Tape Sculptures up and online!!

FINALLY after a lifetime of talking about it, I have photographed, edited, posted and measured all of my up to date work. 

It is now up and available online on my ETSY SITE.. for purchase just in time for christmas.

As an additional perk, FREE STANDARD SHIPPING for the week of December 1st-8th!

Here is my illustrated promo...

Lovies, signed prints, tape sculptures, fine art and stationery are all for sale and ready for the holidays!

Please feel free to contact me for any additional questions and thank you for reading along.

Love and Light,

Sarah Anne.

Publicity in Cloth Paper Scissors Magazine, Issue October/November.

Hello Everyone!!

So here is my most recent publicity in the Cloth Paper Scissors Magazine, Issue October/November, I am so honored.

Enjoy!

http://www.clothpaperscissors.com/

I am currently working on an outline for an article I am writing for their publication. It has truly been an honor being recognized by their establishment as an up and coming artist.

Thank you again Jenn and Barbara. :)

Love and Light,

Sarah Anne.

It's been awhile friends.

Hello friends.

How I have missed you very much. I have also greatly missed documenting my life as an artist day to day. Sometimes is tough to just take a minute for yourself and slow down.

I had hoped this chaotic month would end on a good note. And I can honestly say it has, looking back on June.

All in the month of June, since we last spoke, I have..

Moved to a new city and into a new apartment for the first time in my life.

Started a brand new job (the first out of college) and also learning a completely new and exciting industry. Visual Merchandising. 

 Trying to figure out a new city, new environment and how the hell to get from here to there.

Being financially independent for the first time in my life.

Actively keeping a dream journal (first time I've ever just stopped talking about wanting to do it and finally documenting.)

Still keeping up with my drawing skills and doodling in a sketch book at work for notes and any spare minute I have..

And most importantly, where and how to find the time to create my own art.

After having almost three weeks under my belt at my new job, I found out today I will be transfered from the Natick store to the Boston store. Right in Copley Place. 

I am so excited. 

I am learning so much about design and visual merchandising, it is just boggling my mind.

I feel like in this lifetime, I have this insatiable desire to learn as much as I can about art and design. I want to learn it all.

This job is not only serving as a vehicle to really teach me the basics about visuals, but also has really heightened my creativity in a whole new way.

I can't walk into a store or a space without analyzing it. The colors, shapes, heights, textures, smells, negative space, interaction, depth.. I could go on and on. I feel like I am seeing it all, and in a very fast and almost frantic way.

My mind is just eating it all up.

I am a firm believer in the fact that every experience you have or walk away from, gives you the tools you will need for the bigger picture.

Everything does happen for a reason, and it's amazing to see how what you learn and what "tools" you acquire, can be applied to life later on down the line. 

I felt like today was a big day for me, I felt like I was taking another step towards my destiny.

Love and Light,

Sarah Anne.

Syracuse Poster Project Winner, A Year Later.

So it's been a year since the Syracuse 2009 Poster Project.

For all of you newer friends, I completed my BFA in Illustration from Syracuse University.

One of the requirements senior year was to enter the Syracuse Poster Project that was intended to promote local establishments, artists and poets.

The assignment was to pick a Haiku out of a box (written by a local poet, about a local establishment), and create an original 11x17 illustration of the written words.

Many entered, but the winners were selected to get their images blown up to kiosk size and displayed throughout all of downtown Syracuse.

My Haiku read,

"At Alto Cinco, Do as the bartender says, Pinot Grigio"

(Alto Cinco was a local Mexican Restaurant in Syracuse that had a great wine selection).

Here was the final illustration.

The boarder pattern was an imitation of the tin ceilings they had, accompanied by their wonderful chips.

The reason I am bringing up an accomplishment from over a year ago, was because I heard from them today.

They said out of all of the posters chosen to be sold over the past year, mine sold the most copies.

Also I wanted to give both Roger DeMuth (a mentor and teacher of mine) and James Emmons some publicity about their project.

