This mornÂing, buried in the comÂments of this post about 8 inspiÂraÂtional designÂers, most of whom I’d heard of, I found a link to this post about 7 inspiÂraÂtional female designÂers, most of whom I hadn’t heard of, but had seen some of the work before. There I found two female designÂers, in parÂticÂuÂlar, who’s work really hit me, and I think I’d like to follow.
Her handÂwritÂten typogÂraÂphy, swirly flourÂishes, and work with ball point pens (no kidÂding!) made me an instant fan. She has an incredÂiÂbly conÂveÂnient secÂtion in her “About Me” that includes answers to FreÂquently Asked stuÂdent quesÂtions, that allows you to learn a lot about her, and her inspiÂraÂtions, influÂences and References.
Retro, Art Deco, illusÂtraÂtions and typogÂraÂphy… I love the colÂors and the style here and on her site. These things make me happy!
To be fair, on the first post, I really liked ItalÂian Graphic Artist Alberto Seveso and Logo Designer GraÂham Smith. But in lookÂing at the roundup of 7 females, I realÂized that in all the lisÂtenÂing and readÂing I’ve done in the last couÂple of years, the menÂtion of boys in the podÂcasts far outÂweighs the menÂtion of girls.
In disÂcussing this with Prof. Benjy, he attribÂutes this to 3 things that have absolutely nothÂing to do with talÂent or abilÂity, which are at least equal in men and women. 1. Male’s comÂpetÂiÂtiveÂness and drive to be #1, while Women are more prone to work coopÂerÂaÂtively, 2. Male disÂcrimÂiÂnaÂtion, and 3. The woman’s posÂsesÂsion of the uterus. This third one is changÂing as men become more involved in the lives of their chilÂdren. There may be more than this, these are just the things that are immeÂdiÂately clear to him, and make perÂfect sense to me.
It has nothÂing to do with the idea that boys are betÂter than girls, it’s just that girl’s names tend to get lost in the jumble.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not really angry about this. It’s just the way it is. There are women out there, fanÂtasÂtic, talÂented women like Laura Smith and MarÂian BanÂtÂjes, for me to up to. It’s just a matÂter of findÂing them, and maybe becomÂing one myself. Both are things I plan to do.
So, the moral of this story? It pays to look in the comÂments of the blogs you read
ps. If you are angry about the oppresÂsion of women in the world of art– Benjy says check out GuerÂrilla Girls. And I ask that you put that anger to betÂter use than to just comÂplain about it.
I can’t believe I didn’t know this existed! Here I am, with LeopÂard on my MacÂbook for a year, and I didn’t know this existed!
Do you have LeopÂard? Find a font file on your comÂputer. Click on it once, withÂout openÂing it. Hit the space bar. You’ll see the conÂtents of the file! Magic!
With this BrushView pluÂgin, you can see the conÂtents of your phoÂtoÂshop brush files, so you don’t have to have every sinÂgle one of them loaded all the time. My sanÂity has been saved!
Steve wanted a “PolÂlock” for his birthÂday on FriÂday. In fact he’s wanted one since I told him about seeÂing this film in Movies About Art class last year. So, Reni & I obliged =)
Then we had to scrub off the oil paint!
HavÂing an artisÂtic Ohana is defÂiÂnitely a blessÂing in my life. Reni was excited all week about surÂprisÂing him with this, and in the process she got a lesÂson in art hisÂtory from my describÂing to her what kind of art JackÂson PolÂlock did. It was a fun project! And if you’re not afraid of getÂting messy I encourÂage you to try it next time you have kids with nothÂing to do.
Describe the artist’s work, includÂing genÂder, nationÂalÂity, priÂmary media, era, and priÂmary subject/content of the artist’s oeuÂvre. Write at least three paraÂgraphs about this artist.
