On the southeast coast of Australia, the town of Eden nestles along the shores of Twofold Bay. It was once a center of Australia's thriving whaling industry, in part because it lies along the migration path of baleen whales swimming northward from the Antarctic. But residents say Eden's whalers got some unusual help -- from orcas, or killer whales, that patrolled offshore.
Locals such as Elsie Severs and Alice Otten who witnessed the hunts say the orcas took the lead in the hunt, herding larger migrating whales into the bay. Once the whales were confined in the bay, the orcas would then attack their quarry to the point of exhaustion. Human whalers moved in for the final kill -- then shared the spoils with the orcas."

That story is really just a bit of scene-setting as my image obviously has nothing to do with whales. I stumbled across this bushy area by a lookout and had to stop and take some photos. The tangle of tree trunks, gnarled by the salty winds had created a natural grotto. I worked on the image in Photoshop, mostly using the adjustment layers and the lighting effects to create this work."

Topic #51--"Botanical" Entry

2007-05-05T22:09:00.000-04:00

From Kathleen!:

"I did this early in the week, but wanted to work on it more since I'm not satisfied, but I'm afraid I have spent my time doing other things (!) :-)

So here it is anyway. Maybe I'll do more work on it still, but it's shaping up to be another busy weekend, so maybe not now :-( I drew the initial sketch from this photo I took maybe two weeks ago, on my walk to the train.

These watercolors (from Marabu) are quite thick, and can go on really heavy if you don't use a lot of water, but with this thin sketchbook paper a lot of water is not good. I got paid this week, so went out and bought a watercolor block, some Pitt artist pens (finally) and some Verithin colored pencils. Armed and ready! (and dangerous?)"

Topic #51--"Botanical" Entry

2007-05-04T14:22:00.000-04:00

A warm welcome to Mrana! Her entry!:

Pink Tulip

Topic #51--"Botanical" Entry

2007-05-04T14:20:00.000-04:00

From Lolly!

"this is my end result; in yet another dimension, my gardens are filled with purely edible plants, stuff that would make Mr Wonka's factory look peely-wally in comparison. This one is the lolly-pop plant - they taste of mango and passionfruit, with a soft, juicy, chewy centre, and a thin, satisfyingly crackly surface... the best thing is that they are really good for you, no cavities, weight gain or anything! What other plants grow there? Well, there's soup bowl flowers (all flavours), sticky toffee pudding bananas, and cheesy baked potato bushes... and many more, I haven't had time to explore them all!"

Topic #51--"Botanical" Entry

2007-05-03T22:07:00.000-04:00

From Sue!:

"This is a piece I did awhile ago. I was working on a project in my studio and I was distracted with this fabric. Before I really knew it, I put aside the project I was working on and walla...this fabric collage appeared. I usually don't tittle my pieces. That is actually a challenge for me. Not with this one! As I was working on it I "heard" ..you are never alone. It may appear that you are alone. You may feel that you are alone but ...you are never alone. "

Topic #51--"Botanical" Entry

2007-05-03T22:05:00.000-04:00

From Mary Ann!:

"it’s a snap that i digitally altered. after work today, i did not go straight home. i found myself driving toward the local public gardens. there’s roughly a month left of school & so many meetings & paperwork to get through. so as a treat to myself, i headed over to the gardens to unwind * de-stress* before going home. i always like to go there to get a quick pick-me-up.

spring came sort of late this year as the gardens seemed to be still in the process of “awakening”. i noticed there were many bare spots & trees still yet to bud as i meandered down the brick pathways. however, the tulips were in full bloom, actually past their peak. i still, though, thoroughly enjoyed their cheerful presence. it won’t be too long until the gardens will “fill out” and burst forth with all sorts of enchantments & wondrous beauty.

fortunately, the sun was still shining and the wind, breezy. i found great comfort in my little excusion through the gardens. it gave me a chance to quiet my mind, which earlier had been bombarded with thoughts of work & personal commitments, & to slow down. it was lovely to just be. & to appreciate all that was around me. after about an hour or so, i was ready to go home.

i had entered the gardens rather tense and tired. but when i left there, i felt a sense of calm and serenity. all was good again in my world. that little botanical detour where i tiptoed through the tulips was just exactly what i needed. taking time to slow down really does a world a good. try it next time you feel out of sorts. "

Topic #51--"Botanical" Entry

2007-05-02T15:13:00.000-04:00

From Cheryl!:

Topic #51--"Botanical" Entry

2007-05-02T15:04:00.000-04:00

A big welcome to Becky! Her entry!:

Topic #51--"Botanical" Entry

2007-05-02T14:59:00.000-04:00

A warm welcome to Debbi B.! Her entry!:

"This is a stamped card that I painted with those delicious little pots of Radiant Pearls. This is my first go at participating in Artwords and although I didn't make this card especially for this topic prompt, my plan is to use the theme each week to try something different in future - or at least some weeks!"

