What’s in a Name?

Last night I was lying in bed with Eric (bow chicka wow wow…juuuust kidding), and I briefly mentioned the phrase “figment of my imagination.”  I said whenever I say that phrase, what I’m really thinking about in my head is the phrase “pigment of my imagination.”  A pigment is the powder form of a color which is mixed with oil, water,  or other ingredients to make paint.  It is also a synonym of “color.”

Since the start of my blog I’ve been thinking that I want to give it a name other than my own.  It’s more fun that way.  I don’t want my name to be the forefront of the blog, I want it to be behind the blog.   So, last night my husband suggested that I name my blog “Pigments of Imagination.”  And because bed is where Eric and I do all of our best thinking, I decided that it was a brilliant idea.  What do you think?  Is it too weird because it has the word “pig” in it?  Any better suggestions?

While we’re on the subject of pigs, here are a couple of my favorite pig photos from here and here:

P.S.  You may have noticed some weird fluctuations in the background of my blog.  I am trying to revamp this blog a little.  I just don’t know what I want yet.  So I apologize for any past, present, or future weirdness.  I’ll figure it out eventually!

The Entourage (No, I Did Not Forget About It)

Here’s an update on “The Entourage.”  I am posting the black and white layer that I discussed in this post, so you can see where I was.  I’ve also included the latest pictures of the painting:  a few modifications in the black and white layer that you haven’t yet seen, and the addition of color.

The color is always a little weird at first, but I try to get a fairly accurate version of all the colors down right away, so I can build the colors off of one another.  Many times, I’ll change one color, and have to change all of the colors because of how they look in relation to the new color.  This means I’ll end up doing as many layers as I need to to get it right.

Oh Happy Day! (More Shadowboxes, More Keys)

I recently purchased a bunch of shadow boxes for an amazing price.  I’m not sure what I’m going to do with them yet, but I’m excited.  I’ve only worked on two of them.  More. Keys.

I liked my big shadowbox so much that I decided to do two little ones with the 4″ x6″ frames.  I just posted these babies on my Etsy Shop, so if you’re interested, you can check them out.

Here is a little glimpse of the process that I used to make these:

I cut the bookcloth and the paper to the size of the frame.  I used an old paintbrush to brush the glue onto the paper.  I adhered the bookcloth to the paper.  I positioned the keys where I wanted them and poked a small hole on either side of the key where I would attach the keys to the bookcloth with clear nylon thread.  I looped the thread around the key and pulled it through the holes, knotting it in the back.  I repeated this a few times with each key.  Here is what the back looks like:

Here is what each key will look like:

Since we’re on the subject of keys, I thought I’d ask you.  What is the key to your heart?  It could be a nice gesture or a character trait.  What would (or did) it take for someone to win your heart?  It doesn’t have to be romantic either.  It could be a friend or family member.  My example is how my husband gets in my side of the bed in the winter and warms it before I get in.  The first time he did that, I knew I struck gold!

Ta DAAAAAA (Save the Dates are Complete!)

On Thursday, I finished up and mailed the design for Eric’s cousin’s Save the Date Cards.  After going over many ideas and possibilities for the design, she came up with a really cute idea.  Being drawn to the aesthetic of the Rifle Paper Co.‘s designs, she gave me an image of this wedding invitation.

It wasn’t exactly what she wanted for the Save the Date, and Rifle didn’t have any similar Save the Date cards.  So she explained what she wanted, and I changed the design to this.

When I was working on it, I glanced at the reference image to get an idea of what it looked like, but I tried not to look at it again as I was painting it.  I wanted the design to have a piece of me in it, and I wanted to see what would change in translation.

I would never encourage replicating any design that isn’t your own.  However, in this case I felt as if I used the same format but varied the design enough to make it my own.

Here is the full page that it’s on.  Eric’s cousin will send it to the printer where they will add the typed info under the design.  I can’t wait to see the finished product!

I had a lot of fun turning over this new leaf, and I’m so grateful to the bride-to-be for asking me to paint this design.  She was very good at explaining exactly what she wanted and that made it easier for me to paint it.  I also loved how she had her own ideas of what she wanted.  When working on commission it’s so hard to get inside the client’s head that it’s truly a blessing when they can communicate what they want.

Artist Spotlight: Arryn Vogan

I don’t remember the first time I met Arryn, but I’m guessing it was in an art class at Houghton College.  Over the year and a half of my time there, we shared several art classes, and even lived across the hall from each other for a semester.  When Eric would come and visit me at school, Arryn’s now-husband Andrew let Eric stay with him.  Believe me when I say that they are the nicest of people.  Arryn was even nice enough to let me interview her.  I asked her a bunch of questions, so it’s a pretty long interview, but I hope you’ll look it over.  Arryn is an amazing potter, and has a very distinct and beautiful collection of work.  She also has a great art blog, and an Etsy shop if you’re interested in purchasing any of her gorgeous work!

