Daily Art Muse » Inspiration

new friend

Susan Lomuto — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 16:17:33 +0000

We’ve got a couple of new friends on the property and they have been kind enough to sit for portraits every day for the last two weeks. I mosey down to the little pond and talk quietly to them until they come out to pose. What patient subjects they are as I fumble with the camera and teach myself how to shoot pictures. My new friends will make an ocassional appearance on daM this summer – hope you enjoy them.

{click image to see full size}

retreat: re-treat

Susan Lomuto — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 15:00:25 +0000

Three weeks away, alone on a private retreat, provided a time for deep reflection and even deeper relaxation. A time to let go of old fears and let new ideas take hold; to surrender to Mother Nature and allow her richly textured blanket of colors, songs and scents wrap me in a cocoon where I could rest and grow and ready myself for another blossoming as I approach my 51st year. It was a gift to myself and today I share a small piece of that gift with you…

{click on the images to see them large}

the views all around…for miles

so many treasures waiting to be discovered on my rocky stretch of beach

and mother nature left swirls and spirals everywhere for me to ogle

i shared my early morning walks with dew drops and petals

where the hydrangea petals provided endless interest

interlocking and overlapping, creating depth and shadows
oh, mother nature is so clever…so clever

the waves washed clusters of pillowy seaweed onto the shore, inspirational offerings of shapes and colors

and everything seemed to be singing the song of the sea

the birds were constant companions, each day surprising me with stellar performances – here a seagull plays with me – now you see it

now you don’t

wild honeysuckle vines were everywhere
filling the air with their intoxicating perfume
i was a happy, happy drunk

the bees, always nearby,
content as they collected pollen from the day’s new blooms

views from my window brought sunset vistas almost close enough to touch

i hope you enjoyed my view at the edge of the sea – it was sheer bliss for me.

and you? what is your idea of the perfect retreat?
maybe next year i will take you along…

by the sea

Susan Lomuto — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 12:55:49 +0000

For the last two weeks I have been writing my posts from a tiny little room high above the water with views that melt my heart over and over again. Lulled to sleep each night by the water’s soothing melody as it laps against this rocky shore, hypnotized by the rhythm of the sea, I feel blessed, calm, ready.

{click image to see large}

I have one more week of this glorious gift to myself…my three weeks by the sea. One more week. It’s time for me to unplug the laptop, savor every moment and let the seduction continue…we’ll talk more after the 4th.

{To get a glimpse of the magic, last Monday’s post shows a few pictures from my morning walks.}

sweet smell of roses in the air today

Susan Lomuto — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 18:46:45 +0000

I am thankful for another day of gentle breezes, air thick with the scent of June roses, beautiful vistas, statuesque birds, weathered chairs, sea, sun…and you. I stopped to smell the roses today. See you soon.

A little piece of paradise {click to see large}

retail therapy

Susan Lomuto — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 15:31:26 +0000

If you’re a regular reader, you might remember that I have a $25 spending limit when I feel the urge to splurge on inspiration. Look what I found today! Know what they are?

[click the image to see it really large]

kahn and fago launch apprenticementor.com

Susan Lomuto — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 12:53:25 +0000

A comment on Saturday’s post about my search for an apprenticeship on the East Coast sent me skipping to Apprenticementor.com, a non profit website where mentors and apprentices can find each other. The new venture was launched last week by apprentice Jennifer Kahn, and artist Celie Fago , a team for almost nine years.

Celie, a jewelry artist, writer, and much sought after teacher, met Jennifer when Kahn was in college working at a gallery that sold Fago’s jewelry. After attending classes taught by her, Kahn became a live-in apprentice and teaching assistant to the artist, and she continues in those roles today while making and selling her own line of jewelry.

Here’s a snippet of what the duo says about apprenticeships:

“Mentors have the potential to not only pass on their skills but to give those who could never have the time or the money or the know-how, the ability to invest in their passion. They can ensure that crafts stay alive and vibrant for future generations.

There are all levels of potential apprenticeships out there. Some as extensive as the traditional 7 years and some simply lasting for a given event. For example, a potter looking for help selling their work at a craft show in exchange for teaching about how to sell at craft shows. It could be a live-in situation; an apprentice could work for their mentor for a number of days a week in exchange for room and board. Or it could be more casual, meeting once a week for a few hours. Simply go to the directory to peruse or create a listing. You decide what you are looking for or what you want to put out there.”

