preparing to work on canvas

There is a process in preparing to paint on canvas and I thought I'd share some of the process shots here today.
In his wood shop M. makes the frames from pine boards and we cut, glue and nail them together. Then in my studio I cut, wrap and prime the canvas. While stretching, folding the corners, and painting layers of gesso on the individual canvases I get to think about how the actual work will transpire, what it will look like, and how I will fill the space with paint. Preparing to work on canvas is different than getting paper ready for watercolor, at least for me. When I work on paper, even though I work in a series, I usually prepare one sheet of paper at a time. With canvas or panels, as here, there are a dozen or so surfaces prepared all at once. So I look at them all together and visualize how they will function as a body of work. And even though it takes time and I get excited just to start painting, I really do like the craft and method of it all. And that smallest canvas size that I'm holding is 4 in. x 4 in., which I believe may be my smallest canvas yet. I hope they will be as fun to paint as I imagine.

Check out the 1010 Project

hovering

I just got some film back. It's silly how often I check the mailbox when I am anticipating a roll. Today only twice, yet I did sit on the studio stairs to eat my lunch, nonchalantly keeping an eye out for the mailman.

We made a dozen stretcher frames the other night and today I'm wrapping canvases. Boy, is it time consuming. Plus I'm trying to be online less, which may explain why I'm being a poor blog reader and tardy email responder.  Sorry about that.

Tuesday

Grandmother's blankets

Today I've been revisiting film photos I shot back in the winter and also doing some writing. This image above expresses something about usefulness and what we leave behind.

Honest & interesting street scene photography by Helen Levitt.

(Go to artists tab on the Gallery's site and look for her name.)

Beautiful handmade quilts using hand-dyed fabrics, by Kim Eichler-Messmer.

And Aimee's list it Tuesday idea is sure to bring a smile to your face.

Friday

some semi-recent film shots

Boy I'm glad it's Friday, aren't you? This week was loopy. Did I tell you we're planning an exhibition and book signing for my book Water Paper Paint? It will be in January and I'll share more details a little later. So that's in the works along with about three other upcoming shows I've been figuring out and working towards this week. This weekend I would like to do nothing but don't see that happening. What are you up to?

A few links:

A friend directed me to the Sculptures and Installations by Carson Fox. (Click Sculptures tab in Images on her site.)  I think Snow Cloud and Icicle Field are beautiful.

Bracelets by Louise Erhard for The Whitney Museum Store. I like the nature ones.

Cut toilet paper tube sculptures by Anastassia Elias.

being still

Today I'm painting in the studio, quietly, with windows open and taking notes through the process. During this week of teaching, appointments, planning for shows, projects and the like I've hardly had time to think. So I completely delight in this time. Solitude, or simply being still, is so important to creativity, don't you think? Furthermore, I just put the last strokes on a painting!

And now all I can think about is what will I make for lunch?