A Look at Art & Design

The Art Of Thinking

For the last couple of years I've been so busy working that there was little time available for thinking.  Thinking is pretty important to a graphic designer.  Coming up with concepts requires thought. Over the last couple of months I've found the time (or rather made the time) to think.  It's been beneficial.  I've also discovered that there are wasteful ways of thinking and productive ways of thinking.  In other words... today I find myself thinking about thinking.  Let me explain.

Several years I saw a comic which depicted the creative process of a designer.  The designer sits at his desk with his feet up and his hands behind his head.  His boss standing at the door asks "What are you doing?"  The designer replies "I'm designing."  Delightful! 

Coming up with new designs or problem solving is an everyday event in the life of a creative.  BUT... how truly creative (or focused) was my thinking?  How effective was my process? 

Things I've considered over the last few months have been new designs for Dragonfly, new branding, new paths, new travel plans, new adventures and how do to it all.  As I was going through my most recent mid-life crisis my best friend would ask me (repeatedly) ... "Lisa, what do you want?"  "What do you REALLY want."  Surprisingly this is a very hard question to answer.  I thought a lot about it.

I thought while I was laying in bed in the early morning.  I thought as I sat in my office chair gazing out the window.  I thought with a pencil in hand poised over a sketchbook.  I thought on planes, trains and in automobiles.  It was a lovely luxury but at some point you have to stop thinking and start doing... otherwise you are just spacing out. My preoccupation with thinking actually started to become debilitating and all the thinking wasn't really producing anything new.

There needs to be a better way.  Trying to combine the time for thinking and the time for doing, I had to find a new way.  For instance, I thought I wanted to start exercising again.  Why not ponder my thoughts while doing a few laps on my elliptical bike?  Why not think about that new design idea while walking the beach?  Eureka... killing two birds with one stone.

A recent visit to see my friend Balam Soto, reminds me of how productive a person can be.  Balam has probably accomplished more in his last 12 years than most of us have accomplished in our lifetime.  You can read his story here.  This guy spends a good amount of time thinking, but he actively applies those thoughts to the pursuit of his mission and therefore he gets a lot DONE.

There is a time and place for everything and balance is the key.  While I am a big advocate of thinking, there comes a point where you must move on those thoughts to accomplish your goals or like Rodin's The Thinker, you will become encased in stone.

Cool Stuff Happening in Old Lyme, CT

Press Release:  Florence Griswold Museum: 
Artist Builds Monumental Sculpture at Florence Griswold Museum Public Invited to Watch Process

North Carolina artist Patrick Dougherty has created his monumental sculptures all over the world, but has never worked in Connecticut until now. Beginning July 7, the public is invited to watch as Dougherty constructs one of his environmental installations on the grounds of the Florence Griswold Museum in Old Lyme, Connecticut. The artist will be on site from 9am to 5pm Monday through Friday. “The process in itself is fascinating,” states Amy Kurtz Lansing, Curator at the Florence Griswold Museum. “It’s rare that visitors get to watch an artist in action, especially on this scale.”

Inspired by the location, Dougherty weaves truckloads of freshly harvested native tree saplings into unique forms called "stickworks." The structures interact with the landscape, introducing notes of whimsy and visual energy. Some installations reach over 24 feet high while others have been woven into trees and mounted on buildings. Combining his carpentry skills with his love for nature, Dougherty began to learn more about primitive techniques of building and to experiment with tree saplings as construction material. No nails or fasteners hold his sculptures together—just the tension of the woven saplings and sticks. During the last two decades, he has built over 150 works throughout the United States, Europe and Asia. The Florence Griswold Museum's installation is sponsored by People's Bank.

By July 24 the structure will be complete. The artwork will be “unveiled” during the Old Lyme’s Midsummer Festival free concert on the lawn of the Museum. Visitors are encouraged to view the sculpture, tour the Museum’s galleries for free from 5 to 7pm and then enjoy a concert on the banks of the Lieutenant River featuring Dan Stevens and the Fiery Band.

