DESIGN PROCESS FOR "BLUE COLLAR", ALBERS APP AND PLEIN AIR

The majority of this week was spent in the planning process of "Blue Collar".  The work will be inspired by a photo I took of our local quartz plant.  My first step was to narrow the photo down to the area I wanted to focus on.

 Storage silos at quartz plant.

The strength of these storage silos drew my attention.  Not only are they physically strong, but they represent the strength of the workers at the plant.

The piece developed slowly as I worked with both drawings and Photoshop.  I knew I wanted to include a pulley I picked up at an antique shop.  Here is the studio table:

  

Since this will be a mixed-media piece, I had to keep in account the size of the pulley in relation to the total work.  The hooked work will measure 16" X 20".  I also had to begin thoughts on how the pulley will be attached.  

  

Here is the piece drawn out on linen.  Though the pulley will not be hooked, I drew it on the design to allow for how the rest of the work would look with the pulley eventually in place.  

I sifted through colors, which were decided upon through testing various hues on Photoshop.  I wanted a variety of shades of blue for the blue collar theme.  I then added in some bright green for contrast and interest. 

   Sample page of  the fun designs you can work with on The Interaction of Color for ipad.

While on the subject of color,  The Interaction of Color by Josef Albers  is now available as an app for the ipad and includes interviews with artists, designers and others as well as the ability to switch out colors in the color plates with just the tap of a finger.  It was frustrating at first as it does take a while to figure out how to work all the features, but I find myself really liking it now.  It is amazing that we now have the technology to interact with a book.  You could also work with the actual book, rather than the app, and use construction paper for the exercises.

For the design I started with abstracted silos in the background, which the pulley will be placed against.  The design on the above left is o.k., but the pulley tends to disappear.  The design on the right uses a lighter background behind the pulley, making it stand out more.  

I had to allow for how the pulley will be attached.  A header, which will be a wood strip, was added to the top of the design and will extend behind a portion of the hooked work so screws can be attached.  The wooden header will be collaged with torn up time cards, to give a sense of factory life.  The chain will take some thought as I would like viewers to be able to turn the pulley.

There will be a decision as to using a 6 or 4-cut wool.  The 4-cut will give a smoother feel against the roughness of the pulley and allow for more abstracted detail.  I will see how this works when hooking begins.

"Red Autumn"  4X6  Lori LaBerge  plein air work 2013

The Plein Air Hooking Artists are hard at working creating pieces for the future website. Some of the artists already have two pieces done.  Membership is free and ongoing for those serious about contributing work to the site.  Please contact me at lorilaberge@gmail.com if interested in joining us. 

Enjoy the designs surrounding you, appreciate the work that went into them and have a great day.

"ROAD MOVIE' HOOKING COMPLETED, BEING INNOVATIVE, PLEIN AIR

The hooking was completed on "Road Movie" this morning.  

"Road Movie"  20 X 20  Lori LaBerge  2013

I love this!  I seem to be obsessed with the color blue lately.  The urge for a coastal trip, perhaps?  Some areas still to be worked on are tweaking the hooking, attaching the metal pieces, clipping loose wool threads and whipping the edges.    

A smaller washer, which I painted, was placed on top of a larger one.  It gives some depth and adds color on top of the larger washer.  I get the feeling of tires rolling along on the roadway from these.  It is hard to see from the photo, but the dark tweed wool on the bottom has the same shade of blue that is in the darker portion of the stripe running through it.

This weeks journal activity will be the beginning of a project.  I will be working on creating an "innovative piece" to enter into a juried show.  I see innovative as being something different (a new idea), something I haven't seen before ( a new way of working)  and that veers from tradition. 

This week I took my first step of finding a subject.  This can sometimes be overwhelming as there are so many options and the shows only theme is "innovative". 

The subject was arrived at through materials.  I found an old pulley at an antique shop a while back and have been waiting for an idea to use it.  From the pulley came the idea of the working class.  The piece will be titled "Blue Collar".  I pulled blue wool from the studio shelf and while searching through my box of metals found two sizes of chains.  

I know I will use the chain over the pulley somehow.  I will also use a photo of our local quartz plant as inspiration for the work.  The next week will be spent putting this idea together.

The Quartz Company in Spruce Pine, NC

Try some of your own innovations.  Ideas could include choosing an odd subject, using different materials than you would normally see hooked, putting materials together in an unexpected way or adding various embellishments.  You may wish to simply work on the design process in your journal or you may choose to hook a piece.  Be creative!  There are no rules here.

The "Plein Air Hooking Artists" is in the works.  I will be working on planning out the website tomorrow.  I have listed the idea under the group section of the TIGHR (The International Guild of Handhooking Rugmakers) website.  If you are a member of TIGHR please take a look and see if you would be interested in joining.  If you are not a member, think about joining.  It is a great way to keep in contact with other rug hookers, exchange ideas and view some amazing work.

