Big Canvas in my studio!

I've been commissioned to recreate a mural panel that was painted for the Bueno in Burlington, VT. Trace Meek had asked me to lend a hand on his project there and I painted the panel with the image of Church Street on it. A patron of the restaurant liked the panel so much that he endeavored to contact me. So....here's the canvas in my studio (finally)! It's pretty huge, 3'x5' and takes up a lot of space. I was thinking that I'd work on it during Open Studios coming up on June 7 &, but I'm not sure I want to hide behind such a large canvas. Maybe, if I get really crazy, I can start it tonight and finish it by the 7th! That would be cool!

Easthampton Etsyers!

I'm surrounded by great talent here in Easthampton, MA, and I wanted to show off my friends' work. So here's a bunch of friends who sell their artwork, jewelry, etc. on Etsy. Click on the photos to visit their shops!

Well.....the first two are me....shameless!!!

I think that's everyone so far! Visit my fellow Easthamptoners and see their stuff!

Robert Rauschenberg

Robert Rauschenberg passed away on May 12. What a great loss to the American Art world. The entire art world for that matter. I made a tribute to him on Etsy treasuries -------------------------------->



It was the best I could do. I've spent a lot of time over the last few days thinking about Rauschenberg and his influence, and his incredibly prolific creative life. He recently (well 1999 to 2000 I think) had a show at Mass MoCA out in North Adams, which was incredible. Called the 1/4 Mile or 2 Furlong piece, it filled the entire huge gallery. When I think I'm too tired, too hungry, too whatever, to go to the studio, I should remember Rauschenberg and how he was so dedicated to his creative life. A good friend of mine once said "I bet Brittany Spears didn't create her empire sitting on the couch watching sitcoms and thinking about what she should do." Ok, so Brittany is hard to take right now, but still, she is an icon and has and empire created by her talent. So it's no rest for the weary...and I perservere and pay the mortgage one set of pot holders at a time.

<-----------------the latest set. I like these. I've always thought of sewing as an alternate art form. It IS an art form. Just take a look at some of the magnificent art quilts that are being created these days.

I have a studio as well, which I try to spend as much time in as possible and work on my painting. It's been an uphill climb, but so completely worth it, that the months without sales really don't matter. When you identify so completely with creating and being an artist, it's just what you do.

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the studio just before Open Studios last June, 2007. Open Studios this year June 7 & 8, 2008! Come and see me!

art life

An introduction. I sew, knit, and paint. Not necessarily in that order but mostly that's what I do. I do other stuff as well, like eat, visit with friends, ride my motorcycle, and generally sit around trying to devise ways to be happier and healthier and craftier. I also work at a real job too, but that involves art as well. I've spent a long time arranging, designing, engineering, crafting, and dreaming my life into its current state, and I'm pretty happy with it right now.

I want to talk about art. Art in a really broad sense, however. Not just...."look at the pretty picture over there....that's cool" kind of talk about art. But the nitty gritty stuff that goes on when you make art, whether it's a painting or knitting a pot holder, it's art. Whether you work from a professional studio or from your basement with no windows. Whatever you "make" is art.

Well, at least as far as I'm concerned. Visit my Etsy shop www.btaylorquilts.etsy.com where I post sewing projects to support my art life!