Lisa Call

I’ve been able to acquire 20 additional catalogs for color improvisations, half of which I believe are already spoken for. Everyone that has indicated in the last post that they wanted a catalog will get one.

Tomorrow morning I’ll sort out the details and create a separate page for ordering the catalog to make this a more stream lined process – so please bare with me.

[Update 6/27: If you would like to purchase a catalog, please see my new webpage for that purpose: Color Improvisation Catalogs]

In the meantime – here is a photo of my artwork hanging in Germany at the exhibit (thanks to Janet Steadman for sending the photo):

Structures #111 and Structures #108
©2009 Lisa Call
77″ x 76″ – Structures #111
72″ x 72″ – Structures #108
Textile Painting (Fabric hand dyed by the artist, cotton batting, cotton thread)

Color Improvisations Catalog – the orange version
 

One of my pages

Catalog Available for Sale

The color improvisations catalog is now available for sale. You can either purchase it from the color improvisations website and pay shipping from Germany. Cost is ~$45 + ~$15 shipping to the US (other countries vary).

Or you can buy it from me as I will have a few extra for sale. Cost is $43 + $10 shipping (for US addresses only – if you live outside of the US please order from the website above).

The catalog comes in 5 different covers so you can place your order based on cover color here (if you’d prefer to pay with a check let me know). You will receive your catalog in early August.

[Update 7/27: If you would like to purchase a catalog, please see my new webpage for that purpose: Color Improvisations Catalogs ]

More Photos from the Exhibit Opening

For more information about the show check out Terry Jarrard-Diamonds account of her trip to the exhibit opening in Germany a few weeks back.

Sounds like a fabulous time – sure wish I could have been there. But I’ll have a landscaped yard soon, so the trade off is okay for me.

Structures #111
©2009 Lisa Call
77″ x 76″
Textile Painting (Fabric hand dyed by the artist, cotton batting, cotton thread)

Color Improvisations

This last weekend Color Improvisations opened in Stuttgart, Germany. Two of my textile paintings were included in the exhibit, one of them being Structures #111 shown above.

I have heard the show is fabulous and I’m bummed things didn’t work out for me to attend the opening and am looking forward to hearing reports for those that were able to attend.

See here for a list of participating artists. I’m honored to be included with these fabulous artists.

Exhibit Details

Color Improvisations
July 11-August 25, 2010
Haus der Wirtschaft, Stuttgart, Germany
Grand opening: July 11, 2010 | 2 pm

This exhibition, curated by Nancy Crow, and organized by both Ginie Curzte and Nancy Crow, includes artists who are committed machine piecers, who have studied consistently with Nancy over the past 15 years, and who have developed very individual voices; the exhibition will showcase approximately 50 very large works that are masterful in color usage, composition and are technically, beautifully machine-quilted. The exhibition will travel throughout 2010-2012.

A gorgeous catalogue of all works will be available after July 12, 2010. When I get details on how you can purchased a catalog I’ll let everyone know.

I mentioned last month my artwork will be included in an invitational exhibit, Color Improvisations, in Germany that opens in July, curated by Nancy Crow.

There is now a website for this exhibit and you can see more details of the show here: Color Improvisations.

I had hoped to make it to the opening but doesn’t look like my plans will work out for going. It’s the last summer before my son leaves for college so I’m spending my vacation time with my family this year.

If anyone does attend I’d love to hear your impressions of the show.

They have a few detail images of the artwork on the website, one being mine art. So here it is here – a bit of a sneak peek:

Dream #39
©2010 Lisa Call
34" x 34"
Textile Painting (Fabric hand dyed by the artist, cotton batting, cotton thread)
Purchase here

Please Join Me

Dwelling: An exhibit of textile paintings by Lisa Call
Macky Auditorium Gallery
University of Colorado at Boulder
Boulder, Colorado
February 17 – March 17, 2010
The gallery is free and open to the public on Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and to ticketed patrons during performances.

