Cut and Paste and Color
July 1, 2009 by Janice · 4 Comments
”En train de” is a very useful phrase of French . “Je suis en train de” and add whatever it is you are in the middle of doing. Je suis en train de collage et colour aujourd’hui.
Yes. I am cutting up a few bits of that lovely graph paper inside the orange Rhodia sketch pad and a little bit of my newspaper and pasting them on my cards… and adding color on after that.
And look at the calendar. Oops. It is The very first day of July.
Hm.
Double hm.
45 or so IS a larger number than I thought.
However, I think these are going to be just fine. They just need a wee bit more time.
So everyone, Je suis en train de fun …and still smiling…because I know that you are too.
And that’s just fine.
Now pass me the scissors. And I ‘ll get right to it. Hm. Do I need a bit of jazz or would Lady Gaga spur me on? My, my, my, postcard face…
See, I am telling you , I need a break. LOL
How’s it going for you all?
Almost Time For Colour
June 26, 2009 by Janice · 10 Comments
“I try to apply colors like words that shape poems, like notes that shape music.”~ Joan Miro
Are we there yet? I have just a few postcards left to draw of that 45 or so. And as I drew them yesterday, while I was enjoying just pencil line. Other questions asked themselves. Like is it nearly time? Nearly time for cutting and some pasting on. Or is it time for color yet. Huh, is it time ?
Like an an adolescent dog wanting to go out, color nipped its nose under my hand and wagged it’s eager tail.
As I was enjoying just the line yesterday, and noting all the shapes, texture waved it’s hand at me and said, “What are you going to do about me? Figured out this surface yet? How much are you going to play?”
And as I was enjoying just flat forms and simple contour line, value poked its 3 D head up and said,”Hey I have to be in there too! At least the hint of me.”
Yes, It got a little noisy. A little ” me too, me too.”
I simply logged each request and continued on. Simple lines, simple shapes calling out for rhythms, calling out for rhymes, calling out for color…
…and yes it is almost time.
I have to say, our ad hoc mail art group had an interesting behind the scenes discussion this week. It’s a diverse group, artists and “non-artists”. All incredibly clever and brilliant in their own fields. And I am so very proud to say, it couldn’t be a more generous group, helping each other over roadblocks, cheering each other on. And frankly, talking about color, each person is a crayon with a gorgeous color all their own. This artist is smiling because that is a lovely sight to see.
So It’s Friday. And yes, I just called my friends crayons. LOL So it may be almost time for color, but it is definitely time for that Naughty Margarita. Phew! What a week!
How about you? Did you have a good one? And should we ask, if you WERE going to be a crayon, what color would it be? Oh yes, we have to ask that don’t you think?
Keep It Simple Silly
June 24, 2009 by Janice · 2 Comments
Imagination is a double edged sword. It can bring us so many delightful possibilities… and yes… it can bring us SO MANY delightful possibilities.
With 45 or so postcards to hand make, SO MANY needs to be not so many possibilities at this point. These are to be mailed out in July. Yes. If the calendar was not enough to remind me, some of the ones to me from other artists have already started to arrive. Tick Tock.
I need to keep it simple.
So I’ve started with simple bones. Quick pencil gestures on the bumpity bump 300 pound watercolor paper based on the post photo still lifes here. These are “post cards”. I’ve done half of those so far. Time to finish the rest.
And it is funny to do them, to see what appears on the page as structure. The lines, the shapes, the rhythms. The repetition and its variations. A friend viewed all the photos rapidly and made this remark, “It was like looking at a book. I don’t know exactly what the theme was, but the images kept me intrigued. I kept looking.”
Well, that made me smile.
So as I draw and look myself, I am curious about that intrigue. The larger works can have more time, they can be more complex. Right now simple bones, pencil lines are the only clues I have . What holds me to these forms enough to want to play, to search, to make? What is it that I MUST say, what keeps calling out to me?
