Showing posts with label art. Show all posts
Showing posts with label art. Show all posts
September 14, 2009
August 21, 2009
The Mysterious Book Club Society.
I am in a book club.
The members range in age from 11.5 to 23.5.
We will be varying our locations between NYC, suburban NJ, and a nearby university.
We are all sisters, and the book of the month is "The Mysterious Benedict Society".
How can you resist a cover like that?!
-Papermoon
The members range in age from 11.5 to 23.5.
We will be varying our locations between NYC, suburban NJ, and a nearby university.
We are all sisters, and the book of the month is "The Mysterious Benedict Society".
How can you resist a cover like that?!
-Papermoon
July 20, 2009
The Usefulness of Blogs, the Charms of Being a Teacher.
I made a nice, bland website for my new class (2D/3D Art at a "gifted" camp) last night.
I love it. I feel like I am playing school...
Go have a look: Some Inspirations for Artists
-Papermoon
I love it. I feel like I am playing school...
Go have a look: Some Inspirations for Artists
-Papermoon
July 17, 2009
My friend Tim, on Design*Sponge.
My friend Tim is famous.
Tim Mazurek was dazzling through his MFA while I was finishing up my undergrad art career at Northwestern. Despite my being a boring, Catholic, conservative, Tim was always very nice to me and I enjoyed every shared class with him immensely. As I recall, we met in my Installation Art class, for which he was a TA. (A great TA.) My 'art friends' (we called our clique 'the knitting club') and I all latched on to him and he somehow managed not to act annoyed.
I digress. Tim has an outstanding blog! Lottie + Doof has long graced my 'lovely things' side bar, and I ogle his photos daily. He has been picked up by Time Out Chicago, Refinery 29, apartment therapy, the kitchn, good bite, and Pioneer Woman. And today he made it onto one of my all-time favorites, Design*Sponge! It's no wonder, considering his organic, fresh choices are so enticingly displayed courtesy of his photography skills. The work of an artist, indeed.
I couldn't be happier for Tim. And I couldn't feel hipper for knowing him.
Check out Lottie + Doof here: Lottie + Doof
See Tim's artwork here: Tim Mazurek
-Papermoon
July 13, 2009
Odosketch.
Check this out:
This is certainly the best online sketch program I have found to date.
And who doesn't love watching it build itself up?
-Papermoon
This is certainly the best online sketch program I have found to date.
And who doesn't love watching it build itself up?
-Papermoon
June 16, 2009
Bleeds and Paint.
Prime quotes from camp today:
"Painting outside?... Did you ask if you could do this with us?"
"Ugh. I don't want to go home. I wish you could come over for a playdate."
(One girl to another:) "Did you get hurt? Is that really a bleed? Or did you paint yourself? DON'T TRICK ME, OKAY?!"
Oh, children... you are so strange and wonderful. I particularly like this hilariously common kid-practice of calling scrapes and cuts "bleeds" or even "bleeders". There is something very Dennis the Menace/Leave It To Beaver about it.
Camp has been eating up my time, as we've gotten quite a lot of rain. Kids come to camp with the primary objective of playing on the playground and screaming down the waterslide, so it's been a huge effort to cheer them up with crafts. But, I'm making it work. Today we had some sunshine, so our art effort was some watercolor painting, en plein air. A very interesting activity with five year olds. I think they initially thought it was illegal.
On another note, related to my last post, sister Maggie and I finished a painting yesterday based on the delightful aesthetic of A Hundred and One Dalmatians. Nice, eh? And it will match her room!
Summer is excellent.
-Papermoon
"Painting outside?... Did you ask if you could do this with us?"
"Ugh. I don't want to go home. I wish you could come over for a playdate."
(One girl to another:) "Did you get hurt? Is that really a bleed? Or did you paint yourself? DON'T TRICK ME, OKAY?!"
Oh, children... you are so strange and wonderful. I particularly like this hilariously common kid-practice of calling scrapes and cuts "bleeds" or even "bleeders". There is something very Dennis the Menace/Leave It To Beaver about it.
