"Human Nature" Opening!

33 pieces of art. Hundreds of hours of work, ranging from a few hours to 50 hours of work per piece. Small watercolors, hand-cut paper, layered cut paper over drawings, pencil drawings and black and white charcoal drawings on toned paper. The human figure. Leaves, branches, buds, shadows, images curving around the form on skin. Dense leaves and branches are seen in the shadows of a face. Eyes, arms, hairs, wrinkles, freckles, pores. This is the culmination of years of art in my current solo show called "Human Nature."

Friday, January 30th was the artist lecture and opening reception. It was a day I had been working toward for many months. It started at 3:45am, to be at the exhibit by 4:30am, to be on the news several times for the 5am and 6am shows. Then home to practice my artist talk one last time. Then back to the college, then talk for 45 minutes with large images projected behind me, in front of a full room of students, teachers, and others, then 20 minutes or so of questions and answers. Then home to relax a bit. Then change and back to the college, Gulf Coast State College, to the Amelia Center Main Gallery (a really beautiful gallery space, by the way) for my opening reception.

And at the risk of sounding too proud: it was a hit. The gallery was full the entire reception. The words "thank you!" poured out of my mouth so much the words seemed to pale in comparison to my gratitude. My gratitude was for people just showing up, for the compliments on my art, and for the recognition of all my hard work.

I'm humbled.

I'm grateful.

Seeing most of my recent works up on the clean gallery walls is satisfying. It's not often you get to see a giant room full of the results of hundreds of hours of work. I like to see the works next to each other, across from each other, and how they interact and build off of one another.

It also makes me feel a bit vulnerable. Any time you put a piece of art on the wall it can make you feel vulnerable. You've put your heart, soul, intellect, philosophies, years of experience and learning, and many hours of work into a piece of art. It's a piece of you, up on the wall, for anybody to see and judge. And a solo show is a full room of that.

I am so completely honored that I was asked to have this solo show at the Amelia Center Gallery. I have seen so many amazing works of art there from accomplished artists, national as well as international, and I am beyond honored to have my art hang on the same walls.

My sincerest thanks to all who came, all who have shared the exhibit with others, all who are buying art, and to all who have been supportive of my artistic endeavors over the years.

The exhibit is up until February 19th. The gallery hours are Monday through Thursday, 10am-4pm, or by appointment.

Now for some photos!

A quick snap of the crowd gathering before my artist talk:

People shots during the opening reception:

When I realized a lot of the models for my art in the exhibit would be at the opening, I made it my goal to get photos with all of them and the art of them:

Then a couple buyers who I borrowed art from wanted in on the fun!

And I caught Carrie doing this right next to the newest drawing of her:

Near the end of the opening, and the end of a very long day for me, I started the trend of sitting on the floor.

 Thanks for visiting my blog!

-Heather

Art for Music and Old Friends

Recently a few of my friends from high school in Virginia asked me if I would create a piece of art for their band's next album cover.  Excited at the opportunity for collaboration and creating a piece inspired by specific music, I said yes.  

Their band is called "The Silent Few" and their upcoming album (releasing in early 2013) will be called "Distance." I was so impressed with their music.  I listened to it quite a bit to get a feel for it, then a lot more for making sketches.  I let the music flow into my subconscious, and sketched intuitively.  The gears, the bird, the lines and circles, all just felt naturally fitting with the music.  To me, the paper cut captures some of the mood created by their music.  This paper cut is uniquely different from my previous ones, partially because it is not necessarily part of the same theme.  It is also different because I wanted the cut to be more closely related to the free-flowing sketch.  This is also the first paper cut that has a stronger emphasis on background color.  I played around with watercolors and masking fluid to create an atmosphere for the paper cut to live within.

Here is their website where you can listen to a few of their songs: www.thesilentfew.com

And here is the paper cut:

"Silent Few" hand-cut paper, 12"x12", 2012, by Heather Clements

Here it is with cut-out words added for the album:

A shot of the paper cut in progress:

"The Silent Few" process shot, hand-cut paper.

My very loose sketches reacting to the music:

And some detail shots of the finished piece:

 This will actually be the second album featuring my art as a cover.  Earlier this year, the band Honeylark from Oklahoma City, licensed an image of my art to use for their next album cover and merchandise.  My art is even the main image on their website!  Once that album is out, I will post an image of it.  Until then, click on the link and check out their music!

