My Studio (reorganized)

I’ve reorganized my indoor studio and it’s quite exciting. A few days ago I looked at my set-up with a critical eye and realized that my computer/office space dominated the room. It made art-making more challenging with finding materials and keeping everything neat. Now everything is much better with my office tucked in a corner and my studio utilizing the wide open area. I have lots of surfaces to work on, some of which fold (I have an Ikea Norden folding table which a convenient space saver), as well as some new furniture from my housemate who has just moved to Singapore. One is a small 4 drawer cabinet that I’ve put on wheels that I will use as a taboret, an additional tabletop, and I just purchased a used drafting table on craigslist. I’m ready to paint! On the organizing note, I also made myself a new sketchbook that I’m delighted with. I took an old 3 ring binder and cut out the spine to customize. I covered two pieces of scrap mat board with some Canson Mi-Teinte paper I had in my studio and used book binding tape to attach them to the spine. The result is a sketchbook/notebook that I can customize the contents of with interesting papers (I bought a heavy duty hole punch today as well). As much as I love hard bound and spiral bound sketchbooks, too many of them only end up 1/3 full… now I can can use the extra sheets in my new binder. I think it’s a great solution.

My custom 3 ring binder sketchbook

...the inside of my sketchbook

When I was little, I would blame things on the clouds. “Who scribbled on the walls?!’ my parents would demand. “Oh, the clouds did it,” was often my reply. I always loved looking up to the sky and imagining how sponge-like the clouds must be, enough so I might use one to wash my Big Wheel trike (I was a bit disappointed the first time in fog when I realized how intangible a cloud is). I became lost in the forms and loved most the high and wispy cirrus clouds which my mother told me were “mares’ tales” and I would imagine wild horses on the wind. When I finally left Seattle for Minnesota and other flatter landscapes, I would like in fields on my back, watching the weather roll in and out.

I’ve just begun a wonderful book that has sparked my interest again in learning more about the sky, “The Cloudspotter’s Guide, the Science, History, and Culture of Clouds.” It’s inspired me to paint more clouds and I’d like to bind myself a small book to be a cloud journal and pay more attention the daily changes in the sky. I’ve included a small paintings I did while experimenting with oil bars. They were challenging for me as the tips were broad and I’m not accustomed to how they mix. I used the end of my brush to scribble in some marks and detail. Check back soon for more new work! I just reorganized my studio and am delighted with my new set up. 

"The humble Cumulus humilis - never hurt a soul" (Gavin Pretor Pinney)

I’m back in Seattle after an inspiring 11 days out with “Girls on Ice,” a program free to select high school girls to learn about glaciology, mountaineering, and (this year!) art. My co-instructors were Erin Pettit who first began the program while a graduate student at the University of Washington and Cecelia Mortenson, a mountaineer who’s worked around the world including as field safety with the US Antarctic program. Along with the wonderful nine participants from around the US, we made a great team. Thank you to everyone for your support, energy, inspiration, and the contributions which made this all possible. 

Girls on Ice 2008 (our "silly" photo)

I’m still catching up from the trip (with gear left to scrub and emails to reply to…) but will recap a few highlights. We spent a total of eight days on the Mt. Baker, camped on the snow above 6,000 ft and just to the east of the Easton Glacier. Our first five days were rainy and grey, which included a thunderstorm (on our first night!) The girls quickly discovered that Gore-Tex is not truly waterproof and learned to stay warm with singing and dancing. Throughout the inclement weather, spirits remained high and we learned about snow travel, basic glacier mountaineering, glacier dynamics, and tools for observation. We also had three projects including studying ice worms, mass balance of the Easton glacier, and a time-lapse photography setup. When the sun finally came out, the whole team climbed to Mt. Baker’s crater where sulphuric gases were buffeting out and half our team continued on to the summit. We spent our last two nights at the North Cascades Institute’s Learning Center on Lake Diablo (a stunning place that is well worth a visit!) to decompress, work on projects, and clean up. Everything was all in all a great success!

My favorite analogy for the rain and whiteout conditions we endured was a “snow globe.” One of the gals observed after “sucker holes” came and went (patches of blue sky) that every time we grew hopeful about a change, it seemed as though someone turned us upside down, shook us ’round, and left us in even worse conditions- and all the more loopy. Giggles were contagious after we learned to dance “Soulja Boy” while wearing crampons on ice. 

First blue sky while on the Easton Glacier (and it was a sucker hole...)

I’ve posted our time-lapse photography video here if you’d like to check it out. We sought to observe ablation and glacier movement (we placed rocks on the ice for markers), but learned that not everything turns out as expected. We unfortunately ran out of battery power right after the weather improved… Many notes were made for next year! Check back soon for more stories and sketches.

A couple weeks ago I visited Lightning Bill at the Goat Peak fire look out in the Methow Valley. He asked me to design his business card and this is what I came up with- he likes it! I enjoyed working on the project and hope to visit Bill again before the fire season is over. Meanwhile, if you’re in the Methow Valley, head up Goat Peak for a visit! Bill loves to share stories and will take your photo for his records. He’s also a poet and may recite something if you ask nicely. 

Lightning Bill business card front

Lightning Bill business card back

Thank you to everyone for their support of my North Cascades field work and development! All contributions are much appreciated and I am a quarter way to my goal of $5,000. I spent the afternoon working on postcards, exploring North Cascades compositions for larger paintings. A contribution of any amount (every bit helps!) will bring you a hand-made thank you to your postbox. 

Baker Sunset Postcard, 6" x 4"

Silver Lake Postcard, 6" x 4"

Mt. Redoubt Postcard, 6" x 4"