Dolls

Whoo - I've been busy! Art Chicago was a blast and I have a gazillion photos to process and post in the near future. I've also been catching up on yardwork during this beautiful patch of weather, and its taking up a good chunk of my time.

I got the dolls in just under the wire! They were a whole lot more labor intensive than I had expected, but I think they came out well. There are some pearlescent powders mixed in with the paints so they have a glowy sheen to them - and the bottom halves all use real feathers.

I mailed them off today and can hardly wait to see what all the other participants have come up with. I'm hoping that the organizer will put together a Flickr group for the whole swap.


 

 

 

 

 

Etsy!

I put up the other birdstamp paintings that I've finished so far! Get them on etsy.

I'm having *such* a difficult time getting the aqua color to be picked up. I thought maybe it was just the scanner, so I set up a photo shoot in natural light today - and STILL, no aqua green came through. ARGH.

Whats worse is that the pictures end up coming out a little muddy looking, no matter how brilliant they are in person. Ive tinkered like mad in photoshop, and can't get it to work. ::sigh::

I'm just in love with this series, they are so luminescent - and I want that to translate online too. Especially because, once they sell, I will only have my digital pictures to remind me.

Link of the day!

Cool stuff today from the blogosphere!



The Anonnymous Photo Project

"The Anonymous Photo Project is a playful project in which camera packages are left in public places. People find the packages, take pictures, and return the cameras to the Project. Then we post them"

I just LOVE this idea, and wish I could duplicate it!! What a thrill it must be to receive a full camera, with all the promise it holds inside. Its like an everyday piece of wonder.



THINGS FOR SALE THAT I WILL MAIL YOU:

"If you give me $30 I will walk around New York, and the first homeless person I see I will buy him or her whatever he or she wants to eat (as long as it is less than $30). I will mail you back the exact change (minus the paypal fee and the cost of the postage stamp) with the receipt for the food and the name of the person who ate it.

* Kris Efland bought a really big Kentucky Fried Chicken meal and an orange drink from Nedick's for Regional Keith on W 33rd and Broadway on February 24, 2008.
* Joie Mikitson bought a bunch of groceries from Park Avenue Food Court for Francis on E 10th and 4th Ave on February 25, 2008.
* Bart Schouten bought a pizza full of every topping except anchovies from Johns' of Bleeker Street for Marvin who was in the Houston train stop for the 1 on February 28, 2008."

This whole project feels like a living poem to me. You can buy a minute of him thinking of nothing but you, an empty envelope he will mail you, an apology letter to someone he wronged - both you and the wronged individual will get a letter, and so much more!

I particularly love the po box, where he will send sporadic notes and quirky mail to the po box in NYC. (Id just have to find someone who could collect everything for me in NYC) Id also love love love to fund a semester of his grad school - where I'd get all the art he makes that semester.

The whole project is brilliant.

Artists Against Aids

Well, we successfully dropped off 7 paintings tonight for the Artist Against AIDs show, to be held later on this week!



I wanted to bring more, but I didn't have enough of them ready and framed. Ah well, there's always next year! I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a sale, because there are a number of things I'd love to invest in for my new studio setup.



The old and eccentric building the show had been held in previous years was torn down to make space for new condos. So the venue has moved to the old 1914 Orpheum Theatre, which is the current home to the children's science museum in the front lobby and mezzanine. The auditorium hasn't yet been renovated, and its going to house this years AAA show.

I'm glad they found a new setting that was a quirky and full of charm as the old one. (which was an old old bank)



Its a terrific cause and one I'm proud to be a part of. 50% of all proceeds go to The Greater Community AIDS Project (GCAP), a local non-profit agency providing support services for those affected by HIV/AIDS in our own backyard.

Art journal

This was just a fun little doodle, done in acrylic.

I haven't gotten much done in the past few days, but I'm desperate to jump on it soon. There's the swap deadline approaching, and my local area holds the Artists Against AIDs show every year, and I would love to get a portrait or two done in time to submit them to the show.

Also upcoming is Art Chicago - which is a contemporary art extravaganza like nothing I have ever witnessed!! I can hardly wait. :)

There are a bunch of other art shows going on in my area this month as well - April is an amazingly busy time and its a brilliant way to stay motivated.

Etsy!

The Nature of Things
5.5 x 3 inches
Collage on mat board

These small funky collages were inspired by Ray Johnson. This collage highlights the oddities we encounter in life, both mundane and exotic.

Available on Etsy

In the works

I'm making progress! It was a cloudy day, so its hard to see the details with the pearlescence in the paint. I'm hoping that once they're done, I can catch a good sunny day for the best photos. :)

I'm done with the feathers, except on the smallest one - which is proving to be super tricky. I'llbe adding some trim, finish painting the tops, and then add the faces. (Im debating whether or not to add hands)

I thought about doing a set of Hindu Gods, but I don't think I could have given them away - and it might not have been appreciated by all walks of life. I do consider buying another blank set eventually, and making them for myself. :)

A tease

I've been working laboriously on the nesting dolls over the past three days! That means many many many layers of paint, pearlescent powders and the above feathers. The feathers didnt work out quite as gloriously as I had hoped, but they still have a nice effect.

I should have an actual progress pic for you tomorrow. In the meantime, its back to the grind for me!

In the light of friends

I went to visit a local friend and artist today. (Patience) It was so nice to just sit and chat about our lives, to catch up on our art careers, and to talk about the world at large. We travel in several of the same art circles online - so its easy to talk, without having to explain everything. What a joy.

I love having my online communities, but boy, I sure do wish I could sit, have some coffee, and really relate face to face. You just can't replace the energy that goes on in person.

