Creative Indulgence

Lately I have been spoiling myself by indulging a creative rampage. In the past couple of weeks I have completed over 5 paintings. Mind you, they were not all started a couple of weeks ago. I wouldn't want to insinuate that I am a fast worker. Here they are in no particular order.

Over the coming days I will be posting the processes from some of these works.

Also, a few of these are available for purchase on Etsy.

Over the holiday season I have also been working on a series of special orders. I have been getting an increasing number of Special Orders. It is definitely more work to complete; but in a good way. It works my brain in ways that making what ever I want never could. Here's a few, in no particular order.

And my particular favorite of the season...The Santa Clause.

I have also been branching out from these two main outlets for my creativity. For instance, here is my snuggie for my plant. I made it from some old granny squares I have that my grandmother made. 

I love it. I want to make snuggies for everything using these squares. Everything you wrap in them looks adorable.

What's my next “branching out” project?

Figuring out how to cut down and resew my grandfather's flannels into a size that fits me.

I also have plans to finally finish the throw rug made from knotted t-shirts that I started in May. 

Stay tuned...

Army Art

It isn't often that my world and my husband's world collide. I'm an Artist. He's in the Army. I'm a Painter. He's a Pilot.

I think Paula Abdul said it best.

And because my husband's lifestyle affords me my lifestyle; I'm on the team.

Recently I completed a commission painting. It was designed as a gift for a Commander, as he will be changing command soon. Because he is leaving this particular Company for another gifts are in order.

What better gift than a commemorative painting?

Here's the Work of Art from start to finish. 

 

Before I went to Bali

Before I went to Bali, Los Angeles, Illinois, and Philadelphia, and after a brief stay in New Jersey, I went to Vermont. You may have read a tiny post about it, but I've got some more to share from that excursion. My mother and I made a seven hour drive exciting by turning it into a scavenger hunt. It is such a delicious treat when you are driving in the middle of nowhere and Big Art pops up and presents itself. It happened more often than I could have hoped on our drive to Stowe. When we discovered those new treasures I just wanted to thank the person that put it there...so bad. Alas, that is impossible. So instead I took pictures of it and I am sharing it with you. Some day in the future, when my husband and I grow up, we'll buy land. And I hope he lets me, and helps me, make Big Art to share with folks like this.

Another thing that I really love is live music. And I'm sorry, I don't mean live music like festivals where you exhaust yourself by trying to see eighty bands in three days because you spent two hundred dollars on a ticket. I mean live music like when you go to a cool bar, drink an awesome beer, and listen to some dudes jam and play music because they like the sound, and they love to entertain. I mean live music at an audible decibel, people being creative with old songs you love and throwing in a couple of originals, and musicians bringing their friends on stage to sing a few lines or rip a guitar. To me, this is like Big Art on someone's lawn. It's Art for Art's sake. We got a bit of that in Vermont too. It was, so, so nice. One day in particular we drove to a small little village (big enough for a college) called Johnson. They have a free concert in their park every Tuesday evening in the Summer, B.Y.O.B. (Now that's what I'm talking about) There was a sweet band complete with a guy playing the stand-up base. The whole community was out. Vendors were selling shaved ice, Indian food, pizza, and fruit and jam. Little kids were running around. College-kid-Vermont-hippies were running around. And I was spending some quality time with my mother and sister. This little outdoor soiree was only the hors d'oeuvre to an evening of music at the bar (pizza restaurant) down the street. My sister's friend's band played, Tall Grass Get Down. Don't you just love that name? I do. They were great. With their music, they did a perfect job of summarizing our vacation in Vermont.

During Last Days in Germany...

Fret not. I don't mean my actual last days. I just mean the last few days before I take a long trip.
If you read the journal you know I am leaving Deutschland for six weeks. I'll be back in September.
It is my plan to have an adventure, or two, to share here. If I'm lucky, I may even have some cool art news or exotic shopping trip.
Back to the point. Things have been shaping-up quite nicely for my painting, as well as my sewing. I was fortunate enough to score one last painting job before I skipped town. It was commissioned for a gift, one that will not be gifted until October. Because of this I will have to keeps its composition a secret. I'm sure you understand. What I can share with you are a couple of new (half-finished) works.

Do you love this as much as I do?
When I complete a painting I usually have a lot of paint left over on my tray. I hate throwing it away. Instead of giving up on it; I use it to paint tiny canvases. I just loved this deep forest turquoise, and I had a ton of it, so I put it to use. Initially I had intended on filling these bubbles with images. I was thinking maybe flowers, or sloshing water, or butterflies. But the more I look at this triptych; the more I want it to stay the same. We'll see how I feel about it when I get home.
I was enjoy this last minute painting of bubbles so much that I continued on; with more colors.

