Well maybe I'm a mini-artist...except I'm tall.

"Recently there has been much written about minimal art, but I have not discovered anyone who admits to doing this kind of thing. There are other art forms around called primary structures, reductive, rejective, cool, and mini-art. No artist I know will own up to any of these either. Therefore I conclude that it is part of a secret language that art critics use when communicating with each other through the medium of art magazines. Mini-art is best because it reminds one of miniskirts and long-legged girls. It must refer to very small works of art. This is a very good idea. Perhaps “mini-art” shows could be sent around the country in matchboxes. Or maybe the mini-artist is a very small person, say under five feet tall."

 Sol Lewitt, "Paragraphs on Conceptual Art"

Tiny, tiny, dirty pictures

Hello my wonderful friends!  So I finally got around to photographing the miniatures that I started working on up at ChaNorth (which I'm actually returning to on Wednesday...it's a long story, I'll explain later).  So here's what you've all be waiting for!

Tiny mementos! Painted with very tiny paintbrushes on very tiny pieces of ivory!

 

This image is a little bit bigger than a quarter (32 mm)

(43 mm x 30 mm)

(75 mm x 50 mm)

(65 mm round)

(75 mm x 50 mm)

(95 mm x 65 mm)

All of them are watercolor on ivory (except the last one which you've already seen, which is watercolor on ivorine).  Stay posted for many, many more cellphone captured whispers of sweet nothings loving rendered and preserved for all time.  Because I promise, there are many, many more to come...

Open Studios in the countryside

So it turned out that the play write that was supposed to replace me at ChaNorth had to postpone his visit, so I got to stay a little longer out here with the chickens.  But just in case any one happens to be driving through Dutchess County on their way to Columbia County (or something like that) the residency is having an Open Studios this Saturday the 30th.

I somehow forgot my camera this trip, but I have to head home for the evening tomorrow, so I promise I'll take some pictures then and show everyone the tiny, tiny paintings of dirty, dirty people I've been working on.  They're coming along quite well, if I do say so myself.  And as a surprise for everyone that just happens to be passing through, you'll get to see them before everyone else since they'll be hanging somewhere where hopefully people will notice them...they are awfully tiny...

It's hot in the countryside

It's been a crazy month.

July 4th in Maryland, eating as many crabs as I could with the family, then whisked off to a fabulous wedding cum mini-RISD reunion in Sonoma, to finally end up in Dutchess County, New York at a residency in the middle of nowhere.

It's been a crazy good month.

It's great up here, hotter than balls, but from what I hear it's hotter than balls everywhere in the Northeast, and I have the freshest organic produce (that we helped grow and harvest) to eat, chickens to pet (when I do venture outside) and a lake nearby to cool off in (while working on my suntan). Oh, and art to make.  I'm off at  chaNorth, a great little residency that normally last a month, but I'm here for only 2 weeks.

Here's an image of my hectic little studio space, and when I'm not melting I'll post a few pictures of what I'm working on...it's just too hot to do that right now...

Tradition at it's finest

So I've started this new project of miniature portrait paintings on ivory.  And I am so excited about it.  I mean, really excited about it.

Let me preface this a little bit.  About a month ago, when I came up with the idea I turned to my plethora of wonderful, exhibitionist friends and sent them this email:


My dear, dear friends...

It's not often that I make such requests of you, and no, this time I'm not asking you to go out there and steal paint chips, but I need your help with a project...

I've decided that I want to do a series of traditional miniature ivory paintings.  A little historical background: Portrait miniatures began to flourish in 16th century Europe and the art was practiced during the 17th century and 18th century. They were especially valuable in introducing people to each other over distances; a nobleman proposing the marriage of his daughter might send a courier with her portrait to visit potential suitors. Soldiers and sailors might carry miniatures of their loved ones while traveling, or a wife might keep one of her husband while he was away.

So how do we make this contemporary and where do all my wonderful friends come in, you say? Well, I've been thinking that we have a version of this: dirty cell phone pictures.  You send a picture to a lover when they're away, or introduce yourself to a new lover, and they can carry it with them in their pocket and take it out to look at whenever they miss you.  Yes. I want you to send me your cellphone dirty pictures so I can immortalize them in delicate watercolor on thin sheets of ivory (or real calf skin vellum since it's cheaper- I'm getting some samples to test out).  They don't even have to be of you! Better yet, send me pictures that other people have sent you as little mementos to remember then when they can't be near.

No names necessary, feel free to take some new picts of yourself to have on hand in your phone to send out at the spur of the moment, send me some picts of you and your partner, picts of your partner, picts of whatever it is people send each other to illicit warm, happy thoughts (down there). And I know and as always appreciate that some of you over the years have already sent me dirty pictures just to make me smile in the morning, which they always do.

You know you wanna do it...it'll be like we're all high school kids sexting things that are parents would NOT approve of!

Thanks!

Katie 

And the pictures started coming in.  Oh my Lord, did the pictures start coming in.  They're great.  But I just wanted to share with you the first one (that looks good, there was one finished before this one, but I'm not happy with it).  

