Interesting Paper Work

Paper Cut Out.

Peter Callesen's papercut series was recently shown in NY. His work is really interesting and time consuming and thoughtful. I really like it, check out the link if you have some time.

Moving Forward

Artwork by Ingrid Blixt

The work is being created in the studio, the kiln is being fired and I'm getting excited about new sculptures. It's been a very busy and challenging time lately for myself and my husband. With all of the normal day to day things still going on I've been working hard trying to promote my Etsy shop, Alina Arts, no sales yet but I'm still hopeful. I think promoting it in Scottsdale will help. I'm increasing my hours where I can at my day job and looking for more PT work anywhere I can find it. Craig is basically doing the same thing with his web design/graphic design business, he's so talented and brilliant in his work. We're both hopeful that things will turn around for us, that our businesses will begin to generate more income, this poor economy is really killing us though. Our home and keeping it is on the forefront of our minds these days and to top it all off one of our beloved dogs, Root, passed away on Sunday, we had to put him down. I don't like how that sounds though, we had to help him pass on, we had to assist in releasing his spirit from his broken down body, we had to help him say goodbye because we think he didn't want to leave us, because he always looked after us. I sometimes wonder how many times a heart can be broken into pieces before you can't put it back together again. The pieces just don't fit together like they used to. The human spirit, spirit in general, is resiliant, it knows that not all life is trouble and pain, that things pass and change and there are a multitude of splendid moments that fortify the heart and soul. So through our passions, my art, my riding, my love for family, friends and Life, I keep moving forward, looking forward to those moments of joy and peace where everything comes together and the heart is renewed. The bitter gives you the ability to taste the sweet.

Love has Wings/New Work

Love has Wings

I've been working a lot in the studio getting ready for Scottsdale but I've posted some new to Etsy work in my shop Alina Arts. The piece above was made a year or so ago and it's a departure from my more recent, simple, modern pieces, it utilizes a variety of found objects but I really like this sculpture. It was made during a time where I felt the need to express things more literally through my art and I was enjoying all the different elements that went into the piece. Love has Wings feels like a good piece to present so close to Valentines but it's more how I've been feeling lately, uplifted by the love in my life, thankful. Wanting to release it instead of keeping it hidden away for a rainy day. I hope you get a chance to stop by my shop and look at the new pieces and a very lovely and sweet Valentines Day to you.

Wabi Sabi

I've always liked the idea of Wabi-Sabi, a Japanese aesthetic that regards things that are not perfect as beautiful, things that are lean and spare as lovely. I can relate to this concept in my life as well as in my artwork. I think this is why I love the desert so much, for it's honesty, sparse nature and it's lack of ripeness, it strips away the pretense. I being far from perfect in anyway have grown to except and respect my short comings and frailties and see the beauty in this human condition we dwell in. I feel Wabi Sabi in my artwork, it is one of kind, it can feel rough and organic to the eye, it's not polished or slick, I don't use molds or mechanized tools to build it. My hands create everything and from day to day my hands change, more or less strength and stability creates a different piece from day to day. Society tells us being perfect is where it's at, whether it's your body, your job, house, lifestyle, keep striving until it's perfect, don't show the weathered and worn out aspects that make us who we are. But the eye falls eventually to the character and interest of something imperfect, because it holds our eye and our minds, we can relate to it, it slows us down and we look closely and appreciate that which is all around us. I may have a little more Wabi than Sabi or perhaps the other way around, but I perfectly fine with that.