Back Fence Conversation

This time of year, there are many articles written offering help on many topics. Recently, I read an article about recommendations for starting home improvement projects and was struck by how similar the suggestions were to what I generally follow when creating my pictorial art.

• Plan-Plan-Plan. Winging it can be an artist’s best friend or the worst enemy. Acknowledge the difference. Establishing goals and milestone markers fall under this idea, too.

• Spousal support. No one needs a spouse laying cinderblocks on your creative path, stopping forward moment. Frequently, a spouse views these creative impulses as silly until the first works are sold, then suddenly, the light goes on and understanding is reached, as in "You can actually make money doing this stuff?"

• Ask for Help. Plowing ahead can ruin some great projects. Asking for help does not mean you are committed to following that help or direction. Example: I ask my husband frequently what he thinks of a new idea I have or what he sees during the initial stages of a new work. I also tell him up front that the question does not require him to make a decision or take action. It is just talk, feedback that I need, and I may not follow his advice. He has learned to understand what I am asking and does not sulk when I ignore his opinion or suggestions. No spouse? Establish a small support group of artist friends to handle this concern.

• Be realistic. Do you want to invest the time and money? Do you have the skills to do the project? If not…

• Develop the Skills you need. Take classes and workshops. Read. Research. Experiment. Do the baby steps that will advance your mastering of skills and techniques required to reach the anticipated end results. This step also has great long-term benefits because an artist’s next project will be better than the last one.

• Create a Budget. Determine the limits you are willing to spend if you have a tight budget. This is simply making the most of limited resources in order to reach the artistic goal. This may also suggest that conflicting budgetary demands may require re-evaluation and family cooperation. Where can I save money elsewhere so that I have the resources for the new projects? Again, be realistic, focus and be choosy about the next effort.

• Create a Materials list. Identifying the supplies needed in advance of starting a new work will reduce wasted time rounding up stuff, trips to the store, or waiting for the arrival of postal delivery. This step also saves money.

• Buy the right tools. This suggestion is not meant to provide the go-ahead to buy more tools. Rather, it means having the correct tools for specific tasks that the project requires, which eliminates frustration, poor workmanship and possibly on-the-job accidents. Invest in good quality tools, the best that you can afford. You may have to be patient and save up for the quality. You will have them a very long time and you will be happier.

• Take care of the tools. Properly clean, repair, sharpen, oil, and put away carefully at the end of usage means those tools will be available the next time. I still use paintbrushes that I bought 30 years ago because I bought the best I could afford, and carefully cleaned them every time I use them. I wipe off my good scissors, periodically clean the rotary cutter, and have my sewing machines routinely serviced.

• Measure Twice. Cut Once. Carpenters know this mantra–by–heart because it reduces waste and mismatched seams. If one is an artist that free–cuts and doesn’t like measuring anything, this tip may simply suggest that paying attention to what you are doing may eliminate the pain and suffering of not meeting the expectations.

• Be safe as you work. Developing good work habits may spare the artist injury from inhalation of toxic fumes, from the tools and from the lack of concentration as you are working. Be aware of your surroundings and what you are doing to protect yourself, but also to shield little children and perhaps your pets that share your workspace. If your mind is wandering, stop and do something else.

My final word of advice is:


A cluttered workspace leads to muddled thinking and chaotic working, which interrupts the workflow in general.

The Alliance for American Quilts

This past week I was honored to be interviewed for the project called, "S.O.S.–Save Our Stories: The Alliance for American Quilts. I was interviewed by Karen Musgrave who asked me to share a photo of my quilt, Prairie Thunder, for the archives, and to discuss my work: what inspires me, what is my creative process for making my textile artwork, how did I become interested in quilts and other personal insights. I was also asked to provide my views on other quilt-related topics, such as the meaning of quiltmaking in women's history.

