More African Drawings Created on Site at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Who were the Heroic Africans?

by Miriam Schulman, @schulmanArt

 

Painting of Afukwa, African Queen

Memorial head of Afukwa

An African terracotta sculpture inspired this watercolor painting. I viewed the sculpture as part of a special exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art titled "Heroic Africans." The exhibition takes a look at sculptural traditions from West and Central Africa created between the twelfth and early twentieth centuries and pulls together works from all over the world never before brought to an American audience. This Memorial head of Afukwa was part of a mother daughter commissioned work. I especially liked the futuristic look of the terracotta which depicted the African Princess in a robotic fashion reminiscent of a Tim Burton character. I made the drawing on site by standing in front of the glass display case with my watercolor sketch pad and a charcoal pencil I had nabbed from the drop in drawing session that was going on. The drop in drawing session in front of the Turkish carpets was fun, but so crowded I was asked to give up my stool after 30  minutes. The watercolors I added back in the studio and you can see that the colors were of my own design.

Head of an Oba, An African King

Bronze Head of an Oba

There are many portrait busts of African Kings and leaders on display. The Kings, or "Oba", commissioned the highest skilled artisans to craft the bronze sculptures. When the King died the first task of the newly appointed King, who was the first born son, was to create a memorial bust of his father to be placed on the palace altar. Although the art was usually created posthumously, the sculptures always depicted the kings during the prime of their life. This particular bronze sculpture is from present day Nigeria. Unfortunately records no longer exist to connect which King each bronze sculpture represented.

Tribal Art from Commemorative Throne

 I was very excited by the wooden commemorative thrones on display, These totem like thrones were carved from wood and were large and imposing rising more than life size. I loved the animated faces of the kings and queens on display. By this time my stolen pencil was beginning to dull but I had bought an overpriced pencil sharpener at the museum gift shop that allowed me to keep going. My routine was to alternate sharpening my pencil while I listened to the audio guide and sketching the compelling sculptures. I would love to return to the exhibit with a box of pre-sharpened pencils and do justice to all the magnificent African art on display. I am glad this exhibit continues through January so I can get back there when this busy holiday season wanes.

Decorating inspiration:

A set of Three African Paintings add a global touch to a modern brown and blue bedroom

Where in the world will you be this holiday season??

Heroic Africans: Legendary Leaders, Iconic Sculptures

Drawing at the Metropolitan Museum

by Miriam Schulman, @schulmanArt

Set of 4 African Paintings

This art was drawn from a special exhibition titled "Heroic Africans" which takes a look at sculptural traditions from West and Central Africa created between the twelfth and early twentieth centuries. I brought my watercolor sketch pad into the gallery on a friday night and sketched from seven different sculptures on display. The room view here shows four from that series. I also listened to the audio guide while drawing. One of the guards who noticed what I was doing came over to compliment my drawing which is always a thrill to have people appreciate my work and the artistic process.

African Woman	Priestess
Oba King, African art	African King, Tribal Art

The original charcoal drawings were painted with watercolor back in my studio. The tribal wall art has a wonderful abstract quality giving it a modern sophistication. I added texture to the watercolor painting to add to the visual appeal.The dominant colors in these artworks are blue, and coffee brown but some paintings have tones of jade green and other glowing earth tones. 

These abstract interpretations would look great in your house and complement your modern global home decor.

See the exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum: 

Heroic Africans: Legendary Leaders, Iconic Sculptures 

exhibition through thru January 29, 2012

Romantic French Accessory Designer:

Julie Gautier of Jolie Jye

by Miriam Schulman, @schulmanArt.

etsy : http://www.etsy.com/shop/Joliejye

SchulmanArt: How does your roots influence you as a designer?
Julie Gautier: I was born in a little countryside town 125 miles outside of Paris. Now I live between Paris and my city of birth. Of course Paris is so much better to live as an artist!

