Here are some pics from this year's trip to Art Basel in Miami. It is a little overwhelming to come back from this event as an artist myself. On one hand, I am inspired. On another hand, I am discouraged. Then again, I am enraged. It's definitely a mixed bag. I had a long discussion with Jess about the experience...and I guess anyone out there making art...and well, hoping to 'make it' in the art world can relate. But I will focus more on the inspiration and just keep my nose to the grind, keep makin' my art. Eventually, maybe I will 'make it', too! For now, enjoy my pics! ...and just for fun, here is the link to last year's post about Art Basel; http://www.jenniferlovegironda.com/1/post/2012/12/razzle-basel.html
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...on my day off from teaching art...I teach art. Yep, can't get enough apparently! I got a chance to sub for Mrs. Tina at Muzart and it was so much fun! The kiddos were working on coffee-themed pieces for an upcoming show at Starbucks...and I know a thing or two about coffee and I love to paint so it was a perfect match! Can't wait to see their work hanging up! After my class I had a BIG early birthday surprise waiting downstairs...literally, it was a large box! John ordered a dress form for my birthday and, well, it arrived early! I wanted a dress form to work on a project that I have...kind of under wraps for now but...I think it could be awesome and I am so excited...can't wait to share more...but that's for later! Back to the dress form...I have actually wanted one for a long time. I think that I first realized I wanted one back in 2011 when I attended SDA Confluence...that was what jump started this here blog and laid the foundation for me to rekindle my artistic inspiration...then later join up with the whole Creative Every Day movement...and I have been making art everyday since January 2012...but truly, I owe it all to attending that workshop. (For more info, click here!) Well, anyway...here are some pics from that time in my life...kind of a big ol' throwback Thursday, I guess. My very own dress form is assembled and waiting...I am so excited...more to come! Oh, and her name is Molly. I wanted to call her Ms Gunn (to pay tribute to Tim, of course!)...but John said no, that was weird. So...Molly it is! ...THANK YOU AGAIN JOHN FOR MY EARLY B-DAY PRESENT!Prisma Color Infatuation...Pattern Love and Going Against the Grain...randomness, per usual!11/12/2013 ...here's the report from 'stache central...I see many, many more moustaches in the forecast. So silly, I know. When I first started the series I was thinking of two things...one, I have following an artist that works on toned paper and I just got so excited it made me want to work with these materials myself. Now, I am no stranger to toned paper...but I haven't really spent much time working with Prismacolor pencils and markers...so I am working on this right now...practice makes progress! Sometimes I get distracted layering the marker, watching it soak into the paper and looking for those small lines, indications of one edge beginning and another ending...and then the colored pencils...so mesmerized by the choices in color and the amount of pigment contained in each pencil...then how smooth they blend...I might need a minute, folks. Wow. The second thing that I was thinking when I started this series was, well, including moustaches. The first piece was a girl holding a 'stach on a stick, like you see in weddings photo booths..then I put the facial hair directly on the girls...then I let the moustache work it's way into the hairstyle....then I returned to my obsession with hair and allowed the moustache to be created by windswept hair. Sometimes I have an idea where a series is going...often times I just decide each day with no plan. I think that I would like to work with the idea of the moustache and other elements, such as the hairstyle, connecting...not sure. Another thing that I thought about is gradually moving to some collage work with these images...so...anyways...here are the latest images that I added...I went full speed ahead with the color...yikes! I did use the two images from the weekend as inspiration for the two large canvases that I bought before Maria's wedding. I took some time this weekend to sketch directly onto the canvases with blue paint, and I even started to paint one of them. I am staying pretty true to the original drawing with the composition and the colors at this point. Updates to come on these two pieces. Scenes from the studio corner...Mackie with the first large painting I started a little while back (He is SO ready for me to finish that one!)... another large painting, sketched out in blue acrylic on canvas, with guest appearance by Mackie, of course...another big ol' painting, sketched out...aannndd, that same painting later on Sunday night with the first layers of color...finally, Scooter, totally pooped. The funny thing is, I don't remember him helping me. In fact, I think he slept the whole time. I need new assistants, smh I also played around with some marker paper this weekend, which I really liked for the markers. I completed a few faces (of course!) and when I placed the work on our kitchen table I really like the way our new zebra placemat patterns were visible through the transparent paper. It's kind of funny that happened because that was Saturday night, late, and the next day I was at Barnes and Noble and I read an article on Kehinde Wiley in Hi-Fructose Magazine...side note...I feel pretty good about my knowledge base of past artists and movements but when it comes to artists working right now- I need to learn more! This is one thing I do when I go to Barnes and Noble now, I sit and read through various art magazines- so much to learn! Okay, where was I? Oh yes...Kehinde Wiley. WOW. I literally