Lawrence Final Fridays – Jan. 25 at Essential Goods
“Whatever peace I know rests in the natural world, in feeling myself a part of it, even in a small way.” -May Sarton
Today I finished reading “Black Elk Speaks” (highly recommended – and a reality check about the land we live on here in the USA), and started reading “Journal of A Solitude” by May Sarton (where I found the line above).
I also wrapped up a commission, was invited to do the upcoming cover of an art & literary journal, and signed on to do the LOLA (Ladies of Lawrence Artists) Valentine’s Day Show at Pachamama’s in Lawrence on Feb. 9. Lots of things coming up.. and lots of planting my nose in books.
New Challenges & Endeavors
Nerd speak to follow: In serious effort to do the thing I’ve really been longing to do, which is more and better animation (what originally got me into paper cutting), I’ve taken a slight plunge and am outfitting myself with some new equipment.. I’m putting aside my Nikon d40 for a Canon 60d which comes with live view (and will also be a step up in my photography endeavors — getting an extra lens that zooms to 300mm for some serious wildlife closeups). I was using an old digital camcorder from the 1990’s to shoot my animation, and the image quality just wasn’t near what I want it to be. With live view, I can integrate this DSLR camera into my animation setup for image capture on the spot, and I’ll be using Dragonframe, the same software used to create Paranorman, Frankenweenie, and hundreds of other amateur and professional stop-motion animations. Dragonframe is actually able to control the camera, giving me better results as far as the image capture alone goes. I’ve also decided to invest in a desktop iMac and use the Adobe Production Suite for my editing needs. This gives me access to After Effects, an amazing motion effects software, and easily works between Photoshop and Premiere for editing and sound addition. I’m also looking to set up a very basic, but good, sound recording gitup so I can make my own music (I’ve been working hard at the ukulele for a reason!). Of course, more paper cuttings to come as my art fairs come to an end for the year (and won’t start again til next April..), but also, new paper cut animations as well. It’s been a long time since I’ve worked with any software that’s not completely basic, but I’m looking forward to figuring it all out, because as I think I’ve said before, there’s no better feeling for me than what results from seeing my artwork come alive on a screen.
LJWorld Article about Arts Center Workshop
Here’s a little article about the most recent “School’s Out Day” workshop I did at the Lawrence Arts Center. (Photo by Richard Gwin).
http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2012/dec/03/learning-even-when-schools-out/
The Guardian is home..
Today I picked up my paper cutting that was stolen in Baldwin City from the girl that bought it at the goodwill store. She had actually purchased it a couple months ago not knowing that it had been stolen. Even stranger, it was at the same goodwill store here in Lawrence that I just very recently donated a carload of stuff to when I had the urge to purge.. So maybe there was some good karma going on there. I don’t know.. But I’m thankful that I have it back. I even felt a little teary when I saw it, since I had long ago accepted the fact that it was gone. My car got stolen in NYC when I lived there, but this was a bit more of a violation to me since it’s something of my very own making.. so there was more of an attachment perhaps. I suppose it justifies, like all things do really, my belief that everything turns out the way it’s supposed to.
The fox in this picture was guarding the bird on their journey. They took a real journey and made it back unharmed…
Lawrence Art Guild Holiday Art Fair This Saturday
This Saturday, Dec. 1, 2012, is the Lawrence Art Guild’s Holiday Art Fair. 10% of sales support the Art Guild and art in Lawrence! Hope to see you there!
ALSO: I hung a bunch of my work at the Lawrence Community Theatre in conjunction with their holiday production of the Sound of Music. Reception is Friday, Nov. 30, at 6:30 before their sold-out premiere.
Stolen Paper Cutting Comes Home…
Over a year after it was stolen in Baldwin City, KS, my fox paper cutting has found it’s way back home! It was purchased in a goodwill store by a friend of a friend and recognized as the original, and they contacted me knowing it had been stolen.. I’ll be picking it up this week. It all comes around..
Goings-On
Busy days ahead, busy days behind.. Last Thursday & Friday I taught a workshop at the Lawrence Arts Center titled “Evolution Revolution.” Thursday, we visited the Natural History Museum on the KU campus to see the evolution exhibit and panorama (pic above is from the panorama). Then we looked at how math can be used to create art and patterns and made tessellations (The Lawrence Journal World visited my class — look for an article and photos in the newspaper soon). Friday we studied traditional animation techniques and made flipbooks and built zoetropes. The evolution part was tied into the animation and pattern subjects by looking at the patterns and changes made over time. It was lots of fun. I love (maybe obviously) using geometric patterns in art. I also love old methods of animation.. I was even proud of my own zoetrope — it actually worked (don’t know what a zoetrope is? Read HERE.).
This week I’ll be gearing up for the Bizarre Bazaar that takes place the Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving. I’ll be heading out to San Diego this Saturday through Wednesday to see what there is to see, so all online orders from Friday, Nov. 16, through Sunday, Nov. 25, will ship out Monday, Nov. 26 because of the travel, the holiday and the art fair.. Also, that Monday, I’ll be hanging my exhibit at the Lawrence Community Theater. Their holiday show, The Sound of Music, opens on Nov. 30. Maybe I’ll see you there?
I’ll also be at the Holiday Art Fair put on by the Lawrence Art Guild at the Lawrence Arts Center on Dec. 1 as well as at the LOLA (Ladies of Lawrence Artwork) Giant Holiday Show on Dec. 8 – 9 at VanGo Mobile Arts. And except for online orders, that’ll wrap up my year. I’ll follow up with more later.
New News
I got these tote bags from across the pond from Bizarr Verlag, the company that published some of my artwork on postcards awhile back. These are now available to the public in Germany and around Europe. I also have a new round of images coming out with them on postcards soon, so look out for those if you’re over there.
In other licensing news, I’ve got some things coming up with Hallmark as well as Imagine Goods, a company described on their facebook page as this: “Vintage – Inspired Apparel and Home Decor which provide employment opportunity for previously exploited and at risk women in Cambodia”. It’s nice to be working with a good cause. More on all of this soon.
Write-up on Artdog Observations
Many thanks to artist/ paper sculptor Jan Gephardt for featuring my artwork on her write-up on Artdog Observations about paper artists exhibiting in the Kansas City area recently. Other artists included in her review are Dan Bi and Kent Davis. An excerpt: I love the “design” feel of her cut-paper work, where color is used strategically in a limited palette, to maximum effect. Pickman’s subjects are usually somewhat mystical, and always seem to reference nature in one way or another. Read the rest HERE or click the image above.