(The one on the lower left will definitely have a pirate ship coming out of it.)

These delicious Art Snacks will be completed and up for sale on the Etsy Shop by the end of September.  

In Florida Scarf news; I was contacted by a local handmade fair to participate in this year's show. I was really flattered. They contacted me through Etsy, so I'm sure that's how they found me. I can't participate because I won't be here; but I'm pretty sure my German isn't good enough yet anyway. It does, however, fuel me to learn the language so I can participate next year. If you are in Ansbach I suggest you check it out; and I suggest you let me know how it is.

My last bit is one about a potential new retailer. It was a pipe dream of mine to maybe sell my scarves in shops in Germany. The thought of accomplishing this goal brought on lots of anxiety about speaking German well enough to pitch myself to stores; not to mention the logistics (and legalities) that go along with retail in a foreign country.

A store called re:gal, in Aachen, Germany just found me on Etsy too. They really like Florida Scarf and think it would be a good fit for their store. I figure this is half the battle. Of course, I won't be able to meet with them until the middle of September. But if all goes well there is (absolutely) no reason why I can't figure out the rest of the details....

.....and start slinging' more scarves in Deutschland!

That's all for now. Thanks for reading.

I'm Not Obsessed...

Every now and again I enjoy sharing an embarrassing moment.

I swear I'm not obsessed with myself but I sure felt like it yesterday when my landlord found me taking pictures of myself. (Don't worry. I was fully clothed. See above.)
If you read the Germany Page on this blog you know that I had a fabulous afternoon touristing with my neighbors. Afterward I declined their offer for a beer in order to go home and get back to work on my new painting. As I was putting my painting clothes on I realized I was having a great hair day. I have a bunch of new scarves and hoods that I need to photograph, so I thought I should seize the opportunity. I went outside (for optimum lighting) and got to work with the self timer. It was about fifteen minutes later that my landlord peaked over the side of his balcony to see what the heck I was doing. This is the exact position he found me in. (Please imagine a camera on a tripod in from of me.) I must say I was a bit embarrassed, like when you get caught singing in the car to the radio.
Trying to explain to Hans what I was doing in German was nearly impossible. Luckily he has seen my work and I gave him a business card, so it made a bit of sense. I wished I knew how to explain one man band in German. Instead I said, "I cut, I sew, I photograph, I put online, I sell."
Our silly Germish conversation about my painting and sewing prompted Ludwig and Katarina to come out on their porch too. We must have been a funny sight; four people on three different balconies all shouting a to one another. I wished I had the camera set up in the backyard so I could've snapped a photo. I imagine we looked like a scene from 227, that old TV show. Only we'd be the German version.
I am happy to report that this situation ends on a positive note. Hans remembered one of the other houses on the street is home to a pair of artists. He immediately made me go over to this house of artists with him so he could introduce me. I wasn't necessarily dressed for it, but who better to meet in your painting clothes than a pair of artists. Well, this couple was very nice but in the middle of entertaining guests so Hans and I didn't stay too long. It was a good thing too, because I was the only one who didn't speak German. I did understand however, that she is a painter and he is a sculpture and they own a gallery in town. They have a show opening soon and she is going to stop by my house soon with an invitation. Score! Chalk one up for Hans, my new favorite landlord.
This will be the second art show opening I've been invited to in one week. My first one is today. Coincidentally all of theses artists know one another. I love moments like this in life when little things just start coming together. I really hope that me, and art, and my new community can become better friends. If only my ability to speak German could come together a bit faster, I'd be golden.
We shall see.

Happy Birthday Heidelberg

This is Heidelberg Street in Detroit. It is the home of the Heidelberg Project, which is celebrating its 25th birthday. It is a living art installation (I say living because it continues to grow) started and maintained by Tyree Guyton.

As the story goes, Mr. Guyton came home from the war to find the street he grew up on abandoned. He couldn't stand to see it go to waste and become filled with crime. He decided to fight this grim destiny with decoration. It hasn't been easy, and he faced defeat many times, but it has been an artistic institution ever since. This one site draws over 270,000 visitors annually. It has also been an inspiration to the community, learning tool for the children, and a source of pride for Detroit.

You can read the story of the anniversary here.

I love this project. I think it is another example of the importance of art. It's not about one person's need to express themself. It's about art as a multipurpose tool; art as lifesupport.

I think Mr. Guyton is amazing. I think he takes art and does exactly what you are supposed to do with it. I am so happy for all the people whose lives he has affected in a positive way.

You can also learn more by visiting www.heidelberg.org

Art Imitates Life

Sometimes I just have to ask myself, "What side of the looking glass are we on?"

