Art – Page 341 – Smriti "Simmi" D. Isaac

Posted on June 4, 2011January 19, 2013 by Simmi D. Isaac — 1 Comment

Elephants In Batik: Good For A Card Or A Piece of Art

Three summers ago, I was in Bangalore, India, and made a stop at the famed Cauvery Emporium, the Karnataka state government emporium that has all kinds of handicraft items from pottery, ceramics, metalware, fabrics, etc.

I didn’t do any major shopping while there, but did pick up a few handmade cards– simple greeting cards made with recycled paper. But the fronts of the cards carried a cutout piece of fabric of an elephant in a batik pattern. Batik is an ancient art of painting with vegetable-dyes and a distinctive style. Even as I was purchasing the cards, I had in the back of my mind an idea on perhaps framing a couple of them because they looked so exquisite.

See the full gallery on Posterous

Well, its taken me the better part of almost three years to get to act upon my lovely idea, but I have finally done it. As you see, it’s not a bad idea at all! A beautiful work of art showcased in an elegant frame with a double matte. I love it!

Posted on May 22, 2011January 19, 2013 by Simmi D. Isaac — Leave a comment

A Labor of Love: With the Hands and From the Heart

You didn’t think a holiday like Mother’s Day would mean only a card, a brunch, and some cake and flowers, did you? Well if you did, then you certainly don’t know how terribly, nay, incredibly fortunate I am! Because how could it be that I didn’t receive a handmade gift on a day like this? It couldn’t be! Handmade, because those are the priceless gifts that could never take the place of even the most valuable gifts that you could ever buy for money!

So, yes, I did receive a lovely piece of art from my firstborn, who worked on it at least three weekends in a row without my knowledge, and then had it framed and gift-wrapped to present it to me with a flourish on Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 8, 2011. And sweet as they both are– my firstborn and my secondborn– they also picked up a couple of storebought gifts (two gorgeous tops) just in case! But of course, everything else paled in comparison to the genuine beauty and detail of this piece of art.

See for yourself what I mean. I am most flattered that in my child’s eye, her mother is a mix of Esmeralda and Jasmine rolled into one! But I was told the rendition is indeed accurate for certain defining features: my once-very long and lush black hair, as well as the prominent mole on my face. The rest of her, well, she’s actually too gorgeous, but hey, I’m not arguing this!

Posted on April 21, 2011January 19, 2013 by Simmi D. Isaac — Leave a comment

Pysanksy Eggs in the Ukranian Tradition

I attended a workshop on campus earlier this week on how to make pysanky eggs. It was quite the experience and quite the exercise that took an hour-and-a-half, a real egg, a block of beeswax, a candle, and a most curious implement which served as the applicator of the wax to make the patterns. Plus at least three times of dipping into jars of colored water made from vegetable dyes, drying it, applying the wax, repeating the dipping process, and then finally melting all the wax off by holding it to the flame of the candle!

Painstaking in every sense of the word. But, fun too! And the egg, well, apparently if you leave it out in a well-ventilated room it will dry out in a years’ time, I was told.

There’s a lovely wiki entry on this Ukranian tradition right here. They’re made around Easter, it seems. Each one, a beautiful work of art!

Posted on April 18, 2011January 19, 2013 by Simmi D. Isaac — Leave a comment

For The Love Of Art

This is an inaugural post to this sub-section of my blog, simply titled Art. Simple though that word might be, it is, as we know defined by the eye of the beholder. I have attempted to offer a brief description of the purpose of this blog, and I offer it here again: A place dedicated to highlight and celebrate my love of art– especially my personal collections in various media ranging from lithographs and oils, to folk-art from around the world. Plus, news and information on lovers of art and those who create it.

Furthermore, I wish to share also Oscar Wilde’s preface to his book titled The Picture of Dorian Gray. Wilde offers an interesting take on how he views art and what possibly comprises it; the approach of the viewer and creator of it; and the purpose of art itself. An excerpt of this preface follows :

The artist is the creator of beautiful things. To reveal art and conceal the artist is art’s aim. The critic is he who can translate into another manner or a new material his impression of beautiful things.

The moral life of man forms part of the subject-matter of the artist, but the morality of art consists in the perfect use of an imperfect medium. No artist desires to prove anything. Even things that are true can be proved. No artist has ethical sympathies. An ethical sympathy in an artist is an unpardonable mannerism of style. No artist is ever morbid. The artist can express everything. Thought and language are to the artist instruments of an art. Vice and virtue are to the artist materials for an art.

From the point of view of form, the type of all the arts is the art of the musician. From the point of view of feeling, the actor’s craft is the type. All art is at once surface and symbol. Those who go beneath the surface do so at their peril. Those who read the symbol do so at their peril.

It is the spectator, and not life, that art really mirrors. Diversity of opinion about a work of art shows that the work is new, complex, and vital. When critics disagree, the artist is in accord with himself.

We can forgive a man for making a useful thing as long as he does not admire it. The only excuse for making a useless thing is that one admires it intensely.