Monday, January 25, 2010

Haiti Relief Package


So instead of having old jewelry sit around... I've decided to make them into packages and sell them to help the situation in Haiti. 100% of the profits from these packages will be donated to Doctors Without Borders.

Check out my etsy shop! bunneslovecheese.etsy.com

Sunday, January 10, 2010

Goals: Twenty-Ten.


I wrote as many goals on a sketch book piece of paper... crap. I forgot to include my random 1 hour drawing sessions on here. Feeling highly inspired still from the Gorky exhibition. I think finally letting go of all my apprehensions of being an artist and enjoying art again is helping. I ran into the Pearlman Building today for a quick second and started to view this wonderful embroidered quilt exhibition from India.


The women who made these quilts were extremely skilled in embroidery. The colors and textures were so impressive-- even at times making their quilts three dimensional with their technique. Check out the exhibition online to see the images they often would stitch.

I also should put on my goals list to be more organized with my energy. I have spent the whole afternoon researching letter press and calling my father for advice on printing more than focusing on revising my Photoshop syllabus for class this semester. Too much to do, too little time!

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Happy New Year

Finally, 2009 is over. It was a tough couple of months there. The holiday was exactly what I needed to relax. Now its 2010 and there's so much to do!

This past week, I saw the Arshile Gorky retrospective twice. I have to admit, the only Gorky painting I remember from college art history was The Cock is the Livers Comb. I also remember that teeny tiny reproduction was not impressive to me at all... it reminded me of a crazed Marc Chagall, an artist I tend not to like. (I know everyone is saying how can I compare to two, but oh well!) Finally, seeing the painting in person in its true scale, it was so moving!


The Liver is the Cock's Comb, 1944
I grew such an appreciation for Gorky's work while walking through the galleries. His life was truly inspiring as an artist-- and especially one like me who has been in what seems like an eternal funk of what to do, what to make. Gorky's studies for his larger paintings were most impressive. I couldn't stop staring at his pen & ink drawings--- how he laid down black so well in large areas, they created a sort of deep space. His techniques with the ink pen were amazing with animated lines, etc.

The Artist's Mother, 1926 or 1936
My FAVORITE study I saw was a drawing of his mother. There was a photograph of a young Gorky and his mother that was taken back in Armenia. Gorky treasured this photo in memory of his mother who had passed away from starvation a refugee camp. I felt like he really captured the loving memory of his mother in this drawing. This image does not do the actual work justice, but I felt like in the gallery, her face glow. It was drawn with such care, he almost made her too perfect.

Sorry for having a little art history-ish random Laura musing. I kinda just spewed out what I was thinking right after I woke up this morning!

PS: I am now reading Haruki Murakami's What I think about when I think about Running, which so far also inspiring as an artist. I need to gather this inspiration and put it to work.