Departures and More

Departures. Acrylic on canvas, 20 x 20 inches, 2015 by Sarah Atl Departures. Acrylic on canvas, 20 x 20 inches, 2015 by Sarah Atlee. $1,080

To purchase Departures, contact me at sarahatlee@gmail.com.

About Departures

I'm into Quilting. It influences my painting in a big way. I'm a member of the local chapter of the Modern Quilt Guild. What distinguishes "modern" from traditional quilting? There are no hard and fast rules, of course, but the MQG has a handy list of things to look for:

"...several characteristics often appear which may help identify a modern quilt. These include, but are not limited to: the use of bold colors and prints, high contrast and graphic areas of solid color, improvisational piecing, minimalism, expansive negative space, and alternate grid work. 'Modern traditionalism' or the updating of classic quilt designs is also often seen in modern quilting."

Improvisation is the element here that really gets my juices flowing.

But the Juices Were Not Flowing

Earlier this year I was noodling away on an abstract series, finding myself stymied. I wanted to go in too many directions. I was being fussy. I was thinking too hard. I was stuck.

I asked myself, "What if I painted the way I quilt - without fear?"

Sherri Lynn Wood and Improv Patchwork

In February 2015, I was lucky enough to attend QuiltCon and take an improvisational patchwork class taught by Sherri Lynn Wood. She taught us to be present in our space, and to cut, cut, cut and sew, sew, sew - without worrying about the overall design. It was a revelation. We made quilt tops that seemed to grow organically in our hands. The patchwork pieces grew, and I grew. I went home and pre-ordered Wood's new book.

Order your own copy of the Improv Handbook here.

Then I had to wait for, like, six weeks before the book shipped. What on earth was I to do in the meantime?

Departing

I took a painting that wasn't working. I laid down a stroke of color with my brush. Then I put down another, next to that. Then another. It became a row of stripes. It curved here and there. Another row grew next to it. I had found a path, and I followed it. I was through.

departures in progress crop

Save

Wyld Flowerz at STASH 2015.10.09

Veruca Fry. Acrylic on panel, 7x5 inches, 2015 by Sarah Atlee. w Veruca Fry. Acrylic on panel, 7 x 5 inches (11 x 8.5 inches framed) 2015 by Sarah Atlee. $225

To purchase Veruca Fry, call STASH at (405) 701 1016 or email me directly at sarahatlee@gmail.com.

Wyld Flowerz - New Abstract Paintings by Sarah Atlee

Where: STASH (website, Facebook) 412 E Main Street, Norman OK 73071 (405) 701 1016 (map link) Store hours are M-Sat 10-6 and Sun 12-4.

When: 9 October - 11 November 2015.

Opening Reception and Hair of the Dog

Join us for the opening night party during the Norman Arts Council's 2nd Friday Art Walk!

When: Friday 9 October, 6-10 pm.

4 Hair of the Dog-logo

We have an amazing event planned, STASH's biggest of the year. Enjoy local craft beers and live music at a party to raise funds for the Bella Foundation! There's even going to be a pumpkin patch. Click here to learn more and purchase tickets.*

*This is a ticketed event, but you do not need a ticket to see the art.

Hope to see you there!

About Veruca Fry

I often dream about things that I'll paint later. In this instance, my dream was of a quilt design - 60-degree triangles in warm yellows and violets, gently transitioning from light to dark. When I awoke the design told me it was called "vocal fry."

For the unfamiliar, vocal fry is a way of modulating your voice so it combines moaning and creaking sounds. To make the sound, groan, then lower your voice, close your throat a bit, and just let it peter out until it starts sounding like bacon in a hot pan. It's the sound you make when you Can't Even.

The dream design told me later that day that it wasn't going to be a quilt, but rather a painting. And that I should make a miniature version to try it out. She also changed her name along the way. She's quite willful.

Demanding little snot.

What's Cooking Inside While it Cooks Outside

Yep, it's what we call the Dog Days. While the world outside bakes to a nice golden brown, I'm in the studio gearing up for Fall 2015 ...and beyond. underpainting 72 500

Ah, the pleasure of that first underpainting. Sometimes I don't want to cover it up.

CHAOS is on display at Ro2 Art in Dallas through September 12! Don't miss it.

black eye & violet 72 500

Black-Eye Susan and Shrinking Violet, acrylic on panel, 5x5 inches each (9x9 framed).

Save the Date!

Wyld Flowerz, an exhibition of new abstractions, will open at STASH in downtown Norman, OK on Friday 9 October 2015. More details to follow.

eggplants in prog 72 500

Here's a different view of that underpainting, a few layers later.

I'm pleased to share the news that my relationship with Cerulean Gallery in Amarillo, Texas will continue into 2016. More news as the situation develops.

flying bat blocks 72 500

I've been sewing quite a bit. I've begun volunteering with the Community First! Quilters, a connection made through the Austin chapter of the Modern Quilt Guild. These are my variation on the traditional flying geese quilt block - I call them flying bats. We see those here from time to time.

tough cookie half-baked 72 500

This will be Tough Cookie. Right now she's only half-baked.

red room 72 500

I do get out sometimes, and go places like the Red Room Lounge.

caprese 72 500

I do make dinner sometimes, like this caprese salad with marinated zucchini.