Rodrigvitz Style

Studio Friday, May's Studio Treat!

Treat yourself to something your heart desires, maybe some chocolate or flowers or new art supplies... a nice little something (no spending of a fortune involved). Celebrate yourself !!

Now how timely is this?!  I ordered these paints and supplies and they showed up this week.  Now I can justify these purchases by saying....I HAD to do this for Studio Friday!!  Oh, I really didn't need an excuse, I was excited to make more papers now that I have almost used up my entire stash from this class at ArtFest.

I fell in love with these Lumiere paints mixed with liquid water colors...

I used the papers to cover the wings on these little boxes and love the effect!  Now I am on the lookout for more of these alter boxes....anyone have any ideas??  I have searched and searched and am not finding any!

Go indulge yourself, your worth it!!

Studio Friday, 3 Wishes

 

Haven't participated in Studio Friday in a while.....this weeks topic;

If you had a magic wand what 3 creative issues would you solve? Maybe they are space issues that you are experiencing in your studio or issues about creating itself?

Let's see....what 3 wishes would I conjure up?  I've been thinking about this one....my first wish would be to have the rooftop space at my house become my FABULOUS studio, I dream about this often.  It would have high windows on 3 sides so all the light would pour in but I would still have wall space for lots of storage (which is something else I seriously lack) and a doors opening off looking over the garden.  There would be a spiral staircase up from the garden to access this space and french doors off my bedroom too.  There do you see it, doors opening up behind that rail and all those windows looking out into the tree like a tree house?  That's me smiling up there in my little retreat.

But of course to make that happen I would need to use my second wish on winning the lottery so I could build this.

My 3rd wish would be more time to be up there creating.  What do you wish for? 

Studio Friday: HOPE

What gives you hope? How do you keep it up? What or who guides you through the rough patches and makes you keep on going no matter what.

My family, no question.  I am surrounded at my work, that is my life outside of Rodrigvitz Style and art and blogging, with photo's.  If I am having a particularly tough day all I have to do is glance over at those smiling faces and places and I am smiling.  I look at photo's of the kiddo and her friends from college or the trips we've taken and realize "that's why I do this!"

This is Pt. Reyes and was taken on a trip that Mr Rodrigvitz Style and I took to the Dry Creek/Sonoma wine country.

All I need is a quiet ocean view with the family to make me feel alive and hopeful about my place in the world.

Studio Friday, Let's Face It

...whatever 'it' is. What have you been procrastinating about and dragging your heels to do? Does it concern your studio space like tidying up maybe or rearranging your desk or painting those walls in that wonderful new colour? Maybe you need to face something else like that awesome idea that has you sleepless at night because your inner critic has you chickening out planting doubts in your head? Or maybe it is a whole lot of unfinished projects, a letter that needs to be sent, that tool needs buying?

Procrastinate??  Me???  No, never...ha!

Maybe more like easily sidetracked.  What a timely topic this is!  I HAVE to start sewing bags...but I just HAVE to make more little trade's for ArtFest.  They are so much more fun.  Am I a broken record?  Have I not said this before and before that?

I even tried hiring someone to sew for me AGAIN...but that did not work out.  I love designing my bags and table top stuff, just wish I could twitch my nose and they would all assemble themselves.

I will get to them, probably AFTER ArtFest. 

So, have a great weekend.. and come on...get to it!

Studio Friday, QUOTES

"Quotes are so inspiring. They give us comfort in rough times or the push we need to overcome our obstacles or fears. They enlighten us and give clarity and "A-ha's". Some we keep around for a life time and let them guide us, others we forget about. We work with them maybe or pass them on to others."
~ Robyn

I find inspirational ideas and concepts in books I am reading.  One such book I go back to often is The Lakota Way by Joseph M. Marshall III.  This book contains wise words and inspirational thoughts to live by as told in short stories based on Marshall's Native American upbringing.

The introduction sets the tone of the book....Let the Wind Blow Through You.  He tells of a hurtful grade school memory.  When he shared the experience with his grandfather he was told; "You cannot forget what they said any more than you cannot feel the wind when it blows.  But if you let the wind blow through  you, you will take away its power to blow you down".

Each chapter covers a different core value that is important to the Lakota way of living; Humility, Perseverance, Respect, Honor, Love, Sacrifice, Truth, Bravery, Fortitude, Generosity, Wisdom and...

Compassion, Waunsilapi

Compassion tells the story of a great flood that wiped out the entire Lakota race save for one young women.  An eagle sacrificed his life of soaring greatness to become a two-legged and help re-populate her race.  After the telling of the Native American tale, Marshall shares a personal experience that ties in to the story.  He tells that compassion is often the only remedy when something assaluts our bodies and minds and causes our spirits to slip into darkness.

So, I'll pick a comfy spot to sit with this book as it offers a fresh outlook on spirituality and ethical living.

Studio Friday;The Perfect Art Book

This week's topic for Friday February 9th: The perfect art book!

"As I was talking about books so much lately... if there was the ideal book for you as an artist on studios and life as an artist what would be the absolute most important thing in your eyes for it to have in it? What kinds of topics, elements, images would you love to have in it? A few words from your favourite artist as well? What would inspire you, what would support you, give you courage? Would you like it to be a big book with tons of pages or a small book?"  Tine

This photo collage shows some places I draw inspiration from.  Color is always a HUGE inspiration and excitement for me, the room vignettes are images from Tricia Guild's Country Color book, I WANT to live in this house!!!!... my perfect inspirational art book would include these rich color's to drink in.