Topic #51--"Botanical" Entry

2007-05-01T22:55:00.000-04:00

From Julie!:

"To make the flowers, I used 24 gauge wire with fluorite, glass and sterling silver beads. Assembly is easy. Cut varying circles out of varying papers. I used tissue, vintage history about Genghis Khan and shimmery water color paper I made using Ph Martin paints. Oh, the best part? Look closely, I worked in my favorite stamps from justjohanna rubber stamps too!"

Topic #51--"Botanical" Entry

2007-05-01T22:52:00.000-04:00

From Jamie!:

"I paper pieced all the elements using handmade papers, watercolor paper and scrapbook papers. I made a contact paper transparency for the wings. I think she's supposed to be Mother Nature."

Topic #51--"Botanical" Entry

2007-05-01T22:49:00.000-04:00

A Warm Welcome to Chelise! Her entry!:

Topic #51--"Botanical" Entry

2007-04-30T21:42:00.000-04:00

From Sherrie!:

Fig Leaves

Topic #51--"Botanical" Entry

2007-04-30T14:46:00.000-04:00

From Darcy!:

"Get Happy" D. Altaville c.2007
Available at http://www.artnjoy.etsy.com

Topic #51--"Botanical" Entry

2007-04-30T14:42:00.000-04:00

From Tricia!:

5 x5

"Betty"

"I decided to pull out a transparency sheet I made a week or so ago and play with it. (Notice it is the same little girl as the last post. I just played around with different croppings and sizes. Her eyes are what draw me in...and I can't seem to move on but I promise next piece, new image . ****lol)
It was fun to pull scraps of paper and move them around til they felt right. I glued them down to watercolor paper with a glue stick, placed the transparency on top and sewed it into place with a bit of black embroidery thread. After that I added a silk leaf that has been sitting on my table for a few months waiting to be used."

Topic #51--"Botanical" Entry

2007-04-30T14:39:00.000-04:00

From L.M.!:

Topic #51--"Botanical" Entry

2007-04-30T14:37:00.000-04:00

From Aileen!:

Topic #51--"Botanical" Entry

2007-04-30T14:30:00.000-04:00

From Susan Ramey-Cleveland!:

"In mid- to late March, the Wisteria blooms in the area of Alabama where I live. The trees and bushes in the woods and along the roadways hang heavy with the soft lavender clusters. It's one of the most beautiful sights I've ever seen. But you have to look fast. The blossoms last for only a week or two."

Topic #51--Botanical

2007-04-29T00:01:00.000-04:00

Bare Branches and Red Maple Leaves Growing Alongside the Highway

By Raymond Gehman

Topic #50--"Woman" Entry

2007-04-28T23:31:00.001-04:00

From Miriam!:

"This topic is a good one for me...I can incessantly draw and paint pictures of women. I suppose I'll be in trouble if prompted to create a man. ;) Ah, maybe that is the whole point...perhaps I should work w/ what I don't know how to do? I'll start w/ my husband's face. He has a good face. But for now, the subject is still "woman".
It does so happen that I used a new medium. Well, semi new...I've dabbled w/ gouache before but never dove in full throttle and committed to it."

Topic #50--"Woman" Entry

2007-04-28T23:11:00.000-04:00

A big welcome to Sooz! Her entry!:

"here is an (unfinished) piece I started on the weekend. I've had this alphabet stamp set for eons (Brenda Walters, All Night Media)---suddenly in love with it again for these pages--but I am missing the "F" - luckily, so far no F words have come up.....(which is really funny since I am such a CURSER. Guess I can alter the "E" when the time comes for some F words........)"

Topic #50--"Woman" Entry

2007-04-28T23:10:00.000-04:00

From Wendy!:

"I have chosen this stamped image photo of Greg's Auntie Dot, a wonderful lady. There is also some old german writing which I turned into a stamped image. I especially like the idea of "soft yet strong" for woman. I think this portrays much in only a few simple words. Some of the words I've chosen are not quite as universal - such as "exotic" but "beautiful" fits the majority - beautiful inside and out. If you think you are not beautiful - I would ask you to think again. I think you are beautiful. And there are probably many others who think so too, even though they neglect to tell you.
Collage on watercolour - acrylic background. Letters for "woman" are from the very creative "Artsyfran"

"Oh beautiful woman -
Love yourself".

