PATTERN- AN ELEMENT OF ART and a BOOK SIGNING

Been playing with ethnic patterns these last few weeks. These are interpretations of the ikat pattern. Each piece is approximately 8"x10" .Heavy stock cream colored paper is the base. I draw the patterns on copper, add collage elements, add more color with acrylics, caran d'ache, and colored pencil. Finally, I add stitching and vintage fabric.           

April 14, 2012  at 11AM
I would love to see you at the Barnes and Noble in downtown Philadelphia at Rittenhouse Square. I will be there with Seth Apter artist and author of The Pulse Of Mixed Media. Also joining us will be artist Leslie Marsh. We will have artwork from the book and discussing the "secrets and passions" of mixed media artists. More HERE.

FEEL THE BEAT- MARCH 16th- RIGHT HERE

Sneak Peaks Below- 31 ARTISTS 31 DAYS -with Seth Apter at the Altered Page--- I am artist  # 16

WHAT'S OLD IS ........NEW

Taking some old things apart and putting them back together. RE-ASSEMBLAGE,  if you will.

I found the round piece at the top in a trash can at the Jersey shore that was old, rusty, full of water and this bag of "We Love Brigantine" buttons, that had the amazing patina that you see here. Don't you just love when that happens?  I have used them in a number of pieces since I love it. Almost out.

Even though this glorious old doll is battered and torn, it still looks happy. perhaps because it is becoming a component in this new piece. Te two items on either side are linseed oil and turpentine cans that I found along with a well used wooden palette in a Paris flea market. Sometimes paint is superfluous.

EYE HEART YOU

To all of you that have ever read Artsortments , left a comment or just checked things out.......I offer my sincere gratitude and appreciation.  Through this amazing world of blogging, I have met the most amazing people. I thank you all from the bottom of my HEART. So HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!!!!!

"Despite everything, I believe that people are really good at heart." - Anne Frank

"Write it on your heart that everyday is the best day of the year." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

IT"S RIGHT HERE IN BLACK AND WHITE

While visiting the Riviera Maya region of Mexico this past week, I spent time on the beach working on more circular mandala designs with the black sketch book and white gel pen that traveled with me.

I spent a bit of time looking at the Mayan calendars form so long ago......you know, the ones that say it's time for us to go. I don't believe it and neither do the Mayan people with whom I spoke. They believe everything is circular and keeps recycling. In other words, things will keep going. What do you think?

Did a few sketches ....played golf, went diving in a cenote( underground cave), zip lined, saw the ruins at Tulum, and repelled down a tower.  Gotta keep these old bones lubricated.

FOCUSING ON THE MANDALA

Made from scraps of photos of old pieces of work, painting and stitched. Still playing and focusing.

ELECTRONIC ART

"Technology, like art, is a soaring exercise of the human imagination." - Daniel Bell

I just returned from Las Vegas and the Consumer Electronics Show. Some of you may know that besides trying to find a moment to be creative, I also work with my husband in our electronics business and the CES show is our big trade show of the year.

Usually I marvel at the newest in TVs, stereos and anything else that I pass.....however, this year, much to my surprise, a few vendors had artists sketching people on their new tablets. Needless to say, I was dying to try it out.

The image at the top is one that I did from a photo I took of some showgirls (I did not draw ON the photo, I drew this from the photo). I used my Kindle Fire, my finger and an amazing application that I actually purchased before I got to the show. It's my first attempt and without a stylus, it's a bit rough. I had seen it being used at an Apple store. It's called........

Drawing Pad

When it comes to drawing applications for the Honeycomb devices, there are quite a few names in the market but none of them really impressed as much as the Drawing Pad. So what is so different about the Drawing Pad, that is the question. Well, this fancy drawing application has a very adorable interface, unlike most. Selection of all sorts of drawing tools seems very life-like and really infuses a wonderful experience. Having said that, if the user wishes to paint using a brush a drawer opens that contains various color-daubed brushes. Likewise, upon selecting color pencils, a drawer full of color pencils opens up before the user. All in all, the layout is pristine and adds the element of fun and excitement to drawing.

While walking past the Casio booth , I couldn’t help but notice a photo of a dog with a snout that stuck out of the frame.
It wasn’t 3D – the snout was literally sticking out of the frame. Apparently the company now has the ability through a complex software engine called “Relief Transformation” to take a two dimensional image or photo and transform it into a three-dimensional work of art.

Some of the examples had very subtle texturing, but then there was that  dog snout sticking way out. There’s no plans to commercialize this tech yet. Though, I gave them my card and told them to let me know as soon as it is available.

I had visions of photographing my own art work and.....well, it would seem to me that the sky is the limit.  What do you think?

