Update: Dates in a Life Project 2018

Each month I share an update about my Dates in a Life Project 2018. This image shows what it looks like through April 30, 2018. The Dates in a Life Project is a year-long painting documenting the number of steps I walk each day.

I have a system of symbols to represent each thousand steps. Instead if showing exactly how many I walk each day, I’m rounding up or down. As an example, 2000-2499 steps equals 2000, and 2500-3000 equals 3000 steps.

My goal is to walk as much as I can every day. I prefer to walk for exercise, as time permits, outside in addition to whatever other walking I do as I go about my day.

Because there is more light now that we're well past winter, I have more of an opportunity to walk outside, and not having to navigate ice and snow, has meant I was able to walk 10,000 or more steps quite a few days in April. I hope to continue, or increase, this trend in May.

Dates in a Life Project 2018 measures 33" x 39" and is created with monoprinted textures of a construction fence, combined with handpainting, stitching, and collaged fabric, on stiffened fabric.

To keep track of steps, I'm using the Health app in my iPhone. I've come to realize is unfortunately not always accurate, but continue to use it anyway.

The solid white squares are in the Saturday and Sunday columns for design reasons. I usually have more time to walk on the weekend, and I've caught up on sleep and therefore more energy to exercise.

Stay tuned for updates during the year.

New Work: 12 x 12 x12 April 2018

When I start working on my 12 x 12 painting each month, the inspiration is usually from something happening in my life, in nature or the world. 

12 x 12 x 12 April 2018 is a collage that incorporates a photo by Danielle Dimston in the background, with monoprints I made of a construction fence layered on top. When I first saw it, her photo (below) was of great interest because it's of a construction fence and a wonderful shadow. Danielle is a dear friend and an artist who I very much admire, and I am very thankful that she agreed to share it with me. 

All four pieces I've created in this series so far this year have incorporated either a photo I took, or a friend or family member took, as the inspiration, and I am thankful for them sharing them with me.

I've been working on my 12 x 12 x 12 series since January 2007. I'm now in my 12th year. It has given me time to create one 12" x 12" x 1" piece on board each month, no matter how many other things are going on that month. It's a wonderful opportunity for me to experiment with an idea or technique or a combination of both. This series is really about experimentation and creating something on a regular basis, no matter what else is going on in my life. Sometimes I like a piece, and sometimes not.

Update: Dates in a Life Project 2018

I'm a quarter of the way through my Dates in a Life Project 2018. This piece is a year-long painting documenting the number of steps I walk each day. These photos show the results through March 31, 2018.

I have a system of symbols to represent each thousand steps. Instead if showing exactly how many I walk each day, I’m rounding up or down. As an example, 2000-2499 steps equals 2000, and 2500-3000 equals 3000 steps.

My goal is to walk as much as I can every day. I prefer to walk for exercise, as time permits, outside in addition to whatever other walking I do as I go about my day.

This piece measures 33" x 39" and is created with monoprinted textures of a construction fence, combined with handpainting, stitching, and collaged fabric, on stiffened fabric.

To keep track of steps, I'm using the Health app in my iPhone. I've come to realize is unfortunately not always accurate, but continue to use it anyway.

The solid white squares are in the Saturday and Sunday columns for design reasons. I usually have more time to walk on the weekend, and I've caught up on sleep and therefore more energy to exercise.

Stay tuned for updates during the year.

New Work: 12 x 12 x 12 March 2018

Every month, when I start working on my monthly painting, the inspiration is usually from something happening in my life, in nature or the world. 

This month, 12 x 12 x 12 March 2018 is a collage that incorporates one of the sock photos my husband posts each day on his instagram account. The photo below is from a few weeks ago. It was of particular interest to me because I've never used newspaper text in my artwork before, and I also love the black and white stripes, and the slightly curved center.

His photo was not totally in black and white, but I made it so, and with his permission, I incorporated it in my painting. It's a laser print on paper that I muted on board, with a layer of a monoprinted construction fence, minus the "holes", collaged on top. Using paint, I extended the black lines of his socks to the edges of the painting.

I wasn't that happy with my January and February pieces, but this one brings me joy. Not only because of the color and pattern, but also because it's a collaboration of sorts with my husband.

I've been working on my 12 x 12 x 12 series since January 2007. I'm now in my 12th year. It has given me time to create one 12" x 12" x 1" piece on board each month, no matter how many other things are going on that month. It's a wonderful opportunity for me to experiment with an idea or technique or a combination of both. This series is really about experimentation and creating something on a regular basis, no matter what else is going on in my life. Sometimes I like a piece, and sometimes not.

Artfully Walls

Artfully Walls, which is selling seven different prints of my work in a variety of sizes, highlighted me on their website and via email today! 

Thank you Artfully Walls!

You can also get different prints and actual paintings on Saatchi Art, and Artful Home has another collection of paintings. 

These three online stores are a wonderful way for people to see, and have access to, my work, and I am very thankful for these opportunities.

Update: Dates in a Life Project 2018

Here is an update about my Dates in a Life Project 2018. This piece is a year-long painting documenting the number of steps I walk each day. These photos show the results through February 28, 2018.

I have a system of symbols to represent each thousand steps. Instead of showing exactly how many I walk each day, I’m rounding up or down. As an example, 2000-2499 steps equals 2000, and 2500-3000 equals 3000 steps. 

My goal is to walk as much as I can every day. I prefer to walk for exercise, as time permits, outside in addition to whatever other walking I do as I go about my day.

This piece measures 33" x 39" and is created with monoprinted textures of a construction fence, combined with handpainting, stitching, and collaged fabric, on stiffened fabric.

To keep track of steps, I'm using the Health app in my iPhone. I've come to realize is unfortunately not always accurate, but I'll continue to use it anyway.

The solid white squares are in the Saturday and Sunday columns for design reasons. I usually have more time to walk on the weekend, and I've caught up on sleep and therefore more energy to exercise.

Stay tuned for updates during the year.

New Work: 12 x 12 x 12 February 2018

I don't usually struggle over my 12 x 12's when I create them each month, but this month I did. I had some ideas and I tried a few different techniques, but not everything worked out the way I had hoped, but I think I've got my 12 x 12 x 12 February 2018 in an OK place now.

The background photo was sent to me by a friend who sent me pictures of snow on what I think is a hockey net. The pattern of the snow on the sagging netting was really beautiful and I appreciate him thinking to send me the picture.

This month, instead of cutting the skin of the photograph and layering it on top of the "holes" in the construction fence, I applied the photo to the wooden board and then cut the holes out of the piece of fabric monoprinted construction fence and collaged it on top of the photo. That worked out as I expected.

Then I added the paint and the struggle began, mainly when I applied a number of different colors. After painting white paint over the colored paint, I felt like it was in a better place, and so was I. I also painted some small green lines to represent the bulbs that are reveling themselves in my front garden after we had some May-like weather in February. To finish this piece off, I added tiny dots of brown to try to show the ground in an abstract kinda way.

I've been working on my 12 x 12 x 12 series since January 2007. I've now begun my 12th year. It has given me time to create one 12" x 12" x 1" piece on board each month, no matter how many other things are going on that month. It's a wonderful opportunity for me to experiment with an idea or technique or a combination of both. This series is really about experimentation and creating something on a regular basis, no matter what else is going on in my life. Sometimes I like a piece, and sometimes not.