Sketching DAILY

A noble effort is to draw more often.
With that proclamation, I would like to share a starter sketch from my small Canson.

Drawing keeps me present.

Jacob Christian SCHAFFER - color development

The pre-development of the color wheel took on many formats in the 18th century (tables, charts).  Before the color wheel came into a more popular use, Jacob Christian Schäffer, a naturalist, inventor and German Evangelical superintendent of Regensburg – created his own color system in 1769.

In an effort to create order within the color universe, he gave blue, red, and yellow pride of place in his hierarchy, explaining how these primary colors could be combined to create a multitude of shades in between.

Color printing was expensive at the time (which could emulate many colors possibilities in the way Pantone does). Although this color chart is exceptionally limited, I LOVE the shapes and stripes juxtaposition. How contemporary it appears!

Image source: printmag.com

Afternoon TEA at LONDON'S Berkley Hotel

Called PRET-a-PORTEA, this designer-inspired afternoon tea at the Berkley Hotel in London uses themes and colors of the fashion world.

Lanvin, Prada and Yves Saint Laurent are a few of the sweet treats that will certainly amuse your bouche.

Image source: berkleyhotel

Julius KLINGER

The whimsy of this image by Austrian artist/illustrator, Julius Klinger (1876-1942) is delightfully surprising. I came across it on Pinterest and couldn't get it out of my head.

Whether illustrating a cigarette or zoological garden ad, he always appears to animate the figure, giving it a facial expression replete with humor.

Image source: butitdoesfloat.com

BANKSY on Art Belonging to the People

“You don’t have to go to college, drag ’round a portfolio, mail off transparencies to snooty galleries or sleep with someone powerful, all you need now is a few ideas and a broadband connection. This is the first time the essentially bourgeois world of art has belonged to the people. We need to make it count.” - Banksy


I feel lucky to live in this day and age as an artist.

Read more: smithsonianmag.com

Luciana NOVO - Plasticine Polar Bear

Argentinian-born painter and sculptor, Luciana NOVO, creates work with a commentary on our modern excesses and the "accumulative character of the culture of the masses." (See luciananovo.blogspot.com.)

Her polar bear head could easily fall into the category of human involvement where the demise of polar bears, as displayed in trophy form, becomes the ultimate hedonistic triumph.

I love her use of varied color within the  manipulated plasticine, resembling that of dripping paint (or even melting snow).

Image source: trendland.com

Mr. SIMPSON

An amusing Simpsons Movie ad (2010).
From "Lokalbahnhof" in Frankfurt, Germany.

Image source: lostateminor.com

Megan BOGONIVICH

United Statsian artist, Megan Bogonovich, creates intricate and complex ceramic narratives juxtaposing biomorphic shapes and often times, the human figure.

So whimsical, decorative, textural and delightful!

Image source: sweet-station.com

Michael PHELPS Mustache

Words need not apply.

Thank you Micheal Phelps.

Image source: tmz.com

Yayoi KUSAMA at the TATE

This SPRINGTIME CARNIVORE (indie band) video is a visual montage of one-second imagery from the 20th century. Each image stands on its own, making me want to still each frame for further inspection. Directed by Eddie O'Keefe.

Emerald is Pantone's Color of the Year 2013

PANTONE's Color of the Year 2013
is EMERALD. (Emerald 1756-41)
 
I know Pantone does color forecasting
so designers and merchants can plan for the
year, but logically shouldn't the color be chosen AFTER the year is over.
Just sayin'.

Image source: pantone.com

Amateur Trumpet Trumps the Band

If you like sneaky fun and child-like behavior, this is the video for you!

Source: youtube.com

TOILET PAPER by Sakir Gokcebag

I am loving Sakir Gökcebag and his art installations incorporating toilet paper.  

The Turkish-born, Hamburg-based artist's exhibition titled Trans-Layers, displays his manipulation of rolls into a variety of compositions. He even suspends some from the ceiling creating a surprisingly delightful use of new materials.

