Diana Trout's blog

Michelle Ciarlo-Hayes, 1st Friday Artist

Here's Michelle: "Lately, my inspiration seems to be anything in the sky - birds, the moon, rooftops - I just love looking up and creating art that reflects what I see.

I'm definitely a mixed media gal: my work all originates with my camera, and then I leap forward from there. I collage, paint, and combine all my components digitally to create each piece, and I hand-make a line of art and housewares that feature my designs. 

I like to tell stories within my art, and my very favorite thing is to hear the memories or feelings that my work inspires. Seeing someone smile or hearing them relive a happy childhood moment because of something I created is so incredibly rewarding." 

Michele's website
Follow Michele on Facebook and Instagram

It's a pleasure to have Michelle here today. Her blend of media and story is fresh and sophisticated. And very personal to anyone who views it! I love looking at her work because I can invent my own story. Thanks for sharing your work with us, Michelle!  

Michelle is part of MamaCITA. They have a show opening next Sunday, Feb 8 at Cheltenham Art Center on Feb. 8, Cheltenham, PA (just outside of Philly). Look here for details. 

Megan Grugan, Artist Profile

Megan Grugan is a painter, educator and MamaCITA member (plus a lot of other wonderful things). Here is some of her recent encaustic work. 

Bee Balm (detail), Encaustic, Megan Grugan

From Megan's artist statement

"I have always seen the world in vibrant colors. I have tried to paint the world that I see and in which I live. This allows me to honor the environment around me while exploring it.

 

Echinacia (detail), Encaustic, Megan Grugan

Putting color next to color to create form and shape is what really drives my work. The textures of a surface combined with the fluidity of the paint helps guide and define my images.

 

 

Storm, Encaustic, Megan Grugan

 

To me, the negative space around an object is just as important as the object.”

See more of Megan's work right here.

Outside of the amazing color and detail in this encaustic work, I really respond to the motion in Megan's artwork. It swirls me in right in and is a wondrous tactile ride.

Can you pick a favorite (I can't). Though I REALLY love the shadows and light in Storm. 

I'll be back with some posts about NYC on Wednesday(ish).

MamaCITA and Women's Day

I can't think anymore. I'm thunk out, and talked out and worked out but I feel like writing. So let's just see what this post will be about. Clearly, I would like it to be about my MamaCITA's whom I love like sisters - very much like sisters in that they also drive me nuts at times. But such is the nature of close relationships amongst women. And I'll take it.

 

MamaCITA Lisa Kelley hard at work for the Miss Rep event

With Women's Day upon us, to celebrate these tangley relationships is timely. My women friends are almost immediately close, sharing and personal - even my readers here. I'm always amazed at how quickly women are there to comfort, support and help heal our friends. We may get hurt but we heal and then share again. We are resilient. 

 

We've talked about how we nurture the world around us and our own self-care sometimes goes by the wayside. But if I go to a woman friend with anything: a problem or some joy to spread, I get a ton of care.

 

MamaCITAa at work turning the Miss Rep into a lovely gallery space

I'll never forget leaving my book group one night just before I took of for my photoshoot for Journal Spilling. They were hugging me and applauding! I felt so warm and loved and supported in that moment. It carried me right through the process.

I'm going to plug in some photos here now. Let's see what happens. Yeah, that's good. Let's all take a moment to honor a woman we love. 

MamaCITAa, Heather and Megan (with daughter), Kim in Background at One Year

Happy Women's Day. And of course, if you are in the Philadelphia area and would like to attend Miss Representation, here is the info. And PS to my Mamas, I love you and I'm sorry to be such a bossy britches. 

More Gelli Prints

I am rolling with the Gelli Artz gelatin printing plate and water soluble oil paints. The paints are heavy body (Golden Open) and have an extended dry time which make them perfect for this. I used a variety of papers including printing paper, heavy vellum and inexpensive cardstock.

I used a stencil that was hanging around doin' nothing. Not sure where this one came from. Was it a chunk of something else? And a handcarved stamp - a stone flower.

Sumi-e papers printed and made into papercloth.

and what next? I have the deadline coming up for MamaCITA's Miss Representation (more here if you are in the Philly area): choose a woman I admire and make some art honoring her. EEEEK! Too many choices. Eva Hesse? Emily Dickenson? Helen Frankenthaler? Rachel Carson? Right now, it's looking like Rachel Carson. I've been endulging myself by reading poems, looking at Eva and Heln Art and learning more about Rachel (who is currently at the top of my list). 

Who is your favorite woman? Top three? Top ten? Nice journal prompt. Happy weekend. We are on a snow watch here.

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.