I have found myself feeling frustrated because usually with Art Every Day Month (AEDM), I create something small each day. This year, I am creating art which is a part of a greater body of work, a very specific body of work, so my daily art is often a smidge of this aspect of it and a breath of that part of it.
Oh – please read through this blog post because while I was working on my art this morning I had a flash of an idea that may include you, if you are interested.
Yesterday, all I was able to get to was process, process, process.
Part of the day was spent waiting for paint or mod podge to dry. It was hardly exciting though absolutely essential for this project. It is just feels ridiculously unsexy. It doesn’t even feel like foreplay or… kissing. It is more like getting my teeth cleaned: necessary, not horrid but just… sitting there with my mouth open.
So, here are snippets of my work yesterday ~ and remember, please read to the end for seeing a special way you may contribute to my Women’s Sphere/ Charlotte Perkins Gilman and other women writer art.
The first step is to rip pages from the desired book and cover them with watered down paint. I am using yellow, predominantly, because not only is this particular writing The Yellow Wallpaper, it is also the color the suffragettes wore as a symbol to remind them of their solidarity.
Here is what it looks like when it starts:
Next? Drying time… (can anyone say snooze? I wrote through most of the waiting, so it wasn’t horrible. My to-do list continued while my gotta do process continued.
Third step: Add additional color (orange) and if you make any mistakes, figure out how to incorporate. See the yellowed cemetery/tree photo? I didn’t mean to get yellow paint on it, but once I did I figured, “Run with it, see what happens” and I really like it. I’m going to use it in the piece I am working on now.
Fourth Step: Add mod podge~ I have discovered that pages covered with mod podge are easier to sculpt later. I also like the shinyness. So girly of me.
Fifth Step: I experimented yesterday to see if Mod Podge would smudge color photo copies. I was thrilled to find it worked well so I may continue with mod podged photo copies instead of using the actual photo. Again, ease of use goes to the color photo copy. Naturally… within the fifth step is… waiting for mod podge to dry.
The exciting thing you will see tomorrow is what came next: the finished project. All this “process prep work” made the actual creating a breeze. I may do more prep work today so I have plenty of pages for the next few pieces instead of prepping for each piece, one-by-one.
Also, today I am attending the opening for “Prerogative” the women’s art show where my first piece in this series is on display. To say I am thrilled about it would be an understatement.
Now, how you may be involved, if you are interested.
While I was working on this project, I considered the bottom of the bowl I was covering with yellow pages. On my Women’s Sphere? #1 I used photos and my friend said, “What a shame no one will see this” and I said, well, I always like to finish all sides, even if no one will see the back. To me, it is an important part of the piece, even if it is unseen.
I believe the back adds energy. I believe people who are called to my particular art will be influenced by the unseen. It is one of the reasons I meditate on the women artists/writers over the year who had depression: I feel that energy will come through on the finished piece.
What I want to do with the rest of my pieces is to cover the backs of them with letters from women: this first piece is going to have a thank you note to Charlotte Perkins Gilman from me. Handwritten- not typed - by me. If you would like to participate, simply email me and let me know you are doing it and then write a handwritten note. I will give you credit for your contribution on the final piece and your letter will be a part of this body of work, though it will remain unseen.
Because I love collaborative art almost as much as breathing. I hope you will consider mailing me a handwritten note. I’ll also include components of the envelope as I can: stamps and postmarks, return addresses, etc.
Please jot me a quick email. Here is my email address: juliejordanscott at gmail.com
If you are a twitter friend, you may message me there, too. My twitter name is below this post if you would like to friend me and haven’t yet.
Doesn’t Art Every Day rock? I love it. I would never have thought of this aspect of “Women’s Sphere” if it wasn’t for AEDM.
So I need to say it again, to remind myself:
Process: It IS a fantabulous thing…..
As always, I look forward to looking at your art soon or again!
Follow me on Twitter: @JulieJordanScot
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© 2011
Julie Jordan Scott
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