LesÂley Dill is a ModÂern RenaisÂsance Lady, and a perÂfect choice for me. An AmerÂiÂcan, born in Bronxville, NY and raised in Maine, she’s a visual artist, using printÂmakÂing techÂniques like etchÂing, lithÂoÂgÂraÂphy, and silk screen to porÂtray her poetic side using typogÂraÂphy techÂniques on fabÂrics and paper. She’s also got a perÂforÂmance side, havÂing been raised in a musiÂcal famÂily (woo!), and has colÂlabÂoÂrated with comÂposers to write a numÂber of musiÂcal perÂforÂmances and even an opera dedÂiÂcated to the work of one of her muses, Emily Dickenson.
Much of her work reflects the work of DickÂenÂson. There are those who disÂlike her pieces, claimÂing that her use of text is manÂgled and conÂfusÂing. It’s been said that the difÂferÂence between an artist and a graphic designer is text. A graphic designer uses text to conÂvey a mesÂsage that is straightÂforÂward, meant to be underÂstood upon readÂing. LesÂley uses text as art, more conÂcerned with the shapes and placeÂment of the letÂters to conÂvey her mesÂsage in a strictly visual way, not necÂesÂsarÂily meant to be read. A few words may pop out to grab your attenÂtion, but the way I look at it, her words are meant to be seen, not read. If they were meant to be read, she’d be a designer, not an artist.
Her conÂcenÂtraÂtion on the form of the body is imporÂtant, as well. In many pieces she uses the image of words on a dress, or that the dress or suit is made of words. She’s also a metal sculpÂtor (someÂthing else I love to play with), and her “Word Queens” exhibit is a colÂlecÂtion of metal and wire words and letÂters shaped to form women in gowns. She also has sevÂeral prints where the body itself is the canÂvas, using a mixÂture of her own phoÂtogÂraÂphy and printÂmakÂing, with words and quotes that almost look etched into the person’s flesh. She believes that peoÂple are made entirely of lanÂguage, the words that live inside us and the words we wear for all to see. EveryÂthing she does reflects this idea in some way.
She’s got a strong sense of eleÂgance and beauty in words that instantly drew me to her. Using printÂmakÂing techÂniques on fabÂric has been one of the ideas that has intrigued me throughÂout this course, and seeÂing two of my favorite things, typogÂraÂphy on cosÂtumes, sparked my interÂest immeÂdiÂately. FindÂing out she’s also a metal sculpÂtor and phoÂtogÂraÂpher, and espeÂcially her heavy involveÂment in the perÂformÂing arts, were all added bonuses. I think I’ve offiÂcially added her to my list of favorite modern-day artists.
If this artist was alive today, what would their work be like?
She is alive today, and her work is a visual, and musiÂcal, repÂreÂsenÂtaÂtion of lanÂguage. She gave a lecÂture on her work in JanÂuÂary of this year (09) that is availÂable on YouTube in sevÂeral parts. Part 2 is 7 minÂutes of her opera. It’s very modÂern and artsy. Almost more than even I could stand! I love her art, though. Some even has an almost Tim-Burton-ish qualÂity, charÂacÂters she’s built from words instead of clay. Very interÂestÂing ideas, for me.
“I think the soul is ravÂenÂous, and is always on the move, and lookÂing for things to feed it. And it’s this hunger, and this nourÂishÂment, that makes the deciÂsions in our life.” — LesÂley Dill
If you could ask this artist one quesÂtion, what would it be?
I don’t know what I would ask her. WatchÂing her lecÂture gave me a conÂnecÂtion to her, because she’s done so much that I’ve dreamt of doing. You* weren’t kidÂding when you said you saw a strong conÂnecÂtion between her work and mine. I would just like to get to know her and learn from her, I think.
*QuesÂtions supÂplied by Benjy in PrintÂmakÂing. I think I’ll use this from time to time and do more artist studies.
Okay, so I totally want one. This guy from around HousÂton, TX builds houses out of recyÂcled mateÂrÂial and mateÂrÂial some peoÂple find difÂfiÂcult to work with. They’re beauÂtiÂful, they’re unique, and they’re everyÂthing a metal cut-out trailer wishes it could be. At least everyÂthing I wish my metal cut-out trailer could be… I saw these picÂtures & read the artiÂcle, and my artist’s heart was inspired!
And it reminds me of the house from Johnny & the Sprites:
And what in the world could be cooler than that?!
