Knitting Up a Storm

So...after a long holiday from domesticity, I am back knitting up a storm. I can only make so many scarves and mittens, however, before everyone I know is the proud (or not so proud) owner of my handiwork.

It was until I stumbled upon Knit-a-Square. This organization makes blankets for AIDS orphans in South Africa using donated 8x8 squares sent to them from people all over the world. All you need to do is knit a square using whatever yarn you have, send it off, and it will be used to keep someone warm during the cold winter months. I've been accumulating a small pile of knitted squares in my dining room, waiting until I have enough to send off. They accept donations as little as 3 squares, and as large as...well, no limit really.

For more info, and knitting instructions, please visit http://www.knit-a-square.com/index.html

A URL for Moi? Aww, you shouldn't have...

Oh, it has been quite a long time since I posted anything here, and for that I apologize.

However, I do have some good news! I am in the process of developing my own website to post my artwork, and a small blog to keep everyone up to date. So, I will be slowly transitioning over to:

www.saraelaw.net

Please be aware that it is still under construction, but I will be sure to let you know when the site is in working order. Exciting, isn't it? :D

4th Year Thesis Work

During my last year at McMaster, I was interested in the body, especially in regards to healing, death, identity, and the emotional connection to tattoos. I equated fabric and unstretched canvas with skin, stitching into my work and staining it with ink and acrylic paint. I wanted the message/inspiration of my work to be slightly subversive. The looser style is a large step away from my previous work, where I meticulously stressed about every detail. I really enjoyed not worrying about making perfect brush strokes, and found that the finished work was far more energetic and expressive.

Death Amongst Us, various fabrics, acrylic, ink, and thread, ~ 5' x 6'

(2007)

Death Amongst Us, detail
(Note: Detail is listed clockwise from the far left panel.)

Death Amongst Us, detail(2)

Death Amongst Us, detail(3)

Death Amongst Us, detail(4)

Death Amongst Us, detail(5)

Healing Series (Panel 1), acrylic, ink, fabric marker, and thread on unstretched canvas
3' x 7'
(2007)

Healing Series (Panel 1), detail

Healing Series (Panel 2), acrylic, ink, fabric marker, and thread on unstretched canvas
3' x 7'
(2007)

Healing Series (Panel 2), detail

Healing Series (Panel 3), acrylic, ink, fabric marker, and thread on unstretched canvas
3' x 7'
(2007)

Healing Series (Panel 3), detail

Healing Series (Panel 3), detail of stitching

Healing Series (Panel 4), acrylic, ink, fabric marker, and thread on unstretched canvas
3' x 7'
(2007)

Healing Series (Panel 4), detail

Healing Series (Panel 4), detail(2)

Untitled (Panel 1), fabric, thread, acrylic, pencil and ink on stretched canvas
16" x 18"
(2008)

Untitled (Panel 1), detail

Untitled (Panel 2), fabric, thread, acrylic, pencil and ink on stretched canvas
16" x 18"
(2008)

Untitled (Panel 2), detail

Christmas Commissions

During the holiday season, I try to make as many gifts as possible by hand to rid myself of the commercialism that is the secular version of Christmas.
This landscape painting was commissioned for my grandmother. When I started oil painting at the age of 10, I thought the only "acceptable" subject was nature. Obviously, I have shaken off such narrow thinking. These days I usually don't have much interest in landscapes, but I found myself really having fun with colour in this piece. Gran really liked it when she found it under the Christmas tree, so that's all that really matters to me.

Landscape, acrylic on canvas board, 24 x 36
(2007)

Landscape, detail

Landscape, detail(2)

I created the painting below for my dear friend, Lee. It is based on a few of his arm tattoos (black & grey) but I wanted to add some colour. Lately I've been using a very loose brush technique, so I applied the same attitude to this piece. The work was done on unstretched canvas for easy transport. He seemed to like the work as well, so...yeah!

Given Wings, acrylic and ink on unstretched canvas, ~ 3' x 5'
(2007)

Given Wings, detail

Given Wings, detail(2)

Past Work - Paintings

The work below was done with acrylic on canvas, and completed between September 2005 - April 2007. Goth Girl and Circuits & Wires were exhibited in Ferguson Cottage at the Cambridge Sculpture Garden from Nov. 24-27, 2006 (Cambridge, ON).

Goth Girl, acrylic on canvas with silk ribbon, 4' x 4'

(2005)

Goth Girl, detail

Nurse So Sad, acrylic on canvas, 18" x 20"
(2005)

Nurse So Sad, detail

Metamorphosis, acrylic on canvas with iridescent paint, 8' x 5'

(2006)

Metamorphosis, detail

Circuits & Wires, acrylic on canvas, oil pastels, electrical wires, and metallic marker, 4' x 4'
(2006)

Circuits & Wires, detail

Circuits & Wires, detail

Secret Thoughts, Hidden Desires, acrylic on canvas, 3 panels at 3' x 5'
(2007)

Secret Thoughts, Hidden Desires, left panel detail

Secret Thoughts, Hidden Desires, middle panel detail

Secret Thoughts, Hidden Desires, right panel detail

First Post!

Hello and welcome to my humble corner of the World Wide Web. This blog will be updated periodically with my latest artwork, and I shall rant and rave about what influences me. Basically, this blog is to get my name out there so I can pay my horrendous student loans. *sigh* Oh, the life of a graduate! Anyway, if you have any questions by all means please contact me or leave a comment. I am sure that this blog will bring me/you great joy and provide an excellent place for me to display my work. Yeah for new beginnings! ~S