Getting it STart-ed
I've enjoyed the temporary wall art some construction sites are now putting up to amuse passersby...
but a public art program at the bus and train stops is rockin' the temporary art hard, I'm tellin' you. STart (Sound Transit Art)'s Red Wall project curates an "art lab" that surrounds the light-rail construction in the Capitol Hill neighborhood. Some of my favorites as I walked around the site:
That one above is part of an experimental animation project. (With a couple of nods to "Northern Exposure.")
The pointilist portrait above was created with tons of these:
You do have to back up to see the portrait, but I wouldn't advise backing up all the way out into the street.
STart also has a Flickr album for the Red Wall project, as well as its other public art projects. Any cool temporary art projects in your neck of the woods? Tell me tell me tell me.
STart also has a Flickr album for the Red Wall project, as well as its other public art projects. Any cool temporary art projects in your neck of the woods? Tell me tell me tell me.
Inspiration is a double-edged sword
Have you noticed? Artfest 2012 classes are up!
Paging through the class descriptions and photos feels to me a lot like what I'd imagine an addict's first hit of heroin feels like. And then I went off to read my usual blogroll of artist sites for my daily hit of inspiration.
But that move was, shall we say, too much of a good thing. (See Ricë Freeman-Zachery's post about this, fifth paragraph down, on Create Mixed Media.) I began whipping myself over how I should be Doing More, like all these amazing, clever Artfest instructors.
I had similar reactions to True Colors, the compilation of artists' journals that I'm sure you've read and reread until your eyes swelled shut and your fingers bled. Artfest founder Teesha Moore was one of those artists, and several others teach or have taught at Artfest and other retreats, like Claudine Hellmuth.
After my first Artfest in 2008, I was filled with awe for these people. Paralyzed by it, in fact. But around the same time, I met a TC artist online: Lisa Hoffman.
God bless her, she promptly undermined my hero worship in a few lines:
"... as soon as you feel yourself thinking of someone as an Art Rockstar...stop. Take a deep breath and remember that they are probably totally nuts."
These are Regular People, if not Normal People. They will talk to you, enthusiastically and openly about their art, and most will cheer you on in your efforts. Like Lisa did.
"... I SAW some of the work on your Blog so the jig is up." Face it, Lisa was saying: you are in fact an artist too.
(So I spent the next four hours whispering to myself, "LISA HOFFMAN likes my art. Oh. My. God.")
I may have to turn away from the computer for a day or two and, I dunno, GET BACK TO MY OWN ARTWORK. I don't need rehab -- I can quit anytime I want to! -- but I do have to watch my art consumption.
How do you get your own inner critic to shut the hell up? Let me know.
But that move was, shall we say, too much of a good thing. (See Ricë Freeman-Zachery's post about this, fifth paragraph down, on Create Mixed Media.) I began whipping myself over how I should be Doing More, like all these amazing, clever Artfest instructors.
After my first Artfest in 2008, I was filled with awe for these people. Paralyzed by it, in fact. But around the same time, I met a TC artist online: Lisa Hoffman.
"... as soon as you feel yourself thinking of someone as an Art Rockstar...stop. Take a deep breath and remember that they are probably totally nuts."
"... I SAW some of the work on your Blog so the jig is up." Face it, Lisa was saying: you are in fact an artist too.
(So I spent the next four hours whispering to myself, "LISA HOFFMAN likes my art. Oh. My. God.")
I may have to turn away from the computer for a day or two and, I dunno, GET BACK TO MY OWN ARTWORK. I don't need rehab -- I can quit anytime I want to! -- but I do have to watch my art consumption.
How do you get your own inner critic to shut the hell up? Let me know.
A usable image
Finally achieved a usable paintover image of my mother's face. It's the bottom one on the photo strip. Now I can move on to aspects I'm not as particular about on this piece.
I really need more regular practice painting. If you have other obligation (kids, husband, thesis, job, whatever), how often do you make time per week for your art? I really want to hear what you do.
I really need more regular practice painting. If you have other obligation (kids, husband, thesis, job, whatever), how often do you make time per week for your art? I really want to hear what you do.