photo friday 5-16

new garden in the mystic land of peacocks

In the neighborhood I grew up in there was an old, abandoned lot. Peacocks roamed there. Sometimes I'd walk over and try to peer inside. It was wonderful fuel for a child's imagination.

Now that land is being transformed into a community garden, and they could use some support. Here's the info. 

"

Coming soon to Downtown Orlando...

The Coytown Community Garden

This summer, Orlando’s newest and biggest community garden will be opening its gates to local residents. In partnership with Simple Living Institute and the City of Orlando, neighborhood residents are coordinating efforts to establish a (new) green space.

The Coytown Community Garden will serve as a place for families and individuals to gather, learn and grow, by participating in sustainable, local food production. The garden site is located on former Navy Base property that is being converted into the new Orlando Mountain Bike Park. The transformation of this land is being facilitated entirely by volunteers, grants and donations. 

We are currently seeking the help of the local community in acquiring the funds, materials and tools needed to complete the garden startup project. With your help, our 50+ gardeners and volunteers can break ground on Orlando’s biggest community garden.

 We are asking local residents and businesses to support our efforts by making a donation to this garden startup project by visiting our website: www.coytowngarden.com

We would also be happy to also accept a donation of materials or tools (new or recycled) for the garden. We are in need of...

Lumber
Screws and various hardware
PVC pipe, fittings, and glue
Hoses, hose racks, nozzles, and spigots
Gardening tools (shovels, rakes, trowels, pitchforks, hand pruners, wheelbarrow)
Padlock and keys
Paint

If you wish to donate materials, or pay by a method other than Paypal, please email: Coytown@me.com"

beautiful line - spoiler enhanced!

(If you're wanting to avoid story spoilers for the Portal 2 video game, you'll want to avoid this entry. Otherwise read on.)

The Portal series is far from the first (in games, in sci-fi, in pop culture or story) to deal with existence and humanity through the a.i. lens. Such elements are natural to the game's story and to the genre. It's a great spring board for thought. It's also a fun game.

I spent an evening last month channeling some such moodier thoughts and working with ink. 

Some things I was pondering at the time;

How might one adapt to chosen or forced isolation? 

Without opportunity to practice constructive socialization, how might an individual's personality manifest? 

And so forth.

Enough chatter, here's the piece.

art censorship issue

This story over at 

http://eyeteeth.blogspot.com/

really grabbed me.

repair day

The picture says it all. Oh, and I like cats.

some new stuff

The first one was a gift.

inspiration on Cezanne's day

new art at the Downtown Orlando Library

Museum of Modern Art photo friday

Here's what inspired me;  three artists that impacted me at pivotal times in my life + studies. 

Very happy to see Brancusi on my MOMA visit.

interesting mirror frames on Frida

(It's a travesty I still haven't seen the movie they did about her.)

Fur Cup! Possibly what sparked my interest in Art History in my tween years

As you can see, museums are much more 

than a fun diversion for me.

For me, seeing some of this stuff might be 

similar to when people meet celebrities. 

I was very happy.

sneak peek before the show

 This will be in the 1st Thursday show @ OMA along with the two other totes. 

I painted it. 

I was sitting outside the very trendy Stardust in Orlando, when I first doodled this. 

The totes are made of recycled canvas. I can make more of these. It was fun! I might make myself one at some point. 

belated update -- a rare wednesday treat

Some out-the-hotel-window photography

in New York City

became the story of the man in blu on the roof.

(blu man, we are not so different)

Fin.

I will certainly have some (still-to-be-determined) content (photos ?) friday.

Have a great day!

must-have-monday no. 2

Fantastic! Easy Must-Have-Monday today!

I saw it. I wanted it. The very essence of Must-Have. What more is there?

 

 

Check out the designer, Michiel Schuuran’s website for more.

 

photo friday no. 3

 

Today I am sharing a little still life photo I took some time ago.

 

I like the combination of elements, shapes created by the negative space, etc. 

photo friday no. 2

I'm in a silly mood. Inspiration can be funny too. Llama llama!

find something to motivate you

This is a space for inspiration.