SchulmanArt: How long have you been designing clothes?
Julie Gautier: When I was young, I drew dresses for my dolls. I've created my first website to show off my creations when I was 16.  I'm now 26 and still doing the same: designing one of a kind accessories and outfits for women, and still follow my inspirations to offer people my knowledge. I've chosen the name Jye© for my art when I was 15. I am proud to still design under this brand now.

blog : http://joliejye.blogspot.com

SchulmanArt: Where did you study art and design?
Julie Gautier: I am a self-taught artist. I've taken some art class but never enjoyed to stay in the lines. I've learned sewing from my mother's skills. She's a wonderful seamstress.

SchulmanArt: What are your inspirations?
Julie Gautier: My inspiration comes from nature. I love natural fabrics like silk or cotton and natural pigments. I also love the French glamor from the 50's, with all those polka dot prints. Creating modern vintage with true vintage materials is usually my goal. Japan has been a huge inspiration for me too. I enjoy integrating origami into the sewing. The folds enhances the fabric with special reflections which I love so much.

ALittleMarket

SchulmanArt: What routines do you have to get ready to create?
JG: I prefer creating in silence. It's better for my concentration. I love music, but I really can't be disturbed or my inspiration disappears! I gather all my materials, check my fabrics, take my favorites, start to think... And I have some kind of flash which makes me see what I'm going to create.

SchulmanArt: What is your studio space like?
JG: I work at home. From the window I can see our garden, the autumn shades on trees, some sunlight which is coming in. I love to see the nature when I create, it gives me motivation and inspiration. 

facebook fan page : http://www.facebook.com/jye.france

Schulman:  Do you come from a creative family?
JG: My family is very creative. My brother is a great artist who's doing paint and photography. My mother is as I've said a great seamstress. My father is good at drawing. My husband draws a little too, and he's so good at photography. He's the one who takes pictures of my creations !

Schulman: Who is your customer?
JG: I especially love to create for brides. They are always looking to be unique on the most beautiful day of their life. I am here to answer all of their expectations with correct measurements for accessories or lingerie. 

When a customer tells me he is happy with my creation, that means a lot for me, that even makes my inspiration growing. I really care of my customer's happiness and try to offer them the best service, because everyone's unique.



mentioned in this article @joliejye

How many black friday emails did you get?

Well here is one more

by Miriam Schulman, @schulmanArt

The Black Friday COUPON is..."BLACKFRIDAY" in my etsy store only for 15% off!!!

Did everyone have a good thanksgiving? I passed out at 7:00 last night and slept till this morning. THe shopping and running around were a lot...but worth it as always. The food was delicious and I am happy to have my family in my warm home. My BlackBerry was buzzing all night with black friday deals and as much as I hate to dewluge you with one more I don't want you to miss out on a deal on great art for decorating your home this season or gifts for your family.

A few gift ideas....

Gifts for your Grandma in Florida:

Flamingo Art

Florida is the land of flamingos--- no matter how many tchotchkes she has, she always has room for one more. A beautiful flamingo painting is one of a kind and perfect for the bright colors in the south.

Gifts for a fashionista:

Watercolor Fashion Illustration of Alexander McQueen

Heard of Alexander McQueen? Well even if you haven't, she has! your teenage daughter will flip over a painting of one of his creations. Check out this painting of the Super model Shalom Harlow, or one of the many other fashion illustrations I have for sale.

Who is on your list??

Gratitude is an art...

Happy Thanksgiving!

by Miriam Schulman, @schulmanArt,

Gratitude is an art of painting an adversity into a lovely picture.  ~Kak Sri

My childhood wasn't perfect but from adversity I have made myself a wonderful life with my husband and children and my carer as an artist. I am so grateful to my family and the gifts within myself.

