Dandeneau's Field - in Progress

This art piece is still in the working stages- The inside measurements are 12"h x 34"wide. I was drving by this corn field near my house when I saw these heavy grey storm clouds. I went home and started sketching what I saw. The actual scene has a farm house and trees along the horizon. This is my interpretation but there is something missing. The lines on the white image are green. In the clouds there is silver free hand stitching which may be hard to see. I know this is my interpretation- but I'm stuck and open to suggestion. 

Photograph of Bandeleirs Ladder

This was taken in May 2006 while on vacation in Santa Fe 

Bandeleir's Ladder- Journal Challenge 2006 for July

This is my interpretation of my own photograph taken at Bandeleir National Monument - New Mexico. The actual cave area is in sandstone and browns-- yet the camera took it as a black and white, which I love to do. 

June 2006 Journal Quilt Challenge

This could have one of three names- "Baby's Blue Bottom"-- "Blue Bottom Baby" or " Blue Baby's Bottom". Let me know which one you like. We could have a vote. This was great fun. The rose fabric on the left fanny could be considered -- "a fanny smelling like roses"". It is my artistic license. Each of my journals teach me something new- this time it was color value. But I enjoyed this one the best of all the journal quilts. 

Posta L'Arte 3c

This is the third batch of post cards which completes the required number for this swap. Again another variety of design -- long and narrow-- brings out new possibilities. 

Posta L'Arte3b

This is the second batch of postcards for this swap. Here a different set of fabrics was used and experimenting with the stripes and green dots came up with a another variety on the theme. 

Posta L'Arte3a

This is the first of three batches of post cards completed for the latest post card swap. Reviewing each batch shows that some changes occured- improvements on the style. 

Yellow Blossom

 

Just Finished

This work came from a visit to the Georgia O'Keefe museum in Santa Fe. The inspiration was sort of sudden and wouldnt let me go. In the past I have worked on a 24"square piece of batting and begin a circular pattern. This one started that way; it told me(?) to try out several shades of bright yellow. In my stash there is a luscious fabric with lovely leaves- and there you are. Collage has so many fun things you can do; the work keeps developing. As you can tell - I had fun!!! This form of letting loose seems to entice me to try something new and different.

I know in my last message - there were plans to re-create my photographs. That is still there. In addition - I still have to finish my Post L'Arte postcards and June's Journal quilt.

The other day driving by a new field of corn on a rolling hill- with black/grey storm clouds overhead and a sliver of a blue sky in between-- all on a panorama viewing-- very wide and very short. This image has stuck in my head and everyday I drive by that place -- it rings in my head----- Do Me!! Do Me!!! In the last few months- my sketch book has had more entries. Where ever I stop- out comes the sketch book. Its like you see something in your imagination and wont let you go --- until sketch it out a few times and then maybe it pores out in the fabric and my art. Where does this come from?

Anyway for once the artist in me has come out and I'm having fun.

Taos Window

Again this is a kernel of an idea. While I was having lunch at this restaurant-- I started sketching on the paper table cloth-- this window was just outside in the courtyard. My idea was to work with Photoshop and re-create these window shapes in different opacities and in different sizes. I kept the paper tablecloth and brought it home. 

Taos Wood Door

This photo is not particularly bright since it was a cloudy day. But the portrait has promise and can be done in different shades in textile. 

Bandeleir Cave Ladder

This was taken with a color film- but the results came out in black and white. This is a photo that I want to do in a larger textile format. 

Bandeleir- Dry Brush- collage

Taken from the previous photo --this was my choice for the Three + Shadow- still life representation. It was my first attempt at Photoshop. I was hoping by the end of the month to re-create into a textile work. 

Bandeleir- Dry Brush

This was taken at Bandeleir National Monument- New Mexico- along the nature trail to the cliff dwellings. 

5 Flower Pots in Taos

This was taken on the streets of Taos in front of one of many of their art galleries. This could be a selection for Still Life challenge now in progress. 