The original idea today was to talk about my efforts on Etsy and my thoughts on starting out + forming a cohesive line.

But really my designs are about botanicals. And a large part of my inspiration comes from nature. 

Art and originality are synonymous for many people.

Even without reviewing Dutch vanitas, impressionist paintings, or the works of Georgia O’Keefe it isn’t much of a surprise: Nature (in my opinion), is the original muse!


For a time I was a bit of a closet horticultural nerd. After all, who isn't inspired by nature? Where’s the originality in that? 

Still, I can't help it. I love, love, love plants! I adore the studied illustrations from the 18th + 19th centuries. I marvel at all manner textiles from the grandiose woven tapestries in the Musee du Louvre to the mod prints at Marimekko -- and objects d'arte or even the simple vintage tea cup; so many of these infused with the beauty of nature!

Anything can motivate. 
I happen to turn to botanicals.

Here’s what I’ve done with my inspiration on a small scale.

   

  

You can find something to motivate you too.

 And don’t over think it like I do, just enjoy it!

photo friday

Ice burgs on Lake Michigan February 2010

It's such a hot hot summer everywhere, I thought we could use some cool. 

I hope this inspires + refreshes you.

sneak peak at the next project

Photo: Art+Science BFF for upcoming project

another 'doodle,' O Pop part of art-education event

In last night's post I displayed one of my 'doodles' and stated I would be recreating it soon. 

I failed to display the other two images. The three will be re-created as original pieces each on a tote bag I will be donating --for an event  promoting art in Orlando-area elementary schools. 

The event is UCF Art Alumni Society's art supply drive: Knightro's Creative Kits

I can't seem to get away from these art-supply drives. I was involved in Seed's this past spring. It's safe to say; art education is a big deal for me.

I believe art is a positive force to be reckoned with: it changes the world and shapes minds.

But I am still curious as to people's feelings on art stylization. (See my last post.) I have my own methods but I do want to know what people walk away with when they see certain things.

doodle day - inspiration and curiosities

This sketch was inspired wandering around Fresno CA this past spring.  It is a simple study, but I've been given a chance to recreate it for an upcoming project. It has me thinking. . .

. . .what is more dynamic to viewers; the glossy/graphic design style (lots more @ deviantart.com)? 

Or the sketchy style of a study? 

Or maybe something else, equally compelling?

(Of course this is highly subjective, but I always love to hear how people feel about art!)

I see purpose & value in both, but I wonder how other people feel about these styles?  And most importantly why it has a specific resonance.

That's my doodle for the day! 

happy father's day

Here's the card I made for my dad this year. 

It was a fun, fluid piece to make.

 I love when the medium tells me what to do. In this case, it pushed me past making an 'Hallmark'-esk card which was my springboard at first (and I don't think I would have been as happy with).

I also like that my surroundings seep into what I make without my prior consent. (I was listening to synth-pop, can you tell?)

Have a good Father's Day all you online fathers! 

Don't forget to visit my dad over at http://joekorte.blogspot.com/

misc.

I've been playing with the layout here. I love the new options!
Down to business.


Duncan has a heart murmur. I am  was a bit anxious today. (I did some research on echocardiography, so now I know what to expect). I will be taking him in to see a cardiologist. He has no idea. He won't be very happy.


What no art update? Well nothing to show ahora, right NOW . . . but I am working on it. That and a personal project for a friend. Hang in there, I will try to make it worth your while!


Lastly, I know you are out there, my few readers. And it thrills me! I started doing this blog with an uncertainty that it might ever be stumbled upon in the inter-void. I think it is natural when starting something new to occasionally be a bit discouraged (as was the case for me: "ho-hum, no one wants to read that anyway. . ." etc). 
It is so pointless to get discouraged! Humanity would never have gotten out of bed in the first place if we balked at every discouragement. 

Losing confidence seems like losing your keys; you need to retrace your steps and find where you last felt confident and inspired. I urge you to fight your own self-doubts; you have everything to gain!


 Thank you readers, for visiting my little blog -- I hope you have a fantastic day!




= Duncan! Wish him luck!!