Thoughts in the USA

(Also published on "Unchain My Art")

I am notorious for my obsessive photo-taking while on vacation (and any other time), and loyal to my fame I took dozens of photos in Portugal. OK, more like a dozen hundred of them, and then some. And maybe a bit more.

Don't give me this look! . . .

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Labels: Creativity of Others, Photohgraphy, Time Out, Vacation

# posted by Nava @ 6:22 PM 0 comments

Labels: Art, Creativity of Others, Wow

# posted by Nava @ 4:53 PM 0 comments

Labels: Art, Awards, Creativity of Others, Damn Technology, It's All About Me, Ode to other blogs

# posted by Nava @ 3:59 AM 5 comments

Sent by Myrna (thank you!!!) and had to be shared with the world.

So - what are you getting for the holidays?

Labels: Creativity of Others, Damn Technology, Family, Faux Pas, Holidays, Meta Bloggin', Ouch, People

# posted by Nava @ 5:56 PM 5 comments

It seems that everyone is running around in frenzy these days. The parking lots are full of killer drivers, stores are packed people on gift quests, family visits are in the horizon - and there's an edginess in the air, a higher susception to cranky sprees, and - needless to say - this cheery spirit is getting to us all.

So, I figured that as a service to the public, I'd remind y'all (and us'all) of these simple rules of survival.

The first one was sent to me by David (thanks!). I found the second one and added it for balance, harmony, contrast - name your favorite design relationship...

Labels: Creativity of Others, Culture, Damn Technology, Family, Holidays, Meta Bloggin', People, Profoundness

# posted by Nava @ 12:42 PM 5 comments

Labels: Creativity of Others, Culture, Damn Technology, Meta Bloggin'

# posted by Nava @ 12:37 PM 0 comments

In between preparations for our next upcoming watercolor show (opens this Saturday!), I went to a demo on Monday, at the other organization I belong to. Not the watercolor-only, but one that's open for all media (and whose shows have been quite good to me :-)

They hold a monthly meeting with a demonstrator (usually) or a speaker (rarely, as the attention span of artists is a bit... um... hey, look! blue car!).

This month, it was a talented and truly sweet artist, named Yoju . She was showing us the art of Suminagashi, which translates to 'Spilled Ink', and is a Japanese take on the Italian marbling technique. Her English wasn't the best - but it didn't matter. At all. She started creating some cool patterns by dripping ink into water mixed with a gelling agent, played the inks with brushes and tooth picks and then laid a sheet of rice paper on top of the water, cleaned around the edges, pulled it up - and we all WOWed appreciatively at the result. The outcome was incredibly beautiful: a flowing pattern of blacks and white, sensuous lines, curvaceous shapes - we all chanted harmoniously with the known "Ohh, if I could do that!".

And as we were standing around with sheer admiration, she took that stuning masterpiece, crumpled the paper and tossed it to the garbage can, as nonchalant as can be.

A gasp passed across the room.

"Ah, this? this no good enough. This just demo" she said joyously and proceeded to create another not-good-enough pattern. Only this time, well prepared protests from a couple of women have prevented her from destroying that second piece. She gave us a "whatever" look and agreed to put it on the table rather that get rid of it.

And then came the best part of the evening!

See, Yoju didn't just show us what she can do. She came bearing a lot materials for us to play with, set four little bathtubs filled with the magic solution, and motioned that it's time for us to have a go at it. Inks, brushes, rice paper - it was all ours to experiment with.

And experiment we did! Ever seen a bunch of kindergarten kids doing finger painting?

Well, that's not as half the fun that went on there...

I did one piece, then waited garciouly for the lines to dwindle and went for a second. VallieM just kept going - I think she stopped at three just because Yoju had to go home... "It's fun!" she announced to LimaB and me who were thoroughly enjoying watching her.

I returned home extatic, burst through the door and showed The JohnnyB my breathtakingly straight-to-The-New-York-MOMA pieces of art.

"Amazing, no?", I hinted the need for feedback.

"Nope", was the answer.

Did I mention the Minnesotan ultra-honest breed he's coming from?

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Labels: Art, ArtPact, Creativity of Others, Wonders of The JohnnyB

# posted by Nava @ 1:04 PM 5 comments

Art critique, anyone?

Beware - this is smothered with the F word, and yet I couldn't resist posting it . If you wanna read more about this comedian and whom he is mocking - it's right here.

Labels: Art, Creativity of Others, Languages, Meta Bloggin'

# posted by Nava @ 1:50 AM 1 comments

Yesterday was the time for my annual eye doctor appointment, which last year sent me into a frenzy of profound contemplation.

