It Starts with a Picture

and pictures always tell a story
Here is a wonderful journey called
The Story Beyond the Still
A competition by Canon "to interpret what story lives beyond this still and to tell that story with the new Canon EOS 7D. Vincent Laforet's "The Cabbie" will be the first chapter of seven, each ending with a still photograph for the next aspiring filmmaker to interpret. Posing the question to everyone, what do you see beyond the still?"

The Story Beyond The Still: The Cabbie from Vincent Laforet on Vimeo.

It's always fascinating how people bring their own interpretation to an image, to a painting.

Meanwhile Jafabrit is still AT it with needle and thread

I finished doing the arms and decided to do long and short for the arms and satin stitch for the fingers. I thought it might look odd but I am okay with it. I like how the fag turned out and used french knots for the ash.
Still figuring out how to do the hair.

Nosing Around Odd Crafts

"the aliens could be "right under or noses – or even in our noses."

Scientists Say

Location: Dayton Street above sweetie shop door
Meanwhile in Jafabrit's Studio
Some new textile art to leave around town somewhere

Questionable Crafts for YOUR Consideration at kraftomatic

Questions about Knit Graffiti
OutdoorKnit asked a very good question.
When do we stop?
"What's the point if it is mainstream and no longer seen as subversive? "
My answer was, and I will reiterate here, that I didn't really see it as subversive when I first started doing it.I remember someone asking me when I decided to become a guerrilla knitter and I was floored. For me it was just another way, an extension, of what I have already been doing for a while, street art. I think, however, that even if it is seen as once subversive and now mainstream it still has value in that people enjoy it. I don't see me doing it forever. I am not a knitter. I am an artist who uses knitting and crafts for my art and like a lot of my art it will evolve.

Stitches

I just HAD to share this, it had me in stitches.




Oh talking about STITCHES!
I finally faced it, stitching the face that is. ARG! I was just so nervous about how to go about it, what thread to use, what direction the stitches would go in, etc. I ended up using a cotton polyester thread rather than embroidery floss. Still haven't figured out the hair yet. What I am MOST happy about are the parrots, especially the one on the left where I used cretan stitch for the feather tail.

Drawing Inspiration

A friend of mine, Michael Fleishman, just published his sixth text book (Delmar Cengage Learning) and whee! looky here.

Double Whee! my paintings are in chapter 16, Drawing Observes Page 261. I am truly honored to be included in this book, thank you Michael and congratulations on a fabulous book (The colour plates are just gorgeous)and YES! inspiring.
Here is a video about the book.
I am also really happy about the donations in lieu of permission fees being used to support the arts.


Readings of the Month
Shakespeare's Twelfth Night
Summary

The Ninja Jafa

Notes from the Asthmatic Artist


She wears black and that includes my new Asthma moisture mask LOL! I was a bit shy wearing it around town today, but I kind of figured it looked rather snazzy.
Now to drink my Jiaogulan Tea that I picked up at the local Village Herb Shoppe. I am not a green tea drinker (I like me english cuppa with milk and sugar) but I will give this a try.

V Day coming Up

"Scream Quietly Now"

I'm not happy with how the embroidery turned out for the Feb YS Library Exhibit our Embroidery Guild chapter is putting up, BUT I like what it represents and I like the eye part. The theme was of course "hearts" but I wanted explore how our hearts can be broken. V Day is coming up (no not talking about valentines day)."V-Day is a global movement to stop violence against women and girls. V-Day is a catalyst that promotes creative events to increase awareness, raise money and revitalize the spirit of existing anti-violence organizations."
It ties into "The Vagina Monologues, the cornerstone of the V-Day movement, whose participants stage benefit performances of the show and/or host other related events in their communities.
I am going to be one such participant. I am NOT an actress which means I am very nervous about doing it, but I am honored to be asked to be a part of it. I will be the British woman who attends a Vagina Workshop.

Vagina Monologues at the Therapy Cafe, Dayton Ohio on the 13 and 14 of February, 2 pm shows. $10 tix for charity.

452 East 3rd Street, Dayton, OH 45402 (937) 461-4000

New York Times Magazine interview with the playwright Eve Ensler

What is this?

