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Archive for Philosophy of my Art

Waiting for Hurricane Sandy

October 28, 2012 / Nancy Smeltzer / 2 comments

I’ve lived in the house that I’m in for over thirty years and while trying to get ready and waiting for the storm to hit here north of Washington, DC, my life is kind of as blurry as the photo on the left. I went out to pick the last of the roses in the gardens because I wanted something pretty on the dining room table. In this area, a killing frost often doesn’t come until November, so there were some still left to make me smile each time I walked past. I realized that when I shot the photo, I probably should go get a tripod to steady my hands, but decided to leave the photo the way that it is as it speaks to how I’m feeling.

I have tons of supplies, and the town I live in has the power lines below ground, so we don’t usually lose electricity during the storm. It’s afterwards, when other areas get brought back on-line, that our power gets cut for a day or two.

Still living alone with two cats can be scary when the winds are howling outside. My best friends are my next door neighbors and I know they will check on me. Still… still. I’m not still! What else can I say? I realized that as I was typing this posting how many mistakes I was making over a process that I know very well by now. I thought that I was pretty calm, having gone through many hurricanes before, having lived all my life on the east coast of the States. I have water in jugs and filled the bathtubs for bathing. I took down the things hanging outside. I’m going to run the vacuum cleaner and I’ve got a load of wash going… and then, and then,….here I wait.

I wrote in a blog awhile back about my sewing bug-out bag in case I ever had to evacuate my beloved house. I’m sure that I won’t need to do that. but to calm my nerves, I’ll go downstairs soon and sew. That’s been my fallback through a divorce, many surgeries, and lots of sad times. Losing myself in the beading somehow brings me peace and comfort. I could use some of that right now as the winds periodically pick up and the leaves blow past my window.

Note:Tuesday’s blog is already scheduled to be posted. More will follow as the electricity prevails!

How do you cope with stressful situations? How has you artwork gotten you through hard times?

Why not leave a comment as to your thoughts on this posting. Please take a minute, fill out the form below or by clicking on the “comments/no comments link” at the top of the posting, and then share your ideas with the rest of us. We all grow when we share our thoughts and impressions, so why not join our growing community of those who appreciate art quilts and textile arts. We’d love to hear from you!

You can see more of my art work on my web site at www.fiberfantasies.com (be patient as it loads; it’s worth it), my healing work at www.hearthealing.net and can find me on Google + , Facebook (for Transition Portals) Facebook (for Fiber Fantasies), and Twitter.

To find out how to buy my art work, please check out “How to Buy my Art Work” in the “Pages” section to the right of this blog.

Category: Philosophy of my Art / Tags: art bug-out bag, art quilt blogs, art quilts, evacuation plans for an artist, Hurricane Sandy, Nancy Smeltzer

Creating my own Artistic Tribe – the NeMaS People

October 23, 2012 / Nancy Smeltzer / No comments

During the 80s, when I began my professional art quilting career, I was fascinated with wearable art. I had developed a geometric style of hand applique that I loved, as seen here on the back of this jean vest from that time period. My quilts had the same sort of geometric style, and when I approached gallery owners to carry my work, a comment that I often heard was ” I love your work, but it’s so…so… ethnic!”

Ethnic? Me? If you go to my About Me page, you’ll see that I look like a blond haired “farmer’s daughter”. I always wanted to be dark and exotic looking, having read a lot of historical novels as a kid. In my fantasies, I would be carried away by a Bedouin chieftain and wear lots of colorful outfits and tons of jewelry. Not everybody in the 60s wore hippie outfits, and the crowd that I hung with was more into plain blazers and Weejun shoes, hence my desire for things more esoteric..

Going to art school wasn’t much more helpful in furthering my romantic tendencies. Society was going through the Minimalist period in art and a few stripes of color on a canvas was really boring to me. Once out of school, I could make art to please myself, and thus the geometric style prevailed for about five years.

