Embracing an artistic life

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Creating a world of diversity and tolerance in New York City

  Snippet of “Diversity Garden” for NYC subway station art proposal My blog has MOVED!  This is one of the last posts I’ll ever do here.  Don’t loose touch by not signing up to receive posts from the new site.  Sign up HERE! I was recently selected as one of 14 artists to submit work for one of four New York City subway stations.  I submitted my proposal two weeks ago and I am waiting to hear…

My blog has MOVED!!

My blog has MOVED!  CLICK HERE to be redirected to my new blog address. Don’t forget to sign up while you’re there. Thanks, Kathy Ferguson  

Making a mural to celebrate 10 years of joy, fun, & friendships

For the last ten years, I have been deeply involved with an amazing organization called the Roundup River Ranch, located in the mountains of Colorado.   It is one of Paul Newman’s SeriousFun Children’s Network camps, Roundup River Ranch enriches the lives of children with serious illnesses and their families by offering free, medically-supported camp programs that provide unforgettable…

I’m walking on water

I traveled to Italy this week with my husband and some friends to see Christo’s newest work, “Floating Piers” on the beautiful Lake Iseo.  I have always loved Christo’s work and have been fortunate to see his “Umbrellas” in California in 1993, and “The Gates” in New York City in 2005. Our group decided we wanted to view this work in every way we could.  We started the tour by helicoptering…

Our second stop was at MoMA PS1, “an exhibition space that devotes its energy and resources to displaying the most experimental art in the world. A catalyst and an advocate for new ideas, discourses, and trends in contemporary art, MoMA PS1 actively pursues emerging artists, new genres, and adventurous new work by recognized artists in an effort to support innovation in contemporary art”.(2)  I found the artwork at MoMA PS1 to be more polished and the conceptions behind them better expressed, but still very experimental.  My favorite work, a brightly colored web by Escobedo Solid Studio, was strung in the entrance courtyard.  “This woven canopy encourages visitors to slow down, potentially reframing how they interact not only with each other but also with the landscape and sky”. (3)  I relaxed outside with my art group at the museum’s cafe to enjoy this canopy, a cold beer, and some great conversation.

What museums, galleries, parks, and other sites are in your neighborhood that you’ve never explored?

(1) http://www.sculpture-center.org, (2) http://www.momaps1.org, (3) the information plaque in the courtyard.

A visit to Storm King

This weekend, I visited Storm King Art Center with my husband and friends. Widely celebrated as one of the world’s leading sculpture parks, Storm King Art is located only an hour north of New York City and provides the setting for a collection of more than 100 carefully sited sculptures created by some of the most acclaimed artists of our time. I’ve included photos of some of my favorite…

ArtSnacks is a monthly subscription service that delivers new and  uncommon art products, providing artists with an opportunity to try out top-of-the-line art supplies. I purchased the one-year monthly package for $200 and I got my first box today.  Here’s a look at what art supplies I received and my critique of each one.  I received a General’s Layout Pencil ($0.75 retail), a Caran d’Ache Fibralo Brush Marker ($2.25 retail), a Kuretake No. 7 Brush Pen ($7.00 retail), a Spectra AD Marker ($5.15 retail), a Denik Custom Mini Sketchbook ($5.00 retail), and a green Life Saver.

After eating the Life Saver, I decided to test out each item.  The General’s Layout Pencil was great.  This pencil has been around since the 1930’s and is still a favorite of illustrators and cartoonist.  The graphite is soft enough to make beautiful dark-to-light gradations and doesn’t smear. Honestly, this is the best pencil I’ve ever owned.

Next item was the Caran d’Ache Fibralo Brush Marker.  The fiber tip offers the control of a marker and the flexibility of a brush.  I added a little water to the ink and developed a pale watercolor wash.  The specially formulated ink is designed not to bleed through paper though it did slightly bleed through the thin notepad paper I tested it on.  Other than that it’s a pretty ordinary pen with only a single tip.