had tears in my eyes looking at his images...not only for the realism in the figure, but the use of color and pattern...and seeing these everyday people displaced in these all-over patterned backgrounds, many were textile motifs...love. It was love. (cue, 'Is it Love' by White Snake, circa 1987) And in a way it recalled my own experience with this semi-transparent marker paper, looking at the zebra print peeking back up through my drawing. I think I might have to look into this idea...future series...? Yeah, I think so. The last thing that I wanted to mention was the AMAZING wood show at the Museum of Art in Fort Lauderdale. The show, entitled Against the Grain: Wood in Contemporary Art, Craft and Design was a large collection of pieces ranging from fine-art furniture pieces to conceptual works and wall pieces. I wish my father-in-law, Raffaele, was here in Florida...he would LOVE this show! Woodworking is his passion and I know that he would have been inspired by this collection of works. So...I took many pictures, and I am posting them below...but these do NOT do justice to the experience of seeing these forms in the museum setting...if you are local, please- get yourself there to see this show!! ...I just wanted to take a minute and say how amazing my husband is. Seriously. After our friends left on Sunday we had a chance to take a bike ride to the beach and grab some dinner, and sitting there eating our pizza and looking at the ocean, I noticed our reflection and I was like, yeah, this is kinda awesome, sitting here with this man of mine. He is really just an inspiration, and I feel really lucky to have him as my partner in this crazy life. One of the perks of my job is that I can literally walk over and see him after school if he is teaching that day. I stopped by to see him today and I was just filled with a sense of pride and awe that he is sitting there, a college professor. He has worked so hard and it is really amazing to see his goal coming to fruition. He had just received a copy of an article to proof and seeing his name there printed out...just...awesome. And I feel lucky that he is also supportive of me and my crazy art habits...running off to the beach to draw at sunrise, random art supplies scattered everywhere...we are definitely there for each other. So anyway...ummm...yeah. I love Johnny G...soon to be Dr. Gironda!! ...besides hanging out with the husband...I made some art, of course. I was thinking about those costumes that you can buy in the drugstore, the ones in the bags...the devil costume with the horns attached to a headband, a red cape and tail (but not the pitchfork, ya gotta buy that separate!)...and of course the opposite would be the angel costume...pipe cleaner halo, white gown and feather wings that shed everywhere....ahhhh, I do love Halloween! So that was the inspiration for my pieces from the past two days. Still keeping it whimsical and fun, lot's of expression in the face...which is black watercolor pencil with layers of black colored pencil shading on top, with Sharpie marker hair and a salt-textured watercolor background. Not sure what to go with next..I keep thinking about candy corn...then also the Dia de los Muertos...which I kind of wanted to do as a side series...just a thought.
Here's a hint about my new series...
...and a shameless plug for my article in the new Art Hive Magazine, of course! But first...the new series. The Creative Every Day suggested theme for July is 'Summertime'. I peeked at the site as I was finishing up my June series, the smell of melted crayon permeating throughout the kitchen. Summertime? OMG. What in the world am I going to do? Well, I knew that I wanted to continue to work with female faces because, frankly, that is my favorite thing to draw/paint. Ever. And I knew that I wanted to stick with a fashion-inspired series...another one of my loves. Lastly...I am going to be traveling during July, so that is another thing to keep in mind, portability of supplies. I was actually leaving for the NYC/NJ trip the next day as I stood there contemplating what to do. I decided to sleep on it. When I was getting settled down to go to sleep that first night in Brooklyn...I saw my sunglasss sitting on the table and thought- that's it! Sunglasses! Then I started to think about summer time accessories...hats...special occasion jewelry...hats...then I saw a gypsy/bohemian lady somewhere (probably Pinterest...my ECU friend Laura Sutton always post the best pics in this style and my inner gypsy soul is always drawn to those images, she has a great eye for art and style)...then I started to think that this gypsy-vibe also went with the traveling and moving I will be doing this month...and of course my love for baubles and sparkly thangs...and...well...the theme was decided. The first four images were just fun girls with big ol' sunglasses...but since July 5th I have included a turban...makes me think of some sophisticated lady, young at heart, loves to travel, off at some resort of exotic location being fabulous. So I am not sure how long the turban will stay in the images...but for now it is all about turbans and oversized sunglasses. As for materials, the first eight images have been drawn with either pencil or Sharpie Marker in a Moleskin Sketchbook, which I am noting because that will explain why the color in the images is not pure white. (also...not scanning the final pics before posting, just photographing them in my sketchbook so I can keep them together) The size of the images is manageable, only 7.5 x10 inches right now. I am trying to keep the size and materials fairly simple right now since I have lot's going on this month. Which isn't to say I won't revisit some of the images and re-create with additional materials...but for now, keeping it portable...because after all, it is summertime, right?
