Lily S. May–Life with Art
Before I took up feltmaking, I worked for a few years making quilts and appliqués . While making appliqués from cotton fabric, I ventured into using synthetic felt for the ease of cutting the shapes and sewing them. I then began learning about real felt--I mean material made from wool. And thought I'd try my hand… Continue reading What Lead Me to Feltmaking
I've been thinking about the work I've done in the past, some of which I have hanging on walls I walk past daily. One media I greatly enjoyed working with was wool. For several years, I used merino wool roving to make small felt wall hangings, purses and ornaments. I used the wet felting method which… Continue reading Feltmaking
Here are the origami models I mentioned in the last post. I made them from parts of an abstract linocut, Introspection, which I printed in the 1970s and recently coloured with pigment markers. I then thought of making a larger pinwheel envelope out of waxed paper. I put the others inside where they could be… Continue reading Mail Art Origami & Waxed Paper
I often find that during the process of making art work, I experience physical pain from repetitive movements. Oil painting at an easel was the only pain free work that I’ve done. And so, a few weeks ago, I took a break from making booklets out of old prints and rose from sitting to standing. … Continue reading Small Collages Out of Old Prints
Surprise fold booklet by Lily S. May, 2013I did indeed use the fold out booklet I wrote about on Feb. 2 as a model. Again, I was happily surprised at the variation that I discovered. Booklet with surprise folds by Lily S. May, 2013This mail art booklet is 5” from point to bottom and 2 ½”… Continue reading Surprise Folds
I’ve received my first mail art, in response to work I sent out in early February. Hélène Lacelle of Goop Gallery in Ottawa sent me three terrific pages of an altered book in a floral plastic sleeve. These were enclosed in a brightly printed envelope. In my eagerness to see the work, I peeled off… Continue reading First Mail Art Received
Fold Out Booklet made from old linocut by Lily S. May, 2013I’ve continued turning some of my old prints into booklets and sending them out as mail art. The one I’ll show you today I’ll be keeping for a while. It’s a happy accident that I want to use for reference for other booklets. I… Continue reading Fold Out Booklet as Mail Art Model
Mirrors of the Heart--some of the cards in the deck--by Lily S. May, copyright 1994Like it or not, it’s Valentine’s Day. And because of that, I’m offering up some hearts from the card deck I made in 1994. Mirrors of the Heart grew out of my interest at that time in tarot cards. I thought… Continue reading Mirrors of the Heart Card Deck
I’ve sent out another booklet as mail art, this time to a friend who’s also an artist. This was the first book I complied. It’s made of two prints. I placed the smaller book upside down inside the large one and sewed them together. Kapoks Touching, which you can see in my last post, forms… Continue reading Old Prints, New Booklets & Mail Art 2
I’ve made many linocuts and woodcuts since the 1970s, some of which I’ve sold and given as gifts or hung on my walls. But I have a great many that I’ve stored in a box and carried with me. They’ve been accusing me of neglect for several years. I have finally, this month, begun paying… Continue reading Old Prints, New Booklets & Mail Art
Arts of May 