On Wednesday, July 15 at 7pm Patrick Dougherty presents, Primitive Ways in an Accelerated World, an illustrated presentation about his experiences and techniques before touring and discussing his latest creation on the Museum’s property. Reservations are required. Call 860-434-5542 x 111 or register at www.FlorenceGriswoldMuseum.org. Lecture fee is $9

Book Review: Jackie Battenfield's The Artist's Guide

Jackie Battenfield's new book, The Artist's Guide - How To Make a Living Doing What You Love, is an excellent resource for visual artists at any stage of their career.  Battenfield writes in a professional and yet easy manner and provides invaluable information, inspiration and resources on making a successful career in the art world.

Battenfield's words do more than just dictate the "how to" and "why for" of the business end of art.  She speaks from the heart and addresses such topics as knowing when you are ready to circulate your art (the difference between nurturing your artistic soul and preparing for business), how to take charge of your professional life, your marketing kit, creating your own opportunities, Introducing your work, building relationships and maintaining your practice.

This former gallery director, artist and teacher has supported herself for over 20 years through sales of her art.  She and her husband (also an artist) have successfully paid the bills, purchased life insurance, funded their pension plans, took vacations and put their son through college.  Jackie attributes this success to diligent planning and pursuing opportunities.  She freely shares this wealth of experience and knowledge with her readers.

Inspiring quotes and advice from dozens of art world professionals are sprinkled throughout the pages providing a "reality check" for the reader.  Real life examples and step by step exercises will teach you how to self promote, network, build relationships, broaden your funding resources and explore a wide range of exhibition, commission and sales opportunities beyond the walls of the traditional commercial gallery.

I highly recommend this book as someone who works on a daily basis with artists and as a graphic designer seeking opportunities for myself. Battenfield's advice was helpful and smart.  The biggest praise I can give is that in reviewing the book I found a new resource which helped me help a client submit to a call for entry in NYC.  This book should be on every artists desk!!

Jackie Battenfield is represented in galleries throughout the United States and in over a thousand collections worldwide.  She teaches professional practices at Columbia University and for the Creative Capital Foundation.  Please visit her website at www.artistcareerguide.com where you will find information on purchasing the book, interviews, events and speaking engagements.

Why I love Tmobile - it’s customer service!

I’ve been a Tmobile customer for about 6 years.  While many of us complain about phone providers, I’m pretty satisfied with Tmobile (even more so now) and I thought I should write about what’s good.

As some of you know, I had an extreme dislike of my Blackberry. That device didn’t work for me at all and I hated that I had to hack and alter my routines to suit Blackberry technology. Additionally, my heart was set on a Nokia. The Nokia E75, in fact.   So in preparation for my new purchase I called Tmobile to ensure that the Nokia would be fully functional on their network.  In doing so, I was prompted by their latest promotion for a “Mobile Makeover.”  Goodness, how could I refuse?  I like saving money.

Customer service was exceptional on Tmobile’s part.  My first representative, Kathy, saved me $70/month.  That’s quite a “mobile makeover’, I must say. She offered me a variety of suggestions to help me reduce my bill and she answered the questions I had regarding the new phone despite the fact that Tmobile doesn’t carry the E75.  Kathy was helpful, professional, knowledgeable and fun. I wasn’t quite ready to switch over my plan during that first phone call because I still needed to purchase the phone. I returned a call to them two days later when I received the phone to take care of the details.

I will say the only gripe I have with Tmobile is their selection of phones. I understand that they are promoting their Tmobile Google phone but the alternate selections are poor and in some cases just down right weird and outdated.  Not everyone wants a Google phone. No matter, I can purchase what I desire from Amazon or Nokia, I just don’t quite understand why Tmobile wouldn’t offer richer alternatives that would cause me to spend my money with them instead.  (I was once told that it is because they make very little money off of their product line but does this mean that the product line should suck?)

When I called 2 days later to set up my phone and service the second representative I spoke with, Sheryl, was equally lovely and helpful.  She also provided several good suggestions.  We were able to set up my Nokia E75 in a matter of minutes.  After 6 years, I can say that I’ve always enjoyed excellent customer service.  I speak with actual people when I call for support.  They are always friendly and helpful.  My network is rarely problematic.

I am especially sensitive to good and bad support services and as a business owner it is one of my priorities to provide excellent customer support to my clients.  It is what sets successful businesses apart and in today’s harsh environment, we have to start reaching back to those forgotten details that offer added value and exceptional service to our clients.

