I can’t tell you how excited I am to work in the studio this weekend. I took today off from work so that I would have four days to spend on my art projects. I know I haven’t posted much about my progression in art, but to be honest, I haven’t really produced much in the way of art, or that is how I’ve been feeling about it. Mainly I’ve been preparing myself for some serious projects I have in mind.
About a month ago I bought an exposure unit for screen printing off ebay. It was the best purchase I’ve made in a long time. Although I am still trying to find the right burning time for my screens, the unit is absolutely perfect for my screen-printing needs. It is small enough and did not break my budget (well maybe a little). So during the weekends I have been working hard to get my studio laid out to pursue all of my painting, sewing, and screen-printing projects. I made a little dark room to dry my screens underneath the work table and found a small sewing table (with a Singer that is almost the exact same model as mine) to spread out my work space.
The sewing table worked out perfectly as I had sent my other much-larger table up to my grandparents’ storage unit in Cary, NC. This one folds open to provide extra table space, but to conserve space or give myself an extra surface to spread out on, I can just fold it closed. I still have the second sewing machine (a 1960s Singer, Golden Touch & Sew, Deluxe Zig-Zag model) that came with the table, but I am not sure that it works. I only paid $10 for the machine and table at the Goodwill, so I figure maybe I can find someone to pass it on to, someone who would be interested in fixing it up. Anyone in the Charleston area looking for a vintage sewing machine? I can tell you my grandmother took my machine to the Singer store as a graduation gift and it works wonderfully—so durable.
After I moved my machine to the sewing table I was able to move my press onto the work table. I have yet to screw it into place, but that is on my to-do list for the weekend. As far as my other preparations go, I reorganized everything, sketched a little in my notebook, and put my drawings/designs to print on transparencies to burn onto a screen. I went to Artist & Craftsman, the art supply store downtown (where I spend way too much money), and bought a yard of silk screen to stretch on some old frames, some solution for re-purposing the screen I didn’t burn long enough last weekend, some canvas, and stretcher bars for a new painting.
One of the reasons I am so excited to work on my new projects is because lately I have been seeing/reading about the most amazing natural wonders, and it is giving me a better idea of what I want to focus on. For example last night as Brian and I were walking back to the boat, I noticed that the water seemed to be teeming with life. There were thousands of fish about the size of the palm of my hand swimming at the water’s surface between all of the boats in the marina. You could hear them flapping and slapping the water as they jumped and dove back under. I leaned down and stuck my hand into the water and actually touched a few before they shied away from my shadow. The water was literally boiling with fish.
For the past few days I have been watching the pelicans and sea gulls flying in 25 knot winds. It is so entertaining to see them catching air and shooting off in a new direction. One pelican took a sideways diagonal dive into the water (like a torpedo) and came up with a fish. I watched him toss it into the air and gulp it down. Amazing. Then, on Wednesday, I went for a run and on my way back, while I was on a concrete walkway under the bridge and between marinas, I saw a full-grown otter swimming towards me—in full daylight! He saw me too and took a dive under the water. I followed his bubbles as they went underneath me and out the other side. I saw him later swimming along the marsh towards the marina.
The last of my incredible sightings involved a luminous jellyfish at night. I pointed out a glowing flashing dot of luminescent light near the surface of the water, wondering what it was. A few seconds later, I saw a neon halo of light hit the surface, as the jellyfish captured its small prey. Also, here is my barnacle research for my next painting. Hope everyone enjoys the holiday weekend!