The knitting and tile mosaic's of  Kaffe Fassett are other examples of color and texture that I find so fulfilling.  I have pictures here are two of his garden inspired mosaic works.

Imogen Cunningham and Georgia O'Keefe are two of my favorite, inspirational women artists and would have to be included in my art book.  We should all be fortunate enough to be vital, working, creative forces for as many decades as these women were.

Imogen Cunningham's 'After Ninety'  was published just months before she passed away at 93 as a testament to the wisdom, courage, dignity and spirit of old age. I love the stooped, expressive line drawings of her in the inside covers and the quote that when asked her religion when filling out the hospital form three days before she died she raised herself up and said "Haven't chosen one yet!"

Georgia O'Keefe is still my number one inspirational artist.  Her sensual flower paintings as well as her early NM paintings are timeless in their femine power.  I have been fortunate to visit the Santa Fe museum that is dedicated only to her; to be able to sit quietly and take in the power of her work.

These would be a few of the elements of my perfect art book...it would definitely need to be a BIG coffee table book!

Studio Friday; ARTISTS!

This weeks topic comes to us from Janet...

"I love to discover new artists and often find them through other peoples mentions of them. So, introduce us, in words and/or pictures, to an artist, craftsperson, or writer you admire and that we might not have heard of before (i.e. not a famous one). What do you like about their work? How does it inspire your own work?"

~ Janet

I have a great LOVE of tile mosaic.  I have seen the work of a great many artists and have done quite a bit myself.  I was first introduced to the incredible mosaic tile sculpture work of Niki St Phalle a few years ago.  She is famous...but not widely known so I believe she fits the criteria. She created huge, whimsical, wonderful tile mosaic sculptures; you can read all about her amazing life and untimely death caused by her craft yourself in the link provided....I will supply the visual treat from an installation that is currently in Atlanta at the Botanical Gardens. (I was going to supply a link to the Botanical Gardens but it's not working!)  My friend Susan was fortunate enough to view this and the photo's are hers.

ENJOY!!

Detail of Large Yelling Man Totem and Large Bull Totem

The Skull

An eye in the Skull and Susan and Tanya in the Skull.

Studio Friday; TRAVELS

This week's topic for Studio Friday January 12th suggested by Hanne: TRAVELS!

"Travelling is a wonderful possibility to open for new inspiration and ideas. I´ll say it´s actually one of the greatest advantages to travelling!

A lot of new impressions and probably also new materials to bring home for future artwork. Maybe new friends - who knows? Anyway, I thought it could be very interesting to know where other bloggers travel. And if you don´t travel right now because of limited econonomy or other restrictions - I think we always travell in our mind: dreaming of somewhere in the countryside - or maybe a big city loaded with museums, galleries and flea markeds for new "input" for our studios and art."

~ Hanne

I have written a few posts this past couple of weeks about our last wonderful, relaxing trip to Isla Mujeres but would love to write some more as it was so inspirational!  It pushed me to create some work that has been gelling since a trip last year to Puerto Vallarta.  In Puerto Vallarta I visited the local, beautiful Catholic church and purchased several of these little cards of saints and virgins.

These are two of them, Virgen del Perpetuo Socorro (does she look familiar??) and Virgen de Talpa.  I had no idea there were so many!....I know of the Virgen de Guadalupe, but not ALL the others. (hey I'm just a little jewish girl that happened to marry a Catholic guy!)  Isla Mujeres, the Island of Women has a rich history surrounding the Goddess Ixchel which I did a little alter piece about, made up a story about her.  Then I just started making up more and more Virgens.....the Virgen del Mar, the Virgen de las Mariposas (not quite finished)

and the Virgen del Desirto (typepad keeps cutting off images!)....at any rate, I have lots more of these in me just itchin' to get out!

Does this rock look like an iguana?  I thought so.  The ONLY reason I won't give up my day job is so I have every opportunity to travel!  Travel simply feeds my soul and my creativity. 

Studio Friday; PROUD ARTIST OF....

Very fitting subject for the new year.  I have posted images of some older work that I have not done in a while but am inspired to begin creating again.  They are small mixed media brooches nested in embellished cigar boxes. I want to incorporate this type of collage work with some journaling of which I have found so inspiring on various blogs I have visited.    I enjoy the challenge of creating a product that people find useful in my oilcloth bags and table top creations but feel the need for more intimate creative expression again. 

So....here's to a New Year of inspired creativity for all!! 

Studio Friday; PURELY WHITE

Studio Friday, Purely White! Great idea, for even if you are not in a part of the world where it gets cold it just seems right to conjure up snow, frosty, twinkly white this time of year.  This corner of my studio contains a glass case that holds some of my shell collection.  I've been collecting shells since I was in 1st grade and this case holds my very special ones.  I selected some beautiful white ones to display for this photo, rare white cowries, a very delicate heart mollusk, sea corals and fans.  A vase by a favorite clay artist and a soy candle by Kim at Magic Fairy Candles sits on the white console behind.  Dip the lovely wooden spoon (comes with the candle) into the candle wax and use it as a soothing lotion, my family is absolutely addicted to this treat.