Drawing for Designers

I've been flipping through DRAWING FOR DESIGNERS since i got it not too long ago but hadn't really sat down and read the chapters. Some of the reading are hard to get through without losing my attention/ interest. This book looked a little more like a textbook than a fun book so I was sort of avoiding it. I did finally read chapter 3:TOOLS AND MATERIALS (p.72-89) and the case study on David Goodwin (p.106-107). I was surprised with how much i enjoyed the tools and materials chapter. I thought, "how interesting can pencils really be?" Turns out it had a lot of good information like an overview of the material,  descriptions, history/inventor, and how to use/helpful tips. My favorite part of the book are the pictures. I love to see other peoples sketches. I think it's fascinating how people put their ideas on paper and to see everyone's different styles. No one sketches a like and i think that's so freakin cool. 

[off the topic: i want the book "New Perspectives in Drawing"!]

 I never thought of pencils as the "most economical and eco friendly drawing implement, capable of creating a wide range of marks, which can be easily erased" (p.72). Today we do take a simple pencil (+colored and mechanical pencils) for granted, apparently back in the day pencils were "worth 

their weight in gold" because there were so few and such a high demand. I knew there were different grades of graphite pencils but i didn't know what everything stood for, etc... Now i know. The example sketch by Isao Hosoe for the pastels(oil+ chalk) was really nice. I wish my rendering sketches looked like that! Pens are normally used during the concept stage. It's done free hand with various types of pens like ball point, fiber tip, brush, or dip. Brush pens are especially popular because you have the freedom of a varied line. I think technical pens (mircon) are  more for the presentation sketches with stencils, if they aren't done on the computer. I love to work with pen, a gel or ball point for all my sketches. I never use pencil. I don't know why i wouldn't use a pencil because i could erase but I just love drawing with pens or brush with ink. Markers are nice for presentation sketches because nice ones can be blended like prisma colors (if you can afford them). Paint and ink are another one of my favorite mediums. Watercolor, gouache, or transparent drawing inks can all be used in rendering. Airbrush was a really popular technique to get photorealism but it has mostly been replaced with computer graphics. Sometimes computer drawings can be more accurate than hand drawing.... i said it, okay? David Goodwin felt the same way but i'll get to that later. 

Drawing instruments are used when the designer wants clean lines/ curves and is not rendering in the computer. It's better than free hand drawing but not as good as the computer. Drawings done with tools like a compass, dividers, rulers, protractors, squares, and curve stencil templates can make a presentation much neater and crisper. *"Computer generated curbes are now more accurate and controllable" (p.89). Another factor that can take your presentation to the next level, is making sure you use the right paper with the right mediums. There are different textures, weights, thicknesses, and qualities. Vellum paper is a favorite among engineering drawings. Drawing boards are still used in design studios where they only do CAD but they are great for brain storming too. 

I think we should all to sketch in different mediums like paint, ink, etc to experiment because something might just work for you. I love using watercolors and ink in my sketchbooks. I'm not a very neat designer, i'm more gestural. I'm working on it by using graph paper and a ruler. Also, the more i read, the more i find out how important computer skills are... I actually want to learn that stuff now (sorry for doubting Jan). 

updated skill list

sewing

quilting

drawing

painting
Welding steel (2D& 3D)
chain making (mostly steel, kind of in silver)

sawing
drilling
rivets
slots & tabs

annealing
Sweat-solder-band ring

Joint-solder

Filing

Sanding
patina- heat & liver of sulfer
raising the silver

letter stamping

Dapping (forming in the stump)-tea infuser

hammer Texture

Scribe Texture
Hard wax carving

Sheet wax fabrication

wire wax fabrication

casting bronze

die forming

decking

sinking

raising

boughing

planishing

ponoko

grinding/ finishing larger steel objects

"... living in the uneasy utopia of a model world"

[Billboard 60x40 oil on canvas 2008]
Tonight I went to an exhibition at Mcdaniel college featuring Lillian Bayley Hoover.  It was a series of paintings of dolls in American settings that "investigate the unsettling realm of international political conflict." Many Americans have been experiencing the Iraq war from a distance but as the soldiers come back, we will learn the truth, their experiences, pains, struggles, etc. The plastic dolls represent us and how the Iraq war has touched us. They are supposed to represent "individuals, living in the uneasy utopia of a model world. External signifiers suggesting a greater embattled reality interrupt the this world, imposing themselves on the viewer."(- from artist statement) It's true that most Americans don't have a close friends or family in Iraq and it does not affect them directly. My godchild's father/best friend's husband is currently in Iraq and i pray every day that he will come home safe and sound. It doesn't hit me as hard as my best friend but I see what this war has done to the family of the soldiers gone. 

