One Rare Bird

Crush of the Week: Girl Crush Portland (with Lisa Golightly and The Jealous Curator)

This past Saturday I attended Girl Crush Portland with the very lovely Lisa Golightly and my all-time favorite blogger, Danielle Krysa (aka: The Jealous Curator), where I met some wonderful new friends and found some much-needed validation after the previous days’ chaos.

The morning started out with yummy coffee, pastries, and getting-to-know-you conversations that quickly turned into a beautiful three hours full of sharing our stories, empathetic head-nodding, and an exercise from The Artist's Way to help us reach deeper into our passions. I keep thinking back on the morning and am amazed at how quickly I opened up to these women I had just met. I'm not usually so quick to give it all away up front like that, and my first reaction is to feel uncomfortable with such quick vulnerability, but these women weren't just anyone. I felt like I'd known them my whole life.

After taking a mid-day break and devouring a delicious lunch, we went down to Lisa's studio where we created collage pieces on beautiful Plywerk panels. We consumed more coffee and enjoyed sweet mini cupcakes while continuing our previous conversations between bouts of quiet concentration. The time went by way too quickly and I was sad to say goodbye, but I am grateful to have been part of such an encouraging and lovely experience. Here’s a little peek into our day…

The Morning...

The Afternoon...

Crushing on "Girl Crush"

It's no secret that I've harbored a passionate crush for Danielle Krysa (aka: The Jealous Curator) for sometime now, and when I found out earlier this year that Danielle was organizing small get-together's, called Girl Crush, for artists all over the country, I knew I had to be involved. The icing on the cake - not only literally since there will be cupcakes and pastries involved - is that Danielle is bringing Girl Crush to Portland on June 9th, and two of my biggest crushes will be there: Danielle herself and Lisa Golightly (aka: Kiki & Poly). This is a chance for local artists to "to walk away from our computers, and actually meet in person for a glorious, creative, pastry-filled day. To figure out a way to break through artist blocks. To get inspired, and recharged. To celebrate being women artists… and obviously, to have a reason to eat lots of pretty little cakes & tarts in the middle of the day!" And just look at what an amazing day Danielle has planned...

ART WORKSHOP + TEA PARTY
Portland, Saturday June 9th 2012
~ 14 people {including Danielle and Lisa} for an entire Saturday of creative fun!
~ 9am tea & coffee & pastries & chatting {kind of like a "pre-tea party" party!}
~ a talk by Danielle re: women/art/insecurities/inspirations
~ a talk about insecurities/inspirations from Lisa Golightly {a working artist who also feels blocked sometimes - after all, it happens to the best of us!}
~ everyone introduces themselves/share their issues {artist blocks, too many ideas but not executing any!, etc}
~ break into groups and do 2 to 3 exercises to help with these issues {just requires a fancy notebook & pencil, which will be provided}
~ tea party lunch {catered by a local restaurant/bistro ~ sandwiches & salads, followed by lots of fancy little treats!}
~ after lunch we'll make some art with lisa, based on our morning talk, and you can take it home and hang it on your wall - something nice to look at on those days when you are feeling blocked!
~ 6pm whoever wants to go out for dinner together can… but if everyone is pooped, we'll just call it a day. sound good? YES!

And if - God forbid - you're not familiar with Lisa Golightly, here's a sneak-peek at her amazing work...

If you happen to be available on June 9th you should definitely plan on coming, and if you're not available then I strongly suggest you drop your plans! Look at how awesome Girl Crush was in San Francisco with Lisa Congdon...

I hope to see you there!

Crush of the Week: Andrew Lonnquist

I recently took another job working for the Salem Art Association - which means I get to spend my days surrounded by all kinds of lovely art and creative types - and I can't tell you how much I'm loving it! The first thing I did  with my discount at our gallery was buy these cement faces by Andrew Lonnquist of Olander Earthworks. I love how they express the myriad of emotions I can feel in any one day, and I think they look especially charming over the fireplace!

"Wrath"

"Kisser"

"Surprise"

"Bliss"

"Burst"

"Laughter"

The kids were afraid of the faces at first and didn't want me taking their picture in front of the fireplace because they didn't want them in the background, but their oddness is one of the things I love most about them and the kids seem to be warming to the already...

