michelle ward

LOVE LETTERS

I was cleaning out my kids backpacks (we just finished school last week) and their folders were covered in doodles - mostly band names and logos.  My folders looked the same, way back in junior high.  As a side note, it's pretty cool that some of the band names I found on my kids folders were the same as the ones I had drawn...KISS, Queen, Zep...

What I wanted to point out today is that my love affair with fonts began with Rock and Roll.  Think about it....studying the lettering, trying to draw the logos exactly like the album cover was an introduction to fonts.  I loved when a band kept the same typography for every album.  Some bands changed their lettering every year which was such a nuisance.  Type and logos go hand in hand. 

Band recognition. 

I love alphabets.  I've designed several over the years, and have collected dozens as stamps, stencils, and punches.  I've carved 4 sets of alphabets.  Now I collect fonts for my latest obsession with digital art.  I don't know where I'm going with the digital art but it's a really fun adventure as I'm teaching myself how to use it.  My dream would be to get into designing band merchandise, or maybe album covers.  How cool would that be?

Once again, it circles back to loving Rock and Roll.  Crank it up.

HUGE HUGE HUGE

Dale Chihuly paints HUGE.  Gotta love a man who paints with a broom.  Paint flies out from a squirt bottle onto a canvas.  He's quick, he's random, he thinks HUGE.

His glass is HUGE.  I've been a fan since seeing an installation years ago.  I love his dvd set.....glass globes floating down the canals in Venice.  You can see the man and his team in action.  HUGE tendrils, wild color, daring, dangerous, fantastical, fun.

Starting this weekend, you can see Chihuly's latest installation at the New York Botanical Gardens.  Tickets must be purchased ahead for a specific time and day.  http://www.nybg.org/chihuly.php

At his site you can see his paintings: http://www.chihuly.com/drawings/working/001.html

Then go see his gallery of glass.  And if you're not in the New York area here is his schedule for 2006:  http://www.chihuly.com/schedule.html

 

Wishful thinking......

The Power of NO

Saying no to one thing, means saying yes to so much more. 

It's not easy to say no, is it? 

I struggle with it daily...well weekly. 

But I've realized that freedom follows when I have the guts to say no -  there is much less guilt offering an honest no than trying to fulfill a promise that isn't heartfelt.

Schools, neighbors, friends, family.....we don't have to say yes to everything everytime. 

We have talent to offer, but we sometimes need to be selfish about our time - even time that is not productive is still worth something. 

Chilling with family.  Reading a book.  Researching a favorite subject.  Painting your toes.  Journaling for yourself.

A dear friend reminded me that I need to wear my "boundary suit" more often - thanks for that. xxoo

It's summer - say yes to YOU.

Sneak Peek

I'm working on some new alphabets.....

very labor intensive but very fun!

I have three coming to Green Pepper Press soon.

Stay tuned!

Dead Poet's Society

Recently I picked up the book Stairway to Heaven.  It's about the burial places of famous rock stars.  Pretty cool. 

I'm working in an altered book right now that began as a tribute to Edgar Allan Poe but is turning into a Dead Poet's journal.....as I have been investigating where poets are buried and the stories surrounding their deaths. Judi just gave me a great book "The Poe Shadow" which is adding to my obsession.

A few weeks ago I took some pictures in a little local graveyard before the grass started growing and it still looked kinda spooky.  It was for a project I can tell you about this fall. 

I'm fascinated by cemetery photos - love the iron gates, stone finials, and carved sentiments.  I've driven past Green-Wood in Brooklyn but never had the time to stop off to shoot it.  Some day.

EDIT:  Kim reminded me of the fantastic cemetery in Queens - Calvary.  Need to get photos from there too. 

If you live near a famous poet's grave I'd love to have a photo......and maybe some grave dirt to add to my collection.  I'll trade ya something.

EDIT:  Just received a sweet offer from Maj in Germany to collect grave dirt from Hans Christian Andersen's grave in Denmark when she visits there soon. She asked if I was serious.....YES I AM! Thanks Maj!