An Artist's Bucket List

Yup, I have a bucket list specifically for all things art-related.  Sure, I want to skydive and ride a horse down the beach like everyone else, but there are a few things the artist side of me has always wanted to do that are a little more specific.

1.  Visit the Met Costume Institute.
Actually, I've never even been to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, let alone New York, but if I could only visit one part of the Met, the Costume Institute would be it.  One of my favorite things to draw, strangely enough, has always been ladies in old-fashioned gowns, so I would love to see a few of those in person for some inspiration.  I stumbled across this House of Worth gown online, once upon a time, and it's been the catalyst of a few drawings in and of itself.   Anyone who says fashion isn't an art form is lying to themselves.

2.  Have more than a few completed works in my possession.
I love to draw, but I have--in the past-- had a bad habit of giving away paintings and illustrations almost as soon as I complete them.  I think I have never had more than four of five works lying around at one time.  Why?  Well, this leads into number three....

3.  Participate in a gallery show.
I draw because I love it, but have never truly pursued it as a career the way most artists do.  I would love, just once, to have a few pieces in a show. A group show is fine since, with my bad habit of giving art away, I'll probably never amass enough for a solo show.  Even better if the pieces sell, preferably to people I don't already know.

4. Take a pottery class.
Simple, I know, but I never seem to get around to it, find the time, or have the money.  Being a stay-at-home mom who doesn't drive doesn't really help.  Pottery has always looked like something that would be relaxing, sitting at that wheel, hands deep in cool clay.  I might end up being terrible at it, but I'd still like to try.

5.  Get a bachelor's degree in art.
I never went to college.  When I was younger, I always thought, if I went, the only things I would want to major in were art or English, and I had heard (and stupidly believed) both were useless degrees.  Here I am, a decade later, just discovering things like block printing and how to work in pastels, and I think about how much sooner I would have made these discoveries if I had went to college and majored in art, worthless degree or not.  And of course,  a decade later, I am finally smart enough to realize any degree is better than no degree.  So one of these days, when the kid is a little older, I think I'll go back to school.

And while I'm there, maybe I'll take a pottery class.

Treasury Thursday: Autumn is Coming....

It may not seem like it, what with the incredible heat waves all over the county.  It's been so steamy out, you feel like you might evaporate walking to the car.

But this is the turning point, folks.  Once the heat breaks, you know as well as I do, it's all downhill from here (or at least down-temperature).  And I, for one, am for it.   I used to love summer, but now I'm starting to look forward to the cooler weather, the smell of leaves and campfire, the feel of being snuggled into a hoodie, the first cool fall winds on my face.  And here is my treasury in honor of all of it.

'Autumn is Coming, Colored Amber and Rust' by cursiveart

Oranges and goldeny browns for fall!

Orange Temple and Flags... SketchAway $18.00	Dandelion Photograph - ... buckscountyfra... $30.00	Eco Friendly - Handmade... WeeBindery $37.00
On SALE Hazel Atlas Rus... bythewayside $3.40	The Perfect Mug / Wheel... patspottery $24.00	Sz 7.5 Vintage Wacky Or... ragsfeathers $32.00
NEW for Fall- Full Bloo... LittleBlueEyes $6.50	Grand Canyon Stubby Bic... LindenAvenueDe... $29.00	Fly away with me ... wh... divinalocura $26.00
6 FEATHER HAIR EXTENSIO... hauteFEATHERco... $24.99	Orange and Green Archit... ruthsartwork $30.00	Armadillo Art Print wi... NicoleFitzGibb... $28.00
Zaida--hand dyed lace w... marigoldjen $24.00	Tiny Harvest Leaf Earri... linkeldesigns $5.00	CIJ BOGO SALE: I made y... sparksoffire $40.00
vintage 1990 Coppertone... vacationvintag... $64.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

Stuff I Love: Pattern + Use = Awesome

I was really, really hoping to get my illustration for Illustration Friday done on Friday.  But it's not going to happen (at least not until it's so late in the day it's practically Saturday anyway).  My in-laws were over moving out old stuff they had stored here all afternoon and I still have photos of new items to edit, and my husband and I have date night tonight (we're going to see "Super 8", the new J. J. Abrams movie).  So I'm just going to throw out a few things that are beautifully patterned (I love simple patterns).

