the ekphrastic challenge { part seven } : albers

josef albers, homage to the square - orange, 1964

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the adobe colorswatch palette for homage to the square - orange.

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bravo, superstars!
the 6th round of the ekphrastic challenge was met with fabulous nominations and suggestions! i just loved seeing your artistic interpretations of the art & the tones that create it!


so as requested: round #7!


today we're adoring a landmark work by one of my favourite geometric abstract artists (& colour theorists!) josef albers : {side note: partner of textile superstar anni albers!  i have such a longtime crush on this geometric supercouple!} ... today's focus is josef's  "homage to the square - orange." : part of the hundreds of paintings & prints that make up the brilliant, BRILLIANT series *homage to the square*


love the geometric style craze these days? then you're sure to love albers' brilliant art!


and if i had to choose just one of his works, this one's my fave. 
it's orange orange orange and relishes that favourite shape of mine: the glorious square. 
perfection? i think so.

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so, here's the challenge for you:
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using the idea of ekphrasis , a "graphic or artistic description/representation of a visual work of art" ,  study the colours of the painting above, and/or the colour palette generated to match it (see above) . 


leave a link here to a handmade item of yours, (or another's) that is inspired by these colours + tones + shapes!


in about a week, i'll compile the suggestions and post them as our 7th collective response. 

---> just keep in mind, i'm looking for handmade works that fit the colour-palette AND geometric stylings of this piece! thanks.


so show me your orange square inspirations, nicies!

can't wait to see what you come up with!

and may your day be filled with gorgeous tones!

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the art of the movie poster

some like it hot :: handz

inception :: swelser

little miss sunshine :: abstract by john taylor :: original by blt + associates

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happy friday, lovelies!

what a week it's been!

and now... it's oscar weekend. yippee!

loving all these fab re-take movie designs : 

great art inspired by great films.

AND ...

check out this superdooper fun site *film the blanks* where artist john taylor abstracts classic movie posters. brilliant! you can play along & guess {sometimes offering fun prizes, too!}  love it.

so see you sunday on the red carpet looking fabulous & glamourous with your celebrity dates.

{i'll be the starlet with a beau on each arm: 

colin & george are all mine, nicies!}

who do you hope will WIN an oscar this year?

cheers!

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west side story :: abstract by john taylor :: original by saul bass

the sound of music :: abstract by john taylor :: original  by howard terpning

rain man :: monster gallery

best in show :: claudia varosio

once :: svanelli

harry potter :: the art of adam juresko

singin' in the rain :: the art of adam juresko

les parapluies de cherbourg :: funny face art

the empire strikes back :: handz

ghostbusters :: spacesick

objectified :: build :: via grain edit

the shining :: tes one :: via grain edit

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the ekphrastic challenge { part four } : mondrian

Piet Mondrian's Composition with Yellow, Blue and Red via the Tate Gallery

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it's a tour de force, superstars!
the 3rd round of the ekphrastic challenge was met with fabulous nominations and suggestions! i just loved seeing your artistic interpretations of the art & the tones that create it!

so as requested: round #4!

and today, we're ADDING a TWIST to the challenge .. read on!

for challenge 4 we're oohing and aahing Piet Mondrian's famous Composition with Yellow, Blue and Red painting, courtesy of the Tate Gallery.

i just love the lines, the shapes, the balance of fresh tones here. splendid!

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so, here's the challenge for you:
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using the idea of ekphrasis , a "graphic or artistic description/representation of a visual work of art." study the colours of the painting above. for THIS challenge, i'd also like you to study the linear feel and focus on the shapes therein!

then leave a link here to a handmade item of yours, (or anothers) that is inspired by these colours + SHAPES! (there's the twist - i know you can do it, nicies!)

in about a week, i'll compile the suggestions and post them as our 4th ekphrastic response! just keep in mind, i'm looking for handmade works that fit the colour-palette & the lines and shapes of this piece! thanks!

can't wait to see what you come up with!

and may your day be filled with gorgeous tones!

