Moon Musings - April
Influences and their affect on your art practice
To say that your art influences can be anything or anybody sounds terribly vague, and it is. Your influences can be visual, auditory, tactile, or anything else that makes you stop and consider it.
But consider this. What intrigues you? You don’t have to have a logical reason. Don’t think. Feel. Is it the vibrant color of street art? Is it the dreamy emotions evoked by loose watercolors? Is it intricate patterns of spiderwebs? Do you search for patterns in cloud formations? By paying attention, you are engaging in a conversation with yourself and beginning turning your divergent observations into convergent influences that will affect your art practice. You simply scoop up the things that impact you and let them guide you when you create. It sounds hard. But it can be easy if you take the pressure off of yourself to make it happen according to a timetable. Let the influences simmer in the back of your mind when you conceptualize your next project. They will emerge when they are ready, and when presented with the opportunity.
Announcing the Austin Street Art Walk!
Join us the second Saturday of each month for the Austin Street Art Walk presented by the Rockport Center for the Arts!
Winding its way through historic Austin Street in downtown Rockport, the Art Walk began on April 8th and will happen each month through December. Check out the local galleries, art demonstrations, music, local businesses, food, and art media of all types. Over 30 galleries and businesses are participating, and we are all buzzing with excitement.
MOW Wow!
For this month’s Mow Wow, we want to focus on two of our incredible artists, Mary Carole Sitzes and Kimmi Norvell Moake. Their works generate excitement in the gallery, and we want to let you in on what all the buzz is about.
Mary Carole Sitzes
If you feel a powerful connection with water, like Mary does, you will be uniquely charmed by her creations. Mary shares that “Water is an element of Life – symbolic of birth and renewal. In forming my creations, I take dried, dead plant materials and immerse them in water to make them pliable and then weave them into an art piece. They are renewed and reborn into another form. I give them a “new life.”
Mary writes:
“What is an Amulet Bag?
First, you have to ask, “What is an Amulet?” It is a charm or talisman- something that is symbolic or special to each wearer- that is imbued with energies, healing, or protective powers. Often these are placed inside a protective pouch and worn around the neck. I designed these pieces to be wearable art, and they are created with symbolic beads, shells, and charms of their own.
My inspiration comes from the materials I use to create and adorn them - Seashells, seashell beads, Czech glass beads, African Glass beads, semi-precious stones, wooden beads, natural fibers of Palm, Cedar, Philodendron, Silk, Flax, and Irish waxed-linen Threads.
It is a two-part process in their creation: weaving and decorating. My beading is meticulous and detailed, and I use symbolism and numerology as I create them.
In combining these elements of earth, fire, air, water, and spirit — I try to create a symbolic adornment that imbues these qualities and creates a spiritual connection that resonates with the wearer.”
Kimmi Norvell Moake
Kimmi has a pure and magical connection with nature that manifests in her beautiful art. She and nature are co-creators with her thoughtfully produced pieces, and each one is evocative of an unforgettable encounter with both Kimmi and Mother Nature herself.
Kimmi shared with us her foundational belief that “I have realized over the years that Mother Nature is my greatest teacher and I often turn to her for answers to my existential questions and to remind me of true beauty and harmony. My work exhibits this and you can feel that I start each piece with intention.”
“Ocotillo Amulet”
Assemblages of nature are my soul's work. I create them as a direct connection to healing and The Universe (or God). The desert and the ocean are two places I feel at home and an ode to both of these can be found in the ocotillo branch, red coral and other stones and rocks I've collected along the way. A reminder that we're all protected if we believe it to be true.
“All Knowing”
This painting is an ode to my grandmother, Meme. The roseate spoonbill was her favorite bird and pink was her favorite color. Reflections of looking her directly in the eyes, bring this piece into full focus for me. I love painting animals head on, imagining myself getting a glimpse into the windows of their souls. Years after my Meme's passing, I still get messages from her soul straight to mine.
Fancy Flamingo Needle Felting Workshop
Birds of a feather flock together! Come and create this beautiful little flamingo as a brooch you can wear on your favorite sunhat of dress or as a soft sculpture piece of art to display! The mermaid workshop last month was a huge success, so we asked gifted needle felting artist, Joyce Hazlerig of Joyharte, to come back!
This is a friendly beginner level class and all supplies are included. The class is April 15 from 10:30 - 12:30, and the cost is $65. Tickets can be purchased through the studio, come by and visit or give us a call at 361-450-0545.
Art Prompt!
Take one of your influences and create it in your artwork. Love spiderwebs? Explore that intricate geometry in part of your new work. Love the vibrant, yet transitory colors of the sunset? Pick that color palette for your next project. Does the texture of tree bark send your imagination reeling? Give that space to emerge in your new piece