What next????

September 27,2009

This is a classic Chinese image of the firebird that rides the summer sky. I used it to create my own firebird(see my last blog "fanning the flames")

It is almost October and I assume we are to send our book to the next person. Lisa, please send me the name and address the person I'm to send it to.

I have been disappointed at the lack of communication with others on this site. I hope next month will be more lively!

Fanning the flames

My Sign-in page still in progress...

O.k...Haven't posted anything in a while...still working on the sign-in page...working in ballpoint pen and trying to find a yellow and a white to create the spheres for earth and metal...not sure yet where I will have you all sign-in,  here or in another area...lots to consider still but I know it will all come together when it comes time to mail it off! I am almost done with my 4 page spread but not ready to share yet so hopefully this peek is fun for you all and would love to hear your comments!

Still here!

Wow! This looks great!  Love the sign-in page and the addition of the flower in 3D!  

You were wondering about the words...well I really appreciate how well you express your ideas on the blog and would suggest that you write any thoughts, words, poetry, reflection, research that is important to you ON THE BACK of your spread.  I personally am going to encourage each person who works in my book to do the same in my moly as it gets passed around.  I really love to know the words, thought process, sources of inspiration that occur with others when creating art.  So maybe that is a suggestion that will work for you?  What do you think?  

I am still working on my sign-in page and my 4-page spread and moving back and forth between the two...so not sure if I should post any more images yet.  Maybe I will...hmmmm...

As far as working in such a small format...It really appeals to me, because I tend to feel a greater sense of accomplishment when I can work small.  I get ideas and finish the work.  I feel disappointed if I start something and don't finish so small format is just right for me at this stage of my artistic growth.  

ANYBODY OUT THERE?

Yesterday I began composing and painting the element of FIRE. The mythical firebird spans the summer sky. The full moon has risen. The Chinese girl "tosses on her bamboo mat", waiting for her lover. I feel resistant about adding text or any other image to the deep red field of color. Is it enough for me to keep the text and poem in my head and trust that it is conveyed through what is already there?

August 27

Here is my title page. I think those "lanterns" are much too close on the left, but I'm going to let it be. There's a space inside each circle for your names. Please leave the circle in upper left corner blank as I have some ideas for that one. As I said, I'm going with "tight and bright" this time. I do this when I'm feeling a little insecure! I'm even using acrylic gouache(VERY bright). Is anyone else having problems working in such a small space? It feels constraining for me, but I'm getting used to it. The Chinese Characters on either side of the girl mean "the five elements"..loosely translated, I'm sure!

The flower on the opposite page is a real Rose of Sharon I picked and pressed when I was in CT a few weeks ago. Please be gentle with it. It came from the tree behind my parents' memorial bench. I really tried to be neat, but spattered a little red paint on the edges of some of your pages. If the paper was dead white it would be easy to fix, but you'll either have to ignore or incorporate.

Seeing RED

August 25

finds me trying out various design options. Typically, I veer from loose and cartoony to

"tight and bright". Today tight and bright is winning. I have chosen FIRE for my first selection. In the cosmology of feng shui, the element of fire is associated with the color red and with summer. It's "heavenly creature" is the "Vermillion Bird". This "bird" symbolizes the placement of constellations in the summer sky. The Chinese like to write about nature and the seasons. I am including a few stanzas from a poem about summer

written no later than the 6th century B.C. by an anonymous poet. This is fun and very challenging trying to integrate it all. Not sure I'm succeeding! The image above, of the Vermillion Bird, will probably not be in the design, at least in this form.