...you know who you are
Friday, May 17, 2013
Saturday, May 4, 2013
Stepping Out in Faith
The talent of many of the artists on Etsy continues to amaze. Last week I was introduced to the shop of Dianna Wood of TheWoodsSecretGarden. On the heels of a lush Rousseau painting, her intricate botanical illustrations grace suede boots, shoes and other wearables. She combines beautiful flora and fauna with text, often scripture passage, that she paints by hand with waterproof dyes.
Q) Your illustrations remind me of a Rousseau painting. Who have been the greatest influences in your art?
When we chatted after a treasury exchange, she graciously agreed to the interview that follows these gorgeous product photos.
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| bark cloth inspired pumps |
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| Hillard Hanson Suede Boots |
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| high heeled lace up "Truth" boots |
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| "Happy Trails" long suede jacket |
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| Victorian inspired "Truth" boots |
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| Bearpaw botanical boots |
Q) Your illustrations remind me of a Rousseau painting. Who have been the greatest influences in your art?
A) I really can’t point to a particular artist as having “influenced” my art. However, I can say that I am creatively “inspired” by just about every artist and tend to be most challenged by the realists from the 14th Century. I spent years working with oil on canvas and found that abstract and non-objective compositions were very easy and only require a good eye for color and composition where photo realism requires actual technical skill.
Q) What are challenges that you find using three dimensional suede as your canvas?
Q) What are challenges that you find using three dimensional suede as your canvas?
A) There is something wonderful about holding the canvas in your hand and being able to turn it as you go. I can complete a project sitting up in bed with a pillow on my lap – which is wonderful after a long day at the office.
In terms of the three dimensional aspect—really very little challenge at all. With boots and shoes, I do need to consider creating a design that will not only look good from every angle but will also work well with its counter part, i.e., the other boot or shoe. Decisions have to be made in terms of “the view” as well. Will the design look good to the wearer looking down at their feet, as well as from the vantage point of an on-looker?
Proper perspective can sometimes be problematic if you want a realistic image to extend down onto a heel or wrap around the toe. But that can be easily solved by using the larger flat surfaces for the more detailed realistic illustrations or by sketching out the design on paper and then tapping it to the boot and taking a “far off glance” before actually working on the boot itself. That has saved me from many a design mistake.
In terms of the three dimensional aspect—really very little challenge at all. With boots and shoes, I do need to consider creating a design that will not only look good from every angle but will also work well with its counter part, i.e., the other boot or shoe. Decisions have to be made in terms of “the view” as well. Will the design look good to the wearer looking down at their feet, as well as from the vantage point of an on-looker?
Proper perspective can sometimes be problematic if you want a realistic image to extend down onto a heel or wrap around the toe. But that can be easily solved by using the larger flat surfaces for the more detailed realistic illustrations or by sketching out the design on paper and then tapping it to the boot and taking a “far off glance” before actually working on the boot itself. That has saved me from many a design mistake.
Q) How have you promoted your work outside the Etsy venue?
A) I started my line of wearable art a little over a year ago and up until just a few months ago, had done no other promotion outside of Etsy. In December, I was looking for a pair of suede boots to illustrate as a Christmas present for our little granddaughter who lives in Hot Springs, Arkansas and struck up a conversation with the manager of the BEARPAW retail store in Citrus Heights. After showing her my business card and telling her what I intended to do with the boots, she promptly suggested that I contact the VP of Global marketing about the possibility of doing some boots for BEARPAW.
One thing led to another and I am now the lead artist for BEARPAW’s international campaign called “Creative Expressions” You can see my designs and read about the campaign on their web page at:
www.bearpaw.com/creative/home-grown
I work full time in law enforcement and also assist my husband with his ministry so there is little time to create, let alone promote. I am so grateful that this opportunity with BEARPAW came along. They are an international shoe company and the exposure has been outstanding.
Q) Describe a perfect work day in your studio/work space.
One thing led to another and I am now the lead artist for BEARPAW’s international campaign called “Creative Expressions” You can see my designs and read about the campaign on their web page at:
www.bearpaw.com/creative/home-grown
I work full time in law enforcement and also assist my husband with his ministry so there is little time to create, let alone promote. I am so grateful that this opportunity with BEARPAW came along. They are an international shoe company and the exposure has been outstanding.
Q) Describe a perfect work day in your studio/work space.
A) A perfect day would be to actually have a full day! I have to squeeze in design time when I can. There are, however, a few Saturdays when I wake up before the sun comes up with a design in my head and can spend the entire day getting that design out of my head and onto a handbag, jacket or boot.
I am very fortunate that my husband is supportive of my art and will actually do all the chores on those days to allow me time to create.
The only regret that I have about my line of wearable art is that it is not affordable for the average customer. I would love to see technology advance so that my designs can be printed on suede, therefore mass produced and sold at a more reasonable price. We have a joke around my house, “I am the artist and even I can’t afford my boots”.
I am very fortunate that my husband is supportive of my art and will actually do all the chores on those days to allow me time to create.
The only regret that I have about my line of wearable art is that it is not affordable for the average customer. I would love to see technology advance so that my designs can be printed on suede, therefore mass produced and sold at a more reasonable price. We have a joke around my house, “I am the artist and even I can’t afford my boots”.
Until then – I will keep “Stepping out in Faith”
I think you will agree that this one-of-a-kind, wearable art is priced right. Visit Dianna's shop here: TheWoodsSecretGarden. She also will accept commissioned work on your existing boots or purse. (FYI, I saw the "The Dream, by Rousseau" up close and personal at MOMA on my trip to NYC January, a highlight! The soles of my practical tennis shoes came home adorned only with gum from the E train subway.)
TheWoodsSecretGarden
Saturday, April 13, 2013
Gilty!
On recent trip to Rockford, I picked up a few new beauties for the shop under the category of
guilty pleasures / Italian tole / I'm really a simple girl but I like shiny things!
When I was asked by Laurie to write a brief article for my vintage team's blog, I considered my fascination with gilt pieces....here's the link
Friday, March 22, 2013
Spring Skis Bees Knees
The first official days of spring and there is still a snow pack of 10 inches on the back pastures.
The spring sun entices the bees out but many don't make it back to the hive before the big chill.
Poor little buggers.
I saw dozens of piles of them and wondered if this was due to poor bee management,
but apparently it is usual.
This week we've seen it dip to well below freezing.
Honey, don't put away the long johns yet.
Thursday, February 28, 2013
rear window
Totally dragging my heels posting for NYC Trip part 2.
In the meantime, here's a treasury that looks as though it could have been lifted from a 1950's Chelsea neighborhood.
That would be significantly pre-Trump Towers.
In the meantime, here's a treasury that looks as though it could have been lifted from a 1950's Chelsea neighborhood.
That would be significantly pre-Trump Towers.
'rear window' by ionesAttic
Friday is movie night on the Vesties team blog.
See the feature presentation here: www.vintageetsysociety.blogspot.com/Treasury tool supported by the dog house
Friday, February 8, 2013
NYC Part 1
In mid January my daughter surprised me with a trip to New York City. Neither of us had visited before so our wish list of course was a Manhattan mile long. What a fabulous five days it was!
We arrived on a Sunday evening, after an efficient, 39.00 cab ride from LaGuardia to midtown. We checked in to the the Roosevelt Hotel, with a traditional large gracious lobby and tidy but smallish rooms. I got my first taste of sticker shock at the hotel bar with a 17.00 martini. While Caroline ducked out to the rest room I struck up a conversation with two ladies and by the time she returned they had our evening mapped out. Stepping outside the hotel and looking up was my first real view of the vertical enormity of the city.
Grand Central Station was only a block or so from our hotel and we found it deserted at 9pm on a Sunday, a great time to take in the view of the gorgeous restoration funded by Jackie O.
The the Campbell Apartment is a salon bar tucked in the mezzanine level of the station and could be missed without really looking. We had appetizers and were tucked back in our room by 11:00.
Our tour guide was an animated native New Yorker and was a fountain of information on the gentrification of certain parts of the city. We had an impromptu dash tour of St. John the Divine cathedral.
Caroline, a labor and delivery nurse at HCMC really appreciated the beauty of this more recent stone column adornment to the main entrance. From our uptown tour we hopped off at the south east side of Central Park and went for coffee and decadent dessert at Serendipity. Right next door was an antiques store, Venfield which offers over the top opulence in Hollywood regency decor and lighting. It was, I must say, my one and only venture into any sort of antiques shopping and certainly not junking!
We hiked the twenty or so blocks back to our hotel, recouped and had a sumptuous meal that night in the Flatiron district at Junoon. The atmosphere, service and food was excellent and a surprise as this was a pre-paid Groupon deal. We had appetizers, wine, entrees and dessert for 69.00 for the two of us.
Tuesday, was our outing to Brooklyn and our tour and lunch at Etsy headquarters...worthy of a follow-up post. Wednesday was museum day and a day for a walk in Central Park.
We packed 2 museums, a rainy day bus tour through Little Italy, lower town Manhattan, a yoga class in Astoria, and dinner with friends from New Jersey. Andrea Cianflone, a NYC transplant from Shakopee was nice enough to meet us back in Midtown. Check out her lung capacity!!!
For the last 2 nights, Caroline had booked in at the TrumpSoho. This kind of hotel experience was quite frankly off of my radar, but what a treat! All of NewYork seemed to welcome us arms wide open and we were treated equally at the Trump.
We arrived on a Sunday evening, after an efficient, 39.00 cab ride from LaGuardia to midtown. We checked in to the the Roosevelt Hotel, with a traditional large gracious lobby and tidy but smallish rooms. I got my first taste of sticker shock at the hotel bar with a 17.00 martini. While Caroline ducked out to the rest room I struck up a conversation with two ladies and by the time she returned they had our evening mapped out. Stepping outside the hotel and looking up was my first real view of the vertical enormity of the city.
The the Campbell Apartment is a salon bar tucked in the mezzanine level of the station and could be missed without really looking. We had appetizers and were tucked back in our room by 11:00.
We had agreed that a great way to see the city and get our bearings was on a bus tour.
Day one, we walked to Times Square and got our tickets with
Grayline Bus Tours for 65.00 each which included uptown, downtown and
Brooklyn tours as well as discounted tickets for MOMA.
Caroline, a labor and delivery nurse at HCMC really appreciated the beauty of this more recent stone column adornment to the main entrance. From our uptown tour we hopped off at the south east side of Central Park and went for coffee and decadent dessert at Serendipity. Right next door was an antiques store, Venfield which offers over the top opulence in Hollywood regency decor and lighting. It was, I must say, my one and only venture into any sort of antiques shopping and certainly not junking!
We hiked the twenty or so blocks back to our hotel, recouped and had a sumptuous meal that night in the Flatiron district at Junoon. The atmosphere, service and food was excellent and a surprise as this was a pre-paid Groupon deal. We had appetizers, wine, entrees and dessert for 69.00 for the two of us.
Tuesday, was our outing to Brooklyn and our tour and lunch at Etsy headquarters...worthy of a follow-up post. Wednesday was museum day and a day for a walk in Central Park.
We packed 2 museums, a rainy day bus tour through Little Italy, lower town Manhattan, a yoga class in Astoria, and dinner with friends from New Jersey. Andrea Cianflone, a NYC transplant from Shakopee was nice enough to meet us back in Midtown. Check out her lung capacity!!!
For the last 2 nights, Caroline had booked in at the TrumpSoho. This kind of hotel experience was quite frankly off of my radar, but what a treat! All of NewYork seemed to welcome us arms wide open and we were treated equally at the Trump.
This was the view from our guest room and bathroom at night...Incredible.
Guest service sent complimentary birthday cakes to our room and I was happy to oblige in the birthday hat that made the grade: (see previous post)
Saturday, January 26, 2013
Birthday Hat
Let's say this is the weekend before my birthday. Rewind to the day that I was packing everything I could pack into a weekender bag for my first and most awesome trip to NYC. The forecast for mid January was mid 20's to 50's. What's a Bartholomew Cubbins to do?
I narrowed my hat options to four.
1) the Stormy Kromer Blizzard Hat:
purchased on a trip to the UP a couple of years ago, nothing says "mid west-gal's first trip to the big apple" like a hat with ear flaps
2) vintage 1960's sheep's skin hat:
found at a local thrift, super warm and tall enough to accommodate Marge Simpson's hairdo
3) vintage German beret:
versatile! works at the art museum as well as on a U Boat
4) vintage black felt bowler with the brim turned down:
really looks good when pointing at a landmark
next post will reveal which hat went to the city
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