PLEIN AIR STUDIO WORK, PIECES JURIED INTO "HOOKED ART 2014"

During Susan Feller's Retreat into the Mountains, covered in last week's post, I worked on a studio piece developed from a small plein air work I had hooked.  Since we were in a mountain setting, I decided to work on a nature design.  The piece was not quite finished when it was time to leave the retreat, so I worked on completing the hooking this week.

  "Stopping for the View"  10" X 22",  Lori LaBerge  2014

Here is how the design came about:

"Winter's Dance"   4" X 6", Lori LaBerge  2014

After completing this piece, I decided I would like to create a larger work based on the trees.

When the small plein air was completed, I snapped a photo of the area used to create the work.  I wanted to include the three trees in a horizontal format.  A photo rarely works as a full design, so I adjusted and edited some branches for less clutter.  I also added a hillside and mountains in the background instead of more trees.

I was interested in the crossing of the branches near the middle of the photo.  I reversed the way the trees were leaning so they would go left to right.  Orange buds were added when I noticed how the peeling bark in the photo had an orange tint to it.  They are dispersed in a zig-zag like pattern to draw the eye throughout the work. The piece has the feel of being among the trees and viewing through the branches to the blue mountains beyond.

A red circle shows how the eye is brought around this portion of the work.  The crossed branch near the bottom center left of the circle veers upward toward the branch protruding inward on the far right tree and around to touch onto the left side branch and a lower branch back around to the crossed area.  This way the eye is not brought out of the picture, but moves around to focus on a certain area.

A while back, I entered into "HOOKED ART 2014" which will be showing at the University of Connecticut's Art Gallery in Stamford, Connecticut from October 23-November 29, 2014. Five photos were sent and two of the pieces were juried in.

"White Collar" and "Blue Collar",  Lori LaBerge  2014

The pairing of "White Collar" and "Blue Collar" were selected.  I like the juxtaposition of the pairing and was excited to finally have an idea for the pulley I had found a while back.  These two pieces tell a story and I hope they engage the viewers in thinking about how both blue and white collar jobs affect our lives on a daily basis. 

This will be a show worth seeing as it focuses on contemporary hooked works.  The entry requirements were for innovative work consisting of at least 30% rug hooking technique.

Try creating your own innovative design where you make it flow so the viewer's eye moves around the piece and have a great day.

WINTER TREES PLEIN AIR, ABSTRACT "WHITE COLLAR", CREATIVITY

It's the time of year when the chill in the air reminds us of the coming winter.  So far, we've only had a few flurries.  Looking at the trees in the woods brought me to thoughts of the holidays and the chance to work on my first winter plein air piece.

"Winter's Dance"  4 X 6  Lori LaBerge  2013

There is something about winter trees that makes me feel relaxed and peaceful. The majority have lost their leaves and there is a chance to view the structure.

 A foggy morning brings a sense of eerieness to this tree (or maybe it was the coyotes howling) with bottom branches on the left appearing ready to collapse.  I love the imperfection of it.

The tree second from left has broken off, leaving it feeling lonely among its taller neighbors.

Interesting to see how one branch fell into the nook of another forming an "X", as if it tried to break its fall.

The lone color left in the woods on the side of our driveway.  A lovely orange against the grey blue sky behind it.

So often we forget about the bottom portion of a tree and how it grows.  The roots here are reaching out in all different directions and blend into the pine needles beneath it.

I also worked on starting the hooking on "White Collar" this week:

"White Collar" in progress,  16 X 20 Lori LaBerge  2013

I've decided to take next week off from blogging to enjoy the holidays.  Those of you who have been reading regularly know how I love the lectures offered through The Great Courses. They have a new course on creativity (so it is on sale) and I downloaded it yesterday.  I can't wait to heat up some hot chocolate, hit the couch, turn on the computer and listen to a professor talk about imagination and developing ideas.

Creativity has always fascinated me and I received two posts this week that show the results of a creative mind.  Please check out:

Susan Feller's post on her grouping of November studies.  Notice the variety of materials she employed and how she approached her subjects.  Very informative and inspiring.

Patricia Winans post on her solo show.  Her subjects range from traditional to abstract to mixed-media.  She also wrote a beautiful piece that expresses how similar peoples' experiences are.

A very Merry Christmas to all! 

ROAD SERIES #2 COMPLETED, JOURNAL EXERCISE, STUDIO UPDATE

"ROAD SERIES #2 -- SPEED BUMPS"  14 3/4 x 14 1/2  Lori LaBerge  2013

This week led to the completion of "Speed Bumps".  The piece used orange as the contrasting color.  I have been checking my stash for colors to mix with the grays and think the next will be green.  Also would like to try a bright pink.  

For some reason each design seems to tell me which color to use.  I placed multiple colors over the design above after I drew it out on graph paper and the only one that grabbed me was orange, so that was it.  The piece also uses four different grays with two that are highly textural.   

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Close-up,  "Speed Bumps"  Lori LaBerge  2013

I used lamp parts to depict the speed bumps along the roadway.  I still find myself wandering all around our local Lowe's store.  I walked through the plumbing aisle and there are some amazing metal parts there.  Have to go back soon and check them out more closely.  Don't think they will work for the "road series", but will definitely work on other pieces.

Grouping of dyed and as-is gray wool waiting to be hooked.  

This week's journal activity involved trees.  Sitting on the porch, looking at the snow on the branches was so relaxing.  As I looked more closely, I noticed how the branches resembled the roadways in the "road series' work.  

The branches twist, turn, curve, and reach out into the world. Some criss-cross each other as they grow, forcing their way past each other to avoid becoming entangled, while others accept their communion with another branch.  Look closely at the photos above and below and you can see the beauty of it all.

  

Journal page, sketching trees

Although I love taking photos, sketching helps me understand lines and shapes better.  It allows me to work on improving my art.  The physical act of moving pencil across paper demands focus on individual parts as shading is added.  

Grab a pencil and some paper, pick a subject and sketch away!  You do not need to be a pro at drawing and you do not need fancy supplies.  I see myself as more of a graphic artist than a fine artist and I intend to practice my sketching more this year. Experience the lines and shapes you see and have a great day.

Studio Update--

This week we built a stairway to make it easier to carry shingles up to the roof area. Here is Pete at work.  As we get more rows done, we'll be able to work without the ladder.  For now, neither of us works that close to the edge while up on the roof.

 Here is T.C. (Tough Cookie) inspecting the work so far.

Pete also brought home an old shelf he found thinking it would work great to store dyes jars.  I'm hoping to paint it a bright white this coming week.