Art as Work

Every once in a while I find it necessary to actually mix business with pleasure. This of course, is against my preference. However, at times, I must go against preference.

As many of you may know, I am currently living in Chile South America. Therefore, I now need to find work on the internet. Graphics work is not really anything new to me, but the problem I have is, over the years I have changed my style of design drastically. With this change I have yet to do much propaganda work (aka corporate or branding work).

This in brings me to the current work that you see in this post. I have taken the initiative to design a number of ad's for things I find of interest. The one above is based on a fairly popular tour that takes place here in the Colchagua Valley in the 6th region, Chile. This tour takes place once one boards a train and crosses thru the afore mention valley. On this tour, you slowly roll thru what has been described as "Napa Valley" 50 years ago. As you slowly glide along, you get to taste whine from each one of the vineyards on the tour. You also has a nice dinner at the end of the tour.

My wife and I have tasted much of the wine here and visit all of the stops, or at least the main areas frequently and therefore have yet to take this tour. The fact that it cost $50 each is also another reason as to why we have not taken this trip. All in all, for tourists I think it is an interesting option if you ever come to Chile. Also, it is a source of pride for those who live here. Believe me, that is something, there's not to much to get excited about in this small town.

Just Thought I'd Share

As we all know... once you're passionate about MCM, it's hard to get away from looking for new sources of inspiration. As I was looking for inspiration for my next project, I found this cool site. I think you should check it out. There is a TON of cool MCM furniture on here.

http://www.silicathree.com

A New State

I have finally woken up from my vegetive state. Artistically speaking that is. For the last month or so, I have not been artistically motivated for anything. Not only that, but getting back here to Chile and getting back into the swing of things has taken a lot out of us physically and mentally.

A couple of days ago, however, I tripped over my forever lasting buffet/dresser project, and... I don't know... I just said, that's enough. Then I started working on my buffet again and I made a huge amount of progress. It was all kind of crazy how it all worked out.

I'm currently testing finishing materials to see which one I want to use. While I was waiting for some of my urethanes to finish drying I just started cutting the boards that I had hanging on the wall, with no real direction, and came up with my new hanging sculpture. Since I'm poor, I just recycled my boards. I like the new sculpture though. Even though the boards were nice, my wife and I were ready for something new.

As for the buffet, I think it should be done in a couple of weeks. Then I will have more photos for you folks. For now though, I just say Choa...

Here And There

The name says it all. I just noticed that I haven't updated my blog in a little while. Not, at least, with anything solid. This is due to everything that has been going on lately.

My wife and I have found ourselves back here in Chile, and with much work to do. I've made a couple of shelving systems and have some plans for others. Not only that but, I've also found another hobby. As if I need one more interest to take up my non-existent time. My new hobby is photography.

My photography is not that great, but I'm learning. I just keep practicing. Only thing is, there's not too much MCM here in Chile. There are a lot of modern buildings and houses, though. I mean, I live in the middle of nowhere and there is this super Moderno casa aca. It's just kinda crazy. Don't worry though. I did think of each and everyone of you while in the States after I had purchased my camera. How so? Well, my friend, let me explain you.

Once I purchased my camera, I took every photo of vintage interest I could find. That includes a few buildings, dishes, silverware and just random old stuff. A bunch of the photos I took are just quick snapshots, but some of my others are more composed. Also, not all of my photos that I want to show are up on flickr yet. They will, however, be put up over time. For now, here are some to get you going. You can see more here.

Did You Ever want It?

If you did, now is the time to get it. I only have 2 more days before I leave for my great home away from home in Chile, and to try and help in these hard times, I am offering all wood art at tremendously discounted prices. However, these prices will only last until Friday evening (Oct 30). So, if you ever wanted it, go and get it.

Be sure to use the links on the right hand side of my blog to get to my etsy store.

Cool, But Not Particularly Modern

I have noticed over the past couple of years that there are some really cool Mid-Century and Mid-Century modern homes in the metro Atlanta area. However, it seems that I have never found the time to photograph them. This past weekend I took a few photos of some of the cool MCM inspired, but not so Mid-Century Modern homes that I like in the metro area. I only took a few photos though.

These few homes where built in the early 70's and don't fall into the truly modern category. They are nice though, and I consider them to be very cool. Each one has something that shows the direct influence of the 50's and 60's. For instance, they have the vaulted ceiling over the entry with the celestial windows, long skinny windows, or stone work. These features give each home character that I really like.

I hope you like them as well, there are a few more photos on my flickr.

Lesson To Be Learned...

When this past weekend started, it was good. Not great. Just good. That was until about 9:30 a.m. Saturday morning. Why 9:30? Well, that's when my hard drive decided: "I've had enough work in my life. I'm going to quit now. BYE!" And quit it did too. It quit with all my latest creations stored on said hard drive and no where else. So, I guess, there are always lessons to be learned. In this case, it was at my expense. Really though, it's my own fault. I, well, I just didn't use my little grey cells like I should have. I, however, only have a portion of the problems that Micro Soft has after they accidentally lost a bunch of AT&T's customers information. You know, like email contacts, and other crucial information to each and everyone of us. So.... Goooo Micro Soft, make that Mac stock sore. If only I owned some....

Originally, I was going to explain how my new series of art was inspired by my interest and intent observation of embroidery from mens sport shirts of the 50's and 60's. While that's the short of it, my new series is now, even more like those cool old shirts. Why? Well, because my latest series of art is as illusive as those old shirts are. It was right in the tips of my fingers... when, wham! Hard drive CRASHES!

Here's kinda how it went. I saw. I spent HOURS drawing, designing, and generally pulling my hair out. I lost it all.

As it is, I..., I am not made of money. So when we came back to the states this time we thought long and hard about what to bring with us. We wanted the maximum space available to carry things back to Chile. That was really important to us because, many of the, oh... how do you say it? Good things, aren't available in Chile. That being the case, we just don't buy much there. The idea, however, was to definitely buy things here to take back. Remember now, we moved to Chile with 2 suit cases, 2 carry ons, our backpacks, and our snowboards. You can only imagine that we really do need a few more things. Therefore, even though we could buy clothing down there, we don't. We just don't really like their clothes, and they're expensive. Not to mention that I lost 4o pounds down there and nothing fits anymore.

What does all this have to do with anything? Well, I opted out of bringing my external hard-drive with me. That's what. I know... 3 months of not backing up? Not smart, I know. The original idea though, was that I would buy another external for my wife's machine, as a backup here and I could use it temporarily. Except, after spending bunches of money on clothes and things we needed, it made me sick to spend more on a "unnecessary backup". Yeah not so unnecessary, huh!

So, now I've lost all my stuff until I get back to my backup in Chile, and all my new designs. Sorry, Tikimama! I even lost the one that you liked, "Polyface". I can, however, recreate some of them. Polyface will be one of the first. However, I don't think that I will recreate all of them.

You know though, the most aggravating thing is... My wife asked, very kindly I mind you, do you think you should take your star point screw drivers? Of course, I was like, naaa... I won't need those there. I only use those when I have to change my hard drive out. Well, anybody got a star point set I can use?

Moral, ALWAYS LISTEN TO YOUR WIFE! SHE DOES KNOW BEST!

Here's some photo's of what I lost.