11th Annual Juried Exhibition in Ozark

I can't believe that it's been over a year now that we've been living in Alabama. This art competition in Ozark is the first thing I participated in when we moved here last summer. Phil and I have come a long way. More significantly, my art has come a long way. Like last year, this year I have two entries. The first is a chair lift at a ski resort and the second is a girl. I didn't realize until recently, but I guess I like painting girls and resort vacation themes. (maybe I should start to combo the two)

I'm sure you've seen these works before, but here are my entries.

( I appologize for the picture being kinda-bunk. I took it with my phone.)

Those of you that have seen Eat Cake before will be delighted to see it framed and decorated.

The other painting is a portrait of a chair lift at The Canyons in Utah.

The chair lift exemplifies my love of winter sports, and also that of the use of spray paint in combination with oils. I handmade the canvas it is on. It's a bear of a canvas. (for my standards anyway)

Eat Cake is a celebration of the quirks of feminity. It's a page in a chapter of a book about the love/hate relationship that I (and all women) have with fashion and society. This piece is also a celebration of the art making technique of collage, and garbage art, and the marriage of found objects.

Both of these pieces, along with many others from great artists in my area will be on display at the Ann Rudd Art Center in downtown Ozark, AL until September 23, 2011. The opening reception is August 13th at 7:00 pm. Everyone is welcome to attend.

From the entries I have seen so far, it will be a wonderful show to come and see. I am excited for the reception. This show has wonderful prizes thanks to the Alabama State Arts Council.

Oh, before I forget...

I took some photos of my process of making a picture frame out of garbage.

If you're interested read on, it's a semi-tutorial.

First I get a huge cardboard box and measure out the three sides of the frame.

Then I cut the cardboard on my lines. From here I fold it to make sure my calculations were correct.

Then I cover the cardboard in the most ridiculous fabric scrap I can find. Mod Podge works perfect.

Once the glue dries on the fabric frame I glue the canvas down in the center. That's when the fun really starts. I dig through my boxes of tchotchky to see what else I can find to glue down around the painting. Here I have chosen a couple of big fake flowers, flowers I constructed from old lace trim, some vintage buttons, and also some painted wooden buttons.

And what, may I ask, would a piece of art from me be if it didn't have an anchor?

Allow a few mintues for everything to dry before testing on a wall.

Seasons Change

Time doesn't go by any faster in Alabama. In fact most things are done slower. It seems to me however, that the seasons change so quickly. Spring is here in full force, and has been for weeks. I'm actually contemplating putting the A/C on soon. (this thought actually purturbs me) My favorite thing in spring is blossoming foliage. I love how some new flowers and buds can make even the yuckiest area look pretty. My hideous fence can attest to that.

Seeing all these lovely roses on the bush makes me wish I had tended to it (at all) earlier. The same goes for a tomato plant I left for dead after never getting a tomato last year. Of course it's got one now, so I've begun watering it again. The tree in our front yard is pretty awesome too.

As much as it may seem that I love spring right now, no season could ever take the place of winter. It is definitely my favorite season. In fact, I just finished another chair lift painting! It's one I've had for a while and am just now completeing.

This is a nice big size. I think I was a bit intimidated by the size and that's why it took so long. For anyone not familiar this Chairlift Series is one I've been working on building for a while. This painting (from The Canyons in Utah) is third in the series. I'll be starting on one from Steamboat, CO next. If you are wondering what the other two look like I can post them now.

It's All Color Theory

EAT CAKE by S.C. Geraci

With devotion to my scarf business is how I spend most of my year. However, in these early months I spend more time painting than sewing. Painting allows me to think. It is no coincidence that I have also been reading a book on color theory. Many philosophies are discussed in the book. In order to understand and remember their meaning I relate them to my life. This book has taught me that color and business have some commonalities. I wanted to share my new revelation.

Creative entrepreneurship is like painting based on color theory. It is something dynamic we are trying to do based on static facts. You have a talent you would like to put to work. You do research and make a plan according to books and blog advice. You follow this plan, and heed advice, to the best of your ability. You struggle. It has been my experience that what ends up in triumph is not always what is supposed to work according to facts, statistics, and graphs.

Existence requires order. Red, yellow, and blue are primary colors. You know the rest. Existence also requires faith. At what point does it stifle your intuition to only follow rules laid out by others? Conventional approaches can be so dissatisfying. I say this because I really struggle with internet marketing. It was only innovative and creative for a second. We’re already saturated. It gives me gut-rot.

You are told how to match colors. This is like steps to plan a business. Color wheels are correct and business plans are valid. I know their laws and value them. But I also know that their broad application is another matter. A harmony needs to exist between them and what is in my brain and heart.

My book says that there are only about 30 legitimate color names, but in the mixing of shades and tones there are innumerable opportunities. I use this to validate the potential I have for success despite a disinterest in certain formulas to avoid failure. Over emphasis on the color wheel, and its rules, is like being in jail. To be a jailed artist seems an oxymoron. Break out. Don’t plug along according to what’s in the manual. Use what’s in your heart. Reference your imagination. Building a business with this mentality ensures your fulfillment.

In a painting you have stages. The beginning looks nothing like the end. The steps I’ve gone through as an entrepreneur are exactly the same. Allow me this simile.
The white of the blank canvas is a satisfying welcome. I plot the composition and start to block out color. Once the plans are laid they look great. This is when I’m most satisfied with my painting. I want to stop right there because I feel like it is so complete. The middle work of the painting is most aggravating to me. That’s when I have to employ color to build shapes with depth. I need to give the composition quality. I put in overtime getting shades and tone correct. If I don’t succeed it will throw off the entire intention I started with. (In this middle stage I have been known to gesso over the whole thing and start again.) After all this emotional distress the end near. This part is great. I sit back and admire the work. I go back in and tweak little colors here and there. I highlight certain areas I like. I bring balance to the canvas. Once the surface is all covered certain things that were so important in the beginning have disappeared. Adversely, other sections have taken new importance. The completed work is a balance of many things. It is the perfect compliment to my life.
“Color development follows its own laws.”
                                                    -painter Hans Hofman.

Based on COLOR CODES by Charles A. Riley II, 1995, University Press of New England

For an added bonus here is a game based on color theory:
http://www.silvergames.com/game/color-theory/
Be careful, it's addicting.



I Painted a Sailboat!

Now that Flo Sca has slowed down a bit I can paint more. I'm pumped. Here's the first painting of 2011.

Introducing Lauren

As mentioned earlier, there are more women sewing for the company than just me. This is the first installment of their introductions.

Welcome Lauren.  Most importantly, she is an abstract painter. Here is one of her paintings.

As in her painting, Lauren brings sweet serenity to Florida Scarf. Her purity is evident in the things she loves, like sunrises, yoga, sand in between her toes, and paint in between her fingers. She draws inspirations from living on the coast of Northern New Jersey. What we love most about Lauren is her offbeat sense of humor that erupts at the most unexpected moment. She adds this surprise and splendor to each of her designs. An example of which is featured below.

To shop more of Lauren's scarves go to http://www.floridascarf.com/