A couple weeks ago, I was fortunate enough to pack up my bags and spend the weekend with some of my best friends in Boston. Renée, the now local, played tour guide for us as we explored South End, went shopping on Newbury Street, dined at fabulous places and literally got blown away by the wind. Aside from my freezing toes, foggy glasses and slight anxiety when it comes to big cities (I am a mountain girl at heart!), it was a wonderful trip! Boston is a kind of cold I only have nightmares about. Brrr!
While waiting for brunch, we took a little walk around South End and discovered Gold Gallery. This month they celebrate their one year anniversary! Aside from the brilliant art it is home to, what caught my initial attention was their logo and then it got even better inside. Safe to say, I think the pictures can show you proof themselves. The director told us this building was supposed to be a Dunkin Donuts I believe and then when that fell through, Gold Gallery had to set up in three weeks. What a turn of wonderful events!
Gold Gallery, thank you for being inspiring and extending the warm welcome to Boston.
The aspiring graphic design in me says Kudos to your fabulous logo + identity.
I am happy to introduce to you Emmanual José, a creative soul with a knack for paper-cutting, photography and all things art. We actually met for the first time this past Halloween through mutual family friends and from then I just knew I had to share his unique talent! If you live in Raleigh, you have probably seen his artwork displayed at Jubala in Lafayette Village or Busy Bee in downtown. If you want to see his art, check out Cafe Helios! What I love most about this work is his dedication to create a new card each week and took something standard like playing cards and turned them into his own canvas. I'll stop boring you with my praise and let you get to know him yourself :)
Hi, I'm Emmanuel, and I'm a whole lot of P's: Pinoy, Painter,
Photographer, Papercutter. I love art, I can eat anything, and capuchin
monkeys scare me a little, haha.
My favorite quote is:
"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
2. What sparked the interest to create one playing card a week?
In college, I started a series of playing card
paintings, but my professor disliked them and I ended up painting other
subject matter. After college, I ended up in a job that wasn't conducive
to my creativity, and I was hungry to have art in my life again. I
still wanted to do a playing card series and so as a personal challenge,
I decided to make one card a week.
3. Recently your art has become your full-time commitment. How is your transition so far? Challenges?
The transition has been liberating but also
admittedly scary since this is all new to me. I finally have the time to
pursue art as a passion and as a career, and while I don't know yet how
the future will unfold, I know that I owe it to myself to do what makes
me happy.
4. Where do you find your inspiration for creating each card for each deck?
More often than not, I have found inspiration when
I'm away from home. I could be anywhere, but I get more ideas when I'm
simply walking around, taking in all the sights around me. My mind has
to wander figuratively and literally away from my normal surroundings
for inspiration to arrive.
5. Can you walk us through a little bit of the process from brainstorming an idea of a card to actually creating it?
Sure. I usually begin by taking out a normal deck of
cards and my sketchbook. I take a look at the card that I'm going to
create and I mentally "fill in" the negative space around the pips (the
suit symbols) to create a context. If I already have an idea for that
specific card, the sketching and drawing process happens pretty quickly.
If I don't know what I'm doing (which happens a lot), I make up stories
or situations that occur within the world of that card, so to speak.
I draw everything on a newsprint-like draft paper,
and when I'm happy with the drawing, I overlay the draft paper over the
black, white, or red paper that I want to cut. Sometimes I draw directly
on the black, white, or red paper, but I prefer drawing on the draft
paper since I do a lot of erasing and editing.
For the card itself, I make what I call the "base"
first. The base is the white component of the card, and I trim the white
paper and round the corners. I've made paper stock templates for all
the index characters (the numerals and letters), and once I make the
indices I affix them to the base. I create the "face" of the card last,
and the face of the card is comprised of the larger pips and the idea
for the card. I use a brand of double-sided tape to affix everything
since wet adhesives will warp the paper.
Examples of his work. Rest of the interview below.
6. Besides paper-cutting and design, do you have any other art-related hobbies/interests?
Yes, painting is a longtime love of mine, and I'm
excited to be able to do more of it. I only started photography in my
last year of college, but I find it incredibly fascinating. There's
still so much about the technical side of photography that I know
nothing about, but it's a world I'm eager to explore.
7. What are some of your goals for your art?
I
want to create art that is accessible. I wouldn't call my playing card
art esoteric at all, because it's not meant to be. The original cards
may be framed and hanging on walls, but the decks they become end up
being held, shared, and played with. The meaning they take on in other
people's hands go far beyond any meaning or idea I've presented on the
cards.
8. Do you listen to certain music while you're in the studio?
I listen to all genres of music, but I usually listen to slow to
mid-tempo songs while I'm making art. I tend to create art slowly, so I
like music that matches my pace. An example of a go-to musician for me
is Oliver Tank.
