Saturday, December 20, 2008

Getting in the Christmas Spirit

Here are a few pictures from House Beautiful to put us all in the Christmas spirit. Enjoy!

What one can do if you don't have snow for Christmas.

Sophisticated mix of colors and textures. Wonderful!

Fill your tree with unusual ornaments like this blown glass pear. Our favorite glass artist is Bob Rynearson at Rhino Glass.

We hope you have found a special gift for everyone on your list.

We celebrate all our dear family and friends this holiday season. You have enriched our lives and have made our year special.

Merry Christmas and aHappy New Year!

Annarella

Friday, December 19, 2008

New Blogs

I've added two new blogs to my blog list. They are must reads.

First - I wrote of sevenof before when they first launched. The two gals, Jane and Amy have continued to write interesting and intelligent posts. Recently Jane mentioned an sculptor, Jennifer Maestre, who works with pencils, nails and zippers.

Yes, look closely those are nails and zippers. Stop by her intriquing website to see more. and another thank you to Jane for directing me to this artist. Sign up to receive the daily postings of seven of you won't be sorry.

Secondly, one of my favorite artists, Dan Zinno stopped in the store to chat and let me know he has started to blog.

He writes about life and art. I find his thoughts to be insightful. Stop by his blog and see what you think.

I've added links to both these blogs on my blog list. Visit them.

Monday, December 15, 2008

Breathtaking Photography

When researching something totally different, I came across a post from Austinites, Karly Hand and Erin Williamson , about photography. (Isn't cool how surfing can take you to unexpected places?) Anyway...I have to share the photograpehers from their blog.

This is from Erwin Olaf. Click on his name to go to his website. His staged settings are haunting and filled with a story. Such detail!


Second, is Eirik Johnson. Click on his name to enter his website.


His subject matter is landscapes, but landscapes touched by man. Very interesting and arresting.

Enjoy the photography and all 3 websites.

Friday, December 12, 2008

Pretty Girls

Thanks to photographer, James Polnick, I have lots of photos of my dresses on 4 very pretty girls. Two months ago I did a trunk show of the Hugs from Mimi Handmade Dresses in Houston where I met some wonderful girls (and their mothers, grandmothers and fathers) who agreed to be in a photo shoot with their dresses. Here are the marvelous results.

This is James daughter, Brighten, who certainly does brighten up at the sight of a camera. She was a champ and just kept smiling on and on. The one just below makes me giggle.

Next is Lauren. She is a little more serious, but those eyes!! She is adorable.

Blond and quiet, Macy, posed the most seriously of all. Doesn't she look so grown up?Here Macy and Brighten show off like but not matching sun dresses.Ryann, my granddaughter, is the final model. She is all girl and loved being my top model. She is my guinea pig. If she likes my creations, then I know I'm on the right track. I can't wait to see her over the holidays, as I have two new designs for skirts she needs to critique.Best friends, Macy and Ryann.It was so great to see the girls playing and being so comfortable inthe dresses while they looked soooo good. I feel like little girls should wear clothes that are comfortable for running and sitting with no scratchy fabrics. For the moms the clothes should be easy care. Who has time for lots of ironing?Here are all the models resting after a hard day of looking good, smiling and posing. They were all so cooperative. Thanks.

If you want me to do a trunk show next year, just holler. I had a great time in Houston. It was fun to get the instant feedback from Moms and their daughters. Email me at annarella@thegateway.net

Don't forget tomorrow, Dec 13 is Market Days in downtown Georgetown. Also the tour of historic homes put on by the Georgetown Heritage Society is Saturday and Sunday, the 13th & 14th. Click on the name for times, places and tickets. This is a highlight of the ho;iday season here in Georgetown.

Monday, December 8, 2008

blogging

A friend of mine has started a blog. It is all based around 7 - ideas, suggestions and thoughts in lists of sevens. Some of my favorites are 7 books for boys, 7 table decorations and the latest, 7 satisfying ways to spend $7. So swing by and see what Jane and Amy are exploring. Better yet sign up for their blog.

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Artist Interview: Anna Marie Pavlik

The second woman who is an artist in our current show, Small Pleasures & Quiet Moments, is Anna Marie Pavlik. Because we love Anna Marie we always have a few of her prints scattered throughout our space, but this show is dedicated to some of her smaller pieces. What a great Christmas gift any of these would make! Her prints are very intricate and filled with details that frequently reference myths and legends, nature, and the politics of women and the environment. Although complex in subject, her palettes are subtle and earthy. The combination of colors and details draws the viewer into her work to enjoy, discover and share her world.

