Gayle A. Pritchard's Blog, page 15

Domestic Goddess

Artist book page, For Sadie Jane by Gayle Pritchard
I seem to be in the third week of domestic duties, and have one more to accomplish before June ends. It is so hard sometimes to escape life's responsibilities and just do what I want (or need) to do on any given day.
I don't really want to escape life, of course. I love entertaining, hanging out with friends, being with my kids. I do not love cleaning the house, grocery shopping, filing insurance claims, or keeping track of bills.
I have

It's a Juggling Act

Altered Book: A Circus Act by Gayle Pritchard

After being away for a week, and without internet access, I feel overwhelmed with 'tasks.' Does that ever happen to you? It's unusual in this day and age to not be online. It reminded me of how much easier it used to be to keep track of paperwork and other such tasks. I could allot one day a week, then ignore until the following week what was still on that list. No more!

This week I hit the ground running, as I prepare for an onslaught of visitors thi

Home is Where the Art Is...uh Heart Is

One of my little collaged paintings
I am on the road tomorrow morning, early. I love beginning a long drive before the sun is fully up, then watching the sky change color as the morning sun emerges onto the landscape.
When I travel, I like to bring along a portable "art kit". I have one my friend Lois made for me. It is currently back at her shop for repair, so frequently have I traveled with it. That little bag, which has a top flap and measures, closed, probably 6" x 9", has been to Mexico si

Unexpected Pleasures

Green Bear is never far away

I only have time for a quick post right now. That's because we had a Green Bear emergency today. My grandson awoke to find that Green Bear's tag had come completely off, and his beans were leaking.

When he first became attached to his bear, my husband had the brilliant idea of purchasing identical ones as back-ups. It was a good plan, as we are now onto bear #4. Number one's tag is completely gone and he is beyond repairing. This morning's emergency was #3. He can st

Creating Layers in Art Quilts

The beginning stages of my piece, I Hear Voices

I use a lot of photographic techniques in my artwork, not because I am a terrific photographer, but because I work with layering. Using personal photographic images connects well with the intimate nature of my artwork.

I am not the gifted photographer in my family. My husband, who took the self-portrait in the I Hear Voices photograph, is amazingly talented, and very creative in his approach. My daughter, editor of photography books for Lark Books,

Old Friends and Art, Part II

Some of the Ohio Designer Craftsman Best of '09 artists

Friends and mentors are rare gems. Friends and mentors who are also artists are the jewels in the crown. Because the work of an artist is done in isolation, friends and mentors who understand are crucial.
I had a chance to spend time with both at the Ohio Designer Craftsman Best of '09 exhibition opening on Sunday. Although Deborah Melton Anderson was not in the show, she came to the opening. I hadn't seen her since before her husband passed

Old Friends and Art Are a Great Combination

Susan Shie with her award winning piece The Food Scales / Justice: Card #11 in the Kitchen Tarot

I spent today in Columbus, Ohio attending the opening of the Ohio Designer Craftsman Best of 09 exhibition. I drove there with my longtime friend and fellow artist Susan Shie. We had arranged in advance to meet another friend, artist Susanne Gregg and her friend, Carole at the opening. Since both Susan and Susanne had artwork in the show, and both were award recipients, it seemed the perfect day to at

The Artist Grandmother

Now that I'm a grandmother, I have been making baby clothes again. When my own kids were babies and my husband was still in college, I had to make do with what we had. I recycled sweaters, coats and usable cottons to make all of their clothes. I started making quilts in earnest about the same time. The first Christmas we were married, I got my first sewing machine, a $99 Singer. I still have it. It's the machine I use to stitch paper.

When I was still living at home, I sewed on my grandmother's

Renee Award

Just a quick post today to say thank you to Anne Huskey-Lockard for bestowing the Renee Award upon me!

Anne is a fellow artist whose work has inspired me since I first saw it when she entered the Artist as Quiltmaker exhibition I curate in Oberlin, Ohio every other year.

The award is given for those who "spread love and truly inspire" with words, artwork or deeds. I am truly honored to receive it. Thank you, Anne!

I am also honored to pass it along, as is my duty. I have mentioned mentors and men

Threads of Inspiration

Inland Seas Maritime Museum

I was asked to write a guest blog last week for Subversive Stitchers: Women Armed With Needles on the subject of entering juried exhibitions, and obliged happily. Having been involved in all facets of juried exhibitions, as an artist entering a show, a juror selecting artwork for a show, and a curator managing the show, I have a lot to say on the subject. My comments only just scratched the surface. Check it out if you’re interested, and post your comments or question