Arryn with four of her lanterns

Bio: Arryn (Prince) Vogan  Age:  23  I grew up in Severna Park, MD (about 15 min. outside of Annapolis).  My family (other than my in-laws) consists of my parents (Brian & Michele) and my two brothers (older, Ian – younger, Austin).  Graduated from Houghton College in 2009 with my Bachelors of Arts.  I majored in Art with a concentration in ceramics studying under Professor Gary Baxter.  I minored in Business Administration.  I have also been an athlete most of my life.  I played field hockey for 12 years, 4 of those years were on scholarship for Houghton College.  I worked at Annapolis Pottery in Downtown Annapolis, MD for a time in between years at school and after I graduated.  I was married to Andrew Vogan in December of 2009 and we are now living in Exeter, NH.  Andrew is on staff with Young Life and I am working towards building my name as an artist and my business.

At what age did you realize that you loved art? I can’t remember a specific age…I feel like it has always been a passion that has just grown with me.  When I was really little, about 4, I was so into coloring, play-dough, and watercolors.  Do you remember those coloring books for watercolors?  I had a Beauty and the Beast one.  All you needed was a cup of water and a paintbrush and you could paint the pages with water and the colors would come off the page and bleed into a watercolor.  I thought those were the coolest things!  If I had a chance to create something and get messy, then that was a great day!

We were in a few art classes together in college, and you showed talent in all areas of art.  What made you choose to focus on ceramics? Yes, we were at Houghton for two years together.  You lived across the hall from me too!  It is funny how I chose ceramics.  I actually wanted to concentrate on painting and charcoal. As an art student we were required to take several different art courses, so I signed up to take ceramics.  I had never done it before and always thought it looked like fun.  So, I took my first class and HATED IT!!!  I actually dreaded going to that class every day (most unlike me when it comes to art).  I was terrible at it! I had a good eye for design, but could never make it happen in clay!  I could not center clay on the wheel for the life of me.  If you can’t center the clay, then you really can’t make a single thing on the wheel.  This will probably sound cocky but this was my thought:  I can’t believe I am bad at this!  I have always been good at art.  Art is my thing!  How can I possibly be this bad at pottery!? So, I was determined to be good at it.  I signed up for another course and hated the first half of it again.   (My critiques were terrible too which was depressing).  Then one day I was throwing next to my friend Kim and she gave me a couple tips that have helped her.  (This was after I was literally thrown off my stool trying to center this embarrassingly small lump of clay).  I tried her tips and everything clicked!  I centered the clay in no time!  You couldn’t get me off the wheel after that! That is when I started to love it.  I think I had to hate it first and get through that battle.

Explain your process. Hmmm…my process.  That is a big question!  I will explain how I go about working in the studio since the next question talks about specialty.  First of all I like to start in a clean studio and then let the mess unfold as I go.  When I start with clean tools, it is like starting with a blank canvas, you start fresh not in the middle of another mess that you need to first find order to be able to start.  I sketch and draw a lot!  Once I am ready to make the piece I cut and weight out the desired clay, wedge it, throw it, let it dry out a bit (work on something else), trim, stamp it with my logo, let it dry out all the way, bisque fire, glaze, glaze fire, finish the pot with any more grinding or sanding.  That is the whole process in a nutshell.

You specialize in Crystalline glazing.  What is Crystalline glazing? I think what most people think of “regular” glazes are straight up colors.  There are tons of characteristics for glazes.  For example:  high fire, low fire, oxidation, reduction, raku, wood, sagger, matte, crystalline, etc.  That names a handful of them.  Crystalline glazes have intrigued and challenged me.  There are actual crystals that form in the glaze.  This happens from high contents of zinc oxide and Ferro Frit 3110.  During a complicated 22 hour firing cycle, the kiln will hold at 2012 degrees for up to 4 hours .  At this held temperature, the crystals mature and can grow as large as 6 cm. in diameter.

What is your favorite part of being an artist? My favorite part of being an artist is being able to stay creative and make something with my own hands!  It is being able to used God-given talents for His glory.  I love trying out new ideas and methods and just experimenting.  It is also such a joy to see someone else enjoy something that I have created.  I especially love to create because there is such a connection to the natural world that God himself has created.  In nature you will never find one blade of grass the same as the next and that astounds me!  In crystalline glazing there is never one crystal that forms the same as another!

What is your favorite thing to make? I don’t know if I really have a favorite thing to make.  I have really loved making lanterns lately.  The whole process and design is new for me so the challenge is there and I like that.  I like to always try throwing something new whether that is more weight on the wheel, a new shape or trying to accurately fit pieces together (like a lid for a pot or a top to a lantern).  I really love just to hop on the wheel and see what will happen, try to feel the direction the clay pulls my hands.

