Local Art

Paper Doll postcards are now for sale at a local Vermont-made boutique - Candles and Creations, in South Burlington. I am a huge fan of ego-boosts, and dropping the cards off at the shop was so great. I love it when people love my work. Who doesn't?


If you are around the Burlington area, do drop in at this lovely shop. The owners, Casey and Heather, are two very talented women living my dream of owning their own art shop and having their studios right in the store. They have been scouting Etsy and other art + craft areas for local people with new and neat things for sale, and the shop is a terrific collection of area talent. Candles, jewelry, paintings, bags, cards, games, wood pieces, and so much more. And now my little cards! Thank you so much, ladies!

On the subject of local art, this weekend was Burlington's South End Art Hop. I only made it to a couple locations (Cirque du Soleil in Boston took precedence this weekend, can you blame me?), but I did stop in at the Flynndog and saw the exhibit of Bread and Puppet flags and sculptures. Standing surrounded by these huge pieces that are used for such real and honest purposes was truly powerful. I have such an immense respect for the work that the Bread and Puppet people have done for such a long, long time.

New Studio

Here are a few photos of my new studio/office. Its small, and somewhat cramped (especially right now because there are still more art supplied to find proper put-away places for), but it makes me so happy! I have a window that opens to the back yard and our neighbors' terrific sunflower garden, I have a closet, and best of all, the room has a proper ceiling* and is right off the dining room. It feels real.

It is a bit small, and it does double as a guest room, but I have put that to my advantage, using a stack of twin mattresses for a table. I think its a rather ingenious solution, thank you! They can be spread out for a makeshift guest bed (takes up the whole entire room!), and when they are stacked they are the perfect height!


And the walls still need that coat of white paint. That will feel good.


My cds are in here because they are too embarrassing to have out in public (mid 90's alt-rock hits anyone? Remember the Calling?)


And yes, I already need to tidy! That's what having a studio is all about though: it's totally being used. So much in the works already.


*I have read that ceiling height has been linked with creativity, with higher ceilings being more inspirational. At my old house, my studio was spread out over the upstairs, and I really do think the low, slanted, dormer ceilings were somewhat a stifling. So a proper, square ceiling has been my dream for quite some time. And it came true! How lucky am I?!

Ms. Nellie Ashford, Painter

I met Nellie Ashford at the New Taste of Stowe Arts Festival. She is a very special exhibitor, coming all the way from Charlotte, NC under often very difficult circumstances. Nellie is a self-titled Folk Artist, her paintings are mainly of families, children, dancers - they are all lively and vibrant and loving. Nellie told me that as a Folk Artist, she can do what she wants, break the rules! Her pieces are combinations of painted imagery and collaged fabrics.

Nellie gave me this piece after the second festival. I am so very honored to have it.

Some Prints

A very dear friend from High School visited this weekend, and we managed to get in some quality printing time together. Actually, once we started, we could hardly stop! It was great fun working together - we had no specific ideas in mind when we started, and we both worked on all the pieces, adding touches separately or together. Th big pieces are my favorite, but they don't fit on the scanner bed, so I will show them when I figure out how to get a good picture.




All images are water-based printing inks on rice paper. Around 5x6 inches.

Festivals #2 and #3

Festival #2 was the Southern Vermont Arts Festival, held right outside Manchester, VT, and the Hildene's Meadow - a beautiful field on the Lincoln Family estate (Abe's son lived there). I didn't get a chance to visit the house, now a museum, but have heard it is wonderful.


The festival was terrific. An awful lot of work (I was thoroughly exhausted at the end of the day, mainly just from talking to so many people!). But really a lot of fun as well. There are so many amazing exhibitors, and their work is just incredible.



Festival #3 was a last minute super-surprise! A brand new music festival at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center found itself with no art exhibitor coordinators just days before the show. Step up Craftproducers! We were able to organize a really great mix of artists for the show, and we got to go enjoy the festival! Gillian Welsh, Steve Earl, the Swell Season, Levon Helm, and, get this, Bob Dylan. It was pretty awesome. I didn't get photos of the exhibitors, but here's one of the stage!

