Tag Archives: art

October 22, 2011 · 11:46 am

Shadow Shot: Walk in the Woods

My husband and I took a walk in the woods a few weeks ago. Seems like ages ago: The temperature was in the mid-80s, not like the cool fall weather we have now. Despite the heat, it was about 15 degrees cooler in the woods. The Redmond Watershed Preserve to be exact. I love the quiet tranquility of a forest and really appreciate nature’s air conditioning. We walked along an interpretive trail with signs that explained how the early loggers worked. Some of the old-growth remains were massive. Even the replacement trees towered over us.

The forest was a nice reprieve from heat. The sun shone through the trees and created beautiful patterns of light. I enjoyed finding this little berry bush beneath the massive conifers. The berries were perfectly placed, almost like they were Christmas tree ornaments.

During our walk, we heard a real racket coming from a large tree. We were amused when we saw this angry little squirrel shouting at us. There was a plaque explaining that the northern flying squirrel lives in these parts. But this little guy looks more like a red squirrel—at least that’s what this squirrel site would lead me to believe.

We left the squirrel alone and kept walking until we found a pond. I looked for turtles but didn’t see any. I was enchanted by a beautiful, blue dragonfly.

On our way back, we retraced our steps but didn’t hear the squirrel. Luckily Redmond isn’t too far away so we can come back to this wonderful sanctuary again. On the west trail, there’s a bigger pond complete with beavers and their dam! I’ll be sure to share photos of them with you next time.

Hey Harriet hosts Shadow Shot Sunday, a weekly photo challenge where people can submit their shadowy shots—pictures that show the play of light and dark. Check out her site for lots of inspiring photography.

7 Comments

Filed under Art, Photography

Tagged as art, dragonfly, forest, photography, shadow shot sunday, squirrel, style

August 27, 2011 · 5:37 am

Shadow Shot: Glassy Reflection

Hey Harriet has a wonderful weekly photo challenge where lots of people submit their shadowy shots—pictures that show the play of light and dark.

This week, I want to share a neat shadow cast by a clear glass lamp. I never really thought of something translucent having much of a shadow, but this glass lamp does. In fact, the shadow is more prominent than the lamp itself.

I found the lamp hanging in the window of Quoin, a bar that together with Revel, a restaurant, occupy the building at 36th St. and Phinney Ave. in Seattle’s eclectic Fremont neighborhood.

The yellow wall behind the lamp serves as an ideal frame. It contrasts against the shadow nicely and helps the shadow pop out of an otherwise dark scene.

I also like that the telephone wires and trees outside are reflected on the window, further merging the elements of indoors and out onto one pane of glass. It’s a peek inside and a display of the exterior.

Be sure to check out all the other submissions at Hey Harriet.

4 Comments

Filed under Art, Photography

Tagged as art, glass lamp, Seattle, shadow shot sunday, shadows, style

August 19, 2011 · 6:10 am

Film Review: Escape from New York

I might not be timely—Escape from New York came out in 1981—but one of my goals is to watch more movies (especially classics and cult classics that I’ve missed along the way). I want to use this space to share my thoughts about films I like.

I recently rented Escape from New York and enjoyed it immensely. It’s directed by John Carpenter (of Halloween fame). The film is set in a distopian future America. Crime has skyrocketed and the entire island of Manhattan is a walled-off prison where inmates are left to fend for themselves. When Air force One is hijacked and crashes inside the walls of Manhattan, authorities turn to Snake (played by Kurt Russell). Snake is a special forces soldier turned criminal. The film follows Snake as he tries to find and rescue the president.

I enjoy a good story—and this movie has it—but more than that, I enjoy compelling visuals. This film was so fun to watch. It’s dark and moody. There are shadows everywhere (and people lurking in them). The high tech government offices with their super computers is a stark contrast to the rough, almost Medievel feel of the prison. Shots were composed beautifully, and it was a joy to watch. I took photos of the screen with my phone while I was watching the movie in my living room. Strange, perhaps, but the colors, lighting and composition of the scenes inspired me to paint what I saw. Now I have photos to work from.

In addition to Kurt Russell, there are terrific performances by Ernest Borgnine as a cab driver, and Isaac Hayes, who plays the Mayor of New York City.

