Above is the awesome logo that Chad Kouri designed for our forum Beyond Walls, Nontraditional Ways of Making a Living as an Artist.

I am super excited (and a bit nervous) for my first Artist at Work Forum hosted by the Chicago Artist Resource. The workshop will open up with introductions from three Chicago artists and myself where we will be talking about how we sustain a living beyond the traditional brick and mortar gallery system. During the second part of the event there will be an audience discussion including myself and the following artists:

Lynn Basa creates works that adapt in setting and scale from intimate studio paintings to site-specific public art commissions in terrazzo and mosaic. She is the author of The Artist’s Guide to Public Art: How to Find and Win Commissions.

Lee Tracy, is an artist who explores many mediums and formats of expression to make varied points that resonate from one voice.

Local insomniac Chad Kouri of The Post Family is a freelance illustrator and Art Director of Proximity Magazine.

If you are in the Chicago area next week, feel free to drop by to say hello! The event is being held Downtown at the Chicago Cultural Center on Thursday, August 20th between 6-7:30PM and is located at 78 E. Washington, Chicago , IL 60602.

[ UPDATE ]

I promised a follow up to the panel presentation and am delighted to be able to share this information as part the of Design*Sponge’s Biz Ladies series.

You can read the article [ right here ].

It goes without saying that blogs are an amazing method to network, promote ourselves and spread the word about fellow businesses we identify with.

On a macroeconomic plane, blogs reach out to a global market allowing small businesses to sustain a viable living through the internet as demonstrated in the DIY movement, etsy.com and the rise in e-commerce only boutiques.

At the same time, on a micro-cosmic level, the way things are bought and sold has become more personal. Through blogs an enormous amount of content and substance suddenly arises out of a simple transaction. From buying a handmade porcelain cup to a one of kind lithograph print, the information posted in blogs about the artists who design and create the things we buy bring a new level of connection between us.

On this note, I’d like to give a very big thank you to all the wonderful people who have mentioned Ashes & Milk in their blogs. I tried to credit everyone, but may have missed a few of you. -Don’t hesitate to let me know. Also, for those of you interested in blogging about Ashes & Milk, shoot me an email at info[at]ashesandmilk.com.

This spring I wrote a short article called At the Heart of Value is Desire: A Gallerists Take on Value as part of the Chicago Artist Coalition monthly publication, Chicago Artists’ News. Each issue is a resource for visual artists including information about gallery openings, calls for entry, grant opportunities and job postings. To inquire more about Chicago Artists’ News – contact the editor, Alyson Koblas at editor@caconline.org.

Also, I want to thank artist Lynn Basa, and CAC editor Alyson Klobas for the opportunity to contribute to the Chicago Artists’ News, May 2009 Issue. The experience of writing this article has not only given me a deeper understanding of how I value art, but has also provided a platform for conversation. I’ve received some really wonderful responses. One of my favorite things said was by the artist, Charlie Spear:

“Inspiration, for me, is the most vital aspect of value. When I look at a work of art I must be inspired to create also. I must be drawn into the process (of art-making) for art to have lasting power…and immediately charged as if I was in a conversation with the artist and (thus) it is my turn to respond.”

[ To read the full article above, click on the image or download a PDF version of it right here. ]

Architecture of Nature woodcut prints by Deborah Weiss. Clockwise from top-left: Calligraphic, Palm, Vine and Cascade.

I am so excited to welcome artist Deborah Weiss to Ashes & Milk whom created the above collection of graphically eloquent woodcut prints called the Architecture of Nature. Through relief carving and a distinctive print technique, Deborah pieces together deconstructed silhouettes of botanical imagery onto Nepalese paper.

Deborah in her Connecticut Studio composing ‘Architecture of Nature – Vine.’

Nikko: Can you tell me a little about your process of creating a woodblock print and how you come up with your ideas?

Deborah: I have a degree in graphic design and art history. -That said the textile studio was my second home in college. Also, textiles to this day remain an unending source of inspiration. I found my way to printmaking about 6 years ago when I began spending time at the Center for Contemporary Printmaking in Norwalk, Connecticut.

