On The Radio, On Your Television

That's right, I'm invading your homes via radio and television.  I just have to tell everyone about this solo show!

Last Friday, I was live on 30A Radio's "Our Coastal Arts Scene" with Claire Bannerman.  It was a 45 minute show and it was a lot of fun.  They invited me to bring some music selections to play in between interviewing, so not only was I the interviewee, but I got to be the DJ, too!  You can listen to the whole thing here.

Today I was live on TV.  WMBB News 13 had me on their morning and midday show.  I even did some paper-cutting on air.  Here is one of the segments from the morning show.

And here is a shot of me and Greg Sherrod from the midday show.

 This year I made some holiday cards to send to a few people.  What did I make? Why, hand-cut paper cards, of course!

Happy Winter Solstice!

And finally, here is a sneak peak of the last new paper-cut until the opening:

It will be somewhat large (for a paper-cut) at 15"x30."  The image is just of a small detail, taken of the back of the piece, from an angle.

The opening is one week from tomorrow!  ACK!  WOO!

Self-Promotion in Blogland

I have been promoting my solo exhibit at Studio b. so much lately I'm quite sick of talking about myself.  I can't wait for the opening, but it will be nice when it's over and I can shut up for a little while and just make art.  They say in order to make a living off of your art you should spend half of your time making the art and HALF of your time promoting it.  That thought is very scary to many artists, including myself.  "You mean I have to talk about myself?  To... people???"  It makes sense, though.  I suppose we can't expect to just make art all day long and have it magically sell.  We have to make people actually AWARE that it even exists in the first place.

So here I am, blogging so that you are aware that I am here, making art, that could one day belong to you.  I have enjoyed blogging for more reasons than just mere self-promotion.  It creates a connection between myself and people interested in my art.  I can give a further understanding of the thought process and technical process that goes into each piece of art.  I'm always so interested to hear people's thoughts on my blog posts.  People I don't even know check the blog regularly and will walk up to me and we can have a real conversation about art.

Basically, the blog helps in the connection between artist and viewer.  It is so easy to just create art and forget about how people will receive it.  Or maybe I'll assume it will be interpreted one way, only to find out that there are other very interesting interpretations that can help to feed my future concepts.

Of course, nothing beats a one-on-one, but the blog can be the beginning of that conversation.

At the beginning of the opening at Studio b. I will hold an Artist Talk and then a Question and Answer segment.  Come to the opening and join in on the conversation.

I created a Facebook event for the opening.  All the info is there.  Check it out and click "attend" if you plan on coming!  

And last but not least, here is another teaser of a paper-cut I finished yesterday.  The whole piece is 11"x14" but this is just a tiny part of it.

Start a conversation: leave a comment.

How to get to Studio b.

For those of you who have never been to Studio b. but would like to attend the opening ("I Cut Paper: Art by Heather Clements" at Studio b. Opening December 30, 7-10pm,) I will give you...

Directions to Studio b:

*UPDATE* Studio b. is in the process of moving locations.  It is no longer located here!

Coming from Panama City/Panama City Beach:

• Head West on Highway 98.
• Not long after you pass Phillip's Inlet Bridge and St. Helen State Park...
• Turn Left at the light onto Highway 30A.
• Pass Rosemary Beach and Seacrest (and possibly some other small towns)
• Once you enter Alys Beach you'll see:

 

• White towers and the road lined with Egyptian Palm Trees.
• Turn right onto N. Charles St.
• You'll see Fonville Press, and a parking lot behind it.
• Studio b. is across the street from Fonville Press and the parking lot.
• The address is 30 N. Charles St., Alys Beach, FL. 

• (I must warn you, it is not easy to find this address on the internet, so don't rely only on your smart phone or GPS!)

Here is a map of 30A towns:

 And here is a map drawn by yours truly to help you find Studio b.!

*UPDATE* Studio b. is in the process of moving locations.  It is no longer located here!

