Carnevale Sunrise

Cari Amici (Dear Friends),

I love costumes! Like art, costumes allow us to express our personalities in usual ways. The mysteries of a mask, the fantastically bright colors that one might not otherwise want to wear, and the shapes, oh, the shapes: how marvelous is life!

But although I adore people in costume, I do not always love being surrounded by hoards of people. So, some years ago when I went to Venice, Italy, for the famous Carnevale festival, I took a train from Florence at 1 am and arrived in Venice before the sun came up. [Anyone who knows me can understand what an effort for me this was!]

It was worth the effort. The city was vacant and silent. Walking along alleyways while following the many canals in such silence was almost spiritual. Signs of life began to emerge as the dark night slowly turned into a dark blue. Local merchants began moving in fresh fish and other goods with small dollies. No one greeted me or even looked my way – locals are used to tourists and no doubt relish these quiet moments to themselves.

The morning was cold as I stopped somewhere to slip my costume over my clothes. I found an old mirror or maybe it was only a reflective window somewhere near the fish market, and checked the fringe on my mask. Then I made my way down to the famous Piazza San Marco.

The sun was rising. That is something I rarely get to see, so I made my way over to the water’s edge. What a glorious sight! The skies. The sleeping gondolas. The waters of Venice. And the costumes were out. The figures moved in the most theatrical of ways. Such drama in the quiet morning!

So, I introduce to you my newest pastel painting, “Carnevale Sunrise” Enjoy free shipping when you add this one to your collection. I hope you love her as much as I enjoyed creating her. You may see more detailed images on my site at: www.borsheimarts.com/pastels/2010/carnival.htm


"Carnevale Sunrise"
Pastel 16 x 24 inches
copyright 2010
by Kelly Borsheim
www.BorsheimArts.com

And a little reminder about my workshop “Pastel in Paradise” that will occur on the Big Island of Hawai’i in September 2010. Mark your calendar for this exciting (and relaxing) event!

For more about Carnevale (‘Carnival’ in English), visit Wikipedia’s page. Buona Festa! (And Happy Chinese New Year, too!)

Open Heart Open House Austin, Texas

Cari Amici (Dear Friends),

Well, today before the art reception I invited you to yesterday (“For the Love of Art” which had a GREAT turnout), I brought some of my sculpture, drawings, and paintings to a new cultural space in south Austin, Texas: the Curioseum, inside the soon-to-be-renamed “Austin Marketplace.”

Come to the Festival!
Date: Sunday, February 14, 2010
Time: 10:00am - 6:00pm
Location: 6800 Westgate Boulevard Austin TX 78745 (NW corner of Westgate and William Cannon)

From instigators Ruth Glendinning, Susan Buhrman, Beth Krueger, and Bruce Banks:


We are opening our heart and house to the community on Valentine's Day so you can see how we've changed!

Marketplace Austin is transforming into a multi-cultural community that will honor the interest, passions, and creativity of our neighbors. Our Austin culture is a blend of many diverse ideas. We look forward to planning great opportunities for all merchants to be a part of over the next few months. Working together with a common goal.

Please join us as we give the community a sneak preview of what we're creating. We'll have local food vendors, acoustic music, art, antiques, collectibles and all those things that we all love so much about Austin.

This is a family-friendly event and we look forward to welcoming you to your new favorite place to hang out in South Austin!

Don’t forget to bring healthy, non-perishable food items for the Capital Area Food Bank.

Happy San Valentino!

[The sculpture you see here is “The Little Mermaid” – bronze figure with a granite base.]

For the Love of Art

Cari Amici (Dear Friends),

You are invited to come out to see my terra-cotta sculpture of a married couple (both models) who posed for me a little while ago. “The Original Love Story" was chosen by the juror for an exhibit this month titled “For the Love of Art” A lot of my friends and colleagues will be present this Friday evening and I would love to see you there . . .

