November 7, 2012 In art, creativity, design, graphic design, life and the universe, words and language, work and play By Patricia Saxton

Nonsense Makes Sense

“My alphabet starts with this letter called yuzz.  It’s the letter I use to spell yuzz-a-ma-tuzz.  You’ll be sort of surprised what there is to be found once you go beyond ‘Z’ and start poking around!”  ~Dr. Seuss

We’ve had a rough go on the east coast in recent weeks, and as I write this, the predicted Nor’easter is bringing down the temperature a whole lot more. What the snow will do remains to be seen, but the whole affair adds insult to injury for thousands of still-out-of-power or displaced folks.

Within all this, schools and towns are in various states of open or closed throughout the area, the election happened, and “the show must go on” with work to be tended. (yes, dear clients, I am working!)

So I decided to lighten up a bit, with a little nonsense borrowed from the great Dr. Seuss ~ which seems to make as much if not more sense than “real life”. (And I’ve a feeling there will be more installments of nonsense down the pike …)

………

Here’s wishing you a bit of nonsense in your day. 🙂

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November 6, 2012 In appreciation, art, communication, craftsmanship, creativity, history, inspiration, skill By Patricia Saxton

Tuesdays with Chris: “Art & Life”

Chris Staley

How the life we live influences what we create, and how art may influence the way we live..  This is one of my favorite videos in the series. Chris’ stories and insights about artists, students and teaching (with a flourish of psychology mixed in) make me wish there’d been a class like this when I’d been in school. Great stuff.

(If you missed my introduction about Chris Staley, master potter, educator and Penn State Laureate 2012-2013, you can read that here.)  Enjoy!

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October 31, 2012 In art, books, branding, design, imagination By Patricia Saxton

One More for All Hallows’ Eve

Happy Halloween! / Week 9 / 52 Weeks of Peace

“Shadows of a thousand years rise again unseen,
Voices whisper in the trees, “Tonight is Halloween!”
~ Dexter Kozen

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October 31, 2012 In art By Patricia Saxton

Moments of Prayer in Sandy’s Wake

Even as the sun strains to shine again, making the storm’s memory surreal, I want to put my prayers out there for everyone who’s suffered at the hands of Hurricane Sandy, and for those who are still in her wide, destructive path ~ and I welcome anyone who’d like to join me, in whatever form your prayer takes.

We’re in New Jersey, which has been among the hardest hit…. and while (with enormous gratitude) we are safe, many have been less fortunate and my heart goes out to them all up and down the coast and now reaching inland to the midwest. These are not ordinary times and this has been no ordinary storm.

Though our prayers may seem miniscule in the face of such force ~ a force that once again reminds us of how little control we have ~ prayers are worthy and needed. They may not stop a tunnel from flooding or a building from toppling, but in some unseen but powerful way, I believe (and hope) they matter. So, prayers to all, and huge, bountiful blessings to those who are able and willing to roll up their sleeves and brave the elements to help. They are heroes, all.

~ Patricia

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October 30, 2012 In appreciation, art, communication, craftsmanship, creativity, skill By Patricia Saxton

Tuesdays with Chris: “Creativity in Sports”

ChrisStaley / Snowfall At Night / 16x15x15

This week’s video shows Chris interviewing Penn State Head Football Coach Bill O’Brien. How, one might wonder, do you relate a game like football with the arts?

Chris manages to weave the two worlds together quite remarkably, within the context of perceptions like illusion, deception, sculpting your medium, and discipline … and it all makes sense. (If you missed my introduction about Chris Staley, master potter, educator and Penn State Laureate 2012-2013, you can read that here.)  Enjoy!

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October 28, 2012 In art, craftsmanship, creativity, photography, skill By Patricia Saxton

Loving Doisneau

Photo professionals and art history buffs have surely fallen in love with French photographer Robert Doisneau long before I did ~ but no matter when in time, I’m glad I found him. Of course, we’ve all seen his work, but perhaps didn’t know the name behind the lens.

His work is rich, spontaneous, human story-telling at its photographic best. And, if by chance I needed anything more to endear me to his work, it’s black & white.

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Robert Doisneau lived from 1912 – 1994. There’s a fabulous site about Doisneau and his work, here.

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October 25, 2012 In art, creativity, imagination, inspiration, skill By Patricia Saxton

Pumpkins!

‘Tis the season to bring out your carving knives and spook those goblins with clever sculptings!

Here’s a sampling of fantastic pumpkins* ~ some of which I’d think would require not just skill but the patience of a saint. They’re inspiring, yes? Another example of our wondrous capacity for creativity. Enjoy!

* All images found on the web, at various places: marthastewart.com, countryliving.com, goodhousekeeping.com, flicker and google images.

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October 23, 2012 In art, craftsmanship, creativity, imagination, presentation, skill By Patricia Saxton

Tuesdays with Chris: “Throwing a Snowman”

Chris Staley

“Everything an artist makes is a metaphor.” This is the overriding theme in this week’s video from Chris Staley, master potter, educator and Penn State Laureate. With disarming style, Chris recreates a snowman, a flower, a bent can and sticks in snow, inspired by a classroom visit with young children. (If you missed my introduction about Chris, you can read that here.)  Enjoy!

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October 21, 2012 In art, craftsmanship, creativity, design, drawing, fine art, painting By Patricia Saxton

Creative Duet: The Prolific William Morris

Perhaps the grand lord of the decorative arts, one could think of William Morris as the craftsman’s craftsman. His uncompromising  belief that the best things in life were hand-made using natural materials combined with his exquisite drawing and watercolor skills to produce a vast collection of wallpaper and fabric design still widely used today.

Early on he was dedicated to creating beautiful, hand-crafted furnishings, which led to fabric printing and then to excelling in the arts of carving, dying, embroidery, stained glass and weaving.  A prolific individual, to be sure.

But ~ yes  ~ there was more to this inspired man than textile design. Throughout his life he wrote and published poetry, fiction, and translations of ancient and medieval texts. As author, illustrator and medievalist, he helped establish the fantasy genre, and was a direct influence on authors such as J. R. R. Tolkien.

Morris was born into a well-to-do family on March 24, 1834 in Essex, England, educated at Exeter College in Oxford, and was married to Jane Burden until his death in October, 1896.

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October 18, 2012 In art, communication, creativity, design, graphic design, imagination, inspiration, words and language By Patricia Saxton

A Plethora of P’s / #64: Paisley

proactively punctuating life with the plausible, powerful possibilities of positive thought presented through a plethora of “P’s”.

– ♥ –

According to Wikipedia, paisley is a droplet-shaped vegetable motif of Persian origin, but its western name derives from the town of Paisley, in central Scotland.

Well, you learn something new every day.

What I’d already known was that paisley seems to have an almost immortal popularity that’s been used heavily by the likes of the equally immortal designer William Morris and fashion giants Gucci and D&G (Dolce & Gabbana).

I think of it as a happy print; happiest when used sparingly and elegantly. Of course, for those who like to shout it out more boldly, that works too. Either way, wear it in good cheer. There’s quite a bit of history in a piece of paisley print!

(see our growing, ongoing Plethora of P’s here)

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