Recent Endeavor

A recent endeavor (applying to grad school) had me working away a few months ago.  It was art at the speed of light and it was crazy and cool, little sleep and lots of texture!

I have now come out of it, wiser and with more artwork to my name.  I have not received word yet as to whether I was accepted or not, but at this point it's more about my personal growth and what I learned through the process.  And as I discuss the lessons I have learned through this process, I want to share my work.


A complete application had to include 12 images of your recent work, a statement of purpose or artist statement, 3 letters of recommendation and all the resume stuff.  Many, many thanks to those who wrote letters on my behalf.  It meant such a great deal!


The statement of purpose was such a big undertaking for me.  I have written artist statements in the past, but this endeavor pushed me to write an artist statement where each sentence counted and you had to give a lifetime of experiences and who you are as an artist in one page.  Tough writing, but I was very pleased.

Circa 1982

Acrylic Paint

I may have posted this before, not sure.  But it is a texture and pattern study on 2 8x8 canvases.

Ham and Spinach

Acrylic Paint

An abstract view of ham and spinach.  Whimsical!  Patterns in funky colors - my favorite!

I got my paints out and went to work on what excited me at that time in my studio!  I remember thinking at one point, it was about a product, a piece of art.  Stop thinking, mulling over this or that so much and do it!  Do the work!  I got myself in gear big time!

Locks and Keys

Another abstract painting of pattern and color.  This painting has layers and layers of previous paintings that I didn't like and painted over.

paint atop...

cheesecloth atop...

drawing  and scrap paper atop..

paint atop gesso!

Putting together this portfolio helped me see the common ground in all my art work, from painting to mixed media to jewelry.

Bacon and Eggs

This painting came together very quickly for me.  Not sure why, but I immediately became excited when I painted the large circles and the rest sort of fell into place.  

Every time I see this painting I want to paint more like it!  I loved painting it!

Other work I included... 

Various jewelry pieces

Left to right:  Bangle, 2 brooches and bracelet cuff at the bottom.  

You may have seen some of these pieces before.  I placed them together because they are similar and I thought it was an eye-catching image.

Lost and Found

A wall hanging with enameled metal at the top (orange)and bottom (red).  For those unfamiliar with enamels, it is melting powdered glass on metal.  I learned this technique in undergrad.  I did not use a kiln but an open flame.

I also used techniques I learned years ago to add detail to my collages.  Something I had not thought of doing before, bringing the old to the new!!  

She Found It in a Letter

Another wall hanging.  Each treasure is attached using various techniques and materials.  Another favorite of mine - mixed media.

This application process was serious personal growth for me and I am thankful I grabbed the opportunity, applied myself and took the plunge.  I am not sure what will happen, but I will continue to make my art no matter the results. 

Keep moving upward!  Don't stop!

I am one of those people who doesn't want to get to the end of my life and be full of regrets.  I want to take the opportunities when they come and be stronger when they are no's instead!

sharing personal growth with you on this artist holiday,

hannah

Magpies and Poetry

I recently joined a mail art swap my friend Jill over at Recycled Daze organized!  I think the best part of joining a mail art swap is when you are going to your mailbox and you find such an eye feast of beautifully made postcards!!!  Like these from Jill.....

2 postcards from Jill Eudaly;

One is for sorrow

Two is for Joy

Her initials placed nicely on the trim.

These cards have a nice feel.  The colors are rustic; olive greens, yellow ochre, sienna brown, copper with hints of a metallic lavender.  Beautiful!  The sewn line is surprisingly more subtle on the bird versus the sewn line on the trim.  I also like how the paper took the color more in the wrinkles .  It has a feel of being from long ago, while it stays contemporary with the slightest glossy sheen!

Very Nice job Jill!!!

Texture and color!!

Magpies

Thank you Jill!  Just love them!

I also received another beautiful card from a mail art swap recipient, Jane Smith!!!

A fantastic collage by Jane Smith!

She has placed many different elements together here and they work so nicely together!  One of my favorite elements is how she placed the small music note piece atop the word poet on the red.  I just love how it looks like there is a hole in the red paper with the music sheet showing through when in actually it is not.  A trick for the eyes!  She has such attention to detail in her work.  And her hand writing is also very whimsical and free!  

Excellent Jane!!!

Enjoying the blotches of red along the border.

Love the stamp!

A detailed photo of the front of the envelope, she decorated as well!

Here is the back of the envelope with her lovely handwriting!

Thanks Jane!!!  Love your style!

