December 8, 2009 In art, books & stuff, children's books, creativity, illustration, inspiration, words and language By Patricia Saxton

Art, Books & Red Rocks

Horsethief Basin. Happy Valley. Snowflake. Deadmans Wash.  Bloody Basin. Rainbow Trail.  Bumblebee. Cornville. Dead Mexican Creek. Dead Cow Gulch. Deadman Creek. Skull Valley Wash. Jackass Basin (am I allowed to say that?). Rattlesnake Canyon (yea, I want to go there, don’t you?). Yankee Doodle Trail. Moonshine Spring. Onion Mountain. Monkey’s Eyebrow. Big Bug Mesa.

The list of Arizona’s colorful geographic names goes on. While there seems to be a propensity for dead things, you have to admit they’re original.

Fresh from another journey to Sedona, I’m reminded that I never come away uninspired – not necessarily by the unusual names, but the rugged, compelling landscape. The drive from Phoenix to Sedona being one of my favorites, you go from Phoenix’s palm trees and rather uneventful, flat urban sprawl towards rolling hills and twisting roads, scrubby bushes and tall cactus, past black mountains and on up and up to the rich red and green gem that is Sedona.

This trip was no different in terms of my spirit soaking up the magical air, but different with respect to my agenda. There was little time to do to more than drive by the gorgeous rock formations, as most of my time was spent inside the Andrea Smith Gallery in Sedona’s famed Tlaquepaque Art Village. Different, but well worth it.

Friday night was the opening reception for my book signing and exhibit of limited edition prints from A Book of Fairies and The Book of Mermaids. Bitter cold by Arizona’s standards, it was warm inside the gallery with lots of great people coming in, a wonderful spread of yummy hors d’oeuvres provided by Ashley, one of the gallery’s gracious keepers, and beautiful guitar music provided by my very gifted brother, David Saxton.

Saturday was also cold, but the chill still didn’t keep away the nice crowds who made the event a success. In fact, we sold out of Fairies books … one woman even joked that I was giving some stiff competition to Sarah Palin. It was certainly a good kind of competition.

My thanks to everyone who came – I enjoyed meeting each and every one of you. As for the rest of you, if you’re ever in Sedona, and can drag yourselves away from the natural outdoor beauty, stop at the Andrea Smith Gallery where they’re sure to treat you well.

But of course, all good things come to and end. Driving east out of Sedona, saying my good-byes to one of my favorite spots – Cathedral Rock – I felt that sense of renewal emanating from the morning sun-tinged clay-red temple  … and knew I was already looking forward to another visit.

And I’m thinking, maybe Arizona should add another name to its grouping of unusually named things; something like  “Mermaid Mesa” or “Fairy Dust Springs”. Has a kind of charm to it, don’t you think?

(you can read more about my past travels in Arizona at http://www.saxtonstudio.com/patriciasaxton/arizona.html )

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December 2, 2009 In books & stuff, creativity, design, graphic design, illustration, inspiration, words and language By Patricia Saxton

Alphabet Books Rethought

Maria Popova of “Brain Pickings: curating eclectic interestingness from culture’s collective brain” (gotta love her blog name!!) posts endless varieties of creative workings from all walks of thought. Hers is a blog definitely worth a visit, a follow, maybe even a subscription. So, not to steal from you Maria (how do you actually find all this neat stuff?), but I too thought the alphabet books you posted were absolutely brilliant. They’re candy for designers. I want to make one. But in the meantime, here’s the link for the rest of you to take a look, and feel inspired.

Alphabet Books Rethought

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November 23, 2009 In art, creativity, design, graphic design, inspiration By Patricia Saxton

Week 13: "52 Weeks of Peace"

During this week of one of the most American of holidays, traditionally filled with family, friends, food and football, we all give thanks for our bounty and our blessings, large or small. And I hope too, that each of you may find Peace draped within the folds of your own personal gratitude – and lovingly baked into your Thanksgiving feast.

All peace designs are shown together under the “52 Weeks of Peace” tab above.

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November 21, 2009 In art, creativity, design, inspiration By Patricia Saxton

The Marvel and Magnificence of Antoni Gaudi

A colleague recently returned from Barcelona, sharing with me his awe for Spanish architect Antoni Gaudi. When I researched some imagery, I felt I was glimpsing a grand, new artistic treasure trove. It’s not new at all, of course – but it is grand. In all my European travels, with all its magnificent architecture, I never saw gems quite like these.

It could be because when in Spain at the tender age of 16, my strongest impressions were Seville, the Alhambra, the beaches of black sand and the lude men – the latter of which discouraged my desire to go back to Spain. But Antoni Gaudi has revived my appreciation.

Gaudi lived from 1852-1926, and is known as one of the most important modernist style architects worldwide. “Over the course of his career, Gaudi developed a sensuous, curving, almost surreal design style which established him as the innovative leader of the Spanish Art Nouveau movement. With little regard for formal order, he juxtaposed unrelated systems and altered established visual order. Gaudi’s characteristically warped form of Gothic architecture drew admiration from other avant-garde artists.”**

Gaudi takes “thinking outside the box” to whole new levels. His extraordinary works, many of which reside in Barcelona, are movement and dance; they’re delicious, sugar-lined monuments with creamy icing; they’re all marshmallows and gingerbread, sand-castles, stone, glass and iron; they’re original, artistic, striking blends of sharp color and duotones. They’re fantastic. They’re illogical. They’re stunning. I marvel at the ingenuity and the boundlessness.

**References
Dennis Sharp. The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Architects and Architecture. New York: Quatro Publishing, 1991. ISBN 0-8230-2539-X. NA40.I45. p61.
Muriel Emmanuel. Contemporary Architects. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1980. ISBN 0-312-16635-4. NA680.C625 1980.
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November 18, 2009 In communication, creativity, inspiration By Patricia Saxton

Elizabeth Gilbert on Artists and Genius

In this bright and delightful presentation, Elizabeth Gilbert muses on the impossible things we expect from artists and geniuses – and shares the radical idea that, instead of the rare person “being” a genius, all of us “have” a genius. It’s a funny, personal and surprisingly moving talk.

 

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November 2, 2009 In art, creativity, graphic design, inspiration By Patricia Saxton

Week 10: "52 Weeks of Peace"

What if you could just press a button? When things are a little out of control, messy, chaotic, loud. You’re climbing the walls. You just want a little peace. … Where’s that button when you need it? Search, search …where’s the darn thing … a-ha! you’ve found it. You press the bright, happy button. Presto! Calm instantly billows forth. Serenity lights your path. People of all ages are kind, gentle, compassionate.

It’s a fun idea.

But… maybe there IS a button – theoretically – inside each one of us, that we CAN press for peace. Inner peace. Which is where it all begins anyway. Maybe you can train you mind to obey your command of “be still”. Maybe you can create that light, just with thought. Focused, intentional thought. Maybe it’s worth a try. If it lasts only a few seconds, well that’s something, and a better place to go forward from.

peace_button

Note: Weekly peace images are displayed (as a unit) under the “52 Weeks of Peace” tab above, where there is also a more detailed description of the series.

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October 26, 2009 In art, books & stuff, children's books, communication, creativity, graphic design, illustration, inspiration, marketing By Patricia Saxton

Week 9: "52 Weeks of Peace"

peace_pumpkinglow

Note: Weekly peace images are displayed (as a unit) under the “52 Weeks of Peace” tab above, where there is also a more detailed description of the series.

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