Fine art to funky traditional: life and quilting
My first self-portrait.
I promised in my podcast I would post an early sketch I did before I was keeping any kind of a journal. I did this sketch over nine years ago, and it’s imperfect, but I love it. It’s from a childhood photo of me wearing my dad’s sport coat and hat (when men still wore that stuff). The drawing represents a new beginning in my art - getting back to drawing. I did this sketch in a spiral notebook and I’m so glad I did, or else I’m sure I wouldn’t have kept up with it.
Abstract drawing from my journal
Keeping a journal has transformed my art. It’s hard to believe initially I resisted keeping a journal of any kind, as writing is my profession and I didn’t want to do more of it at home. Surely I keep visual journals and sketchbooks as well, but I started by keeping a simple journal of things I was grateful for every day.
I tried to list 100 things to be grateful for in my life - went well over!
I got this idea from Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy 
by Sarah Ban Breathnach, and also the idea of a Discovery Journal. From these humble beginnings came my sketchbooks and quilting journals I’ll be sharing with you later.
It’s here! My podcast is here! I’m excited to share with you the first Quilts and Creativity Podcast: Episode 1: Keeping a Journal. I’m new to podcasting, so it’s just me, no background music or other fancy additions. Just great content. The Keeping a Journal podcast talks about how to keep a journal, different types, and the progression I’ve seen in my art since dedicating myself to journal keeping. I’ll be posting photos and links that I discuss in the podcast, so tune it and enjoy!
Color Studies in My Journal
We’ve returned from a week-long vacation in Jekyll Island, GA - a sleepy, pristine barrier island that hasn’t been overdeveloped - yet. I took a lot of photos and tried to sketch everyday in my journal. Not necessarily to document every phase of the trip, as a source for my art, or any otherwise lofty goal.
Ultimately, I sketched to capture my impression of the moment. My memory, my recollection, which no camera can ever offer. That’s the beauty of a sketch or even a quilt that doesn’t have perfect perspective, or color, or shape. It really doesn’t matter. What is more important is what you remember, what was important enough to you to want to capture that moment in time.
I’ll be posting this week about journaling, how I use it, the different types of journals I keep, and offer some ideas for you. I’ll also be offering a podcast - yes a podcast!! - for an even greater discussion of the topic. Stay tuned!
Whipup has a link to a great tutorial for anyone who does a lot of sewing - quilter or not. Here’s the link:
Thread Catcher Tutorial « mellebugandme
I intend to try this out whenever I’m in a quilting/binding frenzy. I went to the chiropractor yesterday about the soreness in my hands. He did some rather noisy and startling adjustments to my hands and neck, but you know what: they feel better!
Thanks to Alyson over at ArtBizBlog for the heads up on this great NPR story on Aging Artists. I was intrigued enough to read the more detailed summary of the study, and was delighted at the attitude of these artists, who struggled financially but were elated with life and their art.
“Art is what makes me live.”
—93-year-old visual artist
I have always been involved with the aging in some way. In college, I was involved in the now-famous study of centenarians when I worked in the Gerontology office. I transcribed interviews with people ages 100 years and over, and found them to be persistent when life threw them curveballs. They simply didn’t let obstacles stop them. One woman had lived to see Halley’s Comet twice, outlived three husbands and all of her children, and was still vibrant.
When I homeschooled my boys, we volunteered with Meals on Wheels in our community. And I live in a community where we are by far the younger generation. I’m often referred to as a “young mom.” Yahoo - I’ll take it.
How do you see yourself and your art as you age?
Welcome to award-winning author and quilt artist Maria Peagler's online studio and classroom. Relax, have some fun, and take a look around. You'll find quilts, free lessons and ebooks. Keep checking back, I've always got something new. Better yet, subscribe to my blog!
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