Art Diary. A weekly wrap-up of art activities. For earlier posts, search under the category Art Diary.
And off we go on another art week.
On Saturday, February 17, I was watching the Olympics at night and I did a lot of little things to keep my hands busy. One paper doll:
some postcards, and some ATC’s. The latter two categories, I had some cards already partly painted or collaged and I devoted myself to collaging them to finish them up.
Monday, February 19 – I had a little time at the end of the afternoon. I spent it painting the edges of paintings recently completed. A boring task but it need to be done and the paintings always look so much nicer with a finished edge.
I have a lot of postcards and ATC’s in progress and going somewhere even if I don’t know where. I added some paint today, here and there. I didn’t have time to start something bigger and this was perfect to do now.
I have a small assortment of diminutive gessoed and Claybord surfaces – I think I’ve accumulated them as free gifts with Dick Blick purchases over time. As I’ve said I’m working down my inventory of boards, and now we have come to these little guys. They will likely be the next paint recipients.
Tuesday, February 20 – I spent some time on ATC’s
and postcards. Things are progressing. I figure pretty soon I’ll be ready to finish up this phase of mail art things. Most of these are getting to where I would consider them finished. Maybe…
I decided to start working on the small panels. I chose this group of four for today:
They have a smooth surface, pre-primed with gesso, slick-feeling. Today I just wanted to get some color on them. I lined them up, painted a color, turned the boards 90 degrees, and added more, until things were pretty well covered up. I am not sure what I want to do here. I’m still thinking maybe trees or faces. I am really working out those themes, I know, but I’m nowhere near tired of them yet. In process:
And where I ended the day:
Wednesday, February 21 – I was out for a lot of the day, including a visit to the dentist. So I had just a little time in the afternoon. I decided to spend it with the 7″ x 5″ boards I started yesterday. They have become portraits, more of those odd people ones. I am captive to this portrait thing right now.
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- Skewed group…
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- OK. Straight now.
Friday, February 23 – At the end of this week already! I decided to work on small paintings. First I added some touches to the odd people portraits, and I think I’ve got them to a good place.
Then I thought I’d try out an idea I had just today. I photograph mannikins in store windows here and there (I have a love for them dating back to childhood) and I thought I’d try some mannikin portraits.
I am not interested in clothes as a buyer, really, but I love the patterns and shapes clothing makes – not just the fabrics but by how the clothes hang and the shapes of the outfits. I picked out some “models”.
I chose 5″ x 7″ Claybords, as I’ve mentioned earlier this week that I have a stash of them.
By now it was four PM and that means – turn on the radio. I listen to a program called “Funky Friday” on WXPN Philadelphia on Fridays. I love funk, even though what I know about it would fit in a thimble. Tune in next Friday and try some artwork production to the beat of this music – I feel sure you’ll like the results.
OK, back to the art. Here’s the progress.
I think I’m getting there. Could this be the beginning of a sideline in fashion illustration? Hmmmmm? I’ll do more work on these another day. I have a load of brushes to wash up.
Last but not least, I’d like to mention Over the Hill on the Yellow Brick Road, who nominated me for an award. I don’t do awards, but I appreciate being thought of, and I wanted to say thank you. I enjoy this blog very much (I always come away with a smile).
Thank you for your faith in my work!
See you next week! Thanks for following along with me.
Claudia McGill and Her Art World 
I am loving those fashion/mannequin illustrations! I have not seen you do something quite like those before. I have always enjoyed fashion illustration despite the fact I know absolutely bupkis about fashion. There is something about the flow of the line and the focus on shape and colour and pattern that appeals to me in that genre of art work. I look forward to seeing you explore this seam of inspiration.
Thank you. I think my interest dates back to when my mother used to get us the discarded issues of pattern books from the fabric store, which we then cut out all the people for paper dolls. Back then, it was all illustrated, not photos. I enjoyed these paintings, I will do them again, and also they allow me to indulge my mannequin photo activity, too! (I love “seam” of inspiration!)
I really enjoy seeing your process. Everything looks great! (K)
Thank you. This week as a little disjointed. I’m kind of in between things. But that is the true picture of how it goes! The practice is keeping me focused on doing art and not wandering off into…just sitting around. I am happier. And I like that people might enjoy something from seeing what I am doing.
I love your taking us along day-by-day with you as you pursue these wonderful art activities. I, too, tend to work on at least a dozen projects at the same time…both in art and writing. Life just doesn’t have enough hours in the day. Loved your blog today!!!
Thank you. I’ve been hoping the posts were not too boring or maybe even over the line “ME ME ME”, but they are helping me stay on track which is what I needed, and I also like it that people might find some topic or technique that interests them. I like to have a lot on the go all the time – and I agree- there are not enough hours in the day!
I like the mannequin exploration too. How do your end up distributing – or trading? – your ATCs?
Thank you. As for ATC’s, mostly I just keep them now. I used to belong to IUOMA (online mail art group) and passed around and recieved quite a few that way. I’ve also participated in exchanges that galleries have (mostly I found out about these online through IUOMA) and when I taught classes, I did it with my students. Maybe later I’ll get reinvolved in mail art but for now, mostly, I like having a collection.
I just looked IUOMA up – interesting. Thanks for the reply!
What a wonderful week of art….one of my favorites was the man with the pot of beans on his head. You open my eyes to all of the possibilities. Thank you Claudia.
Thank you! That person was a continuation of a theme I think you have seen in some of my other work, if you know which ones I mean! I thought it was pretty funny.
What an assortment of lovely art work Claudia – you have been very busy !! And it’s nice to see your art as works in progress….
Thank you!
Catching up on your posts – you are such a prolific artist – I am in awe!
Thank you. I’m trying to focus this year rather than wandering around and I’m liking it, I feel more like I know what I am doing! and maybe getting a chance to try more things since my time is more organized. Keeping fingers crossed…
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