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the ekphrastic challenge { part two }: riopelle

pavane by jean paul riopelle

colour palette generated for this piece

bravo, superstars!
the 1st round of the ekphrastic challenge was met with fabulous nominations and suggestions! i just loved seeing your artistic interpretations of the art & the tones that create it!

so as requested: round #2!

today we're oohing and aahing at one of mr. rikrak's very favourite pieces of modern art, the breathtaking pavane by canadian artist jean paul riopelle. if you've ever had a chance to see this piece in it's mammoth (300 x 550.2 cm overall) 3-panel glory at our beautiful national gallery of canada, it is safe to say that you, like me, might have been... in ... awe!

i just love those gorgeous tones, the textured brushstrokes and the crystally movement of the piece. thought it might be perfect for today's weather!

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so, here's the challenge for you:
.........................................

using the idea of ekphrasis , a "graphic or artistic description/representation of a visual work of art." study the colours of the painting above, and/or the colour palette generated to match it. leave a link here to a handmade item of yours, (or another's) that is inspired by these colours + tones!

in about a week, i'll compile the suggestions and post them as our 2nd collective *ekphrastic response.* just keep in mind, i'm looking for handmade works that fit the colour-palette of this piece! thanks!

so show me your *riopelle-y*, nicies!
can't wait to see what you come up with!

and may your day be filled with gorgeous tones! Pin It

a lilttle rikrak birthday party: abstract art -making

top row
turtle birthday party pack | by piggytailsstationary
birthday cupcake notecard | by creativeapples
happy birthday banner | by meringuedesigns
yellow cupcake wrappers | by BusyIzzyBakery

2nd row
tub of homemade playdough | by ItsMadeAtHome
ocean party cupcake toppers | by PartiesByHardie
personalized artwork stickers | by LittlebeaneBoutique
(so helpful all year round!)
felt crown | by NiftyKidstuff

3rd row
pencils print | by paperpatternsilk
handmade pencil crayon holder | by LilSticks (great idea!)
artist monkey apron | by oneredpanda
modeling beeswax | by twinkleofmyeye (so fun!)

4th row
monkey thank you cards | by badinage (i love children's thank you cards!)
reusable sandwich pouch | by cottontopquilts
(wouldn't these be fun reusable goodiebags?)
paint your own wood family | via gemmielou
Little boy blu photo | via TSelena's photostream

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happy monday, sweeties! hope you had a great weekend!

the past few weeks we've been celebrating a wonderful thing @ the rikrak home...
little rikrak's birthday. we're so lucky to have such a little sweetie!

now... mr. rikrak & i am of the firm belief that birthday parties & celebrations are important wonderful things! how about you?

so in this year's birthday partying brainstorming, one of the fun ideas that came up was a modern art-making party! everyone was so excited about it! little rikrak is an avid artist in various forms, so it seemed like a fabulous, interactive, handmaking kind of party that he'd adore!

for the event, our family & a group of little rikrak's fabulous little friends headed to our gorgeous national art gallery here in ottawa (gosh i love that place!) and with the help of a fun & enthusiastic guide, we funly explored some of the abstract art @ the gallery. highlights were certainly discussing movement & balance with the alexander calder sculpture jacaranda (seen below), and form & function with brian jungen's vienna plastic chair sculpture.

it was so wonderful to hear the children's ideas and wonderful insight into the sculptures & paintings! afterwards, we headed into the studio to make some of our own art: abstract art tshirts with fabric paints! gosh: aren't children the best artists? and the tshirts are such fun party keepsakes!

i've included some fun handmade goodies above that would have gone perfectly with our theme for that party! wouldn't handmade modeling beeswax or handmade playdough be fun to take home in reusable sandwich/goodie bags! fun!

so thanks to the fabulous gallery for a wonderful event! still a couple more little rikrak birthday parties to come!
(the only benefit of not living in close proximity to our fun families = lotsa parties! :)

i never tire of celebrating that wonderful little soul!
have a festive day! hope it can be filled with some beautiful little celebrations!

calder's beautiful jacaranda @ the national gallery of canada

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