Oh, What's In Here?

And I'm back. Again.

It's been over a year (oops) since my last update. So here's a basic run down of what I've been doing with myself and my work.

Still working at Papyrus, made some more paper dresses for the company. No details on those today, I (and I think this) need a break from them.

I had begun to neglect my writing, so I joined a local group to keep me focused in that area. Lots of new poetry and finally making some headway on a few of the numerous novels I've started. The scary stories are fighting over the front seat, at the moment. Perhaps a snip-it from one later.

And through the writing group, I am having an artist Meet and Greet at the end of September. The woman who runs the center that the writing group meets at learned I paint and we arranged to have some of my work shown.

So I am busy preparing for the Meet and Greet. Lots still to finish. Not making as fast of progress as I initially hoped (the rest of my life has been taking up a lot of time), but still working toward it nonetheless.

So let's end with a couple little things I don't plan to have at the Meet and Greet. Mostly works-in-progess this time.

Until next time, farewell.

 - Ari

Untitled-WIP, acrylic on canvas, 18"x24"

Paper, Paper, Everywhere

Since my last entry, my part-time position at Papyrus has turned into a full-time position, and I have been very busy making many more paper dresses for the company.

Last time I mentioned a third dress which was heading to Florida. This dress's destination was switched a couple times, but wound up going to the Papyrus store in SoHo, NYC. Following that, I took a break from the wedding themed dresses and made a few spring themed ones for The Gardens in Palm Beach, Florida, Edina, Minnesota, and San Diego, California.

SoHo

 For the SoHo dress, the bodice was again made of ribbon, though this time I brought it over one of the shoulders. There I tied the strands into bows. The difficult part was getting the silk ribbons to stay curled.

 Toward the end of this dress's construction, I was informed that we also needed a hat. Even though the other previous wedding dresses had hats made by another individual, there wasn't one for this dress. So I had to quickly come up with a hat to compliment the dress. The part I think I like the most about the hat is the paper feather, which was extremely tedious and time consuming. But I think it came out quite snazzy.
 

The Gardens

The dress for The Gardens, in Palm Beach, may be the most exciting paper dress experience I've had yet. It was the fourth in total, but the first Spring themed dress. At this point, I had gotten used to the ways the paper would (or wouldn't) work. I had figured out most of the structural challenges I had with the first three. Plus I was super excited to get to some color.


But, to top it all off, I got to fly down to Florida (on my first business trip) and install the dress, the window display, and help out with the new store. There already was a Papyrus in The Gardens Mall, but they were being upgraded to Cherry Blossom status and were moving to a new and more spacious locations within the mall. The old store there did not have the large window that is signature to the Cherry Blossoms, so I lead the installation of the display and shared my experience with the woman who would be in charge of it.

The new store was still under construction when I was there, so I don't have any photos of the window from the outside with the finished store.

I also made a headpiece for this dress and shoes.

Edina

The Edina dress was the fifth dress, and the second of the spring dresses. It also had a headpiece. Since I was not going to Minnesota, I decided to make this one a little longer so that it hopefully would not be in need of shoes.

The shoes are rather difficult, though mostly because I need the feet of the mannequin to construct them on since I do not know the mannequins' size(s) nor what position each individual mannequin (particularly her feet) is in. Also I haven't found an easy way of attaching the shoes without actually taping them to the mannequin's feet. If I need to make many more paper shoes in the future, I will hopefully find solutions to all of that.

San Diego

The sixth dress went to San Diego. Again, this one had a headpiece, and though it was shorter I did not make shoes for this one.











After the sixth, I got a brief respite from paper dress making from April to about June. I then began working on a few new dresses. I have completed three others and am now starting work on 11 for Fashion Night Out in NYC. I am on a very tight schedule for those, so when they are done I can hopefully get the other three up. After Fashion Night Out I will be sure to share about that experience.

Once again, I would like to state that this project is owned by and the property of Papyrus and the Schurman Fine Retail Group.

Until next time, farewell.

- Ari

Paper and Ribbon

And I'm back.

I know it's been several months (well, a bit more than several) since my last entry. I do rather have a tendency to disappear from the online world suddenly for extended periods of time. Life beckoning and distracting and all that.

Anyway.

So the most recent and exciting work I've done lately has been as the result of the part-time job I have at a Papyrus store. Last year, Papyrus started this project with paper dresses. A couple weeks ago, they decided to do another round of dresses, which are wedding themed this time, and my store manager suggested that I design and create a few.

I worked on a number of sketches, and wound up with the top three favorites between my store's manager, our district manager, and myself. The first two dresses I finished within a week. They are now displayed in the Papyrus windows of Grand Central Station and Short Hills Mall, which I also helped install/setup.

Grand Central Station

and

Short Hills

Because the mannequins the dresses were being displayed on were considerably taller than the mannequins I made them on, we had to add more length to the bottom of both. I also made paper shoes for both.

I have begun working on the third dress, which is due in Florida for a grand opening at the end of February. I'll be sure to put up pictures of that one when it's finished.

I do just want to state plainly before wrapping this up, that this project is owned by and the property of Papyrus and the Schurman Fine Retail Group.

Until next time, farewell.

- Ari

Pomp and Circumstance

Finished my BFA and graduated with Highest Honors at the end of May! I've now moved back home with my parents and have been busy cleaning out my closet which was rampaged by mice in my absence. The silver lining there is that I've been meaning to clean it out for years and this has kicked my butt into gear to do so. And it's helping me get rid of anything I really don't need.

Anyway, so I haven't made the time yet to work on any new art. But here are a few charcoal studies I did a while ago. New things soon.