Dunno exactly.
But then that’s my job. To ask just those kinds of questions. To open up some space. To imagine, and scribble, add some color, maybe some collage… to make ideas real, something you can touch.
Besides, I have always enjoyed a good mystery.
So I am off to make more lines. Simple ones, bare bones. They’re saying something to me. But I am going to have to lean in a bit, right now, it’s just a whisper.
How about you? Do you love to play with intrigue? Do you go after captivation?
In The Universe of Possibility
June 17, 2009 by Janice · 2 Comments
“In the measurement world, you set a goal and strive for it. In the universe of possibility, you set the context and let life unfold.”~ Ben Zander
Hm. I am very eager to step into the universe of possibility. I like unfolding. Like some lovely invitation isn’t it? One we look forward to like a fabulous party given by a wonderful host, or a great adventure ripe with mystery and intrigue, or just some time in a special place, alone or with special someones. And that makes flutters in the tummy. An increase in heart rate. Tickles of anticipation. Smiles and oohs and ahhs. Delicious in all its unknowns, in its possible maybes.
Today though, my brain of measurement tells me I have 45 or so mail art postcards to start in order to get there. 33 for the original artists group and an even 12 for our own diverse group. The first one from the artists group to me arrived on Monday. Hm. These are supposed to be mailed out by July. Tick Tock.
My measuring brain says, what have I got myself into? 45 or so?
Yep.
Fantasy interrupted?
Or just the truth behind art and any enterprise?
That there is some work involved.
It’s just a number, right?
With time attached to each one.
How much time attached becomes part of the design at this point. And time is what you make of it. We want the lovely world of possibility, right?
So for me, this is where I borrow from my experience doing quick gesture nudes. 1 and 2 minute large complete drawings of the whole human figure. Usually in 3 hour sessions. A few breaks scattered in. Do the math. Easily, that’s translating over 100 unique poses to drawings over a morning session. And yes, drawing naked people for 3 hours is work, lovely work, but quite draining like anything you bring your whole self to. Lovely draining exquisite work with gorgeous line and beautiful form. We’ll borrow from that.
So that means 45 or so structure drawings based on photo still lifes from my posts… that’s… just a sec…. Yep, just a bit over an hour, maybe half a morning’s session. And the compositions of these will all be done. Pencil scooting across that 300 pound D’arches paper drawing the bones of these pieces for an hour, maybe more. Can you see me smiling? Yes. That will be fun.
What do I do with them then? Ahh the possibility part. We’ll set up some context and let life and art unfold. But right now, in this moment, all we have to do is move through the gestures and structures. Let the pencil lead.
So if you are part of this group, or just looking on here’s the breakdown:
Stamps
Cards
The what you are going to do.
The how you are going to do it.
The beginning to do it part.
That’s where we are now.
The one thing in all this that is most important to remember, is not so much can I make a brilliant piece of art to send, but can I make something that is definitely me, in my own way that plays with something I’d really like to play with.
For me I am happy as lark playing with pencil drawings for a start. You may have a garden catalog to cut to size, or some photo booth pics, or a menu from takeout, or words scribbled down to create texture and enhanced in some way, or your own drawings to begin. Anything that can go through the post is fair game. We have a diverse group. No telling what they’ll choose. The most important thing is that you get to play.
So are you playing? Are you heading toward that lovely universe of possibility?
Have questions? Need a nudge? A sounding board? I’m here. Playing with my puzzles and riddles myself . You have an artist in residence if you need one. So use the comments below, tweet me @jancartier, or send an email.
How is it going for you?
Trying On Texture
June 12, 2009 by Janice · 6 Comments
Two beautiful full sheets of 300 pound D’arches watercolor paper have now been cut up into 50- 4″ x 6″ postcards for our mail art project. See, they are stacked up over on the left in the photo. Cutting up, shifting plans… seems to be part of the process these days. I have some smooth pre-made cards in ivory that I wanted to use. I like smooth. And I love the feeling the pencils are making on the velvet smooth Somerset paper in the drawings I have been doing lately. But I only have 20 of the pre-cut cards. I need 45 or so….