Thank you for stopping by the blog and letting us peek into your creative process! I am absolutely blown away by each card and the concepts behind each one. I feel as though people can take something that they are used to (because we've all played with a deck of cards at least once in our lives right?) and get a chance to look at it in a different light. I wish you the best in all your future endeavors!
For more examples, please visit his website and follow him!
Hello people of the world The 25th Hour! I am SOO excited to be sharing my Valentines DIY with you all today!
Some of you just got excited because, like me, you're not awesome at gift giving,
Some of you just rolled your eyes and continued scrolling because you simply don't do Valentines Day,
and the rest of you don't care because you don't have anyone to gift to.
WELL let me tell you all something -- this little creation can be made for anyone [including yourself].
All you need is a deck of cards, a permanent marker and some sort of hanging contraption. I created mine from twine and a piece of wood. [ps. I was inspired from pinterest -- duh]
Simply write one lovey-dovey/encouraging/thankful thing or saying on each card.
I laid each card out on the table, put a little hot glue on the top and ran some twine down the middle. Tie each strand to your 'hanger' and hang that baby up for people to see! [or somewhere private depending on who you're making it for, some people don't wanna read that stuff]
There you go! Quick and easy and cute [heck you can even leave this up year round].
--side note, that cute little sail boat thing was a gift from my mumma. she's the greatest.
Hope you enjoyed this DIY and I would love for you to drop by my blog -- www.happerlyeverafter.com
Can't wait to meet you! >>> ali
Um, is she not the most precious thing ever or what? I am also in love with her blog name. Check it out to read the story behind the name. So cute! I love this DIY so much because it takes the kitchiness of Valentine's day into something so personal and creative! (Don't get me wrong, I love the candy hearts, singing stuffed animals and flowers) Anyway, hope you all enjoyed this DIY! It has been awhile since I have posted one. Thank you Ali for being so cute and creative, but more importantly inspiring!
I am absolutely in love with this print from Degree - the detail, the statement and the simplicity.
"This unique poster aims to highlight the responsibility we have in
letting animal species thrive in their natural environment—we have a
choice whether or not to preserve nature and let it grow. Specially
designed to assert this crucial message, it forms the basis of social
attitudes towards Mother Nature for the many people out there who want
to make a difference in our world."
One day this print will be framed + in my apartment.
Welcome to another installment of Featured Artist. I am so happy to introduce you to Hannah, the beautiful artist behind Another Feather. I bought my first Another Feather utensil earrings a year or so ago and absolutely love them! She lives in Asheville with her husband Malcom who makes leather goods in his shop. Read more about her inspirations and her story :)
1. Tell us a little about yourself and another feather
I live and
work in the beautiful city of Asheville, NC. Everything is made by me
using found objects and traditional metal smithing techniques and tools
in my home studio located in the River Arts District.My line includes one of a kind metal made jewelry, found object assemblages, and simple everyday adornments.
Each
piece is slightly one of a kind, due to naturally unique imperfections,
and evidence of the hand at work. Rustic and worn, all jewelry is given
special attention to detail, and is often made from objects found on
travels, flea market excursions, and walks through the woods.
I
am primarily an artist, and have a Studio art degree in both Metals/Jewelry & Fibers. Before Another Feather I only made conceptual
sculptural jewelry or large scale installation gallery work. Another
Feather has opened up the design side of my work, and has given me a way
to support myself financially with a production line, while still
making my artwork. My business has also made a way for me to make my
jewelry affordable for a younger low budget crowd, those (like myself)
who maybe can’t afford to buy the one of a kind art jewelry I make, but
what to have something with the same style and ideas behind it.
2. When and how did another feather come about?
Honestly I started Another Feather completely by accident in 2009. At the time I was a full time student (studying Studio Art), and had a part time job
working in an art gallery. I had made a few samples that I enjoyed
making, but took no time at all, as studies for bigger things I was
working on in my Metals courses. Some local friends wanted to buy them,
and suggested I open an etsy shop. So I did, with five whole items in it (really rubbish items I might add). They all sold in the following
weeks, so I started to replenish with more samples.
That summer, I had some free time, and started making some fun affordable and wearable
pieces and slowly adding them to my etsy shop. Then overnight I starting having sales daily, and then a few weeks later I got an unexpected
call, From NBC’s Today Show. They wanted to feature 10 pieces of my
jewelry, which were to be overnighted to their NYC studio on their tab. I thought it was a joke, but I did it, and there my jewelry was two weeks later on national television (I didn’t even have a television, so I
caught it at a friends). All that to say, I was not prepared in the
slightest to run a business, I had never even thought about it. I was so very lucky and blessed to be able to get on my feet so quickly and form
a business.
