More Paintings!

Painting this semester, like I have previously stated, has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my artistic life.  It has made me think about my role as an artist and what it means to respond to something - an event, a feeling, a person.  For my final painting project, I decided to respond to how I was feeling about missing someone very special in my life.  We needed to create two to three paintings of a specific meal.  I chose to set up a picnic-like meal.  My first painting shows the perfect picnic basket meant for two.  It is the ideal situation - the experience I want to have.  The second painting shows a chunk of bread and one half-drunk beer.  It is reality - it is the experience I am living.  These paintings tell the story of my experience in Florence.  While I miss all of that closeness, and want that ideal experience, the independent experience has been extremely beneficial to my growth this semester.  Anyway, this project is so special to me, so I hope you enjoy!

Cinzia Torrini

I just wanted to take a second to post a short film done by an Italian filmmaker, Cinzia Torrini.  She created a film as a tribute to Florentine craftsmen and women.  It's a beautiful film that really appreciates the traditional crafts of Florence.  Please watch, and remember to support local craftspeople!!

Ciao from Firenze!

Currently, I am studying in the wonderfully art-filled Florence, Italy.  Here I am taking a Painting class and a Batik class.  Both I have enjoyed so, so much.  I have never really painted before coming here, and the thought of painting really freaked me out...for some reason I saw paint as permanent, not malleable or changeable.  Then after talking to other artists in my program, I realized paint is much more malleable than metal! So I decided I would try it out.  What I have found is that painting is very special - it is almost a spiritual experience.  You learn so much about how you see the world by capturing beautiful moments in paint.  I decided, although I'm not the best painter, I would share my progress, hopefully to show people that anyone can paint, even if you have never done any sort of art!

        

         

       

 

As for Batik, it has been such fun learning the different ways to apply wax to the silk, and the different ways to dye the silk.  Such beautiful "mistakes" happen! I am always pleasantly surprised by the little cracks and splotches that show up when all the wax is ironed out.  Here are my two batiks that I've completed so far!

Keep on creating!

Lillstreet Art Center & Past Art Projects

This past summer I was really fortunate to work at Lillstreet Art Center in Chicago!  It was so much fun working with kids that were really psyched about making cool things.  If you're ever in Chicago be sure to give it a visit - there are tons of ceramic items, that are really, really beautiful.  I'll post the website below!

I am also going to use this time to post some photos of past projects and a project that I have adjusted just a bit.  The two projects below are ceramic pieces mounted on wood.

Untitled, 2014, clay & wood

Experimentation Trials, 2014, clay & wood

This next project I made about 9 months ago, and decided I would make some changes to it.  I thought I would rivet a piece of metal on the back of the piece and use a simple white vinegar and salt patina.  I think it turned out pretty nicely!

http://lillstreet.com/

Youngkvist

Today, I would like to highlight a musician who is a very talented fellow.  He plays guitar in a way that does not sound effortless, but looks effortless...I am constantly amazed at this guy's music making abilities.  I have been fortunate enough to see him improvise, and everything just sounds so fluid...he's truly an artist!  He goes by the name Fenris, and he has an album out called Forms that he finished July of 2013.  Definitely check out his music, because he is quite an inspiration to all young musicians and artists.  Please support him, if you like what you hear, by liking his Facebook page and downloading his music off of Bandcamp (both links I'll post below)!

Photo taken by Ragav Yarasi

http://brendanyoungquist.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/FenrisMusic

* * * UPDATE * * *

Fenris has since changed his name to Youngkvist.  So, thought I would update all his links.  This guy has some special stuff going on, and I can't wait for him to release more!

Youngkvist Bandcamp

Youngkvist Facebook 

Sculpture

I started this blog so that I could track my jewelry, but jewelry has been put on the back burner and sculpture has taken over!  Because I also want to remember my sculpture ideas and pieces, I thought I would post some pictures of some things that I have made this year.

I'll start with a ceramic piece I made.  We were prompted to make a form that everyone would recognize, and I thought (at least in the U.S.) that a plug would be a fun option.

Plug, January 2014, clay & glaze

This next piece is an armature that I made earlier this year.  It was my first attempt at crocheting, but it was so much fun to experiment with.

Parasite, October 2013, string & wood

This next piece was part of a wood-bending project.  Wood-bending is such a cool, technique, and I learned so much about wood.  I worked with walnut and oak here, which are hardwoods, and hardwoods are actually better for bending than softwoods...never knew that!

                                        

Redirect, March 2014, walnut & oak

I have lots more projects that I have yet to photograph, so hopefully soon I can post some picture of a sgraffito vessel project, a ceramic tile project, and a welding project!

ALSO: The photos that are posted above are courtesy of Chris Taylor, so thank you Chris!