My wonderful and talented friend Mystele Kirkeeng did an amazing 3part series of videos showing a piece of art she created inspired by my new book Artful Adventures in Mixed Media. Here is the first part:
Check out her Part II and Part III video to see how the gorgeous art journal spread comes together and subscribe to her youtube channel– she is amazing!
Thank you Mystele, for your review and super inspiring videos. I am blessed to have my artist friends <3
Last Saturday my husband and I went to the Whitney museum to see the Calder: Hypermobility exhibition. In the early 1930s, Alexander Calder invented an entirely new mode of art, the mobile—a kinetic form of sculpture in which carefully balanced components manifest their own unique systems of movement. The exhibition showcases major examples of Calder’s work including early motor-driven abstractions, sound-generating Gongs, and standing and hanging mobiles.
We arrived right on time for one of the activations of the artwork which the Whitney performs on certain times throughout each day
and it was really my favorite to see these pieces in motion – check out the short one minute video below to see the two pieces above being activated:
Calder: Hypermobility from Nathalie Kalbach on Vimeo.
I loved the exhibition – there was something so playful and happy about all the pieces
and I was equally fascinating by the way they were assembled
the forms, shapes and use of color
as well as the really intriguing shadows
I loved seeing all generations being equally fascinated by the work.
and the shadows in motion
I loved the sculptures
and his use of different materials. BTW Calder called his non moving sculptures “Stabiles” .
Some of the pieces were electrical and I wished they would have been working at the the time I was there – guess I have to come back.
How does the one below not fall ….LOL- crazy !
All the elements and principles of art can be found in his work- it is so fascinating.
I loved this gigantic mobile on the wall
For a number of his work- like the one above – Calder intentionally designed the components to collide and even make a sound- which in I couldn’t hear in this one but assume it did make one :)
Each piece which didn’t move just by the moving air in the museum made me wonder how it would look moving. It is weird to see the work not in the way it is intended to be seen, at least once you realize it is intended to be moving…I wish there was a way to just keep them moving but I assume that from a conservatory perspective that would be really hard on the pieces.
I found the fish surprising in regards to the other work on display – but still cool- look at the two shadows
It was a perfect and wonderful day in NYC
The exhibition is on display until October 23, 2017 – make sure to check out the Whitney Website for the activation times – it is well worth to go and see this!
Hope you enjoyed the Art Stroll today!
No doubt seeing the calders together is delightful. If on Sunday for the 3pm and 4pm activation of the mobiles was something that could be seen behind a gaggle of viewer 5 to 10 people deep following a lady in a white coat, blue surgical gloves and dust protectors on her shoes pushing the sculptures with a stick around the exhibition room is “seeing”. Maybe Calder is chuckling about the spectacle ; from my vantage point the tourists not the mobiles were being activated.
LOL mobile museums visitors ;)
Wow that looks like a fantastic exhibit. I love Calder’s work so much. There was (and maybe still is) a mobile having in the National Museum of Art in DC that I used to visit when I lived out there. Thanks for sharing these pictures. I wish I could go myself.
It was really awesome Florence. Oh – I have to go the National Museum of Art in DC when I am around that area again :) Thanks for checking the post out :)
Another great Art Stroll. Have always been fascinated with the structure, balance and movement of mobiles. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you Jean for joining the stroll :)
I am sure we all have a person in life that left a certain mark on us. I had many such persons in my life and one very special one I am thinking about every day is my step father. He was a wonderful person and influenced me in many ways. I was thinking of him when I created this spread.
He loved old buildings and antique stores, he restored old furniture as one of many hobbies and I guess my love for old “schtuff” comes from him :) He was also a very encouraging men – although …doing math homework with him was a night mare – he wasn’t very good in explaining that in a way we wouldn’t end up fighting – LOL.
His Birthday (on Independence day) was just a day before mine and so every year at the beginning of July I think of him even more strongly. He would always re-use my gift wrapping as a joke for my present and we would laugh silly about it because you know …sometimes it was really ill fitted for my present ;) How blessed I am to have had him in my life. I think he would have loved where I live right now – I can see him taking a bike tour through the city (he used to do bicycle races when he was younger and later he joined the Tour De France almost every year as a bicycling spectator). I am sure he would point out some fun things on a bike-stroll through the hood ;)
I combined some image transfers with my Stroll Through the Hood stamps. I like it as it is and I decided to not do a lot of journaling – I know the story behind it – well and now you do too . This was a fun and a good spread to do.