Original Abstract Landscape Tree Art

About the artwork: I love creating the abstract shapes and drawing with pencil on the paper.The paint is applied in splashes of color for a loose "accidentally on purpose" effect where each drip and drop adds to the complexity of color and form. In this tree painting I enjoyed working with the interaction of the cobalt turquoise, viridian green and cobalt violet. The cobalt violet is a poisonous color, so I have to wash my hands carefully after splashing it around. The edges of this painting have been taped before painting to leave a raw white border of paper. My favorite element of this piece are the distant trees which are made with a collage of painted sheet music. The trees have iridescent paint that give an added glow to the landscape.

What are you grateful for?

Gratitude Turns a House into a Home

So Thankful
By Miriam Schulman, @schulmanArt


Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life.  It turns what we have into enough, and more.  It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity.  It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend.  Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow. 
~Melody Beattie

I am truly looking forward to a long weekend with my family, preparing the traditional foods, spending quality time... I have so much to be thankful for right now. My children are in a great place, my family is healthy and we have all that we need. I am looking froward to my 25th high school reunion on friday when I get to see friends from the past that mean so much to me. Now that my oldest is in high school the memories come back to me stronger than ever. I love the smells in the home of spices and apples and decorating my house.

Red Poppy Flower Painting. Original art 18x24" classic red, deep turquoise blue background, splashes of cedar green & metallic gold shimmer

This unique abstract acrylic painting on canvas depicts red poppies in a field. The poppies are red fits with tinges of metallic gold on the stems and petals. The classic reds are bright and pop against the turquoise blue background, There are also touches of cedar green in the painting. The artwork is signed without the copyright words which is a one of a kind signed piece. The sides are 3/4" thick and painted a glossy black. However, the gold crackle gold frame pictured is INCLUDED. This is a signed original one of a kind artwork using highest grade artist materials and traditional technique.

What are you looking forward to doing this holiday weekend?

An Artful Tradition in Jewish Wedding Ceremonies

Interview with Ketubah Designer Jerise Fogel

by Miriam Schulman, @schulmanArt

Ketubah available on etsy

SchulmanArt: Where are you from and where do you live now?
Jerise: I grew up in NJ, near Philadelphia, and have lived all over the US—in Michigan, Nebraska, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and New York—and for a year also in Germany. I love to travel. Currently,  I live in New York City, in
Washington Heights.

SchulmanArt: How long have you been an artist?
Jerise: Well, I have been doing art since I was very young. I took high school classes in ceramics and drawing that made a big impression on me; I took some Studio Art classes in college, and I have attended drawing sessions in most of the cities I have ever lived in, sometimes more regularly sometimes less. I keep a sketch book and love to sketch around the city. Since college and grad school, I’ve taken studio classes at Parsons School of Art and Design, and at the School of Visual Arts, both here in New York City. I have also taken quite a few calligraphy classes, some with the Society of Scribes again in NYC.

SchulmanArt: I love your Ketubahs. Could you please explain to my reader who may not be familiar with Jewish wedding customs a little bit about their history in traditional marriage ceremonies?
Jerise: Ketubahs (the plural in Hebrew is ketubot; the word basically means “written text”) are fascinating documents. They began as a simple legal contract specifying the monetary obligations of the groom, and stipulating that the groom, in accepting co-responsibility over the money and property that was being brought into the marriage by the bride, would need to pay all that back if the marriage were ended for some reason. So, basically, the ketubah was a document to protect the woman from being exploited, and from having her money and goods stolen away, should her husband leave her, or should she want to get out of the marriage. It was very progressive in its time. Modern Orthodox and Conservative ketubah texts stick fairly closely to this original idea of the contract; modern Reform ketubah texts vary widely—some sounding very contract-like, and others talking more about emotional and spiritual support and partnership. Many couples write their own ketubah texts, and you can even take classes in how to do this in such a way as to satisfy your tradition’s legal requirements.

