Winter Projects

Winter is a perfect time, a quiet time without many outside obligations that lets me reassess, reorganize, and give myself permission to play with art without restraint. No upcoming shows to prepare for allows me to do art and mess up and learn, which we all need to do.  It is not enough to find what works and keep doing that thing- this causes stagnation which reflects itself in lack of enthusiasm for showing art.    

During the winter months, I have so far been working on a few things.  I am currently working on reediting my online courses (that were previously on Teachable) and updating them for a new platform.  Along with that I am working on planning some new online course videos that I hope to have ready by the end of winter.

I gave myself permission (especially since I had pneumonia in the fall and couldn't do any gourd pyrography for a couple of months) to work on some watercolors.  Below, the one on the right is the Japanese Maple tree outside our living room window.  The watercolor on the left was an inspired copy (a great learning exercise) from a wonderful watercolor artist from Poland, Katarzyna Kmiecik.

Below is a smattering of random watercolor paintings, as you can see I am still experimenting and finding my unique style.  I do know that I like working small, and working on pieces that I can finish in a sitting or two.

Below are a few gourd works in progress.  Some of these will not be finished until that weather warms up so I can carve in spring, but I am doing what I can for now.

Lastly, the art studio is currently going through a transformation that will not be finished until sometime in the spring.  The first part was getting a new stove to heat the space. 

On the left before picture you will see the electric "fireplace" (all the way to the right you can only see it little bit of it) It that was not very efficient and the studio was always very cold in the winter. 

​On the right is our new gas stove!  It is wonderful and now it is toasty and comfy in the studio.  You can also see the bookshelf moved and replaced with a nifty weaving wall organizer, and gourd shelving on the wall along with my drawing desk.  

​What's next?  We plan on taking out the red carpet and tiling with a wood tile.  The most exciting for me is the decorative tiles I am working with a local artist to add around the stove.  More on that later!

Whew that was a lot of catch up on!