I like composition best. I decided today while I was composing some small paper collages.

Yesterday I had a great printmaking session to try out some new stencils on a variety of papers.

I like designing and cutting stencils. And I like mixing colors. And I really, really, really like hand printmaking. I like the rhythm. I like the discovery. I like the spontaneity. I like seeing a pile of things I’ve printed in a short period of time.

BUT… Putting them together into composed pieces is a whole different experience.

Composing involves listening. Well, for me, not at first. I’m not a completely intuitive creator of artwork. I’m a planner. So I have sketches or ideas that I’m trying to accomplish. When I begin, I have a sense of where I want to go.

When I get the pieces I’ve created and begin to arrange them, the experience changes. I often find that what I’d planned won’t work. Or that it will go a different way. Or that I need to move things around a number of times till the pieces speak to me and say, “Yes. Stop.”

All of those things occurred as I worked today.

Setting out the parameters is pleasing to me. As soon as I’ve decided on the size and drawn my border, I can begin to envision the things fitting into that space.

I’ve got two side-by-side trees in this composition so far. The one on the left is printed on MASA rice paper and the one on the right is printed on tissue paper. That was one of the unexpected things. The tissue paper is so reactive to every little nuance on the plate that it picked up interesting shapes and values beyond the box drawn around the tree. So, I adjusted my plan to include those.

After this morning’s work here’s what I have: two trees plus a little splash of complementary color.

I’ll add more to finish it up, but not too much. I like the white breathing room. I’ll just have to listen to what it tells me.

SOME EXHIBITION NEWS
and AN INVITATION TO WATCH A GREAT EXHIBITION OPENING

I have been so honored to be a part of Visions 2020 at the Visions Art Museum in San Diego. The jurors selected 37 works to exhibit from 400+ submitted. This year the show has been virtual only. But, at a virtual wine-and-cheese tasting Friday evening, I learned that I was awarded the Miriam Machall Award for Beauty. (There were 6 awards total. Best of Show was awarded to Charlotte Ziebarth. The five other awards are In The Abstract, Color Artistry, Quilts Japan Award , SAQA award and the Award for Beauty.)  I was (still am!) thrilled and stunned. This is an exhibition of exquisite and inspiring artwork. The Museum has put together a catalog you can browse on your own and thirty-minute viewing of the 37 pieces in the show. I enjoyed seeing several in-depth visits. They are very well done. So, if you’d like to take a look, please visit here:

Exhibit Catalog 
 https://visionsartmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/QV2020catalog_Web_01.pdf

Exhibit Virtual Tour Slideshow
https://visionsartmuseum.org/quilt-visions-2020/quilt-visions-2020-online-gallery/

Thank you for reading. I always enjoy questions and comments.
--Bobbi
bobbi@bobbibaughstudio.com

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