Prairie Thunder, 67" x 54" (in a private collection)

Knowing that I am one among 1,000 participants-to-date in this program, I was highly complimented by the invitation and thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity. To realize that my words and my voice have been archived for use by people conducting research, and I suppose, by those who may be curious, is a humbling thought. I am grateful.

Anticipation

With the swing of the weathervane, the recent winds have been coming from the North, which means cooler temperatures. These refreshing temperatures have fired up my energy for tackling the laundry list of ideas I have been accumulating all summer. I’ve completed a series of small works and will post them another day.

Today, however, I am very excited anticipating the International Quilt Festival in Houston next month. I have received the magic phone call telling me that Firestorm has received an award, but I won’t know the details until October 13th.

End of Summer Road Trips

Lately, I have been on the road providing lectures and workshops to quilting guilds. It’s an activity I truly enjoy because I get to connect with quilters of all age groups, level of expertise, and favored style of quiltmaking. It never fails to inspire me to associate with people who love to play with fabric to create wonderful textile art and are willing to share most everything with one another. I always learn so much from other quilters and am grateful for being able to meet each and every one.

As a reward for getting through this summer heat, I’ll jump in my car again and drive to Santa Fe for my annual renewal of creative zing that only the rarefied air of New Mexico’s capital can provide. I always find great subject matter for my quilted art, such as, Santa Fe, #304.

Garden Influences

There’s a full moon now but like the summer days it will soon begin to wane, although the high heat remains unrelenting. I don’t believe I can fault the full moon for my lack of energetic activity in my studio, but I am able to blame my inertia to the depressing heat, 101° F. today.

It doesn’t really matter for there will be a ‘dance of the moonflowers’ in my garden tonight. I noticed the two bushes are once more loaded with buds that are promising to pop open after dark to fill the air with wonderful scent. The full moon will spotlight the blooms. It’s always a fun little festival when this occurs.

I understand why this flower was among Georgia O’Keeffe’s favorites. It’s just a wild weed, but the plants provide endless pleasure and have inspired one of my favorite wall hangings.

Moonflowers at Midnight

42" × 35 " ©Carol Ann Sinnreich

Dog Days Dominate

In the last posting I wrote about the spectacular thunderstorms, which added wonderful shades of lively spring colors to the visual appeal of the prairie. It was incredibly exciting to drive over a hilltop and witness rolling greenness under a brilliant blue canopy. The open sky is what I love about this part of the USA.

In all fairness, the summer in SW Oklahoma as well as in Texas has been brutal with weeks of triple-digit temperatures and little rain. The ranchers are taking another hit with dried up pastures and low water levels in ponds for their livestock. The temperatures have forced me to hide indoors embracing the air conditioning vents and thanking Willis Carrier for being so clever. The dog days of summer trigger sympathy for the polar bears as they wait for the returning ice floes to provide relief.

During the last brutal blast of summer heat in 1998, I designed a landscape to acknowledge what was happening out there on the prairie day and night, and in church on Sunday mornings.

The scenario is repeated this year as

in Summer Prayers,

©Carol Ann Sinnreich.

Springtime on the Prairie

Recently, waves of bold thunderstorms have crossed the Oklahoma’s prairie anointing the winter parched earth with much needed rains. Unfortunately, the timing of these spring storms have been either too late for the ranchers, or in time to disturb the wheat harvesting. And yet, happily the lakes are now brimming, the waving prairie grasses are green, the brightly colored wildflowers are abundant and, for the time being, the prairie and its animals are no longer thirsting for water. All is verdant and lush, the birds are singing and new animal babies are frolicking for the fun of it. It’s a great deal more appealing than anticipating the prairie fires, which may occur in the drier months ahead.

Visually for the artist in me, this new season is a joy to witness particularly since I spent much of the late winter finishing my newest work, Firestorm. I have been focused on the power, the heat, and total devastation of a forest fire, its impact on frantic animals seeking refuge in a lake, and trying to recreate with fabric a pictorial representation of it all.

Firestorm, 51" w × 61" l

©Carol Ann Sinnreich, 2009