In a earlier SHARDS post I introduced one of my new summer online workshops for Artful Gathering ( an art “camp” for artists, teachers and students) called Southwestern Stripes: Serapes and Sunsets.
In the workshop, I teach the AG students how to use classic stripes and geometrics inspired by Navajo weavings and Pendleton blankets as inspiration in their paintings and mixed-media art.
This is a 90 second outtake showing one of the things we talk about in the four-hour class. (If you can’t see the video screen, click the “Outtake 2” link)
Outtake 2 – Southwest Stripes for Artful Gathering from Lyn Belisle on Vimeo.
As usual, the students are exceeding my expectations. The class still has almost three weeks to go, and they are already producing some impressive work.
Here are three pieces by workshop participant Christine Luchini showing several ways she uses these techniques:
Lee Ann Lilly did these three, including the collage spirit doll and two beautiful small card paintings:
Here are three more student works, two by Ronda Miller and one by Paulanne Sorenson:
Just day before yesterday, Ronda wrote in our discussion forum, “I live in the Phoenix area so I see A LOT of serape art and Native American art. My awareness has been lifted to new heights since I have taken this workshop…kind of like you buy a blue VW because you didn’t see many of them – until AFTER you buy one, then, WHAM, they are everywhere! haha.” Ronda also said “I am an abstract artist so I want to find a way to add a tad bit of serape design to my art and still have people know it is still my work.”
Boy, is that true about seeing serape patterns everywhere – I am paying a lot more attention to serape designs since I started teaching this class. Wouldn’t you know it, the new Warhol/Schenck Exhibit at the Briscoe Museum here in San Antonio has a ton of them!
I was there last week, and fell in love with Billy Schenck’s use of serape patterns:
Bill Schenck
Bill Schenck, 2014
Bill Schenck, oil on canvas
Here’s the info about the exhibit if you’re in San Antonio and want to see this and some fine Warhol prints as well.
And to add more stripes to the serape story, I just found this beautiful book for $1.00 at the Central Library BookCellar used book store.
Here’s a selection from the book’s introduction that talks about the Spirit Line in weaving – I love it! It goes right along with, “I meant to do that!”
If you want even more Southwestern inspiration, My second Artful Gathering class, Neo-Santos: Creating Personal Spirit Guardians, opens on July 16th.
What was that old commercial about “Yikes! Stripes!”? – there is, and always will be, something fascinating about woven striped serapes and the Southwest.
Happy summer, happy 4th!
the paintings are AMAZING!!!!! So are your spirit people!!! Not enough words to describe the awesome artwork and creativity of so many talented people!!!!!
Wow, thanks, Cindy – 🙂
Again, Lyn, your postings are soooo meaty. I fill full after every one of them.
The pieces that you showed from your AG video look so great. When I see your work, I think, why didn’t I think of that !
The Bill Schenck pieces were knock outs. I will definitely be looking him up and wasn’t that perfect timing for you to see his pieces.
Finally, I first heard the “never making a perfect piece” concept when I was going through my quilting phase. I loved it from the beginning. I’m not a perfectionist so it was an easy embrace. I’m currently watching some cracks developing in one of my greenware houses while it is drying. I called my teacher to ask if it was going to shatter in the kiln! She said, no, it will just get wider. That got me excited and I’ve already got a cold finish idea/plan that I’m excited about.
I guess, imperfection teaches us more and offers us much more opportunity for exploration…
You’re awesome…Laura
You know the Japanese term for pottery which has the cracks mended with gold is Kintsugi – the art of precious scars 🙂
I love the idea of cracks that let the light shine through – and so excited about your pottery!
♥
Live the serape works. Let me know when your next workshop is scheduled. Thanks
Will do – thanks, Ana 🙂
As a participant in this class (student level) I really appreciate the instruction and the sharing and support received from Lyn and the other artists. I never realized how meaningful and spiritual stripes can be. Culturally speaking, they are significant to natives of the southwest regions of our country but now, also to me. If you get a chance to check out outline classes, there are many. My goal is to visit San Antonio and take one of Lyn’s in person workshops.
Billy’s wonderful paintings are so vivid, His backgrounds remind me of a favorite artist of mine: Thomas Hart Benton. Thanks for sharing this beautiful exhibit showing off stripes of the Southwest.