Margi Girl

New Paintings

2011-10-16T11:43:00.000-07:00

I have apparently lost my knack for taking decent photos of my paintings, but it is nice to finally document of my recent artwork.

I'm also working on another scroll, which will hopefully be finished and photographed soon!

ENJOY:

It's been a while....

2011-06-29T20:34:00.000-07:00

Here's what I've been up to in reverse consecutive order:
I dyed my hair
Started a routine where I paint every morning before work
Got a new job, where I make jewelry all day
I've stopped trying to slang jewelry, art, etc
Landscaped the yard and started composting
Gained weight
Got a puppy, who's now a dog
Bought and refurbished my Grandpa's old house
....that's it.

New Studio!!

2010-08-31T19:57:00.000-07:00

I finally created a painting studio space in our new house. This is a photo of me glowing with delight as I hauled the boxes of crap I packed up over three months ago.

The new studio is the porch. Recently occupied as b-squad furniture-room. It's a great space because it's a separate room from the rest of the house, the cats hang out there, and there's excellent ventilation & lighting. Also, in the new house, we have more storage space, so I need not store paintings in the same area I paint paintings.

I've taken a break from painting before, but never for this long. Don't get me wrong, I've still have been creating and making, just not in the "fine art" realm. I have a million ideas for new paintings. Some of them will be great, some of them will be really dumb, and some won't get off the ground. It's like you're about to see an old friend again! I can't wait!

My Swan Song

2010-07-18T16:41:00.000-07:00

My jewelry is now being shown at Swan Song in Maiden Rock, WI.

It is about an hour from St. Paul and in about the quaintest little town you ever did see. The Gallery owner is a women I have worked with in the past. She kept saying how excited she was for me that I found this new media and was doing so well with it.

I am excited too. While I have had paintings in galleries before, having my jewelry sold somewhere (especially somewhere as special as Swan Song) is an important benchmark in becoming a jeweler. The nicest thing about the whole experience is that I have a ton of new ideas for displaying my work, for new pieces, new ways to approach galleries, and an overall better clarity on what I am doing! Things that can only be learned along the way.

I am excited too!

swansongcontemporaryarts.blogspot.com

Big plans for a lil' pendent

2010-03-09T20:08:00.000-08:00

A bad photo of the newly pierced pendent I'm working on:

I'm going to mold it, cast it in Antique Brass, then solder it on a sheet of Silver. I'll cut the silver out with a bit less detail, so the piece will have the effect of a topographical map.

I'm interested in the flat silhouettes of an ornate Victorian jewelry.

I've had the pendent that inspired the project since I was a child. I think my Grandpa found with his metal-detector.

I used only one 4/0 saw blade and it is still intact, exemplified with this photo:

I'm good!

Wish List

2010-02-03T07:57:00.000-08:00

A list of things I want:

An pedometer function on my ipod (my boss has one and I'm jealous)
A free typing program so I can type faster ( I want to type really fast)
Some kind of program, somehow in my life that teaches me to become a better speller
A formula to make really beautiful jewelry illustrations with minimal or quasi-minimal effort
A yoga mat, yoga ball, and a set of weights
A new job

New Website

2009-12-14T10:31:00.001-08:00

It's official the class that "ruined my life" is now over. It in fact did not ruin my life, rather it just took over.

Please check out margigrill.com

Let me know what you think (it is of course not fully completed, but well on it's way).

And for the record I got A in the class.

Someone Needs an Artist Statement

2009-12-02T22:19:00.000-08:00

I need an artist statement for my new jewelry website.

Please incorporate all or most of the following bullet points:

traditionally trained artist
wearable art
inspired by the tradition of inheriting the jewelry that was important to others
enriched by the alchemist medium of the metal smiting
interested in translating the ornate traditions of the past in a new modern context
I like fashion

Two to Four sentences preferred, but I will consider all entries.

A new, more abstract scroll

2009-11-10T12:03:00.000-08:00

I actually finished this one a while ago, I just hadn't photographed it yet.

Someday I think I'm be able to tackle Java Script Codes and upload me self a slide show that will do my scrolls justice, but until then it's still images.