Okay...last thing to mention....the new Art Hive Magazine is available to view on-line! Hooray! Physical copies are being distributed right now, but if you have a moment, please check out my article, there is even a fun Instagram challenge you can participate in! Click on the picture below to go directly to the newest issue! Something that I have started doing thanks to Instagram is the 'throw back Thursday' pic. I have been trying to revisit art-related pictures- old works that I made, spaces that I have worked in, artist friends, inspirations...I look forward to taking a minute to reflect each week about my journey to where I am right now as an artist and a teacher. Today's pics reflect me as a teaching artist, which is something I take pride in. The first picture is from the North Caroline Art Education Association conference, back when I was in the Art Education Guild at East Carolina University. Sally, Jason and I came up with the skit for the 'Art History on Parade' event that was a big tradition at conference (I hope that they still do it!) For this skit each one of us painted our own piece from art history, adding cutouts so that we could 'become' the piece. I was the Mona Lisa, Sally was Picasso's 'Girl Before a Mirror' and Jason was Botticelli's 'Birth of Venus'. The whole concept was that Jason and I were realistic paintings hanging in the gallery and when the curator 'hung' Sally next to us we were like, 'Girl please. You are NOT art.' Cue silliness. It was fun. I really do love some art history! Another pictured I posted was from the summer of 1998 (I think that was the year), back at ECU. I was taking a painting class over the summer and it was one of the best times of my life. Really. That was really my only real painting class, and as I think back on the experience I think I wouldn't mind taking more painting classes. Most of what I do is self-taught when it comes to painting...I think I could really benefit from more 'official' painting classes, or at least some self-study. Hmmmm...another summer project for me? You betcha. Back to the painting class...a-ma-zing. It was a combination of the whole studio setting...having the time during the summer to just focus...my newly rediscovered passion for painting (I had been so heavily engulfed in weaving and surface design since I had taken my textiles survey class)...or maybe it was the fact that I was taking the class with Mr. Elmore. Sigh. A little teary-eyed. I could devote a hundred blog posts to Mr. Elmore. He was one of my toughest professors at ECU...and one of the best teachers I ever had. Taking his class my first semester as a freshman really had an impact. Folks, he knows his stuff. What he says matters. If ever there was a professor that I wanted to approve of what I created of as an artist...it was him. When Mr. Elmore said it was crap, yeah, it was. If he said it was good- it was. When he picked out one minuscule line in my drawing that was 'working'...I took a mental picture of that moment so I could revisit it any time I ever doubted myself as an artist. He told me one time that my drawing had 'feeling lines'...I...died. I snatched that moment up, kept it in my pocket to keep me going. I took three classes with Mr. Elmore, two drawing classes and the painting class. I feel that I really experienced growth and success in the painting course...my only regret is that I didn't keep painting after that. I mean, I did paint some...I do paint some...but I feel like if I would have kept going... Well, you never know. And I can still pick up a brush, can't I? So, anyway...Mr. Elmore...wherever you are...you are one of the greats. Thank you for being my teacher and an inspiration. Okay...major migraine yesterday, didn't post the piece that I started...finished it today and also today's work and the piece from Sunday...now, I am caught up with posting my new work. Besides the pesky migraines, I have been busy..ummm...working on some top secret stuff...to be revealed at a later date...
