Blog by Jeff McCloskey
Doodling is the brooding of the hand. -Saul Steinberg
A drawing is simply a line going for a walk. -Paul Klee
One of my earliest and favorite memories of drawing as a child was doodling. When my uncle used to visit he would make a game out of drawing.
Trying to marry words and images well is proving to be a lifelong quest so I am always excited by the ways people are telling compelling stories on the web or anywhere for that matter. Here are a few recent and not so recent places I visit for inspiration on the web.
We saw some pretty great things accomplished by our first artist grant recipient, Christina Hess. Now, you can check out how Cathey White used her funds! A huge thank you to all those who had contributed in 2011-2012 (no name) Artist Grant Sponsorship. Here’s what Cathey has to say!
Cathy White with her artwork in (no name) Art Group “Memory Portraits 2007”, creating portraits for foster children and underprivileged youth in Uganda, Africa
Earth Day Project 2013 Call For Artists >
YES! Chinese numbers are either Yin (even numbers) or Yang (odd numbers. The Yang or odd numbers are considered the most fortunate of all. The total number of stalks in your Lucky Bamboo arrangements is very significant. The explanations show below are for the Prevailing/Growing Cycle of Yin and Yang.
Meaning of “YIN” numbers: Yin represents the feminine side – it embodies the nurturing nature of earth. Yin is “fluid” in that it contracts and condenses, sensitive to changing temperatures, atmosphere, sensitive to emotions. It represents also the passive side of nature such as dark, cold and wet.
2 = Double luck, happy relationships; good number.
4 = Academic achievement, creativity, writing, Romance
6 = Easy money, wealth, good flow of luck.
8 = Good luck and fertility. Very popular.
10 = Completeness and fulfillment in life.
Meaning of “YANG” numbers: If you have a feminine side, you gotta have the male side to go with it. Yang represents the masculine side of nature. It expands, representing activity such as light, heat, and aridity. Yang stands for living, life, action. Yang is the bringer of life – in human form, masculinity is responsible for planting life in Yin; thus Yin is the nurturer providing the necessary elements for life to grow and protecting it.
1 = Simplicity and a meaningful life.
3 = Good for prosperity and fertility. If used with a curly (money) stalk in the middle, it means wealth. Very popular.
5 = Happiness, good and balanced luck in all aspects of life. Very popular.
7 = Good luck and prosperity in relationships.
9 = Good health, prosperity and love life.
11 = Good all-around luck. Very popular
Read more! http://www.espritdeisle.com/lucky-bamboo/lucky-bamboo-and-feng-shui.html
DEADLINE IS FEB 1st! Both professional artists and any “young artists” welcome! SEND US AN EMAIL to confirm your place: sherry@nonameartgroup.orgDitching plastic bottles keeps Mother Earth and your wallet green!
Help save the planet by using a trendy thermos alternative to plastic bottles – designed by YOU! Artwork exhibited at B Square Gallery and thermoses and insert-able art prints will be available for a donation. The best part? Artwork is interchangeable! You’ll be able to insert any artist print in your thermos!
DATES:
Artist Call For Entries: Deadline Friday, February 1, 2013
Artwork Due: Monday, March 18, 2013
Artwork Reception: Saturday, April 20th at B Square Gallery in Philadelphia (Earth Day is Monday April 22nd)
Artist Fee: $25 donation includes your artwork matted, PLUS one thermos+your print!
(Note we are ditching the GLASS and WOOD frames this exhibition to lessen our carbon footprint! You artwork will be professionally displayed in an earth friendly white board mat)
ARTWORK DETAILS
Theme: Earth Day! Anything honoring our Mother Earth 🙂
Earth Day 2009 graphic above was created by artist Dana Gray for the Environmental Council of Sacramento, California’s Earth Day 2009 activities
Cucuya School outside Lima where Lugo teaches art to 65 elementary students twice a week.
While in Peru this past April, I visited a small school outside of Lima, it was situated atop some rocky and dusty land not far from the ocean. The school was lacking, there were bathrooms but no water, and a number of improvements that were needed, but I did notice the art murals….where did they come from?
