Is It Any Good?
- Details
- Category: In The Studio
- Published on Thursday, 28 February 2013 15:57
- Written by Martha Hall
The Six Stages of Artwork
1) Brainstorm! This is such a great idea! Let’s go!
2) Early on – Oh yeah, this is going to be good!
3) Somewhere Midway – Oh jeez..... I don’t know. What was I thinking?
4 ) Nearing the end – This is so hard. What a piece of crap. I don’wanna.
5) Finished – Whatever……. Thank God it’s done.
6) Revisiting… Several months later – Now that is some good work right there!
These pictures show around Stage 2 of my latest quilt. I’ve worked my way up to Stage 4. This piece is experiencing a major fail and I will not be making the entry deadline of midnight tonight.
Actually, the problem started showing itself at around Stage 2, but I continued on recklessly, convinced that I could fix it later.( Note to self: I should have fixed it earlier.)
I think the problem is solvable. Just not today. I shall perhaps expound on this particular quilt at a later date – after I have solved the issue.
In the meantime I’m going to take a studio break and go make a nice soup and get my house in order.
Until next time --
MCH
Metamorphosis Revealed
- Details
- Category: Artwork
- Published on Monday, 18 February 2013 21:32
- Written by Martha Hall
Metamorphosis has been completed and delivered to TraillWorks Gallery for the current EVOLUTION exhibit. I'm happy to show you the full reveal today.
To see the "evolution" of Metamorphosis you can scroll down through the last six blog posts.
Metamorphosis 32" x 11" ©2013 Martha C. Hall
Metamorphosis, detail of looped wire flowers ©2013 Martha C. Hall
(click on image for larger view)
Metamorphosis, detail of fabric leaves ©2013 Martha C. Hall
(click on image for larger view)
You are invited to join me at TraillWorks for the Opening Reception on Saturday, February 23, 2013. I hope to see you there!
TraillWorks Gallery 214 Spring Street Newton NJ 973-383-1307
Until next time --
MCH
Down To The Wire
- Details
- Category: Process
- Published on Wednesday, 13 February 2013 15:50
- Written by Martha Hall
Sorry – I had to say it. It was inevitable ---
What it means is that I have to get this piece over to TraillWorks Gallery this week.
I have made lots of forward progress this week. In the previous post I told you that I needed to make more leaves. I made up a whole new batch of fabric leaves and finished attaching them to the bottom section. And I decided to add smaller leaves up around the wired flowers.
The leaves are all tacked down – by machine this time – so they can be manipulated to stand out dimensionally from the surface. Sort of fluttering......
Yesterday I hand stitched the looped wire sections onto the surface. It finally feels like the vision is coming together. I was waiting until the last moment to permanently affix the wire elements.
Part of the process has been figuring out the order in which to do each step. On a “collaged” textile piece like this one I like to get all the surface work done before putting the back on – what some call a “false back” – which means you can’t see the stitches on the back. It’s mostly utilitarian stitch work and doesn’t need (or even deserve) to be seen. It’s about the front – that’s why it hangs against the wall.
Anyway, I also got the back piece prepped and that meant thinking ahead to “signing” the work. Even signing textile work and quilts is labor intensive! The basic info is machine embroidered onto the backing and obviously that needs to be done before the back gets attached to the front.
As you can see I’ve titled this piece “Metamorphosis”. Fortunately I also had the sense (and memory) to change the pre-programmed date from 2012 to 2013 for the first finished work of the year.
Today will be BIG – all the layers will be assembled together and I’ll do the edge finish. Then attach the hanging system and it will be done!
Until next time --
MCH
Assembly Time
- Details
- Category: Process
- Published on Friday, 08 February 2013 20:01
- Written by Martha Hall
This artwork for EVOLUTION has taken me a lot longer than I thought it would. I've worked all this week at home rather than at the TraillWorks Gallery because I really need all my tools and materials around me and it would be too cumbersome to try to transport everything I need to Newton.
I'd like to keep you up to speed on the process - or evolution - through the blog. Now that most of my components are made it is time to assemble this piece. Here's the story.....
Laying out the wire "flowers" and then looping more wire to attach them together.
(You can click on these images to see more detail.)
Here are larger elements made from the smaller ones. I think the darker background shows it off better, which will help me in selecting my fabrics.
Here's the audition process.....
Selecting fabrics and working on the placement of the wired "flower" elements. I started with more fabrics in the "sky" area but decided to simplify it to just the two upper blue areas. The busier background made the wire flowers get lost.
To "pop" the wire sections a little more I added a satin stitched halo around them. Then I quilted the background piece before applying all the leaves and the flower sections. (You can click on the lower 3 to see enlarged images.)
I actually did make it over to TraillWorks last night for "Night Out in Newton". Four of us artists set up to work at the gallery and to chat with visitors. I'm working alongside Nancy Virbila who makes beautiful paper collage landscapes.
I'm attaching the fabric leaves by hand. And of course I determined that I need even more leaves! So that's what I'm working on today at home. (I'll finish the attaching with my sewing machine. I just didn't feel like lugging it to the gallery last night.)
Oh! and while I was hanging out with the others, watercolorist Jane came up with a cool idea about the leaves, which I think I will follow up on. I'll let you in on that one as I get closer. Which had better be soon because I need to get the finished piece over to the gallery to hang before the EVOLUTION exhibit officially starts on February 16th!
One other thing..... I'm not on Pinterest, but I've become aware that a few of my images have been "pinned". I don't really mind, but if you choose to "pin" my stuff please give me credit and link to my website www.marthahallart.com Thanks!
Until next time...
MCH
Assembly Required
- Details
- Category: In The Studio
- Published on Friday, 01 February 2013 19:14
- Written by Martha Hall
Oh Lawdy, I’ve done it again! I seem to have a knack for it.
When the concept for the EVOLUTION exhibit was presented I jumped in with both feet.
I had an idea of what to make – I wanted to somehow use all the looped wire elements I’ve been making….. oh! but I need to make more of them first….. oh! and I think I’ll combine them with fabric….. oh! and….. well…. you can read my previous posts to see how this project has been evolving.
Here I am at the deadline and I’m still working on it! This reminds me of when I was in school and all the art project deadlines I had. Couldn’t keep it simple….. nooooo….. always working on the grand schemes right up to the last minute.
And of course, today I decided that I needed to make MORE leaves.
Earlier this week I started getting all stressed out over it and thinking, “You know, I’m not in school anymore. I don’t have to meet no stinkin’ deadline. The world will not end.” But then Mark reminded me that there are still deadlines in life and art, which I know. It was also suggested that I “girl up” and get back to work.
OK! I’m working as fast as I can!
Individual wired leaf elements
Leaf elements wired together into one piece. I had thought I'd leave the looped wire sections open in order to leave them airy and see through.
Leaf elements on a fabric backing. Now I'm thinking of mounting all my wired elements onto a fabric backing. The leaves and colors "pop" a lot better with something behind them. Too much "air" behind the open wire work makes it all disappear.
Speaking of deadlines….. when I flipped my calendars this morning I also tossed out the last of the January show entry forms that never got done. Deadlines missed. The world did not end.
Next time I'll continue with more of the assembly process.
Until then --
MCH