I got another orange pen, a brand new Spectra AD Marker, an alcohol-based marker that makes permanent marks and carries less odor. It has a chisel tip that makes three different line widths plus a brush tip that creates smooth varied lines. I liked this juicy marker with it’s dual tips and versatility.

My favorite pen of the bunch was the Kuretake No. 7 Brush Pen.  This pen is similar to a foundation pen as it uses ink cartridges. It comes with two cartridges, the first that easily clicks into place while the second cartridge stores inside the pen body.  The dark black ink flows smoothly and evenly onto the paper with excellent control.  I’d love to get this pen in a variety of ink colors. The ink is not waterproof so you can add shading by wetting the drawing.

The last item was a mini sketchbook by Denik.  Denik’s mission statement is, “Art can change the world.”  A portion of the sale from every notebook goes to help build schools in developing countries.  While I admire their philanthropy, the notebook was flimsy and made with very thin paper.  Definitely not worth its $5 retail price.

Overall, a fun present to myself for less than $17.  I can’t wait until next month!

Get your free mono print

Today is the last day of the LIC Arts Open and LIC Open Studios.  At my studio today (12-6 pm), I will be giving away mono printed notecards.  I will also be demonstrating how I make these mono prints and the many layers it takes to create one.  Please stop by to get your FREE notecard.  Here’s a glimpse of some cards I made yesterday during the open studio tour.  Reis Studios, 43-01 22nd Street,…

Fun ideas for the weekend

Looking for something to do this weekend?  Head on out to Long Island City for the LIC Arts Open 6 and an opportunity to visit hundreds of artists’ studios.  Have you ever looked at a painting in a gallery and wanted to know “how did they do that?”  This is your chance. Begin at Reis Studios (43-01 22nd St., LIC) with 200 artist studios to start your tour. See the inner workings of my art studio…

CONTEXT New York, a glimpse

Artist: Michelangiolo Bastiani The inaugural edition of CONTEXT New York took place May 3 – 8, 2016 in Manhattan. The fair was held at Pier 94 in Manhattan.  CONTEXT New York is a leading alternative fair of contemporary art. I got an opportunity to see CONTEXT Art Miami during Art Basel this past December and it was fun to see lots of new art and some old favorites at the New York version.  The…

In the Realm of Dreams

Please celebrate with me the opening reception of “In the Realm of Dreams”, a two women exhibition at the Front Street Gallery this Friday, May 13 from 6-9pm.   “In the Realm of Dreams” features the 4th annual Front Street Gallery juried group show winners. Kathy Ferguson & Tanya Kukucka. Kathy and Tanya were winners of our group show, “Blue,” and both artists credit the dream-state as a direct…

Now in its 22nd year, The Armory Show is billed as “New York’s premier international art fair, showcasing over 200 galleries from around the world. The Armory Show combines access to high quality modern and contemporary art with a commitment to spotlighting new and emerging voices in the visual arts.” I gave myself both Friday and Saturday to see the shows as there was just too much to see in one day.  I found myself particularly drawn to the selections in the Modern Show (Pier 92) this year and even purchased a couple paintings by Darren Waterston from the DC Moore Gallery (see above).  I’ve shared some of my favorites from the Modern and the Contemporary Armory Shows below.

Janaina Tschape, mixed media

Hard to believe, but I’d never heard of Janaina Tschäpe before the fair, though she’s been creating art for almost two decades.  Apparently I’m the only one as a long standing collector bought her work while I was standing there admiring it!

John Grillo, oil on canvas

A beautiful example of John Grillo’s (who passed away in 2014 at the age of 97) colorful work.

Julian Martin

Australian artist Julian Martin was having a good day as 14 of his 18 paintings on exhibit had already found new homes early on during the fair.

Gabriel de la Mora

From a distance, I thought this work of Gabriel de la Mora‘s (this photo is half of a mirrored diptych) was created from carved wood panels. However, it was actually created from the soles of tennis shoes!  I love all the different patterns.