What Are Quilters Blogging About Today?

Almost 20 years ago, the tiny, rural community of Gee’s Bend was brought into prominence when their quilts were discovered to be works of art, not just the simple bed coverings they’d always believed they had been making. Their quilts were purchased by collectors and displayed in art museums across the country causing quilting to be elevated from folk art to masterpieces. In one of the first reviews of their artwork in 2002, Michael Kimmelman of the The New York Times called the Gee’s Bend quilts “some of the most miraculous works of modern art America has ...

On January 27 I awoke with an idea for a mystic symbolic art generator. I immediately sketched copious notes and put out word I was looking for a coder to collaborate with. By some miracle, Atul Varma responded within an hour, which makes me believe this project really wants to exist.

My plans are vast and sprawling, so we’re starting simple. And by simple we mean bonkers:

Atul and I are on the same page regarding Free Software and Free Culture, so we’re both happy to share as we go along. You can generate your own strange images ...

Finally I can share this animated video I made back in October, in collaboration with Italian pop goddess Gala. I of course wanted to release it the minute it was finished, but the music biz doesn’t work that way, and I had to wait. The song is © Gala, but the art is Free Culture, baby!

The post Parallel Lines appeared first on Nina Paley.

One of my favorite memories of spending time with one of my brothers, I have three, as a young girl was sitting in the field in front of our house discussing space. This brother went on to become a bio-chemist and is now a professor. He had just introduced me to the concept of infinity… Continue reading Curiosity, Youtube & Asking Quora

Yesterday I launched my latest design, Making Waves: A Drawstring Bag in my Etsy Shop! I also made a short video for it. My instructions are very, very detailed. I include everything from how to begin, to how to stitch this bag together and film all stages of the process. YouTube videos demonstrate every step… Continue reading Introducing a New Design!

I’ve been busy. My Zoom class: Making Waves ~ A Drawstring Bag, which was an eight week “stitch along” is concluding today. We had SO much fun! I cannot show the finished bag in this post, but I will in next week’s post when I will also launch it in my Etsy Shop. Very exciting.… Continue reading Finishing a Project, Pat Pauly & a Note to my Mom

In general, for me, the easier something is to draw, the better the result. This Hundred Dollar Drawing was not easy. I appreciate the two-word challenge though!

The post “Contraceptual Art” for Richard appeared first on Nina Paley.

There was a show at the David Lewis Gallery that my husband and I recently went to, which absolutely stunned me. It was one of those exhibits that takes your breath away. A solo show by the artist Thornton Dial. I walked in with no expectations and left profoundly moved. It was a visceral response… Continue reading Thornton Dial and His Art

My next project! Bear by @gittehopkins
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#bearquilt #art-quilt #whatsonmyframetoday #wolfcreekquilting (at Finn Hill)
https://www.instagram.com/p/CKAptWBn7T8/?igshid=rz21z75c1umo

As this post’s title suggests, there’s a little something for everyone, but let’s start things off with Fiber Talk! In December I was interviewed by Gary Parr and Beth Ellicott for their podcast Fiber Talk, also available on their Youtube channel, Flosstalk. We had such a great time covering a whole variety of different topics… Continue reading Fiber Talk, Music, German Humor & Ice Sculptures

Well, for the end of 2020, I decided to get my art organized. I had been researching taking photos of my artwork. I had been practicing and trying different things. I finally found what I think is the correct formula for me. Once I did, I set out to re-take all the photos of the artwork I still had in my possession. I spent a long time trying to get it right. I feel like it was worth the effort. I now have photos of my artwork that will print off just right. I also catalogued and made certificates for ...

In these dark days of Winter, boredom has driven me to craft:

A year or two ago I had a dream about a high-heeled shoe with an eye on the heel, much like the re-creation above. The heel itself was a unicorn horn. I sketched it upon awakening, and while I no longer remember the dream, I remember the drawing. I recently obtained polymer clay, a glue gun, and plastic eyes, to make these:

I didn’t make the shoes themselves; they are dance shoes I bought used for $5 at the local theater’s annual sale a few years ...

There are so many things going on that I cannot talk about publicly for a variety of reasons, but all of these things piled up can make life feel particularly challenging at this moment. The specifics are unimportant. Most people are grappling with things they cannot and do not talk about for personal reasons. What… Continue reading Facing Adversity

After looking through all of my completed artworks. I discovered that there were a few that I had not yet posted. This one is the only thing I completed in 2019. It was a rough year for me. I am proud of this one, though. The face shows a lot of character. I feel like the drawing is well done. I have drawn and painted a few more things since this and I feel like I am feeling more pride in the finished pieces. Though, while I am creating them, I certainly feel a lot of doubt about the end ...

Happy New Year!

Often referred to as a negative, I’ve always thought of obsessions as a lifeline to exploration, creativity, joy and boundless energy. Being obsessed with something (rather than someone) results in any number of truly awe-inspiring things, such as these artists who carve thread spools into amazing miniature works of art. Or Andrea Love whose website… Continue reading The Joy of Obsession

A Hundred Dollar Drawing. But what a broad (haha, broad) category! I narrowed it down to female composer Hildegard von Bingen.

The post “Female Composer” for Brant appeared first on Nina Paley.

14 hours before Winter Solstice, my friend Mike Barkley took these photos of me in the Dress-That-Looks-Like-A-Tree, next to the Tree that looks like the Dress-That-Looks-Like-A-Tree, in the woods at Allerton Park. It was pretty freaking cold, just barely 40°F, and I had pedaled my velomobile 30 miles there in a headwind. We suffered for Art/Fashion!

The post The Dress That Looks Like a Tree appeared first on Nina Paley.

Today marks nine months that I've been home. There is so much that I miss. But I am thankful to live with family that I enjoy and we have certainly found some new ways to entertain ourselves. I haven't gotten to paint as much as I'd like, but I did get into watercolor during this time.

I started in May with Let's Make Art's watercolor kits. Sarah's tutorials on YouTube are great. I generally watch once through so I know what's coming and then watch and paint along, pausing as needed or stepping ...

I think of color as having personality. I get a sense of colors much the way I get a sense of people at a dinner party. There are those who dominate the conversation, others who are quiet, yet have really interesting things to say once encouraged. Some people light up when seated next to someone… Continue reading The Personality of Color