style?

On one of the lists I subscribe to there has been a discussion of style versus working in a series.   I enjoyed the comments but didn't think too hard about it.    Yesterday,  I spent a good part of the day at the Shoppe,  putting many small works up in the gallery that I am willing to sell off to those looking to buy gifts for the holiday.    I realized that many of them have not yet been labelled,  or even photographed.   ( of course my camera is out of batteries when I tried to do that this morning )   And then I need to get prices on them.    The functional works are fairly easy, and formulaic to get priced,  based on size, complexity and technique,    but the Art Quilts are harder.    Original design,  Cost of materials,   labor hours,  and several aesthetic and display considerations need to be taken account of.    And then there is style.    A work that is in someones characteristic style will often command a higher price,  and sell faster.   If selling work is important,  ones style should be developed.   

Advertisers call it branding.   I hope that as I photograph, label, and price these pieces I can see some kind of style that I can develop.  I have not seen many of these works together before, and I complete few pieces that are just for me lately,  so there is a longer period of time between them than I would like.     I really hope to pick up on something that is a unifying factor.     I'll let you know when the pictures are up.  

Costuming and inspiration

Well,  I am busy with getting my daughters Halloween Costume ready.   She of course expects Hollywood level special effects to turn her into Tim Burton's A Corpse Bride.    I need to keep reminding her that it is a claymation/animation, and some of the effects she wants are unrealistic or even inappropriate for a 12 year old to year to a dance in the middle school cafeteria.   Despite the annoyances of this project I do have other inspirations to keep me sane. 

The Art Challenge for guild has me itching to get to work.  It is to be an abstract composition in either warm or cool colors.   I have been working with repeats of a pointed oval shape,  fascinated by it all summer too,  and I think I will play with some mixed media surface design.  I have new texture plates,  some super stencils,  and  new threads I am going to incorporate.     The challenge with this shape is that it all too easily becomes something,  leaf, canoe, flower petals,  so keeping it abstract may become and issue.    I will post more about this as the piece develops,  it is not die till our January Meeting.  

Threadora is here

This lady is a sprite from the Thread Eaters clan.  You can see that she likes thread tangles.   I worked like crazy to finish her over the course of this week,  and I had to fight with her the whole time.   Yes,  she caused quite a few thread tangles and other issues during the creation process.    It has been a long time since I had to work with a deadline like this one and actually finished the piece in time.    It is a big personal achievement.   Come see her in person at the Wiltwyck Quilt Guild show,  Saturday and Sunday in Kingston.   When I have more time I will fill you in on all her details.