2 Comments

Filed under Art, Film

Tagged as art, Escape from New York, film, Kurt Russell, style

July 25, 2011 · 12:02 am

Mad Art Homes Take over Seattle

Run, don’t walk, to the Mad Art Homes in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood! Until August 7, 2011, five soon-to-be demolished homes are works of art. Several artists were given access to the interior and exterior of the homes and have created installation pieces in, on, and in between them. Here’s a small sampling of the photos I took of the exhibit:

Sculptures adorn the lawns of the homes

The homes are wrapped in art

A mechanical wolf pops out of the floorboards at regular intervals

Paintings on globes appear whole when viewed on the monitor

Clothing lines the surfaces of the rooms in this house

This free, art exhibit is open to the public every day between 12 and 7. You can find them at 711 Bellevue Avenue East, Seattle, WA. It’s vibrant a residential neighborhood, made even more so for the next two weeks.

They might not be fit for inhabitation, but the homes have become a perfect canvas/gallery for art.

Shadow Shot: Dog Days

I’m getting artsy on you again. It’s time for another Shadow Shot post. Don’t forget to check out all the others over at Hey Harriet.

Before you chide me for featuring pet pictures, hear me out: Over the years, I’ve been intrigued by the shadows my dog casts. I love how his shadows distort him and make him seem like a little monster. Here are a few of my favorites:

The sandy shot was taken at Cannon Beach in Oregon. The glass bridge crosses the Sacramento River in Redding, California.

Not only is Frankie my muse, assistant, and subject, he’s also an artist in his own right. Have a look at the photos he “took” recently.

7 Comments

Filed under Art, Photography

Tagged as art, dog, shadow shot sunday, shadows, style

July 19, 2011 · 7:58 pm

Wedgwood Art Festival

Nothing says summer like an art festival. Practically every weekend all summer long different Seattle neighborhoods hold festivals where people gather to eat, drink, listen to music, enjoy the weather, and of course, shop.

My friend Lynn is a volunteer coordinator for the Wedgwood Art Festival, and encouraged me to sign up for a shift as a photographer. I was excited to be an officially sanctioned picture-taker for the day and ended up capturing about 125 photos. Here are a few of my favorites:

Lynn was also a vendor at the festival. Here are her soy candle B-lights. They’re tiny candles in wine cap lids.

The weather was perfect, and as I wandered around the festival, I ended up buying a few things. At Laughing Girl Arts I found an adorable ring. You’ll see it in a future outfit post. Here’s a sample of what her booth had to offer:

I bought a scarf from Tasha’s Accessories. There were so many beautiful, soft fabrics that is was hard to decide (I chose the giraffe print).

I was intrigued by the recycled metal sculptures at this booth, and suddenly wished I had a yard to put one in:

In addition to these booths, there was handblown glass, photography, quilts, dolls, watercolor, pastels, gift cards, woodwork, and so much more. Kids had their faces painted, I had a delicious vegan quesadilla, and I listened to music and wandered around in the sun. I met the author of The Lost Sea Cat, a children’s book, and I petted many a dog.

Check out the Festival website and don’t forget to like them on Facebook.

I’ll be heading off to more art fairs this summer. Do you have plans to visit some as well? What’s the best score you’ve found at a street fair?

2 Comments

Filed under Art, Crafts

Tagged as art, craft fair, crafts, decor, style

July 16, 2011 · 3:44 pm

Shadow Shot: Trellises and Walkways

I’m starting to participate in Shadow Shot Sunday, a photography challenge over at Hey Harriet. I might call mine Shadow Show Saturday because I’m in Seattle on PST and I’m 15 hours behind Australia! If I wait until Sunday, It’ll be Monday everywhere else in the world.

This is an art-related post (I am, after all Jean of all Trades). You’ll see some fashion shots here, but most won’t be. All the pictures I post for this challenge will show the interplay between light and shadow (that definitely fits my style blog theme). I really enjoy shooting shadows, and have a few in my bag already. Let me know what you think. Here’s the first set:

I shot these over the past couple of years. The first is most recent. It’s the trellis at Gilman Village, a quaint, olde timey shopping area in Issaquah, Washington. The second is the bridge that joins two department stores and saves shoppers from having to brave te elements. It’s in Portland, Oregon. Finally, the Seattle Arboretum. It’s another trellis, and the shadows it created captivated me.

6 Comments

Filed under Art, Photography

Tagged as art, shadow shot sunday, shadows, style, trellis

June 1, 2011 · 11:23 pm

Three Little Paintings

I really enjoy painting. I have since I was a kid, and I even minored in fine art in university. Lately, though, painting has taken a back seat to some of my many other interests. It’s tough being Jean of all Trades and having my fingers in so many pies!

This evening, however, I kept away from the television and brought out the paints. I chose acrylic for its fast drying time. I kept the paint flowing and worked on style and blending, not perfection.