Angels be with you."

Topic #50--"Woman" Entry

2007-04-27T16:22:00.000-04:00

By me, Susan Tuttle:

"Blue Heart"
Mixed media, 9x12 canvas board

Topic #50--"Woman" Entry

2007-04-27T16:20:00.000-04:00

From Patrick!:

"i had a few ideas for this one, i guess i ended up doing a comic based on the "brainstorming" phase i went through. this conversation is based on an actual one i had with a friend the other day. i thought it was kinda funny so here it is."

Topic #50--"Woman" Entry

2007-04-27T16:18:00.000-04:00

From Jamie!:

"He promised her the Moon and the Stars.
I turned the mother image into a transparency and then hand painted the background and cut out flesh toned paper for their faces. I'll need to work on that technique. It is not easy to get it to match exactly. I was messing around with what I wanted to show through on her shirt. I had a grammar primer from 1882 and it had a glossary in the back and "drudgery" was the first word that showed through so I went with that theme. I love the disapproving Mother-in-Law. My husband is very wary of this piece:) No hidden meaning Honey!"

Topic #50--"Woman" Entry

2007-04-27T16:14:00.000-04:00

From Laura!

Here are "woman" charms she made for the upcoming Art and Soul retreat in Virginia!

Topic #50--"Woman" Entry

2007-04-27T16:12:00.000-04:00

From Kathleen!:

"The topic "Woman" spoke to me of friendship. So I thought I would take one of my subway drawings and blow it up and color it in. So I borrowed some magic markers, and with some colored pencils I already had, I did this picture of two friends talking. Of course, it was originally on the train, but with the colors I have chosen the setting is now more likely the living room, with the two friends sitting on the couch. I had fun with this as I don't often color my drawings, although I have been doing some watercolors of flowers lately . . .
The original drawing (actually a rather poor scan of it) can be seen on my Flickr photostream: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kayork/407939789/in/set-72157594579200491/"

Topic #50--"Woman" Entry

2007-04-27T16:09:00.000-04:00

From Zorana!:

"Inspiration comes from many places. I recently purchased some sweet lamp work beads and was anxiously waiting to receive them. While the beads were lovely, something else caught my eye. The envelope! What made the envelope special were the words that seller wrote:
"Fragile.
Please don't crush."
They spoke to me! Such a simple way to describe the way I feel sometimes. Don't we all feel like that in certain moments? I cut up the envelope and used the words on a canvas."

available on etsy

Topic #50--"Woman" Entry

2007-04-27T16:05:00.000-04:00

From Tricia!:

"Acrylics on a wooden ironing board.

I wanted to submit this portion of the painting for Artwords. The theme is "woman."

I may get brave and share the entire painting one day soon. This portion and one other are the only parts I am pleased with! I have gotten quite frustrated with myself...I can see her in my mind the way I want her to look but I just don't have the skills to get it onto the wood.

Her nose is in need of the biggest help so today I may go by the library and pick up a book on painting faces...I'm sure there's one out there. Any suggestions?
The below images are from the bottom of the ironing board...they are a part of her dress."

Topic #50--"Woman" Entry

2007-04-26T08:11:00.000-04:00

From Cheryl!:

"I have a collage with a girl with flowers behind her and pink and clear buttons. She has birds flying around her that say Release your inner.... and each bird has a word.

Brilliant
Happy
Confident
Strong
Playful
Talented
Sexy
Cute

Describes Women to a T don't you think?"

Topic #50--"Woman" Entry

2007-04-26T08:07:00.000-04:00

From Susan Ramey Cleveland!:

I Am Woman; Hear Me Sqeak

"For this collage, I used paper, pieced fabric triangles, buttons, paint, rubber stamp, a Starbucks coffee cozy, a garment tag, and gold braiding. I used both glue and machine stitching to attach everything."

Topic #50--"Woman" Entry

2007-04-23T23:50:00.000-04:00

From Artsyfran!:

"Inspired by my recent trip to Hawaii, she just happened. I have been studying faces, and I’m getting a bit better about creating my own freeform after looking at several different ones. This means I am finally figuring out how to pull together elements of different faces and make my “own” images. I’m enjoying the process. I still have a long way to go, but I really find the painting meditative. This image is painted in acrylic on fabric."