It's not a bad appointment really. You venture through a variety of machines and tests, from the one air puff tonometer that rudely spits air in your eye, through the poetic chanting of letters and numbers, to the spatial vision test which is pretty much a computer game in which I always score high.

Among all that joy, I opted for the eye scan that replaces the dilation. You pay more, but at least you do not become a squinting owl for hours after the visit to the doctor's office.

While the doctor was examining my eyes, in between deep discussion whether I can see the HZJUYT better now - or now, I mentioned to her how scary the results of the eye scan always look.

She smiled [JIHUTES], claiming that some people actually ask her to email them the images, as they are so cool.

"Oh, they are cool, [JKYTZW]", I clarified, "they just seem, um, [POHTREU], y'know, scary".

And within the next minute, I had mine in my inbox.

It's not an up-to-date one, as this time I kept blinking and my eyelashes were commemorated all over the place.

So, that what my left eye looked like 2 years ago, when I wasn't such a blinker.

Makes a nice abstract, don't you think?

Labels: Creativity of Others, Damn Technology, Wow

# posted by Nava @ 2:18 AM 3 comments

Pat (of Single For A Reason blog) has come up with a challenge to see what w'all can do with a discarded - yet very photogenic - paper bag. As she put it, "One man's trash is another man's treasure type of thing".

Since my creative juices are a bit on the murky side these days, and I am amongst the finalists in the Olympic sport of the procrastination (I persoanlly think I deserve the gold medal!), I decided to act fast while it was still hot and fresh from the email.

So, here is my humble attempt at it.



The first thing that came into my mind when I saw this bag was a cheery Smurf making a fashion statement.

I think it's titled 'The Non-Conformist'.

Labels: Art, Creativity of Others, Damn Technology, Ode to other blogs

# posted by Nava @ 1:06 PM 8 comments

, and who is also blessed with a husband who's sick and tired of going to every art show), has proposed to me to become her 'Art Wife'.

Choked with emotions, I accepted.

And so, we went to the city.

Luckily, I'm a member of the De Young, which paid off for this exhibit, as apparently this exhibit is considered to be a special one, which means you pay to see it (Aha! but not if you're a member!). Plus, it's timed! Like, you get a little sticker that entitles you to go in, and it has a time stamp that tells you you have to get in there by 1pm (in our case).

So, you go to the end of the v-e--r---y l----o-------n--------g line of anticipating people, and wait to be let in. I personally hated this, and got more agitated once got close to the entrance and realized that if we wish to have the headset that enlightens you about the exhibit, you need to take out more dollars and give them to the nice ladies there (a total rip-off, if you ask me). Sicne I did all the driivng up and back, DiploK treated me to a headset and in we went, with me muttering all kinds of things that were as far as can be from positive attitude. Yup, you betcha I was cranky by all this hype.

...until we got to the first room.

The exhibit is spread over 11 rooms (galleries, as they call it), each has a separate body of work, a different feel and mood. The rooms are dark and only the glasswork is lit, which adds a very impressive effect. Yes, there was a lot of the ultra-colorful stuff that I was expecting and am not crazy about, but some of the galleries have just left me speechless with awe. Like the absolutely stunning glass pieces inspired by Navajo blankets and baskets, or the snowy feel of Finland, so elegantly done with countless tall thin bluish-purple glass thingies installed on top of trees with peeling bark, looking like a Hannukia on steroids. Or the huge water-lily-like sculptures. Or the immense bowls.

I was impressed beyond words. What a misjudgment it was to think Chihuly was just about gaudy flashy art. Apparently, he has another side, perhaps less-known, and I loved his more limited-palette works, especially the Navajo-inspired ones.

For reasons I cannot fathom, it was actually allowed to take photos (I still cannot believe it!), so I can shared some of it.

WackieM mentioned to me today that if you've never tried glass-blowing, you cannot quite appreciate the mastery that Chihuly has achieved in his work. So, novices like me just look at some of his work and go "Oh, that's big. OK". But - it's not that obvious, so it seems. Thinking of it, I realized it's a bit like how you look at a painting. So many times I heard the comment "Ohhh, look at that painting - look at all those details!", which is likely to be said by most people who do not paint or draw. But those of us who do, tend to stop at their tracks at the sight of a very minimal artwork with very few details, admire it forever and sigh "Ah, if I could only do that! Just suggest rather than feed all the information to the viewer with a silver spoon".

And maybe that's why I lean more towards his clean-lined work, rather than all the spiky thorny swirly multicolored look-at-me pieces.

