New Work: 12 x 12 x 12 December 2018

I've been working on my 12 x 12 x 12 series since January 2007. 12 x 12 x 12 December 2018 is the last piece in this 12 year series. 

It was created with a photo of the springs inside of a mattress made by Posture Products Inc in Massillon, Ohio on June 17, 1954. The mattress was one of the many items I found when I emptied my mother's home in November before it was sold.

Also in this painting is monoprinted fabric from a construction fence I had hanging out in my studio, and there are also pieces of fabric scraps from the yearlong piece that documents how many steps I walk each day. You can see what that piece looked like at the end of November.

In November, I created a 12 x 12 x 12 painting that that incorporated photos of the cotton batting inside the same mattress. You can see it here. 

Over the past 12 years, I created 144 paintings that measure 12" x 12" on 1" board. This project gave me time to create one piece each month. It was a wonderful opportunity to experiment with an idea, or technique, or a combination of both, and it was good to do it on a regular basis, no matter what else is going on in my life. Sometimes I liked the paintings and sometimes I didn't, and that's OK.

Now it's time end this series, and try something new with no time, media, or size restrictions.  Starting in 2019, I'll be doing work that's more experimental. Stay tuned.

Update: Dates in a Life Project 2018

In one month, at the end of December, I'll be finishing my Dates in a Life Project 2018. 

This image shows what it looks like through November 30, 2018. The Dates in a Life Project is a year-long mixed media painting documenting the number of steps I walk each day.

I have a system of symbols that represent each thousand steps. Instead if showing exactly how many I walk each day, I’m rounding up or down. As an example, 1500-2499 steps equals 2000, and 2500-3499 equals 3000 steps.

Black symbols represent less than 10,000 steps walked on a given day.

The symbols in red represent 10,000 or more steps, which I was able to walk on 5 days in November vs. 7 in October and 15 in August. In November it not only rained a lot but the sun was setting around 4:30pm or so, which limited the amount of time I had to walk outside each day. 

It's going to get even more challenging walking outside as winter approaches and the sun sets at around 4pm, and if it snows or is icy, that'll be an added challenge.

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 use the Health app on my iPhone. It's not always accurate, but I continue to use it anyway because I don't want to buy a FitBit.

Stay tuned for an update, and a look at the finished piece soon after the end of December.

New Work: 12 x 12 x 12 November 2018

12 x 12 x 12 November 2018 is created with a photo of the cotton batting from inside of a mattress made by Posture Products Inc in Massillon, Ohio on June 17, 1954. This was one of the many items I found when I emptied my mother's home this month before it was sold. 

Also in this painting are some black and white pieces of monoprinted fabric from a construction fence I had hanging out in my studio. There are some fence "holes" and a piece of implied grid from the fence. I don't usually have intentional symbolism in my work but this month it's very intentional.

I've been working on my 12 x 12 x 12 series since January 2007. I'm now one month away from finishing my 12th year. After I finish my December painting sometime next month, that will be the end of the series.

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 been a wonderful opportunity for me to experiment with an idea or technique or a combination of both. This series has been about experimentation and creating something on a regular basis, no matter what else is going on in my life. Sometimes I liked a piece, and sometimes not. This month I do.

Update: Dates in a Life Project 2018

I’m two months away from finishing my Dates in a Life Project 2018. 

This image shows what it looks like through October 31, 2018. The Dates in a Life Project is a year-long mixed media painting documenting the number of steps I walk each day.

I have a system of symbols that represent each thousand steps. Instead if showing exactly how many I walk each day, I’m rounding up or down. As an example, 1500-2499 steps equals 2000, and 2500-3499 equals 3000 steps.

Black symbols represent less than 10,000 steps walked on a given day.''

The symbols in red represent 10,000 or more steps, which I was able to walk on 7 days in October vs. 15 in August. In October it rained a lot and I've also been very busy with various things, and the sun was setting close to 6pm, all of which limited the amount of time I had to walk outside each day. 

It's going to get more challenging walking outside as winter approaches and the sun sets at around 4:30 thanks to changing the clocks Saturday night.

I must say though that walking has also been very therapeutic this past month, as well as a form as exercise.

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 use the Health app on my iPhone. It's not always accurate, but I continue to use it anyway because I don't want to buy a FitBit.

Stay tuned for an update after the end of November.

New Home: Tallis and Fence #7

I am especially proud to say that I have sold another painting in my Tallis and Fence series. This series is one of two that I've created to-date that has a Jewish theme. Given what's going on in our country right now, I'm happy to have this piece out in the world where it will be enjoyed by others.

Tallis and Fence #7 is going to it's new home in New York, thanks to ArtfulHome.com and the same collector who previously purchased Tallis and Fence #3 and Tallis and Fence #9. 

The Tallis and Fence series is created with acrylic "skins" created from photos of my grandfather's tallis that are collaged on monoprinted textures of construction fences on stitched and painted fabric that is mounted on 8" x 6" x 1" cradled board. 

I created this series when I was the Artist-in-Residence at the Hadassah-Brandeis Institute at Brandeis University, Waltham, MA for a month in 2014. I worked on site for four weeks at the Kniznick Gallery, where I created a series of Jewish wedding canopies, or chuppot, to be displayed in the gallery during the exhibition. I created the Tallis and Fence series at the same time, because the tallis is commonly used as a chauppah at weddings.

Thank you again to the collector!

New Work: 12 x 12 x 12 October 2018

Like September's piece, 12 x 12 x 12 October 2018 is created with pieces of lace from some discarded clothing, and also a piece of monoprinted fabric from a construction fence I had hanging out in my studio. There are also some "holes" cut from black and white monoprinted construction fence fabric.

I've been working on my 12 x 12 x 12 series since January 2007. I'm two months away from finishing 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 been 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.

I've definitely decided that this is the last year I'm going to work on this series. I'll explain more about that decision later.

Update: Dates in a Life Project 2018

Now that September is over, I’m 3/4 of the way through my Dates in a Life Project 2018. 

This image shows what it looks like through September 31, 2018. The Dates in a Life Project is a year-long mixed media 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.

Black symbols represent less than 10,000 steps walked on a given day.

The symbols in red represent 10,000 or more steps, which I was able to walk on 10 days in September vs. 15 in August. We got over 8" of rain in September which made outside walking a challenge at times. I also started to adapt my walking times because the sun was starting to set close to 6:30pm. Walking is going to get more challenging as winter approaches and the sun sets even earlier.

In September I finally had an opportunities to walk over 20,000 steps, which was on September 15th. I walked 22.596 steps, which is 8.4 miles. The yellow symbol on the far right side of the piece represents that accomplishment. I hope that I can do it again at least one more time before the end of the year. 

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 use the Health app on my iPhone. It's not always accurate, but I continue to use it anyway because I don't want to buy a FitBit.

Stay tuned for an update after the end of October.