If you watched the film from yesterday, you saw several Gates docents, clad in official gray vests. They were there to answer questions, and were passing out saffron swatches. Scored one! It is a very special souvenir. I also managed to collect a lanyard from ebay. Here is the first page of my Gates Journal, completed only recently. Pages are 14" x 17". I will show more soon.
As I was trolling around on youtube to find some Gates footage, I found this one. A terrific view through the moving lens of a film maker and skateboarder. Shot and Directed by Coan Buddy Nichols and Rick Charnoski. They filmed as The Gates were being installed, (no part of the park sustained damage - no holes, just weights) then you get to ride along after the unfurling. They run into Albert Maysles (at 3:23), one of the directors of the HBO documentary, and caught footage of Christo and Jeanne-Claude (at 3:34) in Central Park (you could spot them there daily). In just under four minutes, these guys provide a real-life glimpse into the immensity of the project. Coan Nichols granted permission for me to share their short film here, courtesy of his company, SixStair.com Cool, right? Thanks Coan!
Look at those happy faces! Imagine what it felt like to finally see your dream realized. Beginning in 1979, the couple began the proposal process to the city of New York. Several administrations later, Mayor Michael Bloomberg gave the approval, and The Gates were installed in February 2005.
There is a terrific documentary that chronicles the journey. First aired on HBO, it is available on dvd through Amazon, and can be streamed with Amazon Prime, or on Hulu.com. More information can be found on Maysles Films.
Preview, showing some footage of Christo before he was gray:
Ten years ago today would have been a Sunday. All the newspapers came out, reporting on the unfurling event. HEADLINES! Art on the front pages!
I was so happy to see that the anniversary got covered yesterday. See The Daily News revisit HERE. I was kinda hoping Google Doodle would have celebrated it. I'll continue tossing the confetti over here.
Did you experience The Gates?
Today, February 12, is the 10th anniversary of the unfurling of The Gates - Central Park, New York City.
An epic undertaking by visionary installation artists Christo and Jeanne-Claude. In 2005, 2/12 was a Saturday, and the news, both local and national, covered the story of this significant event. The following morning every local newspaper had ART on the front page. Saffron glory.
The Gates remained in the city until February 27. Beginning today, I will be celebrating with 16 days of blog posts. It's my way of saying It Mattered. Come along with me.
More tomorrow.
I can't show you the cards I made this year since they are in transit. If you haven't gotten started on yours, you don't have much time. I think Valentine's Day is the perfect time to make it your own. In fact, (you've probably already heard me say this) when Fallon was born I had a stamp made - looking ahead to elementary school trades. "Won't you be my Fallontine?" While the cartoon and Disney princess boxed cards were tempting over the years, it was fun making and embellishing our own.
Here are some past heart projects. Maybe you'll be inspired to fire up the craft table to make some cards and/or gifts, with love.
Tomorrow....something orange saffron.
I rarely do orange. Here are some pages from 2005, where I was under the influence of orange. And again, a spread from 2012 where I had to journal about some new-to-me Cara Cara oranges. I don't even have orange paint - had to mix to two of my faves to get there. Coming soon - a blog series that will focus on that hue that is found between red and yellow.
I recognize that I have a limited range of colors that I like to use in my art. I'm comfortable with that and know it has always been part of my process. I don't regard this as a limitation, but an opportunity to focus on composition and content. Looking back on past work I can see that the neutral family of colors has become a favorite, and my current comfort palette is warm tones. There are only six paints on my studio table, next to a galvanized tin of dried pods. It makes me happy to have these within view....and it was fun to use the eyedropper tool to pull together the palettes below. It's amazing what we can see when we really look.
What's your current comfort palette?
I've always been enamored of the Three Kings, also called the Three Wise Men or Magi. Maybe it goes back to the illustrated bible that Mom would read to us, or kind role they played in The Little Drummer Boy. Perhaps my fondness grew once I became a Ward, with a new family crest that has three crowns - significant since we have three children. Melchoir, Caspar, and Balthazar, who brought gifts of gold, frankicense and myrrh. They are magestic, and mysterious, and I love to explore the subject visually. I don't have photos of my journal pages right now, but here are some digital compositions.
