Thursday, January 23, 2014

Goat sculpture research with Janet Keen, contemporary Rotorua, New Zealand Artist .

After finishing the dog sculpture and waiting for it to cure before I can mosaic it. 
I am planning to make a goat sculpture.

Rufus at the workshop
Here is Rufus in my mosaic garden, pointing the way into my studio.



My cat Gary does not like Rufus. 

The  planning and researching for the nanny goat is exciting.
 I always love the start of a project.




 I want the goat to be communicating in some way with the dog. 
All my pieces will be involved in a narrative of some sort. 
Mainly because I like narratives and children's stories.


Goats  make beautiful little pets, as you can see from the pics I took of our neighbour at Kinloch's granddaughter.  


I had a  pet goat, named Candy when I was young and I loved her. They are intelligent and gregarious.

My husband (the Design Engineer) wants me to make it more correctly proportionate than my dog. 
Since I will probably have to ask for his help for the skeletal stage I am willing to co-operate. 
Instead of just doing it without thinking about it much and seeing what turns up, (which is working intuitively), I am researching and drawing like I was taught to at art school. 


I have discovered this cool Waikato artist whose name is Sam Mathers



He often depicts rural anumals in his work.

This is what he says about his work...

 


My work is a visual diary of my travels around the world and day to day normal life experiences.
 I create dribbles and scratches and weather beaten marks to add character and a natural look while using an unnatural colour palette. 
I enjoy the immediacy of acrylic paint, the effects of oil sticks and  bold complementary colours and the fun of seeing where the drawn line will take me.



This inspired me to do the following drawing in my visual diary.
 Maybe I will turn it into an outside painting to go with my goat. Maybe I  should do a dog one as well.
 You could turn them into mirrors, the possibilities are endless and almost overwhelming. 
Sam uses Resene paints like me and his colours still look vibrant.
 I like his work because its like a visual diary which I am always doing as well. 
 I  want to eat breathe, smell, (but not taste) goat.
I may go to Paradise Valley and visit the goat they have there and photograph it. 
I'd like to find some goats on the side of the road and photograph them.
 I'd like to go to a goat farm.
The list goes on. 
You could be researching for years before you finally get down to the nuts and bolts of it. 
  
Meanwhile I am unearthing some surprising things that I didn't know about before about  famous goat sculptures so it is very engaging.

 This is a result of my online research so far...




 A Rush of Blood to the Head, depicts two goats kissing.
The artist Beth Stichter, 37, is a  contemporary American  artist and her sculpture is featured at the Chazen Art Museum which is at the University of Wisconsin. 
 The sculpture has shocked some viewers and there have been stories of people  in the American media who are outraged. 

The artist stated that her intention was not to shock, which I find  hard to believe.  Look it up if you are interested.

This is what one art critic had to say about it. 

"The outrage fails to acknowledge that Madison is filled with thousands of art objects on public view every day, at museums, commercial art galleries, coffee shops and on and on. 
If you don't like something, don't hyperventilate; just move along. It's a big world out there, and not everything will be to your liking.
The Chazen's offer to partially conceal the sculpture when groups of young children tour the museum is a gracious and reasonable gesture. 
 However, let's not forget that the Chazen is a university art museum, on a campus populated largely by people over the age of 18.
 Adults deserve an engaging, challenging experience with art, not just a child-proof one."
   
Online comments have fallen into predictable camps, from defenders of artistic freedom to those calling it "pure sick garbage." 

Undeniably you will see that her work is beautifully and intricately crafted.  If you want to explore her work further have a look at her website. Google her.




Depicting goats in sensational situations is nothing new in art history.
The British Museum have recently installed one of Pompeill's most highly treasured sculptures. 



 Pan with a She-Goat
Here is the story
An erotic statue has caused the British Museum to install a "parental guidance" warning in their new exhibition, Life and Death in Pompeii and Herculaneum.
The sculpture is of the mythical half-goat, half-man Pan with a nanny goat. The Times  reports that the museum is determined to display the object in plain sight, rather than hidden behind a curtain or in a "museum secretum" – a restricted area for those aged over 14 in the Naples Museum.
Paul Roberts, senior curator, said the statue may be unconventional today, but would not have raised eyebrows in Roman Pompeii: 
Roberts says high-brow Roman owners would have been amused by the statue: "It’s because the owners are cultured that they have the sculpture of Pan and the goat. They also have a sense of humour, because to a Roman that would have been humorous, not offensive."
He added that phallic symbols were commonplace in Roman homes. Images of the well-endowed fertility god Priapus, sometimes weighing his appendage against a quantity of gold, were often found at the entrance to houses as a symbol of success and good luck. 
If you want to see it google it.



Picasso's goat is famous

 She Goat By Picasso

 " Picasso's deepening interest in Classical imagery continued to make its presence felt in his sculpture as well as in his ceramic work. This massive life-size bronze is a wonderful assemblage of a wicker basket body, a palm leaf back, two ceramic flowerpots for the udder, and other metal elements, which was then cast. Apparently most of the objects were found in fields near Picasso's Vallauris studio. He had just had a baby called Paloma with his  young French mistress Francoise Gilot. "

Rauscheberg was a huge fan of Picasso.