Celie Fago and Jennifer Kahn

The website is brand new, so there aren’t many people registered yet, but my guess is that will change soon as word gets out about this great service. Keep your eye on Apprenticementor – they have a Facebook page to make it easy for you to do that. I’m on my way over there to register right now – it’s free. Coming?

Many thanks to Angela Crispin for letting us know!

sofa ny annual show a must-see for artists, students, educators, collectors

Susan Lomuto — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 15:28:04 +0000

On Saturday I attended the international Sculptural Objects and Functional Art show in NYC (SOFA NY). The show, considered to be one of the world’s foremost fairs for contemporary decorative arts and design, did not disappoint.

Merete Rasmussen, represented by Contemporary Applied Arts

If you go to only one show a year, this is the one to attend. For artists, art students and art educators, if you want to make excellent art it is imperative to have exposure to excellent work. The works presented at SOFA NY are spectacular examples of contemporary fine craft, art and design. Not in the NY area? Maybe you can attend SOFA Chicago or SOFA Santa Fe.

Liv Blavarp, represented by Charon Kransen Arts

Melanie Bilenker, represented by Sienna Gallery

The show enjoyed record attendance, with more than 18,000 collectors, curators, architects, designers and enthusiasts walking the show floor over four days to see offerings presented by 58 galleries. See what collectors were buying here.

Shane Fero, represented by Jane Sauer Gallery

Jan Huling, represented by Lyons Wier Gallery

It was wildly satisfying for me to see so many of the pieces previously featured on DAM – in person, in one place, in one day. I had a visceral reaction to a few and I will tell you more about that in another post. The images above and list below are a few of the artists previously featured on Daily Art Muse who had work in the 2010 SOFA NY show. Stay tuned for future posts featuring artists that you have not seen yet on DAM.

Ela Bauer
Melanie Bilenker
Liv Blavarp
Gordon Chandler
Kate Cusack
Miriam di Fiore
Shane Fero
Ford and Forlano
Arthur Hash
Jan Huling
Shayna Leib
Todd Pardon
Merete Rasmussen
Kait Rhoads
Erica Rosenfeld
Anthony Roussel
Bettina Speckner
Paul Stankard
Jen Trask
Catherine Truman
Mary Van Cline
Elise Winters

light after darkness

Susan Lomuto — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 22:38:04 +0000

Beauty and light are often revealed after destruction or disaster wreaks havoc in our world and our lives. Do you doubt that? Take a look at these images of Antelope Canyon which was formed by erosion and flash flooding. See what I mean? Humbling, awe inspiring, breathtaking beauty from ruin. It’s all good.

Gale Rainwater, Antelope Canyon Arizona [click image to see larger]

Paulo Mernick, Illumination, Antelope Canyon Arizona

filled to over capacity on flickr, Antelope Canyon Arizona

More images of Antelope Canyon in this flickr pool.

Thank you for your emails, comments and phone calls. They meant a lot to me as we navigated some rocky terrain – we aren’t fully on track yet, but we are getting there! See you soon…maybe tomorrow?

nancy calef’s peoplescapes

Susan Lomuto — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 13:29:34 +0000

Multi-media artist Nancy Calef takes two dimensional art to the third dimension by slashing the plane of painted canvas and adding sculpture and applied objects.

Out To Lunch, oil, sculpture, fabric, paper, found objects on canvas, 30″ x 40″

Sculpting high relief faces and other details on her Peoplescapes allows Calef to literally add depth to the characters she paints as she addresses cultural, political and spiritual issues facing society today. The last image on this post gives you an idea of scale – I wonder if she is using polymer clay or an air dry clay for the sculpts?

Check, Please, oil, sculpture, fabric, found objects, jewelry on canvas 36″ x 36″

“By juxtaposing people in recognizable places and situations, each painting weaves together a story about contemporary life, filled with layers of detail, symbolism and humor.” Nancy Calef

Live Show, oil, sculpture, fabric, found objects, leather on canvas 24″ x 36″

Read an interview with the artist on The Art List

ulli kaiser’s dramatic beaded and silver jewelry

Susan Lomuto — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 12:30:54 +0000

Gemstones, vintage beads and silver add drama and color to Ulli Kaiser’s contemporary jewelry. The artist, who is influenced by an interest in bookbinding, Asian jewelry and textile techniques, taught herself bead crochet and recently added silver elements to the designs – a move that opened new opportunities to combine color, shape and technique.

Born and raised in Austria, Kaiser spent many years in Hong Kong after college, eventually settling in England where she maintains a studio. Dramatic. Bold. Dynamic.