Back to "normal"...

After a month away from the blog, "The River" by Richard Montoya and directed by Sean San Jose with Campo Santo for Intersection For The Arts, is up and running and I couldn't be more happier. (insert happy face emoji here.) I'm proud of my work in this particular production and I'm proud of my cast, crew and the production as a whole.

I am, however, having a challenging time getting back to "normal" life after this production.

In the 10 years I have been working in theatre, I have to say that this particular project has stood out from all of the rest in a very good way. Not to say that other productions I have worked on have not been great, because there have been some real gems.

I don't know what or who you believe in, however, I believe God or the universe had a truly instrumental hand in this production. I say all of this because as I've told a few close friends, this process and the production of this play is the closest thing I've come to church or a spiritual experience working in theatre. I say this because every time I stepped in on a reading, a rehearsal, a tech day, whether it be to watch or do a fitting, I felt an energy that something bigger was at work in the room then what we were doing, that there was a bigger reason for this production, then just putting on a play.  I found myself looking forward to going to work on this project and I had a hard time leaving after my job was done. I still find myself popping in to check on costumes, but also to see the show again, even though I've seen it more times than I can count. I can't get it enough and some of the lines are even stuck in my head and in my heart. "The River" is a powerful, crazy, ride of play, that touches on so many topics and themes, its jam packed with everything!

I do truly believe the cast and crew as well as the script were all meant to be joined together with everyone involved. I also feel like it shows in each performance that occurs each time that cast gets on the stage and performs. I feel this is a production made out of love by everyone involved. It's made from love from people we have lost and from places we have lost along the way, just like some of the themes touched upon in the play itself.

So, coming down off of this natural high of working on an awesome production is a little disorienting.  It took me a week, but I think I'm finally getting things together, clearing the mess off my desk left in the wake of this production.  I am hitting the mediation even more to center and focus myself.  I also am mentally preparing myself for another Richard Montoya production, as I find myself in the position of Wardrobe Lead for "American Night" at California Shakespeare Theatre in a few months time.  I'm getting back on the thesis train and also anticipating the new Luis Alfaro play I will be working on, "Alleluia, The Road", with Triangle Lab in the Fall.  I even have a few smaller projects in the works to keep me busy, so I will surely not be bored this summer.

In other words, things are back in motion!

I highly encourage all of you to go see "The River "playing right now at the A.C.T. Costume Shop until May 4! Tickets are selling out quite fast since their is very limited seating in the space, which makes you feel right in the production itself. Who knows, you might see me there peeking my head out of the curtains one night.

Tickets for "The River": http://theriver2013.eventbrite.com

To get a glimpse of what you're in for, here are some beautiful pictures taken by photographer, Pak Han.

Go Time...

"Well it's Facebook official." That means it's official right?!  Just kidding.

The River is now out and about on the internet and it gets me excited!  According to my iPhone countdown app, there is 23 days till the show opens, April 11, 2013 to be exact.

What am I doing as of now at this stage in the production? Shopping, pulling, renting and building is what I am currently doing. 

Today I have a list of stores that I'm going to check out to see if I can find what I designed...because "if you draw it, you will find it," as I was once told in grad school. Let's see if this happens...

Here is a little sneak peek of one of my sketches for THE RIVER...

If you would like to read more on what this show is all about here you go:

THE RIVER by Richard Montoya and directed by Sean San Jose runs April 11, 2013- May 4, 2013.

I would also invite you to check out the project that The Triangle Lab is doing in concert with this production, called: CALIFAS: STORIES OF OUR JOURNEYS HOME, GATHERED, SHARED AND PERFORMED.

THE RIVER is the first play kicking off the CALIFAS project, followed by AMERICAN NIGHT at California Shakespeare Theatre and then ALLELUIA, THE ROAD at Intersection for The Arts.

If you're interested in attending the show, tickets are now available, here. Hope you all can make it!!!

Finding yourself as an artist...

It has been a month exactly since my last post and for the most part things have been somewhat normal, which means, nothing really exciting to write about....until this past week and a half. Business with The River is going really well and I'm excited for the process and what will become of the end result of this play. I have a really good feeling about it. It's a great script and a great cast that I think was brought together for a reason and purpose. What that reason and purpose is?  We will soon find out.

As well as my play, I'm in the middle of trying my best to finish my thesis for my MFA. Amongst this creative, organized chaos I've also been going through a lot of personal growth that is extremely positive and astounding in both the artistic form and as a person.  The results of this growth and its benefits are taking me by surprise and knocking me off my feet, but in a very awesome way!

