Planning ahead isn't one of my strong suits. But I sure have been doing a lot of it lately. Back in July I responded to an open call for work for the 23 Sandy Gallery in Portland, Oregon. Pop Up Now! opens next week and I am thrilled to say that my work will be hosted among the work of many esteemed book artists. I used the deadline as the impetus to do something I have been wanting to do for a long time. I make lots of pop up cards and have had ideas for pop up books. I am a slave to deadlines, I need them it seems to get anything done especially since I could easily fill my time with the creative company of a toddler. So I got my submission in on the day they were due and was tickled to be one of the 43 entries accepted out of a field of 117.
How I wish I could be there. The 8th annual conference of the Movable Book Society will be in Portland at the same time so the show will be a part of their conference. So cool!! Any Portlanders, please visit.
Without further adieu, my entry:
2011 is a pictorial story of a rabbit who gets the other-worldly call to go on a journey. The viewer follows the journey along the Great Wall of China, over water in a Chinese junk, to a bunny gathering. February 3, 2011 marks the Lunar New Year -- the year of the rabbit. After 12 years it is the bunny's turn to shine and be revered. Go rabbits!
So it seems I am doing fairly well, all things considered. My studio still isn't fully assembled but I am getting things done, some for actual events and some are for my own self-imposed deadlines and I am sticking to them! (more or less ;)
Yay! It is now available. I was so excited to finally get it back. My sister had it forever. I feel silly not taking the photos before I gave it to her. Here are a few of the gorgeous photos in the book. So as promised here are some more images. My projects got direct mention on the back cover and images are throughout the book I am so thrilled. The work of the other artists are so beautifully detailed and I am humbled to be in their company.
The book features the amazing work of, Barbara Buckingham, Holly Christian, Cynthia Emerlye, Cynthia Ferguson, Jennifer Khoshbin, Nicole Lombardo, Janine Maves, Tina Tarnoff, Kathleen Trenchard, and La Donna Welter.To see more be sure to check out their sites/blogs linked to their names above.
I wasn't too thrilled that they photographed my luminary upside-down. Too funny really -- to me it was obvious that the acorns would point downward. The luminary appears in 6 pictures and they are all upside-down. At least it is consistent, right?
I am so thankful for the opportunity. I was approached just today about possibly appear in another book. Grin.
While I have a more detailed list of resolutions for this year than ever before a few have edged their way in -- developed as a result of some gifts I have received this holiday season. This first book was a little gift to myself. When I discovered that my eyes were tricking themselves, seeing macaroon when I read macaron and noticing that cookies labeled as macaroons looked nothing like the coconut goodies I was used to, I got uber confused. Upon investigation I realized I am not the only one. I had to investigate. As soon as I read,"Making macarons {are a} notoriously difficult recipe to master and a frustrating endeavor for the amateur baker." over at Wikipedia, naturally it became a curiosity. Once I discovered what this, oh-so-cute-confection was it popped up while shopping for Christmas gifts and without a thought added it to my cart. Of course a Japanese pastry chef has mastered them and created the most delightful little book to grow the love. So now resolution #1 is to learn and hopefully master them enough that they will be in my 2010 repertoire of Christmas goodies.
This next book, well, I think the library might be confused about who owns it. I now have my own copy! It is a great reference and a fantastic inspirational nudge. Now it is in the library's collection to inspire others.
This next one was my hubby's idea all on his own. Is he trying to tell me something? This book is so drippingly cute and dare I assume ultra sweet. So to the pile of resolutions Hello, Cupcake! has been added. Our own little sweetie will be having a 1st birthday before we know it and I imagine his celebration cake will be a fabulous conglomeration of cupcakes -- really cute cupcakes.
Now my mother would say, "Don't encourage her." That is, not to pick up another craft but my hubby again was drawn to this book. Being the whimsical guy that he is, these little critters spoke to him. He got it for me from the library and then decided I needed this title in my personal library as well. Needle felting looks quite easy and rather meditative so I am thinking it is something I can do while watching TV, maybe?
So while these aren't resolutions I necessarily planned on... goals love company, right?
I have been wanting to see this movie for some time. I am home with the flu so today was the day. I love when movies pay attention to the credits. The opening credit were beautiful. I can picture but maybe not name the movies with clever/beautiful/enchanting opening credits. I think I may blog them from now on, sometimes the opening credits make the movie for me. For Persepolis the opening credits were gorgeously illustrated and animated. I loved the animation for the movie, it was a refreshing break from the near-realism that most animated mainstream films are embodying currently. An autobiographical film, it presents an historical view the Iranian conflict through the lens of a graphic novel.
No, I have no Caliope, no Clio, no Thalia -- I have deadlines. I suppose that it not as glamorous as a Greek goddess but hey, whatever gets me motivated, right? Why does a muse have to be a woman, or a person for that matter? My current inspiration is that I have given myself assignments with hard deadlines. I am participating in Artist Row at our local public market. That is September 20th. Yikes. I have some work done for it. But...there is so much more to do. Displays. I really have none so I have to come up with something. Presentation is everything right? Then 10 days after that I plan on submitting a couple designs for the Benches on Parade which will be taking place in our city next summer. I am really excited about this. I always thought it would be so cool to participate in one of these massive city-wide art projects. Even if my design doesn't get picked, it is really helping me get some new ideas flowing. Then next month I am teaching a beginning pop-up class at the Genesee Center for the Arts. So I have to come up with a plan, projects and handouts. Gosh, I hope people sign up for it.
I have been looking at some beautiful books. The illustrations in 1949 edition of the The Fireside Cook Book are just so delightful. I acquired the book from my grandmother. I haven't tried the recipes but I hear they are great. If you can get your hands on a copy, it won't disappoint. A true classic both illustratively and culinarily. Check out Eat Me Daily for another great picture from the book and a recipe review. A couple other sources I have been thumbing through: Decorative Art of Southwestern Indians and Japanese Stencil Designs thanks to the crannies of thrift stores. All three are full of gorgeous creative influence, if not yummy inspiration. I have some great blogs I have been eying. But this post is already long and link heavy. Next time...
I have decided that my new year won't start until January 12. Besides writing out my goals for this year, really I am already taking care of some of my changes, or I think I'll say adjustments, for this fresh year. Steven and I are moving towards a predominantly vegetarian life-style. We were never huge meat eaters but we are cutting it out more. I have decided to focus more on promoting myself, my work, my business for this year ... and actually I am actively doing that as well. Finally arrived yesterday, the coffee table book of greeting cards: 1000 Handmade Greetings: Creative Cards and Clever Correspondence. A book in which 6 of my cards are featured! Exciting!
This is the first time my work has been in print aside from college publications. Steven and I walked into Barnes & Noble the other day and there it was turned so the full cover showed on the shelf. I opened it up and it naturally fell open to page 156 where my Love Nest card takes up the whole page!
It is a great book of inspirations for all sorts of artistic endeavors as well as greeting cards. I love having a collection of so many talented people and it is thrilling to be included in their company. Thank you to Laura McFadden for the opportunity and to Quarry Books for publishing it.
So as far as promoting myself goes, I am furiously working on another -much more involved- publishing project. The deadline: January 12. I'll fill in more details soon. Basically I am hot on the trail of many 2009 goals but my resolutions for more organization and order, well they are on hold until this deadline passes by. Even our adoption pursuits have to wait until lucky January 13 when we will start another pot a-boiling as I am digging out from my disorganized chaos.
Happy 2009. I hope all have joy, fulfillment, health, and the fulfillment of many dreams.