Good Things are Happening

Brow Chakra (Third Eye) indigo, turquoise, mauve

Not sure if it's still available, but I'm doing this meditation series. It helps you adjust your expectations and understanding so abundance can come into your life. I've been working on this for several years on my own and it was really nice to have Deepak's take on it (as you see, we're on a first name basis). A little Deepak Chopra is never a bad thing!

This may have inspired me to do a new series based on colors associated with the chakras.

Root Chakra, red, mauve, brown

Crown Chakra, violet, white, gold

These are out of order as chakras go, and there are also a few missing. I'll have to retake the pics and get them into another post soon. Tomorrow's another studio day, for me that's bliss. What are you doing this weekend?

Working

I'm listening very hard these days for the voice, my authentic voice that is. It wants me to make something by combining these two elements.

 
 So even though I can imagine how I'll do it, I can't really picture exactly how it will turn out. But isn't that why we make art? For the surprise and satisfaction of creating something we never even imagined?

On a more down to earth note, I changed my blog's appearance a little--hope it makes for a more pleasant visit. And since I probably haven't lately, I want to thank everyone who reads this. I love your supportive and thought provoking comments!

Hanging Collages

Avoid methodology. If what you're doing is about technique, that's not art. 

(Kay WalkingStick)

canvas on fabric with mixed media, D. Jaouen

 This quote caught my attention--I think you need to know technique so you can forget about it. My temperamental sewing machine is actually giving me what I need these days. I'm wanting a tentative, random feel for the decorative stitching on these two pieces and my difficult machine is perfect for that. It is also managing the construction seams that need to be sturdy and provide strength.

©D. Jaouen

Did I mention I feel like I can sew however I want now, since I've been sewing for many years? Kind of like drawing however I please, scribbling if I want (so there). I'm sure you agree.

Next up, I'm going to start a new painting series soon. I'm excited! What are you up to these days?

General Update and New Collages

 Just working on my teabags--these are drying. Some of those herb teas are quite colorful!

And eating lots of this wonderful fennel orange and olive salad for energy. I could eat 

it every day--this is the second day in a row I've made it-- but I ran out of fennel.

"3 Birds"  ©2012 Deborah Jaouen, 20" x 21 1/2"

 I've been revisiting some earlier work and tweaking it to my new vision

"2 Birds"  ©2012 Deborah Jaouen, 20" x 16"

These photos aren't the best, but they do give you an idea. Other than that, I have delivered quite a few crafty things, like granny chic appliqued pillows, hair flowers made from vintage notions, and corrugated gift card envelopes from my Etsy shop to a museum shop. I'll be listing more mixed media works and sculptures in my shop in the near future. I have a lot of amazing collections and want to open a vintage shop on Etsy, but am rethinking that due to discouragement from the difficulties of being found in Etsy's search. 

Do you think that it's as hard to get views for a vintage shop as it is for an art shop? Any suggestions or any comments about this are very apropos, since I'm wondering more and more if Etsy isn't an impossible dream for some of us...

Thank you to everyone who reads this, comments, or follows--I'm so grateful for your loyalty. Blogging has been very good for teaching me to let go of ego and expectations. My last post got lots of comments, new people, and even a sweet email--just when I was feeling a little bit down. I might not have quite as many followers as my ego probably expected after two years of blogging, but those I have are awesome. xoxo to all!!

Quick Update

 

New creations have taken a back seat this busy month, but things are winding down, I hope. 

 Impressive fruit and cheese platters, along with minimally installed art.

My opening at Skyy Blue Gallery went really well--it was fun, with a Virginia wine tasting and around 65 people checking out my work. And there were sales! Several. With all the mingling I completely forgot to take pictures, but I did take some of the gallery before everyone arrived. And I'm expecting more photos taken by a photographer who was there, so I'll update soon. Now to finish preparing for that workshop I teach next Saturday...

June Recap, Upcoming Show

 Marsh Spirit, acrylic diptych on canvas, 20" x 32"© Deborah Jaouen

Forgive me Blogger, it has been 3 weeks since my last confession/ post. I have
-suffered through a broken air conditioner in the sultry South for a month,
-gone to a cosmetic trade show in New York City,
-had two college age children home for a month so far,
-taken them to several doctors and done many loads of laundry,
-dealt with an Amazon rip off artist in my other business,
-prepared for a sweet solo show of my work--"Collage Infusion", the inaugural exhibition!--opening next week in a new cafe/gallery nearby,
-gotten ready to go to a food trade show (yum),
-put all the good people who actually want to hear about my upcoming exhibitions into a "real" database.

And now, just maybe I can even post this while I wait for Mail Chimp to upload my email list--it's free but it takes forever. And I still have to send out invitations tonight. How was your month?

First Attempt with Natural Dye

  

Pomegranates are used extensively in India and the Middle East to obtain rich yellows, oranges and browns when dying textiles.  Here some rinds are soaking overnight.  I then strained and boiled the water in an aluminum pot for 45 minutes--I didn't have any alum mordant lying around and apparently the metal of the pot (copper or tin are used to create other colors) can do the trick. This was supposed to make yellow dye.

