Chloe (of the fields)

I decided to create a little world in a cigar box. You see, I have a thing about cigar boxes- I like them. I like the smell, the shape, and the idea that they are discarded shells of something valued. Like a crab- the shell of a nice Cuban (or non) crab.

Okay so aside from my love of cigar boxes, I wanted to attempt to merge my creativity towards a more three-dimension direction. I am taking a sculpture class next year and am nervous and excited because I will be hopping straight out of my comfort zone- which shall be freeing in a way. But being the person that I am, am testing the waters. First with this endeavor, and second with my clay narwhal what I made last night. I also have a thing for narwhals.

This box is a nice compromise between dimensions, as I got to watercolor on my beautiful Arches block of deliciousness, and cut it out, then enter the other realm. I think it worked out pretty well. Well, once Mr. Elmer and I worked out our differences, which I did rather patiently I think, it worked out.

My mom saw me assembling it all and smiled, whimsically stating in a pseudo-british accent something about Chloe of the fields. I can see how the antlers would inspire whimsy- and it made me smile. I am my mother's daughter- and gladly so.

I have seen a recent trend of horns in different works that I have encountered, and while not intentionally, directly that is, emulating them, it is a fantastical bandwagon I am happy to take a short ride on through the cabbage patch.

The woods are a tribute to Michigan. I was born and raised, and while I have essentially separated myself from the place, moving to New York for school and otherwise, I found myself missing one thing (besides the people- one thing about Michigan the place)-- I missed the woods. They are beautiful and rugged. I love the way the sunlight filters through the trees and the crackling of twigs as a deer approaches, so innocent like the girl I drew, but with knowing eyes. They are magnificent creatures- the trees are magnificent, and the smell of the leaves and flowers and fresh lakes make me realize that this place is not only not bad- it is an aesthetic wonderland-- a nice place to return to from time to time.

So at the beginning of the summer, fresh from my first year at college and missing my roommates dearly, I concocted an idea, a plan you might say, to paint a chair for each of us. Including me, there are five young lasses total.

Originally, each was going to have their own chair, modeled after their favorite artist, but upon further thought, I began to fear a lack of cohesiveness. Secondly, I concluded that it would be silly for us to each have a one crazy chair upon moving out that would not go along at all with our respective dining room sets (because I doubt we will live together forever. In all likelihood- we will marry off, move away to grad school or jobs, or decide to become cat ladies and dog ladies and will be forced to part ways in our maid-hood). So you see, I decided to pick artists that would be fun to emulate, and went from there.

My dear friend, Salvation Army, provided the chairs ($24 total for all five!). I began in early June on Keith, and today, in mid-August, I finally completed Georgia.

Paul Klee

Georgia O'Keefe

Vincent Van Gogh

(A painting of a chair on a chair... get it? I thought it would be ironic.)

Keith Haring

*Being the intelligent person that I'm certain you are, you may have done the math and said to yourself, there are four chairs pictured here. Where is the fifth? My mom graciously painted a beautiful chair modeled after Klimt's swirly tree. As it is not my artwork and this blog is my artwork, I decided to leave it out. Sorry Gustav! Also, I want at least one chair to be a surprise to my roomies!