More new in progress: Hoping to Avoid a Second Wave #2

These photos show as I cut away the colorful squares of the monoprint of a construction fence, leaving the grid on top of a drop cloth. There is just a little left to do before the next step of cutting and fracturing the whole into pieces, and stitching them back together, to express my feeling about people being reckless during the pandemic.

New Work About to be in Progress, Hoping to Avoid a Second Wave #2

This photo shows a colorful monoprint of a construction fence on top of a drop cloth, ready to be stitched together as one to become Hoping to Avoid a Second Wave #2. There’s lots to do and I’m ready to begin.

Work in Progress: Hoping to Avoid a Second Wave

I started a new painting, and perhaps a new series, Hoping to Avoid a Second Wave. The Covid-19 numbers in Massachusetts have been pretty low for the past month or so, but are now starting to inch up as people grow restless and want to socialize during the summer. My family and I are still being diligent and not taking risks unless we have to, but as I walk around my neighborhood and see big parties, I am filled with a range of feelings about it. This painting is trying to express visually what I'm feeling inside.

These photos show work in progress, the actual painting so far (above), a photo of the painting a few days ago (bottom) that I printed out, cut up and taped together (below) in an experiment for my next steps before I cut it up and reassemble the actual painting and try not to screw it up.

Fabric Ready

I've got various stamped drop cloth and monoprinted construction fence pieces of fabric ready to use for a new yet named series. I do have some names I'm considering, one of which is "EEE, and Covid, and Lyme, Oh My!" but I have not figured out how the name will correlate to the imagery. I like the name because it's something I think about everyday this summer now as I go out for a walk, water my garden, and sit by the fire, or just sit, in my backyard.

The detail below is a gem of a find as I gathered the pieces from the stash of fabric in my studio. I have many of these on paper towels but none on fabric. I want to think of something special to do with this random stamping pattern.

Work in Progress: Dates in a Life Project 2020

Here is work in progress through July on my Dates in a Life Project 2020, a year-long painting project documenting the number of steps I walked, and the number of flights of stairs I climbed, each day. I'm 7/12 of the way done.

Since I started working from home because of the Pandemic, I have mostly walked 10,000 steps or more (the red shapes), around 4 miles, each day. In July, I walked over 9000 steps (the big black circles) on 7 days, which I think is also an accomplishment since it's been pretty hot and it's hard for me to walk when it is.

For me, walking is great exercise as well as a stress reducer. I'm going to try to keep this pace up, on hot and humid days, as well as when we have less sunlight as we move toward fall.

One set of marks still not reflected on this painting yet is bike riding. I bought a bike on May 26th after not riding since 1984. I'm still trying to decide how to best make marks reflecting the number of miles I'm riding, in addition the number of steps I walk.

This painting is mixed media on stiffened fabric. I keep track of my steps and flights of stairs using the Pedometer app in my iPhone.

New Work in Progress: Trying to Stay Safe from Germs #5

I started working on Trying to Stay Safe from Germs #5 which has unused fabric sections from #4 that are stitched together as one. Like numbers 1 - 4, it has two layers of stitched fabric, a drop cloth underneath a monoprinted construction fence pattern. So far, I’ve cut away the “holes” in the fence pattern. Now to do more stamping. The fabric is not yet stiffened.

More New Work in Progress: Trying to Stay Safe from Germs #4

Before I started painting gray fabric paint in between all of the stitching of the monoprinted construction fence grid on Trying to Stay Safe from Germs #4, I printed out a photo, and filled in part of the grid by hand with marker to see how I like it partially filled in. 

Above is only the right side of the grid filled in, and below has additional paint in darker areas of the drop cloth behind the grid. At the moment, I'm liking partial as opposed to filling in the whole grid. I like how the lighter grid sections blend in with the lighter areas of the drop cloth.

New Work in Progress: Trying to Stay Safe from Germs #4

I’ve begun painting in between the stitching of the monoprinted construction fence grid on Trying to Stay Safe from Germs #4. The drop cloth pattern underneath is the fabric behind the fence. I was planning on painting the entire grid, but now I’m considering only part of it instead of the whole thing.

New Work in Progress: Trying to Stay Safe from Germs #4

Last week I started cutting the squares away from the monoprinted construction fence on Trying to Stay Safe from Germs #4. Here is the drop cloth pattern underneath is starting to present itself. I’m using the photo of the whole piece of fabric as a guide because this piece is not going to be as large as #4. 

New Work in Progress: Trying to Stay Safe from Germs #4

I’m getting ready to start Trying to Stay Safe from Germs #4. Here is the drop cloth (representing the germs) and the reverse side of a monoprinted construction fence on my work table. I’ll start stitching them together ASAP. Then the fun begins.