I was thinking a lot about maps, weather patterns, and origami patterns as I was painting. I'm happy with it. It (no title as of yet) is proudly pinned to the wall above my desk. An important location, as it reminds me that I started learning about website design and coding to better promote and display my art. While, I'm not painting a lot right now, I need to remember that the work (hard work at that) is going to probably pay off.

ETSY

2009-09-29T13:04:00.000-07:00

I finally have an etsy account and as of three minutes ago I finally have an item for SALE!

Check it Out (Please!!)

margigirl.etsy.com

Please give me feedback! Or tips on successful etsy selling!

OctoCam=InstaArt!

2009-09-14T17:07:00.000-07:00

Procrastination

2009-09-04T13:26:00.000-07:00

The significantly un-hot summer we had in Minneapolis is over. This fall Margaret is that old-lady in a class, an online website class full of savvy art students.

Err, umm...how do I turn the internets on?

I found that I need to take periodic breaks from the beast that is html to do exceptionally earthy, tactile tasks. I've run out of plants to repot, all my errand have been run, and in fact I'm avoiding doing my homework right now!

This is a photo of our player plant (recently re-potted) with a beautiful little flower.

This is a photo of the piece I entered in the Saul Bell design contest. I'm confident my chances of winning are slim to none. Don't think that stops me from planning how I would spend the prize money.

And finally a painting I made for a Friend that recently had a baby. The motif from an Art Nourveau vase I studied in college. I hope she doesn't hate mice or something. I know she hates farts, so I made a point not to paint farts.

My television addiction

2009-09-01T00:48:00.000-07:00

I've recently finished the Sopranos series and I am finally now able to enjoy new, non-episodic forms of media. Since my move from Woke Up This Morning attributed entertainment, I've been able to enjoy two excellent films: Ran and Rashomon, by what Netflix's calls Japan's legendary auteur, Akira Kurosawa. Also (believe it or not), I've been able to read a whole book! Tar baby, by Toni Morrison.

Don't feel like I've gone too far to the dark side, as we're already girdle-deep into Mad Men season.

My thoughts on the final episode of the Sopranos, you ask?

I think Tony does NOT get killed! And I think Meadow is pregnant (remember how flustered she was parking the car and how Carm mentioned she was changing birth control?). The "Meadow with Child" hypothesis might mean the final episode enters in a new Soprano, instead of depicting the loss on one (Tony in particular.)

Next in my queue is 21 Grams and The Color Purple. Next book I'm reading is William Faulkner's Sanctuary.

...., but who the hell cares, really?

Changes!

2009-08-25T21:14:00.000-07:00

Fan of the new white text on ochre background? I don't know if I am.

Slideshow and Segments of New Scroll

2009-08-24T08:04:00.000-07:00

Another Long Painting.

A piece that may make its non-cyber debut as a panorama, but for now let's watch it as a scroll.

And the stills for those who want a better look.

I'm becoming an adult, or something

2009-08-19T12:43:00.001-07:00

I quit myspace and joined Linkedin.

The time has come.

I am officially an adult!

Art at EOR!

2009-08-17T13:55:00.001-07:00

My work is currently being shown at EOR, the Midwest’s Environment Professionals.

I especially enjoy the image of the painting above the drinking fountain.

I made a new friend

2009-08-04T16:06:00.001-07:00

Coming home the either day I noticed a rather tame squirrel near the front porch of my dwelling.

Upon closer inspection, I noticed he got around with out using his back legs (only his arms?) .

Interesting I thought.

The next day I saw him again, near the spot I first saw him.

I brought down my homemade banana bread (whole-wheat flour; it was delicious).

Then, back in my apartment I started to wonder where non-domesticated, city animals, who couldn't use their legs get their water?

Back down with a container of water.

I decided this underdog was my friend.

I named him Puppet (no legs and a dear friend).

I haven't seen him lately.

Better right?

2009-06-22T17:01:00.000-07:00

Better right?

My friend Steve helped me figure out how to right the wrongs in this piece. Thanks Steve. I'm 90% confident it's finished.

It started with a drawing of the coniferous tree looking into my studio. Then I added the text from Crown Medical across the

street. Then, I added the interior

imagery, which is a thing I've been doing lately. I've been calling them interior landscapes.