I thought it was interesting to see i each painting what she painted in focus and what was left blurred. A lot of them didn't have a real obvious meaning so we spent a lot of time examining each one.

["war tv" 58x46 oil on canvas2006]

hollow forms

Once i heard that we needed to find hollow forms I immediately thought of ceramics. I went to the ceramics studio and Dan Brown let me take pictures of some work that was on the racks.

Here's a few hollow forms that wouldn't print/ or upload to flickr:

we thought this sign was hilarious

Design &Production advice from the pros

Circ Candleholders - Stacked steel rings with deckel-edge texture
9" $125, 12" $135, 15" $145 order any size or mix-um-up!

Thinking about our next project, it was a no brainer to ask the Girardinis advice about their production line.

I emailed Julie about it and told her how i thought using materials and time effiecently, keeping inventory in stock for large orders, having time management, etc were all important.

She replied:

"I'd also suggest setting up your work space so you can easily move through finishing pieces of the same size. Like when we use the stops to brace the material. Have your finishing supplies well stocked and at close hand. This is true in cutting material as well - set stops so you can do multiple cuts.

One thing I have always wanted to do is keep one bag of all the parts it takes to make one piece, then rather than take the time to measure, you can use the parts as your pattern and eliminate the need for any measuring.

Also, Ken takes digital photos of the welding set up and they are in the file of how to make each piece. It may sound stupid, but sometimes you may not remember how to put it together.

Anytime you can tumble finish a piece rather than hand finish saves time.

Basically it helps to streamline the whole process, have separate work areas for all aspects of what you need to do to the piece. IE, the welding area, the spray booth, the grinding area - even a photo area, this saves lots of time."

THANKS JULIE=) All these things work for them and their business. It may be different for all of us but it's the experiences that help us find out what will work.

reading

The Art of Innovation
INNOVATION BEGINS WITH AN EYE

The first thing that stuck in my head when reading chapter 3, was "observation fueled insight that makes innovation possible", it's "uncovering what comes naturally to people." The example that they gave was a heart machine that they made more simple after they had observed how the doctors handled it and made silent after they saw how the patients reacted. In a way it all kind of seemed like common sense factors to change.
Another good point to the chapter was that a company can't just ask and expect to always get an honest response from the customer. We must experience things for ourselves, "seeing and hearing things with your own eyes and ears is a critical first step in improving or creating a breakthrough product".*HUMAN INSPIRATION* The example given for this was the invention of the elliptical.
Some good advice that I got from the reading was to make a "bug list" of your own impressions, reactions, and questions.
When observing or studying people you can't discriminate. Chances are your consumer will range in all ages, shapes, and cultures (unless it's a kid's toy... well even then there are still big kids like my dad). Just because one person likes the product doesn't mean that someone completely different won't like it too, "the best products embrace people's differences." Example: a tooth brush- they aren;t one size fits all. Kids need smaller ones with a fatter handle, they even made the handle soft so it was more like a toy (making it more familiar and fun for the child).
In any situation people look ahead to problems that may come up. Whether it be rain at an outdoor wedding or the cap on a toothpaste tube not being a screw top. Observing people with products can show something or problems that you might now have seen. Everyone does things different. The public couldn't grasp the idea of a pop off cap because of our familiarity with the screw on tops, the company "failed to take human factors into account." So, they compromised and made it a hybrid top with a screw top but with a clean, cone shape.
Motion was another big factor. A static object can look completely different in motion whether that's a good or bad thing. It's fun to think of objects in terms of verbs not nouns. The way consumers interact with a product can change the wholoe design. It's important to think of all these things during the design process to save time and money in the end. I liked this part of the chapter, "if something is broken it CAN be fixed. Just keep your eyes open for inspiration."

quote

"This famous linguist once said that of all the phrases in the English language, of all the endless combinations of words in all of history, that "cellar door" is the most beautiful."