This marks the end of the holiday season and after today we will start taking down all the decorations and the tree. Furniture can go back to its usual placement. I will miss seeing all our favorite things we carefully unwrap and display, but will take care to safely pack so we can enjoy when the year winds down again. Makes me sad that the neighborhood Christmas lights will start going dim. I love the brightness it brings to the dark nights. Here's to holding the light in our hearts all year. And here's to having candy canes around - a terrific remedy for a nauseous tummy. Stay well.
I just received the lastest Somerset Studio! Inside you'll find a collaborative article by me and my friend Lynne Perrella. It's the third year of working in tandem, exploring a theme with our individual interpretations. It's also a sneak peek behind the scenes for some of the material we will cover during our workshop in May. For the pieces you'll see in the January/February issue we focused on the ever classic phrenology head diagram. The workshop will encompass much more - but we can't give it all away in an article ;)
I had a blast reinventing the image, and altering into a movable-parts object...think of the things you could have swirling behind within the mind!
When we were brainstorming about plans for the upcoming workshop, we easily reigned in the ideas about a concept but were struggling with a title. Lynne proposed that we consider incorporating two phrenology heads as graphic elements for the announcement. It was a perfect suggestion since we have a running dialogue each December about a pair of ceramic phren heads that appear together each year in the Bergdorf Goodman holiday windows in New York City. The talented designers adorn the twins in a festive manner and place them in the elaborately decorated vignettes. Every year it’s a hunt to find them among the countless extraordinary visual delights behind the glass. Lynne had another epiphany: to borrow the name Curiouser & Curiouser* for the three-day class - an ideal choice to accompany the double-head logo we devised, for a workshop offered by two teachers who love to encourage curiosity, especially when it comes to creativity. Here are some of the appearances in past years:
*Curiouser & Curiouser was the theme of the 2009 BG Windows, inspired by the works of Lewis Carroll, author of Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass. Our workshop will not be related to Alice, we will certainly be advocating for all participants to adopt her sense of adventure.
We hope you'll join us in May! Three whole days with two teachers in an amazing studio space at a lovely location with other eager and enthusiastic artists! For details visit Workshops here, or on Lynne's site www.LKPerrella.com
Had to try out my new camera. Very nice point and shoot with a cool lens, nice click sound (gotta love that!), and wifi transfer. Sweet! Thanks Graham <3
I made these Nutcrackers in the summer of 2012. Article appeared in Somerset Studio Nov/Dec 2012. See my blog post HERE. Maybe you'll take advantage of some post-holiday sales and grab one or two to alter in the coming year. It's a fun project and great gift - TaDa!
Gabriela at Stampington invited a number of artists to share their artful resolutions for 2015. See the blog post at Somerset Place to read the thoughts of twenty-four participants HERE.
Here's what I wrote:
I'm not one for making resolutions at the beginning of the year. My philosophy is that I'd much rather reflect on the past year and recognize all I have done. I find that to be empowering and motivating. Each January I have a ritual of making a Ta-Da list. I start with the end of December and work my way back to the first of the year, making notes of everything I that I can remember doing during the year. It is easier to start with the most recent self-imposed assignments. Eventually I recall a full list of achievements, missions, chores, and projects that leaves me feeling really good. Sure, there are always things left on my To-Do list....there is always more to do, and ideas that are still in-process. However, when you move items from your To-Do list to your Ta-Da list you celebrate what you've completed - that's much more affirming than worrying about the tasks ahead, and the pledge to make changes with the turn of the calendar page. Maybe you could start 2015 by patting yourself on the back for all the work you completed in 2014, from art projects to self-improvement, then carry forward the positive energy into the brand new year. Make a Ta-Da list, because it's way more fun than a To-Do list!
If you're interested, you can download and make your own ToDo/TaDa lists.
Download ToDo LIST 2014 300dpi Download ToDo LIST 2015 300dpi
EDIT: I've had some requests to offer the printable lists as jpgs rather than pdfs. Here you go, click to enlarge.
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We visited over Thanksgiving weekend. An annual venture into the city just to see these windows, with the girls - Fallon and my mom. They were spectacular. There is so much more to experience in real life versus what the lens can capture, especially with the glare of the glass. To be there is very special. We make the train ride in, then subway uptown to catch Bergdorf Goodman and Barney's, then make our way down 5th Avenue for more visual delights at Tiffany's and others, stopping in at Anthropologie at Rockefeller Center....spy the tree being strung with lights, then head over to Bryant Park for the seasonal pop-up shops. A great kick off to the holiday season.
