MIA

Sorry friends and blog watchers. I have been seriously MIA on here because big HUGE changes have happened in my life.

1. Quit my day job
2. Took new day job
3. New job started the same week as the organizations biggest yearly fundraiser, a gallery opening and the following week when I needed to process and balance everything from fundraiser event and opening there was another Gallery closing.

Suffice to say life has been BUSY!

Let me start with saying I LOVE my new job. I love it so much and what it means to me that I took a pay cut to be where I am. Gallery Manager and Organizational Administrator for the Ohio Art League.
It is everything I was looking for in a job. Working in the community, working with other artists and organizing events and meeting new people to make opportunities for other artists and friends.
I learned from my years being a part of Independents day and this year amping up what I do with Craft Alley that this was the kind of work I really enjoyed. More importantly it was something that didn't kill my passion for my personal art as well. Instead it enhanced and inspired me more.

2012 has held a lot of pitfalls and disappointment for me in the professional area with my missed teaching opportunities, failure to get into an MFA program and financial woes. At the end of 2012 it is looking like a very bright and happy future for me.

My friend Erica who I can't thank enough for always believing in my fashion work and promoting me. She helped get me into the Dead Island 2: Riptide music video. It is my linen skirt and silver halter top that you can see at:

Marks 2:45, 3:08 and 3:15




Directed by Don Tyler
DP: Noel Maitland
Art director: Erica Stewart

Costume designer: Erica Stewart
Wardrobe stylist: Dagmarette Yen
Key makeup artist & hair design: Erica Stewart
Key hair stylist: Jessica Stadel

Ups and Downs

Polyps #1 by Jonah Jacobs

The past week has been a little bit of a roller coaster! Being able to finally announce my participation on the new TLC show Craft Wars. I've been juggling a flood of e.mail from friends, day job, organizing craft vendors for two upcoming festivals, teaching my Pattern class at CCAD, and prepping for my College Preview High School Class also at CCAD. My best friend called and asked me how I find the time to do all of this as I was sitting in a gallery doing some volunteer work for Ohio Art League. I told her I just do. My day job is so unfulfilling that I need to fill the rest of my life doing things I love to counterbalance it all. The above art was one of the pieces that was on display at the Columbus Metro Library exhibit I was volunteering at for artist pick up. I loved all the colors in it and how it reminded me of a deep sea surface covered in barnacles. It reminded me that I need to get back to making art myself and finish up some projects I have been holding off to the side.

I sat down this weekend and took another long look at this Overshot weaving pattern and finally decided to just dive in and get it started. I have my warp threads measured out over a month ago it was time to just try it all out. I was hesitant because I haven't been able to go to my weaving classes regularly with my teaching schedule conflicting this summer and it is a format I have never tried before. I'm one of those people that also hates to waste anything so I feel like if I mess up that I will have wasted some decent wool yarn and a lot of my time.

 I got about half of it threaded in the heddles yesterday and I hope to finished the rest tonight and give it a test run. I've also been obsessed once again in finding a loom for myself to keep. I'm thinking even a rigid heddle is better then nothing. I've taken a gander at Inkle table looms as well but I have a feeling they are not my cup of tea.

In other news, not sure if it's because of the weather or just because I have been much more productive the good ole hands and elbows have needed braces as I work on knitting, tatting, embroidery or typing. I know several other ladies my age who are having the same problems being long time crafters in needle arts. It makes me a little scared that if it's this bad now how much worse will it get as I age? I could never imagine life without being able to craft and create. I think I would just down a bunch of pain pills and carry on.

Do you have any slightly embarrassing injuries to claim?
Tonight is another Episode of Craft Wars! I'm not sure I will get to watch it as it airs due to Red, White and BOOM! tonight but I'll be sure to find a way to catch up on it and blog ASAP!

Cheers and Enjoy the Holiday my Fellow Americans!

Decision, Decisions

Hello Friends!
I've been a bit absent for several reasons mostly aren't excusable but I thought I would tell you anyways.  My older brother for some reason thought it was a smart idea to take my 4 years old netbook instead of his snazzy new macbook with him on a business trip to Korea so my photo uploads have been bunk.  Usually I would upload photos as I watch dramafever and knit on the couch (it's still multitasking even if they are all fun things).  My wonderful husband has also updated my computer which is amazing!  More memory updated programs for my Macmini but it also put my scanner out of commission because it is so out of date it won't install the drivers so once again none of my snazzy fun fuiji instax (polaroids) have been scanned or uploaded (major fail).  Lastly these video submissions I have been working on have been gobbling up more time then I had expected.  It's tough to film something and then try to edit or even upload some 2 hours of footage. 

