Tuesday, April 30, 2013

BE AN ARTIST TODAY!

TODAY IS A DAY TO DO ART, TO BE AN ARTIST, TO THINK LIKE AN ARTIST, TO GO TO A MUSEUM, TO VISIT A GALLERY, TO GO TO YOUR STUDIO, TO GO ON AN ARTISTS' DATE, TO WALK IN NATURE AND OBSERVE, TO LOOK AT THE WORLD IN A DIFFERENT WAY!  

17 WITH FLAT GREEN AND RUST

RIVETS 

FALL LANDSCAPE

ART HISTORIAN AT GEORGE OHR MUSUEM 

GEORGE OHR MUSEUM


ANHINGA 

OXFORD EXCHANGE TAMPA

RESTORATION, LOOKING CLOSELY

SKIMMERS  WITH SAND AND SHADOW

MANGROVE BAY

CREATE  ASHEVILLE SIGNAGE

JACOB LAWRENCE 


WASHINGTON D.C. WINTER SEPIA

TODAY YOU CAN BE AN ARTIST, TODAY YOU CAN CREATE, TODAY YOU CAN APPRECIATE BEAUTY, TODAY YOU CAN LOOK CLOSELY AND SEE IN A WAY YOU NEVER HAVE!

WASHINGTON D.C. PUBLIC SULPTURE

FIRE FOR RAKU FIRING

RAKU 


SEAN STARWARS 


SEAN STARWARS

BUBBLE DOG NEW ORLEANS

OGDEN MUSEUM

HIBISCUS AND STAMEN IN PINK

SUNSET OVER THE BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAINS


FALL LEAVE IN REPOSE
LOOK  SEE EXPERIENCE FEEL OBSERVE

Saturday, April 27, 2013

Frida does Atlanta!

The High Museum in Atlanta, Georgia has put together a block buster of an art show with 120 painting and drawing of this famous power couple of the arts.  
The exhibit centers around a tumultuous time in history and politics during the 1920's and 1930's.  It is a fascinating look at their art and beliefs and activism during that time.  Time is running out, the exhibit put together by four museums will end on May 4th.  This is a must see exhibit, Diego and Frida. 
Diego and Frida     from google image for educational purposes only

Here is the link(click). GO IF YOU CAN! 
These exhibits take a long time to come together with a huge amount of planning and co-operationbetween museums and collections and you may never see them again in that format again.  Often a catalogue is sold just for the show and becomes and collectors item because a limited number of pamphlets are published.  

Thursday, April 25, 2013

HOW TO RAISE A CURIOUS CHILD, AKA ARTISTc

 FROM APRIL 25TH 1913 TO APRIL 25TH 2013 IS 100 YEARS, IT IS A WHOLE CENTURY

That is how long my Mother has lived! Today was her 100th birthday of living on this Earth. 


Lela, the woman who raised a curious child,
living 100 years to scatter beauty and harmony
on this fine planet, Earth.


 I want to share with you what my Mother taught me about art and life.  I am not sure which to put first in order, for the way I learned about life from Mother is what led me to be an artist or what I learned about art from Mother led me through life.  Curiosity and beauty, are two key words that come to mind.  

Often life went like this for me as a child.....

Artist in the making, how to catch a crayfish

WHAT DO YOU SEE?                                   from google image
"Look at the clouds Betsy, lets pick out the faces..do you see and animal or a flower? 
Look at the sunset have you ever seen prettier colors?
It is called a stamen, look closely, you will see pollen...do you know what pollen is for?  
 Are you nervous honey? Close your eyes, think of a peaceful beach, the gentle waves, the breeze, the palms dancing in the wind, and the feel of the sand under your feet. Now, don't you feel better?
Black Widow Spider
 We will collect these bones we found and take them home, get out the encyclopedia, identify what you can and we will put them together...yes sweetie, it is the skull bone of an ancient indian...
Honey, if you look down you will see the beauty if the reflections
of the rain water, hear the birds, can you name their calls, look at the spiders, don't hurt them, learn from them...they may be poisonous, but they have a job, respect them.