HOLIDAY INSPIRATION

Once again, I was in New York at the most glorious time of year, the winter holidays. If there is any doubt in your mind that there is no holiday spirit......I was there( the I have no holiday spirit part).....just visit New York, smell the chestnuts, see the crowds, look in the windows, go to the open air holiday markets and be with good friends.

We saw the amazing windows at Bergdorfs (always the best, in my opinion), and went to a number of art exhibits and the Fashion Institute of Technology to see the Daphne Guiness exhibit .The Bergdorf windows always inspire me.( I was just glancing back to last years post at this time and I created some work in response to what I saw in the windows then.) I was intrigued this year by fashion as art and the people that are drawn to it. I have been experimenting with water color paints and yupo paper and found that using fashion and portrait paining lent themselves very well to the medium.

 

Portrait of Daphnie Guiness from a photograph

Window inspiration

Photo from a Chanel advertisement.......I was terrified to try to draw the perspective of the angle of this model. Is she super thin or is it just the camera lens?

My interpretation

Bergdorf window with "distorted model".

Happy Holidays ...from this crazy window gazer to you. May you find peace, joy and beauty in everything around you.

THERE IS NO SYMMETRY IN NATURE

" There is no symmetry in nature. One eye is never exactly the same as the other. There's always a difference. We all have a crooked nose  and an irregular mouth." - Edouard Manet

"Every time I paint a portrait, I lose a friend." - John Singer Sargent


"When I paint a person, his enemies always find the portrait a good likeness." - Edvard Munch

I am experimenting with yupo paper , an inexpensive completely synthetic paper.  I am finding that the water color paints  can be manipulated far more to my liking.....you know, smooshing, shmearing, swirling, rubbing out, scratching into....the fun stuff.

When my husband saw this "self portrait", he said "why the heck do you make your head so big ?" Other people have said I look sad. 

Well, neither is the case in reality. If you have ever painted a portrait, that's just how it goes. It's not always about perfection. It's about the process.

THE PEOPLE IN MY LIFE

"We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures."

        -Thornton Wilder
To everyone out there- Happy Thanksgiving!
I am in the process of coming up with a new look here. So I'll be playing around for awhile. Once I get going on bloggers template designs I can't stop. I will probably end up with something really simple, though. 

EVERY STROKE COUNTS

"Painting in watercolor is like walking a tightrope. One must find the perfect balance between  what the paint wants to do and what the artist wants to do, or all is lost." - Kate Wood McCoy

Playing in my sketchbook with watercolors. It is one of the few mediums I have not really embraced for a number of reasons. It's difficult to control. I am heavy handed with everything I do, which is not conducive to watercolor painting. Every once in awhile I like to challenge myself. We will see how long that will last.

"Watercolor is like golf, every stroke counts." - Mary C. Taylor

SO....WHAT'S NEW WITH U

Just wanted to let you know that I am fine and have been taking a break.......yes, it's been a long break.  

I am also excited to say, that you will soon be able to see my work as one of the featured artists in the new book by the multi-talented Seth Apter of the Altered Page. It is expected to be out in about 6 months or so. I am really looking forward to seeing the work of some wonderful artists and read their thoughts on an amazing variety of subjects. If you are a follower of Seth's blog, you have already contacted Amazon and your local bookstore and pre-ordered......if you can :-)


Below are some details of some of the work I did for the book. I used my beloved copper as a base, to draw, paint, sew, emboss, embellish....etc. 

CHAMPAGNE OR TEQUILA?

 "The Scale", from a book round robin called "Signs and Symbols" , subject astrology, sign Libra. Life is about balance. The good with the bad. I last blogged on March the 6th. Geez, time flies after you turn 60. There have been ups and downs since then. This is definitely about the ups. April was a fantastic journey. Paris with my guy and then the Riviera Maya in Mexico with my entire family. Both beautiful trips with their differences and similarities. I had a great time going through the photos figuring that out.

Sailboats for rent to sail in the fountain at the Garden of the Tuileries.

View from the beach bar, yes, you sit on a swing :-)

Shopping at the Marche aux Puces St-Ouen de Clignancourt flea market for vintage clothing

Shopping for hats on the beach

Feeding the birds at the Tuileries Garden

Sleeping macaws in.........Mexico, duh....yes, they come out of the cage often and speak spanish

Walking through the Place de Vosges

Walking through the courtyard near Puerto Moreles

Bob, resting in the beautiful garden of the Place de Vosges...in the sun

You know who, resting in the sea

The cafe

The ping pong game

The art of the paper cut, Musee de Quai Branly, Paris. A most beautiful place inside and out, full of primitive art and magical things. (thank you Lynne Perella)

Paper cut wall divider

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Amazing art to see, outside of the Luxembourg Gardens

Amazing art to see outside of a restaurant on the beach

Happy Cinco De Mayo....beer for now.......I mean bye for now!!