Every year Roger and James put together a great collection of posters to promote the arts throughout the Syracuse area, I wish there were more people like them.

Please check out this years winners, and also if you are in a place to do so, feel free to donate to a great cause.

SYRACUSE POSTER PROJECT

Thank you Jim and thank you Roger for the notification about my prints, and keep up the great work. Best of luck!

Love and Light,

Sarah Anne.

Tape Jewelry IN PROGRESS!

So here she is!

Little by little I have been plugging away on this project, and boy she hasn't been an easy nut to crack. I have problem solved, redesigned, tested and applied these rolls in so many ways... and finally I'm getting somewhere!

So first HUGE problem... getting the tape to a functional size for wearing purposes. So that means that they need to be cut. I tried initially by hand but that was the most awful experience I have had with tape so far.

So I moved onto the big boys, A SAW. While my parents looked on with fear and confusion as to why their accident prone daughter was using a band saw, I assured them that everything would be fine.

Secretly, being scared out of my mind to use this monster, I just started cutting away.

Here is the army of tape waiting to be cut, to then be worn by you!

Phew. Just got dizzy looking at them all.

Another fun tape shot (I am just in love with the shadows).

The next big issue was, now that they were the right size... how do you make them functional and reliable for everyday use. Considerations to take into mind are wear and tear, water resistant, all that good stuff.

If I am going to sell a product I want to 100% ensure it's quality.

So I started researching everywhere.

Then came the resin cups.

By using resin cups, I could cut the tape to size, glue it inside of these functional findings for jewelry, to later treat for wear and tear.

Here they are in the process of cutting and fitting.

And here is a close up of the jewelry in progress (still haven't been treated to make wearable). SO EXCITING!

I am really, really trying to get these together for my next show July 3rd in Newport, Rhode Island... but it's going to be a stretch.

In other news, I just got a job! 

I will be working in the Natick Mall in Massachusetts for Neiman Marcus. I will be working on a team in store for their visual department. 

I am so excited.

But with this new responsibility, comes relocating, dedicating 40 hours a week and still trying to pursue my dream.

I know I can do it. I find I get the best ideas when in the middle of chaos.

After all, "from chaos, comes clarity."

SO please excuse me in the next few weeks if I am not totally on top of updating all of you as to the most current of my work. As you can see, life is going to get pretty crazy.

But, crazy in a great way.

Wish me luck, and I hope you like what you are seeing of the jewelry!!

Love and Light,

Sarah Anne.

Suitcase Photography Finished Business Card.

So about a month ago a dear friend of mine, Ashley Knowles, AMAZING photographer approached me about doing a business card for her.

So excited, I obviously accepted the assignment.

About a month ago, you saw the first sketches after our discussion of what she wanted...

but here is a refresher.

So last week, we met in person. After many giggles and reminiscing about childhood stories, we got down to business.

Ashley liked example three the best, the graphic and also the font.

I applauded Ashley for wanting a graphic for her business vs. a photograph, because that in and of itself will make her stand out in her industry.

We spoke about all of the many subtleties of her card, and the image she wanted to portray to her customers. Here are the many notes we took..

I think that this is important to include in my blog/process of this assignment because I really want to give people a feel of what exactly goes into branding a client. Every subtlety of a card is important.

So after our meeting, I created the final.

PHEW! Totally different huh? Well it was really great to be able to meet with Ashley and get a MUCH better idea of what she wanted. She wanted a very vintage travel look to her work (I had a blast finding the old travel stickers) and she wanted more personality to the suitcase. Which I totally agreed with.

For invoices, she also needed a letterhead..

Once I established the suitcase, it was very easy for me to make the card a cohesive brand/idea with the coffee stains, leather and font. I had a blast.

And she loved it!

What a rewarding assignment for me to complete for such an amazing young woman.

Suitcase Photography.

Love and Light,

Sarah Anne.

