Lilac Window

I made this mobile today and it brought me much joy.

I haven’t been that into mobiles in the past, but for the last few weeks I’ve developed a minor obsession with them.

Something about the simplicity of their construction, but the incredible balance they represent, and the kinetic movement when they are hung. I can sit and watch this thing gently hover, turn and dance for ages. Its so delicate and entrancing. I can see why they are perfect for baby rooms.

We dont have a TV in the living room, which is a good thing, but we also dont have a fire or stove, and sometimes we need something to gather around and just sort of stare at. right now I am staring at this thing.

The cool thing is we made it out of bits we had lying around. The silhouette animals I made a few weeks ago, and thought they looked really cool. I’ve also developed another obsession with origami. This obsession is reoccurring, I get it about once a year. I really need to get me some good origami books. Can’t wait until the library opens tomorrow so I can get all 70 of them from my branch.

Mark and I have been watching You Tube origami making videos on the apple TV, and making a few things. Its fun. Maybe not as organic as a wood stove, but bonding non-the less. The butterfly is from this video. I can actually think of nothing funner this winter season than huddling around the TV, making origami together. (Having made such a dorky statement, I must also confess I am not sure “funner” is a word.)

Anyways, the origami was lying around too, looking for a home. I can see myself making more of these. Perfect “new baby” gift. But it is a bit of a challenge making them with Emery around. He loves them a little too much.

In other random news, the boys got yet another board game for Christmas. “Richard Scary’s Busytown” (Thanks Margot for the idea!) Its perfect because its very simple for Marcel and he can play it enough to start to teach Emery. Well. “teach” is relative. Em’s already gone feral on a couple cards, but we have high hopes for the kid.

I’m thinking of doing a blog post on kids and  board games since we do a heck of a lot of that around here. Its not really within my scope, but hey, I can stretch.

these little drawings are not at their best in this format. sometimes it just doesn’t translate. Oh well. This is a simple pencil drawing about eating like a squirrel. fruit grains nuts and berries. we are doing fairly well with this still. We still eat much more whole grains since I started this kick. We are finding it hard to not eat a lot of cheese, or yogurt. but there are worse things. We also eat meat still – probably three times in two weeks or something. Thats a big change for us.

the calendar is getting more full. Marcel is done for the year. Mark has one more exam. things are slowing down quite a bit around here. And I’ve started 4 new paintings.

I think that the idea of combining agriculture and urban living warrants some re-examination. Urban hens seem to make sense. I also think solar orientation is a part of house design that is often neglected.

I had a sweet time at the CAA art sale. I sold lots of salad, and art, and it was a great feeling to sit there with my wares and meet people. I received a lot of encouragement, and enthusiasm for what I do. Which is cool, cuz I am often confused about what I do. But its not that weird. My business cards say “Angela Rout, eco-modern architecture, art…and salad.”  That made a few people smile. It makes me smile too. I did a handful of pencil drawings like the one above for the show. I just wanted to draw. I had a blast and could have kept going. The more I drew the more ideas I had. I did another today. I packaged them in baggies with little tidbits of writing in them. They were a big hit. It helps people get into the picture without having to listen to me go on and on about it.

This one said “I wish I had a house that looked like a boat. I wish I had a goat. (not just because it rhymes.)”

They were all based on architecture and sustainable ideas, all stuff I feel my life is oozing with. Perhaps I’ll make a big stack of these…someone suggested a sketchbook. again, I’m considering methods of reproduction…

excited about another homeschool art class in December. Also about painting with Emery, he made a beautiful painting this morning. The first one where I think he really noticed the paint on the paper – rather than being fascinated with the water changing colour.  And the sweet vibrations of a two-year-old concentrating  with focus and presence is energizing.

We had such a fun Homeschool Art Class today. It was so sweet to have three girls to do painting and creating with. We did some watercolour painting, and then read a book about Frida Khalo I got from the library. We picked leaves from outside and did rubbings on trace paper which we cut out, and stuck on our painting. We also drew a little with Chinese Ink using a stick for a pen. This is the first class I have done like this, and was a bit of a trial run, but very successful and I am happy to do more. I am excited to think of little projects to do.

The best part of this was watching how engrossed the girls became with the painting. They all had so much intention when they put down that brush. I did a little demonstration first, and had them practice lightly spraying their paper first. I had them choose two contrasting colours to use, to help keep things simple. They worked on being able to load the brush with water, loosen the dried pigment, and apply. Making “pink” out of red is good to practice this. I asked them to work to cover the whole paper with paint, and tried to avoid too much painting over one spot so that the paper didnt become too soggy, or the sizing come out of the paper. Being used to how my own son paints it was so great to be with other children and witness the diversity!

As a reward to myself for a great class, I bought myself this album. So beautiful it hurts a little to listen to it. (well, for me anyways.)

Here is the whole painting Marcel did as a mock-up for the homeschool art class. He was really proud of it.

I have been thinking and brainstorming about art, education and raising of children. I love the theory of teaching art to kids that inspires them, and also teaches them skills on how to apply their passions to serve the world. I have in mind a process that brings students through many stages of practice and application of ideas, but it needs work. These are some abstract thoughts I sketched down in a notebook recently:

medium, manifestation, fabrication, to make. create. bring into being. fashion.

How can one create an environment of inspiration?

Here is the flyer I made to advertise an art class I am holding for homeschool kids. Marcel and I had a lot of fun making the mock-up shown in the picture. I am pretty excited to be starting doing art classes again, as I haven’t done one since we moved. Our new place is small, but I think  its perfect for a little cozy painting class. I am hoping to do more of these one day classes in the future.