Enjoy her thoughtful interview.
Amigo etching

Tell us about art and your early years. My early artistic efforts were focused in sewing. I completed my first embroidery sampler shortly after my 5th birthday. Later I went on to constructing doll clothes and knitting. My mother felt that St Paul, Minnesota of the 1950's and 60's was culturally lacking compared to her childhood Chicago, so she took her four daughters to museums and films. My father used his doctorate in Chemistry to qwork for 3M and presented us with creative ideas from the laboratory. He drew the plans for the home my parents built, and we all worked on the house and landscape after the major contracted portions were complete.

We had coloring books and paint by number sets, but the major projects were Ukrainian egg painting, making rolled-out embossed and meticulously decorated Christmas cookies, hand coloring curtains and sewing our own clothing. We were not allowed to brainlessly absorb television; so eaxh of us had hand-work projects to ensure productivity while sitting on the couch.
Lake and Land etching

Tell us about your art education. No visual art classes were offered until 8th grade when a woman in the parish volunteered to teach drawing one afternoon a month. During the summers my sisters and I went to summer school. We enrolled in one serious course and one more expressive class each year. During the last two years of high school I had the opportunity of visual art classes, prior to that I learned flower arranging, appreciating opera and interior decorating. At the end of my senior year and throughout the summer before college, I apprenticed with a production potter in the neighborhood, Peter Leach. In exchange for babysitting I used the studio to learn how to make wheel-thrown stoneware.

In college at the University of Minnesota, Duluth, I explored all the art techniques offered. At that time I favored working in small metal techniques of lost wax casting and soldering. Following college I went to St Paul Vocational Technical School and graduated with a Mechanical Drafting Certificate. Through employment with 3M I obtained a degree in Mechanical Engineering.

My formal education was instructive; however I believe that family encouraged opportunities have been more important in influencing my artistic direction.
Her Legacy stratograph


What is your style? Labeling my style is difficult. Being able to recognize elements within the composition has always been a concern. I love pattern, color and narrative so these are important components.

Tell us about your process. When I begin a new piece I start with a folder. Here I place sketches, articles and sometimes write a paragraph explaining to myself what I hope to achieve. Next I do a crude sketch in the format of the copper plate I intend to use and decide on an initial technique - line etch, soft ground or aquatint. From this point I develop the plate, etch for different amounts of time to create variations in density, then print, evaluate the process and repeat the steps.
Re-orientation etching
One of the things which I enjoy about etching is the unpredictable results that can occur when an area etches differently than expected and even just the fact that the printed image is the reverse. These minor jolts stimulate image-development which would not occur with the more direct control of drawing or painting. I often try printing on different papers with a range of colors. It is frequently helpful to take a break after printing and review the work a few days later so that over-reaction to minor details is minimized.
Fourteen Ninety Two intaglio
How do you know when a piece is finished? Knowing when the work is complete is a critical question. Since it is possible to print and have a progress record throughout the development process, I am able to retain sample proofs which show me where I made decisions, Somehow, the correct choice is always obvious later. Although I cannot usually return to the earlier state, education from mistaken directions can be applied to future efforts.
Sojurn stratograph
What do you want your viewers to take from your work? Exploring critical issues with regard to nature is central to my artistic theme. Inspiration comes from issues raised in newspapers, magazines and National and State Park literature. I hope to draw the viewer into the image by presenting curious or beautiful images. My goal is that people take time to decipher what has attracted them and realize the additional message.
Do you listen to music when you work? Silence is my preferred choice for the time when I am working out concepts and imagery. When I reach points which require routine and redundant effort like sanding, polishing, cleaning off grounds, cutting mats and framing I enjoy listening to NPR, especially the Phil Music Show, The Writers Almanac and Star Date.
Visitor etching
Any favorite books, movies or TV you enjoy for relaxation or inspiration? I read the Austin-American Statesman newspaper and art, natural history, and travel literature. My husband tapes a few TV series which I agree to watch - Masterpiece Mystery, Boston Legal and Desperate Housewives. I also do enjoy the Daily Show but remain predominately a radio listener.
Thanks, Anna Marie. She will be at Annarella Home for First Friday, December 5. Please join her, Carol Hayman and Cathie Kayser for a gallery talk at 6 pm. They will talk about printmaking and give a demonstration of the process on a small printer. This exhibit will run through December 31.