The printmaking world is vast, traditional techniques and new digital media offers a limitless opportunity for artists.  However, I became enamored of the woodcut print. About 5 years ago I began to commit my time and energy to solely exploring the woodcut print. For me it is a technique which is boundless and fascinating. Although I have had the opportunity to work with a couple of established woodcut printmakers I consider myself for the most part self taught.  It is through endless experimentation that I arrive at a body of work.  I thoroughly enjoy the carving process and print all of my own work.  Unlike the traditional edition – I use and reuse my carved blocks – reinventing them and printing them in different ways.

The exquisite detail of Deborah’s hand-carved print block.

Deborah: I work in a very non traditional way – my initial concept is based on the carved block not the finished print.  When I begin to carve I am thinking about form or imagery that inspires me. When the block has been carved I begin to explore the possibilities as I print it in numerous different ways. -I can rotate the block, overprint several layers and in the case of the Architecture of Nature series I began to print only selected sections of the carved block.  When I had numerous selected areas of the block printed I began to reassemble them. I “rebuilt” the plant/flower form in a way that is recognizable yet fractured. The title “Architecture of Nature” seemed like the appropriate title to this body of work as I do feel like I am building a natural form block/piece by piece.

[ You can see the Architecture of Nature collection by Deborah Weiss here. ]

[ For those of you in the Connecticut area, you can personally experience the artwork of Deborah Weiss at ArtSpace located at 555 Asylum Avenue in Hartford. ]

(Photo courtsey of Steven Haulenbeek)

Designed by Steven Haulenbeek of The Mighty Bearcats, the Dubbot Modular lighting system shown above was created from post consumer polypropylene.

Steven was awarded Best in Show and Green Design for this piece in the 2009 Modern+Design+Function competition sponsored by Design Within Reach.

You can see more of The Mighty Bearcat’s work right here.

The above stones were created by French artist Lionel Esteve called Again the Night.

Eight stones (huit pierres) in varying dimensions are delicately embroidered with yarn (pierres, fils à broder). They remind me very much of Ashes & Milk’s artist Yoran Morvant and his Pierres Graphiques.

Photography of Lionel Esteve’s artwork is courtesy of Galerie Emmanuel Perrotin.

Above is a remarkable example of the 2009 generation of Pierres Graphiques created by Yoran Morvant. At the monumental dimensions of 7 x 4 x 4 inches, this piece is breathtakingly gorgeous.

Ashes & Milk is so excited to introduce the 2009 collection of Pierres Graphiques. The new pattern is designed to fit a -{ considerably larger stone }- ranging from 4-7 inches in length.

Not surprisingly Yoran is an architectural draftsman by trade. One can easily see how his landscape drawings are a source of inspiration for the Pierres Graphiques.

[ You can see more of Yoran's landscape drawings here. ]

[ Be sure to view the new collection of Pierres Graphiques 2009 in Ashes & Milk's Gallery. ]

Here are a few peaks from two neat little books Souvenir and Lytte Til Laeken, a collaboration between Danish textile artist Anette Blaesbjerg Orom and poet Eske K. Mathiesen.

[ You can see more textiles by Anette Blaesbjerg Orom in Ashes & Milk's Gallery. ]

I was so exhilarated when Elaine Matsushita, editor of the Chicago Tribune’s House & Homes section contacted me about Ashes & Milk. She wanted to include Ashes & Milk in a special products feature involving birds. Above is the article in the Sunday newspaper called “Finds of a Feather.” Showcased is the Needle Nose Bird from Helen Beard’s Porcelain Cup Collection.

For those of you on facebook.com who are interested in all things surrounding the home, decorating, crafts and gardening be sure sure to check out Henrietta @ Home, the virtual face of the Chicago Tribune’s House & Homes section.

On the left is Oiseaux de la France – Petite Kaki, and on the right is Oiseaux de la France – Grande Sage.

Ashes & Milk’s current featured artist is French ceramicist Claire Redor, who created the above birds especially for Ashes & Milk as part of the Oiseaux de la France Collection. Each piece is sculpted from clay and finished in the soft earthy hues of bleu, crème, cocoa, kaki, sage and gris. Available in petite or grande.

Above is the exquisite Claire Redor.

[ You can see more of her work here. ]