Second week - Vermont Studio Center + Indiegogo Campaing

I hit my second week mark at the Vermont Studio Center and felt a little home sick. I think it was because it happened to have fallen on Valentine's Day and it made me realized how much I missed my love ones. This is why I'm a few days late to writing this post... I survived!!

Happy Valentine's Day!

I got the chance to do a lot of thinking over the weekend and I'm currently working on new ideas that I'll tell you about on my next post... and I finally came around to write my Newsletter again, after over two months of being absent!! You can read it by clicking HERE!

Meanwhile here's my second week... it was very busy one...

I continued working on my sculpture, and hand built the first figure on the ball I had made earlier:

With the left over plaster cloth I made two Artist Books, as samplers for the upcoming workshops I'll be teaching in June. [June 3-4 at the Truro Center for the Arts at Castle Hill in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and June 13-14 at Creative Arts Workshop in New Haven, Connecticut]

 

...and I finished painting #4...

Expressive Painting #4
(c)2015 Corina S. Alvarezdelugo

 Here's how my studio wall looked after my fourth painting was finished!

During one of our many snow storms we have gotten so far, I practiced with a tool for encaustic that I had bought at last year's International Encaustic Conference and haven't been able to try it out until now. It's called the "Enkaustikos Flow Pen". I used it to draw on the postcards I had done the week before, and that I will send out to those who have donated $10 to my crowdfunding campaign. Here's the result:

But not all was cloudy days and snow... I had the chance to watch a beautiful sunset after all!

Last week, we were also visited by two visual arts professionals, and they were both named William. One, Will Lamson, an installation/performance artist living and working in Brooklyn, NY. The other Will Villalongo, who's currently a painting and drawing professor at Yale University in New Haven, CT. Each gave us a talk and slide show about their work, and then they visited each of our studios at VSC for a half an hour one-on-one critique. It's such a great opportunity to have professionals look at your work, and talk to you about it, opening up your mind to keep developing as an artist.

And the cherry on the top was our first Open Studios here at VSC. We got to see the studios of fellow residents and see what they have been working on thus far. Here's how my studio looked for Open Studios:

An installation I'm making with all the tea bags
from the teas I've drank so far!

And finished the week with my wall ready for painting #5

If you are enjoying my updates, and would like to support me on my crowdfunding campaign to help me cover the costs of this residency, please go to: http://igg.me/at/corina.

Here's 3 ways you can help to make it happen. You can choose to do one, two, or all tree:

1. The obvious one, making a monetary donation of $1 or more, but there are two more ways to help that you're not probably aware of.

2. If you click on the link and go to my Indiegogo page, you can click to any of the Social Media share buttons on the top of my campaign.

3. You can also help big time, by leaving a comment on that page. Click on COMMENTS right above my video, right after you sign into Indiegogo.

Thank you for your help and support!!



 

First week - Vermont Studio Center + Indiegogo Campaing

I can't believe it's been already a week since I arrived to do my Artist-in-Residency at the prestigious Vermont Studio Center, and it's already been a life changing experience. I've been able to work loosely on large pieces of paper, which I never get to do at my regular studio since I don't have the space for it. It is, after all, a messy approach, but so rewarding!

So you get an idea of how large I'm working,
look at my hand in relation to this piece.
(This is the third painting I posted on one of my
earlier posts.)

The beginnings of number 4!

On Friday night we had a Dance Party at the center. It was snowing so the views walking there and from there, looking out, where just so beautiful. Take a look!

That house at the end with the lights, it's our local Art Store.
A paradise for everyone here!!

Here's a video I took from our rec/library room during the party...

On Saturday, I took a break from painting to start working on a new approach to make my round sculptures, instead of using clay, and so far is working well. I needed to make the base of the sculpture so it's dry by the time I start making what's going to go on top of it. Hence, the importance to get it started. Can't wait to see the outcome!

Here's how it looks so far!

Today, Sunday, we got to sleep in to wake up to a nice brunch. After brunch, I did laundry...

Couldn't help to take this picture as I was
parking at the Laundromat

Then a group of us got together for a Collage Party and we all made Valentine's. People were coming and going, as they were done with their cards...

A few of the ones that came, posing for the camera.

It's been great getting to meet so many interesting people, from writers to painters, to sculptors, printmakers, video artists... Creativity as its best!

Curious Note: One of the artists' in the residency is freezing balloons filled with water to make an ice sculpture with them.
See them hanging on the tree near the building?

Please remember I still need your help to cover the costs of my residency: http://igg.me/at/corina. So, if you like what I'm doing and would like to support my efforts, here's 3 ways you can help to make it happen. You can choose to do one, two, or all tree:

1. The obvious one, making a monetary donation of $1 or more, but there are two more ways to help that you're not probably aware of.

2. If you click on the link and go to my Indiegogo page, you can click to any of the Social Media share buttons on the top of my campaign.

3. You can also help big time, by leaving a comment on that page. Click on COMMENTS right above my video, right after you sign into Indiegogo.

Thank you for your help and support!!

CPTV: All Things Connecticut – Spotlight on the Arts with Corina S. Alvarezdelugo

I've been honored with the opportunity of being featured in the Spotlight of the Arts, a segment on the TV Magazine, All Things Connecticut, hosted by the Connecticut Public Television (CPTV). For this, I was interviewed by Ed Wierzbicki, an Emmy Award-winning producer and arts writer, who's an arts & culture producer for Connecticut Public Television and WNPR.