1/6

Re-located while cleaning. A copper plate intaglio print I made last year. I also did a painting of this image. For a while, I was very interested in the female back. I didn't want this to be a seductive type of pose, more of a casual stretch. Not sure if it comes through or not. But I like the print.

Another Day, Another Festival

I am getting ready to drive South, down to Manchester, Vermont for the Southern Vermont Art and Craft Festival this weekend. Tomorrow is setup day, the festival opens Friday. See you there?!


Sometimes little things make me feel quite clever, and I would like to share this one with you. Several weeks ago I had a hankering for waffles. I think those berries brought it on. In a handy moment, I made an extra large batch and stuck the extras in the freezer. Now I can just pop a few in the toaster and violà! Breakfast in a flash!


I do realize that other people thought of this way ahead of me. But my own waffles are so much tastier, and quite probably healthier. So I do feel clever.

New Taste of Stowe - Part II

I made it to the field about 10am on Thursday, in time for the exhibitor check in. It was really great to finally meet in person and put faces to all those names I have been seeing over the past several months at this job. Not so great were the heavy rainclouds that hung persistently about and periodically dropped buckets of rain on our heads and on the festival field and all the gravel (subsequently mud) roads throughout. It was a fairly dismal day, made exciting by events but with an ever-present fear that this might just be the weekend's forecast.




Imagine our feelings of relief when 6am the following morning brought bright blue skys and mountains glistening from the overnight thunderstorm. Friday was a gorgeous day. We finished the set up and the public began to arrive as soon as the gates were open. It was not a mad crowd, that would have been an unusual - although certainly acceptable - turn of events for a Friday morning. But it was satisfactory. This was our first festival of the season, but some of the exhibitors reported that at other festivals, attendance has been down by some 20-50%. We had significantly better results than those, but the current economic situation was apparent. Interesting how that works.


I spent most of Friday touring the tents, meeting and chatting with exhibitors. There are some really wonderful people who attend this show - I am looking forward to seeing several of them again in Manchester, VT next weekend!



Saturday, I had to make a trip to Syracuse, New York to visit another festival - it was a big weekend!

New Taste of Stowe Arts Festival!

This weekend all the work of the last seven months starts to pay off - our first Art Festival of the Season! If you are local, please do come by, there are some really amazing artists and artisans selling their work, and the food is going to be simply incredible. The show is in Stowe, Vermont, a top-quality resort town for those unfamiliar with the area, and several of said resorts will be attending the show, offering spa treatments and gourmet menu samples. If you are in the area, you can visit craftproducers.com for details.

We are so hoping for these crazy thunderstorms to pass on by!

A Playful Pup

Acrylic on 2x2" stretched canvas.

Patriotic?

I am not sure what exactly I was going for with this one, it ended up looking quite patriotic, or something to that effect. So be it. I like profiles.

Recent Paintings

I am going to show these one at a time over the next few days. They are all acrylic on 2x2" canvas, and all are or will be available in my shop. Have a great week!

A new venture...

A few months ago my Craigslist.org perusing landed me an antique Chandler and Price tabletop letterpress, formerly of the Pioneer village near Port Henry, NY. It is currently sitting in my mudroom, as I slowly find and accumulate the necessary parts to make it run. A trip to some antique stores while in Tucson early in the spring resulted in this beautiful little collection:


And I have just received notice that two sets of beautiful cursive font I ordered have been sent! Now I need to spend some quality time with a wire brush and get the press into working order. There are several other parts still needed, including all the necessaries for putting the type together and setting it in the press - if anyone out there has suggestions on where to find these things on a very limited budget, I would love to hear from you!


I am incredibly excited about the metal type, but there is something about wood letters that just gets me. The lower case "e" especially - I could have bought en entire army of those happy little fellows.

Cactus

Wouldn't these textures and patterns be interesting in ink?

Hot Glass

While I was in Tucson I dug out the copper enamel supplies and spent two days thoroughly engaged in pendant, wine charm and mini-platter making. This is a magical medium, where fairly dull glass dust and small pieces of copper are placed in an oven and something mysterious and wonderful happens and jewels emerge. It is truly amazing.


