blog - Page 94 of 159

we have a floor!

February 11, 2013 by Megan Leave a Comment

My new studio is one step closer to being finished! Now I have a pool shaped plywood floor, but hopefully not for long.

Next step: flooring!

fresh eyes (painting 7)

February 9, 2013 by Megan 3 Comments

I put this painting aside before I left from New York, because I wasn’t sure what to do next. After coming back to it with fresh eyes, I decided it was done!

Fresh Eyes
30″ x 40″
Acrylic on Canvas

Matisse: In Search of True Painting

February 4, 2013 by Megan Leave a Comment

While I was in New York for the Gift Fair last week, I snuck away to visit the Met and see the Matisse: In Search of True Painting exhibition. While I was very excited about the premise (the exhibition looks deeply into Matisse’s process) I had never considered myself a Matisse fan. But this exhibition changed all that.

I found myself drawn into so many of his paintings, but this one in particular, a painting from Matisse’s time in Nice, really pulled me in:

Looking at this painting, I really understood Matisse for the first time, and his pursuit of paintings designed to convey emotion rather than to communicate or document a scene.

From a more technical standpoint, I was incredibly drawn to Matisse’s use of pure black in many of his paintings. Black plays an important role in a lot of my new paintings, but using pure black is frowned upon in traditional painting. Matisse used black to “simplify the construction.” To put it bluntly, “black is a force,” that Matisse used in many of his paintings, and that I’ll now freely use in mine.

The exhibition is up until March 17th, and definitely worth seeing if you’re in New York. If you can’t make the exhibition, or want to read more, check out these two articles:

6 Things I Learned About Painting from the Met’s Blockbuster Matisse Show

Evolving Towards Ecstasy

{images via The Metropolitan Museum of Art}

New York gift

February 1, 2013 by Megan 2 Comments

I got back from New York late Wednesday night, and I’m still feeling completely exhausted! Working from home does not provide you with the stamina to do a multi-day, city trade show. I’m thinking of developing a trade show prep workout program. I’m not sure what that would look like – what kind of exercise prepares you for lots of standing around?

I made a few small tweaks to the booth this time – a slightly darker grey paint and the addition of the small table – and I couldn’t love it more! I wish my whole house looked that good!

I had such a great time hanging out with my sister Melissa and my friend Ashley, who both helped me at the show. I don’t usually have help, and it was nice to not be chained to the booth!

I’m trying to take it easy for the next few days, but that won’t last long, because the Buyers Market is right around the corner!

Looking for help designing your booth?

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NYC bound

January 28, 2013 by Megan Leave a Comment

So bound isn’t exactly true, because technically I’ve been in New York since Friday for the gift fair. New York is one of my favorite cities, and I love that I’m only a short bus ride away. Not only does it make getting to the show easier, but it means I can run into the city for a day if I need a fix.

There’s always something about seeing that skyline on the way in that makes me feel so calm and happy. Even though I’ve never lived in New York (though if you add up all the time I’ve spent here for shows, it’s easy to pretend I do) whenever I arrive in this city, it feels like home.

what a weekend

January 22, 2013 by Megan Leave a Comment

This weekend started off with more than a little excitement. We woke up Saturday morning to find that a small barn across the intersection from the new/old house was on fire. But thanks to some inexactness on the emergency log, the fire could just as easily have been our house. So we jumped out of bed and rushed over. (Just to be clear, the fire was across the street from the house I grew up in, which is the house we’re renovating to move into someday. That’s also the house with my new studio. We currently live about a mile from there.)

Later that day, I planned on getting in some studio time to finish up a few new pieces for New York Gift this week, only to find I had run out of acetylene. (And I wouldn’t be able to get more until Monday.)

So I took it as a sign, tried to relax a little, worked on my line sheet, and snuck in a little painting. Not exactly the weekend I had planned, and way more excitement then I needed!

Now that I’m back to full tanks, I’m finishing up some new pieces, photographing them, and finishing those pesky line sheets! I can’t believe I leave for New York on Friday!

clearing out the Cosmos collection

January 18, 2013 by Megan Leave a Comment

As I look towards new designs and collections for 2013, it’s time to retire a few things to clear space for the new. As far as jewelry goes, that means I’m retiring the Cosmos collection. I took the collection out of my wholesale line last year, but it’s still been hanging around the web. (And the studio!)

I’ve got a few pieces left in the shop, but once they’re gone, they’re gone! So if you’ve been thinking about buying yourself (or someone else!) a piece from the Cosmos collection, now is your last chance!

Head over to my online shop to get yourself a piece from the Cosmos collection before it’s gone forever!

Europe!

January 17, 2013 by Megan 4 Comments

{image via fab.com}

Yesterday, I booked my flight to Europe in March! (One of my 2013 goals is to visit four new countries this year.)

I’ll be flying into Milan and home from Prague, so that’s two countries right there. And the real reason for the trip is that in the middle I’m headed to Munich for Schmuck (a contemporary jewelry festival). I’m not exhibiting in any of the shows there, just going to check it out. Every year I say I’m going to go, and when I learned that my undergrad professor was taking a group, I new this had to be the year.

I haven’t booked my travel for around Europe yet, but right now, the plan is Milan to Vienna (by air), Vienna to Salzburg (by train), Salzburg to Munich (by train), and Munich to Prague (by train). Is it just me, or is there something romantic about traveling by train in Europe?

(And for the record, I have traveled by train before – London to Paris and back last year, and around Russia when I was a teenager – and I still think it’s romantic!)

I’ve already got my ticket to see the Last Supper in Milan (I bought that before I had my flight, because I heard it sells out far in advance) and I’ll be doing lots of Schmuck stuff in Munich, but other than that, I don’t have a lot of plans yet.

Have you been to any of the cities on my list? Any recommendations for things I MUST do?

Side note: All week long, I’ve been thinking that today was Saturday. Apparently, now that I’m not teaching anymore, and have zero regular commitments, I’ve lost all sense of time!

oh, January

January 16, 2013 by Megan 1 Comment

What I’d love to be doing more of right now:

…but New York Gift is right around the corner!

I always feel like the January edition of New York Gift sneaks up on me! I barely have time to breathe after the holidays, and suddenly it’s time to get ready for the show!

My crate is packed and heading out the door, and I’ve mailed over 700 postcards, but there’s still so much to do!

I never put any pressure on myself to design a completely new collection for the January show, but there are some collections I’m expanding on and a few areas I’d like to fill in. Which means I’ll be spending the next week holed up in my (very messy) studio.

If you’re curious what I’m up to, the best place to follow me is on Instagram. I’m pretty excited about what’s in store, and I won’t be able to keep from sharing my excitement!

PS. If you’re walking the show, I’ll be in my usual spot in Accent on Design, booth 3973. Come say hi!