As always I am torn – but this week<\/em> I feel empowered to ‘go downstairs and make art’. Bugger responsibilities!!!!!<\/p>\n Alas, despite having this positive attitude I am betwixt and between projects and still fumbling to move any more than fairy steps forward on the two projects that have held me captive.<\/p>\n The fabrics I have settled on are a pair of Silk scarves purchased many years ago. Where? I now have the background materials, the feathers completed, the story that will be stitched onto these scarves BUT the perfect thread in the perfect colour? The other project, the second Knit One Purl One – is still waiting for fresh digital fabric to arrive and also the ultimate decision of how I design these fabrics – scanned in from old books or hand-drawn versions of knitted patterns? The fabric does arrive on Thursday so I have no time left to play but<\/em> I have chosen the digital play with old imagery – it fits better with my thoughts.<\/p>\n I have also added in some small projects to my list that will entice me downstairs for shorter time slots. I want to produce some sets of smaller works – so that I can play with ideas, and so that I can build a library of small artworks that group together well, and so that I have some affordable stock. In between my journeys downstairs I have kept myself busy upstairs and moving onward. The end of the week had me driving down to our little house to water those new trees. It had me finishing a wonderful novel that I want to read again straight away!![\"\"](\"http:\/\/janmullen.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/week-16-1.jpg\")
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\nThe first is a ‘feathering the nest’ piece – the ‘sulphur crested cockatoo’ version started ages ago and revisited frequently. Finally<\/em> I think I have the size and base materials but need to flesh out the work’s ‘raison d’\u00eatre’…. why it needs to be made.
\nA pretty Polly\/pretty Cockie work is not enough so I invest time, and yet more time, in research until I think I have nailed it<\/em>.
\nMy current themes of Birds and Domesticity are to be entwined here in a different<\/em> manner\u00a0 – the tale of domesticated Cockies.<\/p>\n
\nI dredged my mind over the week and hit the jackpot – Beautiful Silks<\/a> in Victoria, which still exist though they have moved from Brunswick to the coast. I’m in luck and I spy my silk\/linen scarves.
\nI don’t actually need<\/em> more to make this piece but I would like to flesh it out with a few versions, if the first one pleases, and it is much easier to play… to be bold,<\/strong> if I know that I have a backup plan.
\nThese scarves were the start of the resurrection of this piece and are helping me to move on with clearer vision.<\/p>\n
\nHmmmmm.
\nI’ll need to chase around, or order some in, because I do not own it in bulk…yet.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n
\nIt is also lovely to have this sort of process work to do in the evenings.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n
\nI am clearing out things that are ‘holding me back’….unnecessary things.
\nI need to be more minimal so that my head stays focused on task.
\n….so…..
\nIt has been a week of small steps.
\nIt has been a week of plentiful preparation.
\nIt has been a week of much thought – I am getting closer to imagining how I want my future to look and I need to keep shedding…<\/p>\n
\nIt also had me finally returning to my paint chip drawings which I still<\/em> aim to do regularly – and in solitude I catch up with three – looking at the etched glass of our inherited kitchen cabinet down south.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n
\n‘How to be Both’ is full of art and gals and clever stuff.<\/p>\n