Pandemic Shopping with Rae

Small businesses appreciate every single sale. I know, because I am one. During the pandemic is is truly important to support those small businesses you love.

Rewind Decor. I love everything about this place and have bought a fabulous 1970s black leather lounge there. It was designed by Ingmar Relling who was a major player in the Scandinavian Mid-Century movement. Also got two of the vintage chairs above. They are a fun addition to the screened porch. If you need a little outing don your mask and go visit Morgan. 1336 Williamson St, Madison. Or if you are staying in check him out on Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/rewinddecor/

Equally delightful are Hatch Art House and Hazel General Store at 1248 Williamson St, Madison. This is my go to place for gifts. We need to buy as much local as we can to help places like this stay in business. I recently got 2 birthday gifts there. Hatch is full of art and Hazel is a general store full of fun things. I am sure it will be an easy one-shop-spot for you. While both gifts I bought came from Hazel, Hatch carries my cards. Be sure to say hi to Tammy when you stop by. https://www.instagram.com/hatcharthouse

Jack + Ella Paper has endless cute cards. During the pandemic I think it is more important than ever to send cards, postcards and small gifts as everyone is more housebound. Just a little note that you are thinking about someone can turn a sad day into a good one. I send mail to 90+ year olds in assisted living and those who need a note so they know they are not alone. It is not that hard. But the important thing is to have cards on hand. Jessica has endless cards: pet sympathy cards, graduation, birthday, knitting, sewing, gratitude and lots more.

Her cards are also at Hatch and on her website https://www.jackandellapaper.com

P.S. and the illustrations are mine!

Be safe everyone!

Art Therapy #17

This is where Rae and Nancy make postcards and send them to each other, more or less weekly. Frankly I am surprised we have continued to do this for so long. We started this after the last election to bring something happy into our lives. I am always excited when I see a craft envelope in the mail.

I made a series of these lake watercolours because I got new art supplies. Arteza all lead watercolour pencils. I like these pencils but because they are all lead and no wood they break like crayons which I always hated. Some strokes were made with Derwent Inktense Blocks. These are very strong colors. I also like working with them. And they also break. I like pristine art supplies.

This one was made because I am thinking about abstract painting and composition. I was making this while watching an online Illustrator class. And, of course, made from scraps in my tiny office. No wonder I am always living in paper mess.

Quick sketch from Nancy... Winter acknowledges Spring.

Another card from Nancy. It explains itself.

Happy Monday. And see you next week with more Art Therapy!

Palm Springs or an Escape from Winter!

This was my first trip to Palm Springs. Land of blue skies, sun and warmth. We stayed in a great house with a pool. Bliss.

Our first day was spent looking at open houses, mid century modern, of course. And a visit to the stunning Palm Springs Art Museum.

Heart Cone Chair was created by Verner Panton. and Produced by Vitra in 1959.

I have one of those chairs but mine is matte black and is vintage. I would love to have that little TV.

Bird. 1996 by Enrique Martinez Celya

This was Modernism Week. Unfortunately we did not attend anything. Since this was our first trip there we kicked back and played tourist, lounged, napped, drinks by the pool.

We left Wisconsin which had typical Winter weather. We came home to find my Mini's tires frozen in a little pond of ice which is our driveway.

Next Palm Springs post will include Salvation Mountain, Salten Sea and Slab City.

Art Therapy #16

Yes, it is postcard post time again! This is where Nancy and I exchange postcards that we make and send them through the mail.

Samsara: In Hinduism, the cycle of death + rebirth to which life in the material world is bound.

It appears that we started the new year with New Year's cards. Look carefully to see Nancy's wishes in the above shot. Nancy's is a collage and mine was made while cleaning my office. My rule is that I have to make my cards with what I have in my studio area. And to work quickly.

Another thoughtful one from Nancy, meant to be a sort of New Year's resolution. She puts so much into her cards.

This is the view from my desk. Well, not today. Today it is all white and shades of grey and snowing. I want to paint again and want to do something abstract and quick looking. So these were some quick scribbles. And then I did 4 more. That is often my process. Although I think this was the first one.

New paint brushes, new watercolor pencils. Arteza 24 woodless watercolor pencils. I do like these. First I drew with these and then used a watercolor brush to soften some of the lines.