Happy Birthday Dad ….P.S. I still don’t use that stupid Algebra, you told me I would need in my future life, but maybe just in your honor I throw it onto an art journal spread in the background this week ;) P.P.S – yes I am wearing a helmet when I ride my bike ;) P.P.P.S I miss you
What a nice tribute to your father. Love the aj page-so colorful!
I love this tribute to your Dad and all the thoughts behind it!! Good for you! And yes, Happy Birthday to you – a few days early. Maybe someone will again wrap a present for you with wrapping paper that doesn’t quite fit so you can be reminded of your Dad. Wouldn’t that be a kick? :)
What a special way to celebrate his Birthday month of July and to create and remember him.
What a beautiful way to honor your stepfather. Loved it!
Love the painting and the beautiful story behind it. Birthday greetings to you as well!
A couple of weeks ago my friend Kim and I spent a morning to make some fun DIY Wine Charms. With 4th July coming up and some wonderful evenings spent with friends outside we thought that my RubberMoon Stroll Through the Hood Sets would be perfect for making a couple wine charm sets.
We stamped using black Staz On on top of Shrink Film (complete supply list is below)
Colored the images in with some Derwent Graphik line painters.
Cut the images out
and poked a whole into them. (we learned we needed to make sure that the whole would be really big- since they shrink too – so hole punch whole is the perfect size)
We placed all the shrink plastic shapes onto a baking sheet and followed the directions on the packaging -backed it for a couple minutes and
pulled out the cutest little plastic pieces. See how much Lady Liberty shrinked. We shrieked in delight
and put some wine charm rings through them
We made an E-Train Set
and a Brownstone Set
A mixed set
and a mailbox set
and we could not stop. Guess what everyone is going to get for presents in my friend’s circle in the next couple months ;)
On this note “CHEERS” my friends and I hope you liked this little tutorial. Give it a try :)
Here are the supplies we used- some links are affiliate links
Nathalie, these are darling! My kiddo just pulled out the shrinking supplies this morning!!!
Thank you Susan! I bet it was fun playing with the shrinking supplies !
oh I love these! I remember doing charms last Summer with the kids and we loved it! Thank you for reminding me I have a bunch of the supplies left in the closet and need to haul them out again this Summer break…now….what to make this time!!! :) You rock!
thank you Rae! I bet you are doing some fun pieces with them :) how about some mini mark embellishments :)
Time for a Stroll Through the Hood . Strolls through my hood get me out of my studio, they help me unstuck and often I get inspired by what I see and to get new ideas to create something. Here are some photos that I gathered in the last couple weeks.
I found this sign embedded in the pavement around the corner of my home- love it- but I am also intrigued who put it there and why.
Liberty State park always a great sight – it calls for another painting.
Love all the amazing pattern spray painted to the house – I should do something similar in an art journal page with my stencils
Besides that I agree with the sentiment on the wall- I love the font :)
And hey- how can you not be inspired by sweet Winnie’s face :) Winnie is my friend’s dog and she loves celebrating birthdays with us ;)
New shoes to stroll through the hood …unfortunately they need some serious strolling before they will be comfortable- LOL
A cool old cheese sign at a flea market
I loved this sign at my Physical Therapist – would look great in an art journal too.
And after a crazy thunderstorm this huge rainbow showed up
And I took my new book Artful Adventures in Mixed Media on a stroll with me and my friend and photographer Sarah Baumberger took some photos of me and the book. It was a lot of fun.
I hope you enjoyed this month’s stroll through the hood – until next month <3
Woof woof Winnie!
Love those new shoes Nat…they will become comfy as the leather breaks in (I hope).
That rainbow is AWESOME and the painted building is uplifting.
Thanks for the stroll.
Yeah – I hope those shoes get better – LOL- they are some problem shoes ;)
oh I love these so much and always look forward to these posts. Thanks for sharing. Can’t wait for things to slow down over here so I can get back to my own “strolls.” Hugs!
Awe so good to see you my friend! Hope you have time soon to get back to your strolls. Huge hugs back!!!
Thanks for all the neat pix you posted of “your Hood.” I HAVE to tell you – you’re so cute! And when you & Julie Fei-Fan Balzer get together on videos, I just crack up! My wish (unattainable, I’m afraid) is to spend an afternoon – painting & doodling with you 2! I’d probably be SO shocked, I wouldn’t be able to do anything but just stare at you two.