SchulmanArt: How did you learn ketubah design? What special skills do you need?
Jerise:  I had always admired those old papercut designs that one sees in books and museums. With that in mind,  I tried something rather intricate, and delicate, with paper and an exacto knife, for someone who asked me whether I would do their ketubah for them. Trees are a lovely subject for this kind of thing, and I’ve always liked drawing from nature, so that part was pretty natural. I had also worked with stencils and screenprint, so that helped my design sense. I had practiced and sometimes studied calligraphy since I was a teenager, and developing my skill with Hebrew letters is an ongoing project for me—those are really the two essentials, text-wise. I have a background in Greek, Latin, some ancient Hebrew, and several other languages, which always helps.

drop in and chat on her blog!

SchulmanArt: What music do you listen to while creating?
Jerise: I don’t have too many art rituals—unless making coffee counts! I tend to listen to Joan Baez, or sometimes k.d. lang (Hymns of the 49th Parallel), when I’m cutting designs out; my other favorites are: Kateryna Kolcova (her CD “Karev Yom (Day is Near)” is amazing), the Klezmatics (anything!), Bustan,  Jane Siberry, Simon & Garfunkel, John Denver (sorry, it’s true, don’t laugh!), Sweet Honey in the Rock (especially Sacred Ground and B’lieve I’ll Run On), Chopin (Études), the Indigo Girls, and the Chieftains (San Patricio).

SchulmanArt: What is your studio space like? 

Jerise: I live in a one bedroom apartment, and the bedroom is my studio (I sleep out in the living room on a futon). It’s in transition from a messy space to a more organized space. Right now, there’s a lot of paper around, but when I get cleared up more I will let my cats come back in and hang out in the armchair or on the windowsill as I work, which makes me calm. 

The view is not much to look at—I look out onto an inner courtyard of the apartment building—but there is a really nice time around 3pm every day when sunlight floods the space and makes me very happy. And I love my pretty fire escape latticework.

www.jerise.com

SchulmanArt: What is your most popular item other than the Ketubahs?
Jerise: My Obama-in-Yiddish t-shirt has been selling well lately as well as holiday-related, or anniversary-related cards. I have a little papercut card that says “I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine” in Hebrew, with little trees on either side, that people tend to like a lot. In addition, my NYC Sketch Calendar for 2012 is doing very well.

SchulmanArt:  Do you do Bar Mitzvah invitations or anything Bar Mitzvah related?

Jerise: I love custom work, so I have done Bar and Bat Mitzvah invites and artwork, and would always be happy to do that again.

To commission Jerise for your wedding or special event, please contact her at

Jerise Fogel
Lettering & Artwork
jerise@jerise.com
+01.212.923.1416

A Passion for Details brings a House to Life

House Portrait Made to Order with all the Trimmings

by Miriam Schulman, @schulmanArt

Order your House Painting from Photo!

The fun and the challenge of creating art commissions is delivering to the client exactly what they imagine. When I am given a detailed photo and asked to copy it exactly my work is straight forward and easy. In the digital age, you would think my work would be made easier but now that everyone  has cameras on their cell phones and pictures from the internet can be easily downloaded from facebook I am quite often handed a photo that is very small in size so that when I try to print it out large enough to see the details the image is pixelated. This was the case with my most recent commission. The client did have many other high resolution photos of the details so i was able to add them in. in addition to the challenge of a blurry photo the client also wanted me to add in loons ( not in the photos), a red boat ( not in photo), flowers, her dog and a flag. Oh boy. But in the end, I rose to the challenge.

First, I showed her the drawing to make sure I had all the details that she wanted....

Work in in Progress photo of House Portrait

 Once the drawing was established and approved I breathed a little easier because the painting is the most relaxing and enjoyable part of the portrait process when the magic of color bring the house alive. The client loved the finished painting so much that she plans to use the painting on her holiday cards this year. I enjoyed working on this but I do hope that my next commission has a better starting digital image!

