August, 2009

Oftentimes I get asked the question ” How did you get into Art? ”

Well, to start at the beginning . . . I always drew as  a kid and felt that  it might be  something I would  do when I grew up.  At first I wanted to be an architect (that’s because I was a  Brady Bunch groupie), but then doubted the whole art thing in high school — my guidance counselor advised me that I would starve.  That’s when thoughts of becoming a gynecologist or medical examiner set in.  I for sure did not want to end up a character in a Dostoevsky novel.  Yikes!

Fortunately for me I had  a wonderful art teacher who pushed me to follow my heart.

In the summer before my senior year, she helped me get into a 2 month art program in Fredonia, NY, where I was fully immersed in art school life.  After that, there was no looking elsewhere — an art  career it was.

At a portfolio day at Syracuse University, I met the admissions director at Parsons School of Design and she  loved my work and  offered me a scholarship.

So at 17, I moved to the Big Apple and studied at Parsons.

Choosing art  and moving to New York were  the greatest decisions of my life!  I feel really lucky to be able to do something that I love and to live somewhere that  inspires me.

Sometimes it is weird how life works, and  you realize that sometimes there are outside forces  and angels that push you along the way.  Always do what you love and makes you happy.

Until the next sketch!

The morning of the last day at the convention  was spent working  in the museum room.   I was in charge of watching the area containing the  Thomas Nast prints. It was great view from my post, as I was able to  look at all that great artwork once again.  Below are just a few images from the exhibit from the areas where I could take photos.

After that I took a trip to Napa Valley  with Jo  from Landmark Creations.

We had  a great afternoon testing samples of various wines at Sterling Vineyards. The 2008 Cellar Club Viognier and the SVR 95 were standouts!

The evening was capped off by a lovely turkey dinner with all the trimmings and Christmas play where snow bubbles  softly fell onto the audience.

I can’t wait until next year when I can see all my new  “glow” friends in Milwaukee.

Until the next sketch!

Yesterday was a fun filled night having dinner  in Old Sacramento with  Jo Ellen Krasnobrod, the founder of Landmark Creations. The  temperature was perfect – I sat having crabcakes and mussels while watching the sunset over the river zooming with houseboats.   We mused over the special events that happened at the convention and the nice people that we met.

Earlier in the day I  enjoyed  a  very nice Gold rush themed lunch devouring spare ribs and  baked beans!  We had a  fun table and  another new glow member, Brenda, told me that she had one the raffle for my 6″ Broadway Ball. I was soo excited and happy for her.  Later I spent time at the auction where  a variety of Christmas items, from a Thomas Nast print to kugels, were being sold.

Then off to the museum where I spent another hour mezmerized by the wonderful collections contained in each glass cabinet.

Today I volunteered to help out in the Museum room and later Jo Ellen is  taking me on a special tour to Napa Valley.

Until the next sketch!

It’s been a very educational day at the convention. The museum room was opened this morning and it was like going to a magical kingdom! It was full of glass cases of every imaginable Christmas item that exists. In the middle of the room  was a runway of Santa outfits- some from the 30′s and 40′s.

Another area was  adorned with a collection of antique prints, pop-outs, advertising, and illustrations.  Wonderful Harper’s Weekly pieces- the color was remarkable.  I spent two hours and need to go back!

Later in  the afternoon  were educational talks, one of which  my friend Patrick gave on Nurnberg Lebkuchen tins. These are tins that held Nurnberg cookies similar to gingerbread.  Dressed in lederhosen, he waltzed in the room and danced the  Merry Christmas Polka with another glow member that was in  a traditional German dress. What a riot!

At night was the Feliz Navidad dinner where we were served tamales and cake tres leches.  A reanactment of a  Mexican Posadas soon followed.

Now onto room hopping!

Until the next sketch!

What an exciting day at the convention!  First off was the newcomers orientation. Kudos to David who did a fantastic job welcoming everyone to the glow.  Then off to set  up for the Christkindlmarkt- a venue people can sell  new things at the convention. From wikipedia “it is a street market associated with the celebration of Christmas during advent,mainly the four weeks preceding Christmas Day. These markets originated in Germany and Austria.”

I had a fun time signing the ornaments and copies of my book A Very New York Christmas

I even got to meet one of the artists that I collect, Debbee Thibault and she is just as warm and lovely as her sculptures. You can see much of her work at Kitty’s. Debbee told me how much she liked my work and even bought a copy of my book.   That is the best compliment I could ever ask for- to have someone whose work you admire tell you that they like yours.

Then off to the fantasy hat contest  and cheesecake and dancing Christmas trees. My friend Patrick was sporting quite a festive hat but  didn’t win the contest. A woman with a covered wagon on her head did.  Fun! 

Until the next sketch!

Convention Day two.

Had a wonderful breakfast with some Glow members from Honolulu, Hawaii, and then ventured off to one of the workshops. First I learned to make a cotton batting ornament with artist Lucy Webber.

These are ornaments made from batting, in this case cotton, which is less than a quarter of an inch thick and comes in sheets. From Lucy’s website “Cotton batting ornaments were made in the late 1800′s by cottage craftsmen of the Saxon Thuringian area of Germany.”

At the end  of the workshop, I had  a cute little Santa!  (whose photo is above.)

Second workshop was on how to make a cotton batting tree with folk artist  Jack Roads.  You start with a wire frame of a tree in a wooden base(or you can use a real tree), apply glue to each branch and to the trunk, and wrap it in cotton batting.  Then you use wallpaper paste to hold it all together and smooth it out.  A photo of  my final product is at top.

Fun times, great instructors!

By the way, I did find that antique feather tree – a small early green  table-top one with tin candle holders… and  guess who was selling it? The couple next to me in the ornament workshop!

Until the next sketch!

Today is my  first day at the Golden Glow convention in Sacramento California. This is going to be  an amazing experience. The people I have met have been so welcoming and kind.

I talked to a really nice woman on the bus from the airport who had  brought with her a collection of WWII Christmas ornaments.  She introduced me to another friendly glow member, Roger, the owner of a store that specializes in traditional German merchandise, called The Christmas Haus.

After settling in my room, I made my way around the hotel and helped stuff convention packets for the arriving members.  I will always be remembered as the  “nut stuffer”( as my role was to place bags of peanuts in each packet). I then went back to my room and  set up for Room Hopping–not as kinky as it sounds, LOL.  It is a beloved tradition where people sell  out of their rooms.  Below are some photos of my room.

Afterword, I ventured down to register for the conference and stumbled on some rooms that were open for the pleasure to hop!  I  found a  lovely woman who is an expert in Dresden ornaments,  Betty Bell.  (Someone needs to do a book with her collection!) They are stunning. From The Glow website– “Dredens were only 2-3 inches in size and were gilded or silvered, although some were painted by artists. Dresdens were primarily made between 1880 and 1910. They were manufactured using cardboard, dampened to make it flexible. It was then pressed in a stamping die, with each piece having an equivalent depression on a counter die. One ornament was often made of several pieces which, when dry, were taken home by cottage workers and assembled.”  I did happen to find a pug- and for anyone who knows me- knows that I have an extensive pug collection. So guess what  is coming home with me… above is a photo of one of her trees. Until the next sketch!