Image source: lostateminor

COLORFUL and Macabre Paintings

Never before have I seen a juxtaposition of COLOR and dark imagery combined into one.

The hues and technical elements are deft and daft; the imagery decidedly hilarious.

Image source: lostateminor.com

Caves of LASCAUX - A Comprehensive Virtual Tour

Discovered in 1940, the cave paintings of Lascaux continue to amaze viewers, including myself.  Somehow I feel an emotional attachment to the work.

The Lascaux website has a virtual tour, as though one is walking through the caves. Additionally they include information on materials, its discovery and information on preservation.

Image source: lascaux

Peter GENTENAAR

Peter Gentenaar is a Dutch artist who creates paper sculptures using a process he developed himself.

He uses wet paper and bamboo filaments to create three-dimensional works, which start as two-dimensional. As the paper shrinks over filaments of bamboo, it forms unique and complex compositions.

I find the combination of sculpture, and the appearance of drawing, to be an intriguing visual experience.

Street baroque
130 x 100 cm  

Image source: peter gentenaar

Face-Kini

Meet the Face-Kini, the latest craze to hit China's beaches as bathers wear masks to beat the sun's harmful rays.

The anti-California, alien beach outfit! That's HOT!

Image and text source: dailymail.co.uk

Christopher MARLEY - Insect Mosaics

Chrisopher Marley organizes insects, beetles, butterflies and scarabs into strikingly beautiful variegated color formations.

Each piece is an original, and he travels the world to find his specimens, which have been ethically and sustainably collected.

Imagine the iridescence in person!

Image source: pheromonedesign.com

Crater Lake & Its BLUE

I visited CRATER LAKE this summer (2012), one of Oregon's only national parks.

What I love about this lake its vastness (about 5 miles across in any direction), plus the water's BLUE COLOR.  The color comes from the selective absorption and reflection of wavelengths (the blue wavelength is reflected, which is what the human eye sees).

What I think is creepy are the steep slopes, the depth (1,949 ft.) and the lake's somewhat inaccessibility, (although you can hike to the water, [about one mile down which allows one access to a boat tour]).

Below is an image of the lake's clarity.  Moss even grows at the bottom of the lake because light is able reach it even at such depths.

Image source: makethebestofthings.blogspot.com
and user upload

Alexis BITTAR Bangles

I realize I am about two seasons behind here, but I just cannot take my eyes off of the Alexis Bittar gold lucite bangle.

Image source: alexisbittar.com

Woodland CAKE by Duff/Charm City Cakes

What a fantastic and  winsome combination of color and form in this forest-themed folk art-like cake.

Image source: vincent.lupo for charmcitycakes

ON QUIET by Tim Kreider

MANY NON-ARTISTS THINK THAT IF ONE IS NOT CONSTANTLY BUSY OR PRODUCTIVE, THAT ONE IS LAZY OR NOT CREATING VALUE.  IN ORDER FOR AN ARTIST TO BE PRODUCTIVE, THEY MUST HAVE A LACK OF BUSY:

"The space and quiet that idleness provides is a necessary condition for standing back from life and seeing it whole, for making unexpected connections and waiting for the wild summer lightning strikes of inspiration — it is, paradoxically, necessary to getting any work done."

Tim Kreider of from the article, "The 'Busy' Trap" in the NYTimes.

On PERFECTIONISM by Brene Brown

"Perfectionism is not about achievement and growth. 

Perfectionism is the belief that if we

live perfectly, look perfectly and act perfectly, 

we can avoid the pain of blame, judgment and shame." 

- Brene Brown

Read more: oprah.com

BLASPHEMY at its FINEST: Superhero Religious Icons

Yes, even religious icons have entered the realm of the superhero.

I call this blasphemy at its finest thanks to Italian artist, Igor Scalisi Palminteri.
(He purchased saints on the streets of Palermo and repainted them with bright acrylic paint or clothed them in superhero garb.)

Could this survive NEA funding?

