Archive for the ‘the art of living’ Category
Seamus Heffernan
Danny Gregory’s new book An Illustrated Life features pages from artist’s journals and sketchbooks, a secret glimpse into their thoughts and inspirations. He posted a preview gallery a few months ago and you can imagine my joy when I discovered three of our bloggers, Penelope, Rama and Melanie listed among the distinguished participants, as well as another dear and familiar name to me, Seamus Heffernan.
Seamus grew up in New England and now lives in Portland, Oregon. He recently graduated with a BFA in painting from the Pacific Northwest College of Art, after a year abroad with the Aegean Center for the Fine Arts in Greece. He is a freelance illustrator/ painter/ comics artist and is working on a graphic novel about the Revolutionary War. See excerpts from the novel and his journals at seaheff.com
Seamus and I both studied in Pistoia, Italy and Paros, Greece with the Aegean Center for the Fine Arts in 2005-2006. The first time I met Seamus, in the garden of the Villa Rospigliosi, I was tongue-tied and intimidated – I was an older student with no prior art study, feeling incredibly out of my depth amid this garden of rosy young talent. I asked him about his summer travels and he handed me his journal with ink-stained fingers.
Let me tell you, a few scans in a book or on a website can’t do Seamus’ work justice. The first time I opened his journal I knew I was experiencing something vital and rare – as close to a real glimpse inside someone’s thoughts as you’re ever going to get.
I had travelled to the Aegean Center with six cameras, determined to document every new place and sensation, trying to feel “artistically prepared”, if such a thing is possible (it isn’t). After the first week, when we went on to Venice, I started looking to Seamus to make sure these incredible moments were being truly captured. My cameras did not fail me, oh no, but after each new day I’d ask Seamus to show me his journal and only then was I satisfied that my own memories were in place.
He draws every day. He carries a very nice ink pen with him, as well as a tube of white gouache for highlights. Sometimes he sits so still when he’s drawing that you think he’s missing the action, only to discover later that while you were fretting, he was noting the details you’d missed.
Danny interviewed Seamus last week for his podcast – you can listen to it here and discover more about Seamus’ life and work.
I’ll be writing more about Danny’s new book in the coming weeks, and more about the Aegean Center and its unique and magical classical approach to art studies. Congratulations, Seamus - SUGCARHTHRIA!
Posted by admin on 05/19/08 under artists,books,studio life,the art of living
No Comments
Maira Kalman is Simple-Minded
need a little birdie in your artistic ear? check out this video (via TED) of maira kalman.
thanks to christine for the pick-me-up!
Posted by admin on 04/25/08 under artists,the art of living,video
No Comments
Kochalka’s Tortillas
hidden in a recent American Elf comic is an easy recipe for yummy tortillas!
Posted by admin on 04/23/08 under comic,everyday art,the art of living
No Comments
Hey, Hey New Yawkers 2!!
new yorkers do have all the fun. the illustration conference, ICON, comes to new york city July 2nd – July 5th. it starts with a sketch crawl and ends with a big party. i mention it now because there are discounts for early registrations.
the icon poster above was drawn by edel rodriguez.
Posted by admin on 04/22/08 under celebrate,everyday art,the art of living
No Comments
The Big Draw
Here’s another fantastic art project: “The Campaign for Drawing‘s aim is simple: to encourage everyone to draw. Its annual showpiece, The Big Draw, proves that drawing can be a public activity as well as a private passion.” The ninth Big Draw will run throughout October 2008 but I mention it now so that you have plenty of time to register.
This Campaign for Drawing illustration is by Quentin Blake.
Posted by admin on 04/15/08 under celebrate,the art of living
No Comments
Artists Assemble!
I can read your mind. You’re thinking “Making art is so great! But who cares? I want to make a difference in the world!” Well…
Art With Heart, an organization devoted to “healing youth through creativity,” is offering free training in their Art Buddy program on Saturday, March 29th, from 9:30am â?? 1pm. (RSVP is required and donations are welcome.)
Posted by admin on 03/10/08 under everyday art,giveaway,the art of living
No Comments
Learn to Crawl
My friend, Connie, alerted me to a fantastic art project: the SketchCrawl. In short, it is a world-wide drawing marathon. Visit the website for details, tell your friends, and sharpen your pencils because the next crawl is scheduled for March 29th, one month from today!
The SketchCrawl map above was drawn by Enrico Casarosa, the fella who founded this foolishness.
Posted by admin on 02/29/08 under celebrate,contests/projects,everyday art,the art of living
No Comments
Speaking of Star Wars
Posted by admin on 02/27/08 under the art of living,video
No Comments
“I clearly miscalculated how popular it would be to show Calvin urinating on a Ford logo.”
I spent the winter holiday at my parents’ house. While there, I rediscovered my collection of beat-up Calvin & Hobbes comics. Man! They are even better than I remembered them! It left me wondering what Bill Watterson is doing now. What does his fine art work look like? Is he drawing comics still… for himself or friends maybe? It’s a mystery that compelled me enough to scour the internet. While I didn’t figure anything out, I did find a lot of great stuff including this collection of rare artwork and relatively recent interview. Not to mention the Calvin & Hobbes collections that I picked up from the library.
Posted by admin on 01/22/08 under comic,the art of living
No Comments
