Melanie Testa's Blog, page 29

What a GREAT day.

Such a good day! I met up with my friend Shirley, to draw at the Met (there are two links in this sentence). We went to see the Bronzino exhibit, and drew inspiration. Please go click over there.

Now if this naked man (is he naked if he has a messenger bag on?) was sitting around listening to any ol' dream, I would happily watch him listen. Were all men made that way, way back when? I mean he has some pudge, but they had better muscle definition back then. Just sayin'.

Shirley and I caught...

She Shared.

Sometimes I just have to share work that is not my own! Jojo, a reader and regular commenter to this blog, created these two purses, she created many more than just these two, actually. Jojo and I met when I taught in San Diego, she is a hoot! She was inspired by this post, to try her hand at Deconstructed Screen Printing.

She made her own cloth, used my Pretty Purse pattern, then added stitch paper elements inspired by Kelli Nina Perkins book, a

Art + Quilt, a review.

This is part of the Check Her Out! series. Today I review Lyric's book. We are both Interweave authors, and we originally met through our contributions to Quilting Arts TV. I have come to know Lyric as an individual and am in awe of what she applies herself to and how much she accomplishes. Her writing style is gentle, encouraging, almost an embrace but like a good friend she also knows when to push and when to nudge. There are no excuses! And this makes for an even better creative ride.

a

Practice

Practice really does make perfect. I like reminding myself that art is a practice, artists practice art, in a continuum, one idea leads to the next. You question, seek answers and ask what if and why not. It doesn't just come to you, you have to ask it to come. I haven't begun to paint the Evening Grosbeak because I am unsure how to go about it. realistic, quilterly, playful, painterly?

I am unsure how to paint the bird, so I practice. I do not like my samples yet. I like the top most bird...

Monoprint! A challenge.

Hello all. I am excited about my new approach in creating challenges related to my book, Inspired To Quilt. I am not going to talk you through the process, or teach it, rather I will show you how I work and reference the pertinent pages in the book.

I will have a few links to supplies here on the blog and ask you to upload photos of your samples to the Inspired to Quilt FanPage, where we can also start a discussion and talk among ourselves about technique and approach.

Bear with me as I...

Check Her Out! An Interview!

I have gathered together a group of women whose work I admire and think will be an inspiration to you too. I am going to spotlight one artist for 4 Mondays in a row with Interviews, book reviews and more. I hope you enjoy the art and ideas that will be presented in these, 'Check Her Out!' Monday posts. In addition Lyric and I will be making a small work together, at the end of the 4 week spotlight everyone who has posted to any of the Monday posts will be entered to win. You must come back...

Awakening.

A package came in the mail yesterday and when I saw it came from Jeannie and felt that it was soft, I had an inkling and knew it was an exciting package. So I didn't open it (somewhat counter intuitive, I know). Instead, I waited until it would have my full focus. When I went ahead and opened it, I was ready to enjoy. It brought tears. Of course.

Foam shapes to use as stamps. Lots of arrows, a favorite motif of mine, which I don't think I have shared, excepting of course that my cat's name is ...

Thinking it through.

I am searching for a new piece, a new idea. I am ready to start. Something.

So I opened up journals past and began looking through each page. The above image is a drawing I did just recently. I may have posted it, not sure. But because I now live in a city, I figure it is a good idea to draw using perspective, which is not a strong point of mine. I have never taken a class and don't know the principles of the endeavor. But I try.

This drawing I did a few yeas back and I have to say, I love the ...

Awakening.

A package came in the mail yesterday and when I saw it came from Jeannie and felt that it was soft, I had an inkling and knew it was an exciting package. So I didn't open it (somewhat counter intuitive, I know). Instead, I waited until it would have my full focus. When I went ahead and opened it, I was ready to enjoy. It brought tears. Of course.

Foam shapes to use as stamps. Lots of arrows, a favorite motif of mine, which I don't think I have shared, excepting of course that my cat's name is ...

A hoot and a toot! toot! Toot!

I am doing some Top Secret art making for a proposed magazine article. And Top Sectret means...well? hm.

Instead I give you this:

Cuteness.

So this weekend I am going away for three nights and four days to a Yoga Retreat. A yoga dance retreat, no less. I will be without Internet connection, gasp! Hooray! This is the Hoot!

Now for the Toot(s):

So now, I have a facebook fan page set up and what to do with it? I am going to start talking snippets of inspiration and daily thoughts on art making. They ...