Simply Orange

Okay, so this seems a bit ridiculous after yesterday's post...but I couldn't resist!

We are one week away from the Searching for Roy G Biv Challenge. And in case it isn't completely obvious... the challenge color this month is orange.

For those of you just stumbling upon this you can read about the challenge rules here.

As some of you may already know, I am offering an incentive to play this game with Jennifer and me. Each month, I will be creating a piece of fabric in the challenge color. I started painted some color backgrounds last night.

The piece I'm envisioning will have a bit of nature printing and some block printing.

In order to have an opportunity to win this piece, you have to post at least one photograph (taken by you) highlighting the color orange. You will need to post a comment on this blog or on Jennifer's blog and either one of us will link back to your blog (or website or Flickr page). So this is also an opportunity for more people to find out about you and your artwork.

Now, I know that some of you may not have a blog, website or Flickr page and may still want to play. In that case, email me with your photo(s) attached and I will either post them here or to my Flickr page. Hmm...you are now saying...how do I email Julie? Well, if you sign up for my newsletter (see the top of the right hand column of this blog), I will be emailing you a free list of ideas for surface design in the kitchen...and voila! you will have my email.

So enough of the hype...I hope you will consider playing, just for the fun of it...just for the opportunity to get out and about ...to take a good look at your surroundings and snap a few photos...

Can't wait to see all the orange next Thursday!

Searching for Roy G Biv Challenge

Sample from my class, African Influences: Textile Inspirations featuring some Roy G Biv colors

Hope you will join Jennifer Coyne Qudeen and me in the Searching for Roy G Biv (or RedOrangeYellow Green BlueIndigoViolet) Challenge. Here's what we've come up with:

1. The Challenge will take place the 3rd Thursday each month, starting this month on May 17th.
2. We will work on one color per month starting this month with Red and working through the spectrum.
3. After working through the color spectrum we will consider adding a month to explore white and another month to explore black.
4. Participants can post up to 5 photos of that month's color.
5. If you let us know that you're participating we will link to your blog.
6. We ask that you invite others to participate.

I will have a little reminder in my post about a week before each Challenge date. So get your cameras ready or your paint brushes, dyes, threads or other media of choice and join us!

Now off to visit my son...can't wait to see him!

Roles

Although I'm baking with them today, five of these items make great fabric resists!

Today and tomorrow, I'm in Mommy mode...or because my son is 21, maybe just Mom mode. My husband and I are going out to visit him at college tomorrow. He is staying an extra month to take a class. As Mom, I want to make sure he has plenty of chocolate chip cookies and banana bread. So today I'll be in the kitchen baking with the flour (as opposed to spreading it on fabric).

I've been thinking about how we (especially women who are also artists) are constantly shifting in and out of modes or roles. Mom, wife, daughter and daughter-in-law (to aging parents), big sister, aunt, co-worker, concerned friend, teacher...but always the artist calls us back to play with the materials.

Even when we aren't in the studio...or whatever space we've set aside to create... we are always thinking about the next project. We are jotting down quick notes and sketches that often only we can decipher. Often my ideas get ahead of me or at least get ahead of my time.

I hope to get time in the studio this week, but know that time will be scarce. I'll more likely be spending time at the computer churning out my handouts for the next couple of class sessions.

I'm traveling a lot this month, in the role of daughter and daughter-in-law. On my travels, my camera, notebook and colored pencils will be handy but not my fabric and paints.

But the materials are always calling... I know that I will be sneaking off to the hidey hole (my husband's nickname for my studio) as often as I can to get some playtime.

Jennifer Coyne Qudeen and I are working on the finishing touches for the Searching for Roy G Biv challenge. I'll be announcing them here tomorrow. I hope that you will come play with us and invite others to join in.

Inspiration

Recently, I've been inspired by blue and yellow-moving-into-olive.
I noticed it in this beautiful ceramic bowl by Lisa A. Lettieri that I just gave to a friend for a birthday gift.

It all started when a student mixed up some olive paint using yellow and black. I added more yellow and made a quick background with the warm green yellow, olive and some cobalt blue.

 I can see some possibilities with these color combinations.

I also received some reading inspiration this week.
Can't wait to really dive into some of these books.

 Jennifer Coyne Qudeen and I are planning to search for (and maybe even play with) Roy (of Roy G Biv fame) starting this month. Care to join in? Will post some ideas soon.

Searching for Roy G Biv (Orange)

A trip to the SCAD (Savannah College of Art) Museum in search of the color orange...a challenge from my friend, Jennifer Coyne Qudeen.

Found the neon sign above by Stephen Antonakas with a great message.

And this amazing ceiling fiber sculpture. It was wonderful to sit under it and look up...reminded me of all the trees with the Spanish Moss I've been looking up at all week.

 

Okay, Jennifer...looking forward to seeing what you found!