So for your viewing pleasure, here it is! Miniature #1, it measures 3" x 2.5" and is watercolor on ivory.  

OK, back to the studio to get working on the next one!

Woohoo!

Because I'm so prim and proper, and would never gloat...never...I'm just putting this on here because it's such an interesting read.

http://magazine.saatchionline.com/magazine-articles/artnews/behind-the-canvas-saatchi-online-interview-with-katie-commodore

Or I'm so excited about it I want to shout from the rooftops! Look! Saatchi Magazine interviewed me! Woohoo! AW-E-SOME!!!!

OK, I'll stop now. I'm sorry I've been so quiet since I got back to Brooklyn. It's been crazy busy. I never got around to telling you about 4 operas, crazy random encounters with boys from Prague, learning how to paint traditional ivory miniatures, the excitement of creating a real mailing list, and Lord knows what else.

But, don't worry, I won't let the interview go to my head...much.

Back to Brooklyn

I may have completely forgot to mention that I left London and am back in cloudy, chilly Brooklyn.  And although it makes me long for the days of lounging in the sunny London morning on Kelly's terrace with a cup of coffee and a dog or three curled up on my lap, truth be told, it's nice to be home and able to wear something other than the weeks worth of clothes I packed.

But just for nostalgia's sake...here's the view from the terrace.  I'll see you soon, Shoreditch.

The Title Fight!

The show looked amazing! Thank you to everyone that came by and ate cupcakes and drank cheap wine.  But for the millions of or devoted art followers on the other side of the pond (or world, or country, or wherever you may be that prevented you from to coming to the exhibition of the century) here are some pictures of what you missed...

And as it turned out Friday morning there was also a Benefit for Red Cross Japan where a bunch of local bakers donated wonderful confectionaries and all the funds from sales went to The Red Cross's efforts in Japan, http://cakesforjapan.wordpress.com/.  We heard about it the day before and counted on being there at 11 am to buy a bunch of yummy things to have for snacks at the opening.  And at 11 am, it was packed. From what we heard by 2 pm they had sold out of everything.  Which made everyone who made it to the show extra lucky, because not only did they get to see amazing art, but they also had there pick of these!

And then the people started to come, and as the night went on Kelly and I were enjoying ourself and the gallery got crowded, and it was fantastic.  For a little pop-up show with only a couple weeks to promote it, a lot of people cam by, thanks guys!  So here's your moment of fame:

And there were more...but I was too busy being social to remember to take pictures. I was proud of myself for taking this one (and one very blurry one later in the evening).

And then we all went out for Vietnamese and it was delicious and then we all just sat back and basked in our glowing artstardom! Well, except for me who had to go home early due to an allergic reaction to my dinner (I'm allergic to soy) so I just slowly nodded off to a slightly drug dimmed artstar glow.  But I will admit, this show went so well, and looked so good, I may just have to challenge Kelly to a rematch...you hear that Kelly McCallum? Rematch! New York vs. London!

London vs. New York

Come one! Come all! To the show of the Century!

You'll get to see 6! Count them 6! New paintings, all completed here, in lovely London! (well cross your fingers that I actually finish all 6...)

London Fashion Week

What goes better with art than fashion?  It's like peanut butter and chocolate, or rye, sweet vermouth and a dash of bitters.  Ok, maybe rockstars go with art equally well, but that's just like switching the rye for bourbon: you still get an amazing cocktail.

Anywho, a couple weeks ago, my friend Kelly McCallum (whom I'm staying with in London) got a call asking her to create some sculptures for the upcoming show of designer Saloni's fall/winter 2011 collection.  So she created these amazing flamingos with crystals growing on their feet, referencing a natural phenomenon that happens to baby flamingos as they grow up on the African salt flats, to be used in the styling of the room.  And let me say (not just because she's a good friend) but they looked fantastic.

They were the perfect backdrop for Saloni's beautiful designs.  And although my pictures are a bit blurry (cell phones are only so ideal for documenting moving models) this next image gives you a little bit of an idea of how it looked during the show (plus, it's also my favorite outfit from the collection)...

But we had a blast, Kelly wound up being interviewed on Fashion TV, and both of us would up doing a small blog interview about a show you have coming up next month in Shoreditch, which I'll tell you more about when I'm not about to run to the studio.  Between all the free champagne and adorable little fanciful cupcakes and all the fabulously dressed people we met and chatted with, it was one fantastic afternoon.  Although I will say, next time I'm invited to a runway show, remind me to dress up...I was one of maybe 2 people in jeans, and possibly the only woman not in heels...sometimes us artists play our part a little too well and forget that sometimes even we have to clean up a little bit.  At least I'd showered and remembered to put on deodorant.

But you should check out Saloni's fall/winter line:
http://www.londonfashionweek.co.uk/designers_catwalk.aspx?designerid=1790&seasonid=23#pic0
And if you really loved me, you'd buy me a piece or two to wear to my upcoming opening in March.  Or at least invite me to more fashion show, because they can always use more artists in the audience, right?

