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Maury...May...

5/22/2020

If I told you that I was giving an update about my May 2020 series on May 22 would you believe me? I am guessing yes, because if you stop by here often, you know that I often do that. I feel like I have a somewhat valid excuse this time, even if I can't fully disclose it for just a bit longer.

But there is also teaching, and I can speak on that. I am finishing week eight of virtual art instruction- one more week to go. Last week I had to complete my senior grades and between that and going through pics of them to post as a 'senior tribute' on my classroom Instagram...it was all I could do to get my art made each day, much less write about it. I am still overwhelmed when I think about making this sudden switch to teaching my students on-line only...so many things to learn and no time to learn it. It is amazing that we teachers were able to do it- but we did. I did.

But now I am catching my breath so I want to tell you about my May series;

For the reasons I can and cannot say right now- I am super stressed and I felt like I needed something kinda fun this month. Sure, painting with coffee was fun last month- but I wanted to focus on the actual process of art making and not worry so much about everything else. I had an idea in my head but I was having doubts.

But idea was confirmed when I received these pieces from one of my students, Candelaria. I knew when these images popped up in my Google Classroom and I felt joy looking at them that the idea I had brewing was the right one. So, thanks for the inspiration Candy!

Art inspiration from my STUDENT! Gotta love it!

So for this month I decided to step outside my regimented way of creating my daily art, to take Candy's lead and just...PLAY. Now, if you know me or if you have been following my daily art over the past nine years then you know the routine- I pick a theme, make a piece each day, the pieces are assigned a specific number, and it goes on and on until the year is over. I file work that didn't sell away and start it all over again.

But not this month- *I won't have any physical pieces. This month I am creating the 'garments' featured in my daily fashion illustration (so far been sticking to that all of 2020) out of my jewelry. The catch? I'm not gluing the pieces down. I am documenting the process of making the pieces in time lapse videos and taking photos, posting to my Instagram account, @artbyjlg, and also to my Facebook Art page. Then...the pieces come off and go back on the wall or drawer and I start fresh the next day.

Here is a peek;

*(And note, I actually will have some physical pieces, but only five- more on that later)

This is setup behind the series, scraps of leather in case I want to use them for the understructure of the dress, jewelry, my light and camera apparatus. It has been taking me about 45 minutes to 1 hour on each piece, including photographing at the end.

Sample of a finished piece...before I take it apart!

Annnnd...my LEAST favorite part...having to put everything back where it goes. One garment can have anywhere from 10-20 different jewelry pieces...and I don't always put them away each night so...this happens.

...and I know it took me twenty-two days, but that a little background about where this series came from. We'll see where it goes, there are still some days left in May!

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