 Robert Rauschenberg, "Monogram," 1955-59, oil, paper, fabric, printed paper, printed reproductions, metal, wood, rubber shoe heel, and tennis ball on canvas with oil on Angora goat and rubber tire on wood platform mounted on four casters. 
Critics have said that Rauschenbergs  "readymades" talk about homosexuality.




When I make my goat it  will not shock anyone because I don't really have the urge to confront my audience.
 
I live in a small, conservative, town so it has the effect of watering down everything and making you tread a very straight line morally.


When teaching children you have to make sure that you are completely reliable and beyond reproach because you are dealing with innocent minds that deserve  to be protected and nurtured.


Watch this space for progress and be prepared for more goat references. 


Creative Quote of the Day 
Love is not love without a violin playing goat.

 
Janet Keen Creativity
Mosaic and painting workshops

Monday to Wednesday mornings and Friday mornings 9.30am to 11.30am
Children's after school creativity classes enrolling now for Monday to Wednesday and Fridays after 3.30pm to 5.00pm.
Phone 346-3435 to secure your February place or email jkeen@clear.net.nz
If you are having a creative event in the Bay Of Plenty and you'd like me to cover it photographically; give me a ring on (07)346-3435 or email me at jkeen@clear.net.nz and I will send you a quote. 

Saturday, January 18, 2014

Dog Sculpture Weekend, with Janet Keen

I wanted to make a dog so I went to a workshop to learn how.

First step was to cut the mesh; my tutor Steve demonstrated on my work for me.


The legs


The body
Bending it up for the tail.


 Tying the body to the pole, for stability so I can add more different type of mesh

 



 Bending the rod and cutting it


to reinforce the legs.

 Forcing the rod into the wire structure



 Bending the legs

 Leverage against a table.

 Bending legs for feet.
 Sticking tail in


Deciding how long.



Putting on ears.

Applying the mix 


 And sculpting it into shape

 Long ears are good, some kid thought it was an elephant.
 Bit by bit, it all goes on. 
A lot of time effort and attention to detail goes into making a sculpture like this.

You are injecting your personality into it and at the same time it has a life of its own. 
People, when I was making it said what type of dog is it and I said "I don't know, it will reveal itself to me when it's finished." 
 
I like all of my work to be quirky and humourous and this guy fits the bill. 
 I wanted to make a girl dog, but it came out looking more like a boy. 

He  is finished for the sculpting stage. 
His name is Rufus and he's a Basset hound (Hush  puppy), crossed with a beagle.
He's a bit of a howler to the moon type of guy. 

He's in front of my mosaic studio now and I am going to mosaic him with flat stones, and put some eyes in. 

So watch this space. 
I showed him to my cat Gary and Gary does not like him, so we will see what happens in the future. 

Thanks a lot to Steve for all his devoted help. 
As you see I could not have done it without him.

 I'm not the type of person who goes around saying " Well I could just do that for myself at home."
The point is you most likely won't.
 Invest in yourself and go out and pay to learn something off someone else and for goodness sake don't try to get all the information they have learned out of them for free. 

It's amazing how paying for knowledge will open you up to incredible opportunities.
Thanks to Lyn, Steve's wife and co- business owner for all their help and hospitality
I enjoyed the workshop. 


Philosophy of life
I always start my year off by going to some type of workshop, whether it be painting, writing or photography. 
I've invested a lot, but I've also gained a lot. 
I must have attended at least 300. 
I have a commitment to continual learning and it keeps me fresh and enthusiastic. 
Because of it I would say that I  have a huge knowledge of all types and styles of painting and mosaic making. 
If someone alsks me how to do a technique I usually know. 

It's good professional  development. 
It's fun, you meet some cool people. 
All the other women on the course were really lovely. 
It's a great way to get some motivation and make some new friends. 

So treat yourself today. Where ever in the world you are,
sign up for a workshop where you are physically with other people and a real live tutor, you won't regret it.


Creative Quote of the day 
 I've learned that people will forget what you said, they'll forget what you did, but they  will never forget about how you made them  feel. 
Maya Angelo 

 Janet Keen Creativity
Mosaic and painting workshops, Monday to Wednesday mornings and Friday mornings 9.30am to 11.30am
Children's after school creativity classes enrolling now for Monday to Wednesday and Fridays after 3.30pm to 5.00pm. 
Phone 346-3435 to secure your February place or email jkeen@clear.net.nz  

If you are having a creative event in the Bay Of Plenty and you'd like me to cover it photographically; give me a ring on (07)346-3435 or email me at jkeen@clear.net.nz and I will send you a quote. 
I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.

Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/m/mayaangelo392897.html#QmUKhVbWDFrYUDx3.99
I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.

Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/m/mayaangelo392897.html#QmUKhVbWDFrYUDx3.99
I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.

Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/m/mayaangelo392897.html#QmUKhVbWDFrYUDx3.99

Thursday, January 16, 2014

Lake Tarawera Art Exhibition Sunday 26th January from 11am to 4pm



Last years article written in Daily Post about it by Cherie Taylor
And again...It was fantastic last year and large numbers of people attended so get out there and have a look......

Saturday, January 11, 2014

Painted and distressed wooden mosaic mirror with Resene testpots. By Janet Keen, Creativity Queen


 Thank you to Resene the helpful people in Rotorua.
 I love Resene testpots and I use them for all my creative  DIY projects which are featured in the Rotorua Daily Post, Saturday fortnightly. 


Helpful assistant in Resene getting me all of the Testpots I needed for the distressed wooden mosaic mirror. 


Wooden Mosaic Mirror for Your Garden by Janet Keen Creativity Queen.
 I made this in a day because I was in a hurry due to Christmas deadlines. 
Don’t be too fussy having everything fitting perfectly. 
This is a rustic, relaxed looking project.


Equipment needed.

 Exterior grade plywood 12cm thick for the base, cut to required size, mine was 50cms wide by 56 cms long.

Another piece around about the same size that you can cut up into squares and rectangles

The squares are 10cms by 10 cms and three rectangles 10cms by 16cms

Mirror of your required size, mine was 30cms by 30cms.

(If you go into Bunnings the timber department will help you sort out the size you need.)

Jigsaw for cutting shapes to size

Resene Quick Dry  waterborne primer (white), small tin

Resene testpot colours of your choice, including white and black and two pots of green.

Parfix Maxi Clear silicon sealant with a dispensing gun

Ice-cream stick

Paper towels

Paint brushes

Ice-cream container with water for washing brushes

Bird, leaf and branch stencils (optional)

Electric sander if you have one with medium grade sandpaper, sandpaper and a block if you don’t

Sponge rubber dabber or piece of sponge

Hairdryer

Paper towels for wiping off brushes in between colours

Strong screw eyes and galvanized wire to hang your mirror from the back.

Hook for hanging



Method

Cut all of your shapes to required sizes and test that they all fit around your mirror.




 Undercoat all of your surfaces of your base board with Resene Quick Dry Waterborne Primer
Dry off with hair dryer.

Paint the back and sides of your mirror base a green colour to camouflage in with your garden. 
Dry off with hairdryer between all layers of paint application.

Glue your mirror into place with the Maxi Clear, using ice-cream stick to apply it



 You must use a silicon gel like this because it expands and contracts in the sun outside and it will help the wood not to warp or the mirror to break.
Paint each square or oblong in white testpot colour on the front and sides.

Dry off with hair dryer.

Paint all blocks different colours of your choice 
Dry off
Paint the blocks different colours of your choice



  Sand over the top of the dry paint, which will distress it
 Go around the edges as well.

Some of the white paint will show through, making it look aged.

Glue all of your dry squares in place on your mirror

Apply paint with a sponge dabber in contrasting paint through stencils of your choice.

 I chose different shades of green by adding white or black to the green. 
 


If you haven’t any stencils go to bird and branch silhouettes on Google Image Search and print some out, cut around them and trace them onto your block.

Freehand it if you can draw

Attach screw eyes and wire to the back.

Hang on a fence or tree to reflect your flowers or vegetation and to make your garden look bigger and more exciting.






I will teach you how from scratch
Price on application. 




Creative Quote of the day




Mosaic and painting classes enrolling for 2014 
Email jkeen@clear.net.nz

Phone 07 346-3435



Adults Mosaic Classes from  February 3rd.
Mosaics: Fish, Mirror, Pot
Using glass tiles, ceramic tiles and crockery. 
Three different materials.
4 two hour lessons for $250.00 or $62.50 per lesson. 
Book now and pay a $62.50 non refundable deposit to secure your place. 
Small classes, limited to 8 people only
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday Mornings 9.30am to 11.30am


 Beginners Adults Painting Classes,  From February 3rd.
Four sets of  two hour lessons
$50.00 per person plus materials and a visual diary. 
You have a choice of acrylics, water colours or  oils
You can be set homework for accelerated performance if you would like it. 
 Monday Tuesday and Wednesday Mornings 9.30am  to 11.30am

 Please arrive on time or five minutes early and wear casual clothes that you don't mind getting dirty.


Ring me for a $35.00 half hour creativity consultation and come into the studio so I can assess your needs. 
Just ring first and I can arrange that is outside of class times that are suitable for you.  

 Easy Peasy Rank Beginners taster acrylic techniques classes
Paint 4 square paintings with 4 different techniques. 
Complete them in two hours. $250.00 per 4 week course
$62.50 per person per week for 2 hours,  including board and use of  paints in the classroom.

Ring  or email  Janet and  send a non refundable deposit of $62.50  to pay for your  1st class now 346-3435 or jkeen@clear.net.nz