Museless Musings

Rise to Raise: start to finish

2012-03-02T10:25:00.001-06:00

Talking with a friend about the shift in art-making, I stumbled across a solution to the uneasiness of *having ideas* (see previous post). It was so simple: make felt paintings! I get the same rush of exploration as painting, the same discovery of improvising and none of the wasted paint. Here's my work-in-progress photos from the piece that came next, "Rise to Raise".

Started off on it's side. Laid out in a 12" x 12" (Masking tape on craft felt is NOT a good idea, btw.)

You can see the added 3D elements. 3 felt balls on the left & 9 small glass marbles on the right.

Tape is removed, with much grief. More color added.

First attempt adding yarn lines (lace weight merino). I machine felted at this point to secure & smooth.

"Rise to Raise", 12" x 12", wool & glass
Shana Kohnstamm ©2012

Wet-felted and stretched over a deep frame. Finished!

Side -"Rise to Raise", 12" x 12", wool & glass
Shana Kohnstamm ©2012

Detail - "Rise to Raise", 12" x 12", wool & glass
Shana Kohnstamm ©2012

It's available here on Etsy.

Smacked in the brain

2012-02-25T12:00:00.001-06:00

When I wrote this post, From brush to needle, back in August 2011 I knew felting was starting to become a new means of visual communication for me. Unlike most of my infatuations which engulf me completely at the beginning and dry up after I spend some money on the thing (ask my dusty ukulele), I entered the felting arena deliberately and with the tiniest of baby steps. Keeping within my measly art supply budget 90% of the time, wool samplers, work surfaces, tools, organizational bins, and the like have slowly eased paints, brushes and easels into closets.

And something very perplexing is happening to my creative mind these days and nights...

I am getting ideas.

Not whispers or hints of phantasmic art that might (with blood, sweat and tears) shift into reality, but full-fledged, fully-formed finished felted structures. You might think that's how artists are supposed to operate via Inspiration and that certainly IS the fantasy, myth, ideal, etc. It's how fiction portrays the weary, often unstable and compulsive artist, anyhow, though I've never met one of those afflicted souls myself.

However, I direct you to the title of my blog: Museless Musings. Under no delusion of otherworldly or divine intervention, I have constructed my art by pushing, pulling, shoving, working, fucking up, covering up, fixing up layers upon layers upon layers of revealing and revealed images.

And now, I repeat: I am getting real concrete ideas. I write them down, scribble them on bits of paper if I can't find my sketchbook (which have hosted far more grocery and to-do lists than sketches in the last 20 years.) Without warning, I am smacked in the brain by these pieces that want to exist. More and more, while attempting to fall asleep, patterns and techniques and problem-solving issues keep me occupied in the darkest hours. And they are there, waiting, when I do awake. It is mesmerizing and invigorating and fills me with a sense of urgency I have not experienced in a very long time.

All this wonderous and unsettling influx compelled me to revisit this enlightening TED talk by Elizabeth Gilbert on the creative process which I've posted before...well worth the 20 minutes. Perhaps my 'genius' has come home to roost?

My Little Sea-Pony?

2012-02-08T09:34:00.000-06:00

Belly-ringed-two-legged-bottom-feeding nudibranch (Maximus Overkillus).

Wool, glass. 10.5" x 6" x 6", 2012

I posted photos over on my Facebook page a few days ago and requested a new name for this creature. Snarflagopuss, Space Apaloosa and My Little Sea-Pony were my favorites.

This creature was the second piece I was working on with Andrea and I loaded it up with all the applications she taught me. Resists, inclusions, spikes, ponytail, legs and a lot of pre-felt work. Twice I thought it was done, and twice I kept myself honest. The piece needed more attention and I could not let my desire to be finished outweigh my desire to create a higher quality of work.

Sit Up, Little Bottom Feeder.

Now Roll Over!

First pod - Next Chapter

2012-02-03T10:20:00.001-06:00

Perhaps it's trite, but I think of life as having distinct chapters; events or epiphanies lasting a mere moment or a whole season that shape the whole of a person. As my previous post indicates, I feel the next chapter of my artistic life has begun.

Since my solo show at Red Line Gallery last June, I have not painted much on canvas (house-painting is a different story) and my desire for it has waned. So much so, that I've decided to store my easel and paints to free up space, physically and emotionally/creatively/metaphysically. Out with the old, in with the wool!

As promised, here is my first pod piece under Andea's tutelage.

Pod. 5" x 3.25" x 7", wool, pebbles, 2012.

*Technical felting info for those interested. This little pod (about the size of a my tiny fist) weights 2.4 oz. The weight of the 5 pebbles is 0.28. That's some heavily dense wool, my friends!

Lessons from Andrea Graham

2012-02-02T10:03:00.002-06:00

This week I had an incredible educating experience from one of my felting heroes, Andrea Graham. Andrea offers a web-chat workshop from her home studio in Kingston Ontario, a 7 hour course split over 2 days. As someone eager to elevate my work to a higher level, the fee for her course was well worth it.

In preparation, I'd been honing my felting skills. Needle felting one day, wet felting the next, making pre-felts. While my first felting experience was with the wet technique, I was never quite as comfortable with it as when I started needle-felting. My in-laws had given me a gift certificate to New England Felting Supply and I had all sort of lovely new wools and materials to experiment with. The day before the workshop, I cleaned my studio thoroughly and set my computer up in the corner.

It almost sparkles!

10:30 Monday morning, my computer rings and we meet. It takes me a bit to warm up to having someone talk to me in my studio, but in no time at all we're friendly and focused on the task at hand. Andrea starts her own pod, and I follow along one or two steps behind. She's got lovely samplers as examples and when I want to learn how to add "fins" or a "ponytail" to my pod, she adds them to her own pod to demonstrate. The session flies by and we are both surprised to see the time. She suggests I start another piece before the next morning and I'm game. Fast forward 6 hours and I'm still working with cross-eyed gusto. Finally, with a stiff neck & back my husband lures me out of the studio with a beer. My mind is reeling with the possibility of future projects... the lessons I've learned in 3.5 hours are impressive.

8 hours later...

Tuesday morning I am up at stupid-o-clock to get a head start on my projects. By the time, Andrea and I meet again I'm quite pleased with my accomplishments. She shows me her pod piece which has changed dramatically. "How long did you work on that last night?" I ask. "About an hour", she says. I know once I've been felting 11 years like she has, workflow will be concise, but in the moment I'm crushed by my ineffectiveness. What she has done in an hour, took me close to 8.

Jumping right in to the day's lessons, we get to chat about our personal and artistic lives while smoothing out our pods. Impressed with her work already, I'm happy to get to know this busy mom of three. As a teacher, she's kind, patient, and generous with her time & knowledge. Most of Andrea's students nowadays are professional artists from all over the world. We discuss shows and sales and the frustrations & joys of each. I ask her if she herself takes classes anymore. She tells me she's met and studied with most of the felters on her 'bucket list' and as she describes each artist's work, I recognize the people, or at least the work of the people, she's talking about. I consider making a bucket list of my own.

Pieces after Day 1

As we work, I am astounded by the effort going in to making this seemingly little pod. Before now, I would have been satisfied with leaving the piece 'as is' at the beginning of the second day. And here I am, fingers sore and wrinkled from wet soapy felting for over an hour... still not done! I share my astonishment with Andrea. She tells me that she took a class with one of her bucket-list heroes, Jorie Johnson (whose book sits on my living room table!). Jorie is an immaculate technical felter. Whenever Andrea thinks a piece is good enough, she asks herself "Is this up to Jorie's standards?" And if not, she'll work it some more until it is.

So here I am, 2 days later. One pod is finished, the other... well... I thought it was done. It seemed good enough at first glance. But then the legs were weak, and the spikes were floppy. I asked myself "Is this up to Andrea's standards?" and grinned.

I will posted finished pictures of my lovely new pieces once they are.

Ceiling Cat in wool

2012-01-23T10:55:00.002-06:00

Ceiling Cat is watching you!

My buddy Jimi came to visit me this weekend, to try felting for the first time. He's obsessed with cats. So while he poked away at his first attempt at needle felting a little kitty of his own (only stabbed himself twice!), I constructed this fella. It's nearly life-sized. Great fun!