So we go into the stock of luxurious french papers and get the scissors out.
These are going through the mail. They have to be a bit sturdy. Ocean crossings, mountain climbing, and sorting bins will all get a nip at them…so we’ll send the luxe paper out.
Of course there goes the smooth I was planning on.
Hm… Well I have been using printmaking paper for watercolor… surely I can use watercolor paper for drawing. Those nooks and crannies that soak up rich washes and hug them tight, what will they do to a bit of color pencil and graphite?
Time to try some texture on, see what happens… And will I need to use some wash to deepen color.. and if I do… what happens if our dear postal persons get it wet?
Ahhh, then someone will get a bit of wabi sabi, a perfect imperfection.
Well, I did have those leftover strips of the D’Arches from the cutting apart I did yesterday. Long narrow bits I could play with.Test things out, see what comes of it. So that’s what I did. Just played a bit. Pencil does fine on watercolor paper really, but you’re usually just mapping contours out, not going for light and shade, or nuance. It’s just map making, guidelines, like that. Hm, will it work for playing with greys? Give me what I want ?
Not smooth, but I think we can work out some nuance there with a bit of coaxing.
Now what about the color I was going to use? I have been playing with color pencil in the drawings I have been doing. And the photo still lifes these cards are based on, well those are smooth, pixel smooth..Let’s see….hm…rough.. bumpity, bumpity, bump, bump…but the color shows well enough….
Bumpity bump to the appearance of smooth, a little more coaxing needed there.
Now what about those washes, am I going to play with splashes here and there? Or use collage ? Well, dunno yet, but it looks like it could be fun..I have a little sponge, I could drip color on, or wipe it smoothly across the paper, tint it where I wanted, or of course use my sable brush…is that blue dying to jump out of the pan and onto that card?
These are little spaces.. but they are lovely places to breathe.. and dream and try things on…Yes, we’ll go with this fine French paper, bumps and all. It has the muscle and the fineness to play with possibilities. And playing with possibilities is what we’re after after all.
I have chosen the what of what I am doing. It’s the how I am working on now. And it is all kinds of fun. Just as much don’t know, as ooh ooh got it!…I like that.
How about you? Got your what to do in mind yet? We can bounce ideas off in the comments if you like. Or tell us if you’ve got it, your what to do.
As for cutting apart and shifting plans….I’ll be cutting apart some limes later, but I doubt I’ll shift my plans for Naughty Margaritas this afternoon, hope you grab one for yourself. It’s Friday and that’s one texture that will feel just fine and very, very smooth.
Have a great weekend.
Smooth as Silk
June 5, 2009 by Janice · 3 Comments
I spent yesterday processing some hand painted silks. Just washing them, softening them, and hanging them up to dry in the gentle breeze. It was a beautiful temperate day. Not yet too hot. Mild, breezy. Just right. So I took Hugh Macleod’s new book out on the patio too, to read while the silks and the color danced in the wind around me. It was nice in the shade. Light filtered through the trees. Birds chirped. Yep. Nice.
That’s what creativity looks like sometimes.
Hugh’s book is called Ignore Everybody and 39 Other Keys to Creativity, and no, no this isn’t a review. But one thing Hugh does very well is he keeps things simple. So I am serving up some simple today. Because I want this mail art project we have going on to go as smooth as silk for you. And it will. Cause I have your back if you get stuck.
Last Friday, I mentioned stamps. You have to pick some out that you want to come from you and go out to the others on that list you’ll be getting soon.
Today, all you have to do is consider and round up the cards you’ll use. Buy them, make them, recycle something you have. It doesn’t really matter. If the post office will mail it, you can use it. The size needs to be about 4″ x 6″. That’s all. And you’ll need at least a dozen. More if you want to play and then select your favorites to send out.