Opening Reception
Sunday, February 28, 2010
1:30-4:00pm
Artist Talk at 2:00pm

Directions
Parking Information

The Artwork

I’ve created a website with images from all of the artwork from the exhibit. See them here: Dwelling.

All of the artwork is for sale and can be purchased directly from that website. If you’d like, all artwork can also be purchased over 2 or more installments, please contact me to reserve your favorite textile painting now and make a deposit.

The ACEOs

I’m creating a limited series of ACEOs to compliment the larger artwork in the exhibit. The first 3 of these, all of which sold, were unveiled in my studio newsletter sent out on thursday evening.

Check my brand new artist trading card (aka ACEOs) webpage often for updates with additional Home themed aceos, my most affordable artwork. I’ll also update my blog when new cards are available.

All house themed artist cards will be discounted 15%, for a price of $34, during the run of Dwelling, which closes on March 17.

New Artwork

In mid 2008 I was invited by Nancy Crow to participate in an invitational traveling exhibit in Europe starting in 2010.

All participants were required to make new artwork for the exhibit and while the timing was less than ideal I, of course, said yes.

[As long time readers will recall, I was just starting a huge home remodeling project to turn my fixer up into a dream home/studio and had minimal studio space at this time.]

The deadline for the new artwork was in early 2009 so the curators could select the artwork for the show. In addition all of the artwork had to be HUGE, minimum of 6 feet square. We were to submit 5 pieces.

So in the middle of living through major construction, with my studio and bedroom crammed into a 10×12″ space I created 5 new textile paintings in the winter of 2009. Not the most ideal space to create 6-7′ square quilts, but I managed somehow.

Two of these textile paintings were selected for the exhibit and we are now in the final preparation for the opening exhibit it Germany. Much paperwork and questions to answer. The artwork was shipped yesterday. And if possible I will find a way to make it to Germany for the opening. Currently airline tickets are running big $ but I suspect something will work out and I will be able to attend.

Exhibit Details

Color Improvisations
July 11-August 25, 2010
Haus der Wirtschaft, Stuttgart, Germany
Grand opening: July 11, 2010 | 2 pm

This exhibition, curated by Nancy Crow, and organized by both Ginie Curzte and Nancy Crow, includes artists who are committed machine piecers, who have studied consistently with Nancy over the past 15 years, and who have developed very individual voices; the exhibition will showcase approximately 50 very large works that are masterful in color usage, composition and are technically, beautifully machine-quilted. The exhibition will travel throughout 2010-2012.

A gorgeous catalogue of all works will be available after July 12, 2010.

Additional venues in Europe to be announced.

 
Yesterday I delivered the artwork for my solo exhibit Dwelling.

Twenty eight new textile paintings created in the last 7 weeks. I had a vision for this show and it was amazing to see it appear before my eyes as the art was hung on the walls.

Please join me at the Opening Reception for Dwelling on Sunday, February 21, 2010 from 1-4pm at Macky Gallery, Boulder, Colorado.

Directions
Parking Information

Upcoming Solo Exhibit

This article is part of a series of posts on the preparation for my upcoming solo exhibit, Dwelling, at Macky Gallery, Feb 17-March 17 with an opening reception Sunday, Feb 21 from 1-4 and artist talk at 2pm.

To see photos of the artwork for the exhibit as I’m creating it, check out my page on facebook: www.facebook.com/LisaCallFineArt.

The Pattern

Last thursday I woke up not feeling so well and after an hour in the studio decided going back to bed was the best option for the day.

I was better on friday although I didn’t work in the studio I did show up for the day job (virtually as working from home is a wonderful option).

I took it easy on the weekend and this week all was better.

Last week, the middle week of a 7 week plan to create all new artwork for my solo show, I had planned to put in 39 hours in the studio (based on my detailed plan). I ended up only getting in 23.

And it turns out the previous 3 weeks I was behind schedule also. So yesterday I sat down and replanned the remaining 3 weeks of time and am fired up to get everything finished. I have to put in a bunch of hours over the next 3 weeks to make my goal but it’s still doable.

