Pages

Thursday, July 29, 2010

sketching warm-up... 'chair'


When I joined this Sketchbook Project, I thought it would be hard for me to put down my sketchbook.  Well, it's been the opposite... I can't seem to get started.  Maybe it's all the perfect blank pages and the fear of 'ruining my sketchbook', but I've hit a drawing wall.

On a positive note, my friend Traci is participating in the Sketchbook Project too, and she wrote me an email the other day saying, she was also freaked out.  So we decided to take turns every two days and select a word or object to draw, which we then post on our blog to show each other.  Since Traci has a blog too, this seemed like the perfect solution.  Now we have a time limit and we have to show our progress to someone.  Somehow this takes the pressure off me to draw something spectacular and it's nice to start with a friend.  We're going to give this a try, until drawings start flowing out. hee hee

For our first drawing, I selected an object - 'chair'.
(Apparently I can't seem to shake the designer-thing).
This is my version of the Cane Chair or also known as a Cafe Chair, which is surprisingly still quite famous and designed by Michael Thonet.  You see them around restaurants and bars in the States, but in Paris you see them in every cafe you go into or walk by.  If I remember my history of furniture, Thonet was known for his bentwood chairs and was the first to successfully achieve this process.

For those that are curious to see Traci's drawings too, check out Simple Huis.
(I haven't looked at Traci's drawing yet. :/  I've purposely waited until I finished my post, in case my chair sucked and it would discourage me to finish.  So, I'm super excited to be done and to check out Traci's process.)  If anyone wants to sketch with us, let me know?  Everyone is welcome!  

Traci - What are we drawing next?


Sketched with brown ink, color pencil, collage 

Thursday, July 22, 2010

My sketchbook arrived!


Well... it actually arrived almost two weeks ago.  

I'm sadly off to a slow and frustrating start with sketching for The Sketchbook Project.

I know.
 
There should be no pressure, but it's me and I can’t help it. I’m crazy.

Too many ideas and a need to have them be perfect before I start. I assume this is normal behavior for a very detail oriented person. :)

Topic that I selected is: "figuring you out"
 
              Sketch by. ckim
Currently I'm just trying to figure out, what I'm going to "figure out". Thinking about all the different ways I can translate my topic into sketches has paralyzed me. My mind has been bouncing with ideas of how "figuring you out" can be interpreted. I'm just not a hundred percent sure if I love the ideas enough, that it will keep me sketching until January. So I decided to just start sketching anything to loosen up my mind and hand. Maybe I'll never figure it out, but I've been having fun just getting something on paper.

The pear is my favorite subject to draw and paint. I have a little obsession with them. So what better way to christen my book with something I love to draw.






Saturday, July 17, 2010

Swedish Design - Lo Bjurulf


It just occurred to me, that I haven't posted one thing about interior design on this blog. 

I'm shocked by this realization, because interior design has been a huge part of my life for so long.  I love design and I'm really good at it, but I definitely was burnt out before my move here.  So I guess I took a subconscious break without knowing it.  :)

Today I want to share some beautiful images from a talented stylist Lo Bjurulf.  I've always loved her interiors and I'm sure many of you may have seen her work, if you surf design blogs and magazines.
I think the first time I saw her work was in an Elle Interiors, and absolutely fell in love with her monochromatic all white rooms.  I'm such a sucker for monochromatic spaces with a dot of color.  (My husband sadly does not share the same love.  He loves color.)

I live in a bubble here in Korea, so I only found out this winter that Lo Bjurulf had partnered with IKEA to style for them.  If you haven't seen these images they are amazing.  It's like IKEA gets a makeover from Anthropologie.  Just gorgeous!!!

Now, I'm dying to go to IKEA, so see if this is implemented in their stores or if it's just for advertisement.  Sadly the closest IKEA to me is Fukuoka Japan, so I might have to wait until I'm back in the States or we might have to visit Fukuoka... ;)

Photo credits: Agent Bauer

Yes, this really is IKEA.

Friday, July 16, 2010

hedgehog pincushion

Why didn't I make this weeks ago?!?  

Instead, I've been annoyed for the last couple of weeks, due to the lack of a second pincushion that would have been helpful to have.  I made a bird pincushion last winter, but really didn't feel like making another bird.  I'd really like a squirrel pincushion, but finding a pattern for that has been difficult/non-existent, so I've been looking into designing my own pattern. 

Randomly I decided to search for a hedgehog (maybe because I miss Steve the Dog) and found this pattern from Urban Debris.  This pattern calls for felt and doing a blanket stitch, but I decided not to do that.  (Maybe in the future I'll remake another one in raspberry felt.)

FYI - This was sooo easy to make.  I cut the pieces out and sewed them all together in about thirty minutes. It took longer for me to decide on the fabric. 

Now that I look at this hedgehog... it could be a mouse, if you add a tail.  




Materials:
Most of the body - is the paisley is a cotton quilting fabric
Part of the face - dot's on the chocolate fabric is a home dec fabric
The belly - is a sea glass blue wool.  

Notes:
Hedgehog pattern

I ♥ poupettes


A dear friend of mine started Bonjour Poupette on Etsy a while back and has been a great inspiration and supporter to me and my craft.    I hope you all enjoy these delightful poupettes as I do.

"The word 'poupette' is a term of affection that could be translated as 'little doll', 'little puppet', or even 'poppet'." I got this description from my friends Etsy shop, for those that might have been curious about the meaning. 

I narrowed it down to four of my favorites from the collection to show you.  If you're interested in what other poupettes are out there, check out Bonjour Poupette.

            Vulture Figurine

            O My Deer Antlered One

            Crab Lady Figurine

             Bat Figurine


If you're curious...

My friend is also an amazing artist and writer and I can't wait to see everything she's been working on since I've been in Korea.  As soon as she gets her website going, I will share it with you all.  


d - It was really great talking to you this week!  I wish I could just stop by your studio and dabble with encaustics and have you there to instruct.  I've been obsessed with learning about this medium all week after I started researching it.  Thanks for sending those sites.  I'm going to pick up some oils next week to try...  -c

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

"Hide Alice"






















  
Hide Alice
ckim
2010 | acrylic & charcoal on wood panel | 36" X 46"





































Saturday, July 3, 2010

Adventures of Steve the Dog - "I Got It!"



















I got it!
ckim 
2010 | acrylic & ink on wood box | 5" X 5"

Thursday, July 1, 2010

Stella-saurus-rex



















Stella-saurus-rex
ckim 
2010 | acrylic & ink on wood box | 5" X 5"


This picture of Stelli in a dinosaur costume has always been a favorite of mine.  She was such a good sport, especially since she looks so awkward.