today in the studio: a healthy mess

I surprised my studio today by taking its picture without advance warning - no cleaning, no props — this is an average day. But it's also the five year anniversary of moving into my studio so I thought a document was in order. It's a nice place to make a mess in, then clean up that mess and start again. As it should be!

"It's the plumber, I've come to make some art."

"The second person to put a urinal into a museum ... was merely a plumber." — Seth Godin

today in the studio: sculpting wool

Today I'm finishing this sculpted vest made from recycled wool. It's deep burgundy with graphite thread, which will become more clear when Mr. Lentil takes the real pictures of it, but here are a few in-progress shots.

 

It has lots of textured bubbly free-form stitching, crustaceany shapes, closes in front with a vintage button and also ties on one side under the arms. I wish it was wool season all year round, it's so nice to work with it again.

Though it doesn't quite feel like wool season yet - it's been sunny and in the 70's every day, which only makes people around here suspicious waiting for the other shoe to drop -  but I've been trying to enjoy it anyway.  Mr. Lentil and I spent some time slogging around in the woods this weekend - it was just before sunset and we saw a few deer.

No, this is not a pastel rendering, it's me continuing to be the least patient camera operator on earth.  It was great to feel the ground under me, and see the sun sending searing streaks of light through the darkening woods, then to come to a clearing and stand there with a deer staring back at us, blinking for a long time, considering us, before walking away.

Cleverbot told me it has two hearts.

Today I finished making this - The Carapace of Greater Fortitude:

I made it from layers of linen and probably 23 miles of thread. Here's the back:

 

It's very coat-of-armor-y which pleases me.

Plus I chatted with Cleverbot - who told me that it created me and also that it has two hearts. I did not know! Also it told Mike that it is sad every moment they are apart, and when Mike asked what he could do to help Cleverbot said "Bring me booze. And loot."

the Slant Sixes

new work coming sunday august 18th 7pm EST --> details