Stone Wall update

OK - I know it is Christmas. But I don't celebrate! Nonetheless by gift to myself is to finish this course. My hand is working well enough to do some stitching.

Here is my next step in my course. I did some torn shapes about my wall in my sketchbook. I am looking for (Ref.N.S. + M.T.). To what does this refer? Hopefully Sian can help me! Shall I create some interesting stitches that will look like these images?

Meanwhile, I will begin my search. And for some black canvas. The canvas is the next part of the course. Nowhere in Keene will I find it.

The WWW will come in handy, I am sure.

Any ideas? anyone? 'Til the next time.......

sketchbook updates

I have been enhancing my sketchbook. Pasting the wax rubbings, etc and doing some more watercolor and pencil sketches.

But need couple weeks off as I let carpal tunnel surgery heal.

Sketchbook of the wall - a beginning

This is my beginning of my stone wall sketchbook project. I did the black and white sketch and that really proves that my darks are not dark enough for me! The other is just pencil marks of various parts of the wall. The pencil is a watercolor pencil so watch for some ideas and more sketchbook playing.

Stone wall rubbings

Yes, these are the same stone wall rubbings. BUT, the rubbings are from different areas of the wall. My mentor, teacher, Sian suggested I do a wax rubbing on paper and then paint it. WOW - look at the pattern on the purply tissue paper after it is painted with black paint.

And the blue rubbings..... I rubbed several different directions. All of this is very interesting to me.

Who would know that a wall could produce so much inspiration for art?

And look below at the red rubbings? Different effects on different stones.

Here is another wax rubbing painted black on tracing paper. This pattern is the most striking. This is a wonderful exercise and exhibit for one to look at pattern in many ways.

My wall rubbings

It is very interesting to see the wall, its color etc but the rubbing tells it all! I used a black wax pastel crayon and tracing paper. I learned quickly that it needed a fixative. I went to my wall several times to do my rubbings as the last time I had some charcoal fixative. I love this process.

With this in hand, my photo and a little time, I will be sketching my wall in my sketchbook.

Wide angle View of my wall

This is a wide angle view aka panoramic view of my wall. Unfortunately, the iphone made it curved which it is not.

That is a stone walled house in the background. This view is from Washington St in Keene, NH.

THE WALL

As I walk around Keene, NH, where I now live, I see so many wonderful stone walls. This is the Granite State, after all! I can see where using stone walls as art inspiration will become a mission.

In the meantime, I am trying to do my Distant Stitch course. Therefore I was looking for a wall which is somewhat close to my home and studio. And something interesting: Color, shapes, etc.
This is a public wall; a boundary for a cemetery.


While this is not the best wall in New Hampshire, I can think of many interesting ones in Fitzwilliam, Peterborough, etc. I like this wall. I like its composition. I really like the texture of the stones. My guess is that this wall dates to the 1800's.

In the last week, I have visited this wall four times. Each time I become more attached to it. Now to progress to the drawings, etc.

Distant Stitch

Welcome to my world! I decided to be a student at Distant Stitch (www.distantstitch.co.uk). This has been a dream for a while. Ready, set go - right? Nope, life got in the way.

First of all, the house hunting thing continues on. We found a wonderful house, spent days looking and bidding. Time, time and more time and still nothing is resolved. House bidding didn't go well. Need to move on to create art.

In the midst of this, it snows almost every day lately. The snow is above my waist. My assignment is to find a stone wall for the inspiration for my assigned piece of art. I live in the Granite State - stone wall, you might ask? We have thousants and each is unique. Try to find one under the snow! Walla! I walked on my icy driveway only to find a small section of a stone wall supporting my house. It was baring itself. Quick, photograph it! I did! It is still bare, for now. More storms are in the forecast!

While I planned and read about my class, my family decided to involve me in my parent's 70th wedding anniversary party in April. Run, Terri, run! I can't run fast enough but at least I got the smallest assignment: ordering an ice cream cake!

Now for now. Yes I am packing because I have to move. No choice in this one. Yes, I am creating textile art because I am vending at a quilt show in March which is just around the corner. and Yes, I will do the Foundation Module for the Distant Stitch workshop because I WANT TOO!

Here is what the snow looked like before yesterday when we added another foot to it.