Until next time, farewell.

- Ari

"Immure", "See You", "Golden Wing"
charcoal on cotton paper, 5"x5"

Tick, Tick, Tick

I have been busy as of late finishing up my undergraduate degree. I have only a few more crits left, then graduation. At the beginning of this month the Senior Fine Arts show opened, which was tons of work but very exciting.

Anyway, most of my work lately has been focused on just finishing projects for classes. I have a lot of ideas for personal projects that I will hopefully get to start as soon as graduation is over.

For now, here's one of the paintings I included in the Senior show and a brief poem.

Until next time, farewell.

- Ari



- Waiting for the Train -

Waiting for the train.
I sit here as the red lights
Flicker back and forth with a
Tick, Tick, Tick.
The great engine rumbles by
And I can feel my little car shudder.
I am waiting for the train.
Tick, Tick, Tick.
I glance down the length of the track
But cannot see the end.
I am waiting for the train.
Tick, Tick, Tick.
One day I tried a different route,
But another train found me.
I am still waiting for the train.
Tick, Tick, Tick.



"I Can't Shake Her", acrylic on canvas, 20"x24"

Helen & Daphne

I'm currently taking a Modern Poetry class, and we have to write weekly responses to poems that we read. Responses can be in a number of forms, and the one I choose most often is a poem of my own. Last week, I was reading some Yeats and was very struck by "No Second Troy".

Here is an excerpt:
"Why should I blame her, that she filled my days
With misery, or that she would of late
Have taught to ignorant men most violent ways,
Or hurled the little streets upon the great,
Had they but courage equal to desire? . . .
Why, what could she have done being what she is?
Was there another Troy for her to burn?"

The notes in my book mentioned he was talking partly about Maud Gonne, whom I read up on. She and her relationship with Yeats reminded me very strongly of someone very close to me. She inspires a great deal of my work, both visual and literary, though at times she can be a source of stress in my life. So for her, in response to Yeats, I wrote the following poem. The poem also finally provided a suitable title for a drawing I did of her a number of months ago.

Until next time, farewell.

- Ari



- The Laurel Tree -

Should scorn be given unto the tree
That refuses to return the lover’s embrace?
Only if the nymph who inspires me
Be blamed for having such a beautiful face.

Daughter of the swift river with eyes
Like stars, “she flees him, swifter than the wind.”
No matter how much to her he cries,
To stay out of his arms she is determined.

Yet, no matter how far she may flee or run,
Or in magical woodland places hide,
Her beauty will e’er be loved by me and the Sun
And the joy she excites never denied.

Alas, that by arrows we have all been pricked!
And such emotions and visions does she incite!
That thought of her such frustration on us inflict,
We may almost think of our love for her a blight.

Yet how can the singer cease his song?
How can the painter or poet ignore his Muse?
Then, despite my pain and futility prolong,
No matter the price, her love I will not loose.

Though the tree may not return the lover’s embrace
And she may taunt me with vexation and alarm,
Finding fault with their nature should not be the case.
After all, the struggle only adds to their charm.


"Her Love I Will Not Loose", graphite on paper, 9"x12"

Beginnings

I always tend to tread lightly, a little hesitantly, whenever I start something new. I’m a bit of a perfectionist, and I can be a bit preoccupied with getting things right from the get-go. But I know it doesn’t, nor should it, be perfect right out of the gate. So even though I could procrastinate longer, with more research, preparation, and excuses, I think I’ll throw open the door and start running. Now.

Let’s start with a brief introduction. I’m Ari. I live in the northeast US, and am only a few short months away from graduating from college with a BFA in Fine Arts Studio and a minor/concentration in Literary and Cultural Studies. Primarily, I am an acrylic painter, though I do some watercolor, as well as drawings and non-toxic printmaking. I also love to write both poetry and prose fiction.

The point, I suppose, of this blog, is to share my work with more people. And to motivate myself to finish things, stay on schedule, and keep records up-to-date. I can’t tell you how many paintings sit around for months before I photograph them, and then months more before I label the files and organize them. As for my written work, I rarely get to share any of that with anyone, though I would like to. So, here I am! Here is my opportunity!

To conclude this beginning, I will leave you with a small sampling of some of my recent work.

Until next time, farewell.

- Ari


"Waste of Time", acrylic on canvas, 18"x24"


"Consumed", charcoal on cotton paper, 5"x5"



-Waiting to Begin-

I am waiting.

The window sits before me,
Securely set in the sturdy wall.
I can smell the warmth of the sun
Shining on the cotton curtains
That I have yet to draw back.
I shift my weight from one side
And then back to the other.
My hand lifts, hesitantly,
And pauses in the still air.
Am I ready? Is it time?

Slowly, gently, my fingers
Stroke the curtains’ inner seams,
Easing my way in between.
As my hand pushes through,
I can feel the sunlight beams’
Warmth draping across my skin.
It is inviting, comforting, I want
To keep going, to get closer,
To feel the blanket of light
All over my tepid body.

I throw open the curtains,
Quickly, before my spirit fails.
Brightness of light blinds me,
But only for a passing moment.
I flutter my eyelids, and soon adjust.
Beyond the pane, I can see
The vastness of the world laid out
On the other side of the glass.
Full of wonder, possibility, life,
Highs, lows, and everything between.

There is a sudden urge, a yearning,
That leaps up into my chest.
It pulls at me, beckoning my forward.
But there is still something
Clinging to me from behind.
I press my hands firmly against the glass,
But cannot coax the rest of my body
To move not even an inch more.
I want it, I know I do, but
Am I ready? Is it time?

I am waiting.

Waiting.

Waiting to begin.