I've Been Creating Some Pour Art Lately...

Collage of my latest works - click to enlarge

... and here are some images from my latest work. Some are "Tiny Art" (3"x5"), others are small works between 8"x10" and 9"x12". If you would like to see how I worked on these paintings visually, visit my YouTube "Bronislava Art" channel to see my videos.

Acrylic Pour On Glass

Today I would like to share with you my acrylic puddle pour on glass with a funnel. First, I cleaned my glass with Windex. I wanted to make sure the paint will stick to the glass properly. Then I mixed my colors as such:

• Titanium White - mixed 1 part white + 2 parts Floetrol, no silicone
• 0.8 oz Phthalo Blue + 1.6 oz Floetrol + 5 drops of silicone (dark blue)
• 0.4 oz + Phthalo Blue + 0.1 oz Titanium White +1 oz Floetrol + 5 drops of silicone (medium blue)
• 0.4 oz + Phthalo Blue + 0.4 oz Titanium White +1.6 oz Floetrol + 5 drops of silicone (light blue)

If interested, see the video of my pour HERE. 

In the image below, you can see the outcome on both sides of the glass, framed and unframed. As you see you can have two choices of a painting - front of the paint or back of the paint since the color can be seen through the glass.

The Story Of A Severed Penis

If you follow me on Facebook or here on my blog, you know that I have been making body of work that I call "Knitting in Art" - I add knits or fiber to my acrylic paintings. CLICK HERE to see an example of one of my pieces in my last post.

Just like any other artist I think about my projects all the time. It doesn't matter where I am. I can be walking in the woods with my husband or I can be shopping in the grocery store. Simply, I think how I will execute next canvas or a clay board or whatever I am working on constantly. On many occasions, I caught myself either painting or knitting in my head even when I was talking to people!

Today, I would love to share with you the process of my latest project, which was (originally) supposed to be an abstract depiction of someone hiking.

After the last exhibit I've been thinking about how to make my "knit art" a bit different. I thought that if I introduce a torn out paper into my next knit-painting it might be more interesting.

First I knitted my fiber pieces. Then I gathered few other items I was considering to use.  I prepared my paper, which I painted with a water color. After that I tore my painted paper into couple of shapes. I also dyed my string that I decided to use for sewing my paper shapes together.

In the image below you can see my next step - sewing the shapes together

I painted my clayboard in an abstract style that would represent a nature. It looked a bit boring to me so I decided to add some scratches to make it more interesting.

As you can see in the image below, I started to "play" with the prepared shapes on my painted clayboard .

I moved my shapes and knitted pieces around. I tried to find out what would be the best possible combination and best possible visual layout for my project. For some reason I just thought it is not working out.

I went back and forth while playing with the shapes, then again back to playing with the knits. It was going nowhere. Not happening. I could not figure out what was bothering me about the layout.

I thought it was perhaps the shapes that were bothersome. 

"Should I use only knits instead?" I thought. 

So, for a while I tried to position the knits and my left over string around on the clayboard in various ways.

In the end I decided that I will use only my sewed up "tear-out". Before I placed it on the board the way I wanted it, I toned down the background with my brown paint some more. I decided to outline the shape on one side and add pencil and ink marks to give my painting more dimensional look (which actually looks more like hair instead). Finally, I glued my shapes to the board and signed it. 

After about 20 hours of my labor, I asked my husband what he thought (he is the most critical critic). He liked it and said that it looks like John Bobbitt's severed penis. 

So, I decided to call this painting "Bobbittized".

"Bobbittized"
mixed media
20" x 16"
$395

BTW - anyone interested in purchasing "Bobbittized" can contact me via message on my Facebook Page "BronislavaArt"

April 2016 - AQUA show at the Maritime Garage Gallery in Norwalk, CT

Bronislava Slagle, Aqua, Acrylic/Cotton, 20"x16"

I have been very busy in the past several years. Not that I do not want to post to my blog anything - I just do not have time. An artist have to create art, and I also have to make "artsy craft" (knitting and crocheting) - because I am so called Youtube Creator - which requires videotaping my work, editing videos, taking images and editing them too, downloading, uploading, marketing, blogging about the videos.... Let me tell you - it is a lot of work, but I LOVE IT. My handmade/rukodelky is giving me a lot of pleasure, just as much as my art. And I also teach - I have a fun group and we work on many projects.