Artists' Reception: 12 Feb 2010: 6 - 9 p.m.
Exhibit Runs: 8 - 27 February 2010

"For the Love of Art" (Juried by Beryl Kerwick):
37 artists
AUSTIN ART SPACE
7739 Northcross Drive, Suite Q (Behind Northcross Mall)
Austin, Texas 78757
Phone: 512-771-2868

GALLERY OPEN HOURS:
Friday: 11:00 am - 6:00 pm
Saturday: 11:00 am - 6:00 pm
and by appointment

Happy Birthday to THREE of my family members: Steve, Uncle John, and Alex!

La Giostra Pastel Art

Cari Amici (Dear Friends),

Hello! I suspect you are busy like me, so I just want to spend a short amount of time introducing you to my newly completed pastel and charcoal drawing. She is one of the current Italy-inspired series, specifically of Florence (Firenze, as she is known in her own language). The title of this original artwork is “La Giostra” which means “Merry-Go-Round.”

One of my friends remarked that this is a cool merry-go-round because it invites all ages. The kids will enjoy riding on the horse while the grown-ups can snuggle up in the moon-shaped carriage. In reality, I first fell in love with this giostra in Piazza della Repubblica when I noticed that there was a painting of a bare-breasted woman on the inner wall, between the mirrors. I cannot imagine that even existing in America and I found that quite charming.

However, for various reasons, I decided to replace her with a male nude figure (except for his headband). I borrowed him from Michelangelo, as a nod to one of the most famous offspring from the Renaissance City.

“La Giostra” is 23 x 17 inches. The pastel and charcoal drawing was created on the Roma-brand paper that I brought back to Texas from Italy. She will debut this weekend at my Open Studio here in central Texas. So, please come on out!

Some people have commented that they thought the event was Saturday only, but no – it is both Saturday AND Sunday from noon to 5 pm or so.
More information: www.borsheimarts.com/exhibits.htm

You are Invited -- and Bring Your Friends!

Borsheim Arts Studio
223 Greystone Lane, Unit A, Cedar Creek, Texas 78612
Phone: 512-303-3929

6 & 7 February 2010, Saturday & Sunday
noon - 5:00 p.m. each day

NOTE: In effect now through 28 Feb 2010:

9-year Anniversary Celebration:

January 11 marks the 9th anniversary of when artist Kelly Borsheim sold her beeswax candle business and "took the plunge" to a life as a full-time artist. Here are the ways you can benefit:

• Enjoy a 20% Savings on ALL Giclée orders taken before 28 February 2010! Details: www.borsheimarts.com/giclee.htm
  
• FREE Giclée up to 18" long (up to a $200 value) or 20 FREE notecards with each painting commission received. (Your choice of available images.) Offer expires 28 February 2010. Information about how to commission a work of art, as well as some images of my past commissions, is online at:
  www.borsheimarts.com/commission.htm
  
• FREE shipping and handling on all art purchases (sculpture and 2-dimensional art) arranged from today through 28 February 2010.
  
• Interested in trying out my Layaway Plan? From now until 28 February, enjoy a reduced down payment of only one-third the full price instead of the normal half. As always, no finance charge if payments are made on time. For details, visit: www.borsheimarts.com/pricelist.htm
  

THANK YOU for your interest!

Happy Birthday, Great Aunt Lil!

Artist Open Studio Invitation

Cari Amici (Dear Friends),

In case you have not received your invitation via either my art newsletter or on Facebook, please consider this blog posting as your invitation to my upcoming Open Studio:

Artist Kelly Borsheim's
Open Studio

What is happening on the easels and in the stone yard?

Enjoy a short ride to the country outside of Austin and Bastrop, Texas, sip red wine or cider, and take a sneak peek at what is going on in an artist's studio. Kelly will have several works-in-progress (WIPs) on various easels, including paintings and drawings. Also, you can see how far she has gotten on the stone carving of "The Gymnast." This is a figurative sculpture that must be completed by 1 March for an exhibit in San Antonio. [So there may be a bonfire out here if the weather gets too cold to carve in!]

You are Invited -- and Bring Your Friends!