The theme this year at BG is Inspiration: The Arts. Hero shots of the windows by photographer Ricky Zehavi. To learn how she creates these photos see 5th/58th blog post from 2013 HERE. For a really generous look behind the scenes, in case you missed it, see the Wall Street Journal article HERE. Works-in-progress and sketches! Swoon.
I realize many of you may have never been to the city to see this retail marvel, so here is how the windows appear in context from across the street.
First from the left is Literature. The monochromatic color palette is so strong, which actually allows you to notice all the textural details within - everything is made from fabric and thread. All the portraits are embroidered or needlepointed! Rich and luscious velvets everywhere. Books are fabric with threaded words. Crochet and felted busts and creatures keep the lady company, next to a gigantic typewriter.
My favorite...the Architecture window. All paper. Blueprints. Models. Tools. Dimensional and inventive. The phrenology twins make their appearance in this one. (It's a search every year to see where they will surface.) Fabulous structures in every scale. Two composite figures that made me swoon, reminiscent of Nicolas de Larmessin but in 3-D. The juxtaposition of all the various elements makes you want to stay a while until you think you've caught every detail. Then you want to stay longer.
The Theater window was colorful and dynamic. A terrific tribute to the city and Broadway. Flashing, strobing, moving neon. My online friend Demetrios, Production Manager Windows, was involved with this one and wrote that he enjoyed learning what can be done with electric lights. I know he is a prolific paper artist so it must have been a blast to venture into new materials. Making shapes with color and glass and light? Fun!
Painting. An entire window of white washed props, tools, artist's models....then a painting brought to life with color. But Look again. It's a canvas painting of a canvas being painted. And tucked behind is another miniature artist. Massive articulated man and horse...small ones too. So much depth and so many secrets hiding in this one.
Music. Shiny sparkley silvery. You can imagine the finesse it took to assemble this one - likely with white gloves. They HAD to have rehearsed this off set to get the symmetry just right. Amazing!!
This offers a visual narrative of the five main windows. The side windows included Photography, Film, Calligraphy, Gastronomy, Cartography, Dance, Sculpture. They thought of everything. The Arts - very Inspiring. Thank Bergdorf Goodman for another array of delicious windows to rev up the excitement and stir the spirit leading up to the holidays.
Five years ago, November 2009, I started a Ruby Tuesday journal as a weekly practice of making art to keep me from getting crabby during the holidays. With so much that needs to get done in December, I found I wasn't setting aside time for myself. I've learned that if I don't get into the studio I start to get bunched up and anxious. I need to be using my hands to make stuff - it fulfills me in so many ways. The RT journal became a series, as I kept the practice going for several years, and used to post weekly updates here. Here is one from the archives, dated 12.16.09.
Sometimes we need to just step away from the To-Do list and escape...it quiets my mind to sit with a page and paint. It's on the plan for this afternoon!
I'm suffering from some trigger finger issues again.....so I've been off the computer. Didn't intend to stay away so long. Almost done editing my Bergdorf Goodman holiday windows photos. Will post soon!
See the amazing video of the making of the ceramic poppies for the Tower of London installation. All 888,246 are sold! See HERE. What a glorious recognition of honor.
I've seen more tributes to our serviceman through the NFL than anywhere else. The ceremony prior to last night's game was moving. Sadly, I rarely see poppies being sold here, unlike in England, where they are everywhere. Let's bring back the poppy!
For those who have served and for those who are serving, thank you.
For several years I've been infatuated with cardboard. The truth about any supply or substrate: the more you use it, the more you learn. Since cardboard is a plentiful supply, it is always within reach, and you can try all kinds of things with it. There's nothing precious about it....trial and error is a good thing. The only thing you need is a fresh set of blades and some imagination. After writing articles about using cardboard, including matchboxes and small kraft boxes, for more than a year in my column for Somerset Studio, I thought the year end finale would be the perfect place to show off my Gingerbread House.
