If I Made a Living from Art

Ok, I have started to answer and changed my mind three times already. I guess, when I boil it all down, what I really love about art is that it makes me smile. I have also enjoyed following Flash Mobs over the years. So I think if it were possible to make a living this way I would want to combine these two ideas: Smiling and Flash mobs!

I would create massive works that would incorporate humor and rhetoric and a hint of a crop-circle mentality. All the pieces would be installed in a very public areas and viewers would have no idea how or when they got there, and I would document the visitors who stopped to enjoy the work. (which eventually, I think, might become another installation.)

Whenever possible I would try to add something to the work that encourages the viewer to get involved so that the piece would change and morph into something completely different from where it started. After all, isn't that what we are all doing every day?

That seems like a wonderful way to make a living and something I would love to do.

THING I LOVE #21: Finding AWESOME new Talent!

Well new to me!  Thanks to a fellow art affectionado & BFF (who landed herself a pretty great gig as an art representative) I was introduced to a local North Florida artist: Pat Zalisko.  Her work knocked my socks off!  And her story is even better:  In her other life she had been an attorney because her parents encouraged her to go to school and get a good job (sound familiar anyone?).  One day she decided to paint and play instead and boy am I happy she did!  Check out her website to see more examples of her work and enjoy these in the meantime!  www.pkzart.com

 

 

Another Great Chair

What a great chair! Tufted too!!

The Old Guitarist

It is always a thrill to wander thru a museum only to discover that a painting (or several, depending on the museum) you have seen your entire life, studied in school etc. is hanging there.  I know there are people who know exactly where every famous painting is hanging or stored at all times, but I am not one of them.  I am always pleasantly surprised.  That was the case at the Chicago Art Institute a few weeks ago.

The Old Guitarist by Pablo Picasso during his Blue Period.

When you see a famous painting in person it is different that seeing it in books.  The paint comes alive.  There are brush strokes and texture and detail.

That was the case here too.  Looking very closely I began to make out a shape etched into the paint.

Up by the neck of the Old Guitarist and beneath this painting.

It is a head, with eyes and a nose.  Clearly a man’s head!  Beneath the paint I could see it!  And if you look very closely you will be able to see it too.

That is just so cool!  I guess even famous genius artists paint over work they don’t like.  I kind of thought that was something I did because I’m not very good.  Maybe I’m not as bad as I think?!?

Modern……ART????

Angels Were Singing...

I found myself standing in the middle of the Chicago Art Institute’s permanent collection of modern sculptures last Friday afternoon completely engulfed and taking in what I was seeing:  Sculptures by Cy Twombly.  Before that trip, I will admit, I didn’t know anything about Cy’s sculptures.  Leading up to that trip I was thrilled and so excited to go and see them in person.  And now, here I was.  Goose bumps.  Angels Singing.  The whole 9 yards.  It was thrilling and all together surreal to me.  Yes, I’m that much of an art geek.

Right about then, as the heavens were shining down on the piece I was currently studying, a group of teenage boys came into the room.  Wow.  Teenage boys.  In a Museum.  On a beautiful Friday.  Without an adult in sight.  I was touched.

Then I heard it.  One of the boys said to another: “This looks like painted construction waste”.

Yep.

Painted Construction Waste.  And just like that….POP….there went my bubble.

I couldn’t shake it after that.  Painted Construction Waste.  Suddenly I found myself wandering around thinking about Modern Art.  I left Cy and went into the modern wing where I saw all kinds of things that people were calling “Art”.

And suddenly I was a realist.  A pessimist.  Suddenly everything looked like, well, painted construction waste.  Or at a minimum, someone elses trash.

Take for instance, this piece.  It was larger than life:  three times the height of myself and had an impressive title.  It was hung at the end of the room, as an anchor.  A draw.  Enticing.  Pulling you closer.