Borsheim Arts Studio
223 Greystone Lane, Unit A, Cedar Creek, Texas 78612
Phone: 512-303-3929

6 & 7 February 2010, Saturday & Sunday
noon - 5:00 p.m. each day

NOTE: In effect now through 28 Feb 2010:

9-year Anniversary Celebration:

January 11 marks the 9th anniversary of when artist Kelly Borsheim sold her beeswax candle business and "took the plunge" to a life as a full-time artist. Here are the ways you can benefit:

• Enjoy a 20% Savings on ALL Giclée orders taken before 28 February 2010! Details: www.borsheimarts.com/giclee.htm
  
• FREE Giclée up to 18" long (up to a $200 value) or 20 FREE notecards with each painting commission received. (Your choice of available images.) Offer expires 28 February 2010. Information about how to commission a work of art, as well as some images of my past commissions, is online at:
  www.borsheimarts.com/commission.htm
  
• FREE shipping and handling on all art purchases (sculpture and 2-dimensional art) arranged from today through 28 February 2010.
  
• Interested in trying out my Layaway Plan? From now until 28 February, enjoy a reduced down payment of only one-third the full price instead of the normal half. As always, no finance charge if payments are made on time. For details, visit: www.borsheimarts.com/pricelist.htm
  

Know before you expand your art collection: Prices for Kelly's original drawings and paintings, as well as sculpture are all posted online - either on the page exhibiting each artwork or on the Price List page:
www.borsheimarts.com/pricelist.htm

THANK YOU for your interest!

Break on Through to the Other Side

Cari Amici (Dear Friends),

Normally when carving stone, the artist works three sides and leaves the fourth alone in case it becomes necessary to push the carving back into this forth side. On a portrait, for example, if the nose breaks, it would be possible to carve all details a little bit deeper without distortion, if one has not already cut away the stone at the back of the head.

In the case of my marble gymnast, I have been working all four sides, using my “inside” as my insurance, if you will. While carving the shapes and determining proportions of the various forms of my figure in stone, I was careful not to undercut into the interior.

However, when this cautious behaviour led to my inability to envision and shape the face, I plunged forward and drilled my first hole in the stone. Commitment time. I am a firm believer that when something begins to distract me to the point of not being able to focus on my current activity (whether it be a need/desire for food, bathroom, sex, sleep, or another art project), I stop my current activity to satisfy my need. Then I can get back to the original task at hand, and with more enthusiasm.

Unfortunately, I do not have a lot of cool drilling tools. So I used a common electric drill and a long masonry drill bit. Of course, my objective is to drill the hole so that it comes out the other side in the right place, and certainly not through a body part! So, I used the drill bit and one of my chisels to help me place the drill spot and the angle, standing back and viewing the line from a distance and many viewpoints.


It took me most of the afternoon on 30 December to work this marble from both sides until I finally saw the light. I was proud of myself that the holes I drilled from each side matched up PERFECTLY in the center. I have a habit now of singing Jim Morrison of The Door’s “Break on through to the other side . . .” every time I drill the first hole in one of my stone carvings. I kinda enjoy the tradition of it, as well as the cheer-leading factor.

Art Anniversary Gable Stone Installed

Cari Amici (Dear Friends),

Today is the anniversary of the day I became a full-time artist nine years ago after selling my beeswax candle business, Lumina Candles & Art.

I am celebrating by offering special savings from my Web site that will continue through the last day of February.

But also, I wanted to do a bit of follow-up on a stone carving commission that I completed back in November. While I have shared images and thoughts of my progress on the carving of my first Gable Stone on my Facebook Fan Page, I last mentioned the art commission here on the October 1st posting.

Here is the finished carving. She is sealed 17” x 20” Cordova Creme Texas limestone. “Kalli & Satchel” depicts the young lady of the house and the family pet. The little girl loves balloons and there are three, each representing a human member of the family (mom, dad, daughter).



Lighting with lights at night -- not the best image, but perhaps you can still see that this is sculpture, not painting.

The Gable Stone is mounted in a frame above the doorway.
Houston, Texas
Private art commission – stone carving
Installed mid-December 2009
(house photos sent by client)

PS> Received this today: “Ciao Kelly, come stai? Spero bene!! Take a look of this video on youtube I made it and I put also the beautiful paint from you!!! Best wishes for the new year!!!! gReY, Firenze” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qxB15aOhH4

Happy Birthday, Aunt Patsy!