Ceiling Cat - detail view

Back on the saddle

2011-12-09T09:53:00.001-06:00

Well, if this is what taking a sabbatical produces, I'm pretty satisfied. I've been reading tons of felting blogs and tutorials in the last week to get the juices flowing again. And I've signed up for a workshop with Andrea Graham coming in late January. Can't wait!

Today I'll pick up some new studio furniture, which I hope will make the room more conducive for productivity. This is what it looked like after working on this light-pod for less than 2 hours:

The unintended sabbatical

2011-11-15T13:34:00.001-06:00

Over the years, there have been many breaks in my art-making. After my art education came to a screeching halt (somewhere in the middle of my 3rd junior year), I abandoned any notion of 'Art for Art's Sake' and used my talents in occupational endeavors. Special events decor, stained glass fabrication and theater set painting all allowed me to hone my skills while generally ignoring any true manifestation of creativity. It took a good decade of crafting, jewelry-making, and furniture painting before I came around to making art again.

When I hear about or read other artist's excuse for not making art, or not meeting their own self-prescribed deadlines, I get pissy. "Life got in the way" or "My job (or my family) takes too much energy". And I think it hits a nerve because 1. it reminds me of my own lame excuses to others and myself and 2. as artists we avoid vocalizing the real truth "I simply don't want to right now."

In more recent years, whenever Life has "gotten in the way" I find myself derailed and anxious about how or when I can get back on track. I question my motives, my skills, my imagery, my audience and my life in general while dragging my feet to the studio. And usually once I finally pick up a brush or a handful of wool, my fear subsides and my existence as a human being is validated.

I cannot recall one time during a sabbatical not feeling anxious, depressed or confused... not once. Until now.

In early September, after months of looking at potential homes, my husband & I found a house we liked. We made an offer. It was accepted and thus began a dramatic few months of mortgage lenders, bank loans, packing and panic. I am happy to say it all worked out. Happy, but mildy scarred.

It's been months now since I Art-ed. Even with the drama behind us, my creative juices have been used in making our house a home. Yard work, plumbing, maintenance and improvements, hanging artwork, entertaining... a cross between Martha Stewart & MacGyver. And it's made me a very blissful human and I'll say it: I simply didn't want to make any art.

I can feel the hint of a art itch though. I won't rush it and I won't fight it. It's good.

Dropping the 'gallery'

2011-09-12T11:35:00.002-05:00

It's time to make the switch for good, although Google is making it a bit difficult. I'll be switching over "shanagallery" to "ShanaKohnstamm" on as many online products as I can. Including this blog.

For the tens of you that follow this blog, please make a note of the new address: http://shanakohnstamm.blogspot.com

Thanks!
~S

Studio piles

2011-08-11T11:38:00.000-05:00

Impromptu gathering

Rearranging my studio is as much a part of my process as picking up a paintbrush or a felting needle, so it's no surprise when there are piles of 'things yet to be put away'. This particular scenario made me smile.

From brush to needle

2011-08-07T11:53:00.000-05:00

The shift from painting to felting has been easy and natural. In so many ways, the feltwork has become an extension of the work that was already happening... only augmented by the joy of discovery of this versatile medium.

Felting actually takes my process of painting into a purer form. I start all my paintings loose and energetic and as I build up layers, the image starts to form, tight up, take shape. Working with wool, I approach each piece the same way. Loose fibers slowly become a tight, hard bundle, taking shape with every stab of the needle. It's methodic and still fluid. Monotonous, yet surprising.

There are additional benefits of fiber work.

Time: Needle-felting is fast. While paintings can take anywhere from 3 weeks to 3 years to complete, fiber pieces usually take no more than 4 days to complete.

Materials: When painting, I'm quite stingy with the amount of paint I actually put out on my palette. This is from years of living hand-to-mouth and not wanting to waste anything. But in reality, limiting my palette limits my palette (um.. duh!). When I run out of a paint color I'm using, instead of stopping and putting more out, I use whatever is already available. Yes, this is as incredibly ridiculous as it sounds! Old stupid habits don't die when they should, do they? The wooly flip side is that the wool never dries out, the colors are easy to mix with hand carders and best of all, wool is relatively inexpensive. What little wisps are left over can be incorporated into the next piece... there is no waste!

Time + Materials = Cost: Yep, the wool work is priced much lower.

Location: I love my studio.. my cramped, beautifully lit studio. It houses my computer station, felting table, wool stash, easel, paints, palette, framing, paper, hardware, power tools and years worth of artwork & art making supplies. To be able to fill a basket or travel bag with wool & needles and travel is a really lovely option, whether trekking across country or to the sofa. No mess, although losing a needle in the couch is not fun.

Lastly, Versatility: Painting is painting is painting. It is flat, fixed and contained. With wool, not only can I create tactile & intricate sculptures (and 2D pieces), but there is the option of pushing into the craft world. I've already made hats, jewelry, scarves, vessels, lampshades and small gift items.

It did break my heart a little to take my easel down last week to make room for a photo project. Enough so that I put it back up this morning before writing this post. Dare I paint after all that wooly glorification? Probably so. But fiber is here to stay.

"Atypia"

2011-08-03T13:06:00.000-05:00


"Atypia", 12" x 12", wool on machined-felt ground, 2011

"Atypia", alternate view

Work-in-Progress - a stabby Sunday

2011-07-24T17:15:00.001-05:00

Been working on this piece most of the day. It's needle-felted on a machine-felt gray heather background. Once the piece is finished, I'll wrap it on a deep canvas stretcher.

As with all my work, it was quite a surprise to see what came to the surface.

And then....

2011-07-16T14:55:00.000-05:00

Yeesh!

Too much time has passed. Too many glorious things to catch up on, unless of course, you're a fan over at the Facebook page. In which case, carry on.

I've been completely overcome by a new(ish) foray into felting, both needle-felting and wet felting. My studio is split down the center with wool on one side and paint on the other. It's cramped but workable.

"The Vast Within", my June solo show at Red Line Gallery was a smash, where I debuted my feltwork for the first time along with my paintings. Definitely my favorite show ever and Natalie, the owner/curator, made me fall in love with my work all over again.

Opening Night at Red Line Gallery - June 10th, 2011

You can find more show photos here.

Treack or Trit

2010-10-28T16:02:00.006-05:00

Happy Halloween! Almost.

This year the need to make costumes is strong in this one. After a year of sewing machine swapping/trading/breakdowns I finally bought a basic machine of my own. I read the manual, threaded the contraption and off I went. Pictures will be posted after the candy coma.

In the meantime, here are the pumpkins me and the Mister carved.

Oh, and did you know I'm having a giveaway? Yep! All you have to do is "Like" my Facebook page and I'll draw a name at random once the page hits 250 fans. Easy breezy. Click here: http://www.facebook.com/ShanaKohnstammArtist

To Give, or Not to Give (without looking like an ass.)

2010-10-13T15:32:00.000-05:00

This afternoon I received an email from "XXXX" organization asking me for a donation.

"I am contacting you in hopes that you could donate a peice of your artwork to our event or if you know of any artists that might be inerested in donating. This is also a great way to get more local recognition." [sic]

This happens several times a year, and the older (more bitter) I get, the fewer donations I supply. This email was from a volunteer for the organization, who obviously could not afford spell check. But at least there was a website link so I could check it out. Turns out this was a faith-based venture and as I rule, I keep my distance from these.

I've lost track of how many paintings I've donated over the years.. or rather, I've blocked out the bad memories of each experience. Once a $500 painting was auctioned off for $20. My lesson: Set a minimum bid. One time after a successfully high bid, I spent two hours on the phone with the IRS attempting to figure out how to use the 'charity donation' to my advantage. Lesson learned: Work made within the last 12 months cannot be 'valued' beyond materials. (Note to self: only donate older pieces).

But what truly burns me up, is that we are asked to donate at all. Have these people never heard of the starving artist? Do we unintentionally reek of prosperity and bounty? Why do we suddenly have an abundance of superfluous artwork lying about to give away? "Oh, I only worked on that piece for 5 months..but I suppose you can have it. As long as it's for a good cause, since apparently making my living isn't one."

Thankfully, I recalled a blog I'd read last year : http://www.artbizblog.com/2009/10/donationresponse.html and used the graceful 'No thank you' response it spelled out with a few minor changes. It looked like this:

"Thank you for the opportunity to donate art to your organization. I have heard such good things about the work you do. However, because the current U.S. tax laws are unfavorable to artist donations, I am only able to donate to those organizations in which the organization returns a percentage of the work back to the artists. I urge you to consider this as an option as you will receive better quality artwork. That way the artist is given a percentage of the art they create, the buyer gets the tax write off and you receive a donation.