Topic #50--"Woman" Entry

2007-04-23T14:34:00.000-04:00

From Darcy!:

"Standing On The Purple Hills Of Hope" D.Altaville c.2007
Available at http://www.artnjoy.etsy.com

Topic #50--"Woman" Entry

2007-04-23T14:28:00.000-04:00

From Julie!:

"Since I work mainly in birds, I could only think of one project. "Belle on Couch". She screams sexy!"

Topic #50--"Woman" Entry

2007-04-23T14:23:00.000-04:00

From l.m.!:

"This week's challenge was easy as most of my work involves the female form. Another painting from the vault. One of a series hung in the Art Gallery of Western Australia. I sold it to a beautiful Chilean Psychiatrist, Paola. She rang me one day just to say..."I've had a really bad day at work, but now I'm laying on my bed looking at your painting and I'm feeling much better". That phone call made not only my day but my month.
I hope she is still enjoying her first fine art purchase. Ciao Paola."
Facts: "Annunciation: let sleeping dogs lie".
Acrylic on canvas, 170 x 204 cm.

Topic #50--"Woman" Entry

2007-04-22T23:36:00.000-04:00

From Peggy!:

"While I've never really taken to the figurative in my work, this old intaglio print seems to fit the bill quite nicely. The technique used is called á la poupée, meaning the colour is daubed onto the plate with small pieces of tarlatan or poupée. Looking at this print for the first time in quite a while I think I might use some of its elements in a mixed media work. "

Topic #50--"Woman" Entry

2007-04-22T23:26:00.000-04:00

From Sherrie!:

"This is my daughter on the day of her wedding.
The photo I worked from showed such confidence and pride I gasped and had to capture that some how."

Topic #50--"Woman"

2007-04-22T00:05:00.000-04:00

Wow--we've hit topic #50 here at Artwords--yeah!!!! Many thanks for the wonderful entries everyone!! Here's to fifty more....and beyond....

Topic #49--"Dinner" Entry

2007-04-19T22:23:00.000-04:00

From Patrick!:

"cooking for one is no fun.

okay so it rhymes, still, its true. back then i would, from time to time cook dinner for her, and later for them. with all the food groups and the like, a proper meal, a good dinner.

but when you are by yourself, cooking seems pointless, at least that the case for me.
often i realize that im feeling sick, i look at the clock and its eleven at night, and cant remember the last time i ate."

Topic #49--"Dinner" Entry

2007-04-19T22:17:00.000-04:00

From Cheryl!:

"I took this picture last week and they are from the grocery store of course! But I can't wait till dinner consists of just tomatoes, salt and pepper!! (Maybe some bread). Can't you just taste them?"

Topic #49--"Dinner" Entry

2007-04-18T23:18:00.000-04:00

From Tricia!:

"This one was a tough-ey. The theme for this week is "dinner." I had the last post without a vintage image so I knew only that I wanted to use one this time. This piece, unlike the last art piece, was made very quickly. I am not sure I like the colors at all but I am drawn to the face of this little girl. She is a copy from an old tin type. With these images found either on ebay or at an estate sale or someplace like that there is such a sense of mystery. What was her name? What was her life like? Was she happy? She reminds me somehow of myself as a child.
And thinking of dinner---what is your favorite? If I am ordering out, I will chose sushi every time. At home I love to make curry dishes and dishes from other countries, especially the vegetarian ones. Do you ever do breakfast for dinner? We do and that is a fave! Olivia is saying her favorite dinner is black bean soup.
What is your favorite thing to eat for dinner?"

Topic #49--"Dinner" Entry

2007-04-18T22:47:00.000-04:00

From L.M.!:

"Another student painting from the vault. Not strictly a "dinner" subject however please note the cut pear on the plate. where's the cheese I hear you mutter...why she's here, I am the cheese. this work resides behind the computer that I am using this very moment...hence the strange assortment of objects at the bottom of the photo.
Info about the work...not much to tell.
This work is from my Graduation exhibition called "Teaparty Times" and without boring you to tears with a lot of conceptual tripe it is loosely about "Alice in Wonderland" and her relationship with the cat. Amongst the paintings and installations was a looped video I made. A good friend (Tony Bond) played the part of Sigmund Freud and he commented on the hidden symbolism of the characters at the Mad Hatter's teaparty. My son, Adam played the dormouse as a seedy nightclub entertainer telling endless and bad 'pink' jokes. Every so often a short sequence showing me in bed with my Russian blue (a breed of cat yer ning nongs) and me in my birthday suit would cut into the ongoing and nonsensical teaparty.
My poor, now deceased Albanian Nonno, nearly choked watching me flaunt it all in the name of art. In the background, "Think Pink" played (from one of my favourite Audrey and Fred movies). Was I, am I ashamed? Nah..."

