Artsplosure in Raleigh

Yesterday, I attended Artsplosure, an arts festival that takes place in downtown Raleigh every year.  This was the first year I got to attend, and I was definitely up for some sun and inspiration.  Moore Square and the City Market area of downtown were blocked off completely.  All one could see were tents upon tents of artists and their work.  I was like a kid in a candy store.  It was a beautiful day, but it was so hot outside.  (Hard to believe that we're still in spring.)  But I didn't let the heat get me down.  How could I with so much local art to see and explore?

Jason's artistic shot of me and Jeanine

Jeanine's artistic shot of me and Jason

Although much of the work that was on display was beautiful, only two artists really grabbed my attention.

The first artist was Eddie Maier of Eddie Spaghetti Art.  When I arrived at his booth, he was giving a demonstration of how to create an ink print using organic materials like a stem of grass.  (He even let me try my hand at it!)  His work consisted of single wood block prints and the use of reduction printing.  When I reviewed his portfolio of work, I was drawn to his ability to make earthy and organic drawings.  I've always been drawn to printing and would love to try it one day.





The second artist I encountered was Yvonne Miller of Four Footed Art.  Her booth was filled with so much color and texture that I just had to purchase a print!  Although she primarily paints pet portraits, her other work is just as vibrant and fun.  And did I mention she was super friendly as well?  A portion of the proceeds she makes from her art goes to the Atlanta Humane Society.







If you have the opportunity to go, make your way down to Artsplosure.  You never know what treasures you will find and which new artists you will come to adore.

"The artist's world is limitless.  It can be found anywhere, 

far from where he lives or a few feet away.  It is always on his doorstep." 

- Paul Strand

An Artist in the Making

My love for drawing began when I was very young.  Some of my first memories were drawing and taping my masterpieces to the walls and doors of our home.  In a way, I was creating my own gallery of work.  Just being able to create gave me joy.

But somewhere along the way, I lost the desire to create.  I grew up and allowed myself to be convinced that it was nonsensical to be an artist.  I spent four years earning a degree in education only to abandon the profession altogether.  Now that I am in a different career, I still yearn for that dream of being a working artist, but something holds me back.  Sometimes, I feel like that feeling of regret, of not originally pursuing art in college, keeps me frozen with the fear of failure.  I make small, incremental steps toward being an artist -- but what about the things I need to do that go beyond just creating art?  You know, like promoting and actually selling my art, the not-so-creative-but-necessary part of it all?  Sometimes the pressure of making it real makes me feel like a deer stuck in headlights.  I know that I need to work on a plan and clarify what my goals really are.  But where do I start?

I thought about these things when I traveled home to Swansboro last weekend to visit my sister and my mother for Mother's Day.  (Sometimes a day with the ones you love can be the best medicine for what ails you.)  While back in my hometown, I got to spend some quality time with my niece, Lennox, who will be turning two this July.  Each time I see her, she becomes more and more independent, smart, and sassy -- exactly the kind of woman I want to be.

She's a take charge kind of gal, and, guess what?  She loves to draw.



Watching Lennox take joy in drawing makes me think back to my childhood and how I felt when I would draw.  Whatever Lennox chooses to do in life, I hope she chooses to follow her passion.  And I know that there's still time for me to do the same.

Over the course of the next few months, I will be taking steps to reassess my goals so that I can be the kind of artist that I want to be.  I'm excited about the journey and am glad that you will be a part of it.

"Why not go out on a limb?  Isn't that where the fruit is?"

- Frank Scully

Words to Live By: Weeks 44, 45, & 46

My friend Jeanine is surviving and thriving after breast cancer.

Jeanine was asked by her doctor to be interviewed in a video project that she is spearheading with another doctor in Miami.  The video will contain interviews with breast cancer survivors and their experiences since being diagnosed.  To prepare for the interview, Jeanine read back through journal entries she kept since being diagnosed with breast cancer.  In preparing for the interview, she was able to relive moments almost forgotten and re-cherish sacred moments anew.  It will a be a year in June since she was first diagnosed... can you believe it?  We are all so proud of her and can't wait to see her film debut.

Week 44

Jeanine and Terry also celebrated 15 years of marriage on April 22nd.  Yay!

Week 45

Terry is still recuperating from his surgery, so, Jason, being the nice brother that he is, drove down to Burlington to help Jeanine get the pool ready for summer among other things.  And he did all that for a cheeseburger and french fries.  What a guy!

Week 46

Leo Monahan - Collage Artist and Paper Sculptor

One of the artists that I had the pleasure of visiting on the Weaverville Art Safari was Leo Monahan.  His beautiful home is nestled amongst the clouds overlooking his neighbors in the town of Barnardsville.  When we arrived at his studio, a "How you doin'" mat greeted us at the entrance.  When you enter Monahan's studio, you are instantly greeted by his intricate and mesmerizing paper creations.  Each piece is carefully and skillfully cut by hand.  Monahan draws with his blade; he does not sketch out his pieces on paper before he cuts them.  I asked him how he learned to create the complicated geometric shapes his pieces.  He replied that he taught himself, experimenting and cutting the paper to bring his pieces to life.  Using a scrap piece of two-ply Strathmore paper, he demonstrated how he cuts folds into the paper and bends it to give it shape.  He just made it look so easy.