-DONNIE DARKO

looking ahead

I've started thinking a lot about my senior project lately. I've been so worried that i wouldn't be able to come up with something that i was passionate about. One thing Hedi Lowe talked about in Design & Production was having heart in your work. If you don't love what you make, it will never be as good as it could have been. You make your best work out of things you were inspired by and cared about.

My mom teaches at a school near a mental hospital that has new buildings and some old, abandoned ones. It's going to be torn down soon which makes me really sad because i think the buildings are beautiful. I remember seeing them since I was five years old and driving to my mom's school. I had to work for my mom the other day so I drove through the center and took pictures of some of the old buildings. Something about them really fascinates me! So, I started thinking about the what old mental hospitals used to be like, what kind of unprecedented methods they would use for treatment, etc. That got me thinking of all the crazy medical instruments used on patients. There's so many places my mind goes to when i think of all this stuff and possible projects. I'm going to try and talk to someone at the facility to see if i could get escorted around the buildings to take photographs with my nice camera. I'm hoping they will let me because I think actually getting up close and personal to the old buildings would make my projects even better.

It's kind of weird how random ideas will come to me but i'm so excited about this.

die forms

my original form sketches



Here's a few pictures from our die form critique:

Danielle sanding








Sherri scotch bright scrubbing











Sherri's forms








My forms

venting frustrations

I commute an about 2 hours everyday (at least depending on traffic). It's the hardest thing about college sometimes because I get up early and drive with rush hour and home during rush hour. I think people who have the luxury of living within walking distance or even a 10 minute drive don't appreciate it enough. Everyone asks me why I commute, do i like living with my family that much?? Honestly, living at home isn't that bad. Sure i don't get the "college experience" like everyone else, i don't party hard, or get to do whatever i want... i come home fix dinner for the family, and live by my parents rules but it's still home.
[left:bored in traffic... so why not take pictures to document my torment]
[right: (top) pissed off because i'm barely moving
(bottom) BRAKE LIGHTS! ... stopped]

If we had the financial availability then i'm sure i would live in Towson. This summer my dad was laid off from the bank, plus he worked in towson so we always car pooled together. I loved car pooling with my dad because i got to sleep in the car. =) So, not only is losing a job bad but now my family and i have to pay for my gas everyday which sucks right now.

I am so jealous of my peers that don't have the burden of commuting. I never get to go home and take naps in between classes, roll out of bed in time for class, or stay in the studio to work late at night then walk back to my apartment. It's my 4th year commuting and i'm in a way used to it but the daily grind of traffic and parking still beats me down. If i didn't commute i would have an extra 2 hours of free time every day! That blows my mind.

STORY OF MY LIFE!

MORE GIRARDINI ART

A couple that i truely admire! 2 artists that work together to make a busniess work... that's so awesome!
PICTURES FROM THEIR WEBSITE, THESE PIECES WERE IN THE GALLERY BUT THEY LOOK MUCH BETTER THAN THE ONES I TOOK AT THE SHOW:
KEN'S ART- all the photographs in his collages were taken by Ken!

Manhattan River Crossing
Photo Collage on Steel Panel with Patina
20 x 44" $1200

Travel Etiquette
Photo Collage on wood and aluminum
22 x 45" framed $1100

JULIE'S ART- i actually saw a lot of these pieces come together, it was so cool to see them from start to finish.