One particular incident that happened was when I was researching for my thesis. I am doing a paper project of designing "The Birds" by Aristophanes, which is an ancient Greek comedy. My concept is to have it set in a contemporary world instead of Ancient Greece.

Now mind you, I started this project in Spring 2010 and I've been freshening up some of the work I did almost 3 years ago. (Yikes! It's been that long?!) One of my design concepts for some of the characters revolve around high fashion or the fashion world and I have a few designers whose collections have served as my research, which is very fun!  One designer in particular that I have been inspired by is English designer, Gareth Pugh. Mr. Pugh has become one of my favorite designers that I admire along with Vivienne Westwood, Alexander McQueen and Jean-Paul Gaultier.

Recently, I was looking to see what he had been doing recently to see if it could help inspire me and pertain to my research for my thesis and what I found just knocked me down. So, I can safely say that his Spring/Summer 2013 collection will be part of my research.

Between the mixture of the collection of the clothes, how it was styled and of course the music of Rebekah del Rio singing "Llorando", the whole experience of seeing this fashion show just blew me away on so many levels. I loved everything about seeing this whole show.
Who says fashion can't have an influence as a piece of art?

After watching a video of fashion reviewers and their reviews and descriptions of Gareth's show, I had one of Oprah's "A-ha" moments for myself where everything clicked for me. In seeing both videos I discovered and realized who I was as an artist, what kind of work am I drawn to and my own aesthetic, which is something I had been searching for, profusely for years. Its been a long journey, I can tell you that for sure.

I discovered and realized, I like balance and maybe that's the Libra in me, if you believe in horoscopes, but I truly believe that is something I am attracted to in life in general and is a part of me and how I see the world.

I'm attracted to art and theatre that portrays balance in masculinity vs. femininity, light vs. dark, good vs. evil, strength vs. weakness and etc...

It's pretty evident, now that I think about it, that the pieces of theatre that I have participated in that meant a lot to me and have stayed with me, identified with one of these struggles in balance.

It is an amazing thing that I feel I finally "figured myself out" as an artist and as a person.  I feel very focused now...more so than ever. This is good...this is very good.

On that note, I will keep on working and keep creating...

Enjoy...

Gareth Pugh Spring/Summer 2013 Ready to Wear Collection.

Love Note Swap

I think I found a new hobby in participating in the projects that Art House Co-Op puts on. I know, amidst designing a show and finishing a thesis, do I really have time to do other projects? But, these projects are fun and its something to do for myself it makes me happy. I always have time for things that make me happy, as we all should.

This time, I am sending a little bit of love to a perfect stranger in the form of "Love Note Swap"...and in return, I will get a little bit of love back, of course in the act of doing this and a bonus that someone will send me a card as well.

I think we all need to spread a little more love, regardless if it's a project....go spread some love today!

"Love grows by giving. The love we give away is the only love we keep. The only way to retain love is to give it away." -Elbert Hubbard

Draw Mode

I am in total drawing mode right now. That's all I seem to be doing and its good, very good. Cranking out first draft sketches for The River to see what I like and eventually what will make it to the stage. We had our first reading yesterday, well actually, the first reading with all the designers present and it was great!
I love when I am able to come to readings, because I'm sitting there looking at the actors becoming their characters with my ideas already in my head and making adjustments or confirmations of my designs. I can start to see how the costumes are going to look and that's always an amazing feeling.  Only a month now till rehearsals start and its going to get busy!

So for now, I will turn on my music, which happens to be a lot of music by Bonobo.

Bonobo is an musician I discovered several years ago and I enjoy his music because for some reason it makes me want to draw every time I hear it, its calm and soothing, yet also invigorating as well. Let me get back to drawing.

Enjoy.

Distractions Turning Into Inspiration.

When working on projects I get distracted at times, I think its because its loss of inspirational steam. It happens, but I usually get back on track or not, depends on the day. I usually listen to music to keep my steam going and tonight wasn't any different.

I was working on drawings for a project tonight and I got distracted into drawing something for myself for fun. Then I had a distraction from my distraction.

This video.





It is fortunate that my distraction from my distraction, inspired me on another aspect of the project I was previously working on tonight that I was distracted from. Interesting. Full Circle.

I think my current obsession with Oh Land, paid off tonight in more ways than good music.

Sketchbook Complete!

January 15, 2013 was a bit momentous for me. I finished my sketchbook for The Sketchbook Project 2013 with Art House Co-op. January 15 was the due date or when the sketchbook had to be postmarked and I was able to finish and send it in that day. So now this year, my little Sketchbook will go on a national tour along with a few thousand other books and then eventually make its home in the Brooklyn Art Library.

