robot print

well it's been a while! I want to share with you a new design
this fun and eccentric fabric design is a collaboration with Cedric Cenci and architect based in Paris, he is also an avid artist that likes to draw mean robot like monsters called ‘Sreub’ inspired by old video games.
I liked his geeky style and asked him create a damask with his robot silhouettes.
I think the ultra modern concepts works beautifully because it is displayed in a traditional composition of the damask and our eyes accept it immediately.
This particular fabric is printed twice, first with the classical stripe in the background which adds great texture. this print has a lot of potential and I will be adding more examples with different fabrics and colors. Find more pictures in modern prints page.


You can find out more about Cedric and his work on his website: www.sreubbycedriccenci.com

Fabric Match

Featured is a simple and beautiful print in a remodel of a dining room where new hidden wall cabinets were added for additional storage.
Our objective was to disguise the new wall of storage closets with the same fabric as on the surrounding dining room walls.
Because the fabric, that had been used on the upholstery of the dining room walls was discontinued and more was needed to upholster the new closet doors, my job was to create new fabric,in the same colors and design that the homeowner loved.

First I matched the design, which was originally made of a woven silk, but together with the homeowner,selected a linen in a warmer yellow and natural tone.
To give an illusion of a woven print, I decided to add a little pearl metallic to my paint ,and as the fabric catches the light there is a contrast between the print and natural fiber of the linen.
This project was a collaboration with Bradford Fox Construction,who built the custom cabinets, and Carolina’s Custom Window Treatments, who did the wall upholstery..

One way to help Self Esteem of a homeless person

I brought a drawing done with a biro/ballpen from a homeless guy today. Actually I decided to buy his drawing in exchange for new colored pencils, a drawing pad+ $10 to motivate him to draw some more and sell his work. Wouldn't it be great if we all picked a drawing or clever sign from a homeless from each city we are all from and in one year do a show somewhere? I should have had him sign it I forgot and took his picture, next time...

Tiles making for a mural cont...

The first batch was fired friday, we waited 24 hours before opening kiln. If you open it too fast the tiles could crack.
The tile changes color to a light pink. Next I has to sand off any imperfection on the biscuit (tile), wax the back of tile to avoid any glaze to seep under the biscuit.
The glaze is made of glass and titanium for the white, not something to drink, could kill you probably. you pour it on the tile, it has a consistency of heavy cream. The glaze dries fast on the porous biscuit. All the photos of the steps are on my website under news. I also show the waxing of the back of the tile, and mixing colors.
click on title to link to photos

Tile Porcelaine making for a Kitchen

I love learning new technique and especially old ones.

Irene de Watteville is an expert on portuguese porcelaine and is teaching me the ins and outs of making tiles from scratch. There is quite a bit of physics and chemistry involved and I wish I had paid attention in class.

You have to think about the shrink factor while tiles are air drying and then cooked. You cut the tiles, 1,1 times bigger to be exact. Therefore a 6.6 inches tile will become 6x6 inches once it has gone through air drying for a week and cooked twice. You cook it once and I haven't gone thought cooking procedure yet to know how high but in the thousands degrees..first the biscuit (the base) second after adding the glaze and free hand painted design on top.

Painting on uncooked glaze is odd at first because the paint does not glide easily, it absorbs like a sponge, or a very brittle plaster of paris. So you get to know your brushes pretty well. How much paint they can take (or copper oxide for green for instance). again colors are all about chemistry and that I have to figure out too. Depending on how high you cook you colors the color will change. a lot more to learn...to see picture of the process for now, click on the title.

Good day,

V

Distressed caribbean cabinets

This finish is oil base paint and oil glaze on top to age.

The color is vibrant and definitely made a huge difference from the original look.

It is a relatively simple technique and affordable way to revamp cabinets instead of changing them.

click title for on more picture and before and after pictures.

Light Graffiti Art

Light Calligraphy Graffiti first started in France by a graffiti artist Julien Breton.

Legal graffiti as they call it.

The idea is to leave an open lense while the artist draws in the dark with different colored lights and the camera captures the movements. What baffles me is the precision of designs sometimes, they must be lots of practicing involved. Sometimes two or three people working together having to time it perfectly and to the right movement, amazing.

Click on the title to see more images and also check out http://lightgraff.org/

Enjoy.