Betsy, come here, come here...the kittens are coming. I want you to get to watch the birth. Now this is how mammals give birth, watch closely.   One will be white, one yellow and one white and yellow..now let me tell you why that happens.
Rats are not to be afraid of Betsy, they can be pets also.  You must be gentle.  Let Momma Rat come to the table, give her a piece of cornbread, let her take it to her babies...we will catch them later and put them back in their cage...watch how she hops.  Did you know her back legs are bigger than her front ones?  Do you know what happens if we only feed her coke and chips, her hair would fall out?  That is why it important for you and her to have a good diet."
white mice
Observing the Earth, respecting her creatures, looking for the beauty and harmony in life...those were all things that Mother taught me. Appreciating colors, lines and textures and the miracles of how they all come together in our world and lives that was something my Mother knew and passed on to me.


from google image


What makes an artist?  I am not sure, but surely it must be intwined in ones life and upbringing...it is never separate, for it is what you are..you and one's art are not separate, our art is us, and we are our art.

How someone else's life will impact your own is an unknown factor, but 100 years ago Lela, an extraordinary individual was born, bright, curious and intellectual herself,  she decided to raise a curious child.  The curious child decided to become an artist and teacher, to teach others how to become curious as well. Like ripples in a pool the effects of one life ripple outwards to others and life is changed, lives are touched, and the world is ever altered toward the more positive and good.


Wednesday, April 24, 2013

An Exciting Turn of Events for Rabbits Moon! A Royal Visit!

Yes, later this summer we will have a Royal visiting us! 


Martin Stynes     British Abstract Landscape Artist


Martin Stynes, Royal Fellow of the Arts, in England will be visiting the USA, networking, meeting other artists, and their studio's.  His visit will start in Florida and work its way up to our Asheville studio before his return.  We are all very excited here about having a talented abstract landscape artist like Martin visit.  Needless to say there is much planning to do and setting up potential visits for him.  Also he will get a much needed respite n the Florida beaches which I am sure any Brit would revel in. I will be posting more and more about Martin through the summer for you to get to know him and his work better.


Sean Starwars   Outlaw Printer         for educ. purposes only 

Our print maker friend Sean Starwars in Laurel,Mississippi is on a relentless roll of energy to becoming a huge factor in the Outlaw Print world.  We will continue to follow Sean and his adventures.  With the addition of a new birthday iPad I have some new elements planned for our blog.  We can do video recordings and interviews of artist and galleries and studios.  
Another artist we are following is the daughter of a fellow art teacher who is continuing to win awards and accolades as a fine violinists.  She has recently received a scholarship for a college degree at Stetson University.  It has a fine music program and she will continue to flourish there.  We have know Molly since she was born, so it is following a life of a persons interest and development in the arts.  I will post some of her concerts here for you to enjoy.  
                               An Emerging Young Violinist

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Then Making of the Manet Portrait Exhibit

When you see an exhibit in a museum do ever wonder how it all comes together?
The recent joint exhibit of the Toledo and London Museum of art was many years in the making.  This is a story of how it all came together.  Make sure you go see the film now hitting the theaters about this joint exhibit.


Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Art can Express Our Feeling of Senseless Violence when Words are At a Loss! Boston Thinking of You!

Our Heart Go Out to All the Victims of the Boston Marathon and  Wherever in the world there is Senseless Violence and Innocent Victims.



Guernica by Pablo Picasso                                                                                                 From google for education purposes only

Whenever Violence of this kind happens, nothing expressed my horror visually than Picasso's Guernica  that Picasso painted after a horrible attack on the village of Guernica.


Sunday, April 14, 2013

Hello Bangladesh!!!