If your policy changes to address my concerns, I would be glad to forward your information on to a list of local artists."

--------

I was also fortunate enough to discover a veritable cornucopia of professional guidelines for artists here: http://www.snagmetalsmith.org/Publications/Professional_Guidelines/ Definitely check out the 12 page pdf article on "Fundraising Auctions: Issues and Checklist for Artists." Please share this with any artist friends, as I'm sure it will help them navigate life a little easier.

A word on passion

2010-10-07T09:32:00.001-05:00

"The reason it is vital that we *recognize* art's importance, is that we simply must show each other that *passion* is important. By putting a painting up on the wall, by sharing great literature, by exalting the beauty of a dance, we implicitly say, "Do you see? Passion matters! The passion that made that happen really, really matters." We need to hear this and know it and then teach it to our children."

-Josh Fessel, future Nobel prize winner, and a good man.

And now a word..

2010-09-17T14:20:00.004-05:00

Communication is difficult sometimes in the best of circumstances. For me, verbalizing is especially hard <--I wrote/rewrote this one sentence 4 times to get it accurate. I want to be deliberate, concise and "____." (Blunt is the wrong word. Like to the point with no flourish... I'll think of this word later. Although my instinct is to go look up something similar on thesaurus.com and see if it comes to me. So I did, and it's not obvious. So far this has taken me about 7 minutes. 7 minutes to say this: English is my second language. My first and native tongue is color. With an accent on form.

So, all the art business blogs and I do subscribe to about 8 of them, some I read diligently, some I dismiss diligently.. tell me I must blog myself to find my social network, which will lead to my contact list, who will share my blog (and therefore my imagery) and I'll be a successful artist! In most cases these blogs only see success in terms of monetary value. Fuckers. Well, hooey!! I AM a successful artist, even if I can't write for crap about it. Success comes with each image, every thoughtful placement of color on a surface, every person who stops for even a second to see what it is I do. In this fabulous world of information overload and instant gratification, if I can get someone to rest their eyes on my artwork for even a second, I've made an impression. That's something. It's not a living, mind you, but it's something.

For a couple of weeks I read Hazel Dooney's blog and I think she's a really interesting character. I do read blogs regularly. I like to know what people are interested in. I'm usually the quiet one at the party too. Watching, listening, paying attention to body language, watching the energy flow between human beings. I digress.. Dooney's words are good. She's had a twisted, challenging and odd life and I related to her humanness. The thing is, as soon as she started posting her work, I was turned off. So much so that I unsubscribed. Her imagery does nothing for me. Art is like that. It can draw you in, repulse you, or worse, leave you untouched at all.

Do I have a point? Maybe it's this. I subscribe to over 60 blogs. I read them in the morning right after going through my email and before I check the twits and the faceyspaceys. Maybe the art-business bloggers are right. Do my words, clumsy as they are, make you dear Reader want to give my images a second? Or a second look?

"Languish"

2010-07-20T16:10:00.003-05:00

"Languish", 12" x 12", acrylic on canvas, 2010

"Dissection of a Blush"

2010-07-07T11:00:00.002-05:00

Inspiration comes from the summer colors of watermelons, beets, sunburns and plums.

"Dissection of a Blush", 10" x 10", acrylic on canvas, 2010

"Crepe"

2010-07-06T15:46:00.003-05:00

"Crepe", 10" x 10", acrylic on canvas, 2010

"The Transplant"

2010-06-19T13:21:00.001-05:00

"The transplant", 10" x 10", acrylic, 2010

"Ours" & "Theirs"

2010-06-16T21:02:00.005-05:00

"Ours" 12" x 12", acrylic on canvas, 2010

"Theirs", 12" x 12", acrylic on canvas, 2010

Art auction for flood relief: "zen bubble"

2010-05-11T12:17:00.003-05:00

"zen bubble", 18" x 24" framed, 2008

Going through my inventory to see what I could possibly donate to help raise funds for flood relief. How appropriate is this?? A sweet little bubble floating on rough waters. It's already framed smartly in black and silver, too.

All proceeds will go to the Metro Davidson Disater Relief Fund through the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee : http://www.cfmt.org/floodrelief/

Auction ended 5/16/10 at midnight. Congrats & Thank you to winning bidders Tish & Aaron!

Nashville flood

2010-05-05T14:05:00.007-05:00

My street in west Nashville - May 3, 2010

Most of you probably don't know that my hometown of Nashville, TN has just been hit by a unprecedented rainfall over this last weekend. Within 48 hours the city received more than a quarter of it's annual rainfall which led to flooding citywide. Areas that rarely have puddles were underwater. Cars were submerged and floated away on the interstates. People were washed away and died.

My neighborhood is on a quiet dead-end street on the west side of town. A small creek runs behind the house across the street. On Saturday the creek had taken my neighbor's yard, and by Sunday it was 15 feet away from my front door. Our planning turned to panic, panic turned to surrender as I left my home/studio wading up the street to a friends house. It continued to rain.

Looking from my front yard, after the water receded 2 feet

By 5 in the evening, the skies cleared, the waters receded to the appropriate side of the road, never having reached our house. The waterline that marked the houses across from us were telling. Nothing there was left untouched.

When neighbor M. entered his house for the first time, I was right behind him. He had to shove the door open to move the sofa that had washed against it. "Just so you know, I don't usually keep my house like this", he joked. The water line was just under 4 feet high. Furniture and floors alike were covered in mud, the new refrigerator face down in the middle of the kitchen. M. looked around and then quickly escorted us out with a new understanding of how dangerous it was for us to be there.

M. was lucky. Even though he's only been owner of this house since February, he had made 2 payments on his flood insurance. Other folks on this street were not so fortunate. I have been in their houses, collected wet papers and stuffed animals, cleaned out waterlogged kitchens, thrown away books, hung muddy clothes on my laundry line. I have listened to their stories and I have been grateful above all else.

This is a little story from one small street. Nashville is a large city and the damage is extensive. Losses will total into the billions. With all the other news of the world, we have not made a big splash in the media. Mostly because we are taking care of ourselves right now. (A lovely article explaining the nature of Nashville can be found here: http://www.section303.com/we-are-nashville-4366 )

If you are moved at all, I only ask that you get the word out. Let your friends, families, social networks know that we are in trouble here. The Red Cross has made it easy to donate by texting "REDCROSS" at 90999 and they will charge $10 to your phone bill, money that will go to shelters, food banks and rebuilding efforts.

Thanks for reading ~S

Model Artist 2

2010-04-23T11:49:00.004-05:00

poster design by Julie Sola & Agnes Barton-Sabo

Four years ago I had this idea. What would happen if I invited my artist friends to participate in a unique social experiment? If I suggested they all put their names in a hat and randomly drew a name of a fellow artist? To then use that artist as a model and subsequently to be a model for another artist?

23 wonderfully talented people said "yes" and the Model Artist exhibit was a critical and social success.

Four years later, it's time to do it again. Many of the same artists have returned to play again, and there are just as many new faces. The game is underfoot, pairs have been matched and work has begun. Model Artist 2 will open June 4th, 2010 at Gallery 508 in Nashville.

Here's the Model Artist Facebook page for more information. And I will be posting about my personal experiences with the process in the near future.

Peek into the studio

2010-03-17T20:48:00.002-05:00

Artist Statement - 2010

2010-03-06T09:32:00.000-06:00

Visceral environments, womb landscapes, places where alien beings and familiar feelings might both germinate and grow. My process of image development confounds me. The paintings themselves evolve once the seed is planted (painted), seemingly without my guidance. The images mature in stages, growing like organisms or plants do in their efforts to reach the light, the surface.

There is an unusual amount of Life, Death and Science that permeates my daily life (being married to a research physician). Conversations regarding microbiology over coffee, patient care while folding laundry, the passing of one's soul from body as we ourselves drift off to sleep are part of my everyday. I have had to learn to talk about blood and bone, breath and skin, natural order and biological corruption, in the same ways I have been used to talking about color and light, friends and lovers, or even groceries and gossip. Is it any wonder that what has evolved are fleshy mounds that sprout and pulsate?

Facebook Giveaway!

