Diana Trout's blog

Pioneers

Here are some details and the full piece called "Pioneers" dedicated to Emily Dickinson and Rachel Carson. 

I handprinted sumi-e paper and adhered it to fabric (papercloth). Paint, stitch, pencil. She's one smart bird, reaching for more and empowered. About to burst into song.

Can you feel that? 

I hope so. 

Hope is the thing with feathers
that perches in the soul
and sings the song without the words
and never stops
at all  

Thank you Emily Dickinson, for those words and Rachel Carson for discovering that huge leap in helping to make sure that birds and their songs never stop - at all.

I'm gone for the rest of the week *poof* but I'll be back next week to give away one free class in 21 Secrets. See sidebar for the link, if you can't wait. The workshops open on April 1.

Flying Lessons

I possibly should have worked over the weekend: 3 deadlines loom. Monday, Wednesday & Friday.

But I cleaned up my studio (mid-deadline rush!) and cleared out and re-outfitted my journaling kit.

I made a new small journal for myself and did some art journaling. I read (Life Among Giants) and watched a couple of movies (Midnight in Paris and Snowflower and the Secret Fan). 

I stitched some and worked on the clutch bag project a little. Stayed in my PJ's till 4 pm on Sunday when I took a shower and changed into sweats. I needed the down time to take care and fill my well. 

I'll post on the journaling kit later this week or next? And also, I'll be sharing the little book I made. Let's see how those deadlines go. In the meantime, let me know via the comments what you have in your journaling kit.  

What you did for yourself this weekend. 

Art Journaling is a Verb

A Toni Morrison quote today for you. She's so wonderfully rich, isn't she? And the quote from this post is from Richard Iannelli. Feel free to use these quotes with abandon.

Because I Dream

I have fallen into the habit of making backgrounds in my journal while working on art projects and then - days or weeks later - pulling out all of the journaling supplies for a few days and just working through. This process is working for me right now. I need more time to moodle with things. 

little secrets/hidden under/dreaming then coaxed

And parallels ... I've been working on some papercloth pieces and finding, in the painted papers, bird shapes. The birds are already in the paper, I just need to find them - look carefully. 

Notes on materials: The top page background came while I was doing Gelli Prints recently. The stencil was goopy so I stuck it in the journal and made a print then some ink spray. Rub on letters, portfolios smeared, pen and collage. Because I Dream: the illustration was done awhile ago. Then some caran d'ache was smeared around. Marker, inktense pencils and the little black book with some gel pens.

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Immortal Bird Released in Trade Paperback

Begin; New Work

These pieces were included in the Begin portion of One Year. 

Quilty, hand(led), stitched. They feel personal. Holding the art while making it. With both hands, front and back.

One Year & Begin

Wave (detail), Diana Trout

That is an appropriate title for this time of year. I helped with the installation of the One Year Exhibit yesterday (you are invited to the opening on January 4, 5:30-7 pm, at the Painted Bride 3 & Race, Philadelphia). 

The floor of the gallery was covered with vessels. I had the shocking experience of unwrapping the vessels while the other women did the math: placing nails to hang over 300 wire vessels was daunting!

It kind of looks like they were crawling up the walls on their own accord ... 

More about this exhibit here. I hope you can come. 

What's Doin'

Scurrying around today in between a Monday/Tuesday trip to Maryland and a Thursday-? trip to take care of my auntie. 

I managed to make a couple of prints using my new Gelli Artz plate and Golden Open Acrylics. Amazing. Making prints is thrilling for me. I minored in printmaking in art school so this was really REALLY exciting. The cleanest monoprints I've made without a press ever. I am using washi paper and the plan is to turn that into papercloth and do the stitching on it. 

I think I need a bigger plate. 

In the straight up fabric and stitch, there is more inspiration than there will ever be time to complete ...

The violet and golden in the upper portion of this picture is making me drool ... sun and mountains.

I am off to pack my bag full of stitching while I take over the nursing. Eeegads. I'm a dreadful nurse but my sis, who actually IS  a nurse has been there and will train me to take over. I'll bet we do fine! Wish me luck. 

WIP with Helen Frankenthaler

Painted & Stitched

Spending some time looking at Helen Frankenthaler in preparation for a MamaCITA show in March reminded me of why I got into this crazy art business in the first place: color. Fields and streams of color. 

Sketching, pouring paint, printing and then stitching. With only an idea in mind. Sunny doorways in a lane in Italy. Of course, the hours I spent looking, sketching and painting all led to this. 

and a mountain and sunset and wee houses in the foreground. I'm not sure where all of this is going but since sitting and stitching is reliably the only thing I can do right now (ortho pillow on my back, ankle elevated) I'm feeling rather grateful that I love to stitch and very grateful for Helen. 

And a note ... Helen Frankenthaler was discussed in my art history classes with a bit of disdain because she pour her color onto raw canvas. Not very ARCHIVAL! How come it was OK for Jackson Pollack? It all seemed so perfect to me at the time and now with the idea of treating raw canvas as a textile or using muslin or vintage linen, it is even more delicious. 

More Longstitch

Thank you all for your emails, comments and well wishes, they really cheered me up. You guys are the best! My back is improving. It turned out to be a bulging disk - ewwww! All I've been doing is working on the Longstitch class, going to PT and resting. And the class will open on November 1! Yay. Yesterday's work ...

Longstitch, Hidden Spine, Diana Trout

I'm really happy with the way these books came out. The Fabric Cloth works so beautifully as a cover. Sturdy and lightweight. If you didn't see the Fabric Cloth free tutorial, look here.

Longstitch, Exposed and Hidden Spine Diana Trout

I'm SO looking forward to getting back to my new normal. Soon (I keep telling myself). xo to all of you my lovely readers. Thanks for stopping by. 

Dreaming

A painting done more than 10 years ago is being featured today on Seth Apter's TheAlteredPage with his most recent edition of Playing Favorites. A big thanks to Seth for including me and so many other artists in his blog. 

Dreaming

This work has been named and renamed so many times. Is it mother earth dreaming? Will she awaken? Dreaming is a triptych and here are close ups of each piece. Maybe you could help me by naming this piece. What does it say to you?

Full of Windows

Full of windows, Diana Trout

How are you? I am beginning to get my feet underneath me again; using this time off to journal, draw, crochet, stitch and go slowly.

Full of Windows, Detail, Diana Trout

I am slowly waking up again. Not there yet but the beginning of a outward energy is whispering inside. I'm not at all depressed. Just feel that I'm scraping the bottom of the barrel energy-wise. 

Detail, Full of Windows, Diana Trout