Paper Jewelry

This past week I have been working more on paper jewelry.  I gotta say, I never thought I would be making jewelry.  I simply don't care much for most jewelry.  I have 2 or 3 necklaces and one bracelet that I may wear on a fancy occasion, but that's about it.  But the idea to make paper jewelry was just too tempting.  After making a few necklaces and earrings, I can't wait for a fancy enough occasion to wear some.  There's something about that crisp white, and the transparency of the open areas that is just so appealing to me.  Of course, I am just plain in love with paper-cutting, so I guess this comes as no surprise.  I do think that these would be appealing to others who may not have quite the same paper art obsession.  I'll be selling some at the opening at Studio b. so we will just have to wait and see!  After that I'll most likely have some available to sell at my etsy shop.

(No, I am not obsessed with myself, I'm simply the most available and convenient model.  But I promise some day I will get someone much better suited for this to model some paper jewelry!)

The necklaces have clasps in the back.  The "chain" (for lack of a better word, maybe someone could help me out with that) is made out of a crocheted line of upholstery thread.

People who buy these must be aware of the fragile nature.  It is PAPER, so try not to wear any in the rain, try not to bend them (as in, don't throw them in a jewelry box to be smushed by everything else,) and try not to touch them in excess as the oils from your fingers may yellow the paper over time.  Jewelry is often very fragile, so the extra fragility of these paper pieces, I think, adds some to the appeal.

Would you wear paper jewelry?

A Sneak Peek and a Visitor Map

December has arrived!  My opening at Studio b. is less than a month away!  Last night I finished a small paper cut.  The day before I finally finished my large 30"x40" paper cut.  And I just can't wait to get to cutting again.  Here is a little sneak peek detail of the latest 5"x7" paper cut.  To see the whole thing you'll just have to come out to the opening!

The latest Panama City Visitor's Map has come out.  I have created the painting for the cover for 5 years now.  That's amazing because I haven't even lived here 5 years... I'm not sure how that makes sense, but oh well!  I have also been painting the cover for the Beach map for the past few years.  These babies are in most stores in the area, featuring, as they call it, the "shortcut to the good stuff."

This month I'll be working extra hard.  Here's what will take up most of my time:

• Making as much new art as possible for the solo show.
• Promoting the solo show.
• Hand-making all holiday gifts for friends and family.
• Hanging the show.

So if you would like to learn how you can help me promote, please feel free to contact me! 

Dog Portrait Commission

Commissions help keep an artist alive, in that they help pay for a roof over the head and food.  In addition to the practical, they can be such fun!  I completed a portrait last week of two little girls that I can't post just yet.  The portrait is a secret gift to be given for the holidays, so I must wait to post the images until the gift has been received.  This week I had a really fun little portrait to do of a cute little dude named Magnum.  That's right, I do dog portraits, too.  It is acrylic on 8"x10" canvas.  When creating a portrait it helps to have such an attractive subject.

This is my first quick little iMovie project.  I took photos of the progress of this painting and created a little video.  Here it is:

                            



Please contact me if you are interested in a portrait of your little (or big) dog, cat, or whatever!

The New 'Art' Page

As you may have noticed, I have been adding more content to the blog via the tabs at the top.  You can now view my artist statement, bio, resume, etsy shop, contact info, and finally... my art!  Thanks to Gavin you can now see a slideshow of my art.  Simply click on the 'Art' tab above and see for yourself!  It may take a little while to load but I promise it's worth the wait!

I am so close to being done with my large paper cut.  Maybe another hour of cutting and then it's time to figure out what to do with the background.  I will also need to make a TON of spacers for this one to be able to float.  Here are a couple more teasers:

The green grid behind the piece is just my self-healing cutting board - a must have for paper cutting.  These views are also of the back side of the piece.  I draw the sketch on the back of the paper and cut from the back.  The cuts are always much cleaner looking on the opposite side you cut from.

I will be teaching a paper cutting workshop for Panama City Artists this Saturday.  That's right, I'll be giving away some of my secrets at this workshop.  To see more info, go here.

Thanks for reading!