And - should I admit this? - it actually takes very little talent because it is really quite difficult to make something that does not turn out beautiful. And if something is not to ones liking, a little more glass can be added and back into the oven it goes! A constant amazement and surprise - nothing ever turns out the same twice in a row. One can have an approximation of what will happen, and there are plenty of people with incredible patience who make all sorts of intricate designs and painting-like pieces, but I am always way too excited to see what is going to happen and too thrilled with my somewhat fateful results to become very technically skillful.

Oh well. But aren't they gorgeous?





(These are headed to a little art festival in Virginia)

Ode to a Master

Carl Larsson has long been a favorite artist of mine. The colors are just amazing, but I also had a coloring book as a child, obviously in black and white, and it was fascinating. So what is it? The glimpse into his world? The incredibly wonderful detail in each piece? I don't know. I love it all.


Flower Window


Carpenter Hellberg's Children

And if you like those, check out this one - what would you do for those shoes? (slipper?) And the headscarf! And the apron! Those colors! And check out this pinafore! When I have children, I have a strong premonition that Carl Larsson will be highly referenced...

And bedrooms. For years, a certain amazing cupboard bed (of which I cannot find a photo - I just spent a good half hour searching people - where can it be?) was my idea of the absolutely perfect place to dream, but I just saw this one and I have to say, those curtains...? embroidered canopy? Built in benches? (having fun with the links? oh dear!)

I think I figured it out. The reason I love Carl Larsson so much is that his paintings are so inviting. I feel that I could just move in. And I have a feeling that I would not regret it.

It seems that more and more, the art I love somehow relates to how I want to live. As I grow older, I begin to think more about why it is that certain artwork speaks to me. Pieces that I have loved for years, I begin to look at again and more closely, trying to discern what these preferences tell me - about the choices I make in my own artwork, my surroundings, and other, unexpected, aspects of my life.

Carl Larsson's world is something for which I will continue to strive.

Images from Scandinavian Treasures

Fun with Food

Potato prints! I had not made any potato prints for ages and ages, but was inspired by needing a project for two young boys to whom I teach art. So I broke out the potatoes and the exacto knife and set about making a prototype.

It was fun. Why do I not do this more often? So easy, so necessarily simple, so satisfying.

In a Holiday theme, I cut out a steaming mug (of cocoa I presume) and a snowflake, and printed in red block printing ink. After a few tests, I recalled the big package of white tissue I had recently acquired. Soon a sheet was covered in cheerful red snowflakes and I was determined to hand-make all my wrapping paper for the year!



As it turns out, I had many other things to take up my time, and after a little more fun with potatoes and ink during the boys class, no more printing took place. And so I had one sheet of precious handprinted tissue, which was promptly used and now sorely missed.

Perhaps I will have to make Spring tissue paper!

Splatter Creatures

These are a few pictures of my favorite piece made during my splatter and drip experiment a few weeks back.


I especially like the little amoeba/spider shapes in the ink. I think this one is trying to learn to play ping-pong and dance at the same time. At least it (he? she?) is having fun!


Here, two shapes meet (on the middle-left). They aren't completely sure of each other, but they will cautiously try. The one on the right, meanwhile, has dropped a jar of raisins and is trying to collect them all before someone else comes and eats them up.

Is this an art project or an ink splot test?

Living Traditional Arts

I have (finally) gotten around to updating my parents website, Living Traditional Arts. We are still trying to figure out what, exactly, is the purpose of the site, but for now it is a portfolio of the various artistic mediums in which they work, and also includes some work of family and friends. The idea is a gallery of the ongoing life of traditional arts, I guess.


Check out the quilts especially - there are quite a few pictures of my great-grandmother's quilts. Gorgeous, and a bit intimidating in their complexity.

A Dilemma

This painting is a conundrum. It was done in the past year, mainly (if I may be quite honest) to fill the quota of finished pieces for a painting class. It isn't really my style. I keep expecting to see a small, very fast cartoon creature go zipping past.


Problem is, I just can't seem to whitewash it as I did the others. There is something about it that stays my hand, while simultaneously driving me nuts.

Perhaps it is one of the pieces that must be given away...