This is also a work on paper, also one that I decided need to be reworked, and also one that started from a sketch looking out my window. This time I was inspired by the nieghbor lady's milk pods (plants).

Nate says it reminds him of Minneapolis on a foggy day.

Now, I Need YOUR Help!

2009-06-09T11:55:00.000-07:00

I have recently been able to secure a art show the end of July.

This is AWESOME, but I need at least 30 pieces for the space. eek!

I can need to either a) work my ass off. b) rework all of my older paintings, so they're up to par. c) Include the dreaded b-squad (also know as "college work")

This is a piece I'm reworking. Originally I "finished" it almost a year ago, right when I moved into my apartment. Before the re-do it was contained in the realm of abstract landscape. The piece is becoming a more complex depiction of "looking out the apartment windows."

I liked it, until of course I uploaded the image.

Thoughts?

More me

2009-05-29T08:03:00.000-07:00

I just made a new mnartists site for my metal work, using my alternative name Margaret.

Check it out: mnartists.org/margaret_grill

What's mnartists? It's a free web space for us lucky artists who live in the fabulous, art-centric state of Minnesota!

I'm done with school....again.

2009-05-27T15:44:00.000-07:00

I've finished necklace school, also referred to as a Jewelry Manufacturing and Repair.

This is a picture of me before I had finished school, making some bad-ass lockets. That is my friend Andrea in the background, making something equally as bad-ass.

I've "finished school" before, so I know not too get too relieved that I'd never have to eat in a cafeteria again, as I may just get the urge to pursue computer science or something.

The thing is there is always a sense of sadness or loss when you can no longer count on the familiar. It is especially difficult considering they (the man) are planning to "discontinue" the jewelry program at MCTC in a year. As if finishing school again weren't frightening enough without the administration telling me they devalue a program I've worked really hard to complete. The man claims there's less than 5 jobs available for graduates (which I'm counting on being a miscalculation).

In other news, I'm looking for a bench jeweler job, so if you know anyone looking to hire a bench jeweler.....

The summer is proving to be fruitful thus far. I had a great year at Art a Whirl this year. Thanks to my friend Caitlin Karolczak who let me show at her studio and wrote down my contact info for everyone who asked (I had no time for business cards, school and all). Caitlin makes beautiful paintings. Caitlin's website (careful they're nudes)

I've also turned 27, which means I'm practically an adult. I ordered business cards today in an effort to grow up and so Cait will invite me back.

Today's Makeover Show

2009-04-20T09:43:00.001-07:00

This reworking was considerably more frustrating, as the I really liked the face of SNow White and the deer the first time around. I'm over it though; the painting as a whole is much more dynamic.

BEFORE:

AFTER:

Fighting the Good Fight

2009-04-15T09:51:00.000-07:00

Here's the second Snow White Painting I've gone back in and hopefully improved.

BEFORE:

AFTER:

Reworking is a Full Time Job!

2009-04-06T08:26:00.001-07:00

Fellow painter Bill Webb gave me a few words of wisdom the last time we met up "Finish your paintings or throw them away." Or at least it was something to that effect. I took it to heart and started reworking three of my snow white paintings. This is the one closest to finish.

BEFORE

AFTER

Thanks Bill!

Another sketchbook

2009-03-23T22:09:00.000-07:00

In scanning these, I kinda wished I hadn't given up the artstore-gig. It's the time in my life when I was literally drawing all day, and then go home to paint.

Scanned Sketchbooks!

2009-03-21T10:01:00.001-07:00

Spring Break 2009!

2009-03-15T11:37:00.000-07:00

Spring Break looses a lot of its luster when you reach a certain age, but non the less I'm excited for the time to myself and I've been occupying myself with delusions of grandeur for all the thing I plan accomplish. So, here's another list for the things-to-do over Spring Break 2009:

-Carve those wax figurines I've been meaning to do for a year now. Similarly, I want to start collecting plastic toy animals for thrift stores to cast into metal and hang the heads from chains.

-I don't want to obsess entirely over the closing mechanism on the newest locket project, but I need to figure a way to make the damn thing close (and then open). magnets?