Topic #49--"Dinner" Entry

2007-04-17T13:26:00.000-04:00

From Julie!:

"I don’t have an interesting story to go with this week’s entry; but I can tell you that if there is cake around, it would not be uncommon for me to eat it for dinner. Not dessert. I said dinner.

6x6 canvas. I used Distress Ink to color the background paper for the cupcakes and color wash to color the canvas. To add some texture to the canvas, I covered it with painters tape and gesso. Once dry, I added the text. Pink pen highlights the Artword; and to finish, I covered all of the frosting with 3D crystal lacquer."

Topic #49--"Dinner" Entry

2007-04-17T13:25:00.002-04:00

From Ascenderrisesabove!:

Title: “China Decorates Our Table”
Medium: Dry Pastels

Inquire to purchase a print
~~~
~~~

… China decorates our table
Funny how the cracks don’t seem to show
Pour the wine dear
You say we’ll take a holiday
But we never can agree on where to go

Sometimes I think you want me to touch you
How can I when you build a great WALL around you
In your eyes I saw a future together
You just look away in the distance …

Excerpt of China by Tori Amos

~~~
~~~

Topic #49--"Dinner" Entry

2007-04-15T20:07:00.000-04:00

From Susan Ramey-Cleveland!:

"In this hand quilted wall quilt, entitled "Junk Food," that's just what the little kitty is dreaming of: juicy birds, crunchy mice, and succulent fish. Talk about Meow Mix!"

Topic #49--"Dinner" Entry

2007-04-15T20:04:00.000-04:00

From Sherrie!

"I'll Start Dinner"

"It is cloudy and storming here today and I cook or sketch alot on these days so this gave me a chance to combine them."

Topic #49--"Dinner"

2007-04-15T07:38:00.000-04:00

By Mei Liong

Topic #48--"Chair" Entry

2007-04-14T21:54:00.000-04:00

A warm welcome to Kathleen! Her entry!:

"Dinner With Chair"

"I originally did this drawing in pencil, but then at the suggestion of my friend Laura I put in color on top of a xerox copy with color pencils. It was fun to do, but takes so much longer than drawing the original!"

Topic #48--"Chair" Entry

2007-04-13T22:39:00.000-04:00

A warm welcome to L.M.! Her entry!:

This is a very old work. One in a series I produced while doing my MA in painting at College of Fine Arts, Sydney. It was acquired by The Newcastle Region Art Gallery in 1987 and is called:
"Labyrinth:The heart is a lonely hunter"
233 x 326 cm, synthetic polymer, charcoal, chalk and oilstick on canvas.

It is an abysmal reproduction as I have scanned it from a shot I took of it while it was on show in the Holdsworth Galleries, Sydney and like most student THEN, I could not afford to have slides done.
Anyway, this has been dug out of the vault so that I can enter it in the current Artwords topic...please note the chair in the composition. Also I went to a journal I was keeping at the time and this is what was writte, word for word, which was for my eyes only....here goes.

"Labia labyrinth:the heart is a lonely hunter" ( I obviously lost the word labia when the gallery acquired it)
Bird in a gilded cage comes to mind, the woman trapped by her gender in a dominating maze of neo classical architecture (children's building blocks). Many ways to go, a sense of confusion.

Arrows: -Symbol of direction, in this case pointing every which way
-Also symbol of the prisoner
-Could also be phallic, piercing, wounding...the male wounds> penerates>invades the female.
-To pin down

The Chair: -the male/phallus
-Anchor/stability
-"Sit up straight and be good!" (this was an admonishment of my father)

The child: -Gender destiny
-Responsibility
-Purpose

The curtains: -Concealment
-Domesticity ' a woman's' touch'
-The female...the slightest breeze and they will bend without breaking
-Flexible, accommodating
-Sometimes serving no purpose at all other than to be decorative.

