Studio Update: January 2020

I’m going to start the year with a post summarizing the textured fiber paintings I made in 2019.  But before I get to that, I’m currently working on my first piece for 2020 – (Feeling) Grief.  I knew I’d need to create Grief at some point; I guess that time is now.  Here are a few progress photos:

(Feeling) Grief – the template for the canvas
The canvas
The final design, photographed in black and white to show contrast.

Come back next month to see the completed work!

In 2019, I made 6 textured fiber paintings, which was my goal.  Feelings ran the spectrum from Woe to Dynamism.  (If you’re interested, I have the same goal this year.  Considering the amount of stitching I do on these pieces, 6 seems reasonable as I don’t make art full time.)  I’ve included photos below, with links to each piece’s article if you’d like a bit more information about a piece.  All of this work is for sale.  If you’re interested, please visit my Gallery page or contact me through this website.

Woeful - Full(c)
Woeful ~ March 2019 ~ 33-1/2″”x22″ ~ $2500
Passionate ~ May 2019 ~ 37 x 21-1/2″” ~ $2500
Crushed ~ July 2019 ~ 35″ x 22-1/2″ ~ $2500
Hopeful ~ September 2019 ~ 36″ x 23″ ~ $2500
Perplexed ~ October 2019 ~ 36″ x 23″ ~ $2500
Dynamic ~ December 2019 ~ 36″ x 22″ ~ $2500

Next up: I’ll continue work on Grief.  Full reveal expected in February.

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Info about my Feelings series: I interpret my random abstract doodles as emotions.  The guiding point is the outer boundary of the doodle.  The boundary evokes the feeling.  From there, I contemplate how to bring that particular feeling alive in fiber. 

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My art and my work go hand in hand.  I’m a Leadership Development Trainer & Coach, working with stressed, frantic, frazzled professionals who struggle to lead, experience self-sabotage, have difficulty communicating, and can’t break through persistent red tape.  What they want is to innovate, achieve consistent results, and come together as a team, so their employers call on me for leadership development training and coaching.  I’m an expert at shedding the stress, designing solutions, and building cohesive, consistent high-achieving teams.  My clients go from crisis mode to working in harmony, saving time, money, and energy, finally getting their shit together.  If you’re interested in leadership development training and coaching, please join me over at Harmony Coaching.

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The majority of my work is for sale.  Please visit my Gallery for available work.

Thanks for visiting my studio!

 

Studio Update: October 2019

In my last studio update (August 2019), I mentioned it typically takes me at least two months to complete a textured fiber painting.  I finished my most recent painting, (Feeling) Hopeful, in late September, so the two month thing is on track.

The reason it takes me about two months per piece is because my goal has been to spend at least 3 hours in my studio each week.  This goal goes back to when I was working corporate and was not self-employed.

In the 6 months I’ve been working for myself, I’ve learned a few things.  While building a business takes work, it also allows for way more flexibility in schedule.  This means I can increase my studio time if I choose.

I did choose and am now shooting for 6 hours in the studio every week.  I schedule one hour of studio time per day on my agenda, after I’ve completed my coach work.  I usually leave Friday open, no studio time, which gives me float and an extra day if I’ve fallen behind with my commitment to my art earlier in the week.

I’ve only been doing this for a couple weeks, but I’m already seeing the creative practice speed up.

I don’t know what this will ultimately mean for a production schedule, other than it’s certain I’ll finish a piece in less than 2 months.  The ultimate aim is to produce one new textured fiber painting per month.

My current work in progress, (Feeling) Perplexed, is almost complete.  In fact, since October has five weeks, it will be finished by Halloween/Samhain.  I started it the last week in September, so it looks like I’ll hit that one month goal!  Full reveal will happen in November, combined with that month’s studio update.

For now, I hope you enjoy Perplexed’s progress photos.

What goal do you have that could be adjusted to create a bigger impact for you?

