Saturday, January 9, 2010

Tools of the Trade...




Many artist's studios can look like a mixture of alchemy and chaos!
 Recycled glass jars filled with leftover glaze, custom paints and solvents.....dented coffee cans stuffed with brushes and grainers.....




...but not all tools of the trade are so abused.....



Some tools are works of art in themselves....boxed brush sets in satin lined boxes.....sticks of ink with wonderful embossed designs for calligraphy....



Specialty brushes of fox, badger and squirrel fur with lacquered handles of bamboo or exotic woods....






These fabulous brushes I picked up from the Fortuny Museum in Venice and have the distinctive Fortuny pattern on the handles.



Well, those fabulous brushes need something to rest on while painting.....




I love the turquoise multi brush holder I found in an art gallery but also think older ash trays(especially of the "rat-pack" era) work great to hold a wet brush.


The Ming Dynasty elevated art tools to fine art. This scholar's brush cup is an intricately carved root base.





Another Ming dynasty brush cup with detailed stand carved to mimic the shape of the root.




Artist palettes can be made of exotic woods with exaggerated curves to fit against the body for long periods of time without tiring the arm.





But most tools of the trade end up covered in drips of paint and solvents creating a mosaic design of past experiments and projects.






These tools allow me to do what I do...create!

12 comments:

Unknown said...

I love your post! I also love those calligraphy brushes and have given some as presents to display on a pretty table top. the cases are beautiful. I do love the feeling of the 1st image though. Boheme..merci

Lee said...

I love this post as you have given me some inspiration...I am re-creating my studio this year and collecting ideas. I never thought of using an ash tray to hold a wet brush. Is that a sample of your work in the last picture?
Lee

Theresa Cheek said...

Lee,
Those 1960's clunky hotel ashtrays are perfect for brushes! Yes, the last photo is some of my work. ;)


Theresa

Lee said...

Theresa,
I came back to see if that was your work...it is beautiful...I love to paint eyes...those are so soulful...is that a word?

I went through your blog to your first post and saw more of your art...extremely inspiring...
sooo very beautiful, and your travels certainly have left their im-print in your taste and knowledge.

My hat is off to anyone who paints ceilings.
I have enjoyed your posts and blog so if you see me flitting around on your site meter just know I am soaking in some inspiration. I tried to leave a comment on some earlier post and I couldn't get the comment to open... I heard that was a real problem in blogosphere right now from other bloggers... it took several try's but I finally got it to work.

I think I can learn a great deal from you and I have a hunger for most of the things you are posting about...

Also, I didn't realize I was so close to the Blue Moon...I must visit there this spring.

I had seen Cote De Texas this afternoon on the African Sketchbook textiles... amazing...I was looking up stencils on Google when I decided to come back and saw your post on those. This is interesting and I might have questions you might answer when I give them a try...I thought of making my own stencils, I know an artist here that does, very tedious work.

Thank you for your comment on my blog. It was great to see you visited me.

I feel some creativity building up in my left hand...it comes in spurts, so I am hoping to clear my schedule to paint soon. It is such an odd sensation. I don't know if that is common or not...I also get very moody.

I am rambling so... Have a wonderful evening.
Lee

Lynne Rutter said...

dear theresa
i'll be needing that brush-holder. i believe you have my address. thanks so much

lynne

Regina at Fauxology said...

I'm in love with the brush holders as well. So nice to have brushes held with such reverence -- as they should be.

Theresa Cheek said...

Regina,
I love the whole "ritual" of creating art....I really covet those Ming dynasty brush holders.....sigh

ceecee said...

What a joy to use well-crafted and beautiful objects to create with...but then to be able to paint as you do takes it to another level. Fabulous!

Catherine

Beth Connolly said...

I have a collection of calligraphy brushes-they are so beautiful.

angela@spinachtiger said...

Now I'm into food, but I used to do faux full time. You make your paints and tools look APPETIZING. Love your blog.

Theresa Cheek said...

Angela is here!!! We love the crisp quinoa with roasted butternut squash ! I have been sharing your blog for almost a year. Thanks for stopping in.

steve shriver said...

Great post Theresa! I love the tools of the trade too. I went to a brush shop in Yokohama when I worked on the Landmark Tower there in '93. It had every size of every brush you could imagine- from brooms to 0000 sables. Mind blowing! I wonder if it's still there. I'll have to post some pix of my collectibles some day. -steve

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