I like creating painterly pieces and I wanted the bottles to have an element of whimsy to them and possibly even look like you’ve consumed the wine and can’t see straight. Or maybe they look like I drank the wine before embarking on this project!

I like deep yellows and blended a few colors together to come up with a marigold shade and some lighter yellow too. I thought that would be a good background for the richness of the bottles.

I painted the bottles with different tones too, so they look like glass. I didn’t try to make then photorealistic though. They float on a relatively flat plane (although I did add lighter and darker tones to create a sense of roundness).

Explanations aside, the main thing is that I had fun painting the bottles. I hung them in my kitchen (next to my wine rack) so I could take pictures for this site and for Etsy (I’ve posted them on my Etsy page so, yes, they are for sale).

Fortunately for me, they fit right into my kitchen where I’ll be keeping them on the wall until someone buys them.

I have a few other painting projects in mind. A coffee cup series is probably next. I also want to paint a giant enlargement of what viruses look like under a microscope, but I doubt people would want to hang those in their kitchens.

Do you paint? What type of creative endeavors are you interested in? What inspires you? Feel free to leave a comment and tell me about it.

Vegan Posse on Broadway

My post title is a ripoff the title of a song (Posse on Broadway) on Sir Mix-a-Lot’s debut album, Swass. I just couldn’t resist. Sir Mix-a-Lot is a Seattle native and wrote the song about our Broadway, not the one in NYC.

The Seattle Broadway in the Capitol Hill neighborhood is where hubby and I spent the day. We lived in Capitol Hill when we first moved in together. It’s an eclectic, artsy neighborhood, and home to Seattle’s gay scene.

We first stopped at Highline, a vegan bar and diner, hubs had a bloody mary and biscuits and gravy. I had a tofu scramble and French toast. I like Highline. It’s got a punk rock, blue-collar vibe with no pretense.

Then we walked around the perimeter of a construction site. Perhaps not the most interesting thing in the world—unless you’re in Capitol Hill. The plywood walls that blocked off the 100′ hole in the ground (there’s an underground light rail tunnel being developed) were peppered with art. This must be a city-sanctioned project; every piece was attributed to an artist. My favorite was a mosaic by Cameron Larson made of bottle caps:

I liked the humor in the huge, wooden newspaper mural by Amanda Moore:

And Tim Marsden’s “Boom” made an impact:

On the way back to my car, we found a medicinal marijuana dispensary. They were closed:

Top: Old Navy
Pants: Bluenotes
Clutch: Crystalyn Kae
Scarf: Boutique in Portland
Socks: The Gap
Shoes: Bamboo

Sock and sandals are a “fashion don’t” but I’m liking the combo. I think this looks best with chunky heels though. Flats might look frumpy and delicate heels might look out-of-place unless the socks are thin. Do you dare wear socks and sandals? What other “don’ts” do you try?

Santa Fe Art Walk

Canyon Road is Santa Fe’s premier art district. It’s an old part of town and boasts over 100 galleries (and a smattering of shops and restaurants). It’s an incredible place. The rows of adobe houses-turned-galleries offer art to view and purchase. Of course there is classic Southwest art, but there are a lot of other styles too: abstract, photorealistic, sculpture, glass work, jewelry, pottery and more. Truly something for everybody.

To me, even the buildings on Canyon Road are pieces of art. I photographed the structures on the walking tour I took with my friends. It didn’t hurt that the weather was perfect.

On our walk, I noticed an unusually large quantity of animal sculptures. Mostly horses and cattle, with some bears and rabbits thrown in the mix. These animals seemed representative of the local fauna.

Yes, Laura, Cheryl, and Autumn are following the herd. It takes two to tango and apparently three to can-can. Well, four can play that game.

Dress: Forever 21 via thrifted
Wrap: NYC Street Vendor
Sunglasses: Target
Shoes: Timberland

Leave it to me to shift the conversation to fashion. Today, however, I saw a fashion/art connection, as you can see by the dresses at various galleries.

Canyon Road was probably the highlight of my trip. At lunch, I had the best veggie burger in the world at The Tea House. It was homemade and so delicious. They make a mean latté too. On the way back, I couple of other pieces of art captured my attention: The honeycomb and bee pattern is similar to the dress Laura wore yesterday.

Glass is a popular art medium in the Pacific Northwest and that’s probably why these sculptures drew me to them.

Prices for art ranged from less than $100 to well into five digits. There was a variety of things to look at and a few pieces I could actually afford. Mostly, I found the day inspiring. I’ve already pulled out my paints and canvases and have a few plans. Just in case my plans fall through, I wrote down the number of one of the galleries. There’s a wonderful abstract painting at a manageable price—and they ship.