Ever feel like you just don’t belong with peoÂple? Like in genÂeral, the whole human race. There are cerÂtain peoÂple you are close to, but they’re spread out. You don’t really have a niche. A comÂmuÂnity. You have a web, where you are the cenÂter and stretched on the strands, far out and spread apart, are peoÂple who think a litÂtle like you.
The biggest thing I’m takÂing away from my Movies About Art class, besides the techÂniÂcal stuff like learnÂing how comÂmisÂsions work and how difÂfiÂcult it is to obtain gallery showÂing, and how critÂics will be critÂics, unless they’re HenÂrys… the thing that has most affected me from this class is that being weird isn’t just okay– it’s almost a requireÂment. That being difÂferÂent from the rest of the world is almost necÂesÂsary to realÂizÂing your true potenÂtial, and to really expeÂriÂencÂing the world. That it’s okay to be that 16 year old girl who went to Wal*Mart in bunny ears three days after Easter with her off-beat best friends… To be an artist you have to be an observer, and to be an observer you have to sepÂaÂrate yourÂself from the flock, and that’s okay.
But to sepÂaÂrate yourÂself from the flock means you’re watchÂing the rest of the crazy sheep… and there’s a sadÂness there. SeeÂing that nobody else is seeÂing what you are seeÂing. It’s not only lonely, but at times infuÂriÂatÂing. That’s why many artists go crazy in the end, I think. Still, there are a few who held on. Who learned to accept that they’re just not like other peoÂple. Who learned that it’s okay to be weird.
I’ve been very lucky the last two years. I’ve been taught by pracÂticÂing artists. PeoÂple who are also observers. Not just my art teachÂers, but my LitÂerÂary ImagÂiÂnaÂtion prof as well (see her book — Eros OperÂatÂica) . I’m being taught so much beyond the techÂniÂcal, and it’s a blessÂing. It’s remarkÂable to look back and see how my path got me here.
I can know the secrets of life that are mine, that the rest of my genÂerÂaÂtion may have forÂgotÂten. I can be difÂferÂent. I can feel the subÂtle wrongÂness of Jazz and Tea. There’s someÂthing there.
If I can teach my daughÂter that it’s okay to be difÂferÂent from the rest of the world, I think I’ve comÂpleted my overÂall misÂsion on this earth.
I totally just rocked my skills test’s socks off! Â
Well, okay– so I don’t know if I really did or not, for sure… yet.  Just happy I beat the thing!
There was just one litÂtle thing that was really stumpÂing me, and that was how to get a douÂble stroke on some text at the botÂtom of the fake flyer we were supÂposed to be makÂing in Adobe IllusÂtraÂtor.  We were allowed to Google, so I googled– and found this tutoÂrÂial.  With a healthy dose of sarÂcasÂtic humor, I learned about the AppearÂances WinÂdow, and life was good!  I even found a new blog to subÂscribe to.
Super excited to post about the work of one of our Rio Art ProÂfesÂsors! This piece is called “Last Dance” and was comÂmisÂsioned by West VirÂginia UniÂverÂsity for a spot in front of their Fine Arts buildÂing. It has 1,000 pounds of steel and five tons of rounded river stone! You can see the whole artiÂcle on the Rio site here.
It is, as he says, inspirÂing for us litÂtle art stuÂdents to see our teacher actuÂally workÂing actively in the art world. It adds an eduÂcaÂtional boost that we may not get othÂerÂwise. So conÂgrats, and thanks to Kevin for givÂing us someÂthing worth lookÂing up to!
I just have one quesÂtion. What’s to keep passers-by from stickÂing their trash in the holes? (Just kidÂding, just kidding.)
I have to say one more time that the Art DepartÂment has got to be the best departÂment on camÂpus. We have T-Shirt comÂpeÂtiÂtions and cookÂout picÂnics and potluck lunches and trips to museÂums and a facÂulty that we can call by first name and watch work as well as lisÂten to them teach. It’s a good place to be.
in Movies About Art class last year. So, Reni & I obliged =)
) . I’m being taught so much beyond the techÂniÂcal, and it’s a blessÂing. It’s remarkÂable to look back and see how my path got me here.