As DiploK and I were having lunch, trying to digest all the wonders that we've seen, we mentioned the pieces that were for sale at the gift shop. There were a couple of glorious bowls by Chihuly, for the symbolic price of several thousands dollars (well, the dollar did go down, so if you think if foreign currency, maybe it's not so pricy...). I was drooling about those, when DiploK's imagination started to get into the fast-forward mode.

Labels: Art, Creativity of Others, Time Out, Wow

# posted by Nava @ 4:53 PM 3 comments

1. Pick FIVE blogs that you consider deserve this award for their creativity, design, interesting material, and also for contributing to the blogging community, no matter what language.


2. Each award has to have the name of the author and also a link to his or her blog to be visited by everyone.


3. Each award winner has to show the award and put the name and link to the blog that has given her or him the award itself.
   
4. Award-winner and the one who has given the prize have to show the link of “Arte y Pico” blog, so everyone will know the origin of this award which is here: Arte y Pico.

To make my life easier, I am going to take this award literally, and go for blogs of visual artists.

Now, opening the five envelops... (Only five??) here we go [drumroll]:

Creativity Journey: Myrna Wacknov, a great artist, teacher and friend, who's becoming more and more famous with her art blog, being a true inspiration to many. Myrna, a relentless experimenter and a curious soul, is constantly sharing her new findings, ideas, successes and even what she calls failures (of course we would kill to paint like her failures!), garnished by weekly and monthly challenges to keep you painting and drawing. Oh, and - don't ever let her catch you tracing a photo!!

Sandy Maudlin's Art Journey: As opposed to Myrna, I have never met Sandy, but I feel like I know her. Another wonderfully prolific artist, she is all over the place with so many styles and subject matters, sharing her art and insights.

Nathalie With An H's confessional: A great blog I discovered very recently. Nathalie is an awesome photographer, whose black and white photography seems to be full of color - as does her writing.

Paintings by Holly Van Hart: an emerging blogger, Holly's blog shows her bold style and uniquely designed compositions, whether it is her intriguing abstracts or her current favorite subject: Rodin sculptures.

Watercolors And words: The art blog of Rhonda Carpenter, who is sharing her art, from figure drawing (which almost got her in trouble, as they are - how shall I put it gently - nude! Ahhhh!! HELP!!... C'mon people - this is art. Grow up already!!) to experimental watercolors, with her husband's great photos sprinkled in between. It's a fun blog.

OK, you know what, I'm going to follow the footsteps of Blueberry and expand the award to six blogs (hey, we can share!).

On Painting: another blog I discovered lately, shared by Bill Jones and Lisa Towers, who combine witty writing, laughter and venting with painting.

And now, dear awarded artists, go pay it forward.

Labels: Art, Creativity of Others, It's All About Me, Major Achievements, Ode to other blogs

# posted by Nava @ 12:10 AM 1 comments

Last week, the temperatures were peaking at 100. Then it got nice and cozy, very spring-like. And today, winter is back. Gray skies, chilly - and even rain. Feels like California got into some crazy time machine that got broken.

But yesterday, before this sudden winter, my sister and I managed to go and visit the fair Filoli Center, with its flowers and greenery and sculpted gardens and all.

The roses were in blossom, generously spreading their perfume, the lavender pitched in the aromatic festival with its usual stunning purpleness, joined by other flowers in varying shades of purple and orange (whoever designs the gardens there has an exquisite sense of color!), and many more blossoms whose names I shall never know.

It really was lovely; a nice break from the shopping sprees we got into (in my defense: I'm still sick and thus cannot really drive around; the paradox is that standing for hours in stores does not make me feel any better... on the contrary).

We strolled through the beauty, enjoying the sights, smells and the fact that we do not need to water all these plants.

Eventually we went into the house (which is quite impressive if you are one of those fancy-house lovers, with chandeliers and carpets and heavy furniture and window treatments and a drawing room and a refectory and the China from which they used ot drink tea and a living room and another living room and - well, y'know).

My sister went to visit the rest room, and while waiting for her, I examined the artwork on the nearby wall. Two big paintings of sailing ships hung very high above the extra-high doors, and in between them a third piece that looked impressively three-dimensional. A close look revealed that it really was 3D, with plastic sails glued onto the canvas... I gazed at the paintings and the 3D critter with sheer boredom, filled with thoughts of how much I dislike this kind of art, when the docent approached me.

She smiled at me - and immediately frowned at my sister's big black purse which was in the carpet.

"Oh, I thought it was a cat!", she realized her mistake.

"Nope, it isn't", I assured her.

"So", she turned to me, wearing back her smile, "I see you are admiring the details in these pictures?".

For a moment there, I contemplated giving her a lecture about details having nothing to do with quality of art, about going beyond the obvious and reaching higher for expressiveness, about the elements of design being sacrified so often in favor of mediocre art - - -

But instead, I just smiled and said with my sweetest voice: "Oh yes".

