The Laramie Project and Montessori Schools

I donated these two images from the Laramie Project to the new Montessori school in Laramie. One of the ladies in my Bible study is playing a huge role in setting up the school and sitting on the board. She asked me to donate some work; I decided to donate two photographs. Here they are.

The Connor: Hallway

The Connor: Window

Kevin Sloan

Pat Kikuit, University of Wyoming professor and the Student Art League Adviser, is a good friend with Kevin Sloan. Sloan was a part of the Visiting Artist Series at UW a few years back. We (the Student Art League students and Pat) were able to have lunch with Kevin and tour his studio). It was a great opportunity to meet/re-meet this fascinating and talented painter from Santa Fe, New Mexico. Three of the most significant pieces of advice which he gave us included…

      1. Have your studio space be a place you are comfortable in.  It should be a place where you want to spend time.  His studio included a “work” area, a couch, a desk and an inspiration area.  Though his studio was quite large I think this can be achieved in a smaller space.

      2. Don’t approach galleries too soon.  Right out of graduate school/college is not always the right time to pursue representation at a gallery space.  There is a good chance you are not ready.  One of the first galleries Sloan approached looked at his work and said “keep doing this and come back in 5 years." This was not because the gallery did not like his work but rather because he simply was not ready.  Another reason to wait may be that you have not developed enough solid bodies of work at this time in your career.

3.   3. When you are working it is acceptable to accept distractions.  For Sloan, distractions (such as phone calls and visitors) are a way for him to get his mind on something else and often lead to great revelations.

What advice do you have for emerging artists?  What is the best advice you received as an emerging artist?

Klein Collection

Work by Kiki Smith

While we were in Santa Fe, we were given the opportunity to visit the Klein's art collection.  A couple of the students there were in an art history class studying contemporary minimalism and they knew nearly every artist in the show.  It was pretty neat.  We saw several work by Andy Goldsworthy, which I was excited about.  We walked on a trail that he built and walks on many summers while creating work.

See more photos on Facebook

This was part of an installation.

Great Lesson Plans Online

13 Art Lessons that I found on a great blog for art teachers.  I think that these would be perfect for the boys I give lessons to over the summer.

1. Back to School Backpacks

2. Surrealism and Picture Consequences 

3. Paper, Scissors, Glue   
Lesson 2

4. Mehndi Hands

5. Dia De Los Muertos

6. Spectacular Skies

7.  Boxes
Boxes 2

8. Draw what you Build

9. Cardinals in the Snow

10. Chinese New Year

11. Crazy Hair Day

12. Molas 

13. Artist Trading Cards

Book Artist Sharon McCartney

 Oh, I absolutely love Sharon McCartney's Artist Books. 

She also has paintings, watercolors, fiber arts and mixed media.

I am curious to know how I can incorporate graphic design into book arts.
I found one way.

I know that there are ways, but how can I make it my own?

Moonlight And Music
Mixed Media Vintage Compact Book
3.25"H x 3.25"W

This makes me want to take the Book Arts class in the near future...

Here are the books I have taught myself how to make so far.  

These are just using scraps nothing facny, just trying to learn the basic techniques. 

My Work in the Student Art League Show had a zine with it.
I was actually told that I would like books arts but a couple of the girls there.

Zines could be one way to combine books and graphics.

My second and favorite book

My first book (well since 5th grade) 
Short Lived - Just got into the Book Arts Show at WOW

Muertos Mask

Here is my mask for the Ivinson Memorial Hospital Foundation fundraiser.  This year's proceeds will be going to support cancer research.  The pre-ball was the evening of Friday May 20 and the actual event, La Grande Fleur, was Saturday. .

I designed this mask with the Dia De Los Muertos masks as a source of inspiration. Within the first few hours of the pre-ball event my mask sold in the silent auction (two others did as well).  My mask was pictured on page 3 in the Laramie boomerang May 20, 2011 so check it out.

4orMore

Art Alley
Felicia Follum
Photography

Every year the University of Wyoming's Student Art League does an excellent fundraiser, The 4 or More Show.   The 4 or More event is composed of cutting 4”x4” panels of Masonite and mounting them onto balsa wood strips.  Each member takes 4 or more squares and creates some form of artwork on them.  They can also be used as a pedestal for a three-dimensional piece. 

For the actual sale the league picks a night when there is a concert or some other large event in the Fine Arts building, hangs the pieces on the kiosk wall and holds a silent auction.  The prices range from $4 to $44 in increments of, you guessed it, 4.  We usually sell upwards of 100 squares.

This fundraiser is excellent and raises a significant amount of money.  This past year my squares all sold for at least $16.  I was quite excited. 

Visit my website to see the rest of the images from this year and to see my squares from past shows.  One of my favorites from the past was a wood burned image of my salamander that stretched across two pieces.  A professor bought these two squares for her son.

Liquid Jesus
Felicia Follum
Photography

Dragonfly
Felicia Follum
Photography

Barnacles
Felicia Follum
Photography

Spider
Felicia Follum
Photography (no Photoshop)

I think that I would like to use this technique in the future to mount larger art pieces....Hmmm but what?  Any ideas?  What would you place on a 4"x4" square?