Such an awesome mail art swap to be a part of!!  Thank you Jill and Jane!  It was great to see your work in my mailboxes!

If you wanted to see my mail art, you can click here.

looking for magpies and reading beautiful poetry on this artist holiday,

hannah

Mail Art

My friend, Jill, over at Recycled Daze  put together another mail art opportunity for her followers.  These are so much fun, because you make something and send it off, all the while someone else is making something for you!  What theme to create is always my question.  She scheduled it around Valentine's Day, so the love theme was a real possibility.  But me having to be different finally decided to go in another direction, a direction I find very tangible now and always...  positive inspirations!

By choosing to join the mail art swap, I had to create 2 pieces of mail art.  I chose the 4x6 postcard size as my blank canvas...

Inspiration to Grow On and  A Visible Lift

Front View of 2 cards

Materials used: sturdy watercolor paper, magazine cut-outs, acrylic paint, metallic pens, black pen, tracing paper, thread

Back View of 2 cards

I wanted each person to read both inspirational phrases, so I wrote each phrase on the back of the cards.  This is the side I placed a quick note on the left and their names and addresses on the right.

I used cut outs from an art catalog, among various other cut outs on these 2 cards.  I always love how they fan the paint brushes to show the whole collection.  

A little more subtle in these cards, but equally loved is the blocks of color catalogs will display on the page to show you the variety they offer.  Some have interesting names!

I have always enjoyed creating collages and this was a perfect opportunity for me to dive back in.  I had some special thank you cards I wanted to write to a few friends, so I took this opportunity to create those as well!

Detail view of 4 postcards

Each postcard has an inspirational phrase on the front.

I once again used magazine cut-outs of things I found interesting.  Looking for various textures and patterns to interact.  It is so cool to flip through magazines and cut out words and phrases that, most of the time, have nothing to do with creativity but I interject it as such!!

Make Your Change Show

Make Every Day Special

Make Your Mark

Make Your Own Experience

Each phrase is something I think about and try my hardest to live each day.  

Back view of each card with my signature and all inspirational phrases for each person to read!

finding textures, patterns and words of inspiration to share on this artist holiday-

hannah

A Wedding Gift

What started out as a special wedding gift for my own marriage soon blossomed into a cherished wedding gift by many friends and now family.  Jeff and I were married 02-02-02, 10 years ago tomorrow!  Below is my first attempt at this project.

Koch est. 2002

Materials used:  tags, beads, buttons, feathers, rock, gumball, nails, twigs, gray linen and adhesive.

Over the years these shadow box frames of memories have become more colorful, fun and elaborate.  My little sister, Leah, was getting married and I knew just what to do for her frame! 

 Leah was married to Jonathan 11-11-11!  She was a beautiful bride!  

my baby sister, Leah Overman Craddock

Below is the unframed finished piece I created for Leah and Jonathan.  Each little something is specifically pertaining to them.  Cowboy and cowgirl boots (purchased at craft store scrapbooking section), duck tape letter d's, ribbons from bridal showers, boutonniere from the wedding (silk), wedding and shower invitations (some cut up), and chunky costume jewelry (Leah's favorite!).

The Craddocks est. 2011

Can you see it?

this photo shows "the Cradd"

The d's were the hardest letters to figure out.  I finally came up with the idea of applying small pieces of black duck tape together and then cutting out lower case d's.  (this pertains to Jonathan, who is an avid duck hunter)!

this photo shows "ddock's est." . 

"est." is purchased plastic lettering.

I subtly added shower invitations as a backdrop for a few letters (the r and the c).

2011 tags were created using acrylic paint and colored pencils.  These are actual tags from a big box paper store.  I used black ribbon as an accent on the tags.  (Leah's colors were black and white, with persimmon orange)!

The finished product!

Their new address is included at the bottom of the frame.  Therefore, this photo had to be cutoff.

I am thrilled to say she and Jonathan loved it!  

sharing my creativity to remind us to cherish our families on this artist holiday,

hannah

Candy Apron

My Mom's family gets together every Christmas Eve not just to celebrate the holiday and eat delicious food, prepared by my Grandmother, but to have fun and laugh together!  After the meal is complete and we've read the Christmas story we then put on performances, sing songs, anything!  Sometimes we have props to photograph those hilarious moments.  One year we had wild colored wigs, another year crooked teeth, and last year we created ornaments that marked a funny family story.  A few years ago, I wrote a poem titled 3 Aunts and 1 Uncle.  This poem was about the funny things myself and my cousins remembered growing up with our Aunts and Uncle.  They loved it!  So, this year, my Aunt wanted us to make aprons.  It could be purchased and decorated, created out of unique materials, whatever you wanted.  After 2 other attempts, I finally came up with this....