I've been wanting to make one like this for a while, and finally got around to it. As I say in the article, it doesn't take any less time to make versus bake, but it will last alot longer. I planned ahead, and have hinged openings in the back, with little shelves behind each window, to accommodate a battery operated votive. HCIT!
My scallop and stone stencils were the perfect tool to create shingles and a brick fireplace. I have to admit I kinda knew that when I was designing them. I know, it's early for thinking about Christmas decorations....I'm just putting out Halloween stuff....but it's the time of year when days fly by. Let me know if you make one of your own!
I had the pleasure of teaching two workshops in New York City last weekend. Hosted by The Ink Pad, and the terrific Anna and Barbara, we met at the fabulous community center, and spread out our piles of collected cardboard then made some really cool relief sculptures and journals. Sadly, I didn't get any "under construction" photos of Sunday, but I witnessed some really awesome pages. It's so fun to work on projects in a real-life class as the group environment is so inspiring - you get to see the discoveries each individual makes because they are at-work, and in-the-moment, where the magic happens. We all get motivated and encouraged as we progress through the process, each of us in our own way.
First up, What A Relief. The title is two-fold, we were building dimensional corrugated sculptures, with deliberate cuts, peeling, and piercing to create relief with shadow and texture....but it was likely a relief to only have to bring a minimal collection of supplies. A knife, cutting mat, pencil, glue....that is all you need to churn out some really cool stuff. After the pieces were nearly completed, we placed them under glass. Nothing is more validating than to see your efforts elevated with a frame. Well done girls!!
Next was DeComposition Journal. I've taught variations of this class before - one of my favorites, as each artist takes on their own specific direction. Because of the location, we were able to do some fun stuff that I usually only do at home - not easy to replicate in a classroom. We poured scented wax into the corrugated grooves - with the assistance of a candle, we burned edges of pages - thanks to access to a sink, and we stepped outside to do some super fun spray painting with stencils. Swoon! Thanks for joining me - I can't tell you how much fun it was to see all of you crank out such great stuff.
I've got more ideas of how to use this non-precious and plentiful supply. Stay tuned for more cardboard art classes next year!
Up next: the grand finale to A Year of Cardboard, with my column for Somerset Studio.
Tomorrow is October already? How did that happen? Time to get out the Halloween decorations!! We have some new lights that will go around the front door. They are motion activated and blink + give off scary noises when there is movement....they've been setting themselves off in the package all week!
Later this month I will be at The Ink Pad in NYC for two cardboard classes. Full description on my workshop page. Follow the sidebar buttons, or click tab at top of page. These will be my last two classes this year. Hope to see you there!
Last week I received the new book by Joan Bess: Gelli Plate Printing: Mixed-Media Monoprinting Without a Press. It is fabulous, with easy-to-follow processes - I already have some new ideas for making textures on the gelli plate. As I wrote to Joan, I applaud the force she has become by infusing creative energy into this community with her genius invention, and the classy and stylish manner in which she presents many ideas on the blog, with the photos and video tutorials, and now this book! I recently scored the new small size gelli and can't wait to break it in - Joan makes it look so effortless, and it really is! Visit GelliArts.com and GelliArts.blogspot.com, and pick up the book at your local store or an Amazon. In addition to many techniques you'll want to try, the book has a guest gallery that displays how other artists are using the addictive printing process.
Also, just arrived is the newest issue of Somerset Studio. In my column, Make It Your Own, I write about taking some travel souvenirs and moving them from the keepsake box to the wall, so that they may be enjoyed every day. Are there any treasures you have tucked away that should move to your wall! What are you waiting for?
I'm prepping and packing to teach in San Diego next weekend. It's been ten years since I've visited California - looking forward to it!!
Registration for the Curiouser & Curiouser workshop with Lynne Perrella and Michelle Ward, for May 2015, begins tomorrow! Complete details on the three day event, hosted in Connecticut, is available by sending an email to Lynne at [email protected] To see the full announcement with some sneak peeks of the project, click on Workshops 2015 above, or see Workshops on Lynne's site, www.LKPerrella.com
Some photos from my last workshop a few weekends ago in NJ - it was a grand time, beautiful weather, and we had fun with both acrylics and spray paint, and of course - stencils! Organized by Little Bird Creations/Michele Luxenberg, and hosted at Clare Hunter's home. Thanks ladies!
