Posted August 25th, 2010 by Carol Logan Newbill
It’s one of the most dreaded requirements of entering your work into shows or exhibitions: “Include artist’s statement, 200 words or less. Describe the work and concept; no biographical information.”
Ouch ouch ouch to write.
And then to go to the show and watch people move around the room, stopping in front of the statement card, reading it thoroughly; then glancing at the work and moving on.
Ouch ouch ouch to watch.
Why does this happen?
Partly, I think, it’s because as we go through school, most of us experience a word-oriented education. We learn that the pictures, however colorful and interesting, are there only to illustrate the words, the really important part of the book or article. Blog posts, magazines, newspapers — all are word-oriented with images as an accompaniment. The images are the bread on the dinner table, not the main course on your plate.
(You read the paragraph before you looked at the picture, didn’t you? :-) )
I don’t think we can change this behavior entirely without making radical changes to the way we think of education. I do think, though, that we can make changes to the way we present our art — changes that command the viewer to look first, then to read.
Follow me and I’ll explain.
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Posted August 11th, 2010 by Carol Logan Newbill
Fav Roundup: (Formerly Friday 5, but no longer necessarily five items, or on Fridays) In which I bring to you inspiring and idea-generating things I’ve noticed during my internet travels, probably but not necessarily fiber- or art-related. Feel free to chime in with your favorites in the comments.
Image © Sky & Telescope - Click to enlarge
Tomorrow night, Thursday, August 12, will bring a spectacular show to the skies: A tight conjunction of four bright heavenly bodies (Venus, Saturn, Mars, and a crescent Moon) just after sunset, followed by the peak night of the annual Perseid meteor shower.
Look west after sunset for the planetary alignment — it should remain prominently visible until about 10 pm.
Around midnight, turn to the northeast and watch for the Perseid meteors. Because there will be no interference from the moon this year, the display should be especially dramatic.
Full story from NASA
Follow the jump for more good things.
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Posted June 14th, 2010 by Carol Logan Newbill
Beware of
round-bottomed ostriches
that go where no one goes
and eat what no one knows.
Posted June 3rd, 2010 by Carol Logan Newbill
Keyword search in Google Analytics just showed someone searching “how to sew an ebook.”
Use invisible thread, of course.
Posted January 22nd, 2010 by Carol Logan Newbill
In which I bring to you every Friday five cool sites or items or other things I’ve noticed during the preceding week, many (but not necessarily all) fiber- or art-related. Feel free to chime in with your favorites in the comments.
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Posted January 15th, 2010 by Carol Logan Newbill
Even if you don’t subscribe, you have to read Robert Genn’s newsletter today. Dry plot summary: He is painting plein aire in a town plaza somewhere in Mexico. He describes the scene around him, a conversation with a passerby, the sounds of mundane daily life.
Yet because of his practiced eye and cultivated voice, he makes this experience completely come alive with gorgeous sentences: “A two-litre bottle of Fresca came by with a four-year-old girl attached.” Isn’t that so much more evocative than an ordinary description of a little girl drinking a big soda?
Read. Observe your surroundings today. Then plan how you can translate that experience into your art — in words or in images — and go make something beautiful from something utterly ordinary.
Posted January 1st, 2010 by Carol Logan Newbill
For everyone who has been following along with the Month Zero goal-setting, here is a gift for you:
Click on the image to download a PDF version. Print it out and post it on your wall.
Then head into 2010 knowing that you are a month ahead of the rest of the world… and that you don’t have to be perfect!
Happy New Year!
Posted December 11th, 2009 by Carol Logan Newbill
In which I bring to you every Friday five cool sites or items or other things I’ve noticed during the preceding week, many (but not necessarily all) fiber- or art-related. Feel free to chime in with your favorites in the comments.
This week:
- Visual Thesaurus
- Rice Freeman-Zachery on Getting Rid of Stuff — and why we are afraid to do it.
- Picassos With Pixels: 12 Groundbreaking Pieces of Digital Art
- Pantone’s Color of the Year for 2010
- Facebook Privacy Update: Don’t Use the Default Settings
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Posted December 7th, 2009 by Carol Logan Newbill
Last week I spent much of one day with my accountant doing my year-end tune-up and planning for 2010, and I impressed the heck out of him with how much I’ve done this year and what I have planned out for next year. This isn’t easy to do, so I feel really good about that. Month Zero is on its way to helping me create a great 2010!
So how to start Month Zero?
Well, first of all… do you have goals set for next year? They don’t have to be big goals like “restore world peace” or “stamp out hunger.” They do need to be measurable, though. You can’t say something vague like “I’ll make more quilts next year.”
Nope. Make it concrete. “I made XX quilts this year. Next year I will make YY.”
Or “I will enter one exhibition/quilt show this year.”
Or “I will take a class from (teacher I’ve always secretly admired).”
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