    "Autumn's Start"  4 X 6  Lori LaBerge  2013

Membership is free and will be ongoing.  If you are interested in joining us please contact me at lorilaberge@gmail.com.

Be innovative, whether cooking, singing, dancing or creating,and have a great day.

BACK TO HOOKING, PLEIN AIR AND JOURNALING EMOTION

It feels good to be back home.  We had a great time in Vermont where we celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary in Stowe.  Now, it's back to work.

"Road Movie"  abstract in progress  20 X 20  Lori LaBerge  2013

Progress is being made on "Road Movie". Two lighter grays were used to depict the silver screen, though close in value they are working out well so far. The black filmstrip area adds the right amount of variety and interest.  I should be finishing up the hooking work and adding embellishments this coming week.

There has been minimal interest in the plein air group I would like to start.  Plein air painters are a hearty breed, dealing with heat, cold, wind and the other hazards of working outdoors.  I know rug hookers are just as tough as painters and it is a great way to study light and nature.

 Colors chosen for this weeks plein air work.

"Along the Drive"  4 X 6  Lori LaBerge  2013  Plein Air Hooking

I will be working the next few weeks setting up a website for Plein Air Hooking Artists. Here is a list of what is planned so far:

--there is no membership fee
--site will display hooked works which are actually hooked in the outdoors.
--artists may not use photos for reference while hooking
-- each artist will send photos of their work to me when they wish and  I will put them up on the site.  Work should be well photographed.
--photos of artists working outdoors are encouraged.
--artists will send a short bio to be placed on the site. This may be edited with final approval by the artist.
--there will be links available to artists websites or blogs.
--artists must be serious about their work and plan on contributing work to the site.
--promotion of rug hooking as art and enjoyment of the talents of others.  (Have fun!)

E-mail me at lorilaberge@gmail.com if you would like to be included.  There are some who have shown interest but left me with no way to contact them.  Please use the e-mail above and leave your e-mail for contact (a no-reply e-mail will not allow me to contact you).

A great resource on plein air is this special issue put out by American Artist magazine.

There are many different ways to display emotion in artwork.  For the journal activity this week a list of words dealing with feelings was made, one of these was chosen, and photos were cut from magazines which displayed this emotion.

Emotions could include:  peacefulness, happiness, anger, serenity, calmness, laziness, energy, sadness, hope, relief, love, abandonment, innocence, etc

I chose serenity and energy and created these two pages in my journal.

It was interesting to see how important color was in my determination of serenity and energy with cool colors being serene and warm colors depicting energy.  It made me wonder if red could be made serene or a soft blue be made energetic.

Think about the feeling you want to portray through your work, work toward that end and have a great day.

TRADEMARKS AND COLOR

Lori’s daughter, Kami, reporting in from Los Angeles. I work with a small law firm that handles a number of trademark registrations and trademark infringement lawsuits.

The US Patent and Trademark office defines a trademark as a “word, phrase, symbol, and/or design that identifies and distinguishes the source of the goods of one party from those of others.” Many people think of a trademark simply as a brand name – Coca-Cola, Home Depot, Best Buy, Nike. This is simply not the case; a trademark can also be phrases (“Just Do It”), and symbols or designs (the Nike swoosh).
Color plays a major role in brand and product development. Not only does color have an emotional impact, it serves to distinguish one company’s products or services from those of its competitors. Many people find it surprising to learn that companies can indeed trademark a color or color combination.

An important thing to understand about any trademark is that it is registered in a specific “class” to designate the industry in which it is used. This applies to color marks as well. For example, Home Depot uses the color orange in all of its branding.

Home Depot’s Mark:

Description of Mark: The mark consists of the color orange used as a background for advertising, promotional materials, signage, and labels.

Home Depot owns a trademark for the color orange in trademark classes which include gardening, electrical equipment, home improvement education, and lighting fixtures. I can open up an ice cream shop and package my ice cream bars in Home Depot’s orange hue to my heart’s content.  However, if I decide to open a hardware shop next door and hang up some large advertisements in the same color orange, I’ll probably be sued for trademark infringement.

Can you identify some of these registered color trademarks? Answers below.

1. A furniture store

2. A jewelry store

3. A soda brand

4. A candy bar

5. A cell phone company

6. A car company

7. A wholesale club

8. An electronics/computer store

9. A retail chain

10. A bank

11. A shipping company

12. A machinery manufacturer

13. An office supply

14. A home improvement supply

15. A champagne

1.Ikea   2.Tiffany   3.Mountain Dew   4.Cadbury   5.T-Mobile   6.Ford   7.Costco   8.Best Buy   9.Target   10.Bank of America  11. UPS   12. John Deere   13. 3M Post-Its   14. Owens Coring’s Pink Panther Insulation   15. Veuve Clicquot

On your next shopping trip, take a look around you and think about how colors help you identify different brands or even products. Have a great day!

