Visions of Assisi

Posted on September 18, 2013 by Jo Myers-Walker

There are lots of red tile roofs in the Iowa City downtown area, and combining that with the ped mall makes me think of the places I hope to visit and paint. Seashore Hall (update: it has since been removed) on the University of Iowa campus (painting at left below) reminded me of the buildings around Assisi. I enjoy how the University has kept their architecture.

The top of a downtown parking ramp provides a vantage point for observing, and I’m not the only one! Other people come up to take pictures and take in the scenery. It’s a different perspective on buildings, and on birds — they fly differently at that height, with no trees to land on.

Seashore Hall at University of Iowa, watercolor painting by Jo Myers-Walker

Red tile roofs bring out memories of painting as I travel

Watercolor painting by Jo Myers-Walker

Another Assisi-looking villa

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Fabric painting at Hen & Chicks

Posted on September 10, 2013 by Jo Myers-Walker
Hen and Chicks Studio logo

Hen & Chicks Studio logo
(click image to visit website)

I got an early start on Saturday’s fabric painting workshop at Hen & Chicks Studio — Heidi Kaisand invited me to spend Friday night beforehand at The Nest upstairs. The Nest is a dorm-like retreat center equipped for creative sleepovers, divided by colorful doors that I painted. I slept very well and wasn’t lonely, with my artwork surrounding me and a beautiful quilt to sleep under in the 120-year-old building (sorta like being in my 113-year-old bank again!).

At the workshop we practiced painting on fabric using watercolor-like techniques — my samples in the photo below show tape resist, glue resist, stenciling, rubbing, and wet-in-wet using latex house paint. Many thanks to Heidi and everyone in class. We’re already talking about planning the next ones!

Fabric painting technique samples by Jo Myers-Walker

Samples of fabric painting techniques — note the birds and blue tape beaks!

The Nest retreat center, upstairs from Hen & Chicks Studio

Colorful quilts and painted doors at The Nest

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Home from the Fair

Posted on August 30, 2013 by Jo Myers-Walker

It’s great to be home from the Fair, and painting again! Now I have some room in my apartment to make new things. I’m doing samples of fabric painting techniques, getting ready for the Hen and Chicks class on September 7.

Update:  See Fabric painting at Hen & Chicks (blog post)

Painted and printed pillows on blue sofa

The cows (and sheep, and chick) have come home from the Fair and are resting on my blue sofa. Much of the livestock found new homes at the Fair.

After the Fair — room to make new artwork

I’ve got my bed back from all the artwork now, but the table is full of watercolor to paint the view!

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Scenes from the booth

Posted on August 12, 2013 by Jo Myers-Walker
Amber at the booth (Iowa State Fair 2013)

Amber at the booth

Jo Myers-Walker at the 2013 Iowa State Fair

Me enjoying a chat with a visitor

This year at the Friends of the Left Bank Studio booth, in addition to meeting people from all over the world, we can enjoy another of the Fair’s big attractions — balloon artist Poppin’ Penelope is right across from us! She’s making sculptures large and small, including the Ferris wheel below made entirely of balloons. Stop by and see us (and Penny) through August 18, in the Cultural Center at the Iowa State Fair.

Update: The 2013 Fair has now ended. “Thank you” to everyone who stopped by!

Poppin' Penelope sculpting with balloons, Iowa State Fair 2013

Penny sculpting with balloons
(she’s a bit blurry since she was dancing too)

Ferris wheel by Poppin' Penelope, Iowa State Fair 2013

Penny’s giant balloon Ferris wheel

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Getting ready for the Fair

Posted on August 6, 2013 by Jo Myers-Walker

I’m still making artwork to get ready for the Fair! The Iowa State Fair starts on Thursday (August 8, 2013), and I’ll have a booth in the Cultural Center with some friends. Stop by and see us! We’ll have new artwork for sale and art demonstrations, and the weather forecast looks great. The Fair runs through August 18.

Update: The 2013 Fair is over now — “thank you” to all our visitors!

Small slumped-acrylic sculptures by Jo Myers-Walker

The “chicks” are getting ready to go to the Fair
(slumped-acrylic chickens, stylish “sitters”
and groups of friends)

Artwork everywhere, getting ready for the 2013 Fair

Artwork everywhere!
(paintings and prints on every available surface)

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Reattachment

Posted on July 18, 2013 by Jo Myers-Walker
Terra cotta Story Wall figure with missing digit

Story Wall figure before repair

I was at St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Ames recently to repair one of the Story Wall‘s terra cotta figures (pictured), whose finger had broken off.