2010-03-05T11:48:00.004-06:00

Did you know I have a Fan page on Facebook? Did you know I am doing my first ever giveaway?? Did you know the two are related!?

Once the page has 100 followers I will randomly select a winner to receive this little gem. It's a 5" x 7" original watercolor drawing on paper. I'm also thinking that the 100th person to join should get a little something too!

Click here to add yourself! And good luck :)
~Shana

untitled (sprout)

2010-02-19T16:16:00.002-06:00

untitled (sprout)
10" x 10", acrylic on canvas, 2010

untitled (funhouse)

2010-02-19T16:15:00.002-06:00

untitled (funhouse)
20" x 20", acrylic on canvas, 2009
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untitled (blossom)

2010-02-19T16:13:00.000-06:00

untitled (blossom)
20" x 16", acrylic on canvas, 2010

untitled (dew drip)

2010-02-04T15:41:00.002-06:00

untitled (dew drip)
acrylic on canvas, 4" x 4", 2010

untitled (conte' crayon)

2010-02-04T15:37:00.000-06:00

untitled
conte' crayon on canvas, 24" x 20", 2010

untitled (nocturnal still life)

2010-02-04T15:35:00.001-06:00

untitled (nocturnal still life)
acrylic on canvas, 20" x 20", 2009

white sheer study

2010-02-04T15:33:00.000-06:00

white sheer study
acrylic on canvas, 12" x 9", 2009

untitled (lovebirds)

2010-02-04T15:31:00.000-06:00

untitled (lovebirds)
acrylic on canvas, 10" x 10", 2009

Dandelighted

2010-02-04T15:27:00.002-06:00

"Dandelighted"
acrylic on canvas, 24" x 30", 2009

untitled (but different)

2009-07-27T15:46:00.002-05:00

untitled, 16" x 16", acrylic on canvas

untitled

2009-07-27T15:44:00.002-05:00

untitled, 30" x 30", acrylic on canvas

WIP - detail

2009-06-12T14:01:00.004-05:00

Need your unwanted clothing for ART!

2009-06-08T15:00:00.001-05:00

Be a part of an art installation – Need for Trashy Clothing!

08Jun09

Tiffany Denton is creating an installation at Blend Studio in August 2009. This installation is to bring awareness for the need of textile recycling in America. We are a country of stuff and often just throw it away only to fill our landfills. There are recycling programs for plastic, glass, aluminum but rarely do you see one for textiles. According to the Council for Textile Recycling every American on average throws away 68 pounds of fabric each year!

How can you help?? Tiffany is collecting used clothing, in any condition (dirty, with holes, it does not matter) from as many people as possible. Each piece will be labeled with the name and location of the person who donates it. All of the pieces will then be stitched together to create one large installation art piece bringing awareness to this problem. It would be ideal to get at least one piece from everyone! Come on you know you have an old shirt, skirt or pants hanging in that closet that you don’t want.

What happens to all of this discarded clothing? After the installation, and some before, all of the fabric from the items will be sewn into new items that will be sold at local galleries and shops. The money raised will be sent to Kiva, an organization that helps people of poverty survive. Tiffany has selected a lady who is a weaver with 5 children making $3 a day and her husband who makes $2 a day recycling. Kiva creates a loan for the family that they will pay back. They are wanting to purchase a bike for the husband to deliver the recycling he collects. The family lives in Cambodia. Some money will also be used to help local schools with recycling programs. And who knows what other great things we will accomplish!

Send your trashy clothes today!! One shirt in a small mailer envelope should cost about $2 to ship. And you can be a part of this great project!
All envelopes will be reused.
Check out Tiffany’s blog, Wasted Thread, and follow the progress. Drop off sites will also be available if you have lots of clothing to donate.

Mail today!

send an email for snail mail address: denton.tiffany@gmail.com

More works in progress

2009-06-04T17:05:00.002-05:00

Muscle Memory

2009-06-04T16:58:00.001-05:00

Work in Progress - muscle memory update

2009-05-18T10:37:00.003-05:00

detail above

Work in Progress - muscle memory

2009-05-14T17:34:00.002-05:00

3 new paintings

2009-05-03T12:31:00.003-05:00

"Jubilance"
12" x 9", acrylic on canvas

untitled (dusk)
10" x 8", acrylic on canvas

"In Absentia"
30" x 24", acrylic on canvas

All three paintings will be included in the upcoming exhibit of Growing Season, featured at the Janet Levine March Gallery starting May 6th at the Gordon Jewish Community Center.

A few in progress photos

2009-04-19T13:45:00.004-05:00

Post-show / pre-cursor

2009-03-14T10:39:00.002-05:00

The show was a hit! I didn't have time to actually take photos of the crowd, but I'd have to guesstimate at least 700 people through the doors. The conversations were fun, and even with a sore throat I talked my silly little head off.

I ended up showing 34 paintings, from 4" x 4" up to 60" x 36" and everything seemed very well received. The feedback was invaluable, from actual praise to watching people scrunch up their noses at certain paintings. Several time during the night I was able to step back and watch a room full of unknown gallery hoppers interacting with my work. It's quite something.

At the end of the night, my dear husband watched me unravel as all the hard work and preparation came to fruition and with it overwhelming relief and anticipated despair. Even on the best opening night, there is a sense of "postpartum" and without any sales Saturday night, I was quite distraught. Thankfully, Josh let me have my moment uninterrupted and the next day came to me with new ideas, better plans and a sense of hope that only a strong partner can provide.

So while I'm adjusting to the idea of a implementing a business plan, finding a "manager" of sorts and well, finding the impetus to get back in the studio (it's been a week now since I painted), I'm doing my best to keep up with the technological online world. Boy do I have a geek side! As of this morning I have a new "public profile" page on Facebook. And, I have become a twit.

Stay tuned for more nearly-exciting adventures...

"Growing Season" opens tonight

2009-03-07T13:46:00.001-06:00

I've been so busy with finishing up pieces and framing, I completely neglected my blog. The gallery looks amazing and I'll post photos sometime tomorrow. Here's a wonderful review for the Nashville Scene that Joe Nolan wrote:

Work by Shana Kohnstamm at Twist Gallery
Art Twisted Together
Joe Nolan

For this month's First Saturday Art Crawl, Twist welcomes a prodigal daughter with a brand new perspective and a perpetual wanderer who has trouble shaking off the memories of his travels. In Twist's 58 Arcade Space, John Dowell's I Want to Capture Your City brings horizons from around the country to our own Nashville skyline with evocative photographs of cityscapes from Houston to Norfolk. Former Nashvillian Shana Kohnstamm fills the 73 Arcade Space with her newly inspired abstracts, exploring the meeting ground of the organic, the exotic and the erotic. Kohnstamm was an active pioneer in the construction of the downtown art scene, and Growing Season marks a strong, new vision in her work. The Twist event will serve as a sort of homecoming for this hometown fave.

new painting

2009-02-27T16:39:00.002-06:00

untitled, 10" x 10", acrylic on canvas

What a difference a frame makes

2009-02-27T16:08:00.003-06:00

Thanks to Untitled

2009-02-18T09:33:00.009-06:00

I got my first grant! It's a "special opportunity funding" grant from Untitled and it's specifically for framing my paintings for the Twist show. I started showing/working with Untitled nearly 6 years ago (is that right!?) and have reaped the benefits of that organization ever since.

At my first meeting, which was held in the BarCar in Cummins Station, I plopped myself down at a table between Ben V. (now one of my Connect 12 cohorts) and Jack C. (who never fails to attend every single show I put on). Casey G. was running the show back then and I was so impressed with the openess and scope of the group. I volunteered to help the installation crew, with no clue that I'd be meeting "my people", my extended artist family that very day. That network has kept me afloat all this time, even though most of us no longer participate in the Untitled shows. It's strange to think that if I attended a meeting now, many of the active members might think I was new to the group.

When I think of the events of my life that were sparked because of my Untitled involvement, they spread like wildfire from that first meeting. The shows I had at Plowhaus: I'd never even heard of the co-op before Untitled. So many inspirartional and "true-blue" friends, all met due to Untitled shows.

I recall that before going to my first meeting I was very reluctant. I had worked all that time in a vacuum, by myself, and I certainly didn't need "a bunch of overblown artist egos" to deal with. It took months of nudging by a co-worker to get me to go. I'm not exactly sure when it hit me (within the first couple of meetings, and definitely by the time the first show went up), I had found something that I never knew was missing. My place.