If you cant read the text it says:

“Through stories, guided contemplation, study of nature and visual arts exploration, this first class is an outreach to homeschool families. It is the first of a program that is based on “mining the inner gems” of creativity within our children, and helping them learn to express and then apply them in service to their community.  Held within the home of artist and architectural designer, Angela Rout, this class is meant to be a warm addition to homeschool ideals.”

details are:  Nov. 5  2:30-4pm ages 4-6 angie@lilacwindow.com $20.00 per class.

I never knew how much having my own business would be a self exploration. It is always in flux, adjusting to my life, what is going on with our family and as I learn and grow.

I have been doing a re-evaluation of my objectives since we decided to move. Moving to a smaller place has meant that I will have less room to paint, and to do workshops. I am looking for alternate locations for rent, but I also take this as an opportunity to think about why I do what I do, and what service I provide to people.

I have a craving to do smaller works on paper, and to do some print making (silk screen, monoprints, linocuts,). I am also doing more architectural work, and am so impassioned by the idea of careful marks on paper becoming massive gestures in the built world. The relationship between the charged experience of making a small piece of paper beautiful, and the built environment, has got me thinking.

When I started this school I wanted to create programs that connect how we make art, to how we live in, and build our world. I still do, and this is where my course development is going. I am excited to start some little classes for homeschoolers, as well as adults, in my new house. I am hoping these will become breeding grounds for developing these ideas. I just cant wait to make art with people, and to explore how creativity explodes on the world, for the benefit of all!

It was so great to get out and meet people yesterday. The tradeshow was such a great way to meet other local business owners and to tell people about what I do. Also got a chance to do an interview on camera for a web add. That was a little more nerve racking than I expected. I need to practice talking to a camera. I hate looking at the lens, it feels so odd.

The best part was when I realized that I needed to tell people that my kids painted the banner.  I had the pics below, but people didn’t realize what they were looking at until I said my 1 and 4 year old painted it. It was so fun to see their surprised and impressed expressions. It was definitely the best promoter for my business.

It was a fun, but long and tiring day. Em didn’t sleep the night before. Why is that? Then last night he did one of his only 8 hour sleeps ever. huh. Oh well, It was a good day and I’m glad to have met so many nice folks!

So. Today has been low key. Its now noon. I have done a lot of house cleaning, vacuumed the car, 2 loads of laundry, lunch and breakfast, read stories, made a loaf of bread and yogurt, all bed rooms clean and beds made, trade show gear put away… ummm yeah. “Quiet” is truly relative!

The boys are helping me paint the big banner for my booth at the Mommylicious Trade Show. Come see us!

Mommylicious Trade Show

Aug 8. Carriage House Inn. Calgary. 10am-4pm.

I am shamelessly enamored with my kid’s art. There I said it. sorry. But man, this is so fun! Being an artist myself, I cant even help the geek factor when my son wants to draw with me. I melt. I turn to butter, I am all his.

I also adore making his work special, and frame-able, and part of a process, where he learns steps and stages to making work. I love to use my expensive art supplies with him when we work on something over time. This piece took a few sessions together. Kids draw so amazingly. I mean, really. The final result is so wonderful. But its also incredible to see your busy, bouncing son, sit and calmly concentrate on something that he loves. It kills me as an artist, but more as a mom.

So. Here is the process we did for this painting. I would love to have some sort of tutorial, for those of you new to these steps, but that’s not in the cards tonight. Besides, I’m sure you can figure this out for now. (hmmm… I should do a lilacwindow class on this…hehe)

remember this all took a few weeks, so do a little at a time. take it slow…

1)choose subject matter. Marcel chose “Trucks and Transformers”. (which he calls “transporters”. cute.)

2)search the internet for appropriate pictures and print them out

3)trace them on tracing paper using a special pen. We use my calligraphy pen that you dip in india ink. yup. I let my four year old use it. (dont tell Mark.) This is my favorite part. I love the concentration and the beauty of the drawing that results. From an digitized and shoddy print out, we get a magnificent line drawing. The pen is important. I love the ink pen, because it teaches control, but it also makes such wonderfully complex lines.

4)scan the drawing onto the computer. I use photoshop to erase any smudges etc, and add a statement at the top. Of course Marcel decided what to put here. This stage is difficult if you are not tech savvy. duly noted. I’ll try think of something to help.

5)print out the drawing, and paint it with watercolours

6)hang on your wall with pride.

7) of course you could print many, and use as cards, gifts or a new wallpaper.

I did this painting with a group of kids in Edmonton. 6 little ones painted two of these as a gift for their caregiver. What a sweet way to thank her.

I will be participating in the “Mommylicious Trade Fair” this August 8 2010. Come and check us out there. It should be a wonderful display of goods and treats for moms and families. It will be held at the Carriage House Inn, in Calgary.

I am also really excited about some ideas I have up my sleeve. I am stoked dreaming up ways to make art more accessible to people who would love to paint, and want to create beautiful work, but feel intimidated. Making art can be relaxing, soothing, meditative, while also being expressive and therapeutic. I am hoping to have a new product available at the fair as a trial run… and I cant stop thinking about it…

Here is a painting I recently did as a commission for a family celebrating a new baby, and a birthday. The prayer is one for children, that they say to their baby. I really enjoyed painting this, and trying to express their joy and love for each other with the paint. Its quite big, which is also a departure from the little guys Ive been doing. Actually it was a really welcome relief.

I am taking commissions like these, email me (angie(at)lilacwindow(dot)com) if you are interested. I’ve done a few now, and they seem to be rather popular…

I have a lot of interests. Sometimes I feel like I am divided all over the place. I have my own business, I paint, I do architecture, I have an interest in sustainable lifestyles, I am a mom, I am interested in education, I have this blog…

This painting is for an architectural project, but it felt like I was just doing what I love. And it made it onto this blog. I feel whole again. smile.