Kraft paper -az

When artists get packages, sometimes the box and wrappings are as fun as the delivery itself.

When a delivery came with yards and yards of white kraft paper, I kept the paper for a fringed skirt prototype. First layer of fringe was 5”x 6', second was 4” x 6’ and the third was 3”x 4’. When the paper was taped and hung, parts of it looked very sculptural. Taking notice of this, I photographed it and this is what I got. 

Over head view.

Kraft paper, hand curled, side view.

From the floor view

This really was an exploration of materials, mediums, and observation than real art but an artist needs to go through this process.  By using these materials, I didn't worry about using up my good stuff, was free to experiment, and was allowed to see if an idea will work. I was definitely pushed out of my comfort zone by not drawing, I learned to how to see the random design the paper created, and I learned how to use the camera more creatively other to to take a quick picture. 

  

Who knew kraft paper could be used in a way other than packing or math scratch paper?

Do Not Bore the Art Monster - az

Do not bore the Art Monster. He likes to help fix one's artistic issues.

sketch - work in process. 

Art Monster: 

Here is a project that involves sculpture. Something new for you to do.

Artist: 

I hate sculpture. 

I do not do sculpture. 

I enjoy doing my two dimensional work. 

Art Monster:

Sounds more like 'won't do'. 

Anyway, you are stuck in a rut. 

I don't want to see another drawing.

What about the pottery class and welding class you took?

Seems like sculpture to me.

Artist:

 I am drawing my two dimensional art. Don't bother me. 

Art Monster:

I have signed you up for this project due in the fall involving sculpture. 

You have two choices: you can embrace your inner sculptor or embarrass yourself. 

Artist:

I love sculpture. Look, I made a pedestal for the project. 

The first of many steps of this sculpture project. Pedestal made of card board and corner protectors.

I have found embracing my Art Monster is easier than to silence him. If silenced, he tends to make me buy shoes. A lot of shoes. He tends to conspire with Life. Life is a sarcastic muse. Never say 'I am bored' to her. Otherwise, she will give you amusing and not so amusing challenges in your life.

private idaho -kes

Once upon a time I was prone to running half marathon distances, 

far flung traveling, and generally a constant state of motion. 

Somewhere along the way I got older and downshifted. No laughing allowed. 

Agreed, old habits die hard, but there is some truth to be told. 

A slow, orderly direction didn't limit anything, it created a new landscape entirely.  

Contrary to surface logic, limitations created an exponential increase in opportunities.

Life is a fractal, infinite, visible at walking speed or in stillness.

A Culture of One's Own (SKF)

 I was asked by another artist, have you ever been struck to the core by a painting? Yes, many paintings have had that affect. But through the years my appreciation will wane and I'll forget all about them. One painting still lingers in the background since my twenties. During an unfettered time in my life I had a list of works that I would visit like old friends. Every chance I could  I would go and simply sit in their prescence. "The Train Arriving at the Gare Saint- Lazare" at the Fogg Art Museum is one of those paintings. I found that the same visual excitement came up when I began this new series of aqua media drawings( watercolor, gouache, and watercolor crayons).Somehow my mind had returned to this famous oil painting when I was rethinking my working methods.

I started a new approach to my work by attempting to head towards a more improvisational method. As I'm writing, I'm am also presently listening to Bill Evan's "On Green Dolphin Street".  This brings me to a personal analogy in order to further explain. I learned to play the bass violin in junior high and high school. I could read music but if I was asked to play with another on the spur of the moment I couldn't. Only rigid and formal expressions were what I could do and I didn't feel there was much room for me in that equation.

In these new works, I am cultivating a less restricted vision so more of me can come through the work.I want to jam with my own perceptions. I try to abstract tiny moments to encompass the unnoticed bits to include an implied panoramic landscape feeling condensed into a still tableau. For a flickering of a moment, the viewer enters a gateway where time stops and  every piece of the world glows with spirit from the inside out. This is what I "see", now, can I approximate an expression of this reality?
Seriously, I don't know but I think Jasper Johns said it when he stated that artists create their own problems which they set about solving.
At the end of the day, I shut my studio door and it's just me and the work. No short cuts.
Love,
Sarah

Andrea's Drawing Tools -az

 

The tools that I use are the foundation of my drawings. The following are some of my favorites.