Last October of 2014, Ed Wierzbicki wrote a wonderful article on me and my work for WNPR (you can read it by clicking HERE). Just last night, my interview came up on the air. Please, click HERE to view it.

Tweet: "When artists take a stand, people listen" Corina S. Alvarezdelugo via http://bit.ly/1zGodNi @corinadotdash

I would like to hear from you, your comments are always welcome!

Day 4 & 5 - Vermont Studio Center + Indiegogo Campaign

Carrie Brummer, from the Artists Think blog, wanted to interview me to help me with my Indiegogo Campaing for her segment, Creative Spirit. For this, she sent me a questionnaire. So, I did a lot of writing in between Wednesday and Thursday to get in just in time for her publication deadline of TODAY! To view the interview, please click HERE.

Once again, I took a break to clear all the snow that had fallen the day before on my car before it gets frozen. I also filled the tank with gas (I didn't know we have to keep the gas tank full when temperatures are this low, to avoid condensation - live and learn!)

 But I also managed to finish a third painting in my series. All of them measure  about 4' x 4'

I started my painting making marks with my
hand-made brush and Sumi Ink

Added more marks and writing with charcoal and graphite

Here's the end result

My studio wall, after this third painting...

And now it's ready for number 4!

Since I didn't have enough time to start the new painting (the process requires a wet stage in between layers), I started doing some Encaustic monotypes inspired by the colors in my surroundings. The red for the barn and studios, the white for the snow, and the blue of the sky...

In the evening, I was happily surprise to be able to view the interview that just came up on the air last night, about my most recent body of work, for the Connecticut Public Television (CPTV) – Spotlight on the Arts’ segment- Here’s the link in case you want to watch it. My interview starts at 2:03 minutes: https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=share&v=_IVSCchoKlo

~~~

And please remember, I still need your help to cover the costs of my residency: http://igg.me/at/corina. So, if you like what I'm doing and would like to support an artist, here's 3 ways you can help to make it happen. You can choose to do one, two, or all tree:

1. The obvious one, making a monetary donation of $1 or more, but there are two more ways to help that you're not probably aware of.

2. If you click on the link and go to my Indiegogo page, you can click to any of the Social Media share buttons on the top of my campaign.

3. You can also help big time, by leaving a comment on that page. Click on COMMENTS right above my video, right after you sign into Indiegogo.

Thank you for your help and support!!

Day 3 - Vermont Studio Center + Indiegogo Campaign

Tuesday, was a very exciting day, as my creativity was flowing. I started with a series of expressive drawing exercises to see where they will lead me, here the results:

My first attempt was rather timid. I used acrylics, charcoal, and graphite on paper.

From this...

...to this.

I love how the wall looked as I took the first painting off the wall:

I took a small break to clear all the snow that had fallen the day before on my car before it gets frozen, and to move the car to a different location so they can plow the parking lot.

Can you find my car?

I guess my color palette was influenced by the landscape colors around me!!

Second piece of paper goes on the wall...

My second attempt was a bit more bold. I used my newly made brush and Sumi Ink, besides of what I used in the first one. Here it is...

Hand-made brush using my own hair

Dipping the brush on the Sumi Ink

First marks added to the paper with Sumi Ink.
Is that a face?

More marks with the ink, and I still see a face in it.

A series of additions and obliteration, my background is done!

The end result!

My studio wall, after the second painting...

And now I'm ready for the third painting...

http://igg.me/at/corina

Remember, I still need your help to cover the costs of my residency. So, if you like what I'm doing and would like to support an artist, here's 3 ways you can help to make it happen. You can choose to do one, two, or all tree:

1. The obvious one, making a monetary donation of $1 or more, but there are two more ways to help that you're not probably aware of.

2. If you click on the link and go to my Indiegogo page, you can click to any of the Social Media share buttons on the top of my campaign.

3. You can also help big time, by leaving a comment on that page. Click on COMMENTS right above my video, right after you sign into Indiegogo.

Thank you for your help and support!!

Day 2 - Vermont Studio Center + Indiegogo Campaign

As I told you all on my last post, it's hard to post from here, as I only have internet in the studio and in the common areas, not in the dorms. But in keeping with trying to keep you all updated during my Artist-in-Residency at the Vermont Studio Center, here it is:

Monday, we woke up snowing and it snowed all day... Looks so beautiful!

Today was not a productive way per-se, as I had to attend a talk in the morning, sign a contract to pay the rest of my tuition in installments, and file my sales taxes. But I managed to set up the studio, construct a super brush with my hair (no, I didn't cut my hair again, I did it with the hair I have saved from last time, when I cut my hair very short) and it's all ready for tomorrow's creative and "expressive" day. Take a look:

Thanks to our wonderful Harlan, who
made me a paper towel holder!

My encaustic table

Found a shelving unit to accommodate
all my media

I left for the evening, leaving a piece of multimedia paper on the wall, that measures about 4' x 4'. I have so many ideas rumbling in my head!! Let's see what happens on it tomorrow morning!!

I leave you with an snowy image from my studio window. Enjoy it!

http://igg.me/at/corina

Remember, I still need your help to cover the costs of my residency. So, if you like what I'm doing and would like to support an artist, here's 3 ways you can help to make it happen. You can choose to do one, two, or all tree:

1. The obvious one, making a monetary donation of $1 or more, but there are two more ways to help that you're not probably aware of.

2. If you click on the link and go to my Indiegogo page, you can click to any of the Social Media share buttons on the top of my campaign.

3. You can also help big time, by leaving a comment on that page. Click on COMMENTS right above my video, right after you sign into Indiegogo.

Thank you for your help and support!!