If you’re at St. Thomas Aquinas, go try to find it! I’ll come back here later and show you the location of the repair.

Follow-up: As indicated on the pictures below, the repair is on the bottom figure in the center right trio (which depicts education and growth).

At the church, you’ll get a different perspective on the figures — these pictures were taken straight-on, and in person you’re looking at them from below.

Terra cotta Story Wall showing location of repair

Story Wall showing location of repaired figure

Close-up of Story Wall figures showing location of repair

Close-up of that section of the Story Wall

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Inside, outside

Posted on June 25, 2013 by Jo Myers-Walker
Empty space soon to be a studio

24' x 24' of possibility

At right: Empty now, but soon to be a studio. My granddaughter Emma is building a loft for her room – maybe I can do that, too, and fill it with watercolors!

Below: I’m looking after my health and getting in shape, and the Iowa City pedestrian mall is an attractive destination for walking. There are all kinds of restaurants, and a concert every Friday night. Bonnie and I felt irresistibly drawn to the end of the mall by the beckoning glow of the Dick Blick art supply store.

Thomas Jefferson statue on the Iowa City ped mall

Visiting with Thomas Jefferson on
the pedestrian mall

Walking along the Iowa City pedestrian mall

On our way to Dick Blick – first we had to stop in at one of the fine restaurants

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Iowa Arts Festival and Carnaval

Posted on June 17, 2013 by Jo Myers-Walker
My booth at the Iowa Arts Festival 2013

My daughter Shelby and I at the Iowa Arts Festival, showing my watercolors (thanks to Pam for the photo!)

This year’s Iowa Arts Festival was a spontaneous and unique event. I saw lots of things I had not seen before! My booth was next to the concert area, and I got to hear some wonderful music.

On Saturday the townspeople – adults, children, students – made a parade out of art for Carnaval, an event developed by costume designer and University of Iowa faculty member Loyce Arthur. Note the paper towel rollers painted green to make headdresses (below left), along with repurposed plastic bags. These are my kind of people!

I made some new contacts and found new places to show my work, so much to chose from. For now I hope to sit it out awhile, slow down and enjoy my new life in Iowa City, seeing lots of my grandchildren.

River of Stories in the Carnaval parade, Iowa City 2013

Carrying the River of Stories

Costumes in the Carnaval parade, Iowa City 2013

More costumes and walking puppet in the Carnaval parade

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Place of prayer

Posted on June 11, 2013 by Jo Myers-Walker

Recently I led a workshop on “Painting the Inward Journey” at Emmaus House in Des Moines, “an oasis of prayer and quiet in the midst of the busyness of modern life.” I went early and stayed at the Victorian-style house the night before, and found it a very special spiritual place, peaceful and full of love. In the morning I was ready for the workshop with this group of 15 faith-filled people.

You can see that we practiced watercolor techniques, but art is not just about painting a picture! Otto Rank said that “pessimism comes from the repression of creativity.” By looking inward, seeking the depths and daring to embrace our fears as well as our dreams, we can allow creativity to bring about transformation. This is Art as meditation, as prayer.

Painting at the Emmaus House workshop

Painting at Emmaus House

Emmaus House workshop group

Some of the Emmaus workshop group with their creations

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Farewell, and greetings

Posted on June 3, 2013 by Jo Myers-Walker

A walk through the “bank,” from front to back, before greeting the next adventure:

Empty front room at The Left Bank Studio

Front room, looking through 50′ of new open space

Empty middle room at The Left Bank Studio

Middle room – do you believe how much room is now open for others to explore?

Empty main vault at The Left Bank Studio

Safe deposit vault, where the money was kept in the old days

Empty back room at The Left Bank Studio

Back room with rarely-seen floor

On safari, moving out of the Bank building

“On safari” in the rain

The moving truck is full

Having fun unloading the truck in the rain – my sons-in-law had lots of laughs at what I was saving for the move!

My new pedicure

My first night in Iowa City, my daughter and granddaughter painted my toenails (Caribbean Blue) so my feet can explore their new city in style. Then we watched the movie “Enchanted” – sort of like my life these days!

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