Tag Archives: Veronica Cay

When 1 + 1 = More

Having decided to include both drawings and stitched work in Drawing Threads, I have been thinking quite a bit about multi-disciplinary artists lately. I’m sure their motivations are as varied as the artists themselves, but I do wonder about the thought process of those who choose to divide their energy between mediums.

Divide and Conquer

Divide and Conquer      ©2017 Elizabeth Fram, Stitched-resist Dye and Embroidery on Silk, 14 x 11 inches    Photo: paulrogersphotography.com

The main reason that drawing has become such a mainstay in my own practice boils down to time. Being able to complete a thought and have a sense of accomplishment in one sitting, rather than the days into weeks that large textile pieces require, has propelled my ideas forward much more quickly in both disciplines.

Key Lime Pie

Key Lime Pie     ©2017 Elizabeth Fram,  Ink on Paper, 11 x 8.5 inches

The following is an excerpt on the subject of multi-disciplinary work from an interview with Lisa Ferber on the Huffington Post Blog, 3.21.12

Explore. Don’t feel a need to stick to just one method of self-expression. “You are not just a writer or an artist — you are a creative person, so don’t limit yourself to a particular medium, such as painting, writing, or performing,” says Ferber. “I love being multidisciplinary. I see myself and all people as unlimited creative forces. I always create out of joy, whether it’s with a pen or a brush or in front of a video camera.

With that thought in mind, I’d like to share several of my favorite artists from Instagram who spread their work between more than one discipline.

  • Australian artist Veronica Cay, pairs drawings/paintings with ceramic sculptures. She often incorporates snippets of fabric into both, adding an interesting dimension that — no big surprise — is particularly appealing to me.
Veronica Cay Transgress, Whatever Happened

© Veronica Cay    “Transgress”, 2014 (left)      “Whatever Happened”, 2017 (right)

  • Nigel Cheney is an extraordinary draughtsman from the UK whose eye for detail also translates into a passion for stitch.
Nigel Cheney Hare and Cinquecento

©Nigel Cheney      “Hare”, 2009 (left)      “Cinquecento”, detail 2010 (right)

  • Geninne Zlatkis’ work depicts animals, birds, and plants. She paints their images on paper, tools them into leather, and etches them into the pottery she creates.  She also makes masterful hand-carved stamps. Her stunningly colorful photography captures the New Mexico landscape where she lives and the natural objects she collects from it.
Zlatkis Blue Bird and Leather Cuff

©Geninne Zlatkis     “Blue Bird”, (left)      Leather Cuff, 2015 (right)

  • Zachari Logan, whom I’ve written about before here and here, combines a spectacular drawing practice with equally intriguing ceramic sculptures.
Logan Fountain and Metamorphosis 2

©Zachari Logan       “Fountain I”, hand-built clay body, 4x4x4.5 feet, 2013 (left)       “Metamorphosis 2”, blue pencil on mylar, 10 x 17 inches, 2013 (right)

  • Lynn Chapman is a self-described plein air painter, textile artist, and illustrator from the UK. She is very active with Urban Sketchers. The lines of her drawings are fluid, economical, and very expressive, while her textile pieces celebrate color and marks with an equally flowing feel.
Chapman Ceres Cafe and Landscape

© Lynn Chapman     “Cafe Ceres 11” (left)     “landscape detail” (right)

I’d be remiss if I didn’t also mention friends who balance more than one discipline…

  • Dianne Shullenberger’s textile collages, colored pencil drawings, and sculptural objects are an ongoing expression of her love for nature.
  • Almuth Palinkas is a tapestry artist and painter. Her devotion to beauty is evident in all her work.
  • And Roz Daniels makes striking art quilts that, as with her stunning photographs, depict her strong inclination toward simple geometry.

And of course many, many masters delved into multiple mediums.
One final thought: when you have time, read this article about Ellsworth Kelly’s Temple for Light, which is an inspiring culmination of multidisciplinary achievement and, in many ways, a place to worship the deep waters of creativity.

Back in the (Drawing Horse) Saddle

It’s pretty shocking when I stop to realize just how many years it’s been since I last devoted several continuous hours to drawing a figure. Lately the urge to get back to it has been really niggling at me, spurred by the growing toehold regular sketching has nurtured. For more than a year I’ve been on the lookout for a figure drawing gathering that would mesh with my schedule.

