Boy, do I feel scattered! I’ve been having a perfect storm of a week. You know the kind. It is when every aspect of my life seems to reach the boiling point at the same time. Where should I focus? What can I let go? Tempting as it is to close up the studio and turn my attention elsewhere, I refuse. I know that time spent in the studio is vital to my mental well being.
On the surface, Rainbow Aura looks like a simple, borderline traditional quilt. However, as with many of my non representational works, this one feels like a visual representation of my current life. Check out all those life paths in bold swaths of color and how there is an attempt to reign them in with the rings. Each of the small squares can represent steps taken to move forward. Yet, those steps are criss crossing and going in circles.
Do you, like me, find your work reflecting what you are dealing with?
I am linking up with Nina Marie’s Off the Wall Fridays.
I am sorry you’re life is feeling like this bold, wild quilt! But this quilt is absolutely fabulous! Hope the weekend is the start of a calmer period.
Michelle
http://mybijoulifeonline.com
You are kind, Michelle. Knocked back a few pressing issues since I wrote my post. I’m feeling less scattered. The flip side of working on Rainbow Aura is the energy boost I get from working with bright colors. Also, I find the methodical cutting, piecing, and squaring off of this type of work very soothing in a Zen way.
I, too, find that the ability to get into the studio preserves my sanity, at times. But, during those times, I find my creativity leaves town, and more simple, even traditional work keeps me going. Sometimes, it’s just the ability to play with fabric keeps me going. This week has been one of those times.
Pat F in Winnipeg
I understand. Tough times can create brain fog, making it difficult to be creative. I use that time to re-shelve fabric and thread and remove the typical studio detritus. Fortunately, the holidays will be behind us soon. I find January is often one of my more creative times, since I love the excuse to stay warm and hunker down. Let’s hang in together.
I must admit that very little of what’s actually going on in my life appears in my artwork. I calm myself by creating landscapes, or “spirit” pieces that ground me. However, my “Mark on the Body” installation — consisting of 4 parts, one of which was a book — *that* was a work that took me to a new place, as it enabled me to work through the years of care-giving and eventual death of my DH from Type 1 Diabetes.
Most of the time now, I focus on what I see around me — even if there are stressors in my life (such as my son’s mental health challenges after years of watching his father deteriorate and die from T1D). I spend much of each fall doing piecing and dealing with scraps, making things for charity and for Xmas. I hit the ground running in January (as you likely do) — preparing for a spring show/sale and other endeavours, energized by the thought of spring and the new, fresh ideas it can bring.
So for now I too am happy to “hang” with you — I’m knitting socks, working on a Bonnie Hunter mystery quilt top and a postage stamp quilt of unknown destination — perfect for long cold, short days and long, cold nights!
Blessings for whatever holiday you observe, and for the new year — and the new decade!
So, where do the landscapes come from, Margaret? Are they all completely from your imagination or do they relate to what you see around you? Now that I think of it, it wasn’t until I moved to Wisconsin that what I saw from our windows or during my outdoor exercise (hiking and biking) started to find my way into my art. The same is happening in Massachusetts.
I recall your Mark on the Body installation. I was so impressed with your drive and juggling the various parts.