Coffee talk with 'da muse.

The following is me finally sitting down to blog a little about a productive, art-tastic weekend I had...hey, better late than never.

Seriously, we need to collaborate, Tim!

This past Saturday, I spent the majority of the day sketching the current Alexander McQueen S/S’13 print campaign at Barnes and Noble, taking breaks to sneak off and read Tim Gunn’s Fashion Bible…only to come home, nap, draw some more from the McQueen image and then go back to Barnes and Noble to read another chapter… sigh. 

John did mention that he was starting to be concerned with my love for Tim Gunn, but I assured him that it was harmless, then went into a lengthy diatribe about Tim's disdain for jeggings and capris.   Tim Gunn is my Barbara Streisand, and I think John gets it.  (BTW, Turns out, John agrees with him.  I know how to pick'em.)

And can I just take a minute and just say that the current print ad for McQueen featuring Sarah Burton's designs and photos by David Sims is so striking.  I didn't make it very far into the issue of Harper's that I picked up because I became so inspired by this particular image.  So I ended up making several sketches based on just that image...and will probably make some more.  Wow.  Like buttah.

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Current obsession/inspiration/EVERYTHING.

Sunday morning...it was time to wake and draw...at the beach!  I was worried that the clouds would steal my sunshine, but light prevailed and I was able to get some sun on my face while finishing up my daily piece.

I need the beach in my life like I need art in my life...I can't swim but I like to be there by it just the same.

Next up on Sunday,  I made the trip down to Boca for the last day of the IMPACT: 50 Years of the Council of Fashion Designers of America exhibit. First off- I should have made this trip sooner (slapping myself on the wrist) I went on the last day of the exhibit AND it was on a Sunday…let’s just say it was crowded.  But I knew I had to see this show before it came down, and I am glad that I made the forty minute trip down to Boca Raton.  To be in such close proximity of pieces from so many influential designers was exhilarating. So…I sketched.  I sketched gowns, separates…side views, front views, back views…fourteen drawings on toned paper and Bristol board later, fingertips covered with conte crayon…and I felt pretty fulfilled leaving...

"Again I'm just a little verklempt. A little emotional, little verklempt. Talk amongst yourselves. I'll give you a topic. The jelly bean is neither made of jelly nor is it a bean. Discuss. Discuss! (holds it all in) There I feel better. Who knew?"

…while I was drawing I did have several people stop to inquire what I was doing.  Was I a fashion design student? (No, but thank you for thinking I was a student.) What was I going to do with these drawings?  (Ummmm…I don’t know)  I really enjoyed talking with each person that stopped me; obviously we shared a common interest if we were there at this exhibit.  I don’t want to design clothes.  (Accessories, maybe)  I don’t want to sew. (gimme a hot glue gun or some stichwitchery and I will see what I can do) I just want to draw beautiful clothes.  I want to be around fashion. I have been fortunate to have some of my illustrations published in Art Hive, so that is my only outlet for showing my work besides my website and social media outlets.  I make the work, I post it…and then…I inventory it and file it away.  It would be nice to sell some it, to show it, and I will keep my fingers crossed that might happen.  I would like to have work published, to go to fashion shows and sketch live, to sit in and sketch collections in stores and design studios, to build relationships with designers…or even just keep sketching from the fashion photography in Harper’s Bazaar and Vogue and in print ads- my original source of inspiration...yeah, that would be my dream.  I still love teaching and my regular ol' daily art that I make...but...a gal can dream.

…for now, I will just keep making a piece of art every day and feeding my love for fashion by drawing from the images that inspire me. Since I made the commitment to making a piece of art every day in January 2012 my art has really become what drives me.  I just want to keep making more work and trying to improve my skills as an artist, and allowing myself to become completely engulfed in my desire to just..create.

"Talk amongst yourselves. I'll give you another topic. Duran Duran is neither a Duran nor a Duran. Discuss. There I feel better. Okay that's all the time we have this week.

Close enough. Close enough. Don't go changing just to please me. I'll tumble for you. Let's go to the phones the number is 555-4444. Give us a call we'll talk you know no big whoop. Hello?"
(Linda Richman,aka Mike Myers, 'Coffee Talk' SNL)

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(...and, yes, today's post is dedicated to my Barbara Streisand, the one and only Tim Gunn)