As I walked toward it, studying it and considering the title with the piece to see if I could glean the intent or vision of the artist, I realized, it was not a piece of art.  No.  It is a used piece of felt carpet pad.  Complete with carpet nail holes along the edges.  Folded ever-so-carefully into a shape reminiscent of a Japanese Kimono.  Sort of.  But used and discarded carpet pad nonetheless.

Wow.  Is this art or “painted construction waste”?

On to the next room…..

I found myself rounding the corner to see a wall hung with shiny golden squares painted with graphics.  The piece traveled from the ceiling to the floor and out toward the viewer.  Interesting.  But what is it?  So I walked up and looked closely.

Flattened and painted cardboard boxes.

I’m all for recycling, don’t get me wrong.  But is this really worthy of being hung in the Chicago Art Institute?  Or is it “painted construction waste”?

Wow, I really needed to shake this off.  I have never felt this way about modern art before.  I have always loved it and been fascinated by the artists ability to create it.  But not today.

So next room.  Here I was treated with a felled tree.  Well not the real tree but a tree someone was so moved by that they created a life size model of it out of plaster.  Definitely not painted construction waste.  But is it art?

Then there is the stick with box on top and wheel on the bottom.  Again, Art?

All this pondering was making me hungry.

That is when I spotted a corner filled with shiny little colorful objects.  Colourful, fanciful, friendly, appealing.  What is this?

I walked closer…

It wasn’t just any colourful objects, it was hard candy.  Individually wrapped in bright, shiny jewel toned wrappers and all piled up.  I wondered what kept everyone from diving in when I looked to my right and saw the sign.  It read: “Please use caution with small children.  Small candies may present a choking hazard.”

Thats when it hit me.  Call it what you like, but anyone who can turn a pile of candy into an interactive display that can be misconstrued as sculpture is on to something.   Whether or not you see it as painted construction waste or modern art, the choice is yours.  Always remember someone’s trash is someone else’s treasure.

I left the museum enjoying a piece of candy and having shaken off all my doubts.  To me it is art.  And I enjoy it!

so true…

so true…

so true….

Windy City Here I come…

I cannot wait for my plane to land in Chicago in 6 days! First stop: Hotel to check bags.  Immediately after: the ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO! Every June I am giddy with anticipation over my visit to the windy city and the Institute. This summer its…..CY TWOMBLY.

If you have not had the pleasure of standing in a room with Cy’s work surrounding you, just breathing and taking it in, you are missing out. What a treat! There really are no words to describe the feeling….its a vibe….there is a rythym….you can’t put your finger on it but its magical!

I am excited to go this year because the Institute is showing a collection of Cy’s sculptures! Much less known than his canvass’ but equally exciting.

And I am looking forward to seeing them in person.

To get you all into the mood please enjoy these images from Twombly shows of the past & my hope is that you will be inspired to add a visit in person to your bucket list!

Savannah Sketch Crawl

Started the day here

I Participated in Savannah Sketch Crawl last Saturday.  The day was perfect, weather was great.  We started at the Jepson Center then dispersed to sketch all day.  I attended with Matt Swaim of Studio-Swaim.  Those of you who know him might wonder if I lost my mind….a novice like me sketching next to a master!  Nonetheless, I was there for sheer enjoyment and was not disappointed.  (and Matt managed to hold back the laughter)  We ended up at River Street then after lunch, Jim William’s house.  (Mercer-Williams House).  As the day wound to an end we headed back to Jepson to check out all the great work being pinned up.  I fell in love with a piece by John Nelson.  It was pen and ink and gouache.  The artist, it turns out, is a retired illustrator and very graciously has given me the piece.  I pick it up April 17th.  That was a completely unexpected surprise.

Thanks to Matt and Plein Air Studio I am loving sketching again.  I know I have a long way to go but am enjoying the trip.

And finished up the afternoon here.

Sunrise vs. Sunset

Goodness, where isn't a good place to watch a sunrise or sunset? No matter the physical location, the best place to enjoy one of God's most beautiful creations is in the company of someone you care about and who cares about you.