That’s when I learned about Lugo. Lugo is a young artist living in the community. He has been teaching the children at the school art classes several times a week, an opportunity these children would never have otherwise (thanks to Daniel for putting this together!). But Lugo has his own dream, the dream to finish his art education. Currently Lugo struggles between school, teaching, long commutes, and working long and laborious weekends with his uncle. He is supported by his family, however they come from limited financial resources. He’s very aware that there are more “practical” career options but Lugo, like most artists, remains true to his calling.
For the past 10 years, my bio has included one very important statement- “Recognizing the many opportunities afforded in life, like an art education, would become the driving force behind my motivation.” This still holds true. I never take for granted my an art education. And so this year in appreciation for all that has been given to me, I pledge my birthday to Lugo.
“Desde donde recuerdo , siempre dibujaba. Y así la motivación hacia el arte no a cambiado hasta ahora y desde mi infancia «expresar todo lo que Tengo en el interio…Creo que la inspiración es la vida misma, es los recuerdos y los sentimientos que guardamos, la inspiración son las historias de papa y mama , mi barrio humilde , la gente buena , la gente mala y aquellos que como amigos forman parte de mi vida. Mi obra tiene un gran contenido personal y creo yo que todo artista involucra su alma en la obra .
Nuestro pasado , nuestro presente y lo que soñemos como futuro…” – Lugo, 2012
Translation:
“Since I can remember, I was always drawing. And this motivation for art has not changed since my childhood to “express everything I have inside”. I think the inspiration is life itself, it is the memories and feelings we hold. Inspiration are the stories of parents, my poor neighborhood, friends, good people, bad people and all those those who are part of my life. My work has great personal content and I think that every artist involves their soul in their creations. Our past, our present and the dream of the future…” – Lugo, 2012
GREAT ART, GREAT WINE, GREAT CAUSE!Inspiration: The Love of Place. Regardless of culture we all draw inspiration from the places that surround us, and carry those places with us throughout our lives. We are seeking a group of artists from the Philadelphia area to create artwork centered on this theme. The artwork will be featured online followed by a Artist Reception in Old City Philadelphia. Wine labels will be created from each work of art. The bottles will be available online for a donation to Philabundance, the region’s largest food bank and hunger relief organization.
Jul 15th – End call for entries (50 artists)
Sept 17th – Artwork due date (DIGITAL ONLY)
Oct 1st-Oct 7th- ONLINE EXHIBITION & FUNDRAISER
Pre-orders taken for wine for one week only. Note there is a limited amount of wine so first come, first serve!
Nov 11th – Artist Reception in Old City Philadelphia
NOTE!!! No original artwork will be displayed at the reception, only digital artwork slideshows, and lots of yummy drinks and food. All wine to be pre-ordered online and only pick-ups will be permitted at the reception.
SIZE: VERTICAL FORMATS ONLY!!! Your original artwork must be 8 inches wide x 14 inches high. Only artwork at these dimensions will be accepted. Delivery is a HIGH RES DIGITAL VERSION ONLY (300 dpi), to be sent via email (preferred). If you do not have a quality scanner then please have it scanned at a service center (kinkos, staples, etc). No “photographs” of the artwork unless they are professional photographs of a 3-dimensional piece.
NOTE: be sure to hold onto your original artwork, we’ll also offer the option for you to sell your original artwork online for interested buyers, you’ll keep the proceeds! We may also have an opportunity to display the original artwork in another gallery in the near future.
THEME: Inspiration: The Love Of Place
MEDIUM: You may work in any medium, however ARTWORK CAN NOT be created on anything thicker than 1/16″ (in the case there is a formal exhibition in the near future). If your original artwork is 3-dimensional, please submit a photograph (see above)
PHOTO/BIO: A photo and brief artist bio is requested for our brochure (online form to be provided)
ARTIST FEE: We request a donation of $20 per artist to help cover exhibition and promotional costs (payment details to be provided).
Please be sure to come back and check out our artwork!
Who owns the rights?