However, most artists long for an audience of admiring throngs who hopefully will buy your work so you can buy more supplies. I was stating to write for several trade and craft magazines, and the prolific author, Robbie Fanning gave me one of my first chances to be published in her magazine, “Open Chain”. In that article I wrote about how since every body thought that my work was so ethnic, that I was going to start my own tribe, the NeMaS people. The name came from my initials, “N”, “M”, and “S”. Then I got really silly, and continued with how since I was a tribe of one, I was an oppressed minority, and invited other like-minded souls to join my group.

I decided that members of my tribe would be composed of people who have appreciated the work of those who have created before them. They would pick and choose whatever styles suited their fancy and incorporate individual motifs into their own work to suit their needs. God forbid that I would ever censor another’s taste in composing their art work, but I imagined lots of yummy colors and details. I considered having an iconography, such as circles symbolizing the “wide expanse of the Earth”, but decided that any participants in my tribe would make their own choices as to amy conscious symbolism in their work.

I had great, good fun in writing the article, but pretty soon decided that I would make my art the way that I wanted, and buyers would come, or not. After a few years, buttons and beads began to appear..and appear… and, “Oh, look! Here’s a bare spot that needs something sewn on it!”. In the upcoming weeks. I’ll be sharing more of my early, geometric pieces, interspersed with the more embellished art quilts that I’m know for today. I love the look that I’m doing now, but wonder still, what new path I might take. Keep reading as I share my meanderings.

How has your “look” in your medium been received? Do you even have a look yet, and are in the process of finding what pleases you? Have you changed your style over the years, and how did that take place?

You can see more of my art work on my web site at www.fiberfantasies.com (be patient as it loads; it’s worth it), www.hearthealing.net and can find me on Google + , Facebook (for Transition Portals) Facebook (for Fiber Fantasies), and Twitter.

To find out how to buy my art work, please check out “How to Buy my Art Work” in the “Pages” section to the right of this blog.

Category: Philosophy of my Art / Tags: art quilt blogs, art quilts, artistic symbolism, geometric art quilts, Nancy Smeltzer

Still Quilting After all These Years!

July 13, 2012 / Nancy Smeltzer / No comments

I’m borrowing a theme from Paul Simon’s fourth album, “Still Crazy After all These Years!”, to affirm that I’ve been quilting for awhile. Professionally, actually 31 years, as I established a trade license with the state of Maryland here in the USA when I moved into my then new house. While the license lapsed, it has since renewed, but I have been making art quilts continuously since 1981. This fact was brought home to me the other day when I got a fan letter from a woman saying that she had been reading an interview I had done in 1989, was going to show it to a friend of hers who has just started quilting, and then decided to use Google to find out if I was still alive. She found my web site and blog, wrote me, and I assured her that as of the last time I checked, I was very much still alive. I found the email pretty amusing and delightful, as this is the oldest piece of writing that I’ve been contacted about, and her interest to see if I’m still breathing. She did go on to say she loved my work and was going to pass the links on to her friends.

One of the phrases that I had apparently used back in that article was my use of “consistent inconsistencies”. This, I believe, was in reference to the fact that I. at that point, had been sewing long enough that my blips and unevenness were evenly distributed enough that it looked as if that was what I had intended. If that’s not the case with the original article, that statement is certainly true of my work now, especially since I use so many beads in my art quilts. I’ve taken that degree of “sewing my way” to new heights.

I just got back a piece from a national magazine, for which I was a finalist, and actually got back reviews from the judges. It’s been since the 1980s that judges have taken the time to comment on pieces that have been submitted. These days, you pay your entrance fee, and get accepted, or not, but never know why. While the piece I submitted got a lot of comments, like “Wow! You really tie diverse elements together”, or “Love your use of color”, one of the judges suggested that I cover up the backs of my art quilts to hide the messy stitches. It’s been quite a long time, probably over twenty five years, since I heard a comment like that. Those suggestions used to come from the days when I was still submitting to traditional quilt shows, where technique is everything, and your craftsmanship is judged by the number of stitches/inches and how neat the whole piece is. In fact, the second blog I wrote about on 16 September, 2011 was titled “OK, I’m Messy”. In that posting, there’s a photo of the backs of one of my art quilts, that shows all of the countless stitches that go into attaching all of those beads and ephemera. Most people like to see what goes into creating one of my pieces, and the backs certainly show the energy that goes into my work. So, I laughed when I saw that comment from one of the judges, and I thought…”OK, old school!”

