in the creative thick of it

curious feather by jennifer culp 2009

This was a particularly crazy creatively prolific week for me. It began last Sunday with helping along the completion of Heather's mural design, then a poster with my son for cubscouts, then a model of the Titanic with my son (for school), then the table for an auction with Heather, then a decorative cake with my son for cubscouts (that would have been cooler if I hadn't run out of black gel frosting--and if you're thinking ewe, black gel frosting, I agree, but I thought it would manly up the cake), then finishing and creating a couple of paintings to ship out and/or list in my etsy shop (not to mention working and other motherly duties). Yes. I was exhausted, but today is a new day. The sun is shining and I'm ready to paint.

I did want to feature a couple of paintings on our blog that may not be seen otherwise, because yesterday I shipped out 12 of my 6"x6" pieces and 4 of my 10"x10" paintings to Florida. They are going to The Studio Gallery of Grayton Beach (http://www.studiogallery30a.com/), and I'm thrilled that at least my art gets to travel. If you missed the 6"x 6" pieces I grabbed from my etsy shop, I'm sorry, but here are a few other pieces (below) that you can view, although they are now happily on their way southeast. I also included a picture of Desmond's (my son) Titanic, because we're proud (and not just because we crammed it in one day when we had a whole month+ to work on it [don't tell his teacher]).

our Titanic (mixed media--foam sculpture, paper mache, BBQ skewers, legos, paper, wire, cardboard, paint, aluminum foil, wax paper)

behind the curious birds mixed media by jennifer culp 2009


loosely connected mixed media by jennifer culp 2009

tiny tim bird mixed media by jennifer culp 2009

(jen)

Lady Bird

Here's our latest collaborative effort, a children's table created for a local preschool auction.

Today Jen was asking if she was turning into the "crazy bird lady" with all of her bird art.

I lied and said she wasn't, that's what friends are for.

Then later I was thinking about what Sir Paul McCartney once told me (well... OK the whole audience at one of his concerts) about his song Black Bird, and how it is about a black slave woman (in the UK bird is slang for girl) who was finally experiencing her first taste of freedom

The words...

Black bird singing in the dead of night

take these broken wings and learn to fly

all your life

you were only waiting for this moment to arise.

Who better to represent birds strong, weak, dead, curious, cute.... free (!) then Jen,

the most resilient bird I know, crazy or not.

(Heather)

Etsy treasury features Jen--Feb. 23

feathered friend by jennifer culp (gildedcandy) 2009

Real quick, CassandraKiss has compiled a note-worthy bunch of bird art, and has featured one of mine again (in an etsy treasury). It's called artful birds: http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=41812

(jen)

So fun to work with Heather

So Heather designed this cute simple decorative mural painting for a client (twin girls), and it happened that I was able to help her this afternoon--bust out the finishing touches. She originally stopped by to drop off her two year old, so I could babysit while she finished her project, but we got to thinking how our projects go so much quicker when we're able to collaborate, so we left the children to watch themselves (it's okay--we do have two teenagers). I wish there was a way to convey the fun we have when we work together, but it's probably best kept secret, and it's not just because I enjoy watching Heather knock over cups of icky paint water and cans of diet coke (she's a bit clumsy [and first to tell you]), but because she completes me...I just can't quit her.

This little name banner is my favorite part of Heather's design.


Forgive the pictures--it is my sad camera, and mural pictures are always tricky when considering space and light.

(jen)

The beauty of a friend

holding down the fort by jennifer culp 2009

I just wanted to pop in and say a little something on our blog. This is a piece that I finished this week. Heather was out at my house the other day for a birthday party and she saw this piece and commented on how well she likes it. She may think it's the colors or the pattern of the birds, but I know what it really is...it's the fact that one bird (up) has the back of the under-the-weather other bird (down)--just like us throughout the years.

*The beauty of a friend...better when you're both up, not so good when you're both down, but even that's beautiful, because at least you have someone to commiserate with.

(jen)

Slideshow link

Bart by Heather Jarvis 2009

See a slideshow of some of our art from the other night--courtesy of Scooter Lowrimore, http://www.scooterthephotographer.com/index2.php?v=v1

(click on clients and use password "bart")

Thank you friends for such a fine Friday the 13th.

Mary, Heather, and Jen--February 13, 2009

Photo courtesy of Scooter Lowrimore [http://www.scooterthephotographer.com/]

Thank you so much to all who came out last night. We are so grateful and our evening so fun. The art, in it's colors, subjects, and compositions, flowed well as a backdrop to a terrific party, and it was so nice to meet all the friends who came to see the art. I personally appreciated making some new friends as well as watching others form fast friendships too--like that of Scooter (the photographer) and Kerry (http://flickr.com/photos/kerrymorganphotography/), who I thought coincidentally knew each other and ended up at the same party, but realized after talking to them, they had only just met that night--photogofriends.

