Hello,

I want to talk about being eliminated from a judged show.  I have entered three this fall and of the five quilts I entered and paid fees for, none was accepted for the  shows.  One never knows the” why “of such rejections.  Even  having been a” holder” for Scholastic art compactions and being  in the same room as the Judges- I sometimes could not understand that “Why” question.   Judges are people with tastes and biases of their own.   One time  I did hear one judge say” I never accept any art with a skelton in it.”  Sense I as a teacher, had used a skelton from the science room as part of a still life with my own students, I  felt that sure was an unfair feeling for a judge to carry.  But they are  people – not gods even though they are given lots of power.     Perhaps the  work did not go with the others selected.  Or maybe the judge did not like the design or color combinations.  The artist never knows those things.    My Father often said” It’s not so much what happens to you, as what you THINK about what happens to you that makes the difference.”   With that in mind, the whole experience becomes one of choice.   I could be angry , hurt and sad by these developments,  but I choose not be be.    I still feel my work is good and I am proud of what I do.  I

enjoy the process and that is the important part for me.  It would be nice to have someone- a judge confirm my feelings- but that is not the case at this time.   Lastly, I am  the  one who chooses to enter the competitions.    I will let time heal over the feelings and try another competition that may fit what I do a little better next time.

I spent a couple of days working with Nancy on her sky again.    She is becoming quite a good painter with a sponge.  She built up more clouds and the work has some real depth now.   I think that we are done with this step and the quilting will add even more demention to the final.  I am so proud of all the chances she takes with her work.

Progress Report:  Asurite Foundation XX    This quilt was finished in June, but I have not posted it because it was an entry for one of the shows I mentioned above .   One of the limitations on entry to this show was that the work was not to be shown publicly before .     This quilt was lots of fun to work on and I am quite happy with it even all these mouths later.    I added lots of metallic fabric in this work as well as many silks and satins.

 I used some fancy yarns and threads in this work as well.  I find that when I pickup the actual rock that I used as inspiration- I see more possibilities  for additional pieces .   Only time will tell.

 

 

 

 

Whipshock Hill

Foundations XXI    This is a second quilt that was part of the same entry mentioned above.  I finished this work in June.  It is based on a cut in the road along Route 279 nine miles west of bennington  Vermont .    In actually it is about  500 yards long and a very humbling sight. I added lots of yarns and ribbons to the surface of the quilt as there were lots of little fractures and lines of thin deposited color changes in this rock face.     There is also some silk paper in this work.

 

 

 

Alpine Lake 

This is a new technique that  I am developing that is a very college like approach to quilting.  I am continuing to think more in the way of color for the solutions then the type of fabric I am using.  I even used an old bit of a paper quilt that was the correct color and texture for the water in this work.   I used some double knit on this one  as well as silk, silk paper, organza and cotton  fabrics.    I even did a little free motion zig zag work to add more texture to the tree.   I need more practice to get that under control.

Agate    I am still adding hand work to this felted work to add texture to the surface.   I may have given up doing Daily’s , but I still am doing lots of hand work.

 

 

WaterMarked Sandstone   I started this  new Foundations Piece earlier this week.   This one is loosely based on an old black and white  photographic of sandstone that has watermarke erosion on it.  I know the typical colors of sandstone so I am trying to stay in that limited range with this first step.     I really love the texture and I am having fun planning ways to show it in this work.

New work   This is a pure play piece.  I am not at all sure what I am doing and have no clear idea where I am going with this.  The scarps had just been in the bottom of one of my baskets and I thought they looked  good together……    Quilting, crumpling and following the directions of the work may or may not help this.   But I am willing to give it a bit of time and freedom to see what happens.     Giving myself permission to mess up is very freeing!

I like to hear feedback,  post a comment.

Keep your eyes open to the wonders of the season.

Carol