That’s it. Simple.
The confidential list with the addresses and an email on what to do is going out soon. ( I am waiting on three addresses, we have very busy creative people on this list. ) And I am available to anyone who has a question, or wants to sound out an idea, or will this work, what if I am doing that, or sheesh I am not an artist, what am I going to do? Just put it in the comments, tweet, or email me. I really don’t like the phone…maybe later, but not just yet.
I’ll be getting my cards ready, that 45 or so is not a small number.. but I have a plan…and a thing…you’ll see.
And it is Friday, so we all know the drill…Naughty limes to cut up and toss in a chilly little pool of Patron. See? Smooth as silk. That’s what creativity can look like sometimes. Just one thing, then the next, then another.
How about you, things going smoothly? Has summer caught up with you yet? Giving yourself some breathing space while you work?
Have a good weekend. Cut up some limes, sit in the breeze, or do something gentle for yourself.
Still Life Structures
June 3, 2009 by Janice · 5 Comments
We have a snail mail art project just beginning . I have something like 45 postcards to send out to artists and non artists from all over the world. Yep. That’s a lot. Here’s my idea for what I am going to do:
Since this started on Twitter, thanks to @Art_News, and these are part of the Across the Tracks Blues Series that I am developing now, I am using these post still life photos. See up there, in the little slide show.
What does that mean?
It means that I will take the basic lines found in them and do 45 drawings from that. Like some of the thumbnails, you’ve seen me show here. That’s all.
And get it? They will truly be “post ” cards. (Artist just realized that and is cracking her self up, well she hasn’t had coffee yet so give her a break.)
Will I leave it at that?
No. Across the Tracks Blues is about innovation and integration. And I am making that up as I go along so nope. I’ll play. And I am very excited about that. So they will become little paintings/drawings. Maybe collages. Dunno yet. But it’s important to make a decision about what part of me I am going to send.
For me, it’s a sense of self, a sense of place, and a sense of time. I get to play right in those in between spaces that I like so much. I couldn’t be happier if I were strapping on my boots and heading out to some barrier island. Hm, well not quite the same, but same in a different way.
It’s a chance for me to explore.
The bulk of my cards are going to the original artists’ group that signed up on Twitter. A dozen of them though are going out to a special group of people that are doing an ad hoc exchange with me. Some of them are not artists, but all of them are creative and willing to explore too. So I am clearing space on my refrigerator door for when everything starts coming in in July. ..Or maybe that shelf over my desk…or that wall I look at all the time…
It’s going to be fun. And the stamps will be cool and I get to strap those metaphorical boots on and spread the moments of discovery around.
Now that IS fun.
And don’t you love to play with your work?
Snail Mail Art Stamps and Margaritas
May 29, 2009 by Janice · 3 Comments
We have a small group of really cool people who are doing a snail mail art postcard project with me. Today’s the deadline to confirm by emailing me the physical address you want the group to use for you. You can see some of the crazy brave players in the comments here. They are my new favorite people in the world. And it’s actually easy and fun. The post office is going to do half your work.
See. Look in the photo. These are stamped postcards I’ve gotten from all over the world. Finland is pretty cool. Subtle . And Russian is very bold. Tokyo likes lots of variety and little extra non postal stamps too. It’s a thing they do. The starfish is from Grand Isle, the only inhabited barrier Island off of the coast of Louisiana. They don’t take up that much space, but it is really beautiful space.
Anyway, if you’re going to do this project here’s step one:
Confirm by sending me the where we are going to send you our art. Privacy will be respected. This is a closed group of friendly respectful people with the same concerns that you have so not to worry.
And you could start picking out your stamps. What will you choose? What will your stamps look like. You can see them online you know. We’ll need international ones to get our art across an ocean, or several regular ones will do.
What else could I do?