Candy Apron

Materials included;  plastic candy bags, black duct tape, paper backing, thread

I chose candy bags for a reason.  My family is known for a serious affection for anything sweet!  I knew they all would enjoy seeing the collage of various sweets.

I cut the bags completely open and proceeded to cut them all into strips.

After I wove them together, I then sewed the Smarties banner in the lower center.

I traced the actual Smarties with the thread for a nice touch!

Next I used black duck tape as the binding to hold the weaving to the paper backing.  I also used the duck tape as the ties to wrap it around the body.

Everyone did fantastic on their aprons.  This was a challenging task for sure!  We had an aprons with hand tracings, cookie cutter tracings, family names, and remembering fond sayings and times past.  What will we do next year?.....  

sharing a bit of family traditions on this artist holiday,

hannah

Poconos Texture Tuesday

On a recent brisk walk in the beautifully cold state of Pennsylvania I captured some beautiful natural growing textures!  My in-laws live in the Poconos, a mountainous chain of hardy woods, beautiful rocks, flowing streams, cascading waterfalls and roads so curvy I get car sick about every time I visit!

These next photos are some of what I captured when walking on their property.  It may look dormant, yet with a closer eye, you can see many things are still very much alive and growing.  I hope you enjoy these textures as much as I do..

Tree Bark

I just love this photo!  It could be so many other things.  A view high from an airplane, eroded concrete, ocean coral, a microscopic view of an intricate organism....

Weathered Tree Sculpture

How beautiful to come across a broken tree that looks like something you would find in a museum.

The beautifully colored exposed wood in such a flowing curve.  The copper colors and beautiful greenish-blue patinas I see make this dead tree even more elegant.  It reminds me of something.....

Monekana by Deborah Butterfield

Smithsonian American Art Museum

I saw this over the summer in Washington, DC (one of my most favorite cities).  It looks like driftwood arranged to resemble a horse.  What is amazing is that the artist made this "driftwood" sculpture out of bronze.

Please check out this link to view a much better photo of this beautiful sculpture.

As we are walking I noticed moss growing just about everywhere!  The rocks that are protruding out of the earth are gorgeous with their grand scale, stunning grays, spectacular lines throughout and various colors of moss atop.

Another protruding rock almost completely covered in a moss that looked more like a miniature fern.  Beautiful coloring as well.

This is a closeup of the fern-like moss.  Another photo where it could look like something entirely different. I see ocean coral again.

I felt very proud to take this photo, because my 8 year old pointed out the circle in the rock to me and commented how cool that was.  So exciting to realize she is aware of her surroundings and takes notice of the small things.

More beautiful ochre, yellow, brown and green moss coloring.

I especially liked how there were areas where varieties of moss grow together.  Different color greens atop lovely grays.

enjoying the humble surroundings on this artist holiday,

hannah

Texture Tuesday

Happy 2012!

I wanted to start this new year with texture!  Texture is an element of art that is crucial to my work.  Whether I am making a low-relief wall hanging, painting or jewelry - texture always seems to be there.  Sometimes only the appearance of texture is there, but can take an artwork out of the realms of flatness to legions of depth.

I am always looking for texture or it is always finding me!  Either way, I see and usually try to capture it with my camera.  I want to start sharing my texture shots with you more regularly.  

I hope you find them as inspirational as I do...

Can you guess what this is?

I am a big fan of circles, which is what immediately caught my attention when I saw this.  Then having a closer look, seeing the velvety texture and the organic nature of the circles, a photo was a must.

  It is a cup of hot chocolate!  I was about to drink it down when the surface caught my eye!

What could I do with this, you ask?

Many things come to mind, however, I most enjoy thinking about how I could translate the circle pattern into a painting.  Large circles with tiny circles around them.  The creamy brown color I also enjoy.  The almost marble-like effect is another point I will want to remember.  These are just some of the thoughts that ran through my mind when I saw this.

There are several reasons why I want to share these photos with you;

1.  A visual record for my (and maybe your) reference

2.  Sharing with you how I see the world around me.

3.  Sharing how I could translate these bits of inspiration into artwork.

4.  Honing in on my writing skills.

Here's to an even bigger, bolder and more artistically driven year on this artist holiday-

hannah