Small Works - More Grand Canyon Inspired Artwork
Chairs #16: Canyon Layers - Tonto Platform
©2003 6.5" x 6.5"
Private Collection
Chairs #17: Canyon Layers - Red Wall
©2003 6.5" x 6.5"
Private Collection
The last 2 evenings have been a bit frustrating for me as I’ve worked long hours trying to write my first studio newsletter. I can sit down and write out a blog post in just a few minutes but for some reason the text for the newsletter isn’t flowing as easily. I’ve clearly psyched myself out thinking it needs to be different or perfect.
Instead of writing the text I’ve been tweaking the formatting. Email applications like outlook, eudora and thunderbird aren’t browsers but they have to act as one when an html formated email arrives. Then there are the browser based email applications such as gmail and yahoo. They strip out all of the header information in such emails. All styles have to be inline and css positioning doesn’t work well, so lots of nested tables and repeated style tags making the source file hard to read.
Basically it’s a bit of a pain to get things to look good in an email and one can spend hours and hours perfecting the layout so it works in all browsers, email programs, etc. Normal people would use a template or software program and not worry about this, being a software engineer I hand code all of my html and css, which clearly at times is a very big liability.
While that was maybe a bit technical the point is I’m wasting my time and getting sidetracked by technology (something I find very easy) instead of concentrating on the content of my newsletter.
Solution - tonight I’m going to just work in my studio and forget the newsletter. After a day or 2 break I’m hoping I’ll find the right focus again.
I realized when I posted the series of Grand Canyon quilts last month I forgot the 2 small studies that I made during that period. The two pieces above could easily be in my Structures series but back in 2003 they ended up falling into my Chairs series, which I will post more about someday.
Chairs #16 is in a private collection, traded for a wonderful piece by another textile artist, but Chairs #17: Canyon Layers - Red Wall is available for purchase for $75.00. is sold.
These two pieces were some of my very first pieces working with thin lines. The start of something I still haven’t tired of 4 years later.
Posted by Lisa in: Abstract Contemporary Textile Art, Inspiration
Tagged: grand canyon, small work, structures series
Tracy Wall said,
September 7, 2007 @ 9:24 am
Beautiful pieces, Lisa. I really like (in all of your pieces) how the linear patterns keep my eye moving. Though I’m not familiar with the technical aspects of computer things, I am familiar with “putting off until tomorrow.”
I know that when I’m faced with a problem that will be difficult to work through, I immediately focus my attention on something else. When I was setting up my baby blog, I too, spent an inordinate amount of time with the layout, etc, because I wasn’t sure what I wanted to say in a post. Changing it back and forth making not much difference overall.
As I write this, I’m in the position where I just finished hanging new show (I’m a painter), and now would like to create a whole slew of small, quick studies for 2 upcoming outdoor fairs. Not my forte. I’m usually a methodical preplanner, so this will be a stretch for me. However, it’s something new. Yikes! Immediately I decided that my basement ceiling needed to be painted this very day. Not a moment to waste! (First coat drying right now.)
Sometimes I don’t know if I’m putting off decision-making or if I need time for options to stew in my head before choosing a course of action.
Happy re-focussing!
Cheryl McClure said,
September 8, 2007 @ 1:05 pm
Hi Lisa…………these are just fabulous. I love them which ever series they are attached to.
On the newsletter front……one reason i’ve only entertained doing one briefly, I can’t figure out what is important enough to be in one so a blog is much better to just note something briely and casually. Casually= just could be that’s the key component that I love about email and blogging.
Monica McGregor said,
September 8, 2007 @ 3:14 pm
Lisa, I just wanted to drop you a note to let you know how much your blog inspires me. I’ve been essentially sitting on my art for about 20 years and finally have gotten up the courage to start sharing it with the world. I learn so much from your journey and I just wanted to express my gratitude. And I love your work, too!
Diane Clancy said,
September 8, 2007 @ 6:51 pm
I love these little quilts! Very nice!
It is also hard for me to not get caught up in technical details … I am sort of techy too. I appreciate your sharing this process because I need to do a newsletter once I get my CafePress more set up.
~ Diane Clancy
http://www.dianeclancy.com/blog
Patty Altier said,
September 10, 2007 @ 6:35 am
I was able to go to Athens to see Structures #55 plus several small pieces hanging in the gift shop. It was interesting to see your work up close - I was suprised how close your rows of quilting are! Your piece looked great and was what I saw first coming in the front door. I am looking forward to your first newsletter - just take a deep breath and don’t let the technical detail hang you up - just go for it!
cynthia said,
September 10, 2007 @ 8:50 am
Lovely small works, Lisa! I especially like #17… Congrats on selling it too.
When I need to do something, I find all sorts of distractions that act as a sort of avoidance technique for me. The result is that other less pressing things get accomplished but the task at hand ends up coming together in the 11th hour when I absolutely can’t avoid it any longer. I don’t like operating that way, but I often recognize it when it’s happening.
Jane said,
September 16, 2007 @ 6:52 pm
Regarding your newsletter, why don’t you use your layout program to layout everything the way you want and then save it as a PDF? That way you won’t have to worry about formating compatibilities with different email clients and you can post it on this blog if you wish for those not on your mailing list.