So, I thank the organization, the founders who had an art party 18 years ago and decided to repeat it. I thank the efforts of every voice that shaped the group over the years, to give it structure and a higher purpose. The sweat and fret of the hands and hearts that built it up to the streamlined machine that breathes today. I too have carried the weight and learned that Untitled carries on without us, but because of us.

Thank you.

New work

2009-02-13T15:30:00.004-06:00

Less than three weeks til the opening. While I feel like things are really progressing in the studio, I'm finding difficult to communicate non-visually (hence the lack of blogging and emails/phone calls going unreturned.)

untitled 18" x 24"

untitled, 16" x 20"

untitled, 48" x 36"

untitled, 5" x 4"

Varnish Day

2009-01-24T09:12:00.003-06:00

Very few things make me as nervous as varnishing, which if you know me, is saying a lot. The varnish itself is a clear-ish satin polymer which gets diluted before application. I read the technical sheet from Golden, found the closest thing to a "stiff hair Chinese white bristle brush with split ends" and got to it. The fear is cloudiness, or bubbles in the varnish which can happen if you put too thin a layer on. Puddling can happen if the varnish is too thick.

I started with less favorite pieces and had a nice rhythm down before tackling Cretagaea. A few of these paintings could definitely use a second coat but it may be some time before we get such lovely temperatures and low humidity again.

In the meantime, I ordered ten assorted frames this morning and will finally get to have my own Fletcher Point Driver. According to my Jerry's Artarama receipt, I saved over $700 today. Seeing as I only paid $252 for everything, I'm pretty happy with that.

Recently finished

2009-01-21T11:08:00.002-06:00

Currently untitled (no surprise there). 24" x 18"

Bubble zen

2009-01-14T09:52:00.004-06:00

This painting needs a title. Any suggestions? It's the second finished painting of 2009.. the first one didn't like having it's picture taken.

As usual, I have a deadline approaching and a dozen unfinished paintings. I'm excited/anxious to find out that I have the back room at Twist Gallery, so I'll be showcasing all my little little paintings as well as the big ones (if the big ones get finished, that is.)

Back to procrastinating.

2008 gallery updated...finally!

2009-01-06T15:33:00.002-06:00

Ok, so it's only taken me..well, all of 2008 to update the paintings from the year.

Here, for your viewing pleasure is 2007-2008. Voila!

Enjoy, and please let me know if there are any technical kinks (the website kind, you pervs).

Obligatory Year in Review - 2008

2009-01-06T09:49:00.004-06:00

What a difference a year makes. On this date in 2008, I was overseeing a kingdom of boxes, claiming my motto for 2008 would be "The more you know the less you need". I think the actual motto was more along the lines of "Holy crap, my shoulders are killing me." This was a year full of adjustments, sadly none of them chiropractic.

In mid-January we managed to outrun a blizzard while moving home from Boston and unloaded our belongings into what I lovingly call a 'beige box' apartment. The lease now runs through Oct. '09 and we hope to be homeowners at least shortly before that.

This year introduced the checking of the "Married" box instead of "Single", with a lovely nuptial in 3 parts: the legal elopement in June, the celebration of the intermingling of friends and family in September and the "paratheoanametamystikal union" which happened without words in a worm hole in a microsecond and/or for the rest of eternity. Oddly, there are photos of each event.

This year also saw the forceful devastation of spirit when I tried to veer off my career path for the wrong reasons. Within weeks, the nightmares and shoulder knots told the undeniable truth: I am a painter. The surge of creative juice that comes from realizing that over and over again is reassuring, inspiring, motivating. My vision is a little clearer, my aspirations a bit higher and my will considerably stronger.

Here is something I have learned this year : I am a good wife. Rather, I am a good partner. Although I do a fair share of housework (never fails to amuse me that I stop painting to switch out loads of laundry) and bills and whatnot, I feel a wonderful equality in my partnership. He busts his butt at work, I bust my butt at home and at the end of the day we still like each other. Perhaps fairness is what keeps a marriage afloat? Along with trust, honesty and good ole fashioned admiration.

Last tidbit for the year-in-review: the adoption of Marzipan Buttons, a 2-year old Australian Shepherd/Collie mix. She's about as laid back as they come. Playful, sweet, glutton for affection, and is perfectly content to sleep half the day away. They say dogs are like their owners. No argument there.

Marzipan and pinkdog

Cretagaea

2008-12-14T11:50:00.003-06:00

"Cretagaea", acrylic on canvas, 48" x 36", 2008

Hooray! The painting I started after moving back to Nashville in January is finally finished. The previous "untitled 0108" is now titled "Cretagaea". "Creta" is from the cretaceous period, the era when flowers first appeared on the earth. "Gaea" is Greek for earth or land.

I've posted the in-progress movie on the website or you can click here: Cretagaea movie. It's a large file composed of 22 slide, starting with the original 7" x 5" watercolor drawing to the finished painting.

This piece will be in the March show at Twist and I hope the companion pieces will be as strong. I'm truly happy with the results and have enjoyed this painting in my living room for a while already. A very nice way to bring 2008 to a close.

Connect With A Cause

2008-11-29T11:32:00.003-06:00

This is a one-day only Open House at the abode of Alesandra Bellos & Rick Bradley, both Connect 12 colleagues and lovely people. Several of the Connect 12 artists will be selling their wares and there will be music and demonstrations.

Me? Well, I plan on having a lot of small work. Everything under $50...and some pieces as low as $15! Whaaaa?!? Yep. Come out and see for yourself.

Playing catch up

2008-11-29T11:18:00.002-06:00

Boy this has been a jam-packed month. Since the last blog, I participated in my first ever artist talk, went to Knoxville twice to help my mom after bi-lateral knee replacement surgery, spent a weekend in Evansville to hear my amazing husband give a lecture, finished several paintings the few days I was home, and played with goauche paints for the first time since college. No surprise then that I decided to cancel Thanksgiving this year. It's taken me a few days to recharge.

The artist talk could have been better had I not been a bundle of nauseous nerves. I can confidently speak in front of groups, that wasn't the issue. I'm still very uncomfortable talking about my work...even in casual conversation, much less being in the spotlight. Ugh. Makes my stomach flip just thinking about it.

The good news is that my mom is doing excellent (not quite to kickboxing level but still good). I spent a total of 11 days in Knoxville, which seems a lot longer when I think of the time spent out of the studio. The couple of days I had at home in between the trips was incredibly productive..something I have not quite reclaimed as of this blog. "Frustrating" is an understatement.

I'd hoped to update my blog and website during the visit. You can see that didn't happen. So, in the coming days and weeks I will post new photos of the completed paintings, and new works. I have high aspirations for productivity in December. You just watch me ;)

November 4th

2008-11-04T23:42:00.004-06:00

Simply Historic - by Patrick Moberg (not by Jason Freely at Moist Production as previously thought. Whoops!)

Instant Karma gonna get you..and leave a bruise.

2008-10-20T13:21:00.002-05:00

I was elated...calling myself a freakin' genius actually (in my head only, since no one else is around). The painting I'm working on is soaring to new heights and apparently my ego with it. I decided after working for hours in the studio, it was time to eat breakfast (at 1pm, mind you) so off to the kitchen.

Nothing exciting in the fridge, so again with "I'm a freakin' genius" sing-songing in my head, I opened the freezer door to have an object on to of the refridgerator come crashing down on me. It hit my shoulder first, bounced off the counter and onto my foot with such a ruckus you have thought we had a minor earthquake.

What was the object to distrupt my elation and leave a bruise (or two)? The only award I have EVER won for my artistic endeavours. My 2002 Starving Artist award...now in pieces.

Connect 12 Artist Collective

2008-10-16T11:49:00.002-05:00

Connect 12 Artist Collective
At the Downtown Presbyterian Church

(Nashville, TN) - The Connect 12 Artist Collective is pleased to present their exhibition at the Downtown Presbyterian Church, from November 1 through November 30. An opening reception for the group will be held on Saturday, November 1, from 6 – 9 p.m., in conjunction with the First Saturday Art Crawl. In addition, the group will hold two informal artist talks at the Church, at 1 p.m. on Saturday November 8 and on November 15.