3. What are your most popular items? That's
a tough one, it really depends on the season. Some month's I'll
completely sell out of one necklace and then a few weeks later won't
sell a single one. I pretty regularly sell a lot of feather globe
necklaces, the quartz & layered chain necklace, antler slice
necklaces, and a good amount of studs and cicada wings.
4. What is your favorite medium to work with?
Metal of course (silver and brass especially), found objects from nature and
from my travels, and any sort of fibers (ie. wool, cotton, leather,
linen, silk)
5. What's up and coming for another feather?
I
am about to release our newest line for S/S 2012, and debut our brand
new lookbook that we just got done shooting last weekend! We are also
preparing for the upcoming season of Markets and trade shows, and adding
a few new one's on the West Coast to our line up!
Hannah's story is absolutely beautiful and inspiring, which shows directly from the jewelry she creates. Thank you for letting us peek into your studio and creations! I have a feeling all of you will be owning your own Another Feather piece very soon :)
I am here to introduce Laura from le animalé! She has one of the most unique shops on the etsy block and I am so excited I can show off her work to all of you! She makes a ton of these cute little animals totems that are sure to brighten your day! Read along to find out more about her and her shop.
1. Tell us a little background about you and your shop!
I'm
Laura and I make the cute little animals of le animalé. I grew up in a
coastal town in North Carolina. As a little girl I always thoroughly
enjoyed the outdoors (well, I still do) and I really, really loved
animals (well, I still do that too). I loved reading about them and
discovering new ones and drawing them and pretending to have them as my
pets. From then until now my background is full of creative ventures
(from music to painting to photography), but I've recently settled into
the miniature sculptures and artwork I make for le animalé.
2. What is your inspiration behind le animalé?
Simple!
- animals and all of their quirky, cute, humorous, endearing antics!
Last year as I was thinking that a miniature zoo would be the most
awesome thing ever, I just decided to make one. Now I'm sharing my
miniature zoo with the world so everyone can have any and every little
animal they've ever dreamed of. No chores or cleanup necessary, just
cute little animals to brighten your day.
3. Starting a handmade shop is a huge responsibility, what do you recommend for someone thinking about opening their own?
Well,
you set your own pace it ends up being as much or as little
responsibility as you want it to be. But with that said, you get out of
it what you put into it, and if you're considering starting a handmade
shop in order to make a living, you need to be willing to put in a lot.
A lot of time, a lot of research, a lot of work. But it's very
rewarding and so worth it to be able to share your creations with the
world, know that your products make people happy, and make your living
doing something you are truly passionate about.
4. What should we look forward to from le animalé?
My
brand new website will be done soon! With the new website comes new
photos and new products, so there is a lot to look forward to with that
launch within the next month. PLUS, my 1 year anniversary is coming up
in May, and I will be doing a lot to celebrate it (giveaways, special
products, and more!) Keep your eyes peeled for exciting new le animalé
goodness!
5. What is one of your quirks?
This
one may go against my typical right-brained thinking (or maybe it
doesn't) but whenever I see a group of numbers I think of different ways
they can work together or be combined. For instance, if I see 3681 on a
license plate I'll think, "3 plus 6 is 9 minus 1 is 8", and so on.
Now check out some of the animal sculptures she creates!
These are some of my favorite of her collection. Be sure to check out her shop for more!
Thank you Laura for dropping by Simply, Melissa Ashley & letting me interview you! The Featured Artist blog posts have been created to showcase some of my favorite artists floating around. None of these posts are sponsored by the artists featured, unless otherwise noted. I just love to spread the love of handmade local artists!
Sometimes, all you need is a little trip to the museum. It's the little things. I'm linking up with Lindsey, From the Aisle to Aloha.
Museum trip on 01 | 13 | 2012
Ah, a trip to the museum. An art museum.
Sometimes that's all you need. Did you know I've never been to any of the museums in Raleigh and I've been living there for years. By years, I mean practically my whole life (with the exception of going to five different elementary schools including Richmond, Guam, Cary and Raleigh) ANYway, the museum was lovely. I felt so grown-up, I actually read the descriptions (I mean, did you really do this on school field trips, be honest) and I absorbed it all. Also, the NCMA has this kickBUTT restaurant inside their second building that looks so cool! It's on my list of places to eat in Raleigh :] Any one want to come with?
So in conclusion, when you need a little lift, time for thought and some good ol' inspiration, go to the closest art museum possible and make some art of your own ;)
Have a safe and inspiring weekend!
Be sure to check out the previous post about my lovely friend Chelsea's creative and innovative shop! Her shop is almost as lovely and cute as she is :)
