January | 2015 | Kristin La Flamme

13 Jan

Privacy in America

I think I mentioned that February was going to be big. There’s the Home Fires show at Etui Fiber Arts, and the Fiber Art for a Cause 100 fundraiser.

And, there’s a group show at my favorite place, McGuffey Art Center, in Charlottesville, VA. The theme of the show is Privacy in America, and it couldn’t have come at a better time. My Security Blanket series fits perfectly. Temporary Safety and my newest finish, Exposed, will be part of this mixed media, group show. Come see it if you’re in the area in February (or make it a point to be in the area and come see the show).

09 Jan

Figure Friday

I went to life drawing yesterday feeling a bit rusty after not gong for about three weeks. I left feeling great! I think maybe I do better work when I can get into a kind of a story with the pose. Yesterday’s session developed a kind of domestic theme (at least to me).

Things started out innocently enough with poses meant to represent a muse — though I saw a kitchen superhero if I just changed the staff to a mop.

But then a jilted lover emerged. I’m pretty sure this is the morning after, and she’s contemplating action.

And I’m assuming this is the aftermath.

Jilted Lover.after.sm

I drew these with watercolor pencil so now that I’ve scanned them, I will probably see what happens when I take a brush and water to the originals. I would also like to make versions in fabric and stitch. I have a vision of a whole series of stitchy, sassy, housewives, and these last two drawings excite me to change that sassy to fierce.

08 Jan

Part of Those New Year’s Goals

Some of my goals for the new year are to post to my blog more, update my website, and get better at promoting my work. I tackled an easy one first. I created a Facebook Fan Page and it’s going to be awesome. Why? Because I am somewhat ambivalent about my personal Facebook page. I know that FB is a good way to connect to people who might be interested in my art. It’s also a great way to keep in touch with far-flung family and friends. And then there’s the people from past lives or professional connections, who I want to stay connected to, but don’t necessarily want to know what they are doing on a daily basis, or want them to see all of my goofy antics. I’ve limited my Facebook “friends” to people I know personally or have established professional relationships with, and I try to keep my posts pretty art-related. It’s a tough balance and it means that not everyone who is interested in my artwork will be able to find me on FB to see what I’m up to.

A fan page is open to everyone. I will post my art, some inspiration and in-progress work, and information about where to see my work. February is a big month for me, so be sure to “like” the page to get updates, and tell your friends too. I may even end up posting more on my Kristin La Flamme – Artist page than on my personal page. My personal page will probably narrow down to travel, family, knitting, goofing off with friends. I may even unfriend a bunch of professional contacts if I know they are happily following my artist fan page — where my professional info will be. That would come in time though.

Next step should be to create a newsletter. That will be awesome for those who don’t do much Facebook.

07 Jan

Knit Night

This week’s Knit Night is a do-over and a serendipitous pairing.

The first time I knit this scarf (Reversible Circles of Lace) it was in the same yarn, but a different color way. Something wasn’t right though — the circles weren’t showing up. I got frustrated and frogged the thing and re-knit the yarn into a lovely cowl that I gave to my sister. About a year later, in the course of another project and with the help of a Knit Night friend, I realized that somewhere along the way I changed the way I was making my stitches and they were getting “twisted.”

With my technique fixed, the clouds opened up and angels sang and I realized what had gone wrong not only on this project but another as well. So, I picked up the same color changing cotton yarn (made by said friend) in a new color way and started fresh. Voilá, circles!

The serendipitous part came when it came time to accessorize the sweater dress I got for Christmas. The colors aren’t exactly the same, but they are analogous and make such a nice ensemble. The boots help too!

06 Jan

Army Wife and Friends at Etui Fiber Arts

February is shaping up to be a big month for my art. I’ll have work in at least one, but maybe two group shows at my local art center, McGuffey. I’m participating in Virginia Spiegel’s Fiber Art for a Cause 100 fundraiser. And… I’m having a solo show at Etui Fiber Arts in Larchmont, NY. It’s a lovely gallery in a charming neighborhood, and they have luxurious yarns too! The show will include pieces from my Army Wife series and my Americana series. I’ll be there to set up the show and for a festive Sunday afternoon reception. I would love it if anyone within a stone’s throw of New York would come join me and see my work in the cloth. It’s so much better than photos! Seriously, this Flag is awesome.

03 Jan

Figure Friday (on Saturday Night)

I missed Figure Friday before Figure Friday even started. I skipped drawing group on Thursday morning, and the evening session was canceled — not that I was motivated to go anyway. I need to get back into the routine, but with everyone home, holidays, and grey weather malaise, I’m just not as on top of things as I’d like to be.

That said, I do have drawings to talk about! Last Sunday, I picked up the three drawings that had been at Yellow Cardinal gallery. They are now at home with the drawings that had been at Derriere de Soie earlier in the year. Maybe I can send them out again though. McGuffey’s figure drawing show last year was well received, so they will be hosting a second (annual?!) show in February. Part of me wants to submit newer pieces, but there’s a big part of me that says framed works are an easier sell — and I’ve invested a not insignificant amount of money in the framing of these pieces which I would love to recoup. I have some empty mats, so I’ll probably look at what’s new that fits into those and submit a mix of framed and not framed. Maybe I’ll just swap out some art — newer work into these frames. It’s a dance.