It was my first time doing The Sketchbook Project. I've been wanting to do this project for about a year.
I've had the sketchbook since May, but it took me till finally November to finally start getting ideas and putting some sketches in it.

I've noticed that a lot of the sketchbooks from the past on the website have themes that tie the pages in the books. I have to say, I didn't have one and that's OK. I'm fine with it.  I also had a hard time deciding what to put in the book as well. I've never had a project like this as an artist, where I could do anything I want; it was a little daunting, but also a bit liberating.  So I followed that bit of advice for writers, "Write what you know" and substituted it with sketch what you know. I know how to draw costumes and characters...so that's what I did. I drew ideas for characters that came in my head, nothing spectacular, every day people is what I ended up drawing.

I enjoyed the project so much that I would like to do it next year, maybe next time with a theme.

I'm proud and glad I did it. I did this whole project to challenge me as an artist in order to see what do I like to draw for fun. Good question.  Apparently Art House Co-Op had that question along with some other ones like, What moves me? What type of emotion are you conveying with your book? What do you usually specialize in with your art? What's your artist statement? They even ask some of these questions when you're filling out your online profile to describe what type of sketchbook your book is.  Is it a journal? A sketchbook? A memoir? A comic, etc? I still haven't figured all of this out and I'm working on filling out that portion on my profile on the site...expect to see something in the next few days or weeks. *Crosses Fingers*
These are all very good questions that I've started questioning within myself with in the past year as an artist and a costume designer.  I guess its good to take a stand for your art and be concrete with what you do. I see theatre's with mission statements, even director's, I think its time for me to have one.

All in all, it dusted off the cobwebs and made me stretch my artistic muscles and I am forever grateful for this project and for making myself do it.  I guess I have some things to think over and figure out and I'm happy to do it.

*If you want to check out my sketchbook, pictures I took of my sketches and the digitizing of my sketches will be filtering in over the next few weeks. Enjoy! Courtney's Sketchbook Project Page

Buzzing.

Another season working wardrobe at California Shakespeare Theatre came to a close last month. I'm glad to be back and starting tech, working wardrobe for The White Snake at Berkeley Rep tomorrow.  The White Snake looks to be an exciting and beautiful show.

Apart from wardrobe work, I am back in the design pool and it seems my world is abuzz with exciting projects for the new year. I will be designing costumes for two new plays, but I will hold off on the details for a wee little bit longer, just so that I can soak it in and enjoy the moment. :) 

Along, with all this theater buzz, this election is making me nervous and anxious.  Here we go again. I will be voting bright and early, before tech tomorrow. I bet it's going to be a restless day.  I'm hoping you go and vote too!

Cover Girl...

A few weeks ago I finally finished the cover of my sketch book for The Sketchbook Project 2013. It's so exciting!!! The journey begins.

I decided to cover both the outside and inside of the cover.  I used a few different medias: Gouache, Sharpie and even some Prisma Color markers. Here is to a good start! Cheers.

Outside Cover: Front and Back

Inside Cover: Front and Back

Back On Track

After a quite long hiatus, this new year has led to getting myself back on track. I have been working mostly doing wardrobe work at local theaters and have enjoyed it immensely. I have met a ton of new people, worked with some old colleagues and just enjoyed myself. I have also seen some wonderful shows in between.

In between the working, I have had two major projects I am currently working on, prepping for another season of summer wardrobe work and I am also planning a trip for Fall 2012.

This past week, I added another small project which I am super excited to be working on! As of this week I am now participating in "The Sketchbook Project 2013". I will be receiving a sketch book that I will be filling up with my wonderful art work. My sketch book along with hundreds of others will be part of nationwide tour and eventually be part of a permanent collection at the Brooklyn Art Library, in Brooklyn, New York. I have till January of 2013 to complete my sketch book and I am super excited as well as nervous. I have no idea what I will draw, which makes it that more thrilling.

This project will be a wonderful experience that I will share with a ton of creative people from all over the world. It is also so thrilling, that my work will be out in the world and part of permanent collection for the public to see.

Here is also a video on the project from the creators of The Sketchbook Project, Art House Co-Op.
 

In the months to come, feel free to watch my page(Courtney's Page), since I will be uploading pics of my progress. It would also be great if you went through and looked at all the other great and amazing people contributing to the project with their art work as well.

If you feel like joining the project yourself, since anyone can join, you have until October 31, 2012 to sign up since the sketch books are due January 15, 2013. Here's the link: The Sketchbook Project 2013 Have Fun!!!

This is going to be great!!!