Studiology

Fat Tuesday

Cheers to Fat Tuesday, to my artist friends that gather in New Orleans, and to the crazy krewe's that perform in the parades of New Orleans. I will end this year's chapter with a look back at my last parade and the fabulous art that was created during our Ghost Rider workshop. The theme's for each year are decided by our instructor Michael deMeng and this one was also titled "The Krewe du Ghoul Workshop" which translates to parade ready ghost assemblage. Working towards a theme can be a delightful exercise in creativity or not! I used roller skate parts to build mine and it sits on a stage with magnets embedded to hold it in place. As usual, I built 2 pieces, but one was much, much smaller. 

And here are all of the other assembled ghouls.

The Krewe du Vieux parade was its usual risque act, these are censored photographs.

This was the Transformers Krewe - Revenge of the Storm Drains and they were busily picking up items to recycle.

And thanks to Thom Ciulla I have this photograph of our parade through the French Quarter where we don't attract as large a crowd but we take it seriously.

And another fun year down!

Happy Mardi Gras!

 

New Orleans Bound

Once again the time has come for my annual trip to New Orleans. Tonight I will be seated in Preservation Hall, listening to traditional jazz in the heart of the French Quarter. Few things make me happier. 

This will be the usual art workshop, my excursion for 11 (or so) years and I'm excited to meet up with my other family, some I've known from the first trip. The big reveal for my costume is the ghost of Frida Khalo. Ghostly makeup can be challenging, both to put on and take off. All will be disclosed when I return.

In the hustle of getting things done, I did manage to finish another wand as in magic wand. Not that I rushed it, there were complications. The subject matter was an octopus, having learned that they have a doughnut shaped brain, are highly intelligent and have a bundle of nerve cells in each of their legs which can function independently, even if cut off. Consider it a wand for the intelligent, or the person with a highly developed intellect. The concept was simple, build an octopus on a long wooden spindle. The head shape had to be right, not too round, elongated and bulbous. The core of the head is a plastic easter egg. The legs are clay covered wire. 

The back was once the front of a dresser drawer and antique metal drawer pulls enhance the top and bottom. Silk fabric stretches down both sides and is wrapped around the wand. Leather straps hold it in place, cut from an old belt. The paint layers include various shades of blue to imitate the ocean, my favorite blue - manganese blue, is the foundational color. Once mounted on its base, the size from top to bottom is 36". Titled simply "The Octopus Wand" it is displayed at Art A La Carte Gallery.

 

January Art

The latest piece of art was built from a wooden shelf unit that looks like a little house. The unit was very old and somewhat crooked, leaning like an old log cabin might. It was also covered in crumbling paint, which was really challenging. 

After removing some of the shelves, I was finally able to move forward with a plan. This is an item that has been in my possession for a long time and has always been a source of frustration with its many compartments. After multiple false starts, I finally came up with a solution which I call "The Bird Angel". The 3 guineas at the top mimic their behavior so perfectly, I'm sure that anyone that has owned guinea fowl will be enchanted with this piece. 

There was a week long incidence here where our last surviving guinea was downed from a tree almost every night for a week. The predator was unknown, possibly an owl or maybe a raccoon. One of the old chicken coops was repaired and moved to the house, rebuilt to function and left for the next attack (if the guinea actually survived another). The decision had to be made as our guinea had spent one night in my studio (what a mess) and two nights in the kitchen, sleeping on a dowel wired to kitchen chairs. 

At 10:40 PM, the day of the chicken coop move, the guinea was attacked again, this time screaming and standing at the kitchen door, beside him a barred owl. As I rushed to see what the commotion was, the owl was lifting himself for the final kill, having already removed many of our guinea's feathers. As the owl flew off, the guinea was picked up (I have never come close enough to actually touch him), and was secured in the coop. 

That happened a month ago and all is well, at least the guinea is alive, but often refuses to go in for the night, preferring an old cryptomeria tree. I am astonished that this bird has survived for so long on its own, everyday is a surprise. And you see, this was the source of my desire to build this assemblage piece. 

This piece was built and then covered with metal paint that will rust when sprayed with an oxidizer. The stage of rust you desire can be halted by applying matte medium paint, diluted with water. I have found that the rusting process often continues, so the art will alter over time. 

As usual, these items are available at Art A La Carte Gallery in Occoquan, Virginia.