I have been posting my creative happenings to Instagram. My last few postings included #creativeeveryday #teachingartist #fashionillustration #chanel #louisvuitton #artclass #ngakids and #henrirousseau....check me out! Night, ya'll! Mackie, on the interwebs. The last days of January were...a blur. Teachin, artin', travelin'...it just escaped me and I didn't MAKE time to blog. (notice I didn't say 'have') In my defense, Mackie was always on the computer when I did want to blog, so I am not totally to blame. Look, I even have proof! So, uh...here's a wrap up of the last bit of January. Last weekend I traveled to Daytona for a Florida Art Education Association board of director's meeting, John came along and we stayed an extra day to have a mini-vacation. Some great networking for next year (more on that at a later date), planning for conference and gave my Youth Art Month report and then, just some quality time with my husband. Good times! One of the biggest take-aways from the weekend (beside a little tan!) was meeting a very special lady. On Sunday, per usual- I am up way to early...and John, well..he is not. So I head out with my art bag to find a spot to draw and while I was wandering around I stopped in the hotel gift shop to look for my mandatory jewelry purchase (I buy a piece of jewelry every time I go on a trip, at least one piece...uh, sometimes more) and I met Alma. I knew there was something special about this woman as we quickly bonded as I looked for jewelry. Turns out....she had experience in the jewelry industry, designing and was the perfect person to help me select something- we chose a bracelet in a gunmetal mesh with sparkles all over it. Her husband was also in the industry, and she also worked with galleries and spoke candidly of selling work and attending gallery parties. We talked fashion, of silk scarves by Lanvin and Bottega Venta, her love of green to compliment her once auburn hair. I could clearly see that hair in my mind, this amazing woman before me with an amazing head of red, sassy hair. Alma asked me if I was an artist, and I said yes. When she asked if she could see my work I happened to have the pieces I just finished with me, so I took them out and put them on the counter. She loved my work. I talked to her about trying to do this whole art licensing thing...and she told me to keep going, not to stop. She said many encouraging words, and it was such a sincere moment. There were a few times I just had tears in my eyes, that I had by chance come into contact with such a kindred soul. So, we went back before leaving Daytona, after lunch on the pier and some 'angel bombing'...and I gave Alma the last of my angels that I had with me. This angel, in a zebra dress and red heels, was reaching for a star inscribed with the word, 'inspire'. How fitting. I promised Alma that I would see her again in the fall. And I will. I had these intentions to write this big ol' diatribe of my work for this month, what I was inspired by...to try to explain it all...but well, I have two unresolved pieces I want to complete and another one for February (more about that later)...and that is all I can think about...how to come to some closure for the month of January...so here is just some rambling comments... ...started with the idea of 'darkness'...I interpreted it as ladies with dark hair with tattoos and piercings, which I think is lovely...in the 6th piece of the series I added a peacock feather tattoo which prompted me to go off on a tangent with a peacock feather motif...then I tried to reel myself back in, only to get distracted by calla lilies and dragonflies in my tattoo designs...then I started thinking, 'I need to work with my backgrounds more', so I focused on that...then I kept thinking about a phrase I love from an Avett song...so I started working with text...and then, another piece of text, a quote I love: ...so I started thinking about light and dark, and duality...how within each one of us we have the potential for both good/bad, light/dark...and I guess the Louis Vuitton Spring 2013 fashion illustrations I completed this month, heavy with black and white graphics and pops of yellow were still in my head and inspired my colors...so I created a piece that included a portion of the text, and then went on to just the idea of the duality...and then, wait- I met Alma and she inspired me to create a picture of a fiery red-headed muse whispering in my girl's ear...then back to my black/white/yellow images...and now I am trying to close up the series. I have the last two pieces, still painfully unresolved. My goal is to include many of the elements from this whole month...don't know how it will turn out...but that is where I am at. Enough for now. Gotta go make some art. Will post final pics tomorrow for the series as well as the first piece in the new series and all kinds of other things related to art, cheer and sparkle...
I am such an art nerd. I wanted to take a moment and dedicate one post to Faith Ringgold, and the lecture that she gave yesterday at the Norton Museum of Art in West Palm Beach. My apologies in advance, there will be some rambling. Faith Ringgold is one my my personal 'art rock stars', so when I saw the email from PBCATA- it was a no brainer, I had to go. I admire her for being an artist...she is a painter and, though she does not consider her work to be textiles so much (seriously, she said it several times yesterday)...fibers folk love her. She is a teacher, an author. She is a teaching artist. And she was sparkly. Folks, she was sparkly, on the inside and out. All things that I can identify with and strive to be. 'I love to teach, and I love being an artist. I can do both.' When Faith spoke of her love of teaching, it was so genuine. She said her mother was a teacher, and she was so proud when she spoke of her, and of being a teacher herself. This really resonated with me. So many times as an art teacher, folks think you can't DO. Why are you a teacher? You can't be a real artist and be a teacher. But you can. I can. We can. Sure, it means you have to steal away bits of time to dedicate to your work. But I always think to myself...this is the whole reason I got into this gig in the first place- I love making art. If I stop doing that- then what? And sometimes it is discouraging. I have had some moments in the past few weeks, especially trying this whole licensing thing...when I have thought to myself..WHY am I doing this? WHY am I making all of this work? WHY bother? But...I just have to do it. It's who I am. Like it or not, I am going to make this art, even if it's just for me. 'When they say you can't do something, so more of it'. Prove them wrong. Wait, who is this 'them' anyway? Sometimes...'them' is just our own self doubt. I know this to be true. Do.More.Art. Note to self...everything else will fall into place. I will keep on teaching art and making art...and if all these pieces don't get out there someway, somehow...I will just amass a huge collection of work. It's a win-win. Faith Ringgold said alot of things, things that I scribbled down in my sketchpad...but these are just a couple of the things that I wanted to put out there, hoping that her words will inspire someone else like they did me.