Whitewash II

Here are some of the paintings I spoke of last time. Unfortunately for explanation purposes, I seem to have never taken pictures of the paintings in their original form. For my own purposes, I couldn't care less. Like I said, they weren't exactly my favorite pieces!




Now, of course, comes the question of what to do next? I am fairly confident something will come to me for the first two, the last one is just seeming a tad bit scary. Any ideas?

(I have been tagged by Sherry to share 6 Habits - coming tomorrow...)

oo, I'm Featured!

Very exciting! Erica from FiddleLee just featured me on her Etsy Treasures Blog. There are some pictures of my work that is for sale on Etsy, and an interview. Thank you so much Erica! I'm so honored!

What a mess!

I took a stab at drip painting last night. Or perhaps, in my case, "squirt and dribble painting" would be a better way of describing it. I had an brilliant idea and visions of nicely dripped figures, but as you can see, things didn't go exactly as planned.


The "brilliant" idea was to thin some acrylic paint with liquid enamel, put it in a plastic bag, and squirt it out like frosting. Thinking it over, this technique might work great on a large canvas (I will have to try it and report back), but on the small surfaces I was using, it was all just rather silly. And messy.



Sometimes the paint went where I intended, at other times it shot out unexpectedly in the opposite direction. My kitchen resembled the scene of a horrible accident, but I did have a fun time and that was really the point afterall.



After the red paint, I added drops of India ink with an eyedropper. More mess, more fun.

I have some other projects in the works... more on them later!

I'm putting up my shingle...

Isn't that what it's called, when you open up shop?

Today I finally placed some items for sale on Etsy. I signed up in - May? I think? - and it has taken me this long to overcome the mental block of putting my stuff out there. I think I subscribe to the philosophy, albeit involuntarily, that as long as things are not tried, there is always the possibility that they will work. Conversely, there is no chance that they will not work, which I think is more to the point. But of course that means that there is also no opportunity that they will work, so I am attempting to overcome that way of thinking and jump right in!


The first jump is five paintings, listed this afternoon. I realize that fine art, and especially paintings such as these, might not be the biggest sellers on Etsy, geared as it is towards jewelry and other more crafty items. I plan to list some other things soon, dolls and bags and the like. I would love if you would have a look, and I would really love feedback on the whole affair (especially from those experienced in the ways of Etsy)!

A beautiful painter

I just received my copy of ArtNews in the mail, and learned that the painter Elizabeth Murray has died. Now, I didn't actually know who Elizabeth Murray was - my recognition of the names of modern artists is embarrassingly limited, I mean, there are just so many of them! But after reading the page about her in the magazine, I went looking online, and I am just so enthralled with her work!

In reading a bit more about Murray, I came across this quote: ..."deep down, most artists are on the edge of feeling that what they do is absolutely meaningless - and that's the fun of it" (original article here). It is so reassuring to hear that, coming from a professional artist who has gained worldwide recognition for her work. Reassuring in that my own periodic sense of this meaninglessness is validated, and encouraging in that Murray found it to be a source of joy.

I think that this takes a different way of perceiving reality than do most other aspects of life - a desire for fulfillment on another level and an ability to let go of, perhaps unconscious, restrictions and limitations. It inspires me to think in this way.

Pen and Ink

"Cam in front of the American Flag" ink on paper, 2007

I like this drawing because it is ironic - to me that is. Our flag has complicated significance to me, representing all the incredible things that are the United States of America, as well as the horrors we have committed and endured. The drawing say this to me, while I imagine that to anyone else it is simply a sketch. I guess the simplest things can have extended meanings in the right circumstances.

Art Exhibit

For those of you in or around Burlington Vermont, there will be a new art exhibit opening this evening at Studio STK on North St. The artist is Andrew Reach, and he is a wonderful man with a pretty amazing story that you can read on his website. The show is called "Whimsies, Conflicts and Desires" and the artwork are large digital paintings. We hung the work yesterday, and the rooms just came alive with the colors! They are truly gorgeous.

Always running late...

I finally finished my gown, am I too late? When a girl has to go to work, and coddle her sweetheart, and walk the dog, things like ball gowns get horribly neglected.