I also love these. You can get intense color with these. Derwent Inktense Blocks. They are ink sticks. I know I did the red line with one of these. I waited until the paper was damp, not wet. When the paper was dry I went in again with a blue colored pencil and added some black lines for the waves too. These are great fun. Make some art today. You know you want to.

Chazen Museum of Art

November 17 to February 4 | Leslie and Johanna Garfield Galleries

Fantastic Illustration from the Korshak Collection

This exhibition explores the ever-evolving visual landscape of science fiction and fantasy literature with illustrations from the collection of Stephen Korshak. Featuring original artwork by both American and European artists spanning more than a century, these vivid illustrations bring to life adventures, beings, and worlds conjured in novels such as Don Quixote and Tarzan, and pulp magazines including Amazing Stories, Weird Tales, Fantastic Adventures and Wonder Stories. Accomplishing far more than simply guiding readers in their explorations of new and sometimes bizarre realms, the range and impact of these illustrations is far-reaching.

On a bitter cold Sunday we ventured out to visit the Chazen Museum of Art. John was interested in seeing this exhibit. He enjoyed it but expected to see more of this artist rather than a wide range of illustrators.

We then just wandered and saw art until I went into complete visual overload. We were in the new part of the museum. And we did not even see all of that.

The grouping of the naked ceramic people always make me uncomfortable. So much so that I haven't even read any info about the artist or the name of the piece of anything. Next time maybe. Or not.

Not only did we not see everything in the new wing we never even got into the old one. There is endless exploring to do. But that can wait until another freezing Sunday afternoon. If you live in Madison take several hours and see some art here.

Gallery night...

Friday night was gallery night here in Madison. It is rare when we don't go. We headed out even though it was rainy and chilly. We made a point to get to hatcharthouse

I wanted to see Dave Watkins work. I would love to paint abstract art. October and November Hatch will be showcasing his work. He is an Milwaukee artist. I got to talk to Dave who has high energy and is really a fun (and talented) guy. For the show he was doing #fineartbombing. He had drawn quite a few small paintings and had them around the city. They are framed and attached with magnets. Eventually people steal them. I borrowed the one above so I could scan it. And we put it back in place over the weekend.

Here is more of his street art. He is someone to keep an eye on.

Art Therapy #11

This postcard happened because I want the new iPad. But I haven't really used the very, very old one all that much. So I thought I should apply myself. Plus the poor old iPad does not have much storage so I was also trying to delete apps. PhotoTropedelic is a keeper. You just open a photo you have taken and play with settings to add this kind of color and detail.

I spent a week drawing cacti for a client and for a Minted fabric challenge. So that was my postcard for that week. I enjoyed drawing these a lot. I really like black and white. But I will also do something with these in soft dirty pastels too.

Nancy has once again outdone herself. Her comment on this card was, "I don't know where this card came from... I can't even explain it." I am very taken with it. I love the bird and all the repeating circles. And the texture. Really love the texture.

Nancy says, "Continuing my efforts to motivate myself to write Get Lost through art. This little goddess is exactly the way I pictured her in my imagination (this rarely happens!).

From Get Lost: Chapter 13:    I opened another drawer. Inside was a tiny beautiful angel. Or maybe a goddess with wings. I picked it up carefully. The features were delicately carved: the colors painted in delicate strokes. I could see feathers on the wings. It fit perfectly in the palm of my hand.

The crow got added because it seemed right somehow for Lost Things and Wisdom.

Nancy said I could keep this card. I am going to post it somewhere in my office with space to write underneath. I am in lost mode. All kinds of things I cannot find. And our place is not that big! The first thing on the list will be my Youth. I lost that when the boy who bought the Miata drove off.

Art Therapy #10

I think I am out of order here on postcards. But I've done some desk cleaning and these have surfaced. These baby bears are a fabric design for Minted's fabric contest that ends today. Couldn't you see sweet bedding with these little bears on it?

In the same Fabric Frenzy Challenge I did 3 Man Cave fabric designs. This one comes with a coordinating check fabric.

A place I feel like I have been to, but know I have not. The sepia photo makes me think of my grandparent's day... of rustic cabins 'up north'. Lakes without vacation homes. Quiet. Where men went to hunt, and maybe some women too.

Background shot is the modern day lake front in sunny bright color. not far down our shore.

It appears Nancy and I are both trying to get back to watercolor again. Such a difficult medium. I am really looking forward to my watercolor class next month.