Happy Belated Valentine's Day!

Just to prove to all of you that I'm one of the greatest friends of all time, I present this exhibit of awesomeness:


Bleeding Heart Cakes from Lili Vanilli (www.lilyvanilli.com/)


Kelly McCallum, the awesome friend that I'm staying with while I'm in London (making this whole trip possible) saw a blog post about these amazing cakes that look like human hearts and then you cut them open and they bleed red raspberry and currant wonderfulness.  And she was so excited about them that I tried to get a few for Valentine's Day...but poor Lili was completely sold out.


Well, a lesser friend would go, 'hey, I tried..."


But I'm an awesome friend...and 22 e-mails and 2 days later I found myself in the possession of 4 of these fantastic confectionary creations.

And Kelly was so excited, she gave me a hug.


And then we ate them after a healthy dinner of fresh pasta with mushroom ragout.


Before:

Thirty seconds later:

After:

Turns out it dyes your mouth red.  But man they were good. red velvet cake, with red glossy cream cheese frosting on the outside and berry goo...now that is love on Valentine's Day.

London painting #1

I understand that some of you might think that I'm not doing anything but eating and drinking, which is in truth how I spend a lot of my time, but I have been making art as well!  So without further ado, I'd like to introduce you to Chris and Laika:

As usual, it's a gouache painting on paper, with just a touch of watercolor to do the plaid of his shirt. I couldn't buy my normal paper here, so I'm using a brand, Saunders Wateford, which I've never used before and it definitely behaves differently than Rives BFK...but that's something that only printmakers and drawers care about, and I don't want to bore you.  I know it's not nearly as dirty as my other work, but sometimes you just need to do something to get you started.  And besides, I have to give myself a little bit of time to make some new friends.

And for those of you who really need to know the juicy details, the boy is Chris, a jeweler friend of Kelly's, and the dog is Laika, and no, she is not a pug, she's a very friendly French bulldog.  Not that Chris isn't friendly.

Brunch English Style

So the Brits don't really do brunch, that wonderful institution so beloved by us New Yorkers.  Is there a meal more perfect for a Sunday then brunch? Rich eggs and wild boar apple sausage, challah french toast with seasonal fruit compote, or wild mushroom omelettes with heirloom tomato salads all washed down with enough mimosas or bloody maries to take the edge off of Saturday night's revelry.  I love brunch.  And the British just don't do brunch.

But what they do have is pub roast.  Instead of eggs and mimosas, you go out on Sunday afternoon to the local pub and have a roast with all the fixings.  At the Dragon, one of my adoptive locals, changes their roast every week.  This past Sunday you had a choice of roast leg of lamb with mint sauce or roast beef with horseradish sauce (oh and there's a nut loaf for you crazy vegetarians) served with roast potatoes, carrots, and turnips, sauteed cabbage, cheesey cauliflower, and a Yorkshire pudding.  It may not be eggs benedict with home smoked salmon, but it's pretty freaking good.

You sit around in the pub all afternoon and eat this giant plate of meat and roast veg and then just drink all afternoon.  Whereas brunch when you've finished eating and have a good buzz on, everyone then goes out for a stroll and window shops or just continues chatting.  There's something to be said for the after brunch promenade, but there's also something really nice about just eating a huge meal and then everyone sitting around all afternoon drinking in a warm pub...which is why it's a good thing I joined a gym here.

And I'll admit, I'll pass on the bloody mary for a Guinness anytime.

EVERYTHING!!!!

There is an amazing exhibit here in London right now called the Museum of Everything, and it has, well, to put it mildly, almost everything you could possibly want to see in a succession of rooms.  It may be the best show I've seen in years.

This incarnation of the show is their third, and it completely focuses on outsider art and a strange collection of Victorian photographs of mostly midget circus performers.  And it's amazing.  It's been a really long time since I saw an exhibit that inspired me this much.  Not that there are ideas that I want to steal, but I walked out of the show chomping at the bit to get in the studio and wanting to know more about a few of the artists and the styles.  It never occurred to me that I need to learn sign painting techniques, or that embroidery could look that awesome when it depicts naked ladies.  I wish I could have taken photographs so I could show all of you how absolutely wonderful it was.  But here at least is the website, http://www.museumofeverything.com/ , and if you're in London see it before it closes...if you're not in London, well, um, you can buy a ticket to London and then go see it.

There aren't really any images on the website, so I found this one for you all ('cause I'm just so nice and want everyone to enjoy everything like I did)...http://www.theartsdesk.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=2402:art-gallery-the-museum-of-everything&Itemid=23 They have an image from each part of the show (many of you will be surprised when I tell you that my favorite is Ted Willcox).

Enjoy everything!

Making some art in London

I've run away to the wonderful city of London to make art here, since it sometimes gets old making art in boring Brooklyn.  But check out the studio space I'm in!  I've got a corner in KM Studios, which is a good friend and amazing artist Kelly McCallum, and it's fantastic.  So now on to making art!