ArtCarla

End of Blog!

2010-02-03T17:22:00.003-06:00

Hi Everyone! Just wanted to let everyone know I'm "closing down" this blog. It's not that creative pursuits are no longer important to me, but I just need to narrow down what I'm spending my time on right now. I will always want to stay in touch with my creative side, for myself! If I ever decide to focus on blogging about art, I'll reopen it!

For now, if you want to reach me, please email: carlamarieweir@yahoo.com. Or you can find me on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/carlamarieweir/, facebook: Carla Marie Mowell Weir. Thanks!

Chupavispa

2008-07-08T02:10:00.001-05:00

Chupavispa
Originally uploaded by carlamarieweir

Art Chicks this year in Mexico resulted in this funny little character. Alebrijes are supposed to be fantastical creatures, a mix of animals. What could be more mixed up than a wasp mixed with a chupacabras? Except, this guy is definitely harmless, with only two big goofy teeth! Here you can see him in various states of being made, and the final composition. The most fun was the painting, I just love adding more and more details.

Frida Swap

2008-02-01T19:03:00.000-06:00

Here are my little Frida 4x4's that I made as part of a swap. I received mine in the mail, what fun! I've really been having a blast making a bunch of different things that I normally wouldn't try my hand at, crafty type stuff, but fun nonetheless! It really makes you think creatively when you challenge yourself with new media and with using what you have on hand.

Swap-bot

2008-01-02T01:16:00.000-06:00

I just joined Swap-bot, http://www.swap-bot.com/ it's a website that allows you to join or initiate a swap around a theme, such as jewelry, postcards, handmade, junk, whatever. I'm going to try it out. It seems like an interesting way to jump start some creativity and get rid of stuff that I am not using but someone else may cherish. I've signed up for 2 initial swaps: 1) heart shaped beads, 2) pick 5 (picking 5 things from a long list such as post it notes, embroidery thread, etc.), both of them involve sending stuff to 2 partners which seems do-able. The biggest hassle is the post office / mailing part...I wonder if I can do that online somehow? I'll check that out, it would make it much easier.

Trojan Water Horse

2007-10-22T23:10:00.001-05:00

Trojan Water Horse
Originally uploaded by carlamarieweir

This beautiful work of art was in the Mountain Springs Corporate offices. I got to get up close during a recent visit to Hot Springs Arkansas. Art Chicks is coming up and I'm eager to get my hands on some glass and start melting....This art piece is made with fused glass water bottles.

Found Frame

2007-10-10T00:42:00.000-05:00

Funny coincidence ahead! During the last repujado class I taught at the Latino Cultural Center I was working on a frame. The final touch was to stain it. I put it outside to dry and when I went out it was gone. Turns out a fellow flickr-ite saw it, took this picture, posted it and wrote the story on his photostream, see http://www.flickr.com/photos/bbd/295818921/in/photostream/

It gets better, I commented on the picture and my daughter came by to see what I was chuckling about...and she recognized the name of the photographer, it turns out his kids go to the same school as she does!!!

Turns out that the piece got taken by a passer by--the photographer didn't take it...oh well, at least I know what happened to it!

Van Gogh's Final Painting

2007-09-24T00:48:00.000-05:00

homage to Van Gogh, picture by Hannah Weir

Yesterday it was announced that what is believed to be Vincent Van Gogh's last painting is coming up for auction, and is expected to sell for $34 million. He shot himself in the chest two days after completing the painting. It's ironic how much money that it, when you think of how much he suffered, how poor he was, and now how much his paintings are valued. I love his work for the ability he has to cut through the clutter of details and focus on the raw beauty of color.

Repujado Classes

2007-09-20T22:31:00.000-05:00

Projects completed by students in a repujado workshop at the Latino Cultural Center

One of the things I've enjoyed the MOST in the last year has been teaching repujado classes at the Latino Cultural Center. It's been so much fun to bring this Spanish Colonial art form to the Latino community, and non-Latino's interested in Latino art and culture. I've taught three 2-week sessions and look forward to teaching more. Students have picked up the techniques quickly and walk away with 3-5 hand decorated boxes, crosses or other objects.

Repujado has a strong following throughout Latin America and generates a lot of interest here among scrapbookers, crafters, traditional artisans, and anyone who likes to work with paper. It can be as easy as tracing, or as advanced as any drawing. The final result is a wooden object (such as a box, plaque, cross) on which a fine laminate of handworked aluminum is attached. The aluminum is the "repujado" which means something like "reworked" in Spanish. It's a form of embossing combined with line drawing.

Please email me if you would like to be on a list to be notified for future workshops. My email is carlamarieweir@yahoo.com.

La Frida

2007-09-18T17:40:00.002-05:00

Frida Kahlo

She's definitely one of my favorite artists and an inspiration to me. This pic was taken of a mural at the Ice House Cultural Center, in my neighborhood of Oak Cliff. I always loved the drama of her work, it fits right in with the magical realism that I love so much in the literature of Isabel Allende and others. Then I learned more about her life, how much she suffered physically and yet how she triumphed through her art. I really enjoyed the film, and have read a lot of books about her and the people who surrounded her. Even though she lived in the shadow of her husband, she never let that overpower her, she was still very much herself, and is now I think even more famous that he was.

2007-05-31T23:24:00.000-05:00

Photographing my jewelry has been a huge challenge for me. Because my hand made beads are dainty and usually shiny, they get lost and reflect light...which is not good for a flattering picture. This early shot of a bracelet that sold long ago is an exception. The handmade beads are the white and clear ones, which I think contrast well with the cherry quartz chips and the blister pearl medallion.

I wish I knew what I had done right on this picture! I've been told to take pictures outdoors on a sunny day, which I haven't tried yet. Apparently the natural light, and a decent macro option on the camera, really helps. I'll try that some day.

For now, I'm having a hard time just finding the time to make jewelry! I have a bunch made, waiting for Ted to move his Artisan's Collective from Davis Street to the new location in the Bishop Arts District.

2007-05-26T00:47:00.000-05:00

As promised...here's a picture of Churro, he's a Snecko (snake/gekko) with feathers! My favorite part was the painting, I had soooo much fun. Now I want to go to Monterrey and take a class from a Mexican artist who has a workshop full time....that's not that far, it's only 3 hours into Mexico from Laredo, TX. I could totally do that this summer...

2007-05-07T00:27:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, Saturday, I took a class in Alebrijes at the Latino Cultural Center (the center is pictured above). I'm in LOVE! I have so many ideas, right now I'm just working on my first one...but I want to get started on another one!

First, what are alebrijes? Well, it's a Mexican folkloric art that was started by one man, Pedro Linares in the 30's. He fell ill and had a dream/hallucination in which weird, colorful, mixed up animals cried "Alebrije". The animals were combinations such as a chicken with an eagle head, a pig with wings, etc. He was a paper mache maker and when he survived his illness he wanted to bring his strange creatures into reality. I'm making a snake-gecko-with a forked tail and feathers! A snecko...

Right now the form is made and glue is drying. Once dried I will paint the base white and then paint on the designs--can't wait for that part!!!!