So, I emailed back the woman who wrote me to tell me how she had liked that interview back in 1989, and for thanking her for checking to see if I were still alive. It gave me a great idea for this blog and time to reflect on exactly what I have accomplished since then with my art quilting. I am pleased to say that I’m at a point in my career, where if I can think it, I can make it, which frees me up to just “be” with the piece and let it tell me how it wants to look. So, yes, I’m still quilting, (and crazy) after all these years! Thank you, Pa

What quirks do you have in your own artistic medium? What would you like to be remembered for as an artist? Do you see yourself still doing the same medium thirty years from now?

Why not leave a comment as to your thoughts on this posting. Please take a minute, fill out the form by clicking on the “comments/no comments link” at the top of the posting, and then share your ideas with the rest of us. We all grow when we share our thoughts and impressions, so why not join our growing community of those who appreciate art quilts and textile arts. We’d love to hear from you!

You can see more of my art work on my web site at www.fiberfantasies.com and can find me on Google + , Facebook, and Twitter.

To find out how to buy my art work, please check out “How to Buy my Art Work” in the “Pages” section to the right of this blog.

Category: Philosophy of my Art / Tags: art quilt blogs, art quilts, beaded art quilts, contemporary art quilts, embellished art quilts, Nancy Smeltzer

Planning is not my thing!

June 12, 2012 / Nancy Smeltzer / 2 comments

Planning a piece before I begin is not my thing. While many artists make detailed sketches and samples, I usually just plunge right in and start creating on the fly. I developed this way of working pretty early on right after grad school when I was developing my professional art career. I quickly learned that the bottom line for me is to let the piece have its say as to how it wants to look.

The piece of basketry sculpture in the photo above was the turning point when I learned I could either fight with the piece or let it tell me how it wanted to appear. This work was done during the stage when I was doing “off-loom weaving”. I was using the same techniques that basket weavers had been using for centuries, except that I was utilizing paper welting core as the base, and yarn to cover it and to stitch the sculpture together.It took a cross country trip to convince me that I might as well give in to what the piece was wanting to be. Otherwise, the piece and I were going to be at frustrating odds for the duration of its construction.

“Cross Country in a Honda” (21″ total width x 19″ total height or 53.5cm W x 48.25 cm T) was created in 1977 while riding in the passenger seat of a very small Honda Civic. I was stitching away as my ex-husband was driving, and during the four weeks we were on the road, the sculpture got bigger and bigger. Since I had no table to rest it on as I worked to stabilize it, the edges of the piece began to flop around and not want to go in the directions I had in mind. The more I tried to force it to be a certain way, the more the work rebelled, which led to a great deal of frustration on my part.

Finally I had the good sense to surrender and let the sculpture have its way. “OK”, I thought, “bend as you will”. From that point on, I sank into quite a deal of peace and the stitching proceeded effortlessly. I began to hum a repetitive 8 note “song”, which became my working mantra when I’m creating art work. (I think that the toning that I’m hearing is the same as some bell tower that I heard once, but I haven’t been able to locate the pattern. I know it’s not Big Ben in London.)That rhythm I seem to use consistently, no matter what the medium is that I’m working in. I also know that I’m channeling energy through my fingers into the piece as I work on it. In effect, the piece and I are “talking” to each other. We share the excitement of how the work will turn out, as neither one of us know what the finished product will look like.

When I do a commission piece, I tell the prospective owner that I have no problem working within a color, size, and price range but if they want the best work possible out of me, then let me do “my thing”. I do keep the person advised as the work progresses via photos so that they can approve before I progress to the next stage. However, planning ahead, while I know that’s true for others and is part of the fun of their creative process,is just not for me. Let me wander and play with my materials, as I delight in the joy of the unexpected.

For more information on how I handle commissions, please go to…

http://www.fiberfantasies.com/docs/Commissioning%20an%20Art%20Quilt.pdf

Do you plan your art work ahead of time, or do you allow it to just flow? What are the advantages and disadvantages of your working style?