A Fan,
Grandma Nancy
LOL- thank you Nancy. Yes Julie and I make quite a team too ;) Maybe some day it will work out – we have been teaching together a couple times, so you never know ;) Have a gorgeous weekend!
Ha ha Grandma Nancy. I’m with you. I’ve taken an in-person workshop with Julie and it was great!
I’m sure that one with Nat would also be great! The two of them together and I might just faint.
Silly I am but my two art crushes are together a bunch.
LOL- of course you know my classes are WAYYYYYY funnier than Julie’s ? Just kidding – LOL. Love teaching with her- and I promise you wouldn’t faint – we wanna keep you . Loves and have a wonderful weekend!
Thanks for letting us share some of your strolls via the beautiful photos! I am really enjoying your book too!
Awe- thank you so much Delores! Hope you have a wonderful long weekend ahead! <3
As always I had a fantastic time at My Heart’s Fancy in Oklahoma. It was my third time teaching at this wonderful store and Maura makes my stay always most enjoyable.
Friday morning we went to the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum. It was an interesting visit and
I definitely learned more about kettle branding and barbwire when I ever thought was there to know :) 1000s of different ways to make barbwire -who would have known.
Friday evening I taught my “Stroll Through The Hood” and it was a colorful and fun class for sure.
Using my RubberMoon Stroll Through the Hood sets and other stamps some gorgeous city plates were created.
Maura had stocked up the store with all kinds of fun goodies from the n*Studio – so fun to see!
On Saturday we were diving into the Magic of Acrylics – exploring and playing with all kinds of different acrylic media.
Look at all those happy faces!
And …funny faces ;)
Lots of abstract canvases were created in the second half using the newly discovered magic of the media used in the first half of the class.
Loved to see abstract 4th of July Canvases and all kinds of other colorful artwork.
My favorite of coming back to stores is seeing familiar faces – I love my students!
hahaha- sorry Andi – I had to slip this in again – it made me laugh so much.
On Sunday it was all about “What’s Cooking” an art journal class to discover your style and get the right recipes for your art journal pages.
I loved how different all the pages looked like and I loved the outcomes reflecting each student’s taste.
Playing with pattern, texture, contrast, color and so much more
Ah happy pattern bliss
I had a wonderful time and loved the creative time together! Thank you all for coming and I hope I see you soon again !
If you missed this class and you would like to take an In-Person Class with me -check out where I am going next – I will be coming to Southern California and Florida in September, to the U.K. in October and to Maryland and other places in November.
Nathalie was so much fun and her laugh is enough to make you smile . If you notice most of the people were smiling even when they were unaware of the camera. We all had a lovely time and made some gorgeous art. I cannot wait to go back again in July to My Hearts Fancy. I hope Nathalie will come back in 2018 to visit Oklahoma. Perhaps there will be time to take in the Dale Chihuly art glass on exhibit at the OKC Museum of Art, it is the largest permanent collection owned by a museum according to the docents.
Awe- it was so wonderful to finally meet you! And yesss- I would love to see the Chihuly art glass on exhibit – the OKC Museum of Art is on my list. I saw later that they have an exhibition of WPA Art – which I would have loved to see. Hope to see you soon again Mary!
It was a fabulous 3 days! It was wonderful to eee you again and to be able to take all 3 classes! I learned so much!
Delores, it is always wonderful to see you <3 Thank you for coming and making it feel like coming home.
Best time ever! Thank you for coming to teach, play and laugh with us! We love you!
thank you so much Maura, for having me again. I always love coming to your store – love ya’ll too :)
It is always good to keep an open mind – don’t you think?
For this art journal spread I played with my still fairly new Montana spray paints. I do like their look as they are matte and result in a pretty soft look.
You can see a free video on how I created the page and my thought process while doing it in the free classroom accompanying the challenge if you haven’t yet. You can sign up here . The videos and class room are still available until the end of July.
Not a color combination I use often but I really like it …maybe a little bag like this would be cool?
Here are the supplies I used for the spread -some of them are affiliate links:
Comments (2)
Jackie P Neal
| #
I am a huge fan of Mystele ,her art and her teaching! Thanks for including her in your book Nat! xo
Reply
leslie
| #
Dear Mystele:
I like the way you show the process step by step in a thinking process. You have patience and your imagery shows that the artistic process is part in fact a large part of the process. Thank you for sharing, Leslie
Reply