You own the right to your artwork. However, by agreeing to participate in this project you agree to allow (no name) Art Group, the right to reproduce your artwork (whether via web or in print) in any (no name) Art Group related promotions.
Can I sell my artwork?
Yes! Your artwork is yours, so you can sell it for whatever price you’d like. Keep in mind the (no name) Art Group keeps a 40% commission. You are also free to sell your work and donate the proceeds to our beneficiary, Philabundance. When donating your proceeds, (no name) Art Group will not take a commission. More details will be provided closer to the exhibition,
What kind of wine will my label be on?
Any kind! Note that there will be a variety of different wines, so it’s recommended you don’t tailor your artwork to a particular kind or type of grape.
Can I incorporate text?
Sure, if you like and if it’s part of the artwork. Note that the label template will already include your name at the bottom and the project date (see visual).
How will guests purchase the wine?
Pre-orders will be taken for wine one week only (Oct 1st-7th). Note there is a limited amount of wine so first come, first serve! NOTE: All wine to be pre-ordered and only pick-ups will be permitted at the reception (Nov 6th)
How many artists are participating?
There is an estimated 50 artists participating for this project in Philadelphia, however we have branched out! Please see The Art Of Giving 2012: Kansas City
Where does the wine come from?
The wine will be provided by Chaddsford Winery. Chaddsford Winery, located in the beautiful Brandywine Valley to the southwest of Philadelphia, is Pennsylvania’s largest and best known winery. More: www.chaddsford.com
GREAT ART, GREAT WINE, GREAT CAUSE!Inspiration: The Love of Place. Regardless of culture we all draw inspiration from the places that surround us, and carry those places with us throughout our lives. We are seeking a group of local Kansas City artists to join with artists from Oaxaca, Mexico to create artwork centered on this theme. The artwork will be featured in a two month long exhibition at Mattie Rhodes Art Gallery followed by a digital exhibition in Oaxaca, Mexico. Wine labels will be created from each work of art and added to a wine bottle. The bottles will be available for a donation to Mattie Rhodes Center and Culture Xplorers Foundation to benefit young Latino artists in Kansas City and Oaxaca, Mexico.
Oct 21st – Artwork due!
Dec 7th – Artist Reception and Exhibition at Mattie Rhodes Art Gallery
(Exhibition on display December 2012 to January 2013, Oaxacan dates to be announced)
SIZE: VERTICAL FORMATS ONLY PLEASE!!!
Your original artwork must be 8.5 inches wide x 14.5 inches high
THEME: Inspiration: The Love Of Place
MEDIUM: You may work in any medium, however ARTWORK CAN NOT be created on anything thicker than 1/16” (it will not fit in the frame otherwise). If your original artwork is 3-dimensional, please contact us to make arrangements for a gallery pedestal.
DIGITAL VERSION: A high res digital version of your artwork (300 dpi) is required for the reproduction of the wine label. You may send this via email (preferred). We apologize but we cannot scan any artwork. I f you do not have a quality scanner then please have it scanned at a service center (Kinkos, Staples, etc). No “photographs” of the artwork unless they are professional photographs of a 3-dimensional piece.
PHOTO/BIO: A photo and brief artist bio is requested for our brochure (online form to be provided)
ARTIST FEE: We request a donation of $20 per artist to help cover exhibition and promotional costs (payment details to be provided).
Artwork Delivery: 6001 Oak Street, KC MO 64113
***NOTE: Limited spaces apply early! (although not required, a $20 artist fee is requested to participate. Payment details will be sent via email)
Do I have to mat/frame the artwork?
No. The original artwork will be framed with a gallery quality white mat, and black frame (don’t worry you are just responsible for the artwork, the presenting is our job!).
Who owns the rights?
You own the right to your artwork. However, by agreeing to participate in this project you agree to allow (no name) Art Group, Culture Xplorers and the Culture Xplorers Foundation the right to reproduce your artwork (whether via web or in print) in any (no name) Art Group, Culture Xplorers or Culture Xplorers Foundation related promotions.
Can I sell my artwork?