The image at the beginning is a new piece part of my "delicacies" series that I photographed for my current portfolio.

Aside from giving you all this amusing excuses that isn't what I really wanted to talk about here.  I've been working on another Graduate School Application and this time it was for CCAD where I teach Continuing Education. I had a long talk with the current President of Enrollment Johnathan Lindsay about the state of the school and it's goals and a lot about that fashion department which is my end game goal here.  This application is slightly different then other MFA's.  Instead of asking for a letter of intent they want a project proposal.  This sounded like a fun idea until I read more into the details.  They wanted examples cited and pictures, materials etc etc.  It sounded just like making a proposal that you would make as a working artist for a grant or gallery submission.  This got my wheels turning a bit faster then normal and then to a halt.  As I began my outline of different projects I could possibly propose I thought to myself I don't really know what I am doing and this is kinda what I wanted to go back to school for, to learn how to write a proper proposal as an artist.

Taking a break for a few days I met up with a friend at a coffee shop who has been helpful in my grad school applications and just shooting the shit artist to artist.  He formerly worked at CCAD which is how I knew him.  We discussed the CCAD program which is very exciting and conceptual.  Basically every semester you work on a project for which you proposed, it is an interdisciplinary program so you are free to take classes in any medium.  This also allows you to choose a different mentor/professor to work with each semester as well.  From what I've heard, a majority of these students are also teaching undergrad fine art classes, which I think is excellent. I agreed with my friend that I think this is a great MFA program for someone who is aspiring to be a fine Artist full time.  For majority of artists if they are going straight from undergrad into a grad program this would be useful before they are flung into the real world as it seems they are always able to show their work at the end of the semester.  As my friend pointed out it will enforce people to make their own schedule and deadlines, teach them how to source and network as well as gallery presentation.  As useful as these things are I have been out of school for about 9 years, these are things I have already mostly learned and would rather not learn by trial and error at my stage in life.  After this conversation I found more that it isn't the fit for me in terms of grad school.  As fantastic and open and it is I feel like I would not be getting enough of out it for myself.

On the flipside is OSU who I am still praying that I get accepted.  If not this year I will try again next year.  I look through the coursebook online and I see the potential of things I could take to make my education a cut above other artist and fashion instructors I know. I see learning about practical business skills because let's be honest a fine artist is still a business, you have taxes to pay and deduct you advertise yourself and your work.  You are a merchant for your art.  There are possibilities in getting to critique and discuss with a wider audience of people as majority of the campus are not fine artists but their insight is still critical.  I was discussing with another friend how silly it is sometimes when artists don't branch out to get critiqued by others.  How can you compare yourself to yourself?  I know how to write a proposal but still to take a class to help me make a more powerful or concise artist proposal and statement is what I need.  Perhaps OSU won't have the same close mentorship program that CCAD does but my education does not just stop on what is available on campus. 

Outside of Grad school there are also a plethora of opportunities that I can take advantage of.  I am a committee member now of the Ohio Art League and they continual have Art Informal, which is a meeting of members and free talking/critiquing of the arts in our community.  Through Ohio Art League I know that I could find someone willing to be a mentor for me in my work and it would be just as personal as someone assigned or chosen from school.  There is also no harm is asking a fellow teacher at CCAD to look at my work as a friend and give me a little guidance here and there.  My education is certainly not limited to going to a school but in the end for what I want it is necessary.

End game I want to be a fashion instructor/full time faculty as my JOB.

One Night Fiction

This year's One Night Fiction for the Ohio Art League was in a space at the back of the Library I work at.  Usually I can volunteer for this event one night of set up/decorating and then the night of the event I do ticket sales and other errands.  Since this year was so close to me I got to see the entire set up from start to finish.  I found it pretty amazing how they took such an obscure space and turned it into a great event.  I'll start at the beginning when they were taking in the art work before the space was touched and end with the Video of the Live Auction!

The wide empty space we call "The Cave" was selected for the Event and it is exactly that, large open and dark.  Which is perfect in terms of a gallery since it makes for some dramatic lighting on the artwork and  plenty of walking room without being crowded.