SOWA May 15th and 16th Publicity.

While searching the internet today, I came across some more publicity that I had received from my lovely little tape sculptures!

The lovely Ms Crystal J. Silva appointed me her "NICHE" Award nominee for my rolled tape sculptures.

Check out the write up!

In other news relating to Boston, I am finalizing relocating to the city by July!

I can't wait to meet more amazing people in the Boston area and continue pursuing my dream.

Thanks for the write up Design Boston and Crystal!

Love and Light,

Sarah Anne.

Westerly Sun Write Up.

Just when I thought that last weekend couldn't get any better, I got a large write up in the Westerly Sun. Here is a spread that I created for my press kit, but as you can see from the highlighted areas the interview they had with me.

It was a huge honor to receive this much space in the total article considering there were over a hundred vendors and I was of five artists chosen to spot light.

Also, on the top left is a painter named Mike Bryce. Here you can see some of his gorgeous glowing images he shares with the world. Both Mike and I were Illustration majors from Syracuse University following our passions in Little Rhody.

How exciting! Click on the image to enlarge, if you would like to read it.

Love and Light,

Sarah Anne.

Westerly Art Festival May 29th and 30th.

What an amazing weekend.

The Virtu Westerly Art Festival was held this past memorial day weekend in Wilcox Park, Westerly RI. Having hundreds of attendee's, I met so many amazing people, supporters and now tape enthusiasts!

While tape was definitely the attention getter, it was a great way to get people into my space to enjoy the rest of the whimsical creations that were just waiting to be discovered.

As you can see from the display, I had my two biggest price points out front to draw attention. I wish I had a hidden camera on the easel that held them because it was so funny for me to watch people's reactions as they discovered that these creations were indeed made from rolled masking tape.

Last week before the show, I had a very productive week creating ten new pieces for this show. Only two remain.

I am glad I have been keeping up with my antiquing or as some of my loved ones call it, "crap collecting" because all of my antique boxes were the first things to sell.

I can understand why the customers appreciate them the most, but the trend I noticed was the reaction that these pieces were giving.

Many customers had stories of what my work reminds them of. Like a grandmother that used to have boxes like this to hold their favorite dominos as a child, or a suitcase that reminded them of a trip they took as an adolescent, etc. 

The thing I've discovered about using old things and giving them a chance to live again is that it gives customers a strong sense of nostalgia. 

Who would of thought.

After this show especially, I discovered that because of the versatility of my work, it really could draw the attention of any gender and any age. This is a huge advantage.

Also because of the certain personality and charm I try to create all of my art with, it reminds customers of people that they love. I hear all the time "Oh, I wish my daughter was here to see this, she would love it" or "Oh, this reminds me so much of John, it would be perfect for a housewarming gift". I could go on and on.

Relation is a huge selling point of my work. Whether its how I relate to the customer, or how my work does... I feel as if I now have a following of Lucchiola lovers.

And I couldn't be happier.

Wonderful to have met all of you this weekend, and keep checking in I'm always doing something new and exciting :)

Love and Light,

Sarah Anne.

Providence Monthly Published Illustration.

I think one of the greatest things about Illustration is being able to see something you created and executed, applied to text and have them compliment one another.

Anyone can draw something in a sketch book, but illustration is an interpretation of a body of text and the understanding of it's application.

I look forward to working with Providence Monthly again in the near future. This illustration can be found in their June 2010 edition.

Love and Light,

Sarah Anne.

Tomorrow Wilcox Park!

Hello!

Phew. So tomorrow is Wilcox Park, Westerly Rhode Island from 10am-5pm

Saturday and Sunday.

Went to set up the tent and such this afternoon and Wilcox Park is gorgeous. 

Should be an amazing place to have a show.

So for some reason tonight I have more anxiety than I usually do before a show.

When I gave it more thought, I realized it was because this is the first real ART show I will be a part of.

All of the other venues I have shown my work have been open markets with all sorts of things, not "art buyers".