-Bite the bullet and make a significant Rio Grand (jewelry stuff-supplier) order

-Purchase a a tube of Black Honey Lipstick, which is more significant than it seems, as I need an ample amount of mental preparation to enter a fancy department store where I suspect everyone is judging me.

-Have the paintings I would have liked to include in a show, but couldn't because they're warped, framed to hide the warping.

-Figure out how to master the game of darts. I'm thinking my scheduled time in Burnett County, Wisconsin might be the way to do it.

-Check out the Walker's current Elizabeth Peyton exhibit

-Clean up the annoying remnants of my short lived plaster-sculptress career and get back to painting!

You can either fight the Mountain Lion, or risk jumping of the cliff.

2009-03-05T01:54:00.000-08:00

Composing a "life plan" has always been an enjoyable pass-time for me. Part fantasy, part goal setting, it allows me to develop the complex details of a future life.

Lately, I've decided to give up the dream of working for an independent Jeweler with flexible hours, design freedom, and benefits. I now focus my attention on putting together an elaborate Choose your own Adventure of Jewelry careers. The more progress I make in infiltrating the industry, the more my life plan starts out "Ok, so if that doesn't work, I can always do this, and that'll be alright."

What really drives my crazy is that I really can't picture myself past where I am now: in debt, sleeping late, and making wearable art (unwearable jewelry). The career life sounds like a bummer in comparison.

Tejas

2009-02-25T09:29:00.003-08:00

Things I learned in Tejas (Texas):

How to properly eat at a Crawfish boil

"Sucking the Brains" of crawfish is not eating brains at all, but is drinking the hot spicy broth from the general head area.

I have a Texas-sized appetite.

Men from the Lone star state sing some good opera!

It is surprisingly easy to get on a plane after you've lost your Minnesota driver's license.

"Ya'll come back now" is a genuine invitation.

Beginnings of a new scroll

2009-02-10T10:42:00.000-08:00

The Scroll may be my new favorite format.

The following are some really poor photographs of my latest scroll project.

It is almost 1/3 of the filled in. Finished it will be 9" x 72"

I like the color palette, the subject matter, and drawing style, but there's a subtle 101 Dalmatians aesthetic that keeps creeping in.

Jewelry Photographs

2008-12-22T10:26:00.000-08:00

Here's what I've been working recently.

Give Me Criticism or Give Me Death

2008-11-21T10:56:00.000-08:00

I recently finished a painting and as the title hints, it's of my apartment. And as you can plainly see it's also of my cat. I like it, but I'm not in love with it. I don't know why. Thoughts?

The Apartment:

also

I am in a portfolio class at neck-lace school. I needed write an Artist Statement, something I've never been very good at, but I did my best.

How does it sound?

Artist Statement:

As a traditionally trained artist I was attracted to metal arts with the intent to create wearable pieces of art that not only tell a story, but also create a sense of identity. Being from a long line of union artisans I longed to practice a century’s old craft which creates a product that is as personal as it is priceless.

My work as a jeweler continues to evolve, as I am inspired by the materials available to me and design traditions that have provoked me into this craft. I am interested in using the ornate silhouettes of Victorian and Baroque metal work. Jewelry from this era often mimics forms found in nature, similar to how I found inspiration in abstracting landscapes as an oil painter. It is the finishing process is where I find the most fluidity. I feel as though I am able to paint with the copper or silver surface. I aim to create an interesting and complex history for these new pieces of jewelry by applying and layering patinas, texture, and refinement.

As a student I have been exposed to a wide variety of the industry’s methods for jewelry manufacturing. It is the satisfyingly tactile properties of metal fabrication that has percolated my interest, as well as proving to be my strongest suit. With a career as jeweler, I hope further to expand my skill set and refine my design ideas.

Teeny, Tiny, and gone before you know it.

2008-11-11T14:40:00.000-08:00

The tiny showcase edition for Margi Grill was released and sold out within 24 hours, which feels pretty rewarding. I do think the election numbers rolling in that night gave the TS buyers an increased sense of security for the future, so I need to owe part of the success to my friend Barack. Thanks buddy! And congratulations on the win!

I started another Snow White painting. I'm thinking this is my last, that or I'll have to join SWPA (snow white painting anonymous).

This Saturday in the warehouse district!