Hat 1

In Process       The majority of my sketchbooks are approximately A4 or A5. Stretching out on an 18 x 24 inch sheet is pure luxury.

Thanks to a couple of friends who tipped me off to a (kinda-sorta) local group, I was able to attend my first life drawing session this past week. I am beyond excited! For 4+ hours I felt like that proverbial clam, snuggled in at high tide, while drawing in the congenial company of a collection of accomplished and welcoming artists who have been meeting regularly for quite some time. The model was superb and there was even jazz playing in the background. Seriously, I was beyond happy.

Hat 2

In Process     The model gets regular breaks, which is also a good time to reassess direction. Taking pictures with my phone mid-process is incredibly helpful, allowing for the distance necessary to identify areas that may need to change.

As something of a resource nerd I’m grateful for the library I’ve amassed over the years, pulling the following books/periodicals from my shelf for self-imposed homework. I would recommend any of them if you’re looking for drawing information and inspiration.

The Visual Language of Drawing – James L. McElhinney & the Instructors of The Art Students League of New York

The Natural Way to Draw – Nicolaides

Drawing Atelier: The Figure – Jon de Martin

Drawing magazine

Hat 3

Blue Hat     © 2017 Elizabeth Fram, 24 x 18 inches, Graphite on paper

Working larger gives me a greater opportunity to consider how shapes define not just the image, but also the way they support an abstracted definition of the composition.  Thinking along those lines as I’ve been stitching this week has made me even more aware of the possible parallels between my drawn and stitched work, and the symbiosis (in my mind, at least) that links both disciplines, which makes working back and forth all the richer.

Hat,detail

Blue Hat, detail     ©2017 Elizabeth Fram

Instagram continues to be a wonderful resource. Check out  @ronniecay@bobart1937,  &  @kevinwueste  They all regularly post work from their life drawing sessions. The variety of style and interpretation is quite inspiring.

The Wider World

I’ve been using Instagram for about four months now and I guess the self-imposed trial period is over. The results? …I’m glad I took the plunge. It’s become a quick daily dose of fresh images from artists all over the world that not only emphasizes the immensity of creativity out there, but also the tenacity and commitment that people devote to their individual practices. From that perspective alone, it’s very inspirational.

Inma Serrano Trumpeta 2

Inma Serrano     Trumpeta 2

Community, even a virtual one, is key when one spends large chunks of each day working in solitude, relying mostly on a pooch, books on tape, podcasts, and NPR for company. No question, Instagram is not a substitute for my in-person critique group and my art friends who live both near and far; it doesn’t come close to the reciprocity those personal relationships afford. But I am learning to appreciate it as a passport to the global creative community, a platform that demands very little while offering a lot if it is approached mindfully.

Lisa Smirnova Joseph Brodsky

Lisa Smirnova           Joseph Brodsky/Embroidery

On the whole, I have been fearful of social media because of the perceived time drain (I sit pretty firmly in Cal Newport’s camp). And while I’m sure you could spend hours on Instagram if you wanted, my concern that it would become an overwhelming time commitment hasn’t materialized. Instead, it’s a very compact opportunity to find a sense of connection by seeing what’s going on in all sorts of studios and galleries, while offering a taste of process, materials and inspiration.

Veronica Cay Out on a Limb

Veronica Cay      Out on a Limb

And, as I become more familiar with the work of the people I follow, it’s been fun to watch as individual works progress toward completion, to vicariously celebrate openings of people I will likely never meet, and to be able to appreciate the beauty in our world as others see it.  It’s a pretty cool thing to be able to tap into the wide world of folks out there who also find meaning and fulfillment in getting into their studio each day, trying again and again, because it’s just what we do.

Tangled Bank 2.10, 2017 Miguel Rodriguez

Miguel Rodriguez      “Big Shield” / Tangled Bank 2.10, 2017 Acrylic, collage on paper, 22×35 in

The above images are a tiny handful of my favorite artists to follow. Explore their work further on Instagram and on their websites.
Inma Serrano of Spain: Instagram,  Website
Lisa Smirnova of Russia: Instagram, Website
Veronica Cay of Australia: Instagram, Website
Miguel Rodriguez of Washington, DC: Instagram, Website