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Ideally, I would have sat down maybe each week and updated this here blog. I gotta tell ya, every since I started using Instagram I definitely have been posting to my blog less, and when I do it is waaaaay after whatever I am posting about happened. I thought about not posting to my blog anymore, heck I don't know if anyone out there reads it...but it is my way of documenting in another area of the interwebs my life and my art at this time...so, here goes. If you have been following my social media then you know that we MOVED. Yup, in the middle of a pandemic. Awesome. It has been such a weird time, these few past months. In many ways it has been like one long block of time. It is hard to remember when various events happened, and hard to remember what 'normal' life was like before social distancing and face masks. Now add moving on top of everything. It was tough to be leaving south Florida mid-July and not being able to see everyone that we wanted before we left and go and do all the things we wanted to, but we will be going back- it's our vacation spot once again. So what I am going to do is just kinda summarize the month of July, not in order but grouped a bit based on topic. Okay, here goes; June 2020 wrapped up with an art giveaway! In addition to the pandemic these past few months have been full of social and political unrest- so much swirling around race and basic kindness. I wanted to do a small thing to try and encourage some positive vibes, so I did an art giveaway on my FB page. Folks just had to think of someone different from themselves in some way and give them a public shoutout- say something nice! The pieces were snatched up quick- I gave away just about the whole series, and it felt good to see all the nice comments folks were writing about others. Saying goodbye to SoFlo :( What is harder than trying to hit up all your favorite spots before you move? Trying to do it when Covid has everything turned upside down! If you know me personally you know that John and I LOVE traveling- but the pandemic has definitely kept us more local. We did manage to make one last trip to Orlando to spend the 4th, went and had a drink at our favorite spot at the least busiest time of the day so there wouldn't be too many people there (wore a mask walking in, they clean and disinfect constantly AND are open to limited capacity WITH social distancing on top of that- they are on top of their game) then picked up food to-go from our favorite places and hung out in the hotel for the 4th by ourselves. John made sure to get a room with a balcony so we could have a view of the lake- and we even saw a few fireworks. For the past few years we have spent our 4th at Willie Nelson's picnic in Austin....this year was different for sure, but we threw on some Willie songs and just made a new 4th of July memory.  ...and of course I worked on my art- poolside!  Our real 'last FL thing' was a nice visit to the Breakers and then dinner at the Flagler Steakhouse to celebrate 15 years of marriage- yay! I even found inspiration from my art while we were out.  One of my favorite views from a favorite spot in Pompano...we'll be back!
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| When I saw the email in my inbox about a chance to participate in SCAD's Summer Educator Forum virtually (you know...on account of the pandemic and all...) I immediately hit 'reply' and signed up. I didn't even have to think twice about it- and I am glad I acted so quickly because I think the classes filled up the same day! Last summer was such a great experience, I had a chance to take a legit Fashion Illustration workshop and also learn some leather work... here is a blog post about all that; |  |
...scenes from SCAD Educator Forum 2019...it was my first time and I loved every second of it!
This summer we were able to sign up for one Zoom workshop and then also have access to various speakers and tours. I chose a workshop about Fashion and Art with Carmela Spinelli. It was like I was back in my undergrad Art History lectures again, which I am super nerdy and LOVED! It also made me feel like an undergrad because there was SO MUCH new information. She would present garments and talk about the art and culture of the time...it was just what I needed.
For our project we could choose to come up with an exhibition proposal or a six piece collection based on an artist/movement. Of course I chose the second one! I knew I wanted to tie in whatever I made with my current June series, so I looked for connections in art using monarch butterflies as the motif. I remembered seeing some small botanical pieces at the Salvador Dali museum a few years back...and the Charles James silhouettes I saw at the Met a while back...and decided to marry those ideas in my six piece collection.
When I was coming up with my idea for the garments I came across a way to create a digital mood board using Milanote app. I could pull the images in the app and make notes in my phone- and then switch to my laptop to place the images in a board format. Definitely a tool that I will use again, and one that could be shared with students.
These are the final images that I used as inspiration for my six piece collection.
Illustration in progress, watercolor on paper. I set up a spot on the couch for my online learning this week.
Final piece for my presentation.
We all had a chance to present our pieces or exhibition ideas, I had a simple PowerPoint and then the actual artwork to share;
...that's a wrap!