Yes! Your artwork is yours, so you can sell it for whatever price you’d like at the gallery. Keep in mind the gallery keeps a 40% commission. You are also free to sell your work and donate the proceeds to our beneficiaries, Mattie Rhodes and the Culture Xplorers Foundation. When donating your proceeds, the gallery will not take a commission. More details will be provided closer to the exhibition,
What kind of wine will my label be on?
Any kind! Note that there will be a variety of different wines, so it’s recommended you don’t tailor your artwork to a particular kind or type of grape.
Can I incorporate text?
Sure, if you like and if it’s part of the artwork. Note that the label template will already include your name at the bottom and the project date (see visual).
How will guests purchase the wine?
At the Artist Reception (First Friday) there will be a wine station. Guests will choose which wine and which label they would like for a donation. One of our volunteer artists will place the label on the bottle at that time.
How many artists are participating?
There is an estimated 30 artists participating for this project (15 Oaxacan artists and 15 local Kansas City artists)
Where does the wine come from?
The wine will be provided by Jowler Creek Winery. Jowler Creek is Missouri’s premier sustainable vineyard and winery. Located just north of Kansas City, Missouri they specialize in making high-quality wines that are fun to drink and easy to pair with local foods. More: www.jowlercreekwinery.com
Last year, (no name) Art Group pulled together funds to financially assist a member in their creative dreams. The top prize was awarded to Christina Hess who requested funds for travel to Spectrum Live in Kansas City. Below is Christina’s blog about her experience, a huge thank you to everyone who gave her a hand!
2011 (no name) Art Group Grant Contest
Christina’s Blog
“On May 16 I left for Spectrum Live, an illustration convention focusing on science fiction and fantasy art. It was a long 20 hour drive but Dominick Saponaro and I made it to Kansas City MO, ready for the show. With the help of the (no name) Art Group grant I was able to travel and prepare accordingly. It helped me create numerous items to showcase and sell.
Some of these items were hand bound journals, hand made jewelry boxes, packaged prints of different sizes, necklace pendants and earrings. I had framed prints to showcase my illustration, post cards, bookmarks, my hardback portfolio as well as small oil paintings for sale. It was the first convention I took part in so it was a new experience.
The preparation took much more time than I anticipated. I predominately illustrate digitally so working with my hands was very satisfying. My favorite project to work on was the jewelry boxes. I featured my grant image on one of the boxes, which sold. I bought unfinished jewelry boxes and adhered my images to them. Staining, Polying, gluing organic paper and gold leaf was only the beginning.
I took this collage technique into my final stage of the grant piece. My “Protect” piece created for (no name) was printed and adhered to a 12″x12″ raised panel. I then used metallic paint, oil paint, varnish and sheer ribbon for collage. I then framed it in a floater and treated the edges of both the frame and the painting with a metallic modeling rub. In low light the gold leaf shines beautifully! It was so much fun to do and I got a lot of positive feedback on the technique. My only regret is that I didn’t work bigger! Click here to read more about the technique.
Having funding from (no name) Art Group made it possible! I could prepare and create many more items than I originally anticipated. I also was able to receive funds from Moore College, where I teach part time, to support some additional expenses. My goal was to experience the convention scene and connect with new faces as well as reconnect with others in the illustration industry. I was so fortunate to be located near some fantastic artists who I had a chance to befriend. Armand Baltazar and Iain McCaig were among some of the talent. I was humbled and so fortunate to meet them. It was well worth the time and I will be doing this again next year with some modifications. My personal and professional goal was met and I came out happy and more experienced!
Some of these items are for sale on my etsy store!
Feel free to stop by and visit! *****10% off for reading this! Just enter the code noname*****
Now, what do I want to create for the wine label…”
Christina Hess has been a valuable member of (no name) Art Group since 2007. We wish her luck in her future endeavors and ask that you please join us in supporting Christina in her latest KICKSTARTER PROJECT- Animals In History! Check out the FANTASTIC video made by Christina below reminding us how wonderful it feels when we embrace our imagination!
25% of the proceeds are donated to Big Cat Rescue.
