2010 Art Projects - so far

I've been involved in three art workshops this year already, and a few calligraphy jobs. Above is a photo of the book I made in Bonnie Stahlecker's workshop at the Eiteljorg Museum in Indianapolis in January, which jump-started my busy art year.

Below are some photos from the Jacqueline Sullivan "Wet N Wild" watercolor workshop, on various background techniques. The first is my finished piece from the workshop. Jacqueline talked me into tearing it into two pieces. I tore it along an organic shape and will mount the left side piece slightly above the right hand side in a collage frame. The second is a group of student papers drying. Today I have been practicing lettering with a pencil. I'll post more art pictures in the next few days and some other photos I've been taking.





Here are practice pages I've been working on. I HAVE to buy a new camera...all those splotches are on my lens. : /






Here are some of the escort cards and envelopes that filled my studio.


Here is a very long menu, which was part of a very large job (An earlier post has pictures from that event.)



Here is a hand-lettered invitation for a small dinner party and one of the envelopes...(address obliterated for privacy.)



Here is my Jace the face, whom I kept for 4 days while his parents made a trip to Texas. What a great bonding time we had!





Here is Jace watching TV with his Pappy.



And I'll end with my Sleepy Jace.

My Mother's Day surprise

Got some sweet gifts and three cards for Mother's Day. Two of the cards held surprises...



My son Steve (Jace's daddy) is quite the cut-up.

Wishard Hospital Event - Indianapolis Art Museum

Whew! A job that has taken much of my spare time (what's that?) since February ended yesterday. I drove to Indianapolis to do final place cards and escort envelopes for the event and was able to do a mini tour of the museum's treasures too. I had no idea all of this was 2 hours from my house! Fabulous museum with fabulous holdings! The event was pretty fabulous too. Below are a few photos of the event decor and some of the notable pieces in the museum...and I only toured two exhibits very quickly.

The first five photos are of the lobby area. First an orchid display next to a staircase. The next two are close ups of that display, and the fourth is a view of that lobby from the second floor. The red carpet was there just for this event...it is not a typical part of the decor. It's hard to see, but the doorway shown has portraits from the invitation painted or screen-printed on it for the event. Its aqua and green colors set the theme for the event, thus the green orchids everywhere. My photos do not do justice. The vases of orchids had aqua and green swirly vine-type material circling inside them...subtle but beautiful.

Next are views of the dining room and table displays, which beautifully represent the colors presented in the invitation.

Unfortunately, I did not get a photo of a second floor lobby that was dripping with orchids. Orchid blooms were attached to wires/threads and were hanging from the tall ceiling making it look as though it were raining orchids...quite spectacular! I also did not get a good photo of the escalator and trees near it, which were adorned with sparkling aqua and green ribbons - and more orchids.

The Art: These photos of a Picasso oil on canvas, two Renoirs, a Turner, a Monet and a Van Gogh are only samples of what the museum holds. It took me back to the Louvre, the D'Orsay and the Picasso Museum. Being able to see those thick, emotional Van Gogh brushstrokes up close, the delicacy of the Monets, the rich color of the Renoirs, the realism of the Turners - just wonderful! And this is just a sample. There were so many beautiful works in this museum that I didn't even know existed.
Only two hours from my house, and I had no idea. I will return just for the exhibits, but not on Derby Day. Not the day before my husband's birthday. Not when I am so busy with other calligraphy work...but one day when I have time to really enjoy the works there. The gift shops were great, and I didn't see most of the exhibits, so there's lots left for me to discover.