Extra Large Paper Cut Progress

As I mentioned a couple of posts ago, I won't be posting any full images of my latest artwork until after my solo show, "I Cut Paper" at Studio b (opening and artist lecture is December 30th.)  But I can post some teasers!

Below you will see how large my next paper cut will be.  It will be 30"x40".  The paper you see below will actually be trimmed about 1-2 inches on all sides, but it's still pretty darn big!

Progress...

I'm less than halfway through this piece, already 10 hours in, and I'm suuuuper happy with how it's turning out.  My art never turns out exactly how I pictured it (which is the same for just about every artist) but sometimes it turns out even better than I imagined it.  I don't know if that speaks positively towards my artistic skills or negatively for my imagination skills, but either way it's always a pleasant surprise when it happens!

Super-Villian: The Paper Cutter!

Halloween is my favorite holiday because it's the most creative.  It brings out creativity in many people who may not realize how much they have.  I love making costumes and I love seeing other people's hand-made costumes.

This year my Halloween costume is a super-villian... The Paper Cutter!  It's an inside joke, but if you're reading the blog then you probably get it.  I cut paper... HA!

It only took me a couple of hours yesterday to create this awesome costume.

And my awesome boyfriend, Mat, decided to be PAPER to go along with my costume.  He made his costume and it looks great!  We went to a party and of course the people who don't know my art didn't get mine, but EVERYBODY got Mat's.  He even brought a bunch of markers so that people could write on the paper throughout the night.

We're such dorks and I love it.

Happy Halloween!

Solo Exhibit at Studio b. Getting Closer...

It's just over two months away...  My solo exhibit at Studio b. called "I Cut Paper: Art by Heather Clements."  I am honored to be chosen for a solo exhibit at the beautiful and amazing Studio b.  I have been with Studio b. since the beginning and what better way to celebrate than with a solo show?  The opening and artist talk will be Friday, December 30th so mark your calendars now!!!  Here is the poster:

In anticipation of this show, I will not be posting any more full images of new artwork.  I may post some detail shots as teasers, but I want people to see some completely new works when they come to the opening!

I CAN NOT WAIT for this!  Please share this with others and invite your friends to attend the opening.

Thanks for reading and I hope to see you on December 30th!

Escape - Paper Cut

Here is the latest paper cut art.

*SOLD*
"Escape" by Heather Clements.  11"x14" paper cut.

It is called "Escape" and the frame is 11"x14".  It is in a transparent, floating frame.

This piece depicts a plant in our yard.  It was previously trimmed and manicured to attempt to control its shape into somewhat of a sphere.  We have decided to let the land that is legally our property return to its natural state.  Many of our neighbors may think we are lazy or apathetic as our yard grows tall weeds.  In time, though, the land will grow thick enough with more permanent plants to a more beautiful and natural state.  This piece, to me, represents the earth beginning to make new growth after years of mistreatment.

It represents hope.

Paper Necklaces and Fun with Kids

Last Friday was the opening for 'Figure It Out' at Studio b. The exhibit showcases over 150 drawings from many talented artists. As the instructor for figure drawing classes at Studio b. I was proud to attend the opening. But what to wear? I had the idea to create a paper art necklace and I think it turned out great. There was a model (clothed) and easels set up for people to draw during the opening.  Here is a photo of me drawing, and one of me instructing, per request.

Here is the second necklace I made:

This is my "Oh, I can't believe how beautiful this necklace makes me feel!" shot.  

Cheese-factor intentional.

Once I get the clasping method down I plan on making more of these and having them available for sale at CityArts Cooperative, Studio b. and online at my etsy shop.  I'm excited about the possibilities of wearable art.  I think the paper medium and the subject of nature in the form of jewelry represents the delicacy of the natural world.  

And last but not least, here are some shots from my kids art class at CityArts Cooperative!  This was a 2-week project of paper-mache birds!  The cardboard and paper scraps were recycled, and the paper-mache mix was all natural!  The kids really loved this project!

Kids Art Classes at CityArts Cooperative (in downtown Panama City) are every Tuesday from 4-5:30pm.  $15 each class or sign up for 8 weeks and pay only $100 ($12.50 a class.)  Ages 7-12.