The results were interesting. On the left is wool, which is the easiest natural fiber to dye--this was white when I started. Cotton takes natural dye with difficulty and the lace in the middle, which is cotton, only got a slight distressed look.  There are two other types of lace that appear a little darker but the dying wasn't very successful on them either. On the far right is silk, which as an animal fiber takes natural dyes well. It went from almost white to champagne.

All in all, if I do this again, I'll have to invest in more paraphenalia for better results!

Is Rust a Must?

Silver Ore from Bolivia

Silver Bars from the Mines of Moria (just kidding)

Rare Silver Sword Plant from the Big Island of Hawaii

Silver Lab Puppy

Silver Platters at Auction

Things have been awfully silent at my blog for the past week--there are just so many hours in a day unfortunately...

I started thinking about the concept of "silver" today after going through the collection of packaging papers I sometimes use for collage and noticing that gold accents outnumbered silver about 5 to 1. That's funny when you realize that silver is the most abundant precious element. Or maybe that's actually why gold seems more popular in popular culture. The piece I'm working on is sort of lavender (for now) and in keeping with my new monochromatic thing I want to add some silver-ish pieces, not too shiny though. In the meantime I wanted to post a few "silver" images I came across.

For some reason, I'm not attracted to rust per se, unless it's got some kind of finish on it so it doesn't flake off everywhere. I loved this post at ArtPropelled, but rust doesn't seem to be my passion (though I've learned to never say never!) Maybe for the same reason pastel isn't--I don't really like touching either one! Is that really strange? Maybe you're the same way?

Fruits of My Labor Day

Yin Yang Louis XVI ©Deborah Jaouen 2010 mixed media 16" x 24"

Labor Day is one of my favorite holidays, because 1)it's always a weekend, 2)the weather is always nice, even here in Virginia--today there's a delightful tropical-esque breeze, 3)there is no cooking or present buying involved, and 4) I'm always sure to get a few days off around my birthday--I was born on Labor Day, which I've always found very clever of my mom.

This is the piece I've been working on, on and off for awhile. I'm pretty sure it's finished, all it needs are some screws to hold the hinges on securely. It can be hung on the wall or propped up like an open book. It has so many layers, details and elements--I've tried to unify them with a semi monochromatic look or else it all would have been too much. I used an oil based glaze, cast resin architectural details, acrylic, 2 encaustic paintings, the kitchen sink.... I'm so done!

Happy Labor Day!

Up to Us In

Up to Us, 16 1/2x 17x3", mixed media assemblage, 2010

Guess what? I've still got "it". I had a piece selected for an upcoming Biennial! I think I keep submitting to these juried shows so I can see if the juror (who Knows) will like anything, and if so, what. This particular work, Up to Us, is pretty meaningful to me on a personal level due to its concept, which is taking care of and respecting our planet. I was overjoyed about finishing it--it was a work in progress for probably a year!--and I think it taught me a lot. You would not have recognized it in its earlier stages (and there were many). Now that it's no longer on my "torment list" (pieces that don't want to get finished), I have even begun to like it. Why is it that some works come right out, bam bam bam and others are practically impossible? So I guess this really is a triumph.

New Work--at last!

Scarification, 2010, 18x24"

Golden State, 2010, 18x24"

I finished these two a couple weeks ago. They're 3D collages on stretched canvas using paint, fabric and paper. Both are 18x24" even though they seem larger. And I really do wish they were larger...

I stopped working large when the economy went south, although that's where my real preference lies. Actually, I stopped making anything to hang on the wall and began working with assemblage, a choice which had nothing to do with sales/non-sales. It's just the direction I'm being pulled in right now.

Are any of your current formats or media choices linked to the soft art sales of our current times? Or do you not let it bother you, instead building up inventory for better times?

Orientation Poll

Scarification, 18x24", mixed media collage on canvas, 2010

Scarification, 24x18", mixed media collage on canvas, 2010

Please let me know your opinion on which way you think this piece should be oriented. Horizontal (top version) or vertical (bottom version).

Now to finish its companion piece, which may or may not "go" with it.

Openings are Fun?

Aziletos #1 and #6, Terry Bachman

Landscape 2, Don Weaver

Landscape 1, Don Weaver

Boro Tree, 12 x 3 x3" and Woman,11 x 3 x 3".
© 2010 Deborah Jaouen

I finally made it down to Norfolk to see how my 2 assemblages were getting along in their group show. The opening was back in April, but I wasn't braving that bridge tunnel bottleneck on a Friday evening. Worst traffic situation I've ever seen and I'm a native Angeleno (that's L.A). Anyway, does inconvenience justify not attending an opening?

As for my sculptures, they were tastefully installed with works hanging nearby. I really liked these two mixed media pieces by Don Weaver and thought they were a good choice to install next to my work. Two assembled woodwork pieces by Terry Bachman also caught my eye.