Image source: lostateminor.com

Damn, If this Ain't True...Euro Work Ethic

Why is it that we don’t have “down time” anymore? There used to be periods where we’d be running like hamsters on a wheel, and then periods of next-to-nothingness where we’d bond with the sofa, hog the TV remote and spend a whole day—or more—in our pajamas.  Now it’s hamster time all week long, and weekends, too. What gives?

Seriously, let’s start a movement to bring a European work ethic to the States.  Let’s all close up shop for the summer—we’ll shutter our city homes and travel to the coast to take hikes, read books and bake pies. Then we’ll return in fall, refreshed, so we can buckle down and work work work through a dark winter. It makes sense, doesn’t it? It’s cyclical, it’s restorative, it makes for better mental and physical health. Yeah, it sounds good, but nobody will go for it. So it’s back to Plan A: Buy Lottery Tickets.

NARRATIVE BY Kathi O'Neil: Founder and contributor to the weekly newsletter Portlandpicks.com

http://www.portlandpicks.com/newsletter/0434.php

TANGERINE Tango - 2012 Pantone

TANGERINE TANGO is Pantone's 2012 color of the year.

I know color forecasting is a major industry, but when it comes to fashion, if you buy into this color, it'll look outdated next year. I suppose this is what retailers want.

With that said, I still like the energy of the color.

Image source: homebuildlife

JEN STARK - paper sculpture

I am not one who is easily impressed.  With that said I AM COMPLETELY IMPRESSED! with Jen Stark's paper sculptures.

The color, the layering, the craft, the 2-D vs. 3-D are all there.

Her paper works are complex, as are her drawings, which reveals someone with an intricate mind.

Now, if only I could be a fly on the wall as she creates these sculptural paper pieces, I would be able to sort out her process of cutting/layering.

Image source:comtemporarylinks

Stephanie KUBO, artist and designer

California artist and designer, Stephanie Kubo, creates beautifully repetitive designs in her sketchbook, as well as in prints and drawings.

The pattern use and its overlapping is reminiscent of Japanese art/design.

Check out her website and see more of what she can do: www.stephaniekubo.com

Image source: stephaniekubo.com/earlyo.html

CHRISTOPH NIEMANN's In-Flight Sketchbook

One laugh does not comprise the hilarity of Christoph Niemann's in-flight sketches as he flies to Berlin.
Like every international flight I've taken, he sums up the experience succinctly (and perfectly).

Image source:
Red Eye - NYTimes.com

MARGAUX LANGE: Barbie Doll Jewelry

A doll-lover from an early age, artist Margaux Lange repurposes Barbie doll parts into one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces.

I love her jewelry's unique qualities, whimsical compositions and use of design!

The feeling these pieces evoke in my mind is "crazy cute"!

Image: Smiley Neckpiece NE-08

Saguaro Cacti

Saguaro cacti near TUCSON, AZ (Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum).

I can't get over how visually foreign these plants are (compared to those in the Pacific Northwest).

Ubiquitous Family Stickers (Vancouver, WA)

Someone's been busy.

Talavera Pottery

Add caption

Mexican Talavera pottery (which I saw in Southern Arizona - Tubac, AZ), I realized how similar the motifs appear to that of European decorative folk art.

Additionally the motifs appear much more loose in handling than that of say, Hungarian folk art.

I discovered this brightly-colored ceramic-ware was brought to Mexico from Spain in the 1500's. Authentic Talavera pottery only comes from the City of Puebla and from nearby communities of Atlixco, Cholula, and Tecali. 1

1 Source Wikipedia 
Image source ellaeco.com 

Prickly Pear CACTI

Looking at various CACTI in the Arizona desert is like looking at the other side of the moon (compared to plants the Pacific Northwest).

Rounded shapes like these are so attractive, you want to hug them, but attention! the spines are frighteningly painful.

This is dangerously passive nature!

Image source: tucson

COLOR BOARD on Pinterest.com

I have been absolutely fascinated and addicted to PINTEREST.com.
It feels like I am working artistically via seeking out imagery for inspiration.

In light of that, here is one of my boards.
Simply click on the image.