One of the things I was able to share with Patience was my success with my brand-spanking-new lightbox! I had been saving for a professional light tent for a while, when I stumbled across some instructions online for a stupidly cheap DIY version! I made it yesterday, in time to photograph my matchboxes, and BOY what a difference it made.

I had fun playing around with the box, arranging little still lifes with some of my favorite collection. I just love teeny boxes and pottery!!



So in the near future, I'll be heading over to help take pictures of her wonderful papier mache creations, that really need good lighting to fully appreciate. I'll be sure to share some of them when we get them done!

Matchboxes

So I've been working on these boxes for a long time. I started them about a year ago, just before my bedroom flooded. They were a wonderful release after working on my self portrait, which was labor intensive, and something I felt like I needed to get exactly right.

When I got my studio back up and running recently, these were the things I was most excited about working on.


the backs of the matchboxes

Portraits

Stella in Violet
8 x 10 inches
Acrylic on canvas panel

This portrait shows a woman of purpose and strength - shes almost regal in her stature so it seemed befitting to paint her in a royal shade of purple.

Available on Etsy

I was so inspired by an Etsy front page the other day, that had just painted portraits - they were all so stunning. I then realized that I've been holding off on finishing my own self portrait... largely because I am afraid of ruining it, after having been away from it for so long.

I'm determined to change that! I want to relearn all of the good things I know, and pick up some new observations to bring to my own portrait. This portrait already reminded me of so many of my pitfalls - it was a terrific exercise that way.

So I'm putting out the call! I'd love volunteers for models. If you have a jpg of you or a family member that you're willing to let me practice with, just comment. I'd love to immortalize you. ;)

Doll swap

I'm so excited about this, I can hardly tell you. Abbey Hendrickson of Aesthetic Outburst is hosting a nested doll swap!



I love these dolls, and picked up this set in 1994, when I lived in Wurzburg Germany. I have an attraction to teeny things, and the smallest of this set of 9 is no bigger than a pea. They are definitely one of my favorite keepsakes from my time living abroad.

I was tickled when I heard about this swap - oh to have a set of uniquely made artist dolls! Immediately my mind jumped to the many many possibilities, and already I know that I'll have a hard time parting with the ones I make.

I purchased the set of 5 blank dolls from Golden Cockrel, as suggested, and cannot wait to get started. I'll be sure to post my progress as I go - the swap deadline is May 1, so I need to get cracking.

Etsy!

3.5 x 5.5 inches
Collage on mat board

These small funky collages were inspired by Ray Johnson. This one in a particular is an homage to the artist that inspires me so much.

This collage uses two layers of mat board for added dimension as well as textured papers.

Available on Etsy

Inspiration of the Month!

I stumbled across Matt Cipov on LJ a while back and was blown away by his work. I love his use of line, the crisp definition of his characters, the refrains that appear over and over again in his art, and how irreverent it all is. It delights me and I continue to find surprises long after I thought I'd figured it all out. :)

Matt no longer has an LJ account, but hints that there may be a new blog coming! I'll be sure to post a note when it happens.



What are your main inspirations in art?
I am inspired by all sorts of things that catch my eye... drawings from old books for children... strange animals I see at the zoo... words I glance at in books... people I see on the street... and even things like song lyrics have often grabbed me

What is your art background? (education, experience, etc)
I have always been drawn to art. It was my main focus in high school... from there I attended the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design from 1995 to 1999... after that I spent several years doing all sorts of things like corporate freelance, voice acting, sign making, and t-shirt designing. I got a bit burnt out in the corporate world in late 2005, so I ventured off on my own to become a self employed artist and designer. You can also catch my work at events like Chicago Renegade, at a number of online/brick and mortar boutiques or at gallery shows.



What is your process for creating your work?
I get little slivers of ideas, or concepts first. Then I go straight to the final art process where I do as little penciling as possible so I can render my ideas as fast as possible... before they don't seem to have as much impact as when I first thought them up. Then when I think a drawing is done, I set it aside for a while to allow myself to gain a bit of new perspective on it. If I feel like it needs a bit more work, I add new elements, or change things I see as problematic. When I feel like that process is done, I erase all my pencil marks and move on.

What is the single most important thing you want to communicate with your work?
The most important thing I want my art to say is that a lot of joy and passion went into the making of what I did. I want a person to look at one of my drawings and get a sense of the fun I have committing my lines and ideas to paper.



What are your career goals?
The only goal I have is to keep doing what I am doing with a sense that I am moving forward. I want to look back at each year of self employment under my belt and get a sense that I am making progress, or at the very least doing something that I see holding worth. I often disliked the reasoning, or motivations behind why I did most of my work when I had a desk job and I want to work to make sure what I do now has much more integrity and meaning.

Happily, I can say that I do feel that way.

What one object has been the most instrumental in helping you achieve what you have so far?
My handy, dandy, 100% trust worth PILOT BPS SERIES fine ballpoint pen... or more specifically, the huge amount of them that I have gone through while making art. My lines exist the way that they do because of this exact type of pen... and my art is almost completely anchored by my lines. After many years of finding the one tool I needed to make my art feel right, I found this pen... basically a common pen, but one with that can kick out a lot of ink in a lot of different ways, and it made me love making art even more.



Tell me three random things about you.
1. I have never broken a bone
2. I hold onto almost every fortune cookie fortune I get and I have been doing this for well over 10 years
3. I like to see myself as a very nice, whimsical person, but when I am feeling a bit down, I can have quite a temper. It isn't something I am proud of, but it is the truth.

Art journal

I love this little page! Maybe because its the bird theme again, which just seems to be speaking to me lately.