So that is why I have been neglecting writing about my art life.

But tonight, after I returned home from Manhattan where I saw Patti Smith's (yes the very talented singer) photo exhibition (at Robert Miller Gallery ) and who read from her book "M Train" (which was great and everyone totally enjoyed her reading) I checked my e-mail and...... I found out I was yet again accepted to another show. So, I am very excited, because this is what I read at 11:30pm -

"Hi Bronislava 

 Congratulations on being accepted to the AQUA show at the Maritime Garage Gallery. We had a large turnout of work and your pieces 'Aqua' and 'At the Beach' have been accepted. Art drop off begins Monday April 4-6 9am-4pm at the Maritime Garage Gallery 11 North Water Street. 

Please be sure your work is correctly wired and ready to be hung. The reception is scheduled for April 13th 5-7 and we will be sending out more information with marketing materials for you to share with your people soon. 

 Thank you for participating, 

The Garage Gallery Team"

So before I go to bed, I decided to make a quick post. If you live near Norwalk CT - come  see the show!!
Good night.  Zzzzzzzz   :-)

Bushwick Open Studios - June 2015

FUSIGNA-ROLEKE STUDIOS in Bushwick, Brooklyn, NY

As I mentioned in my previous blog post about my "FRESH PAINT" group exhibition (by BRAG), Molly (another wonderful artist) and I went to "Bushwick Open Studios" to see Joe Fucigna's art studio right after my show.
I met Molly at one of the "park and drive" places along the highway. She didn't mind doing all the driving, which I want to thank her for all the hard work on New York's very busy highways.

Our first stop was at Tina Duryea's art studio. Tina Duryea, Molly's friend, is another artist with an art studio in Bushwick. We hung out at Tina's place for a while, sipped wine, munched on crackers and cheese and talked about her beautiful landscapes and her newest male painting.
(Note: click on any of the images to see a bigger picture)

At Tina Duryea Art Studio

After a while we decided to walk a few blocks to see Joe Fucigna, who was (in the past) our professor at a college we both, Molly and I, attended. Molly used GPS on her phone to lead the way. Our walk was electrically charged as there were many artists walking around discussing the art scene. The air was practically vibrating.
When we got to Cook Street, we could see Joe's sculpture from the corner towering on the sidewalk next to the entrance of his studio.
We found him upstairs chatting with someone while preparing some munchies for his visitors. He was quite happy to see us. I could easily say that we made his day. Hahahaha.

Besides his previous work Molly and I knew we saw his newest work - paintings - really beautifully executed. They were very colorful. One of them was painted with a shimmering paint. Molly used an expression "pearlescent" - which was really a great one word description. His paintings were an interesting take on his sculptures, where he again used organic shapes, and wonderful layering.

Credit - Molly Forrest images of Joe's paintings

After we checked out his art pieces and Margaret Roleke's "Dolls with Guns" (see the image at the beginning of my story), Joe sent us to another building to check out more artists. Art was being celebrated on every corner we passed. As I was walking I videotaped some more of the street action - HERE. Then Molly and I stopped to draw on one of the Bushwick's graffitti wall - HERE and HERE.

Molly's and my drawing

After a little fun at the wall we went to see more art work. We peaked into several more studios.

I forgot to take this artists info

Justin Sears hard core-ish art

I was impressed with couple of paintings at "Life On Mars" studio. Especially Brenda Goodman's "Self-Portrait". No wonder it is on front page of "Life On Mars" website until the show is over.

Life On Mars Art Studio

After that we went back to Joe's. We stopped at the ODETTA gallery right below his studio to see more art before going to dinner.

Odetta Gallery

And finally around 11pm we drove home.

"Fresh Paint" Exhibition At Framemakers in Black Rock, CT

My husband Jeff and I with my painting "Sprouts No.1"

Fate steered my foot steps in a slightly different direction lately. Although I still create art, I also spend a lot of energy on teaching knitting and crocheting - in person and on-line, besides other creative projects and jobs. Actually, I need my day to be a lot longer, or I need to live longer so I can do all I want to do in my lifetime.