Picasso Painted Watercolors

Reinventing Tradition: Picasso at the Frick

by Miriam Schulman, @schulmanArt~

Nudes in a Forest
Paris, spring 1908
Watercolor, gouache, and graphite on wove paper
Philadelphia Museum of Art

Picasso loved to draw. The Frick Collection currently has an amazing exhibition that chronicles the development of Picasso's drawings, from academic life drawings done when he was eight through maturity of his modern style. The Frick has more than fifty works on display in their downstairs galleries and the upstairs annex. Highlights include radical innovations of cubism and collage and watercolors that look forward to his Avignon. The exhibit is filled with never before exhibited works which are framed magnificently. When you think of drawings you think of black and white line drawings but many of the "drawings" on display have gouache and watercolor which make them truly paintings and delight the eyes and senses.

Nudes in a Forest
Paris, early 1908
Gouache, watercolor, and pencil on paper
The Museum of Modern Art

During the week timed tickets are available and are included with the museum admission. On Sunday until 1pm the museum is pay what you wish and there are no timed tickets until 1pm. On our visit we arrived at 12:30 and waited for about 20 minutes. The show was delightful, and worth the wait. If you don't mind waiting in line. After your visit, head over to Madison Avenue and wait in line at LADURÉE for their famous airy macaroons. The little shop has a line out the door since its write up a few weeks ago in the New York Times

Picasso's Drawings, 1890–1921: Reinventing Tradition
through January 8, 2012 at the Frick Collection, 70th and Fifth Ave, NYC

Tradition of Turkish Knit Design

Thankful for Mother's Gifts

new blog post by @schulmanArt

 

Become Sule's fan on facebook

SchulmanArt: How do you feel your roots influence you as a designer?
Sule:  I live in Istanbul, the most crowded and magnificent city of Turkey. My name is Sule.  Our shop name is “Bysweetmom”, inspired from our Sweet creative MOM. We opened our  shop with “my sweet mom.” My mom is not familiar with computers so I manage our shop. Knitting has a long history in my country, sometimes we use ethnic motifs in our designs.

Follow Sule's Blog

SchulmanArt: Who taught you how to knit?

Sule: Of course my sweet mom. When I was a child, I was watching her while she was sewing, knitting, crocheting or creating  something new . 

She can’t sit without doing anything and I am my mother's daughter.

I learned lots of thing from her and still learning…

Tweet her @bysweetmom

SchulmanArt: What are your inspirations? 

Sule: Inspiration can come from everywhere, whatever is around us. Fashion and nature also play big roles. We really love creating our own designs, there are many of our original designs in our shop

            
SchulmanArt: What is your most popular item?

Sule: My afghan ponchos and my fingerless flowered are the most popular. Sought after colors of 2012 are black, dark blue, purple, brown and green . Leather and fur are so trendy…

SchulmanArt:How much of the day do you devote to knitting?

Sule: I am usually knitting or crocheting while watching movies, usually 3-5 hours a day sometimes whole day. I am a professional besides having a shop on Etsy.

Why are you thankful for your family?

Pet Portrait Presents

It's raining cats and dogs!

by Miriam Schulman, @schulmanArt.

Commission your own Pet Portrait or Buy this Cat Print!

This brown tabby cat sits on top of a white wrapped Christmas present with a red bow. She was the apple of her mother's eye and climbed into every box that ever came into the house. Her daughter commissioned me and sent me a darling photo of the cat to surprise her mother with a pet portrait of her sweet "Louise" for Christmas. If you have a darling pet that graces your life, send me your photo and I will be happy to create a pet portrait just for you.

I was so happy with this watercolor that I am also offering it as a fine art print for sale. The fine art print comes matted and in an acetate sleeve gift ready to stick a bow on it. The cat lover in your life will adore this giclee of a watercolor painting. Does this cat painting remind you of your cat? Check out my other cat art.

Work in Progress photo of Double Dog Portrait

I am not bias to cats either--- the dog portraits are also coming in. Right now I am hard at work on a double dog portrait a woman has commissioned me as a gift for her friend. What better gift for a friend than man's best friend? For the black friday special you will get Free matting if you order this by November 25th midnight on etsy. Check out all my dog art on etsy.