2008-11-04T08:14:00.000-08:00

Clapperclaw Music and Arts Festival:

I have three pieces on the wall (old drippy to the left is one of them). there's is a pretty impressive list of bands and other artists. Oh, and complimentary drinks!

Tickets are $5 pre-sale. Contact me if you're interested. You should be!

clapperclawfestival.com

P.S. I 'm also having a tiny showcase release soon. Stay tuned!

Clabberclaw

2008-10-28T21:08:00.000-07:00

What's a clabber claw? I have no idea, but I'm honored to participate in this years clabberclaw festival, November 8th!

www.clabberclawfestival.com

Writing things down

2008-10-21T20:17:00.000-07:00

The things to do are taunting me again....

1) Cut-out poloroid outline in copper (half size), for enameling project

2) See when Annika can show me how to enamel

3) Laundry!

4) Clean fake blood off tiny stuffed monkey

5) Read basket weaving book, or make photocopies of important pages

6) Find photocopier to mooch off of

7) Learn how to play cribbage

8)Do life drawing study of Sippy Cup

9) Find out what people do to sell jewelry at boutique stores

10) Email White Castle man and other jewelry contacts on how to get a job

11) Fix drippy sink

12) Fix drink

13) convince Jeanne to visit Mpls for Halloween

14) Send out Myspace bulletin for Halloween party

15) Repair cowboy boots

16) Practice drawing monsters

Project prolonged

2008-10-19T22:13:00.000-07:00

Phase Two:

I didn't work exactly like I planned. I applied a thick clear varnish and the pink ribbons shapes. I'm unhappy with it because it looks like I glued little bits of paper on to it. And that looks dumb. I do have a plan that involves pink tinted varnish. Too bad I already got the work professionally photographed.

I started a painting of my cat.

Fruits of my Labor

2008-10-18T12:42:00.000-07:00

Lately I’ve noticed that when I sit down to think out a creative problem, more than likely I’m ruminating on a jewelry project. It seems painting has taken a back seat to items of personal adornment. This worries me some, but I need to remind myself that craft is an art, if you make as art.

Here’s my recently finished jewelry project:

The plan:

The Process:

Finished:

Scrollin' Down the Street Sippy-cuppin' on Gin and Juice

2008-10-01T21:31:00.001-07:00

I just spent an embarrassing amount time trying to add the slideshow widget onto the left-hand side of this good-for-nothing blog. Why? I just thought it would be nice to have a slideshow of my scroll-painting, maybe it could even "scroll" through the images.

My good intentions turned quickly into vindictive rage when I couldn't figure out how to work the encode. Believing that I could somehow figure out how to get exactly what I wanted, the process became a half-day battle between me and pop-up help screens, all because I thought it was a neat idea. I need to call it a day. I'm giving up.

The lengthiness of this uninteresting rant isn't making up for lost time, so just so I can have a little something to show for myself, hereeeeeeeeeeeeeee's the scroll:
(just thing how great it would be above the blog archive!)

I really hate to say it, but myspace is easy to use and now I'm spoiled.

Elemental Wolves

2008-09-24T09:14:00.000-07:00

Often I use google images to find source material for my paintings (unless you have a wolf-pup, rooster, prairie dog, or eight-point buck I can sketch, google images is a lame, but efficient method). I Almost always find myself sidetracked when I find artwork of the same subject matter in the search. For example, today I was looking for wolves to print out and paint . I then came across this gem. I don't know if I can muster up the tenacity to start the project knowing my competition. I sincerely suggest visiting elfwood.com

The Future of Jewelry

2008-09-17T13:04:00.000-07:00

I was discussing my going back to school for Jewelry Manufacturing with one of the older guards at work. He suggested that I try to sell earrings, necklaces, and stuff to the discount stores like Wal-Mart or K-mart, because they've been the least effected by the economy. Maybe I will. Thanks for solving that pesky what-I-should-do-after-I-graduate dilemma.

Or maybe I should just not tell people I'm in school.

Current Project

2008-09-17T08:22:00.001-07:00

Left is a painting I started end of July. Phase one is finished; it is a sketchy, impressionisticy, from the mind type of landscape. It was exceptionally hard to keep the elements of the landscape, landscape-like and to not add green hearts, purple horseshoes, clovers and blue moons. This is why after "phase one" of this guy to the left, I started the mountain painting (below) where I actually did add a jardin of lucky charms.