Crush of the Week: Naughty Betty

I'm not sure I've mention before how addicted I am to greeting cards and ephemera in general, so let me go public with my addiction by sharing one of my new favorite card companies: Naughty Betty (aka: Christine Montaquila and Courtney Weinberg). When I say I love greeting cards I don't  just mean any old greeting card. There are three basic criteria I am looking for in a greeting card: 1) Humor - usually something that pokes fun at the idiosyncrasies of life, 2) Sentiment - it has to have the right sentiment behind the humor or else it's just stupid, offensive, or demeaning, 3) Design - it's gotta look good. So I hope you love Naught Betty as much as I do because Hell really is more fun when you have others who are willing to go with you...

"[Naughty Betty] strives for a life filled with creativity, sarcasm and organized chaos..."

Crush of the Week: Joe Rychebosch

I first came across the work of Portland based artist Joe Rychebosch last December at Crafty Wonderland, and I'm ashamed of myself for not having shared his work sooner. I mean who doesn't love images of wildlife enhanced with antiquated architectural drafting tape in a myriad of colors? I want to step into one of these psychedelic nature scenes, set up camp and never leave. So all future crushes be warned: you have BIG shoes to fill with Joe Rychebosch on the loose!

Thank you Joe for being my Crush of the Week. I offically can't live without those caribou on my living room wall!

Crush of the Week: Samantha French

I can't believe our end-of-summer vacation has already come and gone. I probably won't be sitting next to a pool again until next year, but that doesn't mean I can't still enjoy a little warm-weather fantasy from time to time, and that's where artist Samantha French comes in. I'm in love with everything I've ever seen of her work, but my very favorites are her underwater paintings. I'm not sure how she does it, but Samantha somehow keeps things abstract and modern while still evoking a strong sense of reality with her paintings. I could seriously live in one of these! Therefore Samantha's work has become my official go-to "happy place" all year round, not to mention one of my biggest crushes.

Thanks Samantha for being my Crush of the Week. If you ever need someone to model for you while floating in a pool, I'm your girl! xo

Crush of the Week: Marcia Hindman

Marcia Hindman is another artist I met at the Salem Art Fair a few weeks ago. I was immediately drawn in by her colorful and heavily-textured acrylic paintings, and even more so by her inviting and energetic spirit. Marcia talked with John and me for a long time about her work and I couldn't help but feel excited by her passion for painting. She even invited our opinion on a few pieces she was still in the process of completing. Marcia is also one of the most adorable and talented people I've ever met, and she didn't even consider herself a "real" artist until just a few years ago! Now all I need is one of these crush-worthy paintings for myself and life will be complete.

Thank you Marcia for being my Crush of the Week. You, and you're work, are truly delightful! xo

Crush of the Week: Christopher Bibby

I met Christopher Bibby two weekends ago at our local art fair and was immediately drawn to his colorful and wonderfully textured cityscapes. Originally from Glasgow, Christopher wandered his way into the heart of Portland - and vice versa - where he has set up shop and now employs his talents using oil paints, wax, pencils, crayons, and mark-making tools to create his numerous works. The fact that Christopher was so friendly and open when talking with us about his art as well as urban farming, his world travels, and his brilliant idea for "CraigsFace" secures a solid place for him amongst the uber crush-worthy.

Thank you Christopher for being my Crush of the Week. You, and your talent, are truly amazing! xo

Crush of the Week: My Kids' Art Show

Last week my kids each had a painting featured in our Library's art show. It was really fun to see them excited about making something for the show and I loved being able to teach them some basics about color mixing and composition. Haven drew a castle with a striped door and unicorns then painted it in with impressive precision. She then outlined everything with a black sharpie. Brannock used painters tape to create colorful stripes, then glued images of Darth Vader and Storm Troopers over the top. I was seriously impressed with their ideas, creativity, and bold confindence, and was even inspired to make a painting myself. Here's a little peek at the process from start to finish...

Crush of the Week: Zoe Pawlak

As a would-be artist myself I can't think of anyone who's artwork I'd love to replicate more than that of Zoe Pawlak. I have tried to paint in muted colors and realistic images, but I just can't seem to stay away from abstracts and color. Lots of color. And it appears, neither can Zoe. Her landscapes are to die for! I could look at her paintings for hours and never grow tired of them. This is one crush that makes me endlessly, colorfully happy...

"Zoe Pawlak is a contemporary artist known for her unique approach to form and colour. She works with a broad client base to create ambitious, site-specific commissions, while exhibiting her paintings in solo and group shows internationally. She is also a sought-after consultant and curator who draws innovative connections between today’s market and how buyers are collecting art."

 Thank you Zoe for being my Crush of the Week. I am truly inspired :) xo

{via The Jealous Curator}