Just Back from Santa Fe

We had a lovely short vacation and took advantage of the great weather just before their heat wave. Santa Fe has so many art galleries and museums. We spent time walking all over town- some old mission churches, the pottery, Georgia O'Keefe museum and lotsa of Mexican food. On Saturday of Memorial Day weekend we had a special dinner at the Geronimo (reservations required) for our anniversary of 39 yrs.

In addition we visited Los Alamos, Bandeleir National Monument and Taos. It was great fun to take my Nikon out again. Years ago we had visited 9 National Parks in Nevada, Utah and Arizona so we are very familiar with the west. It is a bit striking to go from the green lush valleys of New York and then fly into Dallas and Albuquerque- flat desert. Fortunately Santa Fe is at a higher elevation (7000ft) so the temperature is slightly lower and no humidity.

Part of my photographic expedition was to take shots for "still Life" pieces which has been added to my various projects. These photos are now showing on my Webshots.com gallery which you can find at joberr124. It is called Santa Fe and Bandeleir. In one photograph there is a ladder going up to a cave dwelling. Unintentionally it came out in a Black and White setting even though the film was in color. I'll take it as is- for me it works in a textile format. There was scrub brush and cactus which were also very interesting. In addition the shot of 5 flower pots with a shadow might fit in with the theme on the still life group. As you can tell this was an inspiring trip in a different space and time. I needed this.

This trip gave me several other art images to work with. While we were eating lunch at a restaurant in Taos - I started drawing on the wax paper table cloth. Together with my husband we put together an image over an image of three adobe windows with the camel colored stucco and the bright blue window frames. We packed the paper table cloth in his bag. I couldnt resist sketching the ideas that were popping into my head.

The trip was too short. Back to reality

Salad Plates

This is a work in progress where the top is done and the backing/quilting have to be added. 

Mixed Salad

This piece is hanging up against the border fabric- work in progress. Wall hanging for the kitchen. 

Latest work

This week my blocks from my last class were completed into two wall hangings. The first one is cut up or scrambled. It is called Mixed Salad. The second one is called Salad Plates. Truth is when the first set of blocks were done they didnt come out too good and I needed to be creative in their construction. Those were done with thin batting behind them. The original fabric was all fruits and vegetables. The cherry fabric will be added as a border. The second one is the original pattern from Diane Hire's book Quilters Playtime. -- pattern called Tiddly Winks (circles inside circles) Each of those blocks has muslin as the backing. Also I changed the pattern a little to make it come out correctly. Both of them will be sold as wall hangings for the kitchen.

So far my web site using Google advertising has not produced any responses. Has anyone used Google? If you have a better way to get your website out there and selling- please let me know (www.jeanneoberrieth.com) They are very expensive.

I am so looking forward to going to Santa Fe this weekend with my Nikon camera. Years ago we went to Hawaii and I devoted myself to finding great pictures. Of course Hawaii is a beautiful place and it is easy to find a lovely pictures. Back in 1971 my husband, his mother, brother and myself spent a month traveling around the West- 9 National Parks, 3 major cities, in a plane, in a boat, a jeep, sand track truck, on horse back- from 32* tp 105* - it was one of the most fantastic trips I have ever been on- My mother in law is a great planner. So that is why Santa Fe (which we missed last time) should be a special place. It is so different to where we live now in New York where there is so much lush green trees. In addition there are yarn/wool shops in Taos where they dye the yarn in beautiful colors. I'm sure this will inspire me to try something- like "Portals". There is a new challenge coming around on the Quilters Studio (Delphi Forums) where they are asking you to create an original piece based on the word "Portals". It is not fully organized but the discussion is rolling along.

What strikes me now as I look at these two last pieces, is every week my imagination seems to go down a different road. From fairy wings to vegetables------ before that it was pink Pretty Pooches. Do you work that way? Or are you more organized-- working in a series? There are ladies who are determined to finish every project and others who have several pieces in progress at the same time. Which are you?

Art Journal May 2006 "Fairy Wing"