Summer of Art

Being out of school for a few months sure feels nice.  I've been able to travel a bit, get some major knitting done, and most importantly - make some new art!

I decided today's post is going to be about the art that I've been working on as of late, since it seems like it has been a while since I've shared anything from that side of my life.

First up is an oil painting I finished last week.  "Green Sea Tears" is the first in a series of at least three 20x16 paintings where the viewer is looking down and one of the forms is glowing.  I think I pulled it off well.  I do plan to make the next ones have a bit more of a glow to them. 

The second one has been started.  I have decided this series will have paintings that are all radically different in color from each other.  I haven't done a straight up orange painting in ages, so it's about time.  For this one the top right circle will be the glowing form - I just haven't added the yarn on top yet. 

Figure drawing group is every Wednesday night and I get to run it for my boss. It's given me a chance to really hone my drawing skills (and enter some shows - see here).  I really enjoy this style of layering all of the night's poses on the paper.  I just wish photographing drawings on white paper were easier.

Finally, a project I'm working on for my solo exhibition in September at the Village Cafe (pictured above).  As it will be my three year anniversary of moving to Texas I am going around and taking photos of places that have held significance to me during this time and then "yarn-bombing" them.  The cafe has this one wall that I plan to just plaster with these photos.  It's been fun so far!

Art is a thing that will never leave my life, no matter what form it decides to take.  I'm just too creative for my own good sometimes.  What about you? Do you ever create anything that isn't knitting? Any art happening? I'd love to hear!

~Lisa 

PS: For anyone interested, I recently changed my artist website again. It's a lot cleaner and more  professional looking. 

Mid June Updates

Well here we are, half way through the year.  Really, what is happening?

I didn't get a chance to blog last week because I was still on my iPad, and I don't enjoy trying to add photos and update from the iPad interface.  But never fear, my computer is back and I am happy to report I am back to blogging!

I figured the best post for today was a quick update on my WIPs for June.  

First up is my year of sock update.  Pair 6 took me a bit to get motivated to cast on, and as such I chose to do simple ankle socks.  I need more pairs of those anyway.  This pair is with some Panda sock yarn (Merino/Nylon/Bamboo blend) that I dyed back when I was starting out on my dye adventures.  I decided I didn't like the heathered, pale look for what I wanted, but the minis I practiced on are the perfect size for my socks.  So I've been striping the four balls to make "rainbow panda socks".  I love how this yarn knits up.

On the discussion of my dye experiments, the shawl I am designing for "Morning Garden Stream" is coming along nicely.  Asymmetrical with bits of seed and openwork to emulate the overall painting's theme, it will be ended with a band of dark blue to further represent the original inspiration.  I cannot wait to finish this up :) 

After finishing my first crochet tank, I decided to cast on another with Berocco Cotton Twist, which is discontinued.  Turns out I don't have enough of the yarn to finish the back side, so this has been sitting by my chair untouched for about a month.  I finally got on Ravelry and contacted someone selling some, so hopefully it will be done soon.  I do like crochet tanks for summer, I just need to finish this one up before moving on. 

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What are you working on? Anything exciting? I've had a lot of free time lately with school out, and it's allowing me time to really get creative.  Hopefully the summer won't fly by!

~Lisa