Ya Gotta have Faith.
Less than 48 hours...but man, did I pack in some experiences. My flight was delayed but it worked out great, was able to chill for a minute and complete CED #273 while I waited a few minutes in Penn Station for Cat to get off work. We made it back to Brooklyn, stayed up at while chatting at the kitchen table and then it was off to bed, with visits throughout the night by Charlie the cat. Saturday morning, it was off to the museums. Cat (not Charlie the cat, but Cat my cousin) gives the best directions ever and this small-town girl was able to travel the subways with ease. I felt a small sense of accomplishment that I made there. (yay, me!) After an amazing lunch with Cat, Aunt Belle and Cat's beau, Jon (I now have a new standard for blue cheese burgers)...it was off to the Met. Now, I have already walked, alot. The Met almost did me in. The combination of the enormous building, all of the people and trying to look at all the art made me feel overwhelmed. My eyes started to ache.I think I would need a few days, a week, to really view the collections.
So I just wandered around, feeling almost lost but loving it and taking pictures the while way. I tried to find some of the artists/works from time periods that my 6-8th graders are studying so that I can show them especially to show the scale of the work. Just wandered...aimlessly. Later, sitting on the steps of the Met, waiting for Cat (who didn't have to work after all, yay!)...I just tried to take in that moment. The city is so vibrant, so alive...constantly moving...it just felt right to sit and try to be an observer, just trying to take in the moment. Cat and I had an awesome walk along central park, which was partially closed off due to a concert...Band of Horses playing off in the distance...live. Wow. And we were just chatting it up, heading to Times Square to see a former cheerleader, Antwan Bethea, in the Broadway production of 'Bring it On'. Just when I was thinking, wow, this can't get much better...I get a call from my sister-in-law, Maria, and...she's engaged! So happy! (my next project...Maria's wedding! I can't wait!!!!) I can't even express how amazing the show was. This was my first Broadway show, and to be seeing it so close, to see someone that I know and I have coached...there were several times that I got tears in my eyes watching Antwan on the stage. It feels so good to know that he is living out his dream, and knowing that I was a part of his story. He is so talented, but more than that he is just an awesome person with a good heart and I know that this is just the beginning...After the show Antwan got us on the list to go back stage and gave us a tour of the theatre....man...it was just...amazing. I can't find another word. Amazing. Then...back to Brooklyn...which the trains were their own little adventures on this evening...and then met up with Jon to grab a drink and something to eat. I showered and hit that pillow hard..four hours later it was time to get up and head to JFK for the trip back to West Palm Beach. And of course...artin' on the plane. Completed my last CED for this month, #274, and five fashion illustrations with a little hint of Kusama... I am babbling. I am still trying to just grasp the weekend. It was so much in such a short amount of time. I am just excited that I was able to make the trip, see the art, see family, see Antwan's show...and find time to make art.
Oh...and speaking of here are my fashion illustrations for the day, #41-45. Definitely inspired by Kusama's red and white dots and all of the New York ladies I saw, dressed in black, over the weekend. ..I guess a side note would be...today I think finished Tom's dragon piece...waiting to hear back from him regarding possible revisions... When I was planning the composition, I wanted to design it so that Tom could place the images side by side in any arrangement and the pieces would still line up, which I did by using the horizontal line as the connecting compositional element. Below I created a collage showing the different ways he could arrange the three separate pieces; ...still got to finish my self portrait(s)...plural because I realized I still have some touch ups to do on the one fro August in addition to completing this month's portrait...finish up a piece for a Day of the Dead show in Fort Lauderdale..and I really wanted to make a special necklace to wear for the Monster Mash opening...busy, busy!
But for now...sleep...finally! Well, maybe after I take a peek at the next CED monthly theme... |
AuthorArtist and Art Teacher
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