Washers
"A boat with many holes."
56" x 6" x6" steel $2150

Message Boat
Steel boat with square details and hand sewn sails of vellum
56" long, 30" tall, 6" deep, steel $3400

staying creative

AFTER I DID ALL THAT I COULD DO IN THE STUDIO, I TOOK MY DIE FORMS BACK TO MY BOYFRIEND'S TO FILE AND SAND. I FEEL LIKE ONCE I'M IN THE STUDIO FROM 8AM TO WHENEVER CLASS IS OVER, IT'S TIME TO LEAVE! THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH I CAN TAKE. WHEN IT COMES TO WORK I AM DEFINITELY MORE OF A MORNING/DAY PERSON THAN A NIGHT PERSON. I PHYSICALLY CAN'T WORK LATE AT NIGHT, IT JUST TURNS OUT LIKE SHIT. I DON'T KNOW HOW PEOPLE CAN STAY UP ALL NIGHT IN THE STUDIO... I THINK I WOULD ACCIDENTALLY CUT OFF MY HAND OR SOMETHING. PEOPLE THINK I'M CRAZY WHEN I'M IN THE STUDIO EVERY MORNING BUT IT WORKS FOR ME. I'M NOT GOING TO LIE AND SAY I'M NOT TIRED BUT IT'S NICE TO START A DAY BY BEING PRODUCTIVE.

I FEEL LIKE BEING SURROUNDED BY JEWELRY/ OBJECT DESIGN ALL THE TIME CAN BE INCREDIBLY OVERWHELMING!! I LOVE THE BOOKS AND DOING RESEARCH FOR CLASS BUT SOMETIMES I HAVE TO READ A BOOK THAT I CHOSE OR LOOK AT STUFF THAT DOESN'T APPLY BUT THAT I LIKE. THAT'S WHY I WAS SO EXCITED TO GET THAT JUXTAPOZ BOOK. I FEEL BAD BUT IF I DON'T DO THOSE THINGS, I THINK I WOULD GO INSANE (NOT THAT I'M ALREADY NOT). I THINK IT'S A GOOD THING TO STILL BE CREATIVE AND TAKE A BREAK FROM THE ASSIGNMENTS. FOR EXAMPLE, LAST NIGHT I WENT TO MCDANIEL'S ADVANCED STUDIO WITH MY BOYFRIEND SO HE COULD GET SOME WORK DONE WHILE I FILED AND SANDED MY FORMS. IT WAS STILL AN ART SPACE/ENVIRONMENT BUT I WAS IN A DIFFERENT SPACE! HE PAINTED AS I WORKED ON MY DIE FORMS BUT AS I GOT BORED/NEEDED A BREAK, I'D PAINT TOO (ON THE WALL). I WAS ORIGINALLY A PAINTING MAJOR SO PAINTING IS JUST A NATURAL ESCAPE FOR ME. WHEN I'M AT HOME, BOBBY AND I WILL JUST GET IN A PAINTING MOOD AND WILL PAINT FOR THE EVENING. I'M STILL BEING AN ARTIST AND MY MIND IS STILL IN A CREATIVE MODE EVEN THOUGH I'M NOT DOING JEWELRY (I KNOW I DON'T HAVE ANY EXTRA TIME!). I WISH I HAD ALL THE TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT OF THE JEWELRY STUDIO AT MY HOUSE (ONE DAY HOPEFULLY!). I THINK EVERYONE PROBABLY HAS SOMETHING THAT THEY HAVE TO TAKE TIME OUT OF THEIR DAY TO DO TO STAY SANE.

AFTER THE ARTHUR HASH LECTURE, BOBBY AND I FELT SO INSPIRED AND WE WANTED TO STRIVE FOR MORE. WE WANTED TO DO MORE/ BE MORE AS AN ARTIST. SO I WAS TRYING TO THINK OF CREATIVE CAFFEINE FOR US SO PAINTING EVERY COUPLE DAYS IS GOOD BUT I WANTED TO DO SOMETHING EVERYDAY. IN HIS STUDIO CLASS THEY HAVE TO DO DAILY CHRONICLES AND SINCE HE HAS BEEN SKETCHING EVERYDAY, I SEE A HUGE PROGRESSION FROM WHEN HE FIRST STARTED. SO, I WANT TO START SKETCHING THE SAME THING EVERYDAY FOR AT LEAST 5 MINTUES AND SEE HOW I IMPROVE. I THINK BOBBY AND I ARE GOING TO SKETCH EACH OTHER SINCE IT'S THE SAME BUT SORT OF DIFFERENT EACH DAY. I'LL LET YOU KNOW HOW THAT GOES. SO FAR WE HAVEN'T STARTED YET BUT I WANT TO SOON.