This and That

The garden is dormant and snow is an inch deep, with more predicted. For a full 4 weeks, if not more, my Galanthus 'Potter's Prelude' has been blooming, withstanding temperatures as low as 20 degrees fahrenheit. So happy am I with its spread, it is even naturalizing a bit. I paid a whopping $40. per bulb and see that they have risen to $59. each, in a modest way I am rich!

Christmas marked the end of my full time work and it was spent with my daughter and grandchildren. Juniper, the little red headed granddaughter was walking with me while we held hands and I explained to her that I needed to go inside and help her mother with the kitchen duties and lickety split, she maneuvered me into the kitchen. Her place is on a stool, high enough to stir, wash dishes, and be helpful. As it turns out, she loves helping in the kitchen.

Yes that's an ice cream scoop stirring the mac and cheese. 

The weather was beautiful and most of the day was spent outside, the way I like it.

Now I have plenty of time for studio work and plenty of time to fix a piece that fell from a wall and broke into 3 pieces. Purchased in 2015 as part of my Saints and Sinner's Show, the recipient asked if I might be able to fix it. I was delighted to get her back, despite the broken parts because it gave me the opportunity to see how far I have come since 2015 and didn't feel challenged when I saw how she had broken. That show was my first of all assemblaged art. I had moved from various forms of photography to 3D and the build part was challenging enough, the paint may have been more. Here is Saint Catherine in 2015:

Here is the repaired piece with a new repaint.

The radiating points are made from skewers, the case is an old clock frame. Saint Catherine was the Patron Saint of intellectuals, schoolchildren, and professions involving wheels, hence the contents. Almost always shown with a palm leaf. Parts of her were missing so some creative clay molding fixed that. 

The most current studio work is large and  complicated, involving various birds. I have been building miniature guinea fowl and have been following our single guinea around the yard to make sure that I get the finer points correct.

There are also new Hot Wheels, which take another kind of creativity to put together, the "think tiny" assemblage artist.

So you see the year ended and began with a little of this and that, as most people's lives do. My blog can take many twists and turns and as I have always said, I bore easily. So the topics will vary, but in looking back, not by too much, depending on the the time of year. A steady ride into the new year with gently curves is best, those unexpected detours can be challenging. Thanks for riding along and I hope your new year is filled with family, friends, gardening, and art - a gentle dose of all.

December

With the year closing out and a look back on 2019 I have to say it was pretty darn good. My last commitment is over, the full time job in the floral department at Merrifield Gardens (for the holiday season) has finished and I can get back to full time art. 

Within this last 6 weeks there were 3 floral workshops, all to build centerpieces. Two included flowers and one  was just with greens or evergreen branches. All were successful and some glorious arrangements came out of the class room.

I was part of a Secret Krampus Society Exchange and received a most awesome Krampus from 1 of 18 participants that are spread all over the world.

My recipient was in Pennsylvania and this is what she received.

In total I managed to build 6 large and 3 small Krampus figures of which this was the last one, delivered to Art A La Carte. 

Changing gears, this assemblage piece was finished last night.

God willing and the creek don't rise, 2020 will also be full to the brim. For all that tag along with me on this daily blog "Happy Holidays". I feel so blessed to have such wonderful people around me and I hope to see you soon.

 

Assemblage in Mexico

Of the 20 or so artists that joined me in Mexico, some have a direction or plan when it comes to building their projects, some haven't a clue and bring items to tinker with and then there are those that buy items on the street and work with them, happy to have something that comes from the destination. I fell into the group that knew 1 item I would build and had no idea on the second. With clay drying time and paint drying time, I always want to have at least 2 items going at once. There was also a little problem with shipping items and suitcase weight, which prompted me to pre-drill everything I could, there were no plans on bringing a drill in my suitcase, the Dremel, paint, clay and brushes was going to have to do.

The stop in Mexico City was an add on, for those that wanted to really immerse themselves in famous art and artists of that place. We visited the murals of Deigo and went to Frida Khalo's blue house or Casa Azul. This was a real highlight for me and I was impressed with that and everything that happened in one of the biggest cities in the world. Frida Khalo was severely handicapped in an accident that involved a street car when she was in her late teens. She was bedridden for a large part of those early years, eventually moved to a wheel chair, but never recovered fully from the injury and wore a back brace. This began her painting career and there were 2 beds in her house, one of which was a bed with a canopy top and a mirror so that she could look at herself and paint self-portraits. The studio where she worked has been left after her passing, paints, brushes and easel all where she used them.

