Studio TALK

Dear BLOG visitors from all over the world, prompted by my friends to share more personal stories and insights around "The Universe Is Smiling" blog posts, I finally convinced myself that you might enjoy this look behind the scenes. I also hope to hear back from you and to open a dialogue with you all - with a smile, of course :)

I had committed myself to an art show at the local cafe "The Bakery", a New Paltz hot spot for socializing over coffee and tasty food.


I was going to exhibit a few originals and bigger sized paintings, but the main body of work was to consist of twenty images from this BLOG. To make it affordable for people I decided to get giclee prints made in the original size (6"x6") and attach them to 6"x6" painted woodblocks. Actually the praise goes to Clifford, the man of my heart. He had the vision of the finished product and I just followed along. And right I was to do so :) Thank you, Clifford!!!

The process in pictures:

The floor of my small apartment turned into a studio: ready for the plain woodblocks to be painted.

Different stages of preparation: gesso and then acrylic paint, the painted blocks hovering on plastic bowls to dry.
My skill level in NOT getting any fingerprints on the wet blocks while putting them to dry rose significantly at the last piece :)

Ready for the parts to be assembled.

I had decided on the woodblock colors without matching the images. Call it trust or the luck of the fool, but I was pleased to see how well the woodblocks worked with the colors of the drawings :) The prints are attached with matte medium.

The next step was to put some info on the back, such as my website, theme, inspirational quote and hanging device:

I have since learned to make it look a bit better by having the quote printed on nice paper and then attached to the back.

THE SHOW

The next step was hanging the show. Oh those slippery fish lines and the challenge of having a convincing layout. I couldn't have done it without my dear soul sister Barbara and it worked... of course :) Thank you, Barbara!!!

"Spaceship of Imagination" (giclee print on wood block)

 

"Don't drop the ball, dear!" (giclee print on wood block)

"Dare to be Yourself!" (original) & "Owl Wisdom" (original)

Partial view of the show before the opening reception

The Opening Reception

Coming up the stairs to the main area

5:00 PM - Beginning of the opening and ...  almost more important than the artwork: good food :)

The party is happening :)

Three generations: from 25 - 90, and I am somewhere in the middle :)

Women Power :)

The reception in full swing. Time to check out the art and to socialize. I guess, about 50 people came. The atmosphere was fabulous: good mood all around, smiling faces and lots of positive feedback and ... pieces sold:

The show continues until October 11 and more pieces have been sold since the opening.

And BIG THANKS to Jennifer, Paige, Hilary, and Clifford for taking the photographs.

One of the most interesting aspects of the show was/is for me which image speaks to people most.
The favorite image was "music". The one copy sold right away and four more people ordered another copy of the same image ....

  while the image "self-love" has by far the most viewing hits on this BLOG but hasn't sold yet.

I am very curious to know: What image is your favorite from all the drawings on the BLOG and why? Is it the image itself or the inspirational saying that goes with it or both?


Share your comments, have a good day and make someone smile.
Monika :)