Ben Vitualla brought his peers together for the first Connect 12 show last September at Dangenart Gallery. The inaugural show not only brought critical acclaim for the collective of Nashville-based artists, but also served to inspire them each to produce better, more exploratory works of art. The simple philosophy of the group is to promote individual growth through exploration of craft and content.

As diverse as the artists, so are their crafts, methods and statements. Viewers should expect the variety of media at this fall’s show to include interactive performances, fiber arts, photography, printmaking, sculpture, painting and mixed media. Content will range from reflections on the current political instabilities to explorations of the whimsy of coloring books. Many of the artists are continuing personal themes: Daniel Lai will showcase his familiar “creation by destruction” burnt art pieces, while Erika Johnson’s site-specific installation “Saved” will delve into the issues of financial crisis, (in)security, paranoia and poverty. Samantha Callahan’s work will continue to explore female body modification, and Shana Kohnstamm’s figurative paintings will deal with the human conditions of stress, fearlessness, and peace.

Exhibiting artists include Alesandra Bellos, Jimi Benedict, Rick Bradley, Samantha Callahan, Eric Denton, Tiffany Denton, Chris Hill, Stacey Irvin, Sean Jewett, Erika Johnson, Shana Kohnstamm, Daniel Lai, Andee Rudloff and Ben Vitualla.

The Downtown Presbyterian Church is located at 254 5th Avenue North
Nashville, TN 37219. You may wish to call ahead for additional viewing hours at 615-254-7584 or visit the website at http://www.dpchurch.com.

State of the Art and then some

2008-10-16T11:10:00.004-05:00

Counting the unfinished paintings in my studio (where I sit).....1...2......15...plus two in the living room. Ok, I'm up to 17 unfinished paintings. Some started over 2 (3?) years ago and some the result of palette cleaning only yesterday. I'm not even counting the smaller 5" x 5" paintings. Let's just say I'm surrounded by a lot of work that needs to be finished.

The good news is that I am wonderfully energetic about working, especially since investing* in Golden's new line of "open" acrylic paints. They have a slower dry time which allows easier blending and pushing. I'm having to relearn how to paint, with the added benefit/distress of knowing how to paint. It's wonderfully frustrating! And I seem less able to walk away from the studio these days. Yesterday for instance, I was getting ready to go out and meet some of the husband's work colleagues and found myself in front of the easel, hair and makeup done, unwilling to put the brush down even at the risk of being late or ruining the 'good' clothes. I nearly canceled until it hit me that I had not actually talked out loud to anyone all day. Many of my days are like that lately. (It makes me smile.)

The Connect 12 show is coming up Nov 1st and I have two of my three intended pieces finished. As mentioned (gruesomely) in my last post, the "fearless little girl" is no more and I'm not sure how or even if to proceed bringing her back to life. Looking at the canvas now (it's on the wall behind my laptop) I cannot see her or anything else for that matter. Only beautiful cool blue and a little psychic residue of what was.

I opted to have "Something from Nothing" framed for the show and dropped over $200* for a nice but simple wood profile. Kinda hoping this will make it more attractive to a potential buyer, and if not, then I'll be able to reuse the frame if necessary. The other painting "Lighten Up" holds its' own unframed.

In other news, Twist Art Gallery recently got voted Nashville's Best Arcade Gallery in the latest addition of the Nashville Scene's Best Of. I'm thrilled to be showing there next March regardless of their accolades but it certainly does not hurt. (My friends Adrian and Lon also received glory for Best New Puppet Troupe!) And good artist friend Andee Rudloff got recognized as Best Art Community Energizer...truly an understatement if you know her. Kudos to them all!

*In all sincerity, I am still amazed everyday to be with a partner who is so completely supportive and encouraging of my art. The purchases I've made in the last few months would have broken me completely before this new life, slight as they were. I think we both realize that we're investing in our future with each new canvas, tube of paint, or box of business cards.

A killer is me

2008-10-12T13:43:00.003-05:00

I've just buried a little girl, under fresh layers of paint. She has been hanging on my studio walls for months, sometimes as she was meant to be...fearless, joyous, laughing. Lately though the struggle to make her happy and not appear scary has been too much of a battle. So I wiped her out, quite literally.

The painting seems better for it.

Studio vid

2008-09-29T09:21:00.003-05:00

I took a quickie video of my studio yesterday, at the request of Roxanne from Spreadart.net. I hope it helps her current project (something to do with artist working spaces, I imagine).

This also signifies my first youtube video. I'm part of the gang now ;)

Fun with language

2008-09-18T11:19:00.002-05:00

I just learned a new word in the artist chat room I haunt: pentimento.

From the almighty Wiki:
A pentimento (plural pentimenti) is an alteration in a painting, evidenced by traces of previous work, showing that the artist has changed his mind as to the composition during the process of painting. The word derives from the Italian pentirsi, meaning to repent.

I considered this concept, and since it describes just about every piece of artwork I've created in the last 10 years or so, I adapted it to fit me.

Pentimomento.

Just wait and see if it isn't the title of my March solo show!

NJW show is up!

2008-09-16T11:47:00.004-05:00

Last night, with the help of dear Adrian Rose, we got the show hung without incident. The space was larger and brighter than I remembered, so the 16 paintings had a wonderfully homey feeling when all was said and done. I was afraid that my older pieces, which tend to be dark and rich, would overwhelm the space. Thankfully those fears were quelled and I am happy with the atmosphere there. Since the show is up through the end of the year, I hope the folks that work in the space daily will come to enjoy my work as much as I have. It's a mix of older and new pieces, some which needed to be dusted coming out of retirement.

The void at home is obvious...empty hooks abound and on quick glance make me believe we have crickets on the walls. Timing couldn't be better however, as my studio is overrun with canvases in different states of progress.

Today I ordered postcards (see above) and long overdue business cards. I'm looking forward to the opening in a couple of weeks, which is punctuated by the Workshop's auction and fundraiser the week before, and my own high school reunion the night of. For now, just being able to paint again without the non-stop carnival atmosphere is bliss. (Did I mention we had our wedding party and honeymoon recently?)

Nashville Jazz Workshop Fundraiser

2008-09-14T10:24:00.001-05:00

As promised, here is the info on the NJW fundraiser:

Sunday, September 28, 4:30-9 pm 8th Annual NJW Fall Fundraiser

The Jazz Party of the Year is bigger and better than ever this year. With great food, wine, silent and live auctions, and performances by world-class jazz artists, it's not to be missed! This year's event will be held at Vanderbilt's Ingram Hall and will feature special guest Pete Christlieb with an NJW all-star big band. Also on-hand will be the Beegie Adair Trio and Christina Watson with the Pat Coil Trio. Click here for more information about the Fundraiser.

Admission price: $60. On sale September 2. Call 242-5299

daydream

2008-09-03T14:48:00.006-05:00

"daydream", 5" x 7", acrylic on canvas, 2008

This is my donation for the Nashville Jazz Workshop fundraiser. Such a sweet face, I kinda want to keep her for myself. Details on the fundraiser as they come in.

Website is DOWN

2008-09-02T11:59:00.002-05:00

At least it's on purpose as I'm switching webhost services. After umpteen years with Y! I finally decided to make a change. Of course I should have done a little more research before hand about a 'smooth' transition. No telling if I'll get any shanagallery.com mail for a while.

If you need to contact me, leave a comment here and I'll get you the temporary email address.

~S

Something From Nothing

2008-08-22T13:51:00.004-05:00

"Something from Nothing"
acrylic on canvas, 40" x 30", 2008

Detail - Something from Nothing

As I was cleaning up the edges of this canvas, a little bright blue and yellow peeked through and I recalled starting this one in Boston, as a portrait of my husband on a sunny spring day. Obviously it didn't take and as it happens, I flipped the canvas over and covered it. I plan to put this painting in the Connect 12 Collective show this November at the DPC.

Lighten Up

2008-08-19T12:33:00.003-05:00

"(trying and failing to) lighten up"
acrylic on canvas, 30" x 24", 2008

Classic story of the mismatch

2008-08-18T11:27:00.003-05:00

You know it goes. You meet someone new and everything is lovely for the few couple of weeks. You see them almost every day and get to know them, and at the same time, they get to know you better to....past the self-promoting facade that attracted you both in the first place. Soon you realize that perhaps the butterflies are only nerves. The warm and fuzzy feelings of future potential give way to the reality of daily misfit and failure.

