More nesting

Catching up with the print side of things: at crit Brian Jones said my work still doesn't have a connective thread and that my work still looks experimental. So I have to go big. I must have 4 large works by next critique.
I have been making paper nests the past two days. It's hard to get started but once you're about halfway done it starts to come together. Kind of frustrating because it constantly falls apart because I am not using any type of adhesive. I am afraid that the look too much like baskets with the torn paper because I can't tear strips of paper much smaller and I am literally weaving it all together. I am hoping the strips I cut with the paper cutter will work better. They are skinner and feel more rigid. I want to place a stone in the nest correlated with the chakra that I am making the nest for. This is based upon color therapy mostly. Pics below.
While taking a break from making paper nests I came across the idea to combine nests into the theme of meditation. I'm in visioning a birds eye view (aerial) of a nest. I want them to be large scale and printed on both sides. I want to do one of every color, referencing the chakras. After I print them I want to cut them out so that they are circular in nature, inspired by the concept of a mandala.
Pic of Carl Sagan for moral support.

It's snowing.

Picking January to build a nest is not the best idea. Although it did spring an idea to make some paper nests in printmaking.
Today on the human nest Brian Harper came to check out my progress. We talked about conceptual thoughts as well as size and shape issues. We decided that it is too rectangular and wide. So I began to round edges and add sticks to the width to make the space more intimate.
I collected more dried vines, which is a difficult task because they are entwining the tree I harvest them from. But I have a nice pile going.
The trash I have collected is questionable with how I will use it, if I decide to go through with that idea. It seems to have a lost connection. My thoughts were that animals will use anything they can find to make a secure home. The fact that I hate litter, and most of all styrofoam, might push me away from using it. But the fact that I lack balance in my life pushes me to correlate with the video we watched in class today. She said that practicing on a tightrope didn't make her more balanced but more comfortable with being unbalanced, which is something I relate to strongly. I am not yet comfortable with the imbalance in my life but I am taking steps to get there.
I am definitely glad I chose this project and want to continue expanding it while I'm here at IUS. But I think a video would be best suited to present the nest to the class. I'm sure not everyone wants to get muddy and stuck by briers.

Please sir, may I have some moss?

Today on the nest I lined the edge with some moss. I also collected trash that was out in the woods. Mostly in the form of styrofoam. I hate styrofoam.

To line my nest with moss I assumed that I would have to remove debris from the ground and put nice squishy mud from the edge of the creek down first. And then gently place moss on top of it. I'm not sure if it will survive the rest of winter. But I'll try to help it along. And if anything I'll collect more when spring rolls around.

The structure

I am making myself a nest. This is something I've always wanted to do. So far I'm collecting sticks out in the woods behind knob view and assembling them on a sweet spot I found. Right now I'm working on the structure I have maybe about six inches tall from an hour of work.
I actually had to reassemble my nest because the spot where it was wasn't up to par for my first nest. So I moved it to a more serene location by a creek.
The only things I will be using are things I find on and around campus. So I will be on a treasure hunt for the next three weeks.
It's below freezing outside and supposed to snow so hopefully I can stick it out. Pun intended.
Below are some pictures of my nest and ice from the frozen creek. Nature is awesome.

Moving forward.

My last two posts didn't publish correctly through the Blogger app on my phone. I apologize for the delay.
After today's crit I am thinking of moving forward with better planning and trying to solve problems such as pigment flaking off and presenting the work. Below is a picture of the presented work.
Some ideas for the mixed media project involve inspiration from organic forms, the universe, the relationship of micro and macro images, nature, chance, and spontaneity. I'm interested in creating a large organic clay wedge shape to flow material down to see if it will stick to the clay. The idea of erosion is my main interest, pathways created by chance.
This week I'd like to make clay,or even use some reclaim slop. I could also go find a clay bed if the weather permits.
I want to do a couple small scale tests.
I also thought about possibly creating my own drain/pigment catcher out of a glass fish bowl type form. The idea is to not waste anything and possibly create a sort of stratified mini environment.
Below is a picture I took over the summer at Yellowstone national park of sapphire pool. The colors are amazing!

Flow

The process of flowing went well. A lot of experimentation went into the process. The images I have posted show the different kinds of methods I used. Flowing on to a piece of paper with pigment on the ramp. Flowing from one paper onto the one with dry pigment. And mixing pigment with water on and off the ramp like the dry pigment. The most successful pieces were done with mixed water and pigment solutions. I like the effect of the contrast of black and white on the black paper

Carborundum

I chose for my verb project for ceramics today. Flow. The idea that has evolved from "flow" is to create an art machine to be able to create prints with powdered pigments and other various powders used in glaze and clay making primarily.
Earlier today I did a small mock up of an art machine with Mylar, a litho stone, water and carborundum. I propped the Mylar on the litho stone at a 45 degree then sprinkled some 200 grit carborundum on top and sprayed water on it letting the powder flow onto a sheet of paper. This is the image on the left.
I then created a similar experiment by putting water on my mylar first then the carborundum on top. I kept the mylar at a horizontal orientation. After applying the carborundum I then moved and manipulated my Mylar to let the water drip off. Since the carborundum is heavy it did not flow off the Mylar as I expected. The image on the right is a monotype that I created with this process then sending it through the press.
Comparing these tests to the previous post of the Himalayas I can conclude that the experiment was a success.
Things to consider for a bigger application are: amount of water and speed/volume of the flow, the size and texture of the paper as well as the ability to withstand water, and lastly the ability of particle travel.
Some things I should consider on a small scale is how the particles react with each other. Some may wash others away or attract them. It is possible to consider putting some sort of fixative between the layers or letting nature take its path. I could also alter the flow of material by placing items to resist flow of water. For this I am considering using crystals I have at home to create different shapes in a fun way that is meaningful to me.
This experiment has led to curiosity of many things in printmaking. For example doing a solar plate using the pattern created on the Mylar to do an interesting exposure. I could even take this to a large scale with photopositive lithography.
I also learned that carborundum is abundant not on earth, but in star dust and meteors in my favorite place, space.

First blog EVER

Half of the week has passed. I am working on verbs for a ceramic project, reading about the Benin people for art history and exploring color therapy in printmaking.
The verbs that I have narrowed my search to are: sense, enlighten, and flow, sketches have yet to come.
The monotype I was working on in printmaking today was a failed experiment. The lithography ink was too stiff or not applied heavy enough. This is the first time I have tried using lithography ink in this manner. There is a chance that I can possibly save the image with more layers on top of the image I currently have.
The theme that I am working with in printmaking is duality between the spiritual and physical world; narrowing my focus to color therapy and chakras for the spiritual, and satellite images, rocks and mineral structure for the physical world.
So that was my first blog, ever.
I have attached two pictures; one of the failed experiment and one of a satellite image of the Himalayas that is completely breath taking.
Enjoy,
Stashia