Art of Bangladesh

As of late I made a few friends in Bangladesh and I thought I should do them the honor of highlight the arts in their country.  So this is for you Mohibul and Carlo. I might mention my friend Mohibul takes wonderful photographs of his homeland.  I think we should share them with you as well.  Many of Mohibul's photographs remind me of the second painting of those below.  

from google for educational purposes only
from google for educational purposes only

ART QUOTE BY MANET

BLACK IS NOT A COLOR
                                                                          Manet

It is said that Manet owned black, that he used it like no artist before or after him.  It separated him from the Impressionist, who declared never to use black.  Though Manet is often associated with the Impressionist he was not one.  He admired the movement, but thought he was often invited to show with them he always refused.  He saw his function in changing the art world as different and a different focus than the Impressionists. 
 
The Stroll by Manet                                                  from google image for educational purposes only

Friday, April 12, 2013

Coming to a movie theater near you MANET!!!!

Manet at the Movies(click for link)
Portraits 

Just like the opera from the metropolitan, they are starting to do in-depth tours of museums and special exhibitions with a behind the scenes look at  things.  It is fascinating.  Next will be Munch and then Vermeer in the fall.  Go if you have a chance, it is a great way to see something you may not be able afford otherwise. The interviews with other artists and critics and museum directors is excellent.

Some of the things I learned is that in Manet's life he painted less than 300 paintings. He used black in a way few other artists did and he was highly influenced by Velasquez and other Spanish artists.

Thursday, April 11, 2013

THE HEALING NATURE OF ART

TODAY IS ART CLASS AND I AM SO EXCITED!

WHY?






Elizabeth Gordon         Raku Sculpture



IT IS A DAY TO CREATE WITH FRIENDS!

This is  a day I love!

 After I retired from a career of teaching children I began to take art classes locally in areas that were different from my own art inclinations.  Why you might ask?
For one thing I had to retire because I was very ill, and that continued on for several long years.  I could hardly get out of bed and it did not take much to wear me out.  A friend talked me into taking some classes at a local art recreation center.  My hopes were not high for the quality of the class, as per my experience with city recreation centers before. But to my surprise it was not bean picture art and the like, but real art classes with qualified teachers.

At first I could not stay the whole day because of fatigue and I would go take a nap in my car or go home and nap over lunch time.  Sometimes I would have to come home early as I was too weak to stay, but slowly and surely I stayed a little longer and longer each day. The people and the art helped to heal me, slowly and surely. 
Dichroic glass fusion
Add caption

 My classmates were wonderful and my teacher positive and humorous.   The atmosphere was supportive and creative.  Through time I have watched other people come in with severe health challenges, loss, or personal problems...and they too let go of the negative that surrounds them and gently blossom into a new being like a caterpillar to a butterfly.
Scraffito on Clay 

It does not matter that the classes are more crafts oriented though I am more a fine artist.

 Art is like a stream of water, it can run constantly underground only to spring up when primed like a pump.  These classes prime me.  Once the art juices start flowing then they spread over to my collage and conceptual art which is my main area.
Clay ink transfer on pottery
When I took college classes in art, we often all worked together in the studio at night to do our extra assignments.  I loved the camaraderie of the other students and the interaction of ideas.  When I started teaching and working in my own studio, I really missed that.  Now these classes help fill that void.
Clay Sculpture done with Raku
  I often thought I would be happy in an art guild because of the same thing.
Art has always been a major part of my life, but now it has played a role I never expected.  It brought me to the light of health.


ART IS HEALING 

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Chicago Big and Bold

My Kind of Town

from google image for educational purposes only

I went to Chicago for a National Art Teachers Conference and fell in love with a beautiful city. It was so alive and vibrant, with a beat all its own.  All big cities that have reputation have a personality that is uniquely theres, all have their own song.  With Chicago there is the constant beat of the elevated rail, the jazz played outside hotel lobbies of the art deco hotels wafting on the the streets and carried along by the famous windy city breezes.  There are so many wonderful large museums and my favorite the Chicago Institute of Art.  Then there is the Art Deco, the design of an age that signals a successful time of opulence and wealth and commerce.  The designs and architecture are every where shinning, gleaming and bold. The city in its own way is a museum in itself.  
Here is an Art Site on Chicago and its art that you may like, just click on Chicago Art Site for the link.







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