new book

MY COPY OF THE NEW JUXTAPOZ ILLUSTRATION BOOK CAME THE OTHER DAY!! I WAS SOOO EXCITED BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR IT SINCE THEY DID A REVIEW ABOUT IT IN THE MAGAZINE... WHICH REMINDS ME I NEED TO REVIEW MY SUBSCRIPTION. tHIS BOOK IS A COLLECTION OF FEATURED ARTISTS FROM THE MAGAZINE WITH A LITTLE ARTICLE AND A BUNCH OF PICTURES. SOME OF THE ART IS NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART BECAUSE THEY PRETTY GRAPHIC/ WEIRD. I THINK THEY ARE AWESOME BUT OTHERS MIGHT NOT THINK SO. I JUST HAD TO PUT IT OUT THERE THAT I THINK THIS BOOK ROCKS! ALEX PARDEE IS IN IT TOO! I'M TOTALLY EXCITED FOR HIS BOOK TOO. IF YOU LIKE THIS KIND OF ART OR ARE A FAN OF THE MAGAZINE, IT'S DEFINATELY A BOOK TO HAVE.

die forming solution

After my meltdown (sorry jan) I got some food and sleep and woke up the next day determined to fix the problem. Since I'm in a time crunch I couldn't start all the way from the beginning. I ended up cutting of the spots that i thought would be weak and kept the original outside form. It now looks like a pillow but i'm okay with that. I don't like it as much but it will hopefully work.

[center: my die after i cut the middle part]

I still used the copper pieces i had already pressed but surprisingly i love how the first design shows up on these pressings.

[left: my progress after today's class]

[right: detail of new form]

Die forming problem

The last week or so we've been working on die forming. I first cut out the plexi glass, then the masonite board, then the 2 brass pieces. Everytime I cut something it wouldn't line up with the rest of the pieces. I don't know what i did wrong because each time i drew out the design, lined it up, and cut out the same way as the others. So each time i would have to hack parts out and file, file, file.

[left: my progress laid out before the die broke!]

When i finally finished my die, I pressed all 10 pieces of copper 1 time then my 2nd time through, the plexi glass broke where there were tiny detail pieces. I knew this die was going to be challenging (as i found out with cutting it) but i didn't think it would break! So after the plexi glass broke, the brass was bent in and the pressings didn't work at all. I thought the die and all the copper was ruined. I tried super gluing the pieces back in but it didn't work, the press is too strong for it to hold.

[right: 1st pressings]

[center: showing off where the die broke]

internship

8.12: Friday was the first time we had been back to the studio in 2 weeks since the week before was the show. It felt good to get back in there and get some work done. Our main priority was to get the 4 clocks done (2 each). We got most of them done. I have mine all welded but 1 still needs to be finished & 3 sprayed. While Sherri was cutting some stuff I packed a few clocks and did some other production stuff.

[right: 2 clocks ready to be sprayed]

The flat clock was supposed to the the double of the one i had made earlier but i changed it slightly, like adding another leaf to the top. The double to my other one is also different. I pretty much changed all my clocks but Julie said it was okay. It was because my mind kept going and more ideas kept coming out.

[left: pieces for 2 vases]

I chose to work on some vases with the left over leaf forms I had. Julie like my leaf shapes bent after they were welded. I'm really excited to have one of these!!

It's really sad to think that our internship will be over soon. I just want to work on more designs and soak up more information from the Girardinis. I feel like i've learned so much already but there's still more I want to know.

