Sarah Atlee 10/15/15 Sarah Atlee 10/15/15

Square Peg

Square Peg. Acrylic on canvas panel, 7 x 5 inches (12 x 9 framed), 2015 by Sarah Atlee. $225

Interested in purchasing Square Peg? She is available at STASH through 11 November 2015 with the rest of the Wyld Flowerz. Get all the details here or email me directly at sarahatlee@gmail.com.

install 1 72 500

install 2 72 500

stash exterior 72 500

The opening was amazing, and I could not have ordered a more perfect evening.

Sarah Atlee 10/7/15 Sarah Atlee 10/7/15

Departures and More

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

Sarah Atlee 10/4/15 Sarah Atlee 10/4/15

Prescription for an Installation

These are the tools I pack when I’m preparing to hang a show of paintings. Click image to embiggen.

1. Packing tape for keeping boxes closed

2. Painter's tape - the blue stuff - easily removable

3. Extra picture-hanging wire just in case (Many of these items are just in case.)

4. Scissors

5. Wire cutters

6. Needle-nose pliers

7. Hammer

8, 9. Screwdriver & bits

10. Ruler

11. Scraper

12. A pen that writes on (just about) any surface

13. Pencil

14. Eraser

15. Extra D-ring hangers

16. Level

17. Screw eyes, small

18. Screw eyes, medium & large

19. Finishing nails, tiny

20. Finishing nails, small & medium

21. L-pins

22. Common nails

23. Scotch tape

24. Picture hanging hardware, various

25. Blade

26, 27. Dots. They go on the backs of pieces to protect the wall and keep the art from sliding around.

28. Microfiber dust cloth

Not Pictured:

- Art, packed up nice & snug

- Business cards, postcards, other promotional materials

- White gloves

- Measuring tape

- Visual inventory: includes thumbnails, titles, sizes, prices, my contact information, and a place for the artist and gallery to sign at install and pickup. I make 2 copies - one for them, one for me.

- Labels for the wall. Sometimes the venue provides these, sometimes not. This time I made them myself.

Let's do this thing.

Sarah Atlee 9/30/15 Sarah Atlee 9/30/15

Wyld Flowerz at STASH 2015.10.09

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.

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.