ereisa wells gentile

Inspiration

"Have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become." - Steve Jobs

Thank you for everything you have contributed to the world. A true creative genius. Rest in Peace...

Happy Blog Anniversary :)

It seems that, unbeknownst to me, the Anniversary of this blog quietly came and went back in July without any fanfare. I had long planned to have a giveaway to mark the occasion but I've been so lax about writing lately that I'm not sure how many of you are still out there. I do plan on giving a piece away before my due date in November so stay tuned. ;)

The Summer has come and (almost) gone in a blur (well, an uncomfortably hot blur) and suddenly, I have reached my third trimester. Most of my time has been spent "nesting" which I assure you is a real phenomenon... one that has me organizing and cleaning things that a) probably don't really need to be bothered with and b) some of which don't have a thing to do with the baby. Once you start it's really hard to stop. :)

A little while ago my husband brought me some of the tree seeds pictured below. I'm sure there's a more scientific term for these... but I have no idea what that might be. I think they are fascinating and a perfect example of one of those incredible things in nature that you might easily walk past or step on without really bothering to look at. A good reminder to take our time to really see what's around us. 

                   

                   

                   

                   

They inspired this piece:

                   

                  
 
In between hanging up tiny baby clothes and continuing the arduous job of cleaning out the soon-to-be baby's room, I spent part of yesterday baking from this cookbook:

                    

            
I am slowly making my way through the book and I highly recommend it for yummy bread that's relatively easy to make. Yesterday I made this Ricotta Chive Bread. I find something incredibly relaxing about making bread dough...

                    

                  
 
This isn't a crusty bread but the inside is dense and creamy and amazing toasted with butter the next day. Even though I am slowing down a bit on the artwork (temporarily) I'm still feeling creative in other ways. :)

Happy Labor Day! Be back soon...

Ereisa :)

a room of one's own: having a space to do your artwork

I have a studio space. 

It may not seem like a big deal but, for me, it's huge - it's everything. 

                  
 

                   

                   

It wasn't always the case that I had a real space to work in. Oh, sure, I had an easel and my supplies neatly tucked into drawers and a drawing table I could share with my husband but I didn't have a space of my own. I didn't have a place to lay out my materials and keep them out or a place to leave work in progress displayed so i could think over what my next steps might be. I couldn't tack up inspiring bits of art or photographs or little pieces of nature that inspire me. I didn't have light. 

                   

                   

                   

Believe it or not, in my previous apartment, I painted in the kitchen of all places. I can tell you, there is nothing more depressing (at least it was for me). Maybe it was the florescent-y light overhead or that my painting spot was the thoroughfare between the living room and the bathroom. But, for an artist suffering from long bouts of creative blocks, it was deadly. Frankly, I pretty much stopped working. Maybe it's just me but I think where an artist does her work is crucial. We are people who need to be surrounded by things that visually stimulate us (a pantry and the litter box don't count). We need, well, we need a little romance in our work space. 

It took me a long time to make the connection between my lack of work and my lack of space. 

 I think this is a common problem for artist living in the small, cramped apartments of New York. Apartments here are so expensive - even if it's just one room that houses your bed, your kitchen and a door leading to a tiny bathroom. It can be next to impossible to afford a place to live in with space leftover to accommodate your artwork. 

I also realize that it's not just city dwellers who struggle with this. I have heard from other friends and relatives about the struggle to find a place to call their own and how detrimental it has been to their work. 

                    

                    

If I can pass along one thing to other artists out there (especially those who are struggling with getting things done) - it's that you have to create a space... any space. Maybe that means sacrificing the spare bedroom or carving out a corner of the dining room. Even if you have to move to an area that makes your commute to work a little longer (but gets you that cheaper rent) like we did... it's worth it. Finding a place/space for your work often means sacrificing something else (whether it's a room, a corner, a neighborhood, or your time) but what will you value more when you look back at your life? 

Now get to work :)

-Ereisa

a day in Manhattan

FINALLY. Finally, it's Spring and the weather the past two days has been absolutely beautiful. I took a trip to the city yesterday with my husband to collect some much-needed vitamin D from the sun and in search of inspiration. Julia Cameron in The Artist's Way talks about the importance of "filling the well".  That it's important to take in other people's creative work and to have interesting experiences outside of the four walls of your studio. I feel like I have done quite a bit of work so far this year and it was time to get out and take in some art and the energy of New York. We had a plan of sorts (a trip to the flower district and on to the Whitney Biennial) but the thing about New York is, you have to be open to whatever comes up while you are there... interesting things crop up every other block it seems.

We began in the flower district so I could pick up some reference...

                    

                    

Randy made a friend in one of the shops... he has a thing for animals with jobs.

                     

We came across a flea market - I was pretty taken with these beads...

                     

                     

Of course, we had to stop for a hot dog... I know I know, but I can't resist.