 

 

 

She kept various animals in the courtyard and also owned the hairless Mexican dogs known as Xoloitzcuintli or Xolo dogs. We saw a few from time to time, better in a tropical place with their lack of fur.

Once in Oaxaca the art tours continued and we visited artists that made alebrijes or the very ornate animals.

Clay Catrinas are another common form of art, the lady skeleton for Day of the Dead. 

As our projects began I put together my piece just as I had planned, a skeleton form with a child inside. It had not made complete sense when I left but it became very clear once there, or at least the idea percolated and fit into my surroundings.

These giant paper mache forms have a person inside and they tower over everyone as part of the Day of the Dead parades. Called Los Monos, they often have a skeleton-like face.

On my piece the legs and arms are hinged and swing, the whole piece is on a mount and can be removed. Essentially a Day of the Dead parade participant.

My second piece became a Mexican hairless dog, specifically Frida Khalo's dog with a back brace and red flowers on its head. A little skeleton face too, naturally! Here are some of the other artists work;

This one had a little mask that could come off.

 

There were many others and we celebrated our accomplishment with local Mescal, a drink that comes from the agave and as old as the conquistadors. Made from any agave plant, not just the 'Weber's Blue' for tequila, it's essentially fermented mash. 

Michael deMeng was our instructor and once again delivered a delightful critique leaving us all feeling accomplished.

I am not done with this revisit of my trip and plan on adding at least one more blog to highlight some other art and artists. I hope you have enjoyed it and the "Rise of the Forsaken Toys" workshop. 

 

 

The Reception

I wanted to thank everyone that came to my reception, I was truly humbled. The masks were a big hit and they were literally finished the morning of the big day. Such wonderful friends I have and so many positive comments, this was a show that will always be remembered fondly!

As October continues the show will remain, and I have some special plans for the holiday season, so consider a visit to Art A La Carte Gallery.

Here are some photographs of the masks, they are not just fully functional but were made with custom wall mounts so they could be hung like a piece of art. 

 

 

She Sells Sea Snails

The show is up, a huge sigh of relief, another year down. There will be a reception on Saturday, October the 12th with wine tastings and finger food.  I hope to see some of you at Art A La Carte, 310 Mill Street, Occoquan, Va. from 2 to 5. Here are some photographs of the show which is shared with Kathleen Kendall and you can meet both of us on reception day.

 

Sea Odyssey, the Show

I am once again sharing the spotlight with Kathleen Kendall at Art A La Carte Gallery this fall with a two person show. Titled "Sea Odyssey", there will be plenty of mermaids and various sea creatures in 2D and 3D. The show goes up on Friday, the 27th of September, the day before the big Arts and Crafts Festival in Occoquan. Our reception is Saturday, October 12th, from 2 to 5:00. We have literally been working on this project for a year.

My fourth year at the gallery as I was officially juried in on May 6th of 2014. The owner of the gallery announced a move to Florida over a year ago, which triggered panic on my part because there are few things worse than having to find a new gallery to sell your art from. We are a cooperative gallery with 24 members and the short story is - I'm the new manager. Scary and exciting at the same time, it's part of my plan to move into more art, splitting my life between horticulture and creative time in the art studio. And if you have never visited the gallery, please consider a visit, I am sure you will love it as I do (plus we are open 7 days a week from 11-5).

So here are some previews of completed artwork that will be on display at the end of this month. This piece is another wand, supported by strong magnets.

 

 

 

 

 

Assembled

The work for a fall show began in late winter and is well on its way with a few finished pieces that fit the theme of a 'Sea Odyssey'. This piece was so involved (40 tentacles) and so daunting when it came to painting that I actually became afraid of it. There did come a day when I felt it was coming together and could be conquered and a month later I added finishing touches that made it feel finished. This show will be in October at Art A La Carte with a hanging date of Friday, September 27th and a reception on Saturday, October 12th. As time moves along I will introduce a few more for this show. 

Her name is "Sea Siren'.

There are also some wands coming together, the latest holds a cut labradorite stone.  The stone has several uses, most notably as protection from evil and strengthening of natural forces from within. How perfect for a wand. This one will be delivered this week and I am very happy with the final results. 

It also comes out of its case and is two sided, so it can be hung front or back. See it and other art at Art A La Carte Gallery in Occoquan.