Lori will be back with her regular scheduled programming next week. Thank you for reading!

Please note that I am not an attorney; this post is meant for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice.

ART MEETS NATURE AT THE HUNTINGTON LIBRARY

This week's blog is brought to you by guest blogger Kami LaBerge.

Since Lori's blog post last week discussed her adventures creating art in the great outdoors, I thought I would introduce you to a place that embraces both art and nature.

The Huntington Library is one of my favorite locations in the Los Angeles area. Though it's a research-based institution, the Huntington Library is also home to an extensive art collection and acres of breathtaking botanical gardens.

The Huntington Library is located at the former residence of Henry E. Huntington, an early 20th-century railroad magnate and art collector. Huntington played a massive role in the development of Los Angeles in the first few decades of the 20th-century. He was not only President of the Pacific Railway Company, he also purchased hundreds of acres of land in the LA area for urban development purposes.

I always find the Huntington to be a calming retreat from the hustle and bustle of city life in Los Angeles.

The architecture of the Huntington Library borrows from classical design.

Vibrant colors surround visitors.

The art collection at the Huntington Library is amazing, ranging from 18th-century French sculpture, to an extensive collection of 19th-century American silver, to abstract expressionist paintings.

A Frank Lloyd Wright table set was the centerpiece of one gallery.

The Huntington Library's botanical gardens are just as lovely. The gardens include a cactus collection, a rose garden, an herb garden, a Chinese garden, a Japanese garden, and a collection of Australian plants. More than 14,000 varieties of plants call the Huntington Library home. The rose garden is perhaps the most popular section.

My personal favorite is the Japanese garden, which is home to a large Koi pond, a Japanese tea room, and a spectacular bonsai collection.

Lori's closing statement last week was to "head out into the great outdoors, look at how light affects color and have a great day." I encourage the same. Are there places in your community that blend the beauty of art and of nature?

PLEIN AIR HOOKING: TAKING A CUE FROM PAINTERS AND STUDIO UPDATE

The rain has finally stopped and the urge to sit outdoors and enjoy the view has taken over.  I have frequently hooked out on the deck, but this week was different. As I was sitting outside, I thought about plein air painters. Why not plein air hooking?

I went downstairs and grabbed a portable chair, a tub full of wool strips, my trusty hook and a pair of scissors.  I was ready to go.  I walked around the field and settled on a spot with a view.

I have long loved old sheds and barns and our neighbors old shed was perfect. Plein air is being in the outdoors and paying attention to colors and lighting.  At the time I sat down to hook, the sun was directly on the shed. 

The first step was to  draw some outlines of the shed on a piece of linen.  I then plowed through my wool stash.  The first problem arrived.  Where a painter can mix paints on the spot, a rug hooker cannot just pull out the dye pot in the field.  I was limited to working with what I had in the stash.  

As the sun was directly on the shed and I had no light grays, I used my off -whites. These strips would give a sense of the brightness I was viewing.  Here is the result of an afternoon of hooking:

"Crooked Old Shed"  Lori LaBerge  4x6  (8x10 framed)  2013

I learned quite a bit with this exercise. In addition to hooking supplies, I would recommend bringing sunglasses, water, bug spray, a towel, sunscreen, and a hat or umbrella for shade.  Try to find a shady spot if possible, the sun gets hot when you are sitting out in the open for a while.  If you are hooking in cooler weather, don't forget a sweater.  Also, try to avoid windy days, those wool strips go everywhere!

Work at a decent speed.  The goal is to finish a piece in a few hours, not days.  I worked for three and a half hours.  Think simple and small scale as far as design, detail is for studio art.  The light changes constantly as clouds pass overhead, which affects color.  I was surprised that I spotted yellow and pink on the shed.  I may never have added those colors alongside the off white if I had been in the studio working from a photo.

Subjects could include:

 a local hillside

 a barn

or a local building.

The great outdoors can be overwhelming.  You can travel far or stay close to home. Choose a specific subject.  A shed, a tree grouping, a hillside, flowers, a mountain, etc. Do not try to hook everything. Have a good variety of colors with plenty of greens and blues.

I would like to start a group on the internet that focuses on plein air hooking for those who are serious about their art.   The idea would be to present various rug hooker's works that not only focus on the outdoors, but are created in the outdoors. If you are interested in this, please contact me at lorilaberge@gmail.com.  If enough are interested,  I will start plans for setting up a site.

The next two weeks, I will be on vacation.  Kami LaBerge will be taking over the blog for me and will be reporting from Los Angeles, CA. 

Head out into the great outdoors, look at how light affects color and have a great day. 

STUDIO UPDATE:

 Pete finishing up the side.  Luckily, we have a wonderful neighbor who lets us borrow his tractor.

We are now siding the front of the studio.  I'm exhausted!