I saw this very strange stone animal in Yellow Springs
(outside Sam& Eddies)

Am I seeing what I think I am seeing?
LOL!

Wet Day for Craftbombing

Manipulated Image Better

than the original painting

Somehow it speaks to me more.

"Fate gave the word, the arrow sped,
And pierc'd my darling's heart;
And with him all the joys are fled
Life can to me impart. " Robert Burns

I think of these words when I see the news of Haiti and mothers who make the most horrifying decisions of their lives.

You shut your eyes, but you know, you know!

Barmy Garden Gnomes

sketch by Jafabrit

"It is health and safety gone mad - it's barmy."

We have our own barmy laws in Ohio.
Apparently I can't fish for Whales on Sunday (DRAT), wear patent shoes in public, Breast feed in public (oh boy glad those duties are LONG over), have a duel,get a fish drunk (wow I have always wanted to do that NOT).
check out the laws in YOUR state

Painting is going slooooooow

BUT

I have to remember that is a good thing, since I want this to evolve. I finish a little then leave it until something inspires me and I add a little.
I am not liking the lower lip now that I see it on here.

The Urge Overwhelmed Me

and
I had to draw and then paint.

work in progress

Originally I planned a couple months ago to paint a dog on an orange background on canvas. I painted the canvas a yummy orange and there is sat in my studio for two months. Yesterday I had an urge to draw so I painted over the canvas in white and cream acrylic. It is wonderful to just draw on it with charcoal and wipe off with a soft cloth. So I played around with that for a while. Out of that is growing a painting. Some of you may recognize the eye. For some reason I just wanted to put it on the neck. Perhaps deep in my mind is the thought of how one gets a lump in their throat when they see loved one's hurt?

It Vexeth Me
like gnats on an summer evening when others decide what the driving force is behind my creative need. In answer to a recent comment. No, I don't use art to cope, nor is it therapy of some kind (even if I do work that addresses issues I have experienced). Sometimes there just isn't an agenda beyond the desire to use one' s hands in creative pursuits, or to use art the way you use your mouth to talk about things that interest you.

Art Muse Rules
and
I'm at it's mercy!

The Stories that Embroidery Tell

They speak of our times, of our struggles, our joys.
The most famous being the Bayeux Tapestry (which really isn't a tapestry but embroidery) and the saga of conquest in 1066.
OOH, this is fun!
Create your own tapestry.

Prisoners of War Quilt Embroidery

changi quilts

Image Source: British Red Cross Museum Collection

Suffragettes

"During her time in Holloway Prison, Janie Terrano embroidered a handkerchief, as was a common way of marking significant events at that time. The handkerchief marked the hunger strike held from April 13-19 by the suffragettes imprisoned and force-fed. "

Image source: Fabric of Resistance

Meanwhile my story

Still a work in progress

Let it Not be Said

only the young and female create pieces for yarnbombing. These gorgeous pieces were knitted by a local professor, Gary Pierson for Olga Ziemska's "flock of hands" sculpture.

Thanks Gary they are gorgeous.

Knitting in the News
Dave Cole takes Knitting to New Heights

Meanwhile back at the Studio
I am slowly working on pieces for Olga's "flock of hands" sculpture AND knit knot tree II. I am also working on some craft bombing pieces to leave around like this one below or attach to something.

It's all very eggy

If anyone would like to send us some knitting or crochet for "flock of hands" or the knit knot tree II please check the links above for dimensions and email me at
jafagirlart@yahoo.com

Wordless Wedneday: Snowy Wreath

Blow, blow, thou winter wind
Thou art not so unkind
As man's ingratitude;
Thy tooth is not so keen
Because thou art not seen
Although thy breath be rude.

Heigh-ho! sing, heigh-ho! unto the green holly:
Most friendship if feigning, most loving mere folly:
Then heigh-ho, the holly!
This life is most jolly.

Freeze, freeze thou bitter sky,
That does not bit so nigh
As benefits forgot:
Though thou the waters warp,
Thy sting is not so sharp
As a friend remembered not.

Heigh-ho! sing, heigh-ho! unto the green holly:
Most friedship if feigning, most loving mere folly:
They heigh-ho, the holly!
This life is most jolly.