(Feeling) Perplexed – the template
Color layout in the design phase
The stitching begins…
And the stitching progresses…this phase takes the most time, however, is also the most satisfying.

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My art and my work go hand in hand.  I’m a Performance Mindset Coach, helping stressed out, frantic, frazzled professionals slow down and reconnect to their intuition so they can get their shit together.  I’ve walked the road my clients are on.  My method to slow down was through development of a creative practice, which helped me regain my voice and led me to want to serve others in the same way.  If you’re interested in developing (or expanding on) a creative practice as a means to reconnect to your intuition, lose your stress, and improve your professional performance, please join me over at Harmony Coaching.

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The majority of my work is for sale.  Please visit my Gallery for available work.

Thanks for visiting my studio!

Studio Update: August 2019

Last month, I posted photos of my most recent textured fiber painting, (Feeling) Crushed.  Please follow the link to see it.

This month’s post is a studio update as it typically takes me at least two months to complete a fiber painting.  I’m currently working on (Feeling) Hopeful, an explosion of bright color.  I hope you enjoy the progress photos.

The pattern for Hopeful’s canvas
The canvas
Choosing colors for Hopeful’s design
And the zen stitching begins

I’ve also added a bit of embroidery work to my portfolio.  I’m extremely new to this type of art (I only know one embroidery stitch!); however, I’m enjoying the zen of hand stitching much like I enjoy the zen of machine stitching my textured fiber paintings.  I call this an embroidered drawing, as the design came from one of my sketches (and the tattoo I have on my right wrist).  What I like about transferring my sketches onto muslin via embroidery is it allows me to continue creating while relaxing on the couch in the evening with my guy.  We can pull up something on TV to watch.  He reads a little, I stitch a little, and we unwind from the day.  A perfect slow down practice.

Peace – An Embroidered Drawing
The sketch inspired the tattoo before it inspired the embroidered drawing

Future embroidered drawings will be created on much smaller hoops.  I plan to add more detail and way more stitching.

Next month, I’ll share the completed (Feeling) Hopeful.  As always, If I miss my goal to complete the painting, I’ll share another Studio Update.

Have you added anything new to your creative practice?  If yes, what?

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My art and my work go hand in hand.  I’m a Performance Mindset Coach, helping stressed out, frantic, frazzled professional slow down and reconnect to their intuition so they can get their shit together.  I’ve walked the road my clients are on.  My method to slow down was through development of a creative practice, which helped me regain my voice and led me to want to serve others in the same way.  If you’re interested in developing (or expanding on) a creative practice as a means to reconnect to your intuition, lose your stress, and improve your professional performance, please join me over at Harmony Coaching.

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Thanks for hanging around the studio with me!

Studio Update: June 2019

This month, I’m sharing a studio update, showcasing progress on the latest textured fiber painting in my (Feeling) series.  Crushed is underway; the stitching began last week.  In this post, I’m sharing photos of the progress to date.

Original doodle – the shape that inspired “Crushed” as the feeling choice.
I enlarge the original doodle using tracing paper to create the canvas template
My intuitive color choices to interpret the feeling
And the stitching begins

If you missed last month’s post, which revealed (Feeling) Passionate, you can see it here.

The goal for July’s post is the unveiling of the completed (Feeling) Crushed.  If I miss the goal, I’ll share another Studio Update.

What’s your creative practice?

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I also wanted to take the opportunity to share a bit about what I’m doing with my work as my work and my art go hand in hand.  I’m a Life and Authenticity Coach, helping stressed out, frantic, frazzled women over 40 slow down and reconnect to their intuition so they can get their shit together.  I do this by helping them to develop a creative practice.  I’ve walked the road my clients are on.  Development of my own creative practice helped me regain my voice and led me to want to serve others in the same way.  If you’re interested in learning more about coaching and how it might help you develop (or expand on) a creative practice as a means to reconnect to your intuition and lose the stress, you can follow me over at Harmony Coaching.

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Thanks for hanging around the studio with me!

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