Well, a couple of weeks ago I decided to submit one of my paintings for a show. I didn't submit my paintings to any show for quite some time.  It was a last minute decision. Yesterday, the "Fresh Paint" show opened at Maureen Buckley's gallery and frame shop, where again I could connect with my friends and fellow artists and check out their newest paintings and sculptures.

After I chatted for about an hour, caught up on local art news and took few images, I drove to meet another artist, Molly - to visit Open Studios in Bushwick (Brooklyn, NY). But that is a story for another post, right after this one.

If you live in the Black Rock area and you need your precious art framed do not hesitate to visit Maureen's establishment.
BRAG (Black Rock Art Guild) is an organization that helps all their members to exhibit in the area, such as in this case.

SOLD - Shoe Sculpture

 I sold today my Dancing Shoe Sculpture that I made in 2013. The shoe found a really nice new home :-)

It was designed with 1980's disco era in mind - way back when I used to dance in Manhattan's clubs to "Pet Sop Boys" and "Depeche Mode" and "Frankie Goes To Hollywood" and..... you get the picture. Good Old Fun Days. And... you had to be "hip", otherwise those "boys at the rope" would not let you in.

WAC - "Pop Up Art Show"

I just would like to invite anyone living in Fairfield county, or near Westport,CT to a Pop Up Art Show. Many artist will be exhibiting small works (18" or less) at Westport Art Center, Westport CT. This event is going to be a lot of fun with great artists and art lovers, food (anything toasted with many different spreads) and wine. Come, you may find a unique art piece as a gift for someone.

I will have a couple of my art pieces (drawings) there as well.

It is a short show (only 4 days), so do not miss it!!!!

Dates: Thursday, Nov 6-9 - reception on Thursday Nov 6 from 6pm-9pm
Address: 51 Riverside Ave, Westport CT


If you decide to come - look for my drawings similar to the one below:

2014 Wilton Public Library Summer Group Show

The blue painting on the left is mine

I have been very busy with my life lately. Actually so much busy that I do not post much about my art anymore. I really need to organize my schedule a little better, since I have so many interests and venues. Art, school, knitting and crocheting (designing patterns and teaching) videotaping and editing, blogging, and hair/make-up. Oh and I forgot - henna tattoo that my daughter got me into one day when her and her friends called me at 10:30 at night when they were having fun at one of the girl's house - "Pleeeaaaaase can you come over and do our henna tattoos?" (I could not say no to something fun like that even that I have never done it before. how hard could it be, right?)
Besides,  I just cannot concentrate on one thing - I have to do all of the interesting projects, because - all of them are too much fun to miss!

I get so involved with my interests that I forget that the rest of the world exists.

Well, the latest in my art area is that I am showing two of my latest pieces in Wilton Public Library (Connecticut). I have mixed feelings about this. Kind of.
When I went to see the hanging (it is a group show) my paintings are so different from 90% of the artists that I think I should be exhibiting on another planet. I guess. LOL.

Soooooo, if you are in Wilton, CT - go see the exhibition (it ends on Aug 31st, 2014). All the local artists are in the show. There is so much to see.

One of my paintings is in the middle (just in case you were wondering)

My Other Ceramic Works

Yarn Bowl

Besides my abstract ceramic sculpture "Destruction of Earth" I made me a yarn bowl and a "Shrine to A Knitting Goddess".

Yarn Bowl - view #2

Yarn Bowl - view #3

"Shrine to A Knitting Goddess"

Abstract Ceramic - "Destruction of Earth"

I have never worked with clay so I decided to take "Ceramics" class. It was interesting and quite challenging to model clay with hands - first with a coil, then with slabs. After that I learned how glazes work. Some turned out great, couple were just 'eh', if you know what I mean.

Well, here is my abstract piece called "Destruction of Earth".

These slabs were first textured, then cut up and bent into shapes, then connected together into an abstract piece, which gives us a feeling that the Earth exploded. After my finished and dried abstract was fired, I painted some pieces with "lava", other pieces with dark and light green glazes, which I extended onto my lava glaze to tie them together. The orangey color that you see is that of the fired clay, which is giving this piece another dimension.

Tomorrow is my last day in the ceramics class, and I have to do a presentation,  which will be on a more useful piece - a yarn "bowl" and a "Shrine to Knitting God", since I love to knit and crochet. An image of one or two more pieces, including my presentation pieces, will be published within couple of days.

