Inspiration and Stretching!

I came across a website recently that talked about inspiration and how it showed up in designer and artist's work. It was mostly pictures so you could definitely see the inspiration and how it manifested in the work.  It could be color, drape, patterned, texture, or any other element that drew the artist in. Here's the site if you want to take a look, http://www.dazeddigital.com/blog/article/15837/1/the-rage-in-eden#.UT8MA8c_t-Q.facebook.

I've mentioned before how artist's work or designer's work has inspired me. Barnet Newman, abstract artist, influenced my "zip scarves" ( http://studiojottings.blogspot.com/2009/11/november-skies.html ),  Christo influenced the Ecclesiastical installations I did with my church
( http://studiojottings.blogspot.com/2010/03/ecclesiastical-installation.html ), and many years ago I won an award at the Philadelphia Guild of Handweaver's Annual Exhibit for yardage that I wove inspired by a Fortuny gown. Unfortunately I don't have any good pictures of the piece to show you.  I was inspired by the colors which used Lavender and Peach together, not a choice I would have made on my own.

"Zip" Scarves by Judy Connor Jones

Lenten Panels at First Baptist Church, Plymouth, MA

The point is, other artist's work not only inspires the work we produce but forces us to stretch and go where we might not have gone.

So what work has inspired you?  How did it stretch you as an artist?  Would love it if you shared your experiences and inspirations in the comment section.

Here's hoping today will bring inspiration to you!

Mandala, hand dyed silk by Judy Connor Jones

"Celebration of Fibers' Awards

A few days ago I posted about putting 2 pieces in the Philadelphia Guild of Handweavers' Annual Exhibit.  Well I am happy to say that both of my pieces won awards! My black triangular shawl, "Raspberry Seduction" (I just love that name!) won the Kathryn Wellman Memorial Award for imaginative weaving incorporating design, color, and texture.  I am so thrilled to have won this award. Kathryn Wellman was one of the founders of the Philadelphia Guild of Handweavers which was started in 1952. I have a connection to Kathryn Wellman.  When I bought my first floor loom I purchased it used from a woman who worked with Kathryn Wellman. That was how I first came to know who she was. She was a physical therapist who was noted for using weaving in her therapies.  I think she must have been a very creative woman to, in the 50's and 60's, be noted in her field for these weaving therapies. I am thrilled to receive the award with that spirit and to have my work considered a part of that imaginative genre.

The other award was given to my warp painted, hand dyed, loop scarf titled "Sunset". It is the PGHW Award for Hand-Dyeing for the best use of hand-dyed fiber, dyed by the artist. Here again I am honored to be listed with those who have received this award before me.  Many of them have been my teachers. 

The judges for the exhibit were Deborah Warner, Professor and Chair of the Textile Department at Moore College of Art in Phildelphia, PA, (see video at http://www.moore.edu/about_moore/mission_history/oral_histories/deborah_warner ) and Ed Bing Lee, an artist who works in the fiber technique of knotting (see video at http://www.edbinglee.com/ ). I have admired Ed's work for a very long time.

You can find more information about the creation of these pieces at earlier posts, http://studiojottings.blogspot.com/2011/02/weavette-loom.html and http://studiojottings.blogspot.com/2010/06/weaving-process.html .

On the Road Again!

It's been a busy month trying to get ready for my first big show since October 2005.


I've been working on shawls made from Tencel which is a cellulose fiber that looks and feels like silk but has the care properties of cotton or rayon. It drapes beautifully when correctly woven. I was very happy with how these came out.




The show I was preparing for was at The Bruce Museum in Greenwich, CT. It was this past weekend. Unfortunately it rained and was very cold all day Saturday and only the hardy came! They didn't seem to be buying so I have to wonder if they were really Ducks in Disguise! Sunday was a nicer day but the buyers just did not come out to play. Such is the unpredictable life of the show circuit!
The good news is my work was awarded a cash prize at the show! It was a wonderful surprise and helped toward the show expenses. I have a ribbon to prove it! That is the first time I have won an award at an outdoor craft show.
The people who organized the show were wonderful, Sue Brown Gordon and Ann Vonstruelpnagel (that's a mouth full!). They provided food, help, and support for the artists. There was a lovely reception Saturday night with great food. The awards were given then.
Here are some pictures of my booth set up at the show.













It's a lot of work getting ready for a show, setting up at the show, taking down after the show, and unpacking again when you get home. I usually need 1 - 2 days to recover! When a show is not successful it is hard not to wonder why I do this. It's just that I'm one of those crazy ones who ,as Carly Simon says in one of her songs, "wants to be touched by the sun"! In otherwords, I'm a little bit CRAZY!
I have a new web site. Check it out, http://www.judyconnorjones.com/ . My show schedule is listed there.

Return to Work! Day 76

Things seem to be hopping again! All the inspections were done last week, plumbing, framing, and insulation. It's time to move ahead. The dry wall "folks" showed up today and made great progress. They should have it all up by the end of tomorrow. Then the plasterer comes in to do the finishing work on the walls. I still need to make a final decision on paint color. I think one wall in the office will be a deep, rich claret red color.

Here are pictures to get everyone caught up.

Pepto Bismal Pink insulation!


Grey drywall! Pink and grey, color coordinated! We had a pink and grey Chevrolet when I was growing up!

My office space has walls! I can't walk through the studs anymore!
As a side note, one of the pieces I entered into the 39th Annual Juried Plymouth Art Guild Show won a First Place Award in Fine Craft. Here I am receiving my award from the President of the Guild at the Gala on Friday night.


Notice the shawl I have on. Do you recognize it from earlier pictures? It is the shawl made from the triangular loom.