                     

It's been awhile since we've been to the Whitney and we forgot that its far less pricey on Friday nights, so we opted instead for the Metropolitan Museum of Art. We spent most of our time looking at Asian art - we had never seen that section before. There are some beautiful things...

                    

                     

                     

Then, with our dogs barking, we went back to Brooklyn. I got some nice take home inspiration as well. These:

                    

                    

                    

                    

And this:

                   

It really does make me excited to work. Have a great week and enjoy this Spring weather. :)

-Ereisa

remembering alex

A little over a year ago I lost a friend.

You may think it odd but we only met twice.  Alex was a young designer and artist who worked with my husband Randy.  Long before she and I met, Randy told me about her.  He told me about her art, her strong political views, how she was always smiling and that she and I would almost certainly hit it off.  He also told me that she had been sick but that she had recovered and was doing just fine.

The first time I met Alex was brief.  I had stopped by my husband’s office and he introduced us. It was a typical first meeting - cordial but unremarkable.

Then one week Randy and I decided to go away on vacation.  We had just moved to Bensonhurst and our cat sitter from Bay Ridge was too far to make the trip to look after our cats.  Alex, unprompted, asked one day who would be taking care of them. When Randy told her the situation, she insisted she make the inconvenient trip to our apartment to feed them while we were away.  She also refused to let us pay her.  This was my first real introduction to Alex and her generous nature.  She came by to meet the cats and get our keys.  We chatted for a while and she left.  And that was the last time I ever saw her.

Several months later, Alex got sick again.  Randy watched as she deteriorated and became unable to work.  Within months she needed hospice care.  Throughout it all Randy told me about how she carried herself with such grace and, even as she struggled, managed to still find that smile.  Then, Alex passed away.

Alex’s family and friends held a memorial in her honor.  It was warm and informal and very, very sad.  But this was the day Alex became my friend.  Her fellow art students and teachers talked about what a gift she was to them… how rare a person she was, how much she was loved.  But over and over again, they talked about her connection to art… to her own creativity and to the creativity of others.  How much she was involved in life.  How, especially after she had been sick the first time, she had relished every second she had on this planet.  Alex made her art.  She didn’t have the luxury of putting things off for another day or procrastinating because she felt insecure about her work.  She just joyfully did it.

I wholeheartedly believe that Alex was my friend even if she never knew. She taught me that it is a privilege to be an artist,  and that our precious time here is to be valued.

At the memorial, Alex’s family displayed her paintings, her elephant collection and a table full of beautiful glass beads she had made. They asked that each one of us choose something to take with us.  At first I felt odd taking something made by someone I had barely known but I felt strangely connected to her and wanted a small reminder of her. Together, Randy and I chose a small bead...

              

                   

                   

                  
 
Now this bead hangs just outside my studio… a constant reminder of Alex, her life, and her creative spirit.  She keeps me honest on those days I am tempted to procrastinate or nights I find myself zoning out in front of the television.  She beckons me back to the studio… and to my work.

Thank you Alex.

-Ereisa

red hook

My husband Randy and I spent this cold and rainy Sunday in one of our favorite spots in Brooklyn... the waterfront in Red Hook. It's a very old and industrial area and we love to go down to stroll and shop at Fairway (if you live in New York and haven't been yet - go!) and eat some of their tasty sandwiches and homemade potato chips. Here are some shots from our afternoon... 

                    

                   

I just learned that this is the one spot in New York City (on land) where you can see the Statue of Liberty from straight on. 

                     

Red Hook in my dreams...

                     

There is a lot of art to be found... 

                    

                     

                     

                      

                  
                     

                      

                      

A lovely day despite the weather. :)

                      

And here are two new nests to show you. I am a busy little bee! I am working to get as many of these done as possible for the BWAC show deadline on the 25th. I will only choose the strongest ones to enter. 

                       

                       

                       

                       

                      
 
 Wish me luck!

- Ereisa :)

merry merry :)

I thought since we are on the eve of Christmas Eve, I'd share some photos of the spectacularly breath-taking Tiffany & Co. holiday windows here in Manhattan. Be sure to click on the photos to really see how intricate these paper cuts are (I'm assuming they are paper but may be some other type of material). It definitely makes me think about the posibilities of depth and light. I am so in love with this art form. :)       

                 

                  

I love the branches in this one.

                  

                  

                  

                  

Thanks to the lovely and talented Grace Kim for letting me share her photographs. :)

Wishing you a happy love-filled holiday and a wonderful New Year...

Merry Christmas!
Ereisa :)

festino di santa rosalia

The end of the summer in my neighborhood of Bensonhurst, Brooklyn marks a week of festivities honoring Santa Rosalia. Bensonhurst is considered the "Little Italy" of Brooklyn. There are quite a few Italian and Sicilian immigrants here - though it's a pretty diverse place with a large Jewish, Chinese, Russian and Latino population as well.  

