Preparing to Create
A Blank Canvas
Now that the studio is finished I got to spend today creating art. Although before I could begin I had much preparation to do.
The art I’m going to be creating over the next 7 weeks is for a solo show in Boulder that opens in mid February. I’ve shown in this space twice before so I know it well and know exactly the work I will make for the exhibit.
Usually when I create the artwork tells me what size it needs to be. This is a lovely feature of not working with a canvas. But it can also be a liability when I am facing a deadline as I like to work BIG and I don’t have time to complete a lot of huge quilts.
Being aware that 7 weeks isn’t much time to create an entire exhibits worth of art, this time around I’ve prederminded the sizes I will make so they fit the gallery and my time budget.
Since I have huge white walls the first step in preparation is to mark off the sizes I am working with. My plan is 9 larger pieces, the first 5 fit on my design walls and are marked off below.
[They might be a bit hard to see and if so - apologies for the big white photos. But in each of these there is some very light colored yarn marking off the spaces to fill.]
The largest – 3′x8′ (this is on the design wall I just put up – woohoo!):
Two 4′x4′ square:
Two 3′x3′ square:
Once these 5 are completed I’ll design the remaining four 3′x4′ pieces.
Equipment Prep
Next up I needed to get the sewing machine ready. I wound a bunch of bobbins (the thread that goes in the bottom of the sewing machine).
And cleaned and oiled the bobbin case and put in a new needle. Now it’s all ready to go.
Home #10
And here is the start – Home #10 will be the 3′x8′ piece. This is likely all you will see of it before my show opens so the work is all brand new. Or maybe I’ll post a few in progress photos. We’ll see…
It’s yellow, purple and brown and turning out way cool (it’s much further along now). I’m most pleased.
The Plan
I have about 260ish hours of studio time needed to complete the work for the show (more show details later). I have 7 weeks in which to do this. So, well, I’m going to be busy over the next few weeks as I think I’ve got to continue on with the day job also.
I’ll post updates 2-3 times a week so stay tuned. And coming up soon will be my year in review and my work fro 2010 and the coming decade. I love writing those posts.
And while I’ve said my studio is complete I still need to fix this one small detail. The builder had to redo some texture – back in April or May and the wall has looked like this ever since. I need to hunt through my 20 paint colors and get this fixed cause I’m really tired of looking at it this way! Maybe I’ll go do that right now…
Posted by Lisa in: Abstract Contemporary Textile Art
Tagged: art, creating, home, textil paintings
Wow! That is a lot of work to get done in 7 weeks while still working a day job! If anyone can do it – it is you, Lisa. I am looking forward to seeing your progress and the final work. Good luck!!
Love seeing this whole process and your dedication to deadlines – which for
me are always a good thing. You must be so pleased to be in this moment.
Sometimes I find that the more we have going on at once, the easier it is to stay motivated. As long as there’s something good at the end of it, anyway. Deadlines always help me stay on point and sometimes help me to create better work. I can’t wait to see all the new work. Good luck with the show!