Learning More Art Biz

This professional artist thing isn't exactly the easiest gig.  Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining, I love what I do.  It's just not as simple as many other jobs where you simply do what you're 'supposed' to do.  I have to figure it all out for myself.  Or so I thought.  As professional artist, I am also a business owner.  That means I am not only an artist, but the accountant, the PR manager, the graphic designer, the secretary, and more.  I have been doing pretty well, well enough to make a living.  That, I think, is a huge accomplishment.  But when my wrist was sprained and I wasn't able to make artwork, it gave me a chance to think about the business.  I've just been learning as I go, picking up what works here and there.  I decided it was time to see what other people have learned in more years of experience.  So I picked up a couple of books.  The first one I borrowed was from the 90's and seriously said, "You may want to consider the possibility of owning a computer." and "Did you know that artists can now save images of their art on CD's?"  So while that book did have a lot of valuable information, I needed one that was more up-to-date.  After a lot of research I found the book for me:  "I'd Rather Be In the Studio: The Artist's No Excuse Guide to Self-Promotion."  I'm only halfway through this book and it has already been extremely helpful.  I'm taking tons of notes and already putting certain tips into action.  I have a head-start on a lot of things in these books, but there's always room for improvement.  I'm not trying to get rich (because who needs that?) I'm just trying to get my art to reach more people and places, while making a comfortable living.  So if you're an artist trying to make a living, I highly suggest this book.

A lot has happened this week.  Here are some not-so-weekly examples:

• Mat's parents let us have their beautiful piano in our house!
• That piano got tuned!
• I got a MacBook Pro!  Holy crap, this is long overdue, I've been using an oooooold slooooow PC for tooooo looooong.  It got to the point where a 5 minute task could take an hour and a half, so I finally gave in and got a new computer.
• I met with Colleen Duffley, owner of Studio b. to solidify some details about my solo exhibit that opens there December 30th.  (More info soon to come!)
• The opening for "Figure it Out" at Studio b. is tonight!  It is an exhibit of all figurative works.  I have some work in there along side many talented artists.
• I finished the painting for the next Panama City Visitor's Map.  I can't show you the whole thing, you will have to wait until the map comes out.  I can show you a tiny little detail as a teaser, though!

Thanks for following!

Catching Butterflies - Paper Cut

I started this piece over 3 weeks ago and had to stop working on it because of my sprained wrist.  I finally got to finish it yesterday!  This piece also fits in with my ecocide series.

 It is called "Catching Butterflies" and measures 19 1/2" x 9 1/2".

I like using little girls as the subject for these dark little narratives.  The little girl is not only an ironic bad-guy (which I think adds interest and intrigue) but it also represents the twisted perspectives our culture teaches to children.  At such a young age, before we understand it, we use and abuse the natural world for any little thing we please, no matter how trivial.

I believe it is our responsibility to reverse that line of thinking and teach a new way to our children.  Teach them that the Earth is not there for us to decide what lives and what dies, but as an amazing and beautiful thing to be in awe of.

Speaking of, this bloomed in my front yard today.  This flower will only be open for one day.

Are you in awe?

Rice Paper Cut - Little Dress

In progress

With my wrist still on its way back to full strength, but my ever-growing impatience to get back to paper-cutting, I tried to find an easier way to cut paper.  I found rice paper.  Previously, I was cutting into thick watercolor paper, which is no easy task.  I thought rice paper would be so easy to cut that it would hardly strain my hand and wrist at all.  While that proved to be true, the tissue-thin paper also proved to have other difficulties.  It's as thin and delicate as tissue paper!  It rips, it ripples, and heck, it will even fly away at the slightest breeze.  I'm not sure if I'll be working with it again in the future, but I am still pleased with the results of this piece.

It's called, "Little Dress" and is framed to 9"x7."

Do you like it?  What does it make you think of?  What are your thoughts on this piece?  I'd love to hear your thoughts so comment away!

You will also notice that I've added some tabs to the top of the blog.  Feel free to check them out!