 

Even More Work in Progress: Trying to Stay Safe from Germs 3

I stayed up really late last night and added more color inside the red stamped squares over the top layer of fabric and the drop cloth. Here’s a photo of it on my work table (complete with my toes) as I stood on a step ladder. I actually painted fuschia on the BACK side of the fabric so it soaked through to the front somewhat. I'm feeling better about this piece. Next step is to coat it with watered down matt medium to stiffen it. The color on the whole piece will become much richer when it's coated and dry. Then I'll add more details of paint.

More Work in Progress: Trying to Stay Safe from Germs 3

This picture shows all squares cut out of the top layer of fabric that's stitched over a drop cloth. I handstamped red squares on the bottom section and will do the top next. There are also medium blue circles stamped on some of the squares I removed, placed in intersections that don't have any stamped images on the drop cloth behind them. I was thinking of cutting this in half to make two separate paintings but I've decided not to. Of course my self-doubt kicks in at this point. Did I screw this piece up or is while in the middle of working on it? I need to stop over thinking what I'm doing and just keep working. 

More New Work in Progress: Trying to Stay Safe from Germs 3

More New Work in Progress: Trying to Stay Safe from Germs 3, and maybe 4. This series of pictures show as I cut two rows of squares out of the top of two layers of fabric stitched together. The top layer is a monoprint of a construction fence and the bottom is part of a drop cloth. It measures about 28” x 60”. As I remove the “holes” (or squares) in the top layer, it reveals the drop cloth beneath. This might end up being one painting, or two if I cut it in half when it’s done. I’m also considering a name change or a possible new series instead. I’ll decide when I’m finished.

Update on New Work in Progress

An update on new work in progress: The acrylic skin photo of my new bike has been collaged on top of monoprinted, stitched and stiffened construction fence fabric. When it dries, I'll make the finishing touches on it. I'm making it because I figured, after donating a kidney 6 months ago, I needed to try to get over my fear of bike riding. It's companion piece to another painting I made after donating, which I'll share with an explanation when I finish this one.

New Work in Progress

New work in progress: After not riding a bike since 1984, I am now a new bike owner and rider. I’m making a new painting about it. Since I donated my kidney almost 6 months ago, I decided to try to get over my fear of bike riding. This photo is an acrylic skin of my bike that will be collaged on top of monoprinted construction fence fabric. Stay tuned.

More New Work in Progress

I cut the very large rectangular piece (I shared a few days ago) into two pieces that are almost the same square-ish size. Here is one of them. Then I cut more of the insides of the stitched squares from the top layer of this double layer of fabric out to reveal the drop cloth fabric behind. It’s modified reverse appliqué for lack of a better description on what I’m doing. Next, some hand stamping and some more painting. Stay tuned.

More New Work in Progress

More progress in this new work. I’m cutting out the insides of the stitched squares from the top layer of this double layer of fabric to reveal the drop cloth fabric behind it. I’ve never worked this way before, and it’s fun (though tedious) as I cut the squares away in this modified reverse appliqué.

New work in progress

First, I sewed together two very large pieces of fabric, with right sides facing each other, following the grid of the back side of the piece with a monoprint of a construction fence. Because it’s a sandwich of fabric, it’s technically a quilt, though there’s no batting in between. 

Now I’m starting to cut the insides of the squares out to reveal the drop cloth fabric behind it. I’ve never worked this way before, and I think it’s going to be fun (though tedious) as I cut the squares away in this modified reverse appliqué.

New Work/New Series in Progress: Bumps in the Road

New series of work in progress, with a possible name of Bumps in the Road. Made with collaged monoprinted fabric scraps that are stitched on the removable cups from my bras. This might be too much info but I hate those things so I remove them. I have a stack of 14 and I’m going to have some fun playing around. Between healing from donating my kidney, and now working from home, I’ve given up underwire bras for the sake of comfort. Stay tuned!

New Work in Progress

This is a painting in progress with the scars of 48 kidney donors from a Facebook page I’m on. I asked if they would tell me if their scars are vertical, horizontal or laparoscopic, and how many they have, so I could make a painting about it. My interpretation of what their scars look like have been drawn (painted) on monoprinted and painted fabric  and I've stitched holes over the red paint because the fabric is thick and difficult to sew through, and I've started the hand stitching. 

When I shared these photos with the Facebook group a week after asking about scars, a few more people told me about theirs, so it it likely that I will be adding at least one more row of 6 scars. Stay tuned.