Hmmm.....Yoda says"political animal was I"

Topic #48--"Chair" Entry

2007-04-13T07:51:00.000-04:00

From Patrick!:

"it reminded me of some of the office jobs ive had, one in particular where there were two types of chairs. the nice new ones in the production(my) department, and the rest of the building.

the reason we had newer chairs was that we didnt get new chairs when the rest of the building did a year before.

finally hr buckled and we gots our nice new chairs.

so comfy.

till the rest of the building found out and would try and steal them when we too our breaks.

the solution was that we would scoot around all day long to ensure that our chairs remained in our possession.

it was kinda fun."

Topic #48--"Chair" Entry

2007-04-12T21:22:00.000-04:00

A warm welcome to Jamie! Her entry!:

"I was thinking how utilitarian chairs are and that turned into what's my favorite chair and that turned to what's the most important thing I have ever used a chair for and that lead to rocking my babies to sleep at night. Sooo...here is it is. I know they are small, but those are the words to Brahms Lullaby. Oh, and don't make fun of my chicken scratch!"

Topic #48--"Chair" Entry

2007-04-11T16:40:00.000-04:00

From Susan T.:

Here is an atc entitled "Peter's Dream" that I created this past winter--I'd love a chair like this, wouldn't you?

Topic #48--"Chair" Entry

2007-04-11T16:24:00.000-04:00

From Cheryl!:

"This is my entry for Chair. I have a collection of little chairs actually and I was going to take a picture of the collection. But I like how this one stands out by itself against my red wall. It is about 12" high. There have been no adjustments to the photo either except for cropping."

Topic #48--"Chair" Entry

2007-04-11T16:23:00.000-04:00

From Tricia!:

Sing a song of sixpence a pocket full of rye,
Four and twenty blackbirds baked in a pie.
When the pie was opened the birds began to sing,
Oh wasn't that a dainty dish to set before the king?

"I had been waiting for the right opportunity to use the image of the little girl (or perhaps it is a young boy) and was so excited when I saw the topic for this week. The original plan for the piece was for the child to be holding an artist's palette in one hand and a brush in the other with words that said something about the importance of honoring imagination in our children, but as I went along I discovered a scrap of paper with the nursery rhyme Sing A Song of Sixpence and the whole idea was quickly changed.
I did the background part using watercolors and a charcoal pencil. The photo which was colored in photoshop was mounted using those pop dot foam thingies. I needed the child to be raised a bit from the back. The sign is also held in place with a foam dot. The feather is one I found on the back porch.
Red oil pastel lines the edge (though in the photo it looks a bit pink).

I added the 4 and the heart, then rounded off the edges to also turn this into an oversized playing card for a yahoo group I joined not long ago. The theme for the 4 of hearts is "birds." -there is a different theme for each card. Isn't that cool? I am a bit late jumping on the bandwagon but I thought it would be fun."

Topic #48--"Chair" Entry

2007-04-11T07:18:00.000-04:00

A big welcome to Miriam! Her entry!:

"I've been having a lot of fun playing w/ tissue paper...I think I said this in a fairly recent previous post...I keep thinking of more things that I would like to jump off w/ it than what I am currently doing, but alas, I think of these things kind of late at night when I'm winding down and I don't want to get into "anotherhugeproject". If I was single I would think nothing of staying up late and doing it anyway...but those days are long gone. So I have to record them to memory instead and wait to give them a home. Currently I have several boxes and what nots that I'm covering in tissue and experimenting with this that and the other. I'm realizing that I got so "stuck" in painting that I forgot about all the fun things I used to do like this... To boot, I've never been much for being the artist that drew all the time like my old teacher used to advise. It is true, you get better the more you practice, but drawing always has kind of worn me down... This tissue paper thing has somewhat the immediacy of what I crave but the "practicing" element that I'm missing from drawing, too. Then I think maybe I think too much about it. ;)

Anyway, I've been intrigued by artwords but have never tried to participate in a challenge. This week I told myself I would do it no matter what....
The topic is "Chair".
Immediately it made me think of my old art teacher (yep, same one) who had us do a self portrait as a chair. Back....Lord, fifteen years ago???...I remember thinking immediately I would know what kind of chair would represent me. A big huge overstuffed chair that was a patchwork extravaganza. I still have the drawing somewhere...I'll post it if I ever run across it. By the end of it I wondered if I was really so "out there" as the chair had turned out. Was I really so colorful? It's hard to say. I am more subdued today, but I fancy I'm rather comfortable.