Before I go into second phase, I'll explain the inspiration for the work. The open space across from the house I grew up in is forever is jeopardy of being chipped away at for better homes and gardens. As a children, we'd be out playing in the space and pull out the wooded markers with little pink ribbons that were used to mark future demolition. It did seem like my sabotage would postpone the clear cutting. It didn't. The space is significantly smaller today and even so, it's dotted with these mocking, miniature pink flags. I still rip them out and throw them up into a tree. Anarchy!

Second Phase: After a good dousing of fixative, I'll tape off the shape of the invading ribbons. Then cover the work in a gloss varnish. Hopefully the tape will resist the finish. Lastly, I'll take my trusty Coral pink (lead based) mixed with wax and in a screen print style application, I pull the paint over the impression not filled by the varnish. The effect will hopefully be a glossy impression of the space I remember, with these ribbons existing in a jarring matte finish.

be kind

2008-09-16T08:57:00.000-07:00

Nate and I watched Be Kind, Rewind the other night. We hadn't heard anything about the movie, but Mos Def lured us in.

I literally haven't seen a comedy that funny in a while!

It is all the creative aspects of Science of Sleep, but none of the "whack," boring parts. There is a great vignette where Mos and Jack Black reenact Rush Hour Two. It's directed by that weird European who did Dave Chappelle's Block Party. The best humor is in the details and they used kids off the street for the some of the main characters (two of my favorite things).

See it and just try to not like it.

Finished Painting

2008-09-15T12:28:00.000-07:00

At least I think it is finished.

Compared to the earlier version the piece is significantly more complex. I think too there is a clear left to right movement, which isn't something I was consciously doing, but works well with it being about driving across country.

I like hot pink a lot lately.

to do list

2008-09-07T09:44:00.000-07:00

see new Cohen brother's movie
go for long bike ride and learn proper way to shift gears
purchase bell for bike
finish mountian painting and photograph
organize earings
make silver ingot
google image seach jpegs of wolves for new painting
hit up Utrecht for supplies: large paper, steacher bars, and canvas, preferabley when Bill is working
file mold marks off wax injections for casting
take shoes in to be repaired
finish watching netflix movie and return
call Soap Factory about $99 show about 5 x 7 art piece I sent in
learn how to play cribage
renew library card
ask landlord about turning basment into exersize room
put better music on ipod
move catgrass out to porch, so Leggs will stop eating it and puking it up
finish reading Zen and the Art
put bedroom door back on its hinges
mail letter to Jeanne

ffffffffffffffffffffff

2008-09-05T21:47:00.000-07:00

I've bolded the words the keywords for easy reading:

I've been enjoying ffffound.com lately. It is an invite only site, sigh.... maybe someday someone somewhere would be so inclined to invite me to such a dope website.

yeah, it is Friday night and I'm surfing the web (as the kids say), but I work domani.

Here's my favorite images tonight (see above left).

"images" coincidentally turned into "image." what can you do; I pay for the cheap internet and it doesn't always download.

Just so those judging me know I did turn down dancing at the Front with pretty ladies, so I could be fresh for the workiness. Fresh like the girl above-left.

Paintings I am working on

2008-09-04T10:44:00.000-07:00

Questo e' il mio dipinto!

I'm still working on this one. I have about a list on five things to change on it. I was going to do it today, but I instead made a banana smoothie and curled my hair.

It is inspired by travel photos jeanne and I took when we moved her cross country (chico, CA). Maybe later I'll include the photos that I used with the greatest zeal, but maybe not.

I like the pink line down the side because it reminds me of when you'd take your disposable camera to one hour photo processing and the pictures would shift. That doesn't happen with digi-photos these days.

I call it "Missing Miss Platt." Platt coincidentally means flat, which is where I live. Ms. Platt lives in a valley surrounded by non-flat mountains. Right Jeanne?

I'm not done with this one remember! I'll repost once it is finished.

A New More Mysterious Blog

2008-09-03T09:09:00.000-07:00

I now have a hidden g-mail account.