Insomnia

©2013, Insomnia, Paula Kovarik

Here's a work-in-progress shot of a piece I am doing about that netherworld we all feel while trying to go to sleep on a full brain. It is done on a pillow sham given to me by a friend.

textural awakening

center and chaos, Paula Kovarik, 2012

Came into the studio after a battle with roaches this morning. Seems they decided to invade the basement. No worries though, they were not German roaches (the hardest to fight) but brown-banded roaches who normally live outside. Seems these 2 guys had lost their way.

Upon entering the studio the sun streaked across the Center and Chaos piece and reminded me to breathe. Breathe. Breathe.

 

Making art with thread and fabric

Paula Kovarik, 2012

I love the medium I have chosen to pursue. Making art out of fabric and thread is a meditative, rewarding and challenging practice. There are many of us out there. All trying to say what we say with the tools of this medium — thread, fabric that is purchased or found, dyed, ripped, shredded, frayed, embellished and manipulated, batting for padding and ballast and a heart with the yearning to create. Our necks ache, we have bruises on our fingers and elbows, we visit chiropractors and yoga studios to bring symmetry to our backs. We wrestle with the equipment, read manuals and experiment with inkjet printers. We go all the way. And there are few places who let us show the work we so earnestly create.

One of those places, the Dairy Barn in Athens Ohio, puts on one of the best shows in the country for cutting edge quilts. The Quilt National call for entries was just announced and you can bet your last cookie that there are a lot of artists out there trying to finish up that last edge hoping to be included in the show.

I have added a number of links to other quilt artists websites and blogs on my sidebar today. These are people who are recognized for their skills and vision. Take a moment (or two) to get a look at their work. It blows me away.

 

from centered to chaos

Here's a warm up exercise I did over the weekend on one of Leigh Ann's tangerine napkins. It is based on the previous post's doodle that was done at the SAQA conference. Starting in the center it was an interesting way to create a new texture. And fun to do too. one line moving toward chaos.

from center to chaos, Paula Kovarik, ©2012