Showing posts with label art. Show all posts
Showing posts with label art. Show all posts

Monday, June 17, 2013

I’m Back~With Artful Things

So, my creativity has been at low ebb for a while. I guess we all go through this, at different times in our lives. The Day Job zaps energy and the will to create. I feel like I’ve been in a library-shaped cocoon, reading and avoiding the world. But lately, I’ve been jotting notes for things I want to write, create and, gasp (!) sew. While texting with a friend a few weeks ago, I looked up a cameo company online and bought a bunch, which will be showing up in my Etsy shop soon as necklaces and earrings and even pins (!). There’s a stash of fabric in my workroom and patterns I got on a super sale at JoAnn. And I’m even thinking of starting classes toward a general ed degree.

 

Right now, I just want to get blogging again. Expect to see art around town, book reviews (I’ve discovered a lot of new mystery series lately), new jewelry and just things I find interesting and think you might, too.

 

Last week, The Husband and I celebrated our 33rd wedding anniversary in Palm Springs. Today, I’m going to post some art from around PS and their great art museum. The next blog will have nose art and some other paintings and sculpture from the Palm Springs Air Museum. Enjoy!

 

Here we are, posed beneath Marilyn Monroe in her iconic pose from The Seven Year Itch. This great gal, a huge sculpture by Seward Johnson, is quite a draw!



I knew you were wondering!


We saw this sculpture a few years ago and we’re still amazed by it. I keep expecting her to blink!


Full length



Her feet are so dang lifelike!


This is a performance art piece on a 12 minute loop. It mesmerized me. So simple--a woman holding a container of milk--but so fascinating. I think because it was presented as a piece of art on the wall, the fact that you could see her breathing and working to keep the container steady but dribbling on the floor and her black dress, it was like watching through a window. And she never looks up, never tries to make contact. Hmmmm, that does make me a voyeur?!



Here I am with Your Dog, in the front lobby of the musuem.



No explanation--just fun! I posted this on Facebook with the caption, “I’ll never get these dishes done!”, contributed by The Husband.



Loved this Glass House



Loved this Glass Man. His pants are concrete, I believe, but the jacket and the head are glass. The jacket and hood seems to have been painted, but the back of the shoulders and the face were left raw, creating the glow of light. Beautiful!



Face detail.



I was taken with these ornaments hanging above the second tier of the museum, even before we discovered that each of the 100 pieces holds a note or piece of artwork from artists all over the world.



And here’s The Husband, with a driftwood horse he admired.

And just to show that art and beauty are everywhere, here's a beautiful flower we saw on our way to the museum.  So bright and happy!!


Coming soon, The Palm Springs Air Museum!


Do What You Love!


www.bearchick.etsy.com


www.bearchicksundries.etsy.com

Sunday, July 22, 2012

Lake Princess by Gary Hong

I bought this colorful swan print at the Yorba Linda Celebration of Arts, a local art and craft show, many moons ago, from the artist. Gary Hong paints beautiful scenes of animals and landscapes in Southern California.

I couldn’t decide whether I wanted to highlight the green or the pink in the painting, so I bought a white frame and tried to match the technique with similar colors. Whether it blends or not, I like it!



Do What You Love!




Thursday, September 22, 2011

Palm Springs Art Museum

I always find the beadwork! A few weeks ago (yes, I'm a little behind…), The Husband and I ambled through the wonderful Palm Springs Art Museum. One of their exhibits, Comic Art Indigene, showcased Native American comic book art and related subjects. Here are two colorful examples of amazing beadwork:



I don't do a lot of work with seed beads, the little tiny beads. I don't have the patience to work with something that small, so I appreciate the talent and amount of work that went into these pieces.

Unfortunately, Comic Art Indigene ended it’s run last Sunday. But here's a couple of favorite artworks from our visit:


Woo hoo! Neon paint, scads of texture and, oooooooo, glitter!


Bear Chick, herself, posing with her favorite Dale Chihuly glass sculpture



Even the chandeliers are works of art!



I'd love to have a small version of this~it makes me smile!



The Husband and Bear Chick~part of the art!



The Husband loved the artwork and I love hearts

Do What You Love!


Thursday, July 29, 2010

A Day at the Huntington Library

So, last Sunday, The Husband and I spent a lovely, relaxing day at the Huntington Library and Gardens in San Marino, CA. There was a cool breeze, plenty of sun and beautiful things to see.

This shady arbor reminded me of my BFF's grandparents' backyard, where they grew grapes. I can just see Vov and Vovo relaxing under the canopy of leaves.


The Chinese Garden--next time, we're having some Chinese food at the cafe in this peaceful area.


A colorful bonsai Bougainvillea


One side of the Japanese Garden...


The other side of the Japanese Garden. We sat on the terrace, looking out on the weeping willow. I grew up with a willow in my backyard. Whenever I think of trees, I think of a willow. We sat on the terrace for quite a while, soaking in the tranquil scene and talking about what we want to do with the rest of our lives.


The interior of the Japanese house

I love my camera! This blossom was at least 10 feet away! Isn't it lush?!


A beautiful marble statue of Pandora...

And her box. I tell ya, I love this camera!


The Husband was fascinated with this Frank Lloyd Wright recliner. That's also FLW's dining room set in the background.

We had such a good time, spending hours in the museums (there are four buildings) and walking in the gardens, we're considering becoming members. It's not a bad drive and the area is so nice. If you have a chance to experience this gorgeous place, break out your walking shoes and have a great time!


Do What You Love!

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Tuesday Fave Etsy Shops


This week, I discovered Edart on the Etsy Front Page.

This is what I saw:

The Husband loves VW buses (he has a '79, the last of the buses before the Vanogans took over) and dogs, so this definitely caught my eye. Adorable!


Here's a couple more.


Yes, this is a chairholders meeting!



Wonderful photographs!


He creates this silly artwork and photography, plus prints and postcards, from his home near Rotterdam, Netherlands, which are carried in his
Etsy shop. He has some drawings and other artwork on his website that don't seem to be on Etsy but are totally worth taking a look at. Maybe if there's something you want there, he can list it for you on Etsy.

Do What You Love!

www.bearchick.etsy.com
www.bearchickart.etsy.com
www.bearchick.artfire.com

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Fave Etsy Shops Tuesday


I like this Fave Etsy shop feature--it makes me go back through my pages and pages of shops I've favorited and look back at the cool things I've noticed over the years.

Today's shop is Gingercatpress.etsy.com. If you don't know already, I love cats! We have siblings~Raina, the chubby gray sister and Watson, the skinny black brother. So liking Gingercatpress should be no surprise.

Here's the profile from Tara's shop:


I grew up in Toronto, Ontario, and studied illustration and fine art at the Ontario College of Art and Design. I worked for many years as a children's bookseller before returning to painting and starting a new career as a cover artist and children's book illustrator. I now live on a 200-acre farm, where seven domestic cats and numerous barn cats provide inspiration.

Are these the cutest little faces??

And I love that she does Artist Trading Cards--the most affordable way to collect art!


She also sells original art pieces:



And greeting cards:



Take a look at her kitties and other beautiful artwork at her Etsy shop and her blog.

Do What You Love!

Thursday, February 25, 2010

8 Things Thursday


My eight favorite artists

1 Jack Vettriano
This print hangs in my bedroom

2 Van Gogh



3 Jody Bergsma


4 Maxfield Parrish



5 Georgia O’Keefe



6 Michael Parkes



7 Kliban



8 Edward Hopper


Do What You Love!




PS--For those of you wondering what the heck that was in yesterday’s Wordless Wednesday, it was my first piece of watercolor art, done in class last night!