I am making up, though, with flounces and ruffles and silk.


Perhaps it is time to break open the champagne and dance with the puppy in the moonlight! (don't worry, I know she is too young to drink).



(permission to use this dress in the Ball Book excitedly granted!)

The Bloglandia Ball

It's nearly time for the Ball and do I have a dress? of course not! It will be here this evening though, never fear!

Another pen sketch

Vases in a Window

My original ink drawing...


With some colors...


And a bit more color...


I call it Vases in a Window. I have decided I am a pragmatist artist. Perhaps I can start a new movement; pragmatic art. Ordinary scenes with literal titles, made and shown without any extra fluff or hoopla. Maybe by adding color I am selling out before the movement even starts? oh dear.

Rainy Day

Some favorite finds on this rainy day...



(spell it with flickr application lets you spell things with flickr)

Maggie Sherman spotlighted on the cover ofArt Map Burlington this month. Maggie is just amazing, so inspiring and I was excited to see her spotlight!

Painter's Keys - a website with info and advice for artists. I didn't actually just find this one today, but I hadn't posted about it before and I think it is neat.

Now I intend to make some things of my own. Results will follow...

Happy Sunday!

Another drawing

I did this drawing over the last couple days, in between visiting with an out-of-town friend, going swing-dancing, working, and trying to decide if adopting a dog is really a good idea. Decisions!

Obsessive?

A question for you...

The first, the original. A drawing I did recently, quenching an (obsessive?) impulse for minute pattern-ing.



The second, after scanning and Illustrator re-imaging.



I can't decide which I like more. What do you think?

Bread and Puppet

We took a Sunday trip to the Bread and Puppet Theatre in Glover VT recently. I had been last summer, and had been wanting to return ever since, mainly because the huge puppets, the basic materials, and the overall genius of the place are so inspiring. It seems to me they just have it figured out. I am sure everyone puts insane amounts of work into the production and the puppets and all, but they make it look so effortless and fun. I leave thinking how complicated I make things, how I put things off because I don't have exactly the right paintbrush, or wire, or plain white cotton cloth. At Bread and Puppet, re-used cardboard boxes seem to be the most common base. Black and white paints are the most common materials. And they create absolute magic.

How NOT to sell...

I am brainstorming and conniving on how to put my artwork to good use, which at this point mainly translates into financial use. Personal evolvement uses, and connecting with others uses, and keeping in touch with myself uses are all very well and good, but I like to eat and I appreciate being warm in the winter and having cool drinks in the summer and I really like to travel. All those combined make the financial uses sort of float to the top of the uses pile of most things I do, although I have to say, in my favor (?), that they don't usually manage to block out any of the other uses, for which reason I am avoiding all bills (:

With these thoughts in mind, I came across this article, which I find incredibly enlightening...

Home again, home again... or almost

Well, I'm just about home. Back in the United States, heading home in a couple days. Belize was amazing - I taught art for four days to some really incredible children (the fifth day we went on a field trip - yikes!). There were about 140 of them in all, divided into four groups, so it was a lot of work. The youngest were about 3, and the oldest were maybe 15, with a general array in-between. Facilities were sad - rat poo on the rickety benches and a red ant infestation in our original classroom. And it was amazingly hot. But the kids were polite and helpful, and they totally got into each project and were excited and friendly and talented. I feel so lucky to have had the chance to visit and work with these people, and I hope to return!






Loads more pictures here, and more stories to come, if y'all don't mind...?

Art-to-Go

If you happen to be around the Burlington, Vermont area tomorrow evening, and are in need of something totally awesome to do, why not stop by Studio STK at 12 North Street and take in some crafty, do-it-yourself, handmade goodness! Chic and hip are the new "craft" buzzwords - you won't find any fitsy-futsy doo-dahs around here. What you will find are handcrafted jewelry, silkscreened clothing, ceramics and pottery, and quite a bit more!

If you don't happen to be in Burlington, but are feeling left out - come on up next month! or the month after! This is going to be a montly extravaganza (small art gallery style - I don't want to lead people astray with my enthusiasm).

Learn more about the whole deal over on my other blog, Art-to-Go!