ARtist StAtemENT

For the green design project I decided to use dryer sheets. I brainstormed a lot about materials but this inspired me because i had somewhat experimented with it before. I had only touched on it but hadn't really gotten far. Dryer sheets are thrown away and end up in landfills. They can also be found in abundance in almost every home. The smell of dryer sheets remind me of my mom and home. It gives me and others a sense of security and comfort. I like how much a material can give off an emotion with everyone. There were so many possibilities with dryer sheets that I wish I had more time work on it. The dying process alone has so many variations like what kind of dye, how you apply it, how long you let it sit, and so on. I chose to use Easter egg tablets my mom had saved. I experimented with how long they sat in the dye and what would happen if i dripped it on. I also used some sewing but that ended up taking a lot longer than I had expected. Because the dryer sheets are so thin and delicate, the sewing machine would constantly get jammed or it would pucker the fabric. So, I did a little hand embroidery but that process took too long for production pieces. I liked the way it looked but India ink with a brush worked much faster. Once I had a several sheets dyed, and sewn, I started to cut out different shapes and lengths. I liked the long skinny rectangles the best. The pieces were then grommeted together then attached to an ear wire. Since I had cut down the time, I got to make more pairs of earrings than i thought. It was fun exploring color and shape combinations. I'd like for my project to put ordinary objects on a pedestal. Let the materials that you throw away get some recognition. I want people to take a closer look at the earrings and find out what the material is after touching it. It would be nice for the wearer to be able to smell it and get that comforted feeling. Green design can be fun, innovation, and unexpected.
Creative Caffeine: I worked at least ten ways of manipulating the dryer sheets with various sewing techniques (hand and machine) and dying methods. A lot of time went into different ways to use the material.
box of dryer sheets- $3

easter egg kit- $1

time: 2 hrs- brainstorming

6 hrs- experimenting

3 hrs- putting together

dryer sheet art

I honestly didn't find much out there on dryer sheet art. A lot of it was crafty things like cards or kid's projects. A lot of people thought of sewing and dying them like me but they used things like water color paint. I did not find any jewelry though! Good thing for me. So, in this picture that i found on a kids craft site, they are sponging paint onto the dryer sheets but i actually dipped mine in easter egg dye.

[right: the kids card- cute but not what i'm going for]

dryer sheets!

When I was trying to find projects made out of dryer sheets, I came across this dress several times from twisted textiles. I think it's beautiful and it really shows off the delicate qualities of dryer sheets.

fun fact

I got this little tid bit of info from a weird science blog:

"10 New Uses for Dryer Sheets
Static builds up when fabrics rub together and exchange electrons,” says Behnam Pourdeyhimi, director of the Nonwovens Cooperative Research Center at North Carolina State University, in Raleigh. “Dryer sheets contain positively charged ingredients that are released by heat and movement, such as the tumbling motion of the dryer. These ingredients bond loosely to any negatively charged fabric surface, such as a piece of clothing with static cling, neutralizing the charge and acting as a lubricant.”

Use Dryer Sheets to:
1. Freshen smelly shoes

2. Remove static from clothing, hair, TV screens, and computer monitors

3. Clean pet hair from the floor or furniture

4. Replace a sachet. Keep a dresser drawer smelling fresh

5. Loosen caked-on food from a pan. Place a fresh sheet in the bottom of a dirty pan, fill with lukewarm tap water, and let sit in the sink overnight

6. Tackle suitcase and gym-bag odors

7. Prevent old books from smelling musty when in storage. Stick a dryer sheet between the pages

8. Wipe up sawdust after working in the garage

9. Prevent thread from tangling when sewing

10. Dust venetian blinds. Close the blinds, then wipe up and down

ARTHUR HASH lecture

ARTHUR HASH came to Towson University Thursday night to do a lecture on this alternative methods and materials. I know everyone in my classes had been really excited for him to talk at our school. Jan called him the "poster child of object designers today". Check out his website and blog!! So, i took a lot of notes during the lecture but i thought i'd share a few points:

-in the beginning when he was making brass vessels they started to take on human forms but with minimal abstractions, art on the body

-then there was the "frozen moment in time" theme

-when he experimented with pattern design he was also questioning the value of jewelry for example: smashing silver against concrete for texture

-started to move away from metal to find alternative materials -> Hot Glue Neckpiece 2005, he said it was cool to see how different materials reacted with the body

-pushed the envelope by working a lot with cast polyurethane *non traditional metals & jewelry* ->bracelet stamp *instant jewelry (VERY clever!)