Camp has been eating up my time, as we've gotten quite a lot of rain. Kids come to camp with the primary objective of playing on the playground and screaming down the waterslide, so it's been a huge effort to cheer them up with crafts. But, I'm making it work. Today we had some sunshine, so our art effort was some watercolor painting, en plein air. A very interesting activity with five year olds. I think they initially thought it was illegal.
On another note, related to my last post, sister Maggie and I finished a painting yesterday based on the delightful aesthetic of A Hundred and One Dalmatians. Nice, eh? And it will match her room!
Summer is excellent.
-Papermoon
June 11, 2009
A Dalmatian Plantation!
Yesterday I enjoyed a post-work movie with some of my siblings and my mother. My youngest sister and I had the unique opportunity to pick out the movie without the input of the others, so we opted for the genre that might not be the first choice at a 'family movie night': a cartoon!
We both feigned interest in a few other films we'd included in the 'options pile', but settled on the movie we really wanted to see: One Hundred and One Dalmatians, made in 1961. I had forgotten how completely beautiful the animation is!
While searching for images, I discovered an utterly fascinating blog dealing with color in animated film. Check it out here. (The images I am using came from Mr. Iten's site.)
I love the almost papercut-like look of the buildings, and the way the foreground and background move like stop-animation. I also can't get enough of the color scheme... or the characters' clothing!
Lovely!
-Papermoon
May 20, 2009
Modern Wing, Moving Things.
So busy...
I spent a lovely day luxuriating in the summery weather with friends today. I have been biding my time lately in my apartment, dutifully packing like a droid until I have a compelling enough reason to allow myself a break from the box-filling. Today's reasons took up almost the whole day: First, I had to go out and get some dishwashing soap. Then, I just had to go out and see the new Modern Wing at the Art Institute. These things are necessities!
The walk over to the museum was sunny and cheerful, and I am happy to say the Wing itself did not disappoint, either. I couldn't take pictures, so I stole a few from the web.
I especially loved this view–
I spent a lovely day luxuriating in the summery weather with friends today. I have been biding my time lately in my apartment, dutifully packing like a droid until I have a compelling enough reason to allow myself a break from the box-filling. Today's reasons took up almost the whole day: First, I had to go out and get some dishwashing soap. Then, I just had to go out and see the new Modern Wing at the Art Institute. These things are necessities!
The walk over to the museum was sunny and cheerful, and I am happy to say the Wing itself did not disappoint, either. I couldn't take pictures, so I stole a few from the web.
I especially loved this view– I was pleasantly reminded of the stairway in the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek (Cph, DK).
See the resemblance?
See the resemblance?Of course, my inner conflict raged over most of the artwork. But, no matter; a lot of it was fairly stimulating. I do like Gerhard Richter, who had quite a few pieces displayed.
I also enjoyed the Giacometti sculptures (as always), some interesting architectural and design works, and some very large Cy Twombly paintings. However, my friends and I agreed that poor Twombly would do better to decline interviews; what quotes he had made him sound like a colossal idiot. Nonetheless, I love this particular peony painting:
It's a year of loving red, for me.
We ate lunch at the Intelligentsia over on Jackson, and let it be known that their panini sandwiches– fresh from Southport Grocery– are utterly perfect. I am still full from lunch. No joke. And all of this loveliness was topped off by a seasonably early-in-the-day gin and tonic, after which I handed off the remainder of my gin to these friends of mine, said some goodbyes, and proceeded to the packing.
Tonight's box themes? Sewing notions, books, plates and cooking tools, and my lovely set of eight white bowls, in eight of the most necessary sizes.
(To elaborate on that last point, these white bowls give me some kind of unnatural pleasure. I think they are perfect. They are by Gibson "White Elements" and I think everyone in the world should own them. So beautiful. And so nice to only have one of each size, when I am so used to having a set of everything. I never take these eight individuals for granted. They were the only things I enjoyed packing today. Lovingly nesting them in their original box, I really felt rich.)