Inspiration Source #9:  Elsa Mora.  I think I owe my start in fine art paper cutting to Elsa Mora, and my friend Carrie.  Shortly after I finished creating 350+ paper flowers for the Visual Arts Center, Carrie sent me a link to Elsa Mora's blog about paper cutting.  I fell head-over-heels in love with the medium, and with Elsa's work.  Here is one of her cuts, my favorite by her:

Her website about paper art: All About Paper Cutting

Her main blog: Elsa Mora

Thank you for the visit!

-Heather

Hibiscus Silkscreen Print and A Commitment Celebration

For a while I have wanted to create a silkscreen print of one of my papercuts.  The stark black and white lends itself well to crossing over to the medium of printmaking.  I chose to make prints of the image of "Hibiscus: Delicate Beauty."  This was a small run, each print is 11"x14", and just $35.  Contact me if you would like one!

For this print, I used drawing fluid to paint the image onto the screen.  Here is a shot of the process:

On a more personal note, Mat and I had our Commitment Celebration!  All the decorations were made out of.... you guessed it, paper cuts!  We were fortunate enough to have gorgeous weather.  That day was absolutely beautiful, and truly one of the happiest days of my life.  Really.  We were so happy to be able to share our love with our closest friends and family.  Here are just a few photos:

 

Photo by Desiree Gardner

Photo by Jef Logsdon

Photo by Desiree Gardner

Photo by Desiree Gardner

Photo by Desiree Gardner

Photo by Desiree Gardner

Thank you for stopping by!

-Heather

Portrait Gift

Last week my awesome friend Jessi got married.  We've been close friends since the 6th grade.  We even moved to Florida together.  I had the honor of being her maid of honor.  I wanted to give her and Drew something special, so I gave them this drawing:

Their wedding was beautiful and the reception was a blast.  I'm so happy for both of them.  I hope they enjoy their gift!

Oh, and this has little to do with an art blog but I am IN LOVE with this picture of all of us!  We wanted to do a cheesy emo CD cover shot and the photographer, Andrew Wardlow, made it even more amazing than I had imagined it could be!

Well, that's all I've got for now because I've been swamped with the secret commission.  But don't worry, the secret shall be revealed soon!

Home is Where the Art is

I know, cheesy title, huh?  But for me it's true.  I don't feel at home unless there's art on the walls.  That's also why there's nice layering in drawing places in a home.

A couple days ago I returned from visiting my friend in Pennsylvania.  I am happy to report that she is fantastic.  She looks great, and in spite of her first chemo treatment was able to go out and have a good time.  Upon first seeing her I said, "You look amazing!  You don't look at all like you have cancer!"  I admire her positive attitude soooo much.  Last night I had a dream that I had cancer.  I was dying and the self-pity was so overwhelming that all I could do was cry.  This is not the case with Steph.  Not only is she going to live a long and happy life, but she isn't letting cancer change who she is.  She's still funny with a great sense of humor about her situation.  Fuck cancer.

Somehow this relates back to the beginning of this post about homes.  Steph and her family made us feel very at home there so here is a drawing of a piece of their studio art/music room.

No, I didn't finish drawing the pattern on the rug.  It was confusing and messing with my brain.  And as I wrote a few pages earlier in what a friend called 'a conversation with myself,' "Shut up.  It's a sketchbook.  I can be lazy if I want."

And here is a drawing from some months ago of a piece of my happy little home in the Cove.

(a detail)

In Pennsylvania with Friends

Right now I am in Pennsylvania visiting my good friend.  She is my age, 25, and was recently diagnosed with cancer.  Therefore a super-fun visit was in order!  Thus far the visit is living up to that name.

I'll post more about the visit when I return next week.  Right now I'll just give a sketchbook page from before I left:

From left to right: Charlie, Mat, Frankie

And oh yeah, the pen bled a lot so Mat's face turned into a Zombie.  This is extra funny because he is EXTREMELY afraid of Zombies.  No joke, we have to keep a claw-hammer by the bed.

And here is the sign I painted that will go outside of the co-op door to represent me!