Brimfield 2011.

Spring is slowly presenting itself in New England,

and you know what May means in Massachusetts...

Brimfield.

My favorite time of year, it was like Christmas.

Football fields and football fields full of old treasures waiting to be discovered!

Bakelite Bracelets (MY FAV, just VERY $$). The colors and the simplicity have always been attractive qualities for me.

                                   

Piano Guts, I loved the texture and the repetition of form. Would love to see this used in a cool way.

The very interesting textured blocks are actually old wallpaper print blocks.

My mother was digging through the blocks looking for inspiration for her ceramics. Such cool, interesting textures.

I really wanted to turn this architectural piece into a mirror. Always looking for interesting spaces to turn into an alternative use. Plus mirrors and lighting are always a source of attraction for me.

So I walked away with four boxes for my tape sculptures this year, and I couldn't be happier. I am always looking for interesting shapes to work within, and I found some goodies.

I will post the boxes later as I work on them, so keep a look out!

Brimfield I will see you next year.

Love and Light,

Sarah Anne.

A Moment of Clarity.

Saturday afternoon in Wickford, Rhode Island.

Quick stop into the "Grateful Heart" on W Main St in Wickford.

What is this creepy picture you may ask?

It's an Aura picture.

In this holistic treasure, you sit in front of the aura camera, close your eyes and place both hands on the sensors. After ten seconds, a picture is developed and it reveals your current state of mind.

As most of you may know, I am going through a career transition right now. I have been fortunate enough to have a week to be able to get in touch with myself and my current state of mind.

I figured this would be a great time to determine where I stood emotionally and spiritually.

Violet: is a color of inner vision. It is a color that shows a blending of the heart and mind, the physical and spiritual. It reflects independence and intuition. It indicates an ability to be practical and worldly.

Blue: is a color of communication. It reflects calm and quietness. It can indicate the ability for telepathy.

(lighter blues) reflect an active imagination and good intuition.

(royal blue) indicates honesty and good judgement and can also indicate that the person has found or is about to find his or her chosen work.

Phew, how refreshing, and all is well in my mind.

I am going to try to take one a month to see my transition, keep checking in.

I highly recommend experiencing this, they can be truly informative and assist in personal growth.

MORE INFO

Love and Light,

Sarah Anne.



Markets of New England write up.

Last summer, by participating in so many art shows I had the absolute

pleasure

of meeting so many interesting, amazing people.

One of the people I met in my journey was Christine Chitnis (so wonderful and endearing).

HER BLOG

She was interested in writing a book about the Markets of New England and the most amazing people, farmers, artists she came across.

She loved my wonderful world of tape!

BUY ONE TODAY

The book came out for sale yesterday, and I feel so honored to be a part of it!

When she showed me the picture she was using of me in the book, I almost died.

It was inevitable, but I never thought it would happen so soon...

I look like an italian grandmother. 

Sigh. ;)

Thank you Christine, and best of luck.

Love and Light,

Sarah Anne.

My Life's Lesson, well one of them.

I believe that we all have lessons to learn in this lifetime, but all in all, there is always one lesson that dominates over the rest.

For me?

PATIENCE.

What is it for you?

I have been known to spend the majority of (CERTAIN) days FRUSTRATED, AGGRAVATED, and LOST with a current situation. 

Why?

Because my lesson in life is to find the beauty in the 

HERE

the 

RIGHT NOW.

Don't judge, it's a lot harder than you would think.

I was searching for an answer, something to provide me solace, or even an inclination that it's all going to be ok...

and then I found this.

You can find this writing in any space of mine.

It just does it for me.

So when you want to know why you are where you are, and you want it to change..

keep reminding yourself you are where you are for a reason,

and you haven't learned all that you are meant as of yet.

Sucks right?

I know.

Do yourself a favor and when you find yourself in that position, read this to yourself.

You'll be glad you did.

Love and Light,

Sarah Anne.

Dale Chihuly and a Mother Daughter Day.

This past Sunday, I wanted to do something special with my mother.

I had heard that the Dale Chihuly exhibit at the MFA in Boston was supposed to be unbelievable.

That was an extreme understatement.

From the moment I walked in I was scraping my jaw off of the ground, with my eyes SO WIDE trying to take it all in.

I was so inspired by Chihuly and his use of space, light and color.

In his artist statement he proclaims, 

"I never met a color I didn't like"

His work clearly was a reflection of this notion,

while your eyes FEASTED on the shapes, absorbency of light and reflections these works stated.

These works of art had something to say, there was not a whisper of indication saying otherwise.

People were in awe.

 I felt inspired by his audacity. 

 It's funny to see how certain exhibits will effect your thought process and your maturity as an artist. In every exhibit I walk around an ask myself the questions..

"How was this curated, how did the work interact with the space"

"How did the exhibit make me FEEL?"

"What elements and adjectives would I use to describe what I saw, and is that what the artist had in mind?"

"How would I use this space to best exhibit my work and what am I trying to say?"

After all, you are only as good as your word.

My mother and my best friend.

I still have not processed all that I have learned from this exhibit. But here we are, two days later and I can't stop thinking about it/yapping about it.

That must be saying something.

If you are in the Boston area, do yourself a favor and go get inspired.

Love and Light,

Sarah Anne.

May O' May!

Hello Friends!

Writing to you with some great news.

My friends at the wonderful establishment of Cloth Paper Scissor magazine approached me in December of last year about writing and illustrating a few articles for them in 2011.

Writing about what you may ask?

FABULOUS, FANCY, FUNKY, FUN FONTS!

duh.

So we hit the ground running and what turned into writing ONE article turned into writing and illustrating TWO 5 page articles. I love my life.

CLOTH PAPER SCISSORS

Here is the cover of the May/June 2011 issue that was just published!

Because this issue has not expired, I can not release any of the images published as of yet, but I think you would really enjoy what this issue has to offer (So maybe it's time to go out and support the arts!)

What does this issue have to offer?

Thought you would never ask.

Here is the table of contents for this month's issue.

(Pssst #46, that's me!)

Yes, A Love Affair with Letters.

And this affair is still going strong!

I'll keep you all posted on this issue and when the next is released. SO EXCITING.

Thank you so much Cloth Paper Scissor and the wonderful team of women over there.

Special thanks to Barbara Delaney, Jennifer Mason, Larissa Davis and Stacey Beaudreau.

Pick up a copy, you'll be glad you did.

Love and Light,

Sarah Anne.

Inspiration Board.

I wanted to take a moment to recognize something wonderful. I think we can spend so much time in our lives worrying, being sad, ungrateful, or just plain ol' lost. So, I decided to surround myself with love. Around my work area at home, I covered the walls with things that just filled me with love. It also has a certain feeling of gratitude, peppered with a strong sense of blissful nostalgia. I live a beautiful, fortunate and colorful life, and I feel like this space reflects those feelings. Everyday, I look at these images to remind myself of my goals, my support system, past memories and future inspiration. I think it is important for every artist to have an inspirational space such as this. It really refocuses you and establishes an energy that you want to create in. Your creative space is very important, so really take the time to make it everything you want and more. Thanks for reading.

Love and Light,

Sarah Anne.

Sketchbook January 28th, 2011

Trying to get back into drawing everyday in my sketchbook.

Not enough time in the day!

In college I used to zip through a sketchbook in a month, phew!!

Want to work on my line drawings (with recognition of line weight and tonal understandings), with handwritten text interacting with the subject.

Love and Light,

Sarah Anne.

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.