Hanging Collages

Avoid methodology. If what you're doing is about technique, that's not art. 

(Kay WalkingStick)

canvas on fabric with mixed media, D. Jaouen

 This quote caught my attention--I think you need to know technique so you can forget about it. My temperamental sewing machine is actually giving me what I need these days. I'm wanting a tentative, random feel for the decorative stitching on these two pieces and my difficult machine is perfect for that. It is also managing the construction seams that need to be sturdy and provide strength.

©D. Jaouen

Did I mention I feel like I can sew however I want now, since I've been sewing for many years? Kind of like drawing however I please, scribbling if I want (so there). I'm sure you agree.

Next up, I'm going to start a new painting series soon. I'm excited! What are you up to these days?

Buried and Scrawled Treasure

Welcome to everybody who arrived by way of Seth's blog! I'm reposting a post about an arcane subject--

 Antique Graffiti

Here in our Virginia hotbed of Revolutionary and Civil War vestiges we often read about new archaeological finds. One restoration that caught my eye in view of my fascination with graffiti turns out to be called "Graffiti House" near Culpeper Virginia.

Someone's home was used as a field hospital for the Confederacy, later becoming a headquarters for Federal forces. Soldiers from both sides wrote and drew on the walls, creating a collection of over 200 individual pieces that covers the upstairs rooms from floor to ceiling.

Restorers are attempting to remove the paint and whitewash that subsequent owners used to try to cover up the markings. They also need to stabilize fragile plaster on the walls to preserve the installation of caricatures, messages, autographs and inside jokes.

More antique graffiti: did you know that 18th and 19th century boors messed up the Temple of Dendur?  You can visit it at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC. photo via Thiago Santos

Gladiator graffiti from the Colosseum in Rome. Sorry about the photo quality, it was very difficult to capture these images due to the low light in this area. Taken by my husband, as I was most probably overwhelmed with the energy lingering within the Colosseum walls, where so many humans and exotic animals lost their lives, all in the name of entertainment. At least the masses were fed with the spoils--rhinoceros, elephant and giraffe steaks were the order of the day.

To see more Roman graffiti, go here

 photo Marine Jaouen

Seal petroglyph near Sooke on Vancouver Island in British Columbia.

Daily Collage

Well, not quite a daily collage--my second in three days--because the air conditioning in my studio has decided to not get any cooler than 94 degrees every afternoon. So, I'm working on something else in the coolness downstairs. I hope I'll let you know about my new project in the coming months.

I'm having fun with my new inks, nibs and sumi brushes! And using the paper from this old book we got at an estate sale last year.

Happy Fourth!

Deborah Jaouen, acrylic ink and collage on antique paper ©2012

 
So far, it's been a great Fourth of July, with an early morning swim, freshly picked blackberries for breakfast, and collage and mark making in the studio. I was inspired to make something with a vaguely patriotic flavor and here it is!

Today's the day for potato salad. So it's off to lunch, with barbecued chicken, potato salad and watermelon granita. Hope you all have a wonderful day celebrating or just hanging out with family and friends.

it just has to be you

you can draw whatever you want. you can draw however you want. it doesn't have to make sense. it doesn't even have to be good. it just has to be you.  -- Jean-Michel Basquiat

This isn't a post about drawing. It's about inspiration and being authentic.

Entrance to Chelsea Highline

 Travel has a way of coaxing out your true self and helping you see the way ahead more clearly.

Up on the highline 

  A trip to New York is one of the best gifts of inspiration. 

Iconic lion at the New York Public Library

Plenty of cool marble for a bookish retreat on a sweltering day.

Makes me want to join the 15,000 and create an artist's book of my own.

I love imagining the beautiful, modern home where I would put this sculpture by Matt Wedel.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Having missed the Keats House when I was in Rome last fall, I was pleased to visit Shelley's Ghost at the New York Public Library. It was amazing to see the original manuscript of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein along with several of Shelley's manuscripts (complete with accomplished drawings),  and to be able to picture the extraordinary lives led by this circle of young friends. They must have been considered wildly scandalous in their day! And unbelievably tragic. Throughout it all, they continued to create. You can't get much more inspiring than that.

Working with What's on Hand

We have the best plums, and this year we actually got to gather some by putting a mini electric fence around the tree to keep the squirrels and a crafty raccoon out. The fence will soon be moved to our pear tree as the fruit ripens.

 Plum sorbet--all you do is cook the plums into a coulis (don't forget to strain it), and add cream. Freeze in a sorbet maker, or just stir every 45 minutes or so to break up the ice crystals. It's divine! Next time we'll use yogurt to make it a little healthier.

 Remember this bracelet I was trying to find here?

Here it is, newly revamped with buttons. I have more buttons, in case these fall off.

 A funky old lamp acquired years ago from a lady who had a LOT of funky old Arabian Nights lamps.

Somewhat more modern looking now.

A little house from my upcoming series.

Can you see the teabag paper?

Another teabag/mark making drawing. 

 I'm carving stamps out of champagne corks.

And liking this deep plum color flocked paper from the 70's.

Happy Father's Day, and a beautiful summer (or winter, depending on where you are) day to everyone!

Schiele Shilling Now?

 Shortly after joining Tumblr, I realized that an amazing, non mainstream artist I discovered a long time ago in college is not as secret now as it seemed to us back then. You may have guessed I'm talking about Egon Schiele, whose name, art and signature is now being used to hawk cosmetics.

Egon Schiele - 1912, Two Seated Female Nudes

The cosmetics company purports to take its 1910 Vienna seriously, even recreating make up from  Schiele's works--for a trade show. The logo (Schiele's signature) is a nice touch too. Could these people actually create anything? I doubt Egon was worrying about makeup colors during his short, turbulent life that produced some of the greatest drawings in art history.

"This exquisite line of cosmetics has been inspired by the great art of the famous Austrian Expressionist, Egon Schiele (1890-1918), who painted sensual beauties in WWI-era Austria. The quality of the Egon Schiele Cosmetics is exceptional, made with minerals beneficial for your skin. The colors have been carefully chosen and developed to perfectly compliment the lustrous hues of Schiele’s paintings and drawings. Application of Egon Schiele cosmetics will make you look and feel like the creation of a famous artist. “For the The Makeup Show NYC 2012 we have recreated painting by Schiele painted in 1912. Exactly 100 years ago. We carefully recreated all the colors and specifically the makeup of our model.”

I naively thought works of art had 95 years or so before falling into the public domain, where they can be used for crass and commercial ends by crass and commercial marketers. Your thoughts?