When I was unloading my car today I was looking around and seeing watercolorists, oil painters... basically super established VERY traditional/conservative artists.

As you know from following my blog, knowing me as a person or even seeing my work on my website... nothing about me fits that description.

So this is how I am choosing to look at it.

I am entering the show tomorrow with ten new pieces, all of which I created this week (in addition to my other body of work).

Because of this crazy productivity, I officially have no middle finger print.

But I am going to be myself, put my best foot forward, and hope that people are looking for something new.

God knows I've never seen someone roll tape like I do.

I'll let you know how it goes tomorrow, and for now all I can do is believe in myself and just breathe.

Easier said than done.

Up and going by 6 am tomorrow, if you come by tomorrow... coffee's are more than welcome.

Love and Light,

Sarah Anne.

Show Tomorrow in Providence RI.

Hello, hello!

Show tomorrow 10 am-4 pm at Lippitt Park on the East Side of Providence.

Should be a great time, it's supposed to be 75 degrees and sunny.

Couldn't ask for a better day!

So for each show, I want to try to introduce a new product each and see how it goes.

This week I am introducing four 11x17 inch color prints.

Here are the images.

"Green  Haired Girl" 11x17. Signed and Dated.

Original was watercolor and color pencil on cold press watercolor paper.

"Tidal Wave" 11x17. Signed and Dated.

Original was acrylic, marker and paper on canvas.

"Purple Haired Girl" 11x17. Signed and Dated.

Original was acrylic, marker and paper on plastic.

"Orange Haired Girl" 11x17. Signed and Dated.

Original was watercolor and pen on illustration board.

I produced five prints of each example to see the popularity of the images.

My degree was in illustration from Syracuse University and I would like to pursue illustration further, so maybe the sales tomorrow would influence me to do so.

To see more of my illustrations.

As you can see the reoccurring theme of girls with flowing hair.

These moments are when my soul is happiest and a constant subject of interest, especially the movement and stylization of hair.

Nothing beats staring into the Atlantic Ocean and feeling the wind through your hair.

This is how I would like to be remembered, the girl with the flowing hair.

Hope to see you tomorrow!

Love and Light,

Sarah Anne.

Little video clip from last weekend.

May 15th and 16th Show. from Sarah Anne DiNardo on Vimeo.

Here is a little clip from last weekend, sorry so delayed!

Just a little idea of how things looked for the first run through, I have already made changes for this weekend coming up!

Love and Light,

Sarah Anne.

Work in Progress.

Looked back on some of my previous work I have posted and realized I have never put up a work in progress with my tape.

At my last show I had some inquiries about my larger pieces contained by the antique typographer drawers. They are beautiful focal pieces of a room, especially over a mantle (with that extreme light source, to die for!) While I love doing my tape in all shapes and sizes, the larger more expensive price points I have the most fun with.

I still have some work to do, with some smaller rolls to create the illusion of denser areas. Also to really give a strong feeling of motion and weight.

 I was laughing to myself as I was doing this project today with the intentions of documenting it, because of my difficulty focusing on ANYTHING ELSE once I begin a project. 

As I laid the first five rolls down I had to make a conscious effort to keep stopping and taking a picture of my progression. There is something about these forms, these shadows and the attention to space and distribution that is so attractive to me I just get lost in the piece.

Probably another few hours left in her until completion.

Off to Providence for date night :)

Love and Light,

Sarah Anne.

Publication Inquiry.

How exciting!!

After my SOWA show last weekend, the Cloth Paper Scissors magazine contacted me about some publicity.

They loved with they saw, and they would love to do an article about me and my artwork in their "On the Radar" Section for their September/October Issue.

This is their May/June issue.

Cloth Paper Scissors is sold in all major craft stores such as Michaels, JoAnne fabrics and AC Moore as well as online.

SO EXCITED! I'll keep you posted on where this goes.

Love and Light,

Sarah Anne.