Arryn made this mirror with her father, a wood worker

What is the best piece of advice you’ve received from anyone about art? The best piece of advice was, “Just do it!”  Also in regards to selling items, “Own your price.  If you set a price for pottery you have labored over and put hours into, don’t feel bad by putting a fair price tag on your piece.  People will either pay it and recognize the hard work, or move on.  There is nothing you can do about it, but stand by your work.”  A fellow artist told me that and it has definitely encouraged me to not sell myself short.

One of my favorite artists of all times is the glass blower Dale Chihuly.  This isn’t exactly advice, but these are two of my favorite quotes by him:  ”Important ideas come from some flash in the pan-some moment- and something that you can’t describe.”  Also, “I can’t understand it when people say they don’t like a particular color…How on earth can you not like a color?”

What is your favorite piece? My favorite piece is actually this hideous platter that I made.  It is really a junk item, that got broken, but I absolutely loved how the glaze came out and I have never been able to quite reproduce it.  I glued it back together so I could keep it.  I just couldn’t part with it.

Thanks, Arryn!  And everyone else, if you haven’t gone to her blog or store GO NOW!  I’ve only given you a small sampling of her work, and there is plenty more to be seen!

Almost a Failure

I was THIS close to skipping out on my Wednesday post.   I was going to write about something, but accidentally deleted the very important accompanying photos.  I am SO sad and also annoyed.  I realize that this is a bit of a late post, and I’m sorry.

But I will say that I’ve been thinking about sharing another cool blog with you for quite a while.  So without further ado, I present to you….

ARTSTORMER!!!!

ArtStormer is run by Betsy Wills.  Each day Betsy posts about a different artist!  What I love about this blog is that it’s a place I can go to gather inspiration.  The posts contain few words and lots of art, so I think it’s simply the best. 

The following is a small sampling what you can find on her site everyday.  I subscribed to her email list, so I get an email every time she updates her blog (you can do that here on my blog too if you’re like me and you can’t always remember all of the blogs that you follow).

Ali Cavanaugh, Segment of a Past Revelation, 2011

Chris Armstrong, Dorsal

Norman Lerner, Piano Tuner

***P.S.  Make sure you tune in on Friday when I’ll be featuring an interview with the amazing Arryn Vogan!

Wishing You a Happy Valentine’s Day!

Happy Valentine’s day, everyone!  I hope your day is filled with all that lovey-dovey stuff.  My day will involve grocery shopping and cleaning the house, so not very romantic.

I will say, though, that I have been thinking a lot more about weddings since I started working on the Save the Date design for Eric’s cousin.  She and I are narrowing in on the perfect design for the cards.  Here is another one that didn’t make the cut.

Even though I’ve done a few designs that won’t work for the card, I am having lots of fun with the process.  Because I’ve never done anything quite like this project, I feel as if I’m getting to know myself on a different level.  I am in a position to learn my strengths and weaknesses in a new way, and I can feel myself growing as an artist.

My New Leaf

I just took on a brand new project for Eric’s cousin.  She’s getting married in August and asked me to design her Save the Date cards.  I jumped at the chance to try something new.  She filled me in on her inspiration for the wedding and I started painting designs in my sketchbook.  This is what I came up with yesterday.

Disappointing, right?  I really like owls, but this seems more like it should be an announcement for a 50th anniversary party.  Today I’m going to try moving in a different direction.  I’m just starting to get the hang of this, so hopefully I can come up with something that is as young and stylish as the happy couple.  Pray for me…I need it!

We’re Going to Party Like it’s Our Birthday

The Birthday Thief

Today Harmony and I celebrate our birthday.  Apart from having the same birthday, we were both born in Thailand in the same hospital room with the same midwife.  So even though our birthdays are four years apart, I feel like her time-warped twin.  When we were in elementary school my grandma used to send us matching outfits.  Harmony always slept later than I did, but she always seemed to come down wearing the same thing that I was wearing.   Even if it wasn’t a matching outfit, it would be something similar to what I had on like our similar (but not matching) Calvin and Hobbes shirts.

Almost Matching Christmas Shirts

So, all of that to say that I’m taking the day off and hanging out with my sister.  And no, we’re not wearing the same thing.

The Entourage: Black and White

I am so happy that this week has finally arrived.  Last week I was sick and I’m finally feeling better.  AND, Harmony and I have our birthday on Wednesday.  She’s turning 20, and I’m turning 24.

Here is the black and white layer of the painting.  When it comes to painting people a black and white layer is good for the skin tones.  It adds dimension when it shows through.  It is also a sort of road map so that I know where certain colors go.

I think I’m a little rusty in the portrait department, but don’t worry.  Asher’s face will get better!  I promise!