I usually start drawing with a pencil first. I like mechanical pencils because the point is always fine. I sometimes use regular pencils preferably with some wild color or pattern on the outside.

For shading and softening, I use stumps and tortillions for precision. When they get dull I use a sanding pad to ‘sharpen’ them up and use them for larger areas.  I recently discovering that using an old t-shirt is pretty effective for softening larger areas.

I have a bowl of erasers. I use rubber and plastic erasers when I am not picky about the surface or control. Kneaded is used when I don’t want to rip the paper and when I want a part of the drawing to be erased as the shape of the eraser can be molded. I also use the Tombow Mono Zero refillable eraser (not shown). It comes in both round and rectangle shapes. I use the round one as much as I use a pencil.  It is excellent for erasing very small area and the eraser has lasted much longer than I expected.

Relatively inexpensive and easily accessible is the Pentel Precise pen. It lasts a long time and comes in two sizes and comes in various colors, although I only use black. It is not a true art pen so the line it creates is not always crisp.

For clean lines, I turn to the Pitt Pen which is great for detailing, acid free and also lasts a long time.  It comes in various sizes, shapes, and shades. They are more expensive but worth it.

Sharpie markers are great when you want line and coverage. I prefer the the ultra-fine in black and colors for illustration but they do seep through certain papers.

Gel pens are great for line making, too. The line is usually crisp and the ink flows nicely. I have had more luck with the Sakura brand for working on most surfaces. I use black and white mostly. I use colored ones when I need a subtle burst of color or metallic somewhere.

My favorite scissors are a cast off from my great aunt's estate. She was a registered nurse so I am assuming they are medical of some sort.

While some of these tools are fancy, the fact remains if you gave me a pencil, paper, and eraser I could remain entertained for hours. 

Karin's Kitchen -kes

There have been some nasty illnesses going around. We did not escape them at our house. 

Don't overlook culinary spaces when bigger projects aren't possible. The kitchen is an ideal playroom. Silliness rules over goals. Welcome to food sculpture 101. Fun and games started with capellini, rice noodles and bowtie pasta.

Eggs were separated, each part beaten. Each type of pasta was rolled in either the white or the yolk, no thought here, just interest in clear or orange color on the surface of the pasta. Ripped pieces of parchment cooking paper were draped over kitchen ware i.e. a small pan, ceramic mini serving bowls. Then dribbling of more egg parts over pasta. 

  I haven't decorated a cake or cookies in ages so I filled a pastry tube with some mayonnaise and added some Hellmann's 'frosting' decoration. Toothpicks and uncooked capellini made each pile of goo much more punk and entertaining.

Everything was cooked in the oven for 20-30 minutes. Cooking added some nice browning and may add some visual shelf life. At this point, a week later, these things must be pure poison. The day I made them however I admit I sampled the delicate bits I broke. Everything was tasty like a rich, salty, warm cracker. This process will make an interesting garnish for a real meal someday.

It always hard to resist playing with fire. The torch in the garage is no different than what a Sushi or gourmet chef might use to crisp an edge. Below is the finale picture.

Bon apetit.

Fabric Scrap Poetry

  Here's the update of my earlier blog. I took the strips of color I was so enjoying and transformed it into a birch grove. The black leaves are made from a faux leather with the trees being crafted from silk wrapped rope.

This little vignette inspired me to try to create poetry from the bits and pieces of fabric scraps so I made textile sketches out of the leftovers. There's something transcendent in playing with materials that hold little value except for the fact I like the color or the texture. In using media that's from," the nothing to lose by trying" file, I find a kind of expressive freedom. This may (or not) inform paintings when I return to more traditional mediums.

Not all of these works are done. I want the vibe of each one to tell me where to go artistically. So a strange mix of patience and faith operate in my work. Who knows? (this is said with an exaggerated shrug).

I hope these challenge others to let go and try something new.

SKF