After all of that, I am exhausted. Tomorrow's goals: managing to keep myself "zenned out" (as my Papa might say) enough not to stress over the boxes fitting in my car this weekend, and finishing most of the food in my fridge and cupboard. Wish me luck!
Oh Chicago... you are fast slipping away from me!
-Papermoon
I also enjoyed the Giacometti sculptures (as always), some interesting architectural and design works, and some very large Cy Twombly paintings. However, my friends and I agreed that poor Twombly would do better to decline interviews; what quotes he had made him sound like a colossal idiot. Nonetheless, I love this particular peony painting:
It's a year of loving red, for me.
We ate lunch at the Intelligentsia over on Jackson, and let it be known that their panini sandwiches– fresh from Southport Grocery– are utterly perfect. I am still full from lunch. No joke. And all of this loveliness was topped off by a seasonably early-in-the-day gin and tonic, after which I handed off the remainder of my gin to these friends of mine, said some goodbyes, and proceeded to the packing.
Tonight's box themes? Sewing notions, books, plates and cooking tools, and my lovely set of eight white bowls, in eight of the most necessary sizes.
(To elaborate on that last point, these white bowls give me some kind of unnatural pleasure. I think they are perfect. They are by Gibson "White Elements" and I think everyone in the world should own them. So beautiful. And so nice to only have one of each size, when I am so used to having a set of everything. I never take these eight individuals for granted. They were the only things I enjoyed packing today. Lovingly nesting them in their original box, I really felt rich.)
After all of that, I am exhausted. Tomorrow's goals: managing to keep myself "zenned out" (as my Papa might say) enough not to stress over the boxes fitting in my car this weekend, and finishing most of the food in my fridge and cupboard. Wish me luck!
Oh Chicago... you are fast slipping away from me!
-Papermoon
May 14, 2009
Progression, at the Dittmar Gallery.
The show itself was very pleasant to look at. All of the work was actually quite interesting, and their class is lucky enough to have real variation in terms of their media, pursuits, and politics.
My favorite works were some very lovely illustrations and paintings by my friends Yana Myaskovskaya and Lauren Redding; a performance/installation peice involving gauze dragged through the Chicago city streets by one Joyce Kim; and a dazzling glitter painting–something I would never have thought I would like!–by Tiffany Wells. I didn't bring a camera, sadly, but I managed to scoop up some images of a few off of the internet. Here's to Yana and Lauren! :)
One of Yana's illustration works–Untitled.
The ladybug is actual size, printed on a very large sheet of white paper. Clever!
Yana's second illustration–The Sound of Silence.This really surprised me in person; I hadn't realized how tiny the drawing was!
It is incredibly detailed and beautiful, and only a few inches tall.
Lauren's self-portrait.A beautiful girl with a beautiful talent!
I love the timelessness of this ...that is the best part about her work, in general.
All in all, the last few years have been a personal tug of war for me over whether or not I would like to continue to involve myself with the art scene. I am often frustrated by the contemporary presentation of art, but I can not deny that I would miss it if I renounced it completely! It was wonderful to see this show.
Off to bed, wishing these friends of mine good luck!
-Papermoon
April 23, 2009
summer job excitement
moving is such an emotional rollercoaster!
after a few hours of being alternately weepy and determinedly optimistic over the phone to my accommodating mother last night, this morning am just laughing at the ups and downs of my psyche as it attempts to deal with change. never been my forte!
in any case, my chin has been up quite a bit higher about everything since nailing down my plans for the summer. (my job search has actually been a lot more fruitful, in general, since i directed it to NJ.)
this june i will be running the art (and possibly cooking!) end of things at a day camp at my elementary school. it's extra exciting because this drop-in day camp is a new idea for the program, so i get a lot of freedom in terms of what i want to teach. plus, it's little tykes: likely K-2nd grade, which will be delightful.
