You can never have too much orange

Serpent, 2012, Paula Kovarik

I'm working on a series using wonderful tangerine colored linen napkins. Each napkin is a completely different 14" x 15" composition that allows me to experiment with stitch patterns. This one is called Serpent. This detail does not show the spiral configuration of the drawing, but that early morning light that grazes across my desk each morning shows the wonderful texture. And, of course, you can never have too much orange in your life. After seeing a copperhead snake in our lily bed I have been more interested in the snake shape, its meaning in mythology, how to identify them and why people are so afraid of them. I find snakes elegant and solitary creatures. This spiral-designed version was inspired by a series of pre-columbian pottery I was looking at last week. 

back from the photographer

Just got the final professional image of the tablecloth quilt from my friend Allen Mims. He did an incredible job shooting it (see his spectacular portfolio here). Here is a detali for your curiousity. I can't really show the whole quilt pending my decision to send this the judges at Quilt National OR FiberArts International. As of today I am choosing FAInternational because it will allow me to show the piece in my Memphis show in November. Breaks my heart because I really feel a great loyalty to the QN competition and this is my strongest piece this year.

©2012, Paula Kovarik

There's those clouds again!

clouds

Recently I spoke at a local quilt guild about my artwork. I showed how my drawings inspire the patterns and quilts I create. One woman asked if I ever found myself repeating myself with the motifs that I create in stitching. I can answer that with an emphatic yes. I use arrows, sunbursts, flower petals and leaf shapes a lot. Lately I have been fascinated by clouds. With our current drought affecting more than my homely little vegetable garden we watch the skies each day with anticipation. The clouds (very puffy white and gray pillows) march across and around and through Memphis with regularity, without a splash of water. 

Here are some of the explorations I have created using those shapes as inspiration.

A doodle:

A seamless pattern:

A woodcut by EtchPop:

and in a quilt:

Each stage of these explorations adds more depth and fun to the shapes. I think they will haunt me for a while.

light trick

light trick, 2012, Paula Kovarik

I am always happy to enter my studio in the morning. There is a big east-facing window that spews light across the surfaces of my tables. This piece was in the direct beam so I grabbed my camera to shoot it. Little did I know that the camera would further distort the image because there was so little light for focus. I love how the shadows on this piece create the illusion of a cliff right under the eyes. 

foggy ears, itchy eyes, just plain muddled

Ok. I know I really like to show my work to others. I like the extra jolt it gives me when people comment on my work. Even if it is hesitant and/or negative feedback, I find the extra input inspires new work, new ideas and new energy.

BUT. When it comes to choosing what show to enter I am a little befuddled. muddled. blank. Especially this year as I do not have too many new pieces I can offer. The ones that I do have are strong and I would love to get them into one of these shows but can't figure out which to choose.

Quilt National, a traveling exhibition that begins in Athens OH and travels to a number of small venues across the nation, has the strongest reputation for the Art Quilt medium. Some pieces in the show travel from September 2013 - December 2015. They publish a very handsome book of the exhibit and have a well known group of jurors that are well respected. They do not have a robust web site and the public relations efforts for the show seem to be minimal. I have not received much feedback from them for the past two shows and that is a bit frustrating. If I enter the my strongest piece I would not be able to show it here in Memphis during a show I have scheduled for November.

FiberArts International, (April 19 -Aug 18 next year) a contemporary fiber arts show that originates in Pittsburgh, opens in April and closes in August. Not sure where it travels to since their website seems to be broken. I don't know much about this show but the fact that other types of fiber arts pieces are being shown is appealing to me. I may choose this show for the big piece I just finished. If I do then I would be able to show the piece here in Memphis during my show in November.

Quilt = Art=Quilts (October 28 - Jan 6 this year) at the Schweinfurth Art Center in Auburn NY is always a wonderful show. They publish a catalog and the venue is perfect for quilts. I have been very happy with the way my work has been presented there. Trouble here is that the deadlines for it overlap the other two shows I am considering.

Other juried art shows? Do I continue to search out Fiber Art exhibit opportunities or not? Or, should I pursue other art shows that might get me into the mainstream of the art world? A scary proposition.

Still muddled.