You could also get your refrigerator door ready for the show you’re going to have there as these start coming to you in July. Or plan just which shelf to display them on. Dust off your mail box, make sure the hinges work, or the slot is not nailed shut on your door. Or probably just get your head around the concept that people are going to send you a little bit of fun in the mail in exchange for you sending them some.
Easy.
Not too much.
And no pressure.
Now here’s where the margaritas come in. It’s Friday. I’ve had a full week and I have to go round up all of these addresses. And we have new margarita glasses for the patio…so I am slicing up some limes. Naughty is scheduled around five this afternoon.. hm… maybe sooner.
One more thing.
What if you aren’t in this group? How did you miss it? Well it’s limited to about a dozen. We may have a couple of slots. If you want in and I don’t know it yet, ask me. Either in the comments or through the contact page. Easy peasy.
Now … I must go herd some kittens… the artist smiles and wiggles… she is very very excited about this. How about you? Did you have a good week? Do you like getting snail mail?
Snail Mail And Twitter
May 27, 2009 by Janice · 53 Comments
Timing is everything. I am so excited. Our friend random has just popped up with a wonderful opportunity to play. Just when I am improvising with the torn up drawing pieces. Playing around with abstract compositions, wetlands and a song… here comes opportunity in the form of a tweet.
Late last week and over the weekend @Art_News asked if anyone would be interested in being part of a mail art project. The answer is yes. At least 30 of us would love to do this.
What do we have to do? What the heck is mail art? Who are these people? Why is this so cool?
Sheesh you’re nosy this morning. Have a cup of coffee. Chill. I’ll tell you.
Here’s what we have to do: Make a piece of original art on a blank postcard, or on anything that is the same size as that and mailable through the post office. Put a real stamp on it and mail one to each person on the participants list. Yes, to their actual in real life address.
Who are they? What will you send? And wait, free art? Seriously?
I don’t know. I am thinking. Yes, free art. And seriously.
And they are people who will show up and join in that’s who. One of my first rules is show up. That knocks a surprisingly large bunch of people out right off the bat. So already I am liking these strangers and fellow twitterers. And they are going to send me an original piece of their work in exchange for me sending each one of them a piece of mine. So we’ll all get complete sets of the about 30 people who made the commitment.
That’s 30 pieces of original art mailed to strangers by July 1.
Now why this is so cool. I now will have the opportunity to do a limited series in this Across the Tracks Series that will also have an event attached to it. And it will be scattered almost to the wind…. now anyone who can’t get the irony/analogy there…well… we should talk.
And the second cool thing is I get to show you how Jacob Lawrence did his Migration series. 60 paintings done to look like a cohesive print series, but stand on their own too. I am so psyched. Yep. Labradoodle wiggling psyched. AND whoever gets these gets a part of history. And a collectible that no one else will have. No one.
Free. Or at least in exchange for something of theirs.
Happy dance.
Now, what if you weren’t there on the tweet line or what if you aren’t an artist? How could you be some kind of part of this?
Well, first of all would you want to? If you would, let me know in the comments or email me. We could do an ad hoc group. That’s means we could do our own little mail exchange. What if you aren’t an artist? No problem. I happen to love postcards and cool stamps. I’ll bet other people do too.
Anyway, if it interests you, let me know in the comments or email me. You would have to send your address by this Friday. And you would have to send the actual mail art/ postcards to those who say, ” Hey yes, I want to do this too.” by July 1, 2009.
And yes, you would get a piece of my work in the mail, for the exchange.
I must be absolutely crazy…what am I thinking.. free art to anyone who wants to play? Janice… really? I must have gotten plenty of rest this weekend.
We’ll blame it on @Art _News.
What about it? Are you willing to show up? Does this tickle your fancy? Is this a way for me to get a photo from Todd, or a Scottish postcard from Joanna? Some “Swim”mingly wonderful mail from Chicago? A cartoon from Friar?
You bet.