Wedding Event of the Season by B&H

Up until this year I have been using just a "point and shoot camera".  But my DH surprised me with a new, and more complex camera as a gift. That prompted me to take a class to learn how to take images in the manual settings. So far so good. However, I didn't realize how much information one has to learn in order to take images manually. (You do not want to know show many times I started to take images with lens cap on.)
Since my camera was purchased from B&H store, I signed up for a newsletter. Today B&H sent me a reminder about live event, that was happening in NYC. They hired top professionals that take wedding images. Although I have never taken wedding images, I decided to watch the event and was really happy I did. I can use all the information that was presented for my personal use as well. The all day long presentations by photography professionals was very good and I found the link to share with you just in case you are interested in watching it. Click HERE, sit back and watch this event even if you want to get just inspired.

Henna Tattoos

I consider henna tattoos one form of art. For many years I have been admiring beautiful henna tattoos - the real ones, you know. The ones done by skilled henna artists in India. So, I had to dab into that type of art a little bit too - since I am a person that has to try anything and everything that is interested in...
So here are some of my first designs. Well, actually it was about the third try ever since my daughter asked me to help out with henna tattoos for her friends. One of these days I will be this Czech/American artist doing henna tattoos so typical for India without any problems... aaaaahhhh I like that - I like being "global artist". It's like when The Beatles went to India and introduced some of Indian styles into their music. And people went crazy.

OK. OK. Below are a few images I did for a fund raiser at the Quinnipiac University, Connecticut tonight. Students chose their designs from the web and I copied it with few little changes. The experience was absolutely worth it.

My "Hair Styles" At Urban Hair Salon

The other day I was approached by hair salon's owner Michelene. She asked me to display my "Hair Styles" paintings on her salon's walls. What could be more appropriate place to hang my "ladies" than at a hair salon? This quaint establishment's name is Urban Hair & Co., which is located in Fairfield, CT.

If you live in the area, you can get a hair cut and/or a color and enjoy art at the same time. Or just stop by to see my paintings in person. Click HERE to visit Urban Hair & Co.'s website for directions.

Charcoal Drawings

My life has been a bit busy with many of my interests. Between my drawing and painting and knitting and crocheting, I also try to learn the business of promoting my art (and crafts). Recently - out of the blue - I was hired to teach knitting. And I totally love it. On top of that people enjoy my teaching techniques and for me it is great to be among happy souls that are creative, or that are learning to be creative.

So lately, when I am not teaching knitting, I am working on a piece for the Westport Arts Center's call for artists with a theme "Home Sweet Home". Let me tell you, that is quite a tough one. As an artist, I do want to kind of stand out. Which I usually do. However, that can be outside of the NYC art scene quite a draw back. I feel like painting a house and call it "Home Sweet Home" is not just good enough for me. Then my wild mind (I do not want to call my thinking crazy, because it could be demeaning or unflattering expression since any artist's "crazy ideas" should be seen more or less as different and progressive) goes into a high speed and ---- creates art that not everyone can appreciate. It takes a special person to like my work. So if you are that special person and like my art, keep fingers crossed for my drawing to be accepted into the above mentioned show.

"Somebody" Portraits

About two years ago I bought a set of firm pastels. I tried them and I just didn't like them as much as I liked soft pastels. So, I put them aside. Couple of months ago I was drawing with my soft pastels on the paper, which had a smooth surface, this time. But I had hard time to keep the pastels to cling to the surface. I just had to re-color the area several times, whenever I tried to do some blending. It was very annoying. (Who said that art is easy is wrong!)

Few days ago I decided to pull my firm pastels out of a drawer and draw an imaginary portrait. I used a different technique with these pastels and I love to work with them now. I am ready to draw many portraits.

Maybe I should put my soft pastels on the shelf for a while? No, actually I will use both of them at the same time. I like that idea. And I will use a pencil too. And perhaps even watercolor.... and oil stick... and ........ LOL

Above drawing is "Somebody #2" and drawing below is "Somebody #1". I call these portraits "Somebody", because they are actually nobody. Hmmm, should I call them "Somebody Nobody"? They are just figments (is that English-English or American-English or both Englishes expression?) of my mind. And more to come. I love this technique....