You know, I just really love that we're still talking about the Ocean Virtual Artist Residency!

It may have ended weeks ago, but the inspiration, like the ocean itself, just keeps on flowing. And I'm so very proud that fiber art is playing a part in that!

I'm one of two artists who used crochet in our work for the exhibition, and this behind-the-scenes blog post that Frieda just shared gives you a peek into the creative processes from all nine artists. It's beautifully written, has tons of great pictures, and I really love the title they chose: How Art and the Ocean Came Together.

Read the full blog post here: Moku Art Studio Blog – Ocean II Virtual Residency Recap​

(And yes that IS my handspun with an ocean view in the picture!)

If you've been curious about what the residency was like or what the other artists created, this is a great place to explore more. You can also see just how diverse and personal our connections to the ocean really are.

So go check it out when you have a few minutes to read through it all!

If you haven't yet seen my project from this residency, it's a large scale three-part handspun and crocheted tapestry called SAND and SEA and SKY:

You can see more pictures, including a gallery for the making of each skein of handspun, and read my artist statement over on my website.

Looking at this piece again, particularly in the context of the exhibition (it's hanging on the wall in my studio, but it has already become part of the background!) and remembering just how profound the experience was... Well, it's got me thinking about that connection with the ocean again and I'm feeling that magical pull of the water. Perhaps it's time for another beach day!

One of the other ideas I had when I was planning for this residency project was for a series of tapestries inspired by different seashore views around Oahu. At least four, I think, one each for the northern and southern shores, plus a windward and leeward view, as well. There are so many famous beaches on the island, though! It would be hard to choose.

But what stories might they whisper, all lined up on the wall together? Tall and narrow glimpses of the horizon that circles around us, holding us steady even when we forget that it's there.

Gosh, now I want to go paint, too!

What would you think about an Island Abstracts collection next year?

A calendar and cards featuring some of my color studies inspired by my time here on the islands of Hawaii, perhaps. I already have both seaside and mountainside paintings from Molokai!

And I do also have several seaside inspired crochet designs in the works already...

Speaking of which, have you seen how the beach crab shawl turned out!?

Talk about fiber ART, right!?

She could totally just hang on my wall and make me happy.

She's still on display at the Pearl City Library, though! (That's still a surreal experience, seeing my work there when we stop by each week for more books.)

But I love it.

I really hope that my work with these residency programs, sharing it all with you here and on Patreon, showing it in public spaces, working up the courage to submit some of it for juried art shows... Yikes, that's coming up soon!!

My hope is that it will inspire others to think bigger for their own fiber art. To begin thinking of themselves as artists, too.

Do YOU call yourself an artist? You should! Creativity comes in so many different forms. From yarn and hooks or needles to making meals in the kitchen or growing flowers in your garden.

If you've ever dreamed of calling yourself ARTIST or CREATIVE and have hesitated—don't wait for permission. The title is yours already; you need only claim it.

If you make things, if you notice beauty out in the world around you, if you feel called to create? You're already on that path.

And the world is better with your creativity in it.

So. Be kind to your creative self! And, I'm curious... what will you make next?

Until next time.

-Connie

P.S. Chicken update! Here are three of Dipper's four babies; yes, they're still all running around! Starting to get into that awkward looking adolescent stage already, too.