Queen Anne Chairs

First, I love the simple chevron pattern on this reupholstered yellow chairs from Nenavon, who has all kinds of wonderful patterns and fabrics on everything from pillows to curtains in her shop.  I think one of the most beautiful things you can do is taking something vintage like this and give it a modern vibe.  The black and white makes it so simple and cool.

Antique Lace Jotter

Love this Jotter from WitandWhistle.   Once again, vintage look with modern use.  This is something I could see carrying around in my purse to sketch out little print ideas when they come to me.  WitandWhistle's shop is full of all kinds of wonderful paper goods (and they're also from NC).  

Cup and Saucer with Blue Lattice

Ah, pottery, my second love.  Go through my favorites and you're bound to find dozens of handmade plates, cups, bowls and vases.  I admire people who can sculpt use out of clay, especially if they can put as pretty as pattern as DawnDishawCeramics has.  All of their bowls, cups and saucers are equally beautiful and equally intricate. 

I really believe some of the best things in life are both gorgeous and functional.

Stuff I Love: Trees

Yeah, yeah.  Not a very creative title today, I know, but I'm feeling kind of tired.  The long and short of it is here is some cool handmade awesomeness and art, straight from Etsy.  All of these things come from my favorites list.

This first one is a painted Victorian style silhouette, with trees inside from the shop, theblackbirdsings, which is the art of Natasha Newton.  I love this simply because it combines two thing I love to put in my art, clean lines and, well, trees.  If an original painting is a bit out of your price range, she also carries lots of other beautiful smaller things from moleskines to postcards.

Silhouette of a Lady with Branches

I adore TheHauntedHollowTree's prints, especially her trees.  They are so fitting to the name of her shop and are done very uniquely with the art of pyrography (woodburning).  The art is serene, subtle, dark and so absolutely elegant.

The Companions Signed Print

Okay, so this next one merely has a tree as the logo, However, Julia and her husband, at BelleTerre are not only local soapmakers (which makes me happy), but they make amazing, completely natural soaps while trying as hard as humanly possible to be totally green and organic in doing it (which should make you happy).  Eventually, I will stop buying their soap when I get good at making my own, but I hope all of you, who love natural soap like I do, will try a bar of theirs.

Lemongrass Shea All-Natural Handcrafted Soap

Finally, if there is one thing I love more than trees, it is my first morning cup of coffee.  I recently got a small espresso a machine with some of our wedding money and I start every day out with a latte and these mugs from marywibis would be the perfect size to hold one, with just a dollop of creamy froth peeking over the top.  (I also love that I, inadvertently, picked another North Carolina artists).

Set of Two Winter Mugs

This won't be the last of trees you see from my favorites, I'm sure.

Spotlight On: Meg of Red and Main

I love RedandMain. I found Meg's shop the exact way I've found all my interviewees lately-- the April's Army team on Etsy.  However, when I saw her little monsters, I automatically fell in love.  They remind me of my own work.  They are strange, whimsical, unique.  I could actually picture her little creatures tromping through my landscapes .  Even her owls are a bit odd, in a very cute and colorful way. Like they should be perched in trees on Mars, rather than Earth.   She also makes beautiful organic-looking dishes that come in softly spotted colors, if incredibly adorable beasts aren't your thing (but they really should be).

Ceramic Moss Bowl

Tell us three things about yourself.

1.) I once met Henry Winkler (aka: The Fonz) and he was incredibly kind

2.) I consume an unhealthy quantity of both coffee and marshmallows daily

3.) I recently left a very lucrative consulting job to pursue ceramics full time (sub-context: I may or may not be completely insane)

What’s your medium and how did you get into it?

I work in white earthenware clay and various glazes.  My first experience with ceramics was in high school- I took an advanced ceramics class with a totally awesome teacher.  She pushed us to do projects well beyond the scope of what we thought we could do.  Even though I've taken lots of ceramics courses since then, I still look back on her class for techniques and inspiration.

What’s your favorite thing you’ve made?

I absolutely adore my mom and my favorite piece is one that I made for her birthday.  My mom and I are both year of the Rat in the Chinese Zodiac.  We took a trip to China 2 years ago and had the best time, so for her birthday this year, I made her two small ceramic rats holding paws.  Her birthday is May 9th and I am so excited to give these to her.

From where do you take inspiration?

I really love animals, so most of my inspiration comes from trips to the zoo or videos of cute animals online.  I also really enjoy creating new creatures and monsters, which I put in scenarios in my head (i.e.: two yetis having a picnic or a monster eating an ice cream cone).