This is pretty much my pattern. About half way through a project I tend to need a break so figured it would happen. Taking a break is good and it was fun to hang out and watch a bunch of mindless shows on my laptop (mostly the TV show Bones).

And while it’s a stretch, I’ll still get everything done one time, which means back to the studio for me for the rest of the evening.

Upcoming Solo Exhibit

This article is part of a series of posts on the preparation for my upcoming solo exhibit, Dwelling, at Macky Gallery, Feb 17-March 17 with an opening reception Sunday, Feb 21 from 1-4 and artist talk at 2pm.

To see photos of the artwork for the exhibit as I’m creating it, check out my page on facebook: www.facebook.com/LisaCallFineArt.

Writing an Exhibit Statement

This past weekend I completed my artist statement for the exhibit. It takes me a few weeks to write my statements as they go through several iterations before I finally settle on the final wording.

Words are much harder for me than images, probably why I’m a visual artist and not a poet or writer, but over the past 5 years I’ve gotten a lot better at writing. I attribute the majority of that improvement on my blogging. The more one writes the better one gets.

Kinda like making art also. Just keep doing it.

The Statement

Dwelling

Recently life has revolved around houses, starting with a move into the city after selling my large suburban home two years ago.

During an extensive remodel of my new abode, turning the small fixer-upper into a dream home and studio, I began creating the stick figure structures that became the Home series, as houses had permeated my thoughts.

Shortly after construction ended, I spent a month traveling in South Africa where I was captured by beauty and simplicity of the dwellings, which inspired the box like buildings in the Dream series.

The desire for a place to call home feels nearly universal. Most often it is linked to words such as security, comfort, happiness and belonging. A home is a container for our possessions, our love, our hopes and our dreams. It’s also where we feel safe to share our vulnerabilities, fear and disappointments.

The past few years I found myself contemplating these concepts of house and home often. What exactly defines a home? When does a house become a home? If four sheets of tin can become a home why do I desire a larger space to inhabit?

What makes your house your home?

Upcoming Solo Exhibit

Part of a series of posts on the preparation for my upcoming solo exhibit, Dwelling, at Macky Gallery, Feb 17-March 17 with an opening reception Sunday, Feb 21 from 1-4 and artist talk at 2pm.

To see photos of the artwork as I’m creating it, check out my page on facebook: www.facebook.com/LisaCallFineArt. Images of Home #10, in progress, were posted over the last few days.

If you become a fan (click the ‘become a fan button’) you’ll see these updates in your newsfeed. If you aren’t on facebook you can still check out the page every once in a while as it is public and you don’t have to be on facebook to see the images. So I can focus on creating the artwork I’m posting the images on facebook as it is quicker than posting them on my blog.

You’ve Got Mail

This morning I designed and ordered postcard invitations for my upcoming exhibit (front show above, back shown below). I have a mailing list of collectors, supporters, fans, family, acquaintances, etc that will receive the card.

My longer term goal with this mailing list is to send out a hard copy announcement 2-4 times a year. I’m getting fewer and fewer of these cards from artists and galleries as it is quite expensive in comparison to email so I think I will continue to send them, as they are a rare treat and will stand out more as fewer people are sending them.

[If you'd like to be added to my mailing list please email me.]

Creating the Invitation

I haven’t yet shared all the details of the office work entailed with the preparation for the exhibit and will soon. Today I’ll just touch on the creation of the postcard as it takes a fairly good chunk of time.

Yesterday I photographed the artwork and prepared the image for the front of the card. Earlier this week I worked with the gallery director to get approval of the text I was using on the back of the card.

With the content determined this morning I started work on the layout. I have no training in graphic design but I still find it great fun to play around with layouts. I used photoshop to do the work.

I decided on using a detail image for the front of the card as the textile painting was long and skinny and left too much white space at the bottom if used in it’s entirety. I find layout of the text most difficult as I know very little about what is supposed to work so I wing it and go with what looks okay to me.

I order my cards from Vistaprint so I use their template when designing the card. I’ve found that to get the file size small enough I have to save it as .pdf and so far the printing has turned out great. I always order the oversized card as I like the impact of the larger image.