You can see more of my art work on my web site at www.fiberfantasies.com

Category: Philosophy of my Art / Tags: fiber art construction techiques, how artists think, Nancy Smeltzer

Happy Birthday to Me – 2012

January 21, 2012 / Nancy Smeltzer / No comments

Yesterday I turned 61 and I decided to take stock today of how this blog on my art quilts and my way of seeing the world is going. Today’s offering is my 54^th posting, and when I started writing in the
middle of September, 2011, I just knew that I wanted to tell the world about how I make my art. I’m surprised at how much fun I’m having putting my tales out there and how successful I’ve been at moving to the first page of Google. If you search for “art quilt blogs” or “beaded art quilts”, (parentheses needed) I dominate the first page for those phrases. Granted, those are narrow niches, but they are ways that people would go about searching for me. I have a great new program, “Market Samurai” that allows you to analyze keywords and phrases, so I’ll be hunting soon for some more niches to work on.

All of this success deserves some very big thank yous to people in my life who support me. In no particular order… Thank you to my new sweetie, Lee, who sent me the gorgeous flowers in the photo above for my birthday. Your emotional support, your love of my art work, and your phone calls and emails are a bright beacon in my life that help to sustain and inspire me.

Thank you to Jeff and Sharon, who have adopted me into their heart family. (Their birthday gift was even pictures of all of their family, including their dog, to remind me that I am part of their tribe.) You took care of me when I was so sick last year, and are always there for whatever!

Thank you to Mary and Ceitllyn, my healing partners who love me in spite of my shortcomings, and even love me enough to call me on my stuff when needed. I know that I could call either of you up in the middle of the night when I have a spiritual crisis and would get help.

Thank you to Robert, who has guided me through the ends and outs of what can be the quagmire called WordPress.org. He’s been incredibly patient with my countless questions. This site wouldn’t be up without his tech support and insights,as he’s bailed me out a number of times when this site crashed or had a problem.

Thank you to my friends and family who sent birthday cards, emails, phone calls, and Facebook postings. Living and working alone most of the time, I often forget that I do have an extensive, extended heart family that cares about me, has the same values as I do, and thinks that what I do is cool.

Finally, thanks to my mother, who sacrificed to buy me all of those art supplies when I was little so that I could experiment with a wide range of media. Thanks for all of those trips to the store.

I’m excited about 2012 being a year of change for me. I have big plans for my art work and my healing practice. As for the art work, I have already started the Work in Progress series, and when that quilt is finished, I plan to compile those pics and info and pitch the story to a quilting magazine. When I have enough blogs, I plan to pick some of the best and make an e-book out of them. I also am exploring having an on-line course of how I do my pieces, or maybe make a video of it to put on You Tube, and then pitch those vids to some of the industry giants who make DVDs. OK, now that I’ve put this out there in public, I have to do at least some of it, right? After all , you’re going to be looking over my shoulder through these postings.

So, I’d like to end my birthday evaluation and thanking everybody, by acknowledging you, my readers. Without your support and comments, I would feel like I’m just talking to myself. Mwah! to all of you… and as I say as I end my emails, “Love to your hearts”, because for me, a heart connection is how I try to “be” with everyone in my world.

Why not leave a comment as to your thoughts on this piece. The registration form is just to prevent spammers, not to collect any of your information, so please take a minute, fill it out, and then share your ideas with the rest of us. We all grow when we share our thoughts and impressions, so why not join our growing community of those who appreciate art quilts and textile arts. We’d love to hear from you!

You can see more of my art work on my web site at www.fiberfantasies.com

To find out how to buy my art work, please check out “How to Buy my Art Work” in the “Pages” section to the right of this blog.

Category: Philosophy of my Art / Tags: art quilt blogs, marketing for artists, Nancy Smeltzer

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Buttons&Beads&Quilts!

Archive for Philosophy of my Art

Waiting for Hurricane Sandy

Creating my own Artistic Tribe – the NeMaS People

Still Quilting After all These Years!

Planning is not my thing!

Happy Birthday to Me – 2012

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