5 Rules for Looking Good Wearing Orange

All About Orange 
by guest blogger @lindsayleboyer, Lindsay LeBoyer

Beautiful shades of orange are gracing the trees this November, but Mother Nature isn't the only one who appreciates the shade. The hottest fashion designers and decorators love it too. Orange complements nearly every complexion and can be very chic when worn right. Follow these tips and you'll be a fashion vision, not a fashion victim.

1) Tone it down

J Crew, $98

Save the florescent orange for crossing guards and opt for a burnt orange with undertones of red this fall. Deeper shades are more sophisticated and play well with other fall colors like brown and navy. This sweater from J. Crew is perfect for layering, plus the coarse texture makes any outfit more interesting.

2) Choose flattering silhouettes

Trina Turk, $111 at Bloomingdales

Avoid looking round like a pumpkin by choosing slim and elegant silhouettes. Take this dress from Trina Turk for example. Ruching at the midsection will highlight your waist, while the cowl neck reveals the perfect hint of skin. Team it with a pair of stilettos (be sure to avoid black) and you're ready to host Thanksgiving dinner.

3) Make like the runway

 

Left: Marc by Marc Jacobs f/w 11
Right: Anthropologie, $228

Take a cue from Marc Jacobs and make a statement with a vintage-inspired orange midi dress. Those not wanting to splurge can try this silk number from Anthropologie. Pair it with boyish brogues for a cool contrast of masculine and feminine.








4) Remember: Sometimes less is more

J Crew, $39.50

Even those who usually shy away from bright hues can wear orange with ease. All you need is a pop of color from a skinny belt to elevate a casual outfit. Loop this metallic leather belt through your jeans and toss on a monochromatic t-shirt for a weekend look that's both chic and wearable.

5) Don't be afraid to take a risk

Rag & Bone, $176

Daring fashionistas can take orange to another level with fashion-forward colorful jeans. Bright denim is a major trend that looks sharp when paired with a blazer or quirky when paired with a chunky knit.







What do you think? Is orange a do or a don't this season?


Lindsay LeBoyer  is an intern at Schulman Art. She writes a fashion blog called The Style Child.

Mentioned in this article:
@JCrew_Insider @shoptrinaturk @MarcJacobsIntl @Anthropologie @Rag_Bone

Handcrafted Holiday

Thank goodness for etsy

by Miriam Schulman, @schulmanArt

clothespin hand painted place cards by SugarAndPaint

Get ready to charm your family this year with  festive, hand crafted touches for your dining room. Make the conversation flow and ease the awkwardness by planning in advance where each guest sits. These adorable clothespin clip onto each napkin or place card. This is  really fun conversation piece and a great way to add a whimsical touch to your Thanksgiving  traditions! In addition, the clothespins have magnets on the back so you can use them before the holidays to keep reminders handy on your refrigerator.

Mid-Century Mod Place mats by Too Cute Custom Crafts

Instead of a formal tablecloth, show off your modern style with mod napkins and placemats. Too Cute Custom Crafts has both and it was very hard to choose just one item to feature. The modern colors and patterns will show off your style and still have a traditional autumn-time feel.

Reversible Napkins!

Dried Door Floral Wreath that lasts longer than the turkey

Greet your guests at the door with a colorful dried flower wreath that sets the tone for your holiday decor. The vivid wreath contains dozens of assorted colorful dried flowers and berries and measures 14" across.

Autumn Artwork by Schulman for Dining Room

Another great investment is original art for your dining room. This mixed media collage will coordinate with all the mid-century modern colors in the decorating scheme featured here. The trees are made with a collage of sheet music. The background is a vivid watercolor in a color block style reminiscent of Wolf Kahn and Rothko. For a limited time get free shipping on this painting using coupon code "ENCORE" in my etsy shop.

How will you decorate your home for the holidays?