Monahan shared with his visitors that day that there are basically four things you can do to paper.  You can cut it, bend it, fold it, and paint it.  He does it all.  To see samples of his amazing portfolio, click here or here.  To hear an interview with Monahan, click here (Thanks, Lynn!).

Monahan received the first Walt Disney art honor scholarship, allowing him to study fine art at the Chouinard Art Institute.  And although he received formal training in the arts, he is a self taught paper sculptor.  When he began his career as a paper sculptor 35 years ago, not many people were doing the work he continues to do today.  This has made his work rare, special, and in-demand.  He honed his craft over the years, earning numerous professional accolades.  He was recognized by the Society of Illustrators of Los Angeles for his work and received a life time achievement award.

With such an established career, some may be intimidated by Monahan's accomplishments.  However, he was very approachable.  He was such a delight to speak with, so friendly and so welcoming.  On my way out of his studio, he gave me a poster of one of his creations and gave me some invaluable materials regarding the concept of creativity and the idea of the collage as a metaphor for change.  He was just so supportive and willing to share so much.

He truly was an inspiration to meet.

"Personal self-satisfaction is the death of the artist.  

Collective self-satisfaction is the death of art.  

It is the restlessness, anxiety, dissatisfaction, 

and agony of the mind that nourish art." 

- Jacques-Lucien Monod

Weaverville Art Safari

Every spring and every fall, the communities of Weaverville, Barnardsville, and Alexander hold the Weaverville Art Safari.  Established in 2001 to help promote the arts, the Weaverville Art Safari is a self-guided tour of local artists' studios located in the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina.



Jason and I stumbled upon this gem of a tour during our first trip to Asheville in 2008.  When I got the opportunity to accompany my friend, Angela, to Asheville AND stay with Amanda, John, Craig, and Rebecca at their cottage in the mountains, I seized the opportunity.  I was so happy to find out that the tour would also be that very weekend.  It was meant to be.

After a delicious breakfast at the Over Easy Cafe, we began our tour on a gorgeous Saturday morning.  With 41 artists on the safari, we had to be selective with our limited time.  Although we eventually ran into some April showers, we ended up visiting 17 of the 41 studios on our handy dandy map.  Their specialties ranged from pottery to hand carved wood work to paper sculptures to wearable art.   The tour had a well-balanced variety of show-cased artists.

Craig and Rebecca

Amanda, me, and John

As a new artist, I loved being able to visit established artists and see their work and creative spaces in such a personal way.  So many of them were willing to share their techniques and tell stories about how they started their artistic careers.  When you're new to the creative journey, it's so comforting to hear that you're not alone and see that it IS possible to make a living following your creative dream.  If nothing else, you leave feeling inspired.



The next safari is in November, right around the time the Blue Ridge Mountains are exploding with autumn colors.  If you are an art lover and are able, please go... and take me with you.

"Man will begin to recover the moment he takes art 

as seriously as physics, chemistry or money." 

- Ernst Levy

All A-buzz

I had the pleasure of doing some commissioned work for my friend, Angela.  She wanted to give a special gift to a retiring principal in her circle of educators.  She knew she wanted to give the principal something unique and special.  After going through some ideas, Angela settled on having me design some special coasters and a t-shirt with a bee theme.

At the principal's school, she taught three main ideals to her students -- Be kind, be responsible, and be respectful.  She was like a queen bee, in charge and responsible for the success of her hive.




In making the coasters, I decided to add some of my own mantras for her to enjoy -- Be happy, be fabulous, and be retired.  She deserves it after all.

"To a bee, honey is work
To us, it is leisure, luxury, pleasure.
If only the eating thereof
would fill us with the spirit of hard work."
-Corri Alius

Ceramic Tile and Alcohol Ink Mania!

After reading Artsyville's tutorial on ceramic tile and alcohol ink, I just couldn't wait to try it!

Back in February, I invited my friends, Amanda and Beth, to come over to try the tutorial with me.  Not sure what to expect, we surveyed the list of materials:

• white ceramic tile
• Mod Podge Hard Coat
• 1" brush
• Adirondack alcohol inks
• Adirondack alcohol blending solution
• old tooth brush

I got the party started by diving into the alcohol blending solution.  I swirled it around the surface of my tile with an old toothbrush.  Then, I selected one of the alcohol inks to drip onto the tile... and magic.  The colors spread out and sometimes swirl when you add them.  Amanda and Beth jumped in and also got some amazing effects on their tiles, too.  Here are the fruits of our labor:

Beth's Tiles

Amanda's Tiles

My Tiles

I think the hardest part of the whole process was waiting for each coat of the Mod Podge Hard Coat to dry (20 minutes for each coat!).  After the girls left for the night, I continued on to design some insects for my tiles.  I was already using decoupage sealer.  Might as well decoupage an original design, too, right?  Here's what I came up with:



And to finish things off, I gave each tile a few coats of water-based varnish and a nice cork backing.  I think I just found my new addiction.

"We hope that, when the insects take over the world, 

they will remember with gratitude how we took them 

along on all our picnics."

- Bill Vaughan