After two rollercoaster weeks of day job, I painfully came to the truth that I was not cut out for it. And when I tried to give a professional two weeks notice, I was a little surprised that they had already hired someone else and no longer needed my services. Guess they knew it was a mismatch before I did. No hard feelings on either side, which is good because they are excellent framers and I will gladly recommend them to anyone.
****

In other news, I will have a show of "classic" paintings at the Nashville Jazz Workshop very soon. The show hangs mid-September with the opening slated for October 3rd. And if I'm not mistaken, there will be a Connect 12 show shortly thereafter. I have two paintings nearly finished for that one. Hope to post some photos soon...you know how that goes.

Tomato Art Fest paintings

2008-07-25T11:08:00.004-05:00

The Tomato Art Fest is an annual festival held in East Nashville every summer...this one is August 9th, and although I've attended many of them, this is my first as a participant.

Here are my three entries of "tomato", "tomato-inspired" and "veggie friendly" paintings.

"slice", 6" x 12", acrylic on canvas, 2008

"Hella Flagella (salmonella virus)", 24" x 20", acrylic on canvas, 2008

"gourd", 10" x 10", acrylic on canvas, 2008

Latest WIP update and one finished

2008-07-21T10:13:00.002-05:00

detail from work in progress

untitled biomorphic landscape, 12" x 4", acrylic on canvas

Digital funtime

2008-07-17T22:06:00.003-05:00

I finally bought myself a replacement digital tablet...the last one ran on Windows 95, if that gives you any indication of how long it's been. I chose the Wacom Bamboo "Fun" tablet and I'm pretty impressed with it so far. It came with Adobe Elements and a watered down version of Corel Painter...well worth the $99 price tag. It's got a smallish work surface but that doesn't bother me as much as my smallish iBook screen.

Here's the first "sketch". It's not bad as a stand-alone tool, though I'm really looking forward to using this to enhance/finish my works-in-progress.

He met the Walrus.

2008-07-10T11:23:00.001-05:00

I'm painting and painting and painting...and intend to post photos in the near future. Until then, here's a video treat.

"In 1969, a 14-year-old Beatle fanatic named Jerry Levitan, armed with a reel-to-reel tape deck, snuck into John Lennon's hotel room in Toronto and convinced John to do an interview about peace."

I do. I do. We did.

2008-06-28T08:58:00.007-05:00

This morning I deleted my other blog, one you probably didn't know existed. It was called "Doctor Boy and Artist Girl Get Hitched: A guide to an ethical, eco-friendly wedding on a budget without alienating friends or family and without losing my mind in the process".

Why? Last week, we eloped.

Sure, we're gonna have a celebration when the good doctor has vacation this fall. And we have yet to say our "real" vows (we mumbled something at the county clerk's office...couldn't tell you what they were). Still, every time I look over and see the ring on his finger, I get a little choked up.

We told no one beforehand (except his mom who called at 7am that morning). June 20th was the summer soltice and had been the first date we'd talked about for nuptials when we were still living in Boston. So Friday, even though we knew it was just a formality, we were both anxious on the drive downtown...rings in pocket, paperwork in purse, lumps in throats. The process is quick, surreal and painless: fill in the form, sign here, hand over check, cash for the "ceremony", repeat after me, and *poof* kiss your spouse.

We were so dazed after that we had no idea what to do next. So, even though we were dressed to the nines, lunch at one of our favorite lowkey spots seems better to relax the nerves. Champagne toast and tofu wraps at PM. He was talking about palliative care in the ICU and I started crying..not because of the morose subject but because his shiny new ring had caught my eye and all I could think was "This man is my husband!". I cleared up the confusion as soon as I could talk again.

After catching a bubbly buzz, the Mr. drove us home to change clothes. Then back downtown for the International Puppet Festival at the Nashville Library. I spent the previous week helping friends Adrian and Lon with their puppet show set and had procured tickets to see world-famous-marionette-r/ist (?) Philip Huber many month ago. It was fun to see our friends, many who were actually filming the festival, and not tell them about our morning. We poked around the downtown area between shows, in a daze, grinning like fools.

That evening, at Randy's (belated) birthday party, I insisted on a champagne toast to the birthday boy and amended "And to my husband". Randy's jaw bounced off the kitchen floor...it was my second favorite part of a truly spectacular day.

Our first week of married bliss has been terribly amusing...he's on an ICU rotation that keeps him at the hospital every 3rd night and I have worked everyday this week (highly unusual!) painting for Filmhouse and assisting at an art camp in Hendersonville. Plus, a short visit from Mom and a very productive studio session where I finished 3 little paintings and pushed forward on a 4th. As I told a friend, this has been a very easy slide into marriage.

That's all for now, Dear Readers... and I do think that's plenty.

Yes, that's "Honeymoon" brew.

Ship of Fools - Ship of Hope Blog

2008-06-15T10:58:00.003-05:00

Julie Collins - Johns posted a "cata-blog" of all the ships and statements that she's received for the Ship show : http://shipoffools-shipofhope.blogspot.com/

The work is excellent! Just like the Earth Day project, there will be a live online collaboration through artist "808"'s website during the Yarra Sculpture gallery opening. If you would like to participate, you are asked to email for a reservation here: rsvp-virtual-state@8-o-8.org . However, this event occurs at 6-8pm, June 18th Australian EST time...which I believe is about 3-5am June 17th Central time. Dunno about that ;)

Ship "pod"

2008-06-06T10:43:00.006-05:00

I'm so incredibly happy with the end result of this "ship of fools-ship of hope" project, and my little ship is sailing it's way to Australia at this moment. Some of the other artists have shared their images with me already and the variety and imagination expressed is simply amazing.

Here's a photo of the ship assembled, which every artist was sent:
And here is the end result:

You know, I just now realized that I didn't take the dimensions before I sent it off. I'm gonna go with 14" x 8" x 4 1/2". Made with plastic boat parts, gaffer tape, gesso, paper, wire, acrylic & intereference paints and (unknown variety) seedpods.

ship of fools, ship of hope, one world

2008-06-04T13:16:00.005-05:00

ship of fools
ship of hope
one world

curated by Julie Collins
Trish Semple - Northern Ireland
Roxanne Brousseau-Felio - Canada
Michael Markham - Canada
Marsha Pels, - USA
Yvonne Kendall - Germany (ex Australia)
Cliff Burtt - Washington, USA
(ex Austraila)
John Kelly, Ireland (ex Australia)
Julie Collins - Australia
Derek John - Australia
Lea Tomson - Estonia
Frederic Boulleaux - France
Martine Kaczynski - USA
Jack Fisher - USA
Shana Kohnstamm - USA
Morwenna Catt - England
Kelly Strachura - USA
Ralph Essex - England
Jessica Levy - Ireland
Rui Aço, Fernando Vidal, Freitas Cruz– Portugal
Pennie Steel - Australia
Anette Kristiansen, - Norway
Lucas Richard Stephens - Norway
_8_0_8_
Sandra Minchin - Ireland
MonTana - Netherlands
Patricia Sea - Germany
Helen Masacz - England
Srdjan Markovic - Serbia
Takaki Hashimoto - Japan
Louise Gains - Wales
Elizabeth Presa - Australia
Lee Boyd - Ireland
Otto Holler Druckgrafik - Germany

OPENING WEDNESDAY 18 JUNE 2008 6-8PM
EXHIBITION 18 JUNE - 6 JULY 2008
YARRA SCULPTURE GALLERY
117 VERE STREET ABBOTSFORD 3067
MELWAYS REF:10K
OPENING HOURS WED-SUN 12 - 5.30
TELEPHONE 9419 6177

INFO@YARRASCULPTURESPACE.COM.AU
YARRASCULPTURESPACE.COM.AU

YARRA SCULPTURE GALLERY
Presents

SHIP OF FOOLS
SHIP OF HOPE
ONE WORLD
Gallery 1,2 & 3
35 Artists from 13 countries respond
to global warming.
Many international artists are courtesy of spreadart.net
To partake in the interactive forum during opening
email rsvp-virtual-state@8-o-8.org
Curated by Julie Collins

CNN's Ireport video link

2008-06-03T12:57:00.003-05:00

Click here to be taken to the CNN link.

They did not list all of the artists' names (sadly including mine) but you will see me about 50 seconds in. Kinda cool!

late late night

2008-05-24T02:52:00.003-05:00

It's been years since I burned the midnight oil. Normally my creativity and motivation collide around the mid-day hours of 11ish-3ish, which makes for an uneven day to say the least.