You enter a doorway then through a hallway that opens up into the space.

I am instantly reminded of a Monty Python Quote, "She has LARGE.... Tracks of Land!"

Hanging and Decoration Set up

This was during the initial placing and hanging of the art work

Some of my Favorite pieces

Alissa Head

Morris Jackson

My pieces in the Event
Bubble Scraf Grand (eight feet long)
Tucked Leather -  Crystal Embellished Skirt

During the Event

In the end it looked fantastic and it was another great event.  A lot of successive auctions and happy patrons to the arts.  Having a live auctioneer was a great addition that I hope they continue to have.

The Live Auction of my skirt

Worthwhile

Photo from Dr. Elena 

I have quite a few updates to make but I've been a bit flabbergasted by my fantastic meeting yesterday down at Ohio State University with the Department of Art Graduate Head.  In short all my questions were answered and I'm not behind or in a bad place at all with my application process.  They were very excited to meet me and it was good feelings all around.  I don't want to delve too deeply into it but I made a good impression and they are very supportive of me coming into their program.  The funny thing that I had been pondering, was where I fit in and oddly enough with where my work as an artist is heading I'm going to be more aligned with the ideas of the Art and Tech department rather then the Sculpture department.  Not that I will be giving up any of my  fiber and fashion but my approaches to them and new materials and methods make more sense in Art and Tech. 

In other news this weekend was Fantastic!  I sold both my pieces at the OAL One Night Fiction Event which includes the above eight foot long bubble scarf and my Tucked Leather skirt with Swarovski embellishments.  The Live auction was great!  I had never seen a live auction and to have one of my pieces selected was a real treat.  I got some footage of my piece but I have yet to load it.  hopefully tomorrow I can get her on there with some more details of the event.  I took pictures over the week to document the changes in the space and set up.  It is always interesting to me to see the transformation on spaces by other objects. 

From just these two things I am feeling very uplifted as more then just a fashion designer but as an artist where my heart truly lies.  A lot of people don't know this but I feel more comfortable calling myself a sculptor/artist then I do a fashion designer.  I love garments and I love the way they transform the body but not as much as I enjoy the response to those transformations and the ideas and feelings it sets into motion.  I feel like cloth, fiber and pattern were just the materials I have been working with and I am very happy to set out into a brave new world of technology and new materials.

Just from these two events I am feeling pretty worthwhile.  I've been so long outside of artistic conversations and critique I'd felt lost if what I was going was good work or forced art.  Most people at least in Undergrad hate Critique but I enjoy it if nothing else but for some validity on my work and input from an open standpoint.

There was so much more to this weekend but I haven't loaded the photos yet so I'll continue tomorrow!

Everything has it's place

I have been sitting here staring at my monitor twirling this Bic ball point pen for what seems like ages (in reality 30 mins).  Inside my head I am screaming kicking and crying in nervous horror.  

What in world have I gotten myself into?
I am talking about all my projects that I am currently working on.  Two competition submissions, a photo shoot, possibly two next week.  Packing for my weekend trip to NYC and what in the world am I going to submit for the Ohio Art League event this year? Also finishing my samples for my Kilala Meows class this month.  And finally getting together some simple things to sell for the Crafty Cotollion Handmade Nation Viewing on May 8th.  I am sincerely not trying to be negative here just collect my thoughts instead of mindlessly straing and twirling.  Writing it all out always makes me feel better and calmer.  I can construct a game plan that way.

First and foremost is my photo shoot next wednesday.  I have my models 80% booked, Mua/Hair is 70% booked, photographer is 100% booked.  No more then 5 outfits to shoot for my PR application.

Tonight I think I am going to unfortunately skip figure drawing as much as I love it I need to get a lot of things done before I head off to NYC for the weekend.  I started to work on my samples for my Kilala Meows classes but I need to finish them before I leave otherwise they will never get done.  I also need to get this leather skirt embroidery done before I leave so I can potentially take it and wear it there, not to mention I need it for next week's shoot.

There is nothing else I can do for my Hand and Lock competition piece until I order the fabric and get that in.  I suppose I could work on the muslin but I still have 2 more months so I'm not that stressed.  If I leave an entire month for my embroidery I will be just fine.  The smocking details will get done as I sew the body of the piece together.  I might double this up and use the body before the Embroidery to submit as my OAL piece for the "One Night" Show.  I would prefer to put up a piece to sell but maybe just an impact piece will be enough.