then, in july and early august, i will be the 2D/3D art director at the SIG day program at Stuart Country Day in princeton. 4th, 5th, and 6th graders...very exciting... and i get to set the curriculum, which should be a great challenge. comparable to my current work at the Children's Musuem, but with a bit of an older set.
here's what i dug up... this appears to be where i will set up shop:
i am especially excited about the campus of Stuart. during the school year, it is an all-girls Sacred Heart school, and one i am especially interested in. i actually applied for the summer position so i could scope out their campus...part of my long term interest in all-girls education.
the website has a really neat 'architectural tour':
take a tour of the pretty things!
alright-- off to get dressed and such for my current job. can't get ahead of myself!
-papermoon
after a few hours of being alternately weepy and determinedly optimistic over the phone to my accommodating mother last night, this morning am just laughing at the ups and downs of my psyche as it attempts to deal with change. never been my forte!
in any case, my chin has been up quite a bit higher about everything since nailing down my plans for the summer. (my job search has actually been a lot more fruitful, in general, since i directed it to NJ.)
this june i will be running the art (and possibly cooking!) end of things at a day camp at my elementary school. it's extra exciting because this drop-in day camp is a new idea for the program, so i get a lot of freedom in terms of what i want to teach. plus, it's little tykes: likely K-2nd grade, which will be delightful.
then, in july and early august, i will be the 2D/3D art director at the SIG day program at Stuart Country Day in princeton. 4th, 5th, and 6th graders...very exciting... and i get to set the curriculum, which should be a great challenge. comparable to my current work at the Children's Musuem, but with a bit of an older set.
here's what i dug up... this appears to be where i will set up shop:
i am especially excited about the campus of Stuart. during the school year, it is an all-girls Sacred Heart school, and one i am especially interested in. i actually applied for the summer position so i could scope out their campus...part of my long term interest in all-girls education.
the website has a really neat 'architectural tour':
take a tour of the pretty things!
alright-- off to get dressed and such for my current job. can't get ahead of myself!
-papermoon
March 31, 2009
really into drawings lately
erin mcguire, you are my new favorite artist in the world.
and all your 'nerdy girls' look like... me.
and all your 'nerdy girls' look like... me.
March 21, 2009
perfect video for today's spring start.
i love lisa hannigan.
her mom made the book covers... sweet.
-papermoon
her mom made the book covers... sweet.
-papermoon
March 20, 2009
my new project.
i am finally at 75% on a new project i am working on, which is a high enough percentage to talk about it.
lately, i have been very interested in various listing projects--amy krouse rosenthal's 17 things i made , hwa young jung's 'english things', beth campbell's 'potential future' lists, to name a few.
one morning as i reached into my cupboard to grab a mug, i reflected on the fact that, like a pre-schooler who will only drink out of a batman cup, i am legitimately frustrated when i don't get to have my coffee in my mauve glazed mug. i have about 12 mugs--way more than is necessary--but i always want this one. it's my favorite.
i had a similar moment later, when, upon preparing to eat a scone, i kicked the dishwasher in anger because i couldn't eat my scone on my clear glass dimpled plate, which i bought for 50 cents at an apple orchard. i have a full set of dishes-- 8 full sized plates, 8 salad plates, not to mention at least 6 saucer sized plates and a few decorative plates--but i only want to eat my snack on my favorite plate.
i have a lot of some things, but one favorite. hence my new project.
lots but one favorite
i am not 100% committed to this format/layout, or even to the whole idea of this being a blog. it may morph into a series of drawings, or photos, or just a written list. this is what i am trying out for now.
hope you enjoy it!
on a totally unrelated side note, i put extra mustard on my sandwich today in hopes it would help out with my cold--and my brain is burning, i swear...