We've just returned from a family vacation - road-trip-style to visit family and friends in Minnesota. My van is about to roll 100,000 miles! It has seen alot of this country between New Jersey and the home state. We had a great time and even changed things up this year by stopping in Indianapolis for the MotoGP motorcycle races at the famous speedway. I have to say that I could use a vacation after the vacation but I'm off to teach tomorrow. I'm really looking forward to the day as we will be getting involved with stencils in a really fun way. You gotta love when you're invited to teach at a local venue and they tell you what they want to learn. It not only makes my job easier, but it indicates that the students are eager to participate. Nothing beats getting together will other artists to make cool stuff!
One of my favorite quotes from Benjamin Franklin captures the essence of participating in the learning process, with messy tables and dirty hands....Hope you're getting involved in something fun this weekend too!
You are cordially invited to participate in a three-day workshop May 1-3, 2015, hosted by Lynne Perrella and Michelle Ward. Take a look at our announcement and if you can't resist the tempation, fire off an email to Lynne ([email protected]) with a request for the dossier of information that covers registration details. $100 deposit reserves you a place. The class fill up fast so act quick if you're interested. Hope you'll consider joing us at this remarkable venue!
Location link: The Interlaken Inn
Information available August 1st, send Lynne an email ([email protected])
REGISTRATION BEGINS SEPTEMBER 1ST.
This is a long post.....visually loaded. I'm finally getting caught up on presenting all the terrific students and their work from the two Crowning Glories workshops back in May. I intended to do a montage of photos but we had so many, and my hand was ailing, so it was easier to take advantage of the photo albums here. I'm sorry it took so long to manage the uploads. These ladies created fabulous stuff! You can see the artists and their work from the first weekend here: Crowning Glories One. And the artists and their work from the second weekend here: Crowning Glories Two. (When you get to the albums you can click on the thumbnails to enlarge.)
Since Lynne and I are about to announce our next workshop for May 2015, I thought I better get the evidence from our recent one posted. Below you will find the work we did prior to the workshop.
Again, the link to the photos albums, CROWNING GLORIES ONE (May 2-4) HERE and CROWNING GLORIES TWO (May 9-11) HERE. (When you get to the albums you can click on the thumbnails to enlarge.)
Next up: our announcement for the workshops in May 2015!!
Late March I came down with a bad case of trigger finger on my right hand. For weeks I wore a brace to relieve the tendon, which helped with the clicking, but then it wouldn't straighten, and if it got bumped or pushed to full extension the pain was excrutiating. Finally, I met with a finger doctor and he gave me a cortisone injection. While I admit I initially regretted the decision as it was very painful and remained that way for several days, I can happily say that all symptoms have vanished (one month later) and I have a fully functioning finger. It feels so good to be uninhibited and no longer limited by my temporary ailment. If it should return I will scoot back over to get another shot sooner rather than later, but for now I'm watching my behavior with preventative measures. Let me say this: if you are on the fence about seeking care for a worn out body part, don't delay!
It's such a privilege to spend time with artists both in the classroom and at an event. What a terrific group of ladies that came from near and far to join me and the other instructors for some creative time together. Of course we hope to learn something, and leave with enthusiasm to keep at it, and even pick up the pace, but to me the greatest take-away is the connections we make with other makers. Outside of the venue, like in real life, it's likely we have a handful of creative friends....but here, for five days, we are in a hub of creative energy. What happens in the classroom fulfills me in such a unique way and I can hardly wait to do it again.
I didn't stop to take many photos along the way but I did manage to pause for group photos. I have to say that the Roll With It class picture has to be the best group shot ever. I've taught this class a number of times in the last twelve years, and we try to get a composite of all the rolls prior to journal assembly - not always easy to get 25 feet x 25 students in one photo....so thankful for a hotel balcony this year. The collest, right? It was a fast-paced with lots of techniques and they did an amazing job keeping up, and cranked out some stellar pages. Well done ladies!
Next was Color Collision where we mixed paints, then applied them using stencils. Beautiful paintings! I wish I had taken close-up photos to show you how fabulous they all were. Here are the artists:
Last was Compose Yourself - we went through a series of exercises to practice collage in black and white. We all learned so much from the simple assignments, and from each other during the review sessions. I did get a photo of the Notan collages. Super cool. Awesome job ladies!