Name one piece of art you wish you’d created and why?

Anything by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec.  His work is phenomenal.

What are you doing when you’re not crafting?

I'm probably doing accounting, site development, blog posting, or craft show preparation for Red & Main.  If I'm not doing that, I am hopefully at the gym.  But realistically I'm probably drinking coffee or wine... or coffee and wine... and catching up on TV I've missed through Hulu.

Cleft Chin Dashing Yeti

If you had to give up your medium and pursue another, what would it be and why?

I think I'd go into hand-carved stamp making.  I think there's something really awesome about carving away at something to make a beautiful object. It's like you're taking away all the parts that don't belong and substituting your creativity- that's the awesome part.

Tell us about a time you were making something that came out better than expected and how it happened.

I was glazing a new creature- my Dapper Swamp Thing- and I decided to get a little creative.  Generally, you're not supposed to mix glazes due to chemical reactions that may occur when firing that can turn your piece all kinds of crazy colors.  I threw caution to the wind and put 4 different glazes on the Swamp Thing- and he turned out looking pretty great.  I was expecting an oozing mass of greenish brown, but he came out green with black speckles.  I'll definitely be using that technique in the future and I don't think I'll shy away from mixing glazes in the future.

Who is one person living or dead, famous or not, who you wish owned one of your creations and why?

I wish Oscar Wilde owned one of my Yetis.  Can you imagine flamboyantly-dressed, verbose Oscar Wilde tooling around an exceptionally well decorated flat with a Yeti in his hands?  I can...and it's amazing.

How would you explain how to do what you do to an eight year old?

I play with clay all day and make fun things that hopefully make other people happy.  Man, my job sounds pretty sweet!

What’s your favorite part of the process?

The creation of a finished ceramic piece takes so much time- molding and sculpting the piece; letting it dry; first-firing the piece in the kiln; glazing the piece; glaze firing the piece; and then putting on the finishing touches.  The best part, for sure, is opening the lid of the kiln after the final glaze firing; it's like Christmas morning.  Glazes can be tempermental and you don't always know what the result is going to look like.  Sometimes you're thrilled, sometimes you're horrified...but it's always a surprise.

One random thing you think people should know.

Not to drop a product reference, but I think it's important- Peter Thomas Roth's Complexion Correction Toning Pads will change your life.  I tell 90% of people I know about these- that is how awesome I think they are. 

Ceramic Cat with a Bird Friend

Your shop address/facebook/Twitter/blog/website. Etc.

www.redandmain.etsy.com

www.facebook.com/pages/Red-Main

If you could have any superpower what would it be and why?

Invisibility.  Hands down.  Having the ability to go anywhere you wanted, listen to any conversation, anytime?  Sold.  Where can I sign up?

Treasury Tuesday: Form Meets Function

There are so many beautiful things on Etsy, but let's be honest, not a whole lot of them are needed. You have a hard time justifying the purchase of those pearl earrings or that one-of-a-kind painting.  Well, everything in this treasury is usable.  Bowls for storing and eating, chests and chairs, a rucksack and so much more.  It will be so much easier to convince yourself to buy when you can tell yourself how useful it will be.

'To Have and To Hold Things' by cursiveart

Form meets function in this treasury, with every item capable of storing something, whether it be food, flowers, shoes or you.

Clam Shell Bowl elementclaystu... $125.00	Chopsticks Noodle Bowl ... yevgenia $40.00	84 inch Veronica floati... jwhitney100 $160.00
Ben Seibel Iroquois pit... hppy2gatha $17.00	Consoul (with frame) SPDivision $2400.00	Sage green creamer by M... jawaddel $6.00
The Origin Family claynfiber $225.00	Cast Iron Bowl StudioHR $65.00	Propeller Coffee Table AnthonyGrayFur... $1600.00
2 Glass Plates in Fuchi... glassgifts $24.00	Black and White Scroll ... GlazedOver $46.00	Curved Bay Window Bench jeremiahcollec... $300.00
The Rucksack in Cinnamo... infusion $162.00	Kart Chair HarBenger2 $350.00	IN STOCK...Nesting Trio... clearmountainc... $90.00
Primitive 64 Drawer Apo... redroosterbab $899.99

Treasury tool is sponsored by Lazzia.com A/B image testing.