"

Topic #48--"Chair" Entry

2007-04-10T22:29:00.000-04:00

From Wendy!:

""OLD" - I sometimes wonder what an object would say if it could speak. This chair was being stored for many years in the old, rough basement of the farm on which I grew up. It was apparently the only surviving piece of the house in which my father and his siblings matured. The house burnt down when my father was still a child. Now this chair has a place in our living room. It is in rough shape but I like to leave "old" in its comfort. "

Topic #48--"Chair" Entry

2007-04-10T22:23:00.000-04:00

From Laura!:

collage: vintage wallpaper/fabric, watercolor, pen, custom papers, 8x10, portrait

"This is a special piece I just completed and perfect I think for this week's theme word *chair* as not only does it have a big, comfy chair in it, it also features a wonderfully inspiring and talented online friend, the curator of Artwords herself, Susan Tuttle." (aw, shucks Laura--I'm blushing!)

Topic #48--"Chair" Entry

2007-04-10T22:21:00.000-04:00

From Julie!:

"Somewhere in my imagination, there are some birds quietly afloat on a beautifully upholstered chaise lounge waiting to be rescued.

I covered this 3x5 canvas board with paper I hand painted with Dr. Ph Martin ink. To obscure the color a bit, I washed a little Gesso over it and then attached the chaise. The birds are stamped onto a page from a vintage French Saint directory and covered in 3d Crystal lacquer. The last step was to age the corners a tad using Ranger Distress Ink in Peeled Paint and Broken China.

Oh… the birds do get rescued. They always do."

Topic #48--"Chair" Entry

2007-04-10T21:51:00.000-04:00

From Sherrie!:

"These two pictures are the same chair.
One is the new chair,
the next is a few days later.
I used #2 for an
entry on greed earlier this week.
But now you have seen my lifestyle.

These images were done to illustrate a children's book that I
wrote."

Topic #48--"Chair" Entry

2007-04-10T00:55:00.000-04:00

From Ascender!:

Title: Perspective Rendering; Yellow Chair
Medium: Watercolor; Pen and India Ink on Crescent Board

Inquire about a custom portrait of your home.

~~~
~~~

"Show some mercy to this chair which has stretched out its arms to you for so long; please satisfy its desire to embrace you!"

Molière; Jean Baptiste Poquelin, French comic playwright.

~~~
~~~

Topic #48--Chair

2007-04-08T22:11:00.000-04:00

By Thalia Kamarga

Topic #47--"Yellow"

2007-04-08T22:00:00.000-04:00

From Amanda!:

"It's great to be contributing to Artwords again after an enforced break. Actually this is the first artwork I've done since returning from Melbourne nearly 2 weeks ago. The whole thing took a bit of a toll on my health and I guess I will have to factor in that sort of recovery period after each trip down this year.
Tomorrow I plan to get back to my masters work but today I took a trip to Wynnum about half an hour from my home and took some photos.
This refinery is on the way back. The whole area is full of "Jeffrey Smart" moments, as my husband pointed out. Wonderful if you like photographing industrial scenery - and I do.
Photoshop is a wonderful way for me to get my creative juices flowing again and I was even able to locate the exact spot to show you on a map on Flickr - great fun! Check it out here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/amandaw-w/450575858/

By the way, there is actually quite a bit of yellow in the sky, it just doesn't show up so well on screen."

Topic #47--"Yellow"

2007-04-08T21:56:00.000-04:00

From Karen!:

"Yellow is one of my least favorite colors to work with ... in fact this may be my only yellow ... or semi-yellow artwork LOL I've had this page in the back of my mind for a while, but this week seemed especially appropriate to get started and this color worked for me :)

I have a friend who is close to my heart ... he makes me smile and brings light into my little world at the times I least expect it and most need it. This was a particularly hard week, because he was forced to make some choices he knew would not make me happy and he did his best to deliver the news with compassion and grace.

I looked for some phrases from some discarded book pages that I felt best described him. These words jumped off the page at me. They are a little melodramatic, but fitting."

Topic #47--"Yellow"

2007-04-08T21:47:00.000-04:00

From Tricia!:

"Ooh, ooh, ooh----What a little moonlight can do---that song is on the Benny Goodman Swing into Spring Record and I have played it at least 30 times this morning. No, really I have. I am all alone this morning so I can do this without driving anyone insane. Olivia is with a grandma and Kelly is out showing houses.
Do you know this song? Boy oh boy does it swing! What inspiration music can be! It was the inspiration for the second piece. Now I am on to Roy Orbison and "Candy Man." I have the perfect picture of my dad for that!"