Christoph Nieman, art right up my street

Just found Christoph on Twitter,

I like his clever humour and clean style.

so I thought I would share.

good day,

Valentine

you can click on my title to view his website

or http://christophniemann.com/index.html

Haiti Art Fund Raising

this is going to be an amazing event. I have joined a small group called synergy a few weeks ago, to help Artist in need. We happen to have two members from Haiti, one of them was flying home to San Diego and two hours while on the flight the earth quake started. The other lost her uncle and aunt that were there delivering a huge crate full of gift to the families. This next show is a fundraiser for artists from Haiti. All the painting were sent to us after the earth quake, we have paintings from famous artists to the kids on the street. 90% of the profit is going back to the artists. You are all invited, please come and participate.

Mireille Des Rosiers and Michele Arnesen were the instrument in the creation of this event.

Saturday 20th March 2010, 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm

Losina Art Center

3350 Sport Arena Blvd. suite A, San Diego

organic fabric is not always eco friendly,

I never paid much attention to fabrics and it's impact on the environment until I had to find some for my printing. I first wanted to make an organic cotton apron, it seemed like a good idea and earth friendly, but I did not know what it really meant. Some products may have the organic or Eco label and we buy them thinking we are doing the right thing but I have come to find out it not always necessarily so.

For instance the process of making organic bamboo fabric. Have you ever wondered how such a hardy plant can become such a soft and supple fabric? Turns out it is quite toxic and leaves a big carbon footprint to manufacture, huge amounts of chemicals are used to break it down. It is definitely better to wear organic without a dough. If the skin is our biggest organ we are taking in the toxins in from the fabrics we wear through our skin. Conventional cotton is full of chemicals and it is the most polluting fabric to farm. The static show that 2/3 pounds of pesticides and insecticides are used to grown one T-shirt. Ideally we should probably all get out our sewing machines and buy organic US made cotton. It looks like organic cotton is the most eco friendly to grow and process for now. They are shops on line where you can buy organic clothes and home goods, like bed sheets. I was told to start with anything that is closest to the skin must be addressed first.

Today I choose Patagonia as my first choice:

http://www.patagonia.com/web/us/mens-womens-kids-clothing-fleece-luggage

and if you google organic cotton clothing you will find a whole array of choice, amazing!

Here are articles about organic bamboo manufacturing and eco friendly fibers, organic cotton site that keep you up to date:

http://organicclothing.blogs.com/my_weblog/2007/09/bamboo-facts-be.html

http://organicexchange.org/oecms/

and then there is the whole paper bag versus plastic bags, you would think that paper bags are better, well no, turns out paper leave a much larger carbon footprint from the recycling of the paper to the shipping. Best stick to your recycled tote......the only things is remembering to put them in the car for your next shopping trip with the next zillions things we need to program in our brain on a daily basis like finding your Von's plastic bag in the pacific ocean in a few months from now, soon to be eaten by the passing salmon that will end up on your plate three years from now and don't your dare ask why you are getting fat?!

Meanwhile, I'll stick to buying myself some nice organic cotton drawers and stop trying to be so politically correct.

Eco Nature's Whisper Yoga Studio in North Park, San Diego

Jolie opened the doors to her first own yoga studio on Saturday to a new beginning.

Like she would say to 'release the old to make room for the new'.

This goes out to all the San Diegans out there that love yoga. I was lucky enough to find Jolie at the Y in Encinitas in 2003 and never looked back. She has a way of making the room electric, you come out of her classes loving yourself so much that even the idea of doing your taxes would be a blessing. What can I say Jolie went on a journey three years ago to the bay area and by then I had moved to city heights. I started taking classes at Frogs with Sean O'Shean another amazing being but who tragically died in a car accident in 2006. So what next? well I gave up of course and put on the pounds.

Jolie mentioned she had decided to move back in november or so, a wiser Jolie and ready to not only move back but have her own studio. It's not just any studio, It's certified eco yoga studio, affordable $10 a class entry and the best teacher in town and open to all.

I am so 'totally' ready....Namaste

please click on title to connect to Jolie's Nature's Whisper Studio info.

Silk Scarves

the idea is to try out my printed fabrics with different things, bags, scarves, wallets...furniture check my products on www.vvfabrics.com