So I've included some photos from last night, opening and closing with two pictures Scooter took, and the in-betweens are taken by Jason (Heather's Husband) on my sad little camera.

Heather's Aunt Anne (caterer) helping with the set up of our goody table, and notice Mary's beautiful piece in the background.

Some of Heather's family enjoying her piece Bart (one of my personal favorites).

Minglers and art.

* I want to thank all of those who came and supported, who helped out in various ways--loading/unloading, setting up, taking photos (Jason & Scooter), music (Scooter), entertainment (Scooter) and a special shout out to our new friend Riley, who hung all of the work [thanks Riley]. I also want to give much appreciation for those at Bilbao's Restaurant, for putting up with us, making such great food suggestions and keeping the Sangria flowing--muchas gracias (http://www.bilbaorestaurant.com/).

+ And the brilliant photo below is one that Scooter took. It started out fine, but then he asked us to pose--so we did--but when we did he started barking "go! go! yes! yes! do it! do it! go! do it! go! go!" Heather is professional; that's all I have to say...well, that and how does Scooter manage to take such great photos when he's yelling at us average people as if we're supermodels who experience such crazy talk on a regular basis?

We three girls 2009

Photo courtesy of Scooter Lowrimore

(jen)

*Heather may chime in and add to my bit about last night...I'm eager to hear her take on the night.

Just a couple of last minutes...

cardboard beauty bird by jen 2009

I just thought I would mention that I hadn't intended on bringing any of my etsy pieces to our little show tomorrow, because I wanted to show them at my show next month (Edmond's Artwalk--details later), but I have recently been asked to ship several of them to a distant land (okay, Florida--details later). So I decided to bring many of them tomorrow night, including a couple that are so fresh, they're not even listed yet.

Along with my random etsy pieces, Mary and Heather are also showing several pieces that won't hang with the rest of the work, but will only be there to see in person tomorrow.

Just thought I'd mention...and if you need a refresher on the reception details, page down to the post a few days ago featuring our postcard.

(jen)

*and Jeannie, in case you're looking, the piece above is one I made while talking to you on the phone (details at my etsy store).

I'm so lucky.

by Mary Hawk

I'm so lucky, for many reasons really, but today because I'm surrounded by some fabulous art. Mary dropped off her art at my house yesterday, in preparation of our upcoming show. We were originally going to house the art at Heather's, because she is closest to our venue, but for several reasons we decided my house would be more suited to keep it safe.
*A couple of reasons:
1. I have a large studio space that can hold lots of work.
2. (This is my personal opinion) The art may be safer at my house, due to the budding artist miss Scarlett--Heather's 2 year old, who, if you've read our blog in the past, is notorious for "enhancing" others' artwork.

So anyway, the art will remain here until Friday--Heather's is coming tomorrow. In the meantime, I get to enjoy some really nice work. The photo of Mary's four piece flower above is a painting that hangs in her office, adding to the tranquil environment in which she works. I actually included it in a paper I wrote about her for my abnormal psych class [the paper was not about her being abnormal; it was about her methods as a therapist].
I would share more, but I want to leave some mystique for our reception on Friday.
(jen)

Hey look at me, in an etsy treasury--"Heavenly Creatures"

lucky number 5 by jennifer culp 2/2009

Thanks to BlueHeronQuilts, I'm featured in an etsy treasury again [limited time, a day or so--better look now]. It's worth taking a look at, because my little bird is surrounded by some of my favorite etsy artists. So nice.

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=38829

(jen)

Stop me if you've seen this one.

If you are new to our blog or have happened upon us randomly, then you probably have not seen this sculpture before. If you have seen this sculpture, you're probably thinking something like, enough with the sculpture already, but I just thought I'd share this photo I took during one of our recent bouts of snowy weather to demonstrate how well this piece melts into the wintery environment. I actually intended to move it before the bad weather, but it looks so nice, I let her be.

Okay enough already with the sculpture, but really, look at the landscape--nice.

(jen)

Friday the 13th

This is our little postcard, inviting you to come see our art. Our work will be in a business suite in the University District of Seattle--kind of The Office meets super cool art.

Address: 4500 9th Ave NE, Seattle

Suite 300 (third floor of the Metro Cinemas building)

*opening reception on Friday February 13 from 7-9pm

Hope to see you.