About Christina Hess:
“I work as an illustrator and designer in the publishing industry. I like to draw ornate things. I like to paint stories with ornate things. I like the word “intricate” which I was chastised for liking many moons ago at yearbook camp. That’s right….yearbook camp.
In addition to my clientele I have been published in several annuals and competitions such as (no name) art group grant, Phillustration 4, Spectrum 18, Spectrum 19 and Exotique 7, Silver Award for Self Promo category in the Society of Illustrators 50 LA, Expose 10 and 3×3 Magazine.
In my free time I cook, eat and talk to animals including my muse, Roscoe the basset hound.”
Christina’s previous (no name) Art Group Artwork includes 2007 Memory Portraits, 2010 and 2011 The Art Of Giving, 2011 Memory Portrait (not shown for child privacy reasons)
We have recently been contacted by Mrs. Prateep Ungsongtham Hata, Secretary-general of the respected Duange Prateep Foundation and former Senator in Bangkok, Thailand (via Ben Schumaker/MemoryProject).
"Kids" - Ban Ban Muang - The Duang Prateep Foundation provides children with art supplies for activity, and sale 2005 Photo by Seiji Carpenter
We have been invited to participate in an art exhibition and auction to mark the first anniversary of the Japanese tsunami. It will be held on March 10-12, 2012 at the Central World Complex at Rajprasong, Bangkok. Artworks will be donated by Japanese and Thai children, art students and professional artists around the world, and auctioned off during an opening event on March 10 2012. The raised money will fund a nine-day-camp for Japanese and Thai victims of tsunamis and other severe hardships. They will learn they are not alone in their present suffering – that others have also shared their fate – and through activities of experience-sharing and mutual support they can emerge from their current darkness into a brighter future.
Artists interested in donating please contact me directly as soon as possible. Artwork requirements:
Original email letter from Mrs. Prateep:
As I’m sure you are deeply aware, a succession of natural disasters has cut a swath of destruction through several countries in the region in recent times. Tsunamis, earthquakes, typhoons and floods have wrought havoc, taken the lives of countless souls and left thousands of innocent children alone in the world. In the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, over 1,000 children in Thailand became orphans in mere minutes; and just this year, the same number of Japanese children were similarly impacted by the surging dark waters racing through towns and villages in their country. And now many more Thai children have lost loved ones from the floodwaters currently inundating their homes.
Although the waters have now receded for some of these children, the desperate plight of all of them remains.
It is not possible to bring back the parents and families of these children. But we can – indeed we must – work to help the surviving children come to terms with their situation so they don’t fall into despair, and they can have a chance to lead a more normal and useful life as they grow in the years ahead.
This is why the Duang Prateep Foundation (DPF) and a wide network of other concerned organizations have joined hands to initiate a unique and creative project called “HeArt for Hope” to help these children in two countries. To that end, we are respectfully calling on artists who have kind feelings towards society’s wellbeing to donate works of their art to be exhibited and sold to raise funds which, in turn, will be used to bring the tsunami and flood victims of Thailand and Japan together in a camp for a healing experience. They will learn they are not alone in their present suffering – that others have also shared their fate – and through activities of experience-sharing and mutual support they can emerge from their current darkness into a brighter future.
We are also inviting those who have shown themselves to be generous friends and supporters of the DPF, to lend their weight in moving this worthwhile project forward. You can do this in two ways:
1. By introducing “HeArt for Hope” to artists in your community and encouraging them to join in with one or more works of their art.
2. By helping to purchase the works of art in our exhibition that appeal to you, and encouraging other art lovers in your circle of acquaintances to also consider purchasing some of the artworks.
Prateep Ungsongtham Hata from Thailand was awarded World’s Children’s Prize in 2004 for her 35-year-long struggle for the rights of Thailand’s most vulnerable children
Your kind participation in this project has the potential to change many lives for the better. So, I am very pleased to invite you to help young lives in need of love and support.
Respectfully, Mrs. Prateep Ungsongtham Hata
DPF Founder & Secretary
General Duang Prateep Foundation