I also got to be a student! I had a really wonderful time making a mini clay crown with the amazing Laurie Mika. We've known each other a long time, we even collaborated on a project for an article years ago, but this was only our second real life meeting. I learned so much and had a blast!!!
Thanks to Maggie and Sally and Jeannine and everyone at Interweave/Create for presenting fabulous event. Thanks to the students who joined me, friends who popped in to say hello, and all the shoppers who stopped by at the Vendor Faire. Hope we'll see you all again next year!
It's a busy time, packing and prepping for workshops. I'm also excited that I will be accepting delivery on a batch of new stencils that will debut at the event on Friday. These are designs that I cut by hand and have been using for a while, some samples below. Gothic Collection Additions will be available online July 14. There will be coordinating stamps to follow in August.
Still defaulting to cardboard......I've been collecting anything and everything with brown paper packing. These little craft boxes are a terrific addition to my cardboard sculptures, and they were the perfect fit inside an assemblage frame. See the July/August Somerset Studio for the complete article.
As I'm sure you know, if you're a Gelli Plate fan, you can't pull just one print. In an hour you're likely to have run out of paper while still filled with enthusiasm to keep at it. Here are some prints I worked on with some stencils last fall. In two days I had boxes of prints - lots of experiments that taught me valuable lessons, and lots of papers that will be fashioned into a journal. I pulled out the pile today to start making selections and sort what will become part of the journal and what will get put in the collage files. So much to choose from - can't wait! I think I will start with the turquoise + taupe + leaf motif shown further down.
Be sure to check out the upcoming book by Joan Bess, Gelli Plate Printing: Mixed Mono-Printing with a Press, due in September. We already know she delivers when it comes to demonstrating the gelli plate - her blog and videos are terrific. The preview of the book looks grand! I'm honored to be in the guest gallery.
As a teacher, we are constantly asked by organizers to help promote our classes. It's good for everyone. In just three weeks CREATE NJ 2014 will begin. My Roll With It class is full, but there is room in my other two. If you're curious about mixing paint, or want to improve your collage compositions, join me! I will be vending on Friday, with some new additions to the Gothic Collection. Sneak peek announcement from my website below. I will be posting the new items for sale soon.
Also, for California residents, I will be in San Diego in September for a two-day Frond Chronicles workshop hosted by the San Diego Book Arts. I'm looking forward to heading West - haven't been there since a True Colors event ten years ago.
Wow! There's been a ton of feedback on the cardboard journal tutorial I presented on Stampington's blog. Many visitors left comments, there are hundreds of pins from the post, and a huge amount of likes and shares from their facebook page. I've even rec'd emails from artists who have jumped in and made their own. HCIT?
A little background - I first started making these cardboard journals about five years ago. One was included in the Artist Portfolio feature in Stampington's Art Journaling (Issue: Summer 2011) The first one, called Table Scraps Journal, made it's debut on this blog in August, 2011. Then I started showing you others, which I started calling Debris Journals, in December 2011. I taught my first cardboard journal class at Create NJ 2012, and again in 2013. I will be teaching The DeComposition Journal this October at The Ink Pad in NYC, along with my cardboard sculpture class, What a Relief. My last two columns in Somerset Studio have been about cardboard, and the next one will also feature it. What I love is that the material is versatile, readily available, and unintimidating to work with. As I continue using this humble supply, I find new ways to manipulate it, and can't stop pushing my expectations of how it can perform. I'm currently working on an end-of-the-year article that will make you re-think cardboard for the holidays!
Here is more from my Black&Kraft:
I love to leave a peek at some of the markings from the cut up cartons that show up on the pages. I've used some of these spreads to document my collections of black&kraft papers, and have made some deliberate cuts with stencils. I just love the look of this color combination. Just think, if Borders bookstore hadn't closed, where I used to get my kraft paper blank journals, I may never have conspired to make my own, and found out all the cool things that be done with recycling bin treasures.
This week we had to get a new table for the deck as the glass top on the old one shattered. You should see the stellar specimens of cardboard that the new table came wrapped in - a full sheet of mini-honeycomb plus several full sheets of perfect corrugated goodness. I'm delirious about the possibilities!