I was thinking about it, and I just wanted to have one post with some of my previous use of a butterfly motif in my work. These aren't in order, and include a variety of types of work that I make, not just my fashion illustrations;
| Usually by this point on the summer John and I have been on at least 1-2 flights and or road trips...but this summer, not so much due to Covid. We finally decided to travel at least in-state...to Key West! Last time we went it was Christmas year before last so we were anxious to see how they were handling social distancing, etc down south. |  Road trip! |
It was a million degrees out, so thankfully we did were not required to wear masks outside as long as we could social distance- which we totally could because there were not as many tourists. It was a little surreal being able to walk down Duval and not have to dodge folks on the sidewalk, but we are glad we went- the local businesses were glad to see us!
I made sure to get up early so I could be at the pool before it got crowded. They took away chairs to make room in between folks, but I figured I wouldn't take my chances. So I had the place to myself- even John wasn't there, he was sleeping in!
Pool side art studio...not pictured- ROOSTERS!
Years from now, when we look back on 2020 we may still be shell shocked by just how much went on. Pandemic. Protests.
...and we still have seven months to go.
I am still thinking about how to verbalize what my June series is about, but those that know me personally and know my heART- you will get it right away I am pretty sure.
For now, I will give you this;
...and we still have seven months to go.
I am still thinking about how to verbalize what my June series is about, but those that know me personally and know my heART- you will get it right away I am pretty sure.
For now, I will give you this;
...first five pieces...
I will revisit this and give more information...once I get my words right.
Til then, I wanted to share a fun Zoom art workshop I was fortunate to participate in. My friend Kianga asked me if I would participate in one of her on-line workshops. She is going to be offering these for the public in the future, but for this first one it was just a small group of creative ladies and I felt honored to be included.
I didn't realize just how excited I was all week- but that morning I woke up early and set up a spot downstairs so I wouldn't wake up John and the cats. Here is a peek;
(Left) Yay, it's time for Artful Greetings! (Middle) Kianga mailed out a package with some fun fabrics, papers and other items (Right) A bird's eye view of my set up, my usual pull up art table, and an additional table with all kinds of art supplies and the computer of course. I have a space upstairs but I didn't want to wake up John so I set this up.
Any interaction with Kianga is a whole vibe reset, and this was no different. She opened the session with a blessing of our hands, which really cleared the space for creativity. She gently guided us through three note card making activities, giving some loose guidelines but encouraging everyone to make the work our own.
Some behind the scenes pics...not pictured, good music, smiles, laughter and just FUN. Those two and a half hours flew by!
Card design 1...the fabrics really inspired everything that I made.
This was my second card design. Kianga gave us this great fabric with figures on it to work with.
...final card design...
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR INCLUDING ME, KIANGA!
Oh, and shameless plug- check her out;
https://kiangaart.com/
@kianga_art
...this gal right here, she fills my bucket!
The fiber fun didn't stop when the workshop ended, I still had fabric left so I decided to include some in my daily art...
#FindingFashionJLG was the title for the series and lemme tell ya- I FOUND the fashion! I actually thing I may be reexamining any jewelry piece that I put on myself in the future thinking about how it could be turned into a shoulder detail or ruffle on a gown!
While I was working on the series I had folks asking about purchasing the works...but the only problem is that the works were all 'temporary', something totally different that how I usually work. I decided to make a small group of five pieces that I would make available for purchase. These are jewelry bits and pieces glued to 8x10 canvas boards;
Two pieces already sold before I posted the final images to social media!
I realized that I still had one more piece to make- so I decided for the final piece I would make one piece for myself to commemorate this series and also to pay homage to the lady that started my love for bling- my granny. The dress is covered with some of the vintage brooches that she gave me, and there is a gauzy black bag under them with little starts inside that actually more around when you shake the piece.
I feel like this format could be a good way to revisit the series later, or to make some pieces in the future to sell.
But for not now, MANY things going on...more details to come!
'Ode to Flossie'
Not just the physical 2020 planners that aren't getting much use right now with the stay at home/safer at home orders...I am talking about the PLANNERS. You know who you are, you relish in short and long term planning, in writing in dates in those little boxes with the excitement of all that is to come. I get sad too. I miss having places to go and people to see, but I just think of all the folks that we are protecting so that we can ALL have better days to plan together.
And an excuse to buy a NEW planner, obviously! We deserve it! (and new pens, highlughters, all that...it's been rough!)
And an excuse to buy a NEW planner, obviously! We deserve it! (and new pens, highlughters, all that...it's been rough!)
Author
...just a gal trying to get this art out of my soul to share with the world on a DAILY basis...no big deal...check out my ramblings!-JLG
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