AliceBakerBlog

National Portrait Gallery Competition

The National Portrait Gallery, which is part of the Smithsonian in Washington, D. C., has sponsored its first-ever portrait competition.  Officially called the Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition 2006, the purpose of the competition was to focus on excellence and innovation in portrait and sculpture in the United States.

If you follow the news, you may know that first prize in the competition was won by David Lenz, a painter from the Milwaukee area.  Hes super-realistic approach is both awe-inspiring and evocative.  His painting depicts his son Sam, as a kind of master of ceremonies, presenting the world to the viewer.

The other finalists are also gripping and affecting portraits.  You can vote for the People's Choice from among these portraits.

Children's Book Art

Here at the library, we just LOVE the art in children's books.  Well, most of it anyway.  There are still some children's books that are illustrated in patronizing and slipshod ways.  But the quality children's picture books are full of imaginative and evocative illustrations that would sing to any child.  And to parents too.

Thanks to the Internet, it's possible to purchase original children's book art online.  Some of it isn't terribly expensive, although the big names are plenty pricey.  Every Picture Tells a Story has the art of illustrators like Maurice Sendak, Rosemary Wells, H. A. Rey, and others.

One of my current new favorite books is Good Boy, Fergus! by one of my favorite children's authors, David Shannon.  Full disclosure:  this book is about a West Highland White Terrier and I have had a couple very dear Westies in my life.  So I'm a bit prejudiced.  His art is available at this site but it's a bit more expensive. 

Anyone want to be the first to contribute to a fund for artwork for librarians?

House of Books

Check out the site of an Italian artist, Livio De Marchi, who has built a house entirely of books.  Not real books.  Book forms, carved from wood.  Very fun.

Picture Book Art

Children's picture books are such a joy, especially the artwork.  There are the well-established kid-lit artists, like Tomie DePaola, Maurice Sendak, Eric Carle, and Jan Brett, but there is also a never-ending parade of new books, illustrated by new artists who are equally exciting.  There can never be too many!

This article agrees and closes with some particularly great advice:

Exposing children to many different visual styles is doing them a great service, says dePaola. "Children who are picture-book age -- I don't think they have any 'taste.' Their taste is in formation. Let them see as much as they can, and then they'll form their own taste."

Those parents who bring their children into the library weekly and check out 40 picture books have exactly the right idea.

Link courtesy of Kids Lit.

Creativity Monday

A double bill of cinematic action for a dull and gray Monday: 

Danny Gregory of the wonderful drawing-journal-blog Everyday Matters has prepared a short film on how he draws.  He makes it look easy.  And that's the point--it really is easy.  Most people make it all out to be much more difficult than it is.

Secondly, Dan Price, "hobo-artist" and creator of the highly original Moonlight Chronicles is profiled in another short film.  He tries to draw as a child would, getting down at ground level and experiencing every normally-overlooked detail as a thing of wonder.

Danny Gregory

You may not be familiar with the name Danny Gregory, but in the last few months you probably have been regularly exposed to some of his work.  He's a gifted artist and illustrator who plies the advertising trade but manages to make time for a lot of sketching and general stopping-to-smell-the-roses-along-the-way. 

He shares a lot of himself in his blog, Everyday Matters, and also shepherds a Yahoo discussion group on sketching and drawing.  He is working on a book, Creative License, which will be published this coming winter.  The book will capture in book form, what his blog and discussion group are all about--helping people unlock the inner artist and express themselves.

It's a great endeavor.  So many of us have an inner artist that has been securely locked up since our grade school days.  Danny says, "Set it free!"

Sunday Colors

When my head becomes too full of the ruler-straight world of books and bookish things, I get myself a fix of the freedom that color, and sweeping lines, and the complete lack of rulers provide.  In other words I look at some art.  It's the pause that refeshes.  Now if I could just figure out how to get more of the Making of Art into my life...

While I think about that, here is the site of Sue Benner, fiber artist.  Her works hang in galleries and corporate settings, she teaches in the U.S. and internationally, and she is the recipient of numerous awards.  Don't miss her portfolio.

David Walker

David Walker is an art quilter, photographer, web designer, and a marvelous teacher.  A couple years ago I was privileged to take a weekend seminar led by David, and it influenced me deeply.

He integrates meditation and introspection into an art process of spontaneous work.  Very freeing for someone like me who usually works an idea to death.

He has a wonderful website, full of ideas and images.

I believe that making art is far more important than defending it. If nothing else, the artistic experience should be joyful no matter what is being expressed. The genuinely passionate artist develops great skills without being aware that he or she is doing so because there is a natural need and desire to express something important as meaningfully as possible. No one should ever have to prove that he or she is an artist. The title is free to everyone.

Read more...

Playing in the Arts

Even if you aren't involved full-time in creative endeavor, it's good to stoke the fires of inspiration by reading about some folks who are living the artful life and making it work.  Here's Another Girl at Play, which profiles more than two dozen artists, writers, and musicians.  There's also a discussion group where you can connect with the like-minded. 

Happy weekend!

Left Brain, Right Brain

Library regulars know that I wear two hats, maybe a bit unsteadily at times.  I'm a librarian, with all the detail-oriented, fact-finding, info-seeking skills implied.  But I'm also a fiber artist--art quilter, knitter, and maker of art-to-wear.  My personal blogroll consists of about 98% fiber-oriented sites and I can't help but mix the two worlds whenever I can.

I love my library work, but my art ventures are so valuable to me--they keep me balanced and happy.  And my co-workers and our library patrons are understanding when I occasionally come to work with blue hands after a fabric-dyeing session.

With that in mind, I'll be including more art-related topics here--things that inspire me as I slog through enjoy my days researching and serving the public.  Maybe they'll inspire you too and provide a little glimmer to get you through the day.

With that said, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London is widely known as the repository of the cream of the crop of fiber arts.  Its website offers a huge array of goodies--arts news, images, children's activities, and web links to other sites.

If you are a knitter, here is their list of the best knitting blogs.