Because sometimes, it's just easier.

Labels: Art, Creativity of Others, People, Time Out

# posted by Nava @ 12:02 AM 4 comments

I am not painting these days. Haven't painted for several weeks before we went on the trip to Utah and Arizona, haven't really painted since we came back.

I'm busy and distracted. My one and only sister is coming to visit us for a month (she's landed in New York today for 5 days on the East Coast, and will arrive to our house on Monday), and it got us in a frenzy of house improvement, or at least converting the house from a pigsty (lot of neglect in the past year) to a welcoming cozy home - not just for her, but mainly for us.

And yet - I do have the urge to dip a brush into some paint and go for it. And am in the eternal catch 22: I have so many images I want to work on that I cannot choose any of them. Plus, after not painting for a while, you kinda get into regression, and need to start two steps behind (at least two, that is). Armed with all these lame excuses - no wonder I haven't visited my studio for quite a while.

In the last couple of days I've been browsing through Rhonda Carpenter's

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Labels: Art, ArtPact, Creativity of Others, Ode to other blogs, Time Out

# posted by Nava @ 8:24 PM 2 comments

Sent to me by Yev - Thanks!

Labels: Art, Creativity of Others, Damn Technology, Meta Bloggin', Nature, WTF?

# posted by Nava @ 12:17 AM 1 comments

Now it's time to get back to the suburban life, and try to digest all that we've seen. More details to come, I think.

Labels: Creativity of Others, Nature, Photohgraphy, Vacation

# posted by Nava @ 2:43 PM 8 comments

It's past 1am, and we are flying in the morning to our long anticipated vacation in some of the national parks. Zion, Bryce, Antelope and the Grand Canyon are awaiting us, and I am beyond excited to see all that glory.

The photo on the left, of Bryce Canyon (courtesy of the beautiful Landscape Wallpapers Blog) has been my laptop wallpaper for several weeks. Now it's finally time to go and see the magic in person.

I am finally packed (packing is one of my most hateful activities, even more so when needing to pack shorts with gloves, sandals with a warm scarf, as the weather website tells us it's gonna be hot during the day - up to 31 Celsius (as in 87 Fahrenheit) and damn cold at night, all the way down to minus one Celsius (30 F).

This vacation was very close to getting canceled due to work pressure, but The JohnnyB made some truly heroic efforts over the past two weeks, worked his butt off day and night (weekends included, needless to say) and managed to enable this vacation and have it cut by only one day. A major achievement on his account, and I am insanely grateful! Both The JohnnyB and I are in desperate need for some time off, and the desert seems to be the ultimate place to wind down. A birthday at Zion National Park - now, that's a cool way to celebrate!

Photos, stories and adventures to follow - when we get back. Until then, please blog safely.

Labels: Birthday, Creativity of Others, Damn Technology, It's All About Me, Ode to other blogs, Vacation

# posted by Nava @ 1:12 AM 7 comments

Labels: Creativity of Others, Joke, Meta Bloggin'

# posted by Nava @ 9:08 PM 1 comments

This is so incredibly cool!!!

"So, what are you bragging about!?", you ask. "It's not like you won an award or even got accepted!".

True, very true. I am still wading in shallow water and muck with the unwashed masses, making my first steps in the art world, one tiny step at a time.

And yet - I am lucky to have both Mike and WackieM as great teachers and mentors, which kinda has some braggin' value. I can bask in their glory, I can hope that - along with their teaching - some of their mastery rubbed off on me, and I can just be very happy for them, 'cause they both deserve to be recognized.

But there's another thing: The JohnnyB and I now get to wallow in the glee and piousness that comes with the good ole "Told ya so!" - which is always an undeniable fun.

Y'see, just before the annual show of our organization in October 2007, WackieM was deciding between two paintings, and I was one of those whose she asked for. Both The JohnnyB and I unanimously voted for the one that had striking novelty and uniqueness in its composition and the idea behind it, as well as a powerful emotional effect in its honesty and vulnerability. WackieM decided to go along with that painting - and indeed, as you may recall, got the First Place Award, together with an unprecedented consensus and countless comments about how much it's touched everyone who saw it. The painting also won the first place in the Popular Choice vote. (I can now say how relieved I was that it got awarded; when you give advice and it turns out sour, well, I have a sensitive conscience).

Realizing this painting has something very special about it, she decided to give it a try at AWS. . .

. . .CONGRATULATIONS, WackieM!!!

Labels: Art, Creativity of Others, Major Achievements, Ode to other blogs, Wow

# posted by Nava @ 7:08 PM 0 comments