scribblings !
The online journal of a passionate artist, writer and educator.
August 21, 2008
Wedding Number Two
Truly, I haven't dropped from the face of the earth... This Summer of the Weddings has been a flurry of fabric and flowers and family and friends and white. We are closing in on wedding number two and rejoicing with the soon to be bride and groom.
We've done sketches and drawn up plans. We're painting, sewing, baking, and thoroughly enjoying ourselves.
I hope you find time this summer continues to allow your own creativity to shine!
August 13, 2008
The Art of a Video
Over the past few weeks this video has made me laugh and cry. It celebrates mankind in song and dance. No matter the culture, no matter the terrain... We're all a bunch of goobers (that's a good southern term) willing to rejoice in our humanity.
When I need a smile, this video obliges. I hope you enjoy it as well.
Where is Matt? (2008) from Matthew Harding on Vimeo.
August 12, 2008
One Glorious Day
Okay, so most people visiting this site know I'm an artist who works in watercolor, oils, acrylics, etc. What isn't widely known is that I've done a fair amount of fiber art as well. Indulge me today as I show my latest project: my daughter's silk and alencon lace wedding gown.
Jen was married this past Sunday and the bride and the day couldn't have been more beautiful. We rejoice with her and her new husband. They gave us a day that will live in our hearts forever.
Here are some details of the dress I spent the last month making. I can't wait to see the photos from the wedding!
Happy bride-to-be getting photos made a few days prior to the wedding.
The lace was appliqued over the silk with pieces of the lace peeking over the edges of the garment.
Lace appliqued on the bodice joined the lace overlay that covered the remainder of the skirt and train.
I love this shot of the sleeve back... so artsy...
July 29, 2008
Comments on ARTnews: "How Far is Too Far?"
ARTnews recently published an article “How Far is Too Far?” I have to confess, merely reading the article made me physically ill. The descriptions of current acceptable “art”, not for the young or faint of heart, made me want to cry.
The article offers the two opposing viewpoints. One suggests the artist is free to do anything he desires without interference. This point of view holds the current art establishment in its talons.
Many museums and art shows capitalize on the sensational. They shrug off their moral obligations to the public with platitudes about warnings of visual content and following an artist once they commit to him. They excuse the filth within their walls on the grounds of its artistic merit.
Artists promoted by these museums and shows prostitute themselves for money or fame. They debase themselves and/or others, suggesting the problems fall squarely on the backs of society, not their own. They may laugh themselves all the way to the bank, but have bankrupted their souls. Their next performance must be more bizarre than the last or they relegate themselves to the dusty shelves of the has-beens.
Viewers who frequent these atrocities become participants in the basest of acts. Their support enables the artists to continue. And, their gullibility has been exploited in the process.
How sad.
The opposing viewpoint in the article, offered by art critic Authur Danto, says, “Something’s being a work of art doesn’t excuse you from moral considerations. The guy who dumps ink into one of Damien Hirst’s lambs and turns it black—that’s property damage even if it’s a performance. You can murder someone and call it a work of art, but you are still a murderer. Morality trumps esthetics. That’s my view.”
He’s right. But that's just my strong opinion on the matter...
July 28, 2008
Fall Art Classes
Requests are starting to come in for fall art classes. I'll be putting up a schedule in the next few days and start sign-ups on August first. Thank you all for your interest.
I'm looking forward to seeing many of you in September and making new friends along the way with new students here in Bellingham!
July 22, 2008
A Different Artform
Having grown up back in the dark ages when all girls took home-ec, I learned to sew and cook. This summer turned into a fabric fest in our home some weeks ago as soon as the move was over.
We began the summer knowing our oldest daughter would marry the love of her life. Now the second oldest daughter follows her in matrimony with her equally special man.
As a result of all this amour, I'm making a couple of wedding dresses and one cake... all while trying to find this or that in assorted boxes distributed evenly throughout the house, garage and basement.
I love making these one-of-a-kind dresses. Each girl tried on gowns that most suited them in bridal shops. From there, we took the best ideas and modified the final designs to fit their individual styles and tastes.
What a difference between the two designs! One consists of soft silk-satin covered by a lace overlay for most of the gown and artfully appliqued lace on the bodice-- with a train, of course. The regal, quiet musician has her princess dress almost finished... and she's breathtaking in it.
Crisp organza will cover silk dupioni of the second with a lovely lace-up back and piping around the neckline and armholes. It will have no train, but will have ribbons of silk satin appliqued on the skirt. I've finished and fitted the muslin and am waiting for the rest of the fabric to arrive so the cutting can commence. Social, outdoorsy daughter number two will look stunning.
Often in my classes I encourage students to experiment with other media. "Try something new!" is my admonition. Although I've sewn quite a bit in the past, most of my artwork over the last several years has consisted of paint and canvas or paper. This summer I'm thoroughly enjoying the creative work in fabric as well!
Of course, I can't show pictures right now.... but soon...
July 15, 2008
Server down
For some reason there have been some server problems with our hosting service. If you're reading this they are resolved for the moment. Yay!
July 6, 2008
Heroes
Heroes come in various sizes, shapes and interesting garb. The glitzy, fake-but-fun, silver-screen superheroes zip, fly and swoop around in their color-saturated spandex. Limber, lean athletic types on the sport-of-the-season shows each week race, muscle or swim about in their made-for-television athletic wear. Even our regional evening news features " Eric's Little Heroes"- quite fun to watch, by the way- in tiny versions of the adult sportswear.
Art has its heroes, also. Obvious names come to mind: Sargeant, Bateman, Raphael... Pick a genre and time period.
Two of my art heroes live today and look like the rest of us--everyday clothes and seemingly ordinary lives. One persists in her art through incredible adversity. She gives of herself to help others enjoy the creative process in spite of their own difficult circumstances. Annette accomplishes all of this even though she had a stroke over a year ago and remains dependant on a wheelchair. Tenacity and a positive attitude pervade her life.
Another art hero of mine is Annette's best friend, Marie. The depth of her compassion, the steadfastness of her assistance, and her ongoing dedication to encouraging her friend beckons me to higher heights.
These two women inspire me to look for the good in difficult situations, to continue encouraging creativity in others no matter what, and to see that the ability to be a hero lives within each of us.
July 3, 2008
Art and the Rest of Life
The cycles of life swirl on, carrying us with them. We've moved my mother-in-law into our home in this move to Bellingham. So, in addition to relocating our home and business, we've sorted, cleaned, boxed and hauled nearly 87 years of her history.
For anyone who has been through this, I better understand your pain. I now know what it feels like to watch a mind go in someone you love, to have to parcel out belongings of another person, to sort and clean the remnants of a home... and to sit on the floor and cry surrounded by antiques and garbage as you realize how deteriorated the situation had become.
It has suddenly become important to sit with her and listen to her memories of by-gone years, to look at old photographs of family and jot down their names and relationships, to dismiss, for a time, the daily chores that beckon from other rooms.
Beauty, created by Bobbie in years gone by, fills her room-- from her amazing photographs to her lovely crochet. And the beauty of her aged face declares the glorious creativity of our Maker.
Creativity is our heritage, as much a part of us as our skin or the hair on our heads. My current circumstances remind me of the importance of leaving behind a piece of that creativity, a declaration of my humanity and a tribute to my Creator. May I always endeavor to make this world a better and more beautiful place.
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