-papermoon
lately, i have been very interested in various listing projects--amy krouse rosenthal's 17 things i made , hwa young jung's 'english things', beth campbell's 'potential future' lists, to name a few.
one morning as i reached into my cupboard to grab a mug, i reflected on the fact that, like a pre-schooler who will only drink out of a batman cup, i am legitimately frustrated when i don't get to have my coffee in my mauve glazed mug. i have about 12 mugs--way more than is necessary--but i always want this one. it's my favorite.
i had a similar moment later, when, upon preparing to eat a scone, i kicked the dishwasher in anger because i couldn't eat my scone on my clear glass dimpled plate, which i bought for 50 cents at an apple orchard. i have a full set of dishes-- 8 full sized plates, 8 salad plates, not to mention at least 6 saucer sized plates and a few decorative plates--but i only want to eat my snack on my favorite plate.
i have a lot of some things, but one favorite. hence my new project.
lots but one favorite
i am not 100% committed to this format/layout, or even to the whole idea of this being a blog. it may morph into a series of drawings, or photos, or just a written list. this is what i am trying out for now.
hope you enjoy it!
on a totally unrelated side note, i put extra mustard on my sandwich today in hopes it would help out with my cold--and my brain is burning, i swear...
-papermoon
March 12, 2009
monster game with yana
i am going to be taking a short hiatus from the internet--having a little holiday with my family this coming weekend!
i thought i would leave off with something fun... a prime exhibit of the monsters-eating-other-monsters game*, a relic of a lovely coffee shop talk with my friend yana. (the more beautiful monsters are hers--a fabulous artist is she.)
hope you have a monstrously fun weekend!!!
-papermoon
* do other people play this game? i know i have at least been playing it since i went to RISD's summer program back in the day...
i thought i would leave off with something fun... a prime exhibit of the monsters-eating-other-monsters game*, a relic of a lovely coffee shop talk with my friend yana. (the more beautiful monsters are hers--a fabulous artist is she.)
hope you have a monstrously fun weekend!!!
-papermoon
* do other people play this game? i know i have at least been playing it since i went to RISD's summer program back in the day...
March 9, 2009
inspiration strikes...
... at inconvenient times.
i have a new project in mind! it's really been a while since the 'nudge' to make a little art came around. i am going to attribute these newly flowing creative juices to a little reunion of sorts with my old art scene, this weekend. (this rendezvous was the one bright moment in a weekend full of the stomach flu and sinus woes.) of course, i have been struck with this idea right in the middle of the stress and flutter of trying to catch up on my life and duties before work tomorrow. this is a shortened week for me, as well--i am meeting up with family this weekend out of town--so we'll see if progress is tangible.
i am excited for the moment i can reveal the notion...
-papermoon
i have a new project in mind! it's really been a while since the 'nudge' to make a little art came around. i am going to attribute these newly flowing creative juices to a little reunion of sorts with my old art scene, this weekend. (this rendezvous was the one bright moment in a weekend full of the stomach flu and sinus woes.) of course, i have been struck with this idea right in the middle of the stress and flutter of trying to catch up on my life and duties before work tomorrow. this is a shortened week for me, as well--i am meeting up with family this weekend out of town--so we'll see if progress is tangible.
i am excited for the moment i can reveal the notion...
-papermoon
November 18, 2008
18. not being an art student anymore
the eighteenth thing i am thankful for: not being an art student anymore.
one occurred to me today when i hopped into the MCA to see the new Jenny Holzer exhibit. I really hated it, and it was very refreshing to be able to hate it and not have to go on for ages telling anyone why, or--even worse-- pretend that i liked it. or pretend at the very least that i respected it. now i really don't have to do that. i can just like things, or not like them... and defend my view if i feel like it. how lovely.
another nice thing about not being an art student is that i can make things, but i don't have to 'make work' anymore. it has been really interesting to see that i have much more patience and enthusiasm for domestic crafts than i ever did for any of my installation pieces. plus, i feel sure of my intentions...which i didn't have the pleasure of feeling all the time when i was working in the psuedo 'art world'. this isn't to say i won't go back to making 'work' ever again...but it's nice to feel like i will do that when it is truly coming out of a creative desire.
-papermoon
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