Art is a human activity, consisting in this, that one man consciously, by means of certain external signs, hands on to others feelings he has lived through, and that other people are infected by these feelings and also experience them. --Leo Tolstoy, What Is Art? (1897)[ I’ve been re-reading Entering Germany 1944-1949 by the… Continue reading Emotion and Art
Tag: Studio Talk
Siren Songs
Music plays an essential role in my creative process. The texture, rhythms, instrumentation and tone of the pieces I listen to while I’m working help to create the flow that translates into the expression of a story. It’s a tool that can be especially useful when I’m stuck. Recently I’ve been working on a new… Continue reading Siren Songs
Women’s Work
Throughout the history of art, decoration and domestic handicrafts have been regarded as women’s work, and as such, not considered “high” or fine art. Quilting, embroidery, needlework, china painting, and sewing—none of these have been deemed worthy artistic equivalents to the grand mediums of painting and sculpture. The age-old aesthetic hierarchy that privileges certain forms… Continue reading Women’s Work
What’s Next?
During the past few weeks of holiday making-frenzy, I’ve looked forward to having time to work on some projects that had to be put on hold. Now the Holiday Arts Market is over, Christmas gifts have been made and delivered, and there is nothing pressing on the “to do” list. I have time for the studio! … Continue reading What’s Next?
Every picture tells at least one story
A couple of years ago I hit the yard sale jackpot: a whole carton of vintage photos for a wonderful (affordable) price. Hundreds of photos: formal, informal, serious and silly, from the late 1800’s through the 1970’s. Two years later I’m still finding delightful surprises when I browse through them. Some of the photos beg… Continue reading Every picture tells at least one story
Made of Glass
Could I make a book with glass pages? It’s been done, but the examples I could find used skills I don’t have: soldering, jewelry making, specialized techniques (and materials) for transferring images to glass. I kept putting the idea aside but it kept coming back. So I finally gave it a try and the result… Continue reading Made of Glass