Welcome to MissouriBendStudio!

This is an online journal of my artistic investigations and a way to communicate about my work, ideas, quandries and queries! I welcome comments and conversation and do hope you enjoy these musings. My artwork is available in my shop MissouriBendStudio on Etsy.com or on my website.

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Monday, May 20, 2013

Works in Progress

Hi, everyone! I feel as if I should be apologizing to you, as it feels as if I've abandoned all my friends here. It's been a time of replenishing the stores with reading and working outside in the garden beds....at long last!! My last post was almost a month ago and I was reminded of that photo I took of one of the many snowstorms we had in April....but that one wasn't the last of it....we had several more between then and the last one on May 1st. But....at long last spring has taken hold and I want to spend every minute outside in the fresh air....digging in the weeds, planting or just sitting on the porch with a book and a glass of wine! If you'd been here this winter (and many of you endured a long, hard winter as well, I know!) you'd certainly want to do the same.

I have been making some new work in the studio, but it's going slowly....mostly because I'm so distracted with my spring fever! I've included a few quick shots of the three pieces in progress....a continuation of the Dust to Dust series I started a couple of months ago. These are all on 8x8" clay coated Ampersand cradled panels. They are evolving in connection to the reading I've been doing about the land and its history...a wide scope of events including the gradual loss of the prairie and the bittersweet stories of the peoples who have passed through these parts. It is a complex, yet fascinating piece of history, still unfolding, and the way I can come to terms with it all is through making the work that I make. These pieces seem to be more about drawing than painting, but I think the next panels will move in another direction....but we'll just have to see, as I don't seem to be in control of how they evolve! Here are the three in progress on my rather messy desk and details of each individually.






Above is a short found text poem made a few weeks ago....I used to make these regularly and kind of missed the process, so have been making them here and there. This one fits nicely with the ideas I've been working with and I thought I'd share it here.

My other last piece of exciting news is that I just received my advance copy of 500 Paper Objects to be published in the next month by Lark Books. Two of my pieces were selected for the book and it's exciting to see them in print! It's doubly exciting around here lately, as my husband Johntimothy, who is a printmaker, is represented in another publication that just came out, 500 Prints on Clay!

Well, I have missed you all and hope everyone is having a fine spring or autumn, depending on your locale. I've just seen some of the pictures of the devastation from tornado in Oklahoma....I know there have been many others and my heart goes out to all those who have been in the paths of those tornados. Frighteningly powerful and heartbreaking to see the damage.

Best wishes to everyone and I will try to get back here much sooner next time! 

16 comments:

  1. Congrats on being in the book (x 2!) I've had my copy for a couple of weeks here in the UK - pleasant surprise as I'd forgotten I'd pre-ordered. Love the poem, and also the pseudo writing (as I interpret) of the second photo.

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    1. Hi Beverly, hope you enjoy going through that book....there are amazing works in there and I have yet to find time to really go through it carefully. Thanks for the good cheer about the publication. Yes, it is pseudo writing....it's a favorite way to point toward writing, the book, the trace of past events. Thanks for your comment!

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  2. How sweet to have you back again, and pleased to know it was only the garden and books that you buried yourself in. Congratulations on you and John Timothy being published. I have a few of the 500 series which are excellent resources for inspiration. I'm so happy for you both and will look for them.

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    1. Hi Lorraine....thanks for your sweet message. Yes, I've just been buried in books and dirt....nothing terrible. Never enough time or energy to do all the things I'd like...but we all face that hurdle. Hope you enjoy looking through the Lark Books...there is some amazing work represented and I agree, it's a great series and a fine source of inspiration!

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  3. Congratulations! And to your husband too, for being included in the books.
    Lovely work here.
    We all have to follow where the work leads us. xoxo

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    1. Hi Annie....thank you! Yes, the secret is to let go of what we think we should be making and what we think we should be saying in our work....it work often knows more than we do what we want to say. Thanks for your good wishes!

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  4. I too have been away from your blog for a bit...I went back some posts and am excited to see an introduction of what seems like a bit of color:) isn't it interesting the ebb and flow of our material selections...congrats onnthe book inclusion. I can even imagine what that must feel like:)

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    1. Hi! I wish I wouldn't let so much time lapse lately between blog posts....I do enjoy the conversation, but as we all know, life just gets so busy! You are right about the color...I think I am moving more in that direction. The colors in the those pieces are echos of the landscape here at various points in time. I'm most enamored with subtle hues. Thanks for the congratulations on the book publication....always feels good to have my work out there in the world....even on a book page! Best wishes and thank you for taking time to say hi!

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  5. Really loving your new panels! Congrats to you both for being published. I will be looking out for them. I seem to be collecting LARK books. They are so beautiful aren't they?!

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    1. Thank you Robyn! Yes, I agree, they do a really nice job on the Lark books....plenty to drool over in them!
      Hope you are well...cheers!

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  6. Congratulations! I am gasping with total lust for the new panels.

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    1. Christine....thank you!!! I'm so glad the panels speak to you so strongly....that's most encouraging! Still trying to move them toward a final resolution, even as I get more underway. Great to hear from you!

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  7. congratulations to both of you on being published ... will look forward to seeing both books. I too have not been posting in my usual way but am finally finding time now .... need to do some interesting work so I have something to post! Always enjoy your blog Patti but certainly understand how the warmth will be drawing you outside. x

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  8. Hi Susan....thank you for the congratulatory greetings! I feel so ashamed that I haven't been visiting my favorite blogs....I've lost touch with so many friends! Sounds like you are doing well though....hope you are finding enough time to make beautiful new work. Great to hear from you!

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  9. Congratulations Patti - to you both! Fab news and I will have to keep my eye out for them. Good to see you working and playing in a balanced way, and hoping that Spring is kind to you.

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  10. congratulations on the book! love your mark-making in the dust to dust series! it inspires me to let go and try being a bit more loose in my drawing.
    it is great to hear you are enjoying this lovely new season. no guilty feelings, please! you are doing exactly what you are mean to! enjoy!

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I'm happy to hear from you...comments and questions are welcome!