This photo uses no digital enhancement. Alexa Meade paints directly on people and photographs them. It is too cool. She was on the front of YAHOO! yesterday. Here is the link:
 http://news.yahoo.com/photos/alexa-meade-photos-imitate-paintings-1319236464-slideshow/#crsl=%252Fphotos%252Falexa-meade-photos-imitate-paintings-1319236464-slideshow%252F1-photo-1319231555.html

I never cease to be amazed by art and it's ability to constantly challenge reality.
Visual stimulation is a blessing.

Perfection

This photo was taken at the Ann Rudd Art Center.

I am reading The German Genius. Last night I was inspired by an essay I found titled “What Knowledge is Conveyed by Art?” It is about the development of a society and its influences. To give you a time reference, arguments in the essay dated from 18th Century German theory. (the concept of the mind was relatively new) Being an artist, I loved its point of view on perfection; that it isn’t a static quality inherent in some things and not others. It was studied rather, that perfection is in the force of the spirit. I wanted to share some of the ideas with you.

 

This photo was taken at the Ann Rudd Art Center.

Scholars had determined that there was an inherent creative energy in the mind. The word “aesthetics” was developed to describe the relationship between experience and creation. The question was asked, “What type of knowledge is conveyed by art?” It was the perception of a few that reaching perfection in your senses it is possible, but not like in mathematics. A picture or a poem was described as a sensuous representation of an image of perfection. By this definition it is achieved in the act of creation. They decided an artist is someone who epitomizes his own time while attempting to change and improve them. As I was reading, this theory helped weave together a lot of my own opinions on art, and artists that I love. To give a few examples I’ll say musicians like Led Zeppelin, or an artist like Frida Kahlo, or Jeff Koons. I know these might strike you as kooky examples, but bear with me. If you’d prefer I could think of a world leader I’d put in the “artist category, like Nelson Mandela.

This is the Art Center too.

The essay goes on to say that each creation of genius results in an expansion of consciousness, opening the path to the creation of a better world, enabling us to transcend the present. I think this expansion of consciousness happens to both the creator as well as the audience. The trick is for the audience to be receptive to what is being shown. The question I ask is, “When these opportunities are presented are we always paying attention?” There is this other guy, Mendelssohn, who says that there is a special faculty in the soul, that functions solely in the regard to beauty, enabling man to respond to it, or “know” it, and recognize it in a way that analysis never could. This further supports the notion of “perfect” but not like “mathematics perfect.” It is the soul that predisposes man to a higher culture. These arguments hold so true today. I say this because it is my opinion that science and technology, while extremely important to our society, are tipping the scale of importance.

Art Center also.

Later perfection is defined as the achievement of harmony between inner life and outer life. I think this is something we all struggle with, whether or not we fancy ourselves creative. The essay describes a masterpiece as a harmony between spirit and (human) nature. It is where the individual comes together with the general. As an artist I try to work simultaneously with both. As a human in society, who wants to enjoy my life, I work with both. This work is never complete. We’ve heard this before, but the essay states, “the perfection is in the journey.” (It is evident that we’ve been trying to tell ourselves this since the beginning of time.) “And the perfection is in discovery.” I, myself, find immense joy in discovery.

The last point I would like to share is, “Art, like history, has an infinite realm of future possibility… The future can only happen through conscious acts… It doesn’t just happen; it needs to be fashioned, fostered, and crafted.” These ideals had a powerful impact on the German intellectual history during the 18th century and after. Last night it gave me a renewed sense of energy and excitement about what I do. I love art. And the history of the world and its people will always be educational and inspirational.

Regeneration Clayworks Studio

A trip to New Jersey isn't complete for me without a trip to my mom's place. She is fortunate enough to live and work on creek front property. Many Flo Sca fans are familiar with my clay buttons, which come from collaborations between her and I in her studio.

 I love creating art with her in this space. It is full of, not just work to be completed, but also works from our past.



Like this number, shown above. What the heck was I thinking? What the heck is my mom thinking, to still have it hanging? At least it matches the paper lantern :)



This is something my mom is working on for me currently. (By currently I mean for the past couple of years. I guess it isn't that pressing to finish.) It is a Geze ski binding. By now you could probably say it's an antique. A while back a friend mounted it to some MDF for me. The binding doubles as a beer bottle opener. Cool, huh? My mom thought it would be much cooler as the center piece in a mosaic. I agree. Some of the tiles she's using are awesome, like the black/red heart that Frankie made.

Anyway, on this trip home I decided to grab some extra shots of my mother's wonderland to introduce you to the source of much of her inspiration. Something to find joy in if you have a scarf with some of her buttons, or one of her tiles, or boxes, or mosaics.

If these shots inspire you to take a trip to my shop, please do.

If these shots inspire you to take a trip to my mom's shop, please do too.