michelle ward

Pratt classes - registration open

I've updated my Workshop page with details about my classes at Pratt this Fall. I'm so excited about this new venue!  You can see the entire catalog HERE.  To find my classes, type in Michelle Ward in the search box.  Registration begins 7/27.  To enroll, click HERE and insert course code number.

 

I shared this quote a long time ago and it's how I still feel about teaching.  Being in class with other curious creative individuals who want to expand their visual vocabulary and experience is so rewarding - we all learn something from each other because we all have unique ways of interpreting the assignments.  As Jefferson wisely speaks about light spreading rather than diminishing, so too do ideas multiply when we learn something in an enthusiastic, safe and nurturing group environment.

painting on a grid

 

Using a grid as a foundation for a painting is a default process for me.  I love that grids can break down a larger surface into smaller assignments.  Wanting to move toward interpreting inspiration with paint, I started with a gesso and acrylic background, plotted my lines, then started stamping with handcut circles and squares.  My intention was to introduce my carvings of landforms but I ended up sticking with just the basic shapes and felt myself moving toward moon phases.  Sometimes you start out with a plan, but once you are immersed in the process another opportunity reveals itself.  Since I painted several backgrounds on accordion folded substrates I can use one to go in the direction that is unplanned and the other to go with the original idea.  It's all good - nothing is wasted when you are open to discovery.

 

more floating above the earth

Whew!  It's been a busy few weeks.  I haven't forgotten about the series I started a few weeks ago. Let's get back on track.  We will pick up again where we began, looking at topographical maps.  This time we are hovering over Ireland, Tuscany, and China.  The regional variations of land forms is fascinating to me.  If you've been to Ireland, you know the divisions and borders of farm land is typically walls of stones, likely gathered from the fields.  In Tuscany, you can see the orderly lines of trees - or perhaps rows of vines.  And then the area of China I have captured shows vegetation growing in tiers.  Much different than what we saw with the crop circles of Kansas, and the undulating curves of Wisconsin.

 

 

 

I admit I pick a location nearly every week and just prowl around thanks to the satellite views of Google maps.  It's not always farmland that I seek - love looking at cities too - especially ones I've been to or hope to visit.  I think that will be enough of showing maps....I'll move on to how my painting was influenced next.

"show me a garden"

I've said this before, I choose to celebrate my sister's life on our birthday, May 17.  Then comes July 10, her departure for heaven, one of those dates on the calendar that weighs heavy and I wish we could skip over.  To fend off the sorrow I revisit photos that make me happy...like the one below of Shannon with Fallon from July 1998. Fallon was not quite three.  In the back you can see a young Peter, nearly eight, with my brother John.  We were in Minnesota for the 4th of July and spent the day doing fun stuff with the whole family. Happy memories.  

 

I haven't shown you my rose garden yet this year.  Here are two sections showing about two thirds of the roses.  They were late bloomers this year but when they did finally come out it was glorious.  A sign of connection.  Sam and I walk the neighborhood in the evenings and we always take a path to visit the local tribe of deer...another sign.  

 

 

Tonight while I was alone in a store, this song came on.  I was checking out and close to tears.  Escaped to the car and it was on the radio.  Another sign.  Chasing Cars will always tug at my heart.  I listened to it on my ipod repeatedly when at the hospital with her.  It's such a sweet and gentle song.  Every now and then I will hear it, and I know she's there.  It's good to remember the things that make you smile in remembrance, but it's good to cry too.  She mattered.

 

 

A page from my sister journal, April 2009.  I was so thrilled to see my roses, after their first winter, come "bursting into life".

 

 

have a happy 4th of july!

Wishing you a super sunny day and the perfect spot to see the fireworks!  Be well and behave :)

more envelope cutting

When testing out some ideas I will often make some quick collages with remnants from my studio table.  I showed you some grid studies using paper punches and security envelopes (HERE), and with the leftovers I went organic, cutting free-form shapes....again, land shows its influence.

These posts are a little out of order as I showed you my white on black drawings since the article is out - those were actually done after the security envelope collages.  

 

(This time I made sure my signature was embedded over the image.  Last time it was marked just over the photo and someone cut it off before posting to tumblr.  While it's nice to be noticed, it's not so nice to have your graphic altered and name removed.  The image was then pinned to pinterest without my signature and it's off and running with links back to the tumblr post, not me.  It's a good lesson to always mark your work so as the originator, you are findable.)