~polyurethane puddle bracelets, "moment in time" idea continued

-*Happy accident coffee stain brooch (powder coated steel)

-he talked about an installation that he did -it was a bunch of plastic tablecloths that he had filled partially with helium, sealed the edges, so they stood up on the ground. The idea was the static electricity would build up and as people came into the room the forms would lean toward you or follow you around. I think it's sort of playing on the idea of people are afraid to touch art at shows and art interacting with its audience. I thought that was so funny and with the way he described it, we all couldn't stop laughing

-works with/and taught digital media, it's less toxic, less time consuming, but objects are still designed by him (used Rhino and a dimension SST 3d printer)

-*one of my favorites: 350 BROOCH INSTALLATION-silhouettes from digital pictures cut out of steel and painted. He said the forst 50 were hand cut but then the rest was water jet cut. I love the way he displayed them on the wall. He said he hoped the piece would sell and everyday that person could pick a different brooch to wear off the wall.

*ICONS: (pink chainsaws, grenade and skull brooch) everyone translates icons differently

-PACKAGING: used stickers, I love how his packaging and displays incorporate elements from previous work as well as the new stuff. Plus it looks freakin awesome!

-Snap out rings- *making your own jewelry*

-using materials that people would normally throw away (moss, old shoes, ping pong paddles)

-He stressed that the internet is a huge source that everyone could find helpful. It's a place where everyone can instantly get comments or critiques (that's why he puts everything on flickr or on his blog). It's a great way to find out what's new and the next thing. *Everything is online!

So, I thought it was cool how he hung out with Jan that day, gave the lecture, and came to our after party to talk even more! I thought he was hilarious and a really good speaker. I wanted to hear more even though it was late and i'm usually dead by then. I think his work is clever and innovative, i kept thinking in my head as he was talking, "how did he think of that!?" I'm so glad he came to towson to speak! Hopefully i'll get to see him at one of the shows or SNAG and ask more questions.

zenith gallery show

Getting ready for a show must be so hectic. I don't know how anyone does it but i hope to one day find out. These pictures were taken in the studio the week before the show when they were doing finishing touches on pieces, etc. This is one of my favorite boats that Julie did. I loved it. She made this handmade book thing that's on top with all sorts of old photos of children in factories. I actually saw a bunch of them in History of Photography. The photos in this piece have also been altered and script was added to the backgrounds (the same script that was patinaed to the outside of the boat). I think it's beautiful! BUT it was behind the sign in book at the gallery so i almost missed it! I think it deserved it's own pedestal or something.

Notice Ken in the background working hard.

I think it's amazing how well Ken and Julie work together. It's like they have strong points where the other may had weak ones. So, it's the perfect match to brainstorm, problem solve, and come out with a beautiful product. They help each other with their projects so in the end the piece is better than it would have been. It's like a mini-design critique that includes Dave every once in awhile.

I also thought it was neat to see the pieces being made and in the studio setting then placed in the gallery.

Singular VISION

Meet the Ken and Julie Girardini :)Last Friday was the opening reception of the SINGULAR VISION show at the Zenith gallery in DC. Sherri and I went to see Julie and Ken Girardini (who we do our internship with). There were also two other artists in the show. On the card it said about the show...

"The outstanding artists in this show create art that stands out in 3dimensions with their singular vision that inspires them to manipulate material, color, light, and viewer perception. Working with canvas, metal, yarns mesh, and mixed-media, Susan Klebanoff, Joan Konkel, Julie, and Ken Girardini stamp their pieces with an unmatched ingenuity that brings them together for this exhibition at Zenith Gallery."

I'd just like to express how proud I was to go there and say that Sherri and I were their interns. We appreciated even more every tiny detail about the pieces and knew how hard they had worked on everything. When we were walking toward to the gallery and i was just amazed at how crowded the streets were and how cool the area was. I really haven't been to D.C. much (mostly when I was a kid) so I was kind of in awe. I was like that last semester when we went on a field trip for a few hours. I would love to spend a day in D.C! The only thing that sucks about it is getting there. The metro wasn't that bad but i wouldn't do it alone. Luckily, Sherri has a good sense of direction and has confidence that she knows where to go so i simply follow. =) [right: Sherri on MISSION: find a resturant for pee break. left: me, ken, and sherri in front of 2 of ken's pieces]
The Giardini's work in the show was so unique compared to the other things. Unforunately, some of the work was placed in odd places, like above the door way or in the corner, etc (not their fault). I was like a proud mother who couldn't stop telling people how good it was and how beautiful things were. I took so many pictures of the pieces but i think there's way too many to post so i'll have to limit it: