true delight of ms. nevelson

current tune: Does It Offend You, Yeah? "Let's Make Out"

The thought of the July coming to a near end frightens me with another month making the transition behind me with expectations not met and projects left incomplete. I just want to have closure with my college education so that I may be able to be without time lines and "security issues" with campus facilities.

This new project which officially has begun today - as I have officially spray painted one tiny television cameo pink! Though it's start is simple, I hope to go with this project and let the feelings and details of the direction come to me as I go - or as I place newly selected pink items in the corner of the backyard I've been given to construct this piece in.

I'm creating an outdoor installation of an indoor environment filled with nothing but capitalistically rich material objects universally covered in delicately pink spray paint in a natural environment. My artistic inspiration relies solely on the beautiful and talented Louise Nevelson and her assemblages.

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Royal Tide I - 1960

" 'When Nevelson struck upon her now-signature use of monochrome, she was able to do in her art what she had hoped to do in her life: neutralise idiosyncratic details, harmonise disparate elements, and transform the common and mundane into elegant objects of mystery. She rendered neutral the wood castaways that she first scavenged from the streets and later acquired from friends and acquaintances with coats of black, white or gold paint. Stripped of the details that hinted at their histories, that contained threads of stories, the cast-off objects acquired dignity and power, a grandeur they never had as baseball bat shards, chair backs and other furniture fragments, crates and timberyard orphans. According to the artist, 'black contained all colour... It was an acceptance... Black is the most aristocratic colour of all.' "

The Sculpture of Louise Nevelson, p 12, quoted from Nevelson's autobiography Dawns + Dusks, edited by Diana MacKown (New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1976).

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I am attracted to and intrigued with the unifying of the selected objects by the shared commonality of the the color that masks each one similarly. Masking their corporate labels, their consumer identity, their directions and warnings and focuses on the physical form and the space they have been placed within. With this regard, I can relate with the progress and growth of my own personal art that questions the materialistic identity and cultural connotations.

...it still drips...

current tune: Gotan Project "Epoca"

My living space is my studio space...my art is put everywhere....whether put aside on tables or open sketchbooks sporadically placed about... or torn sheets of drawing paper tacked to the walls as references and/or inspiration. I really am quite thankful for my little Nikon so that I can share all the drawings and things I create or paint...on.

some work:

in-progress drawing started a couple days ago.

The original crow drawing that inspired me to create the prismacolor illustration that I had made into postcards for the opening of my senior exhibition.A collage piece created over this past summer of computer chips dancing with dollar signs [you get the hint]. Some of the collaged pieces need to be tended to...finished, but needs mending.

As a project for one of my courses [Graphic Forms] this past spring 2010 semester we were instructed to choose a specific location of wall along a long and narrow corridor down in the basement of one of the buildings near a pretty neglected studio/classroom. We were to turn our everyday or personal doodles into a mural without a limitation or expectation of 2-dimension or three. The basis of this course was very open, very liberal, and pushed the cognitive abilities of what it means to draw. I loved the course...and of course the professor, who like other genuinely caring people, has been very caring and wonderful during this year despite good and bad circumstances.

The entirety of the corridor [as well as the stairwell] were covered with various interpretations and meanings of personal doodles, likes, and interests that were 2D, 3D, and both. I chose to go with the progression and "flow" of how my illustrations have coming. I began sketching rapidly, questioning myself [while stepping back and forward numerous times for better looks and angles] as I drew straight from my mind right on the spot. I didn't know what the specific subject matter qould entail, but I was ok with that. Through the course of this year I have the advantageous opportunities to try different methods of working on my art and projects; straying from my past routine of sketching to death before creating.

My lovely Roma-gypsy-was the end result.
Spinning her continually growing purple hair into spools of thread.

Unfortunately, by the time I got back down to the Coleman studio and the corridor...a pile of shit had accumulated in front of it. I'll just have to bother my lovely photo love, Shanna for her photos of the mural.I was told Roma was Ukrainian for gypsy, though spelled as poma instead. Even if I am incorrect, she is still my mystical Ukrainian gypsy woman.

Lastly, I been diligently painting away at my door tonight-begining the drips and getting ever so closer to completion! Nicholas generously moved "my canvas" up into the apartment so I could keep with the creative flow into the night, despite the sunshine. I've been working on every bit of it outside up until this point. I'm hoping to have both sides finished by Monday morning.

progress [to date!]:

My ultimate goal is to have the door painted, finished, and set to be tied to the roof of my Merc to be transported to its outdoor space. I need to get my butt moving and finish this piece and the 2+ large boxes of pink plastic lawn flamingos that still need to be "teared up".

can't stop creating.
won't stop being an artist.


p.s. - happy 30th birthday, Pac-man!

sleepless in central new york

daily melody: As Tall As Lions "Ghost of New York"

It is currently 12:20am in Central New York State and I am currently residing from the basement of a campus building at my school [which is also used as an art classroom, one of which I have] with [thankfully!] two lovely ladies who had a similar drive to just create art into the wee hours of the night. All while refusing to be kicked out be campus security.

I'm getting very tired after an exhausting night last night in another campus building, the newly named Reisman Hall [large sum donation=name on building] in the more tech-savvy Art & Design building until 4am refining my portfolio and assortments. Needless to say, I was a very wiped girl waking up at 8am to try and print my portfolio [again].

It was two unsuccessful attempts.

And too much wasted good gloss printer paper too.

Why is it the body can just keep on going sometimes? I was pondering that very question today when I was thinking about how much harmful things we consume and put ourselves around with on a daily basis. Why is it so difficult to conceptualize an environment filled with beneficial and effective thing?

I am successfully armed with 14+ cans of spray paint [very happy moment in my life!] with the fabulous Montana spray paint, a jolly red shopping basket full of acrylic paints, three brightly painted found television sets, in a content corner of a room I can proudly call my own.

I wish I could post photos this very moment.

I'm taking them with my phone for some kind of documentation, and can hopefully get them off somehow...

....really need a digital camera....

artwork over spring break

daily melody: Madonna "Hung Up"

While I was on spring break [last week] from college, I went through quite a bit of drawings and illustrations, though the majority of them have been left unfinished for the moment. I was away from my trusty scanner at school, and shamefully have yet to purchase a new digital camera. I've come to the sad conclusion that it is too expensive and not worth the gamble having my camera repaired. Arrrrrgh.

Here is some scanned new artwork.
I will need to have these shot better so I can possibly add them to my portfolio.

Illustration #1

Illustration #2

Illustration #3

Illustration #4

Illustration #5

Illustration #6

Illustration #7

Illustration #8

Illustration #9

Illustration #10

I am in a small upcoming show with my good friend Kari at The Delevan Art Gallery in Syracuse and plan on keeping it two-dimensional [drawings] and thought it would be a good idea to present my illustrations, since my student show will be an installation. I was thinking either the tenth drawing posted above or the ninth.

Any opinions? I am open to every and all!

snowed in - so draw!

daily melody: Bonobo "Dinosaurs"

Today it decided to be winter. Real winter. At least her in central New York the snow made the executive decision to precipitate; making the roads slick and shitty, my car getting stuck at two opportune moments today, and accumulating at a rapid pace. On a good note, for some reason I've hit a creative surge and have produced two new illustrations tonight!



I went through my supplies of sharpies and had to use two of my roommates. Sharpies are the basic tools of life for me and serve for sooo many fantastic projects and drawings. Along with my prismacolors they are my favorite tools.

I love where these illustrations are going. I hope to be known one day for these. And not just be a starving artist.

the work station.
messy.
yes workable. because I make it work.

I will have a better set up when I graduate. For now, I must make do with their lovely dorm environment I am in and just go with the creative spurts I receive!

oh! and if anyone knows of some good websites for making prints or artwork, please share the wealth of knowledge!

xoxo

anyone can be glamorous

daily melody: Black Eyed Peas "Outta My Head"

My piece is complete.
Please, excuse the poor, poor photography here...

untitled
Caroline Locatelli
2010
mixed media

The mixed media ended up being a combination of matt board, cut wood, a photograph, bedazzles, bits of a broken mirror, and wax.

Je t'adore.

I think I'm going to my good friend Kari's advice and submit it to the student show [Cazenovia College Juried Student Exhibition]. I'm itching to spray paint gold some more things I have about and seeing what else I can conjure up.

Also I am quite excited to sport my new dress that was a fabulous find at TJMaxx. Figuring today was the last possible day for senior portraits to be in the yearbook [lame college blahblahblah...]I made the decision to rock something funky, non-traditional, and more myself.

I had a lot of fun wearing this around this afternoon, getting photographed in it for senior photos and just kind of being flashy. Quite a bit of compliments were said, and it made me feel really lovely that I could stand out for something flashy and fun that isn't skanky or classless.

* * * *

Oh..and I just totally cleaned out my inbox on my school email. It feels oh-so good!

[insert name] x 500

daily melody: Empire of the Sun "Walking on a Dream"

Over the past two days I've been trying to construct a project for one of my classes, graphic forms. Trying to formulate concepts with materials that I couldn't rely to get my hands on was tough...

I decided to paint while trying to keep the similar line work and staying true to my pieces. My friend Tesla said it the best, "paint requires more patience." And it serves true with trying to go large scale and having to switch between acrylic paint and the ink I so long to do completely. Of course it would require too much time, so paint is needed for the smart.

It's not done, but this is is so far.

I have drawn SOO much inspiration from this one naturally deteriorating deer skull.
I love it!

I am experimenting with my subject matter and growing darker in my illustrations. Whether this is a shift in maturity or just taste, is to be questioned. Either way it's amazing to be able to produce such fantastic work as of lately (and especially being presently sick....) and having it portray so much!

There is also a fishbowl filled with lime gelatin in the mini fridge with cut out piece of my name 500 times. It was all part of the assignment and the "incantation inspired" way I took it.

drawing a day: deux

daily melody: The Mars Volta "L'Via L'Viaquez

Before I went on a much anticipated art field trip with two of my classes to see the various galleries in Syracuse, I began to produce this guy.

He isn't complete yet, but almost.

Where do you ask did the inspiration come from?

Well, my roommate and wonderful friend Christina went back home for the weekend a bit ago and asked around with her hunting friends back in Maryland. The result was the little beauty, which I have this odd love for.

I thought I would also show some of my in-progress ones that I mentioned yesterday. I don't know what to do with some of them yet.... I get so hung up on them or get a new idea that i just kind of cast them aside to finish another piece.

lady gaga inspired.

I need to touch her up a bit. I didn't like that she an unflawed face, but then after some alterations and decision making....the end result was making her look a bit too old then what I was trying to create. Still in progress.

Margot Tenebaum inspired.

Love love love love love The Royal Tenebaums! I was watching it AGAIN and really had the urge to draw my own take on the wonderfully attractive Margot. Still in progress.

And a Victorian inspired piece.
I love drawing crazy messy huge up-do's with lots of detail on the hair. Still in progress.

More on the way!

a drawing a day!

daily melody: Violent Femmes "Kiss Off"

Well....I've been hiding and I had no original intentions of doing so.

The good news is I've been producing some fabulous work that makes me want to spend endless days drawing and producing these ideas that have been a continual flow from my head. Inspiration comes and goes with me...which I don't know is like everyone else....? When I'm dry it sucks, but when I'm a kick I could just go for days until all my creativity is washed up.

I also decided that with my creativity and the great work I've been producing, I thought about producing a drawing [a finished drawing not a shat one...] each day for the month of February.This would a little push for myself to produce drawings just for me, and not because they are meant as a project for a class. I get so swept up in life that I forget to stop and just let myself go and create something that purely brings me joy.

February is my month to create my illustrations that are representation of me.

Here are some of the works I've created thus far:

I have three drawings in-progress scattered about the floor and my desk in front of my laptop has prismacolors all around.

I couldn't be happier!