The reason I couldn’t get along with my Blackberry was because it was inflexible to the way I needed to do business.  My Nokia E75 works the way I do and it’s a gorgeous sexy phone to boot.  If we apply this metaphor to the design and arts industry... in a market with a thousand talented designers, and a thousand exceptional artists, it is going to be the relationship between client and provider that will determine who and what is most successful.  In an environment where customer respect and honestly went by the wayside it’s now time to rethink the way we get things done, the value of what we are providing and how we nurture our relationships. It’s time to reinvent the problem areas where we fall short and strengthen the assets we have already established.  It’s something I’m working on.  How about you?

Remaking Paris by Nicolai Ouroussoff

Nicolai Ouroussoff is one of my favorite NYT writers.  Here in the architecture issue of The Magazine, Ouroussoff writes about President Sarkozy's urban development plans for a 21st century Paris. 

At a time when “infrastructure” has become a catchword of politicians around the world, these plans offer a glimpse of what a sustainable, more egalitarian city might look like and the role government might play in shaping one.

Image below provides an audio slideshow of Paris is Building.  NICE!

Art Review: Casey Shain - Local Colour, The Past Presented Today

Memories; Patina - etched, scratched, buffed and burnished; The color of music, the taste of blue. Tramp Art - Life’s scars and enduring lessons; The Grid - A sense of period; A Polaroid minute - One exquisite afternoon saved in a vintage candy box...

So begins the introduction to artist Casey Shain’s latest exhibition, Local Colour - The Past Presented Today, now on display at the Keyes Gallery, Stony Creek, Connecticut.  What better way to spend a lazy summer afternoon, then visiting the Keyes Gallery, on Thimble Island Road and taking in a little art after a day at the shore.

Keyes Gallery presented approximately 80 of the artist’s works.  The Sunday afternoon opening was well attended indeed and despite the gloom and doom of the economy red dots were going up on the walls.   

It isn’t painting, it’s not sculpture and it’s not typical New England landscape/still life gobbledegook.  Bits of parchment, silver foil, flowers and vintage photographs lovingly culled and affixed to barn board, shingles, and antique board. The work is etched, scratched, buffed and burnished and titles include such descriptions as Hoohoo's Honeymoon Harley, Left Behind, Roses are Green, American Beauty Goes and Thank you, Nut Lady.  All works are personal to the artist and each one has a story and historical message.  Shain’s mixed media works range in palette from the most subtle pastels to bold saturated color and the subject matter takes the visitor back to perhaps our parents or grandparents time.  For those of us past that 60 year old set... a reminiscence of youth.  Perhaps we too, have photographs and love letters tucked away in our attics but never will they be so kindly displayed as when artist Casey Shain brings history to the present and reminds the visitor of a time not so long ago.

Keyes Gallery
Willoughby Wallace Memorial Library
146 Thimble Islands Rd, Stony Creek, CT
Mon.-Thur. 10am-8pm, Fri. & Sat. 10am-5pm,
Sun. 1pm-4pm.
flickr.com/photos/artbycasey
artandcolour@yahoo.com
June 7th-July 2nd:
Local Colour: The Past Presented Today
Premier exhibit of award-winning CT artist Casey Shain.

The New High Line in NYC gets a very favorable review

Nicolai Ouroussoff reviews the much talked about High Line park in New York City. 

Opening for the park was June 9, 2009.  Ouroussoff's review makes me want to hop a train into the city, right now!

Herb and Dorothy

This is just wonderful and will make you smile. Herb and Dorothy tells the story of Herbert Vogel, a postal clerk, and Dorothy Vogel, a librarian, who managed to build one of the most important contemporary art collections in history with very modest means.

In the early 1960s, when very little attention was paid to Minimalist and Conceptual Art, Herb and Dorothy Vogel quietly began purchasing the works of unknown artists. Devoting all of Herb's salary to purchase art they liked, and living on Dorothy's paycheck alone, they continued collecting artworks guided by two rules: the piece had to be affordable, and it had to be small enough to fit in their one-bedroom Manhattan apartment. After 30 years of collecting Herb and Dorothy managed to collect over 2,000 pieces of artworks.

The documentary opens in New York City on June 5.
Visit www.herbanddorothy.com
Found via We Made This