I'm working on a project* now that because of a crazy deadline I've had to think about much harder than usual, before I could even start. And because my brain hates me, I usually get the best ideas while I'm drifting (or trying to drift rather) off to sleep. Today was "go day" and I blasted out of the gate much faster and more determined and got a remarkable amount of work done. So I simply assumed that the brain would let me go peaceful to my dream-time bliss. Not so!

It's been 3 hours since I exited the bed, (though it feels like only 1)and there's nothing else to do until things dry. I'm curious whether the deadline or the change in discipline (sculpture rather than painting) has sparked this nonsense...all I know for sure is that I'm itchy to work more tomorrow and that my fingers are quite bruised.

*more on this later.

Mary Mack video

2008-05-21T11:49:00.004-05:00

What does Mary Mack have to do with art, you ask? Well, I do have one story about the time she stayed at my house and tried to sleep in my studio.

"I just couldn't fall asleep with all that creative energy in there. But, I'm neurotic like that." she said.

I love it when she comes to visit!

Enjoy the video:

Finding (& Buying) Inspiration

2008-05-12T14:19:00.003-05:00

In light of new directions, I caved in to my succulent cravings and pick up these little beauties at the HD today. Perhaps it's due to the never-ending growth of my grandmother's 40-something "hens & chicks" plant, but I am fascinated by the variety and textures of these fleshy plants. My plan is to continue to grow my "texture garden" and in return grow my own range of new art textures.

Unfocused

2008-05-09T10:55:00.004-05:00

If I dared to count unfinished paintings right now, I bet there are over 3 dozen...from the large 3' x 4' canvas that's haunted me for several years, to the 5" x 5" gems, to the one that "showed up" on my easel two days ago.

That whole corner is packed with the un-dones... daunting, like a dozen babies crying for attention. There was a point in my artistic career that I would "finish" a painting in a day and be happy. I kinda miss that.

Detail -WIP

2008-04-28T14:23:00.002-05:00

This is a piece I started on while in Boston, and I've just brought it out again to toy with. I'm enthralled with the texture, but the face is really giving me fits. As usual, the nose is too long although from this angle it doesn't look half bad...

Earth Day 2008 International links fixed

2008-04-23T11:31:00.001-05:00

Yesterday was Earth Day, and as part of an international group of artist, yours truly went out to the corner of 28th Ave & Poston armed with a geranium and a camera.

All over the world, in 16 countries, 36 artists like myself were doing the exact same thing and tomorrow it will be presented online here : www.8-o-8.org at 10am Nashville time.

Here's a preview: Earth Day 2008
and a BIG Thanks to Randy for making sure I didn't get run over!!

Look, a poll!

2008-04-22T11:38:00.003-05:00

I'm a mental blogger....very little of what I think about blogging makes it to the computer. Part of it has to do with the "professional" image. For example, if a commercial art gallery comes along and takes a look at my website/online portfolio and then decides to peruse my blog and I've just ranted about my consuming hatred of Wal-Mart, or a how I'm unsure if I really want to go to my high school reunion, will they think I'm incredibly mundane/half-mad and pass up representing me.

On the other hand, who cares!? Right? I guess I do. But...here's the thing. I have SO MUCH TO SAY. Of course, I can't remember any of it right now. I do my best mental blogging right before I fall asleep.

"Get to the point, Shana". Yeah...there's a poll over there --->. Vote. Let me know (all 4 of you that read this) and tell me what you want.

Happy Earth Day!

2008-04-22T10:59:00.002-05:00

I was asked by Roxanne Broussea-Felio and artist 808 to join 36 artists in 16 countries to participate in this art event. Pictures to be posted soon!

Go to 808's website and click on the left hand "808" button for more info.

What is Art?

2008-04-06T09:58:00.000-05:00

Animation by Creature Comforts

Quickie gourd painting

2008-03-25T15:19:00.004-05:00

Off in the far corner of the Nashville Farmer's Market there is a strange booth with the typical veggie fare and foliage, but push back a little further and you'll find a collection of gourds. Large, small, dried, full, familiar and alien shapes. I couldn't resist and bought 3 (for $7.50!). This pumpkin has been sitting on my living room table for a week, enticing me with it's fleshy goodness. Today I could no longer resist and painted it's portrait.
It's been ages since I painted from life...and solely with brushes...and without mediums. Tiny canvas too. 10" x 1o". I enjoyed using the gallery-wrap edges to continue the image. Took about 2 hours once I got into the swing of it.

Detail - untitled 0108

2008-02-26T14:00:00.002-06:00

I'm loving this painting more and more. The in-progress movie kicks buttocks, as well.

To finish what was started: questioning a return to school

2008-02-26T08:53:00.003-06:00

I've been chewing on the idea of going back to school, to finish the BFA that I abandoned nearly 15 years ago. Certainly I'm questioning my motivation and the point of it all. What would a BFA get me that I don't already have? What, if any, opportunities would be available to me? How would my personal work change? And, truly..do I want homework again!?

In 1993 (1994?) I left the Fine Art program at UTK, my heart wasn't in it anymore. My advisor was a painter going through some serious hardships while I was enrolled, and he had personally held me back from entering my junior studio classes. Shortly before I left I had seen his work for the first time and was completely disillusioned. I no longer respected him as an artist. My time at UTK was my second attempt at higher education, the first was at the Art Academy of Cincinnati, right out of high school. I was not a very good student, perhaps I should have prefaced this internal debate with that fact. Somewhere in the beginning of my 3rd year there, I was exhausted with school, mediocre grades, projects, papers and exams. I left to join the working world. 6 months later I was back in Nashville, broke and ready to try school again.

I did learn while in school..I'm sure of it. I had never drawn a nude before college. In fact, my academic career began with the notion that I was a Graphic Designer (Communication Arts). This was years before everyone had a computer. There were only a handful of Apples in the upper level labs, and I distinctly remember typing my papers with White-Out in hand. I was sloppy, with inks and ruling pens, markers, gouache. My designs were awful, my craftmanship worse. It was in a Color & Design class, after I had bullshitted my way through another project, that my instructor suggested I "talked like a painter". The outrage!! What the hell did he know?

The following semester I took Painting 1, more as a challenge to myself than any serious endeavor. I'd never worked with oil paints before. The first 3 paintings were done outside (still can't stand working out in the elements) and I had the notion that turpentine was to be used as water to dilute the paint. I was disgusted with the whole process. It was messy, smelly and unpredictable. By the end of the semester, however, I had switched my major to Fine Art much to the chagrin of my parents. I minored in sculpture, a fact that even I have to remind myself every now and again.

So here I am, no idea how many credits I actually earned, so many of them not transferable during the move to UTK. How much longer would it take to earn a BFA? I would guess 2 years, maybe less. I keep asking myself "why?". What do I hope to gain? I recall the "non-traditional students" in my classes. Usually older women (my age!) who had raised children and were now taking the time for their own educations. They rocked the boat, they challenged instructions and made their teachers earn their pay. At the time I loathed them but I realize now how much they enhanced my learning.

The main question is still: what will I gain by going back to school, jumping through (Hasbro) hoops and acquiring a piece of paper that says Bachelor's? I'd love some feedback.

New Etsy shop

2008-02-19T18:40:00.004-06:00

Etsy: Your place to buy & sell all things handmade
shanagallery.etsy.com

My current website host isn't set up for sales so I've been reluctant to even list prices. Like most artists, I really DO want to sell my work. There is nothing more validating to know that someone is spending their hard earned dollars on something you created. Etsy has a good reputation for sales (or at least for easy listings) and I'm trying to thin out some of my inventory. Plus, I promised DB (and myself) that I would not give anything else away for a while.

Since I'm so excited about the new work, it'll easier to let a lot of these older pieces find new homes. Keep an eye out for more paintings to be listed.

new drawing

2008-02-13T10:47:00.002-06:00

9" x 12", watercolor drawing.

In progress movie

2008-01-31T11:12:00.001-06:00

This is another piece that's based off one of the little biomorphic drawings (dated April 2006). The "movie" is from 4 days of painting...definitely making some serious headway here, folks.

Click here for movie link

The canvas is 48" x 36".

**Ok, for the life of me I can't figure out how to post a movie here without it compressing beyond recognition. Bear with me. **