Act II, Scene 7 from As You Like It by William Shakespeare (1600)

Bleeding Eye

WIP: embroidery on muslin with acrylic
This is part of a piece I'm working on for a Embroidery Guild group exhibit in Yellow Springs in February. So, my skull embroidery is on hold until this is finished.

Sand Art that speaks of things that break the heart

Classical Figure Drawing: practice practice practice

30 minute pose

" Figure drawing is arguably the most difficult subject an artist commonly encounters, and entire classes are dedicated to the subject." I agree and I always approach life drawing with trepidation. So why do it, right? Because I need/want to continue practicing my drawing and observation skills. It really helps to have a good model and this week ours was FANTASTIC, what I would call a real professional. You could tell she had experience and understood the importance of good (challenging) poses. Some people think you just plonk a nude in the room and that's it, but having a bad model (lazy, inexperienced) can be really frustrating.
My approach to drawing a live model is anatomical and I use modeling to get a sense of the muscles and the bony landmarks to get a sense of proportion. You may notice that I don't bother with the face of the models. That is intentional since my main focus is getting the structure of the human form rather than a portrait of a model per se.

Figure Drawing LAB Guide to Human Anatomy: Skeletal...Muscular

Art Glossary for Artists

Mr.Plato Went Bongo

at
Brother Bear's Coffee and Cafe

Hopefully he won't scare the customers like at Art Happens, or Little Art Theatre.
It's his eyes you see, they freak people out. He blends in so well at Brother Bear's, don't you think.

About Mr. Plato

Snowy Day at Jafabrit's

WARNING: Turn YOUR volume down now if you don't like auto music

"Where do snowmen go to dance ?
Snowballs !"
For more snow jokes visit the holiday spot

Hum! naughty snow art
and
cool snow"persons" at flickr

Sending a snow kiss to mutha, congratulations to darling daughter, smiles to my friends.

The Art of Sign

Lady Gaga's hit song, Bad Romance
signed by Michael DiMartino in his video interpretation of her song.
"Michael aspires to bring mainstream music to the d/Deaf and Hard of hearing , so they can enjoy music the way everyone else does."
All copyrights go to their respectful owners.
No infringement intended, educational purposes only.



Original Lady Gaga video

Sign Language Posters/Prints
ASL Art Resources for the Arts

ASL

professional news
Knit Knot Box Hits the News in Israel

studio updates

Mostly long and short stitches that take hours and hours to do, but so worth it. Kind of nervous about doing the face and arms. I had to do the face on the marmite is evil piece three times and still not satisfied.

Wordless Wednesday: Ice Crystals

Jafabrit's Garden Yellow Springs, Ohio

Gringo Granny Strikes: Graff Pics Skate Town Puerto Rico

entrance
I was taking photos of the exterior of Rincon Skate Town in Puerto Rico and these three young men just stared at me the whole time, not in a nasty way, but in a curious way like they were wondering what this middle aged tourist was doing lol!

I felt like I hit gold, the whole building was covered in graffiti, and what a great place for skateboarders. Inside walls are also covered in graffiti as you can see here.

Front entrance side

side wallrear side wall

Heart Art and Cool Knitting

I had so much fun painting this series of hearts, but I wonder if I will trying to do it in embroidery. Planning the stitches to get a similar effect will be a challenge. I have to do a heart embroidery for the Embroidery Guild display in Feb so I need to get cracking dying the muslin and drawing out the design. I am also planning on doing a little craftbombing so January already looks like it will be a busy month preparing work and doing it.

Talking about Craftbombing
Check out what deeply superficial people have been up to lately

Cool Knitted Stuff

Knitted Clock at the Conran Shop
Don't let the seemingly benign nature of the knitted house by Freddie Robbins fool you, there is more to this than meets the eye. The artist has a whole series called Knitted Homes of Crime. More about this artist at Cast On.

Cracker Jokes and Rainbows

I love christmas crackers and the jokes this year weren't too bad. Did you know that cracker jokes can be as controversial as Brussel Sprouts (YUM). Well that's what the BBC says in their article: What Makes a Good Christmas Cracker Joke? Here is one I think is worthy of a slight happy groan.
What bow can't be untied?
answer below

Rainbow in Puerto Rico Dec 2009