Topic #47--"Yellow"

2007-04-07T00:35:00.000-04:00

From Brandie!:

"I approached this week's challenge thinking I would go "Monochromatic". I used a bright yellow for the walls and a dark shade of yellow ochre for the floor. Other than that I added black acrylic and graphite for definition. To add to the singularity of the monochromatic scheme, all the photos used in this collage are actually cut from the same snapshot, and the ephemera is from one page of an accounting book...

"Yellow" Cheerful sunny yellow is an attention getter. While it is considered an optimistic color, people lose their tempers more often in yellow rooms, and babies will cry more. It is the most difficult color for the eye to take in, so it can be overpowering if overused. Yellow enhances concentration, hence its use for legal pads. It also speeds metabolism...

Okay, I must confess, I have used the image in a collage before. I couldn't help it... It's amazing how much color can come out of a little black and white snapshot... Again these kids are in the throws of dusty dirty poverty... yet they are having a good time playing and enjoying each other... they make me smile."

Topic #47--"Yellow" Entry

2007-04-07T00:33:00.000-04:00

From Laura!:

5x8.5, hand*book journal, colored pencil

"It's Spring.....somewhere! The only signs of Spring here are the flowers set out for Easter as we just got our final insult from old man Winter and some nice fresh SNOW, bleccck! Anyway, my first detailed flower sketch - not happy with it but oh well, I've moved on, lol. Actually I moved on to another daffs sketch, see how that one fares. Until then, I leave you with this fitting and enchanting poem:

"I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils,
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze."
- William Wordsworth

Topic #47--"Yellow" Entry

2007-04-07T00:26:00.000-04:00

From Patri!:

YELLOW

"Yellow was not a colour that I liked, its taken me a long time to allow it to occupy a lot of the surface of a painting, or even wear a splash of it. For me it was an uncomfortable colour, recently I have allowed it to spread into my life, offering a little light on maybe why I did not like it. This picture is acrylic and ink.

This picture is available for sale"

Topic #47--"Yellow" Entry

2007-04-07T00:23:00.000-04:00

From Sherrie!:

"as i promisedone more for the challenge."

Topic #47--"Yellow" Entry

2007-04-06T07:39:00.000-04:00

From Tina!:

"This week’s theme is yellow which always reminds me of summer, sun and long hot days. Here’s what I came up with. I found this great face stamp which I forgot I had."

Topic #47--"Yellow" Entry

2007-04-04T23:54:00.000-04:00

From Susan Ramey-Cleveland!:

"I shot this a few days ago at Lowe's gardening department. They had so many beautiful flowers--oodles of bright colors. It really made me itchy to plant something. But I'll wait till after Easter. We can never be sure of being safe from a freeze in this area until after Easter--and sometimes not even then."

Topic #47--"Yellow" Entry

2007-04-04T23:50:00.000-04:00

From Cheryl!:

"The word was Yellow. At first I was like huh? What am I gonna do for that? Yellow is not one of my favourite colors and so I thought of it and what usually happens..... I thought of ideas. Since this is Easter weekend and everything to do with Easter is yellow - eggs, chicks, flowers. I decided to do an Easter page! So this is my YELLOW page."

Topic #47--"Yellow" Entry

2007-04-04T23:48:00.000-04:00

A warm welcome to Julie! Her entry!:

For Wallis (in yellow)
Canvas collage painted with Ph Martin inks, beeswax.

Topic #47--"Yellow" Entry

2007-04-03T20:44:00.000-04:00

From Johnnynorms!:

"A Stray Ray"

Something minimal

Topic #47--"Yellow" Entry

2007-04-03T20:29:00.000-04:00

From Christine!:

"I made a Spring Fairy!! She's carrying a basket of flowers with a few Easter Eggs thrown in there....... The first day of spring passed, but I know a lot of you out there are still waiting for it to arrive!!!!!"

Topic #47--"Yellow" Entry

2007-04-03T20:26:00.000-04:00

From Mary Ann!:

“with purpose“
4×4 collage

"i’ve given a tremendous thought lately as to where my artistic/entrepreneurial direction will go & this little piece is a sort of manisfestation of that. you see, whatever direction i decide to take, one thing’s for sure.

it will be with purpose."

Topic #47--"Yellow" Entry

2007-04-02T14:31:00.000-04:00

From Izabella!:

"I usually dislike using yellow in my artwork, today I like how it worked for me~"