For the Crafty Cotollion I think I am going to make kanzashi fabric flowers in arrangements for pins and hair clips maybe do some cute sweater clip type of thing with chains.  I don't need tons just a few things since this is going to be a small shared space. 

There are many good things that have been finalized for this summer such as securing my favorite TA (teacher's assistant) to be with me during my High School Summer Fashion workshop and College Preview programs.  Having this wonderful Fashion Illustration Teacher Irina to help me with my College Preview on my monday critique and illustration days.  My adult Continuing Education classes are filling up nicely and will make me very busy.  My Favorite of these classes is the new Draping into Pattern Class that I will be teaching. 

Ahhhh!  I already feel so much better and it doesn't seem as impossible now that I have it all planned out and capped it off with some good news!
Sorry this was an all txt post but I will have pictures for you in the next upcoming posts this week like the Leather skirt and a sewing book review!

Touchy Feely

I was a terrible person and didn't take very many Progress Photos of my Touchy Feely Piece.
I know I was supposed to be doing the hairpin lace with the beaded Tilli Tomas Yarn but as I was draping with it and the Silk I just felt it was getting too matronly.  Not that there is anything wrong with Matronly but it just was not what I was going for. 

I decided also to go with the Royal blue silk instead of the Gold or Pale green because it just was more intense and grabs you.  It makes you want to touch it and feel it, I mean that IS the point of exhibit.

I had two yard of fabric so I just started at it with a hand needle and thread.  Originally I was going to to do a constast color and then it just looked hocky.  I thought just the color and shape should speak for itself.  It took a lot of patience and probably about 30 hours of time.

I wanted the front to be a bit of a different manipulation then the back so I was trying out circular gathering to mimic my bubble manipulated wools.  It kind of worked but not exactly as I had envisioned it to.  I could of stuffed the bubbles but that would of defeated the purpose of it being an empty space for people to squeeze.  I think I just miscalculated the effect the bias vs weft had as it was gathered.

Of course this is unfinished in the photos.  I was so rushed because I thought I would have another week to complete it but the deadline was closer then I thought.   I worked day and night for an entire weekend standing, sitting, kneeling around the form to finish it.  I completely forgot to take photos of the final piece.  Hopefully this weekend at the Show I can get some good images.

If you are in town you should come by Touchy Feely by the Couch Fire Collective at the OAL Gallery

Join us for a reception Saturday, February 27, 6pm - 10pm

Ohio Art League Gallery, 1552 N. High St. Columbus, OH 43206

in the South Campus Gateway

Catching up and on

This is how I wake up everyday. Why can't I just be paid to stay like this?

My cat is not really Huge. She is actually small only 8lbs but I am equally a small being of only 4'10" proportions weighing in around 105 lbs so I make her look big and ferocious.

Anyways onto reality! I've been accepted as one of the 3 finalists in the Substance Aspiring Designer contest that I applied for several weeks ago! Below is the acceptance Letter!

"Dear Esther,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been selected as one of the three finalists in our 2nd annual Aspiring Designer Contest."............... and it goes on from there with the myriad of details.

Along with that I also got a piece accepted into the OAL (Ohio Art League) 100 leagues under the C exhibit going on right now at the Metropolitan Library Downtown. We were to submit work based on the number 100. I choose to work with what I know best, knitwear and did 10 swatches of 100x100 stitches each and draped them and hand sew them together to make this top.

I was pretty please with how it turned out and am going to continue to try this method using larger swatches for one of my pieces in the upcoming High Ball. I think the way it all curls upon itself is very much the feeling I have looking at anemones. They are so fluid looking yet introvert to rest and protect themselves. I feel like that personally but I introvert to Video games and fantasy fiction books

To make matters all the more difficult to Blog my Camera is pretty much KAPOOT! It won't hold and charge and I have no extra bones to buy a new one. I am in this very bad in-between place right now.

All I want to do is teach. It makes me happy and I feel accomplished as an artist too because I am still working in my craft. I thought I would fake it and do this retail thing but honestly I hate it and it tears my soul up. I am going to look hardcore for new employment this week and talk to several yarn stores about setting up a class or two for them. I want to teach advanced knitting into pattern and Crochet. Things I also want to teach for CCAD and start up a fiber department/program as a part of Fashion.