                  

Santa Rosalia is the patron Saint of Palermo, Sicily. She was a religious hermit who is said to have saved Palermo from the plague of 1624. In Bensonhurst, she is celebrated with food, music, carnival rides and more food. Did I mention food?

                   

          

We have the sausage and peppers every year... ahhh, that perfect combination & it DOES have some vegetables on there, right?

                    

... and the zeppole, of course. Anyone who has an aversion to warm fried dough covered in powdered sugar - well, there's just no helping you.

                     

miles of chocolate covered marshmallows & candy apples...

                   

...and here's Rosalia.

This year I was inspired to pay homage to Rosalia with a new paper cut. This one was pretty involved and took me a few days, two X-Acto cuts (I wonder when my last Tetanus shot was?) and some serious neck pain to complete.

                  

                  

                  

I know I've been rattling on almost every post about my photography woes but I guess it's part of the learning process for me and I feel like talking about it. It's tough getting home at 6-ish every night when it comes to taking pictures of my work. There is minimal light and that's only going to get worse when Fall turns into Winter. I could wait until weekends to photograph but then I am limited to far fewer blogs. I know at some point I need to look into lighting but first things first... my camera, well... it sucks. I am looking into buying a new one at the moment but it's so hard to make a decision. If anyone out there can recommend a "reasonably priced" model for the photographically challenged please let me know!

-Ereisa

chinese paper cuts

                 

Many, many years ago my friend Lisa brought me paper cuts from her trip to China. It's funny how things work in life. I loved them from the moment I received them but I had no idea back then that I would one day be so fascinated by this art form and that I'd be attempting to do it myself. 

                   

These particular paper cuts are done on the finest, most delicate rice paper imaginable and are so delicate that you can't really pick them up. I have never gotten around to framing them but instead would take them out from time to time to look at them. I couldn't possibly appreciate more the level of artistry that goes into making something this amazing. 

                  

                  

                  

                  

                  

                  

                  

This one, below, is one of my favorites...

                  

the paper is cut so fine it looks like string.

                  

Thank you for your patience with my camera. I am hoping to upgrade sometime soon so that I can do pieces like this justice.

-Ereisa

biting off more than you can chew

               

"Annunciazione" by Lorenzo Monaco, circa 1418 (this photograph doesn't remotely do it justice)

Two years ago my husband and I went to Italy for our honeymoon and, while strolling through the Uffizi in Florence, I fell in love with the gold-leaf paintings there. I’ve always been a fan of Italian Renaissance paintings but something about being in that romantic city, in that wonderful Gallery, just did something to me. I decided when I got home I would try my hand at incorporating gold leaf into some of my paintings. I have always wanted to paint a triptych as well but the prospect of building one seemed daunting for someone who is pretty woodworking challenged. I told myself I would learn how to do both one day.

Fortunately, a few Christmases ago, my husband surprised me with a triptych he had made and carved himself. To this day, it’s one of the most thoughtful gifts I’ve ever received. I spent a lot of time thinking about what I would do with such a beautiful canvas and finally decided to make it a kind of memory of our wedding day.

                  

I was full of enthusiasm when I started. I did the drawing for the front doors of the triptych first, figuring ideas for the inside would come to me later. Our wedding was outdoors at an arboretum so I knew I wanted to incorporate Magnolia trees and birds to represent the wildlife there. I started to paint it and that’s when I had a thought about the banner the birds are carrying - gold leaf! So, I set out to attempt it on the edges of the banner.

                 

Clearly, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I applied the glue, let it dry as directed and then laid a sheet of leaf over top. My idea was that it would adhere to the glue, but not to the surrounding areas leaving a nice, crisp line between.

Yeah. Right.

                    

I pulled off the leaf and discovered a sad, jagged edge. Here’s where I realized that I would now have to cut teeny-tiny individual pieces of the gold leaf and adhere them one at a time, which is not at all easy since gold leaf is quite possibly the thinnest, most delicate material on the planet. The slightest current of air sends it flying, it sticks to your fingers and you basically have one shot at getting it in the right spot. It requires so much patience it’s hilarious.

So, it seems that I have a lot of work ahead of me and, to be honest, I’ve kind of been avoiding it. Every now and then I’ll add a small piece. As you can see, I haven’t gotten very far. I figure I might be done by my fourth anniversary… if I’m lucky. I have a feeling, though, that when all is said and done and the piece is finished it will be really special. All of the hard work will make this piece mean even more.

I think you have to be willing to try new things in your work and to be okay with it if you don’t really know what you’re doing or you aren’t doing it well. You just have to keep plugging away at it. It’s so easy to see your self as one kind of artist or to get bogged down in one medium. The only way you’ll ever grow and the only way you’ll get better is to step out of your comfort zone again and again and again. I hope I can continue to push myself that way.

-Ereisa