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.

Things That Make Me Happy...Part 2.

Right now, this week to be specific, I am in design mode for The River. A majority of my characters are all sketched out, they are just awaiting their color to be applied and to give them life. Color renderings are always a fun part of the design process.

However, I am still stumped with one character and I am becoming a mad woman to try and figure out what this character would look like. I have ideas, research and starting points, but its like when you have something to say and its on the tip of your tongue and you can't remember it. I will know it when I see it though!

In order to help give the muses a kick-start I've been pouring fashion magazines. No luck...so far.  I've also discovered that You Tube is a vault of fashion shows, so I've been obsessively watching everyone's Spring/Summer 2013 collections for inspiration triggers as well. I forgot how much I love watching fashions show, because at one time, I did want to be come a fashion designer...but life had other plans for me, costume design for theatre.

It just so happens that everything that makes me happy right now revolves around the fashion world, which takes me back to my roots of why I became interested in designing clothing and then costumes in present day. In a search of inspiration to help motivate me I stepped into a fashion vortex this week, which is quite alright with me.

So, here are some things that make me extremely happy right now...go check them out!


*Chanel's Spring-Summer 2013 Haute Couture Show. I'm a fan of Chanel as well as Karl Lagerfeld (current designer for Chanel) after watching the documentary "Lagerfeld Confidential" a few years back. Amazing and intriguing if you like fashion. So I know anything he designs is fabulous.

I don't know why, but I love this fashion show. I love how Lagerfeld likes to show his collections in the Grand Palais in Paris most of the time, a beautiful building. I'm feeling the lace legging boots A LOT, I'm feeling the little feathery things in the models hair, I just love all the clothes and the whole ambience. I know, its a little out there for most people, but I enjoy it.

* Gucci Spring/Summer 2013 Pret-A-Porter (Ready To Wear) Woman.  I am ALL ABOUT COLOR in my wardrobe right now and this show sealed the deal. I think I love almost every piece in this show, especially the clothing in Blue, Turquoise and Green.

* "Bill Cunningham New York" I saw this documentary over the weekend and it is a beautiful movie that captures love for fashion and clothing in a very pure way.  The documentary is about 83-year-old fashion photographer, Bill Cunningham, who takes fashion photos on the streets of New York of every day people and on the fashion runways for the New York Times Style Section.

How Bill is so passionate about his photography and clothing was a reminder of how I use to feel when I first started designing, the film is a welcome and amazing kick-my-pants reminder of why I love designing. 

Watch it. It will make you feel good and shed a few tears...I know I did.

* "A Man's Story", which is another fashion documentary, this time on English Men's designer, Oswald Boateng. I had never even heard of this designer until I saw this film, who knew? But he is making a name for English men's tailoring on Savile Row and I would love to see his shop the next time I make it to London. 

The documentary covers the span of 12 years and shows the highs and lows of personal and professional markers in his life. You can even see how Boateng's style changes and gets cleaner and more precise with time. I just enjoy seeing his energy, passion for menswear, his love for color and detail. This film makes me enjoy menswear even more! Loved this!

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.

Things That Make Me Happy...

Here are just a few things in my life that are making me quite happy lately.

*Mad Men Season Six starting April 7! Oh yeah!!!  I'm hoping this new season has more Betty Draper.

Last season they stopped in 1967 and the costumes were very interesting. I can't wait to see what Costume Designer, Janie Bryant has in store.

* Essie Nail Color in "Play Date". I'm trying it out. I'm longing for Spring weather and this color makes me think of Spring.

* Zero Dark Thirty...the movie, directed by Kathryn Bigelow. This film is currently nominated for Best Picture for the Academy Awards. No, it literally doesn't make me happy, because it isn't a happy movie per se. However, I was just in awe of the body of work this film is and what Kathryn Bigelow did with the piece. I can't explain it in words what it is that moved me so much, but it was just a feeling or a stirring inside me that said, I wish more people would see this, it's important.

I think its an amazing and thought provoking film.

The River starts flowing...

Yesterday around 11a.m. I was driving to my job and listening to my Spotify playlist with "Soul Rebel" by Bob Marley & The Wailers ending and "Hurt So Good" by Susan Cadogan beginning (shameless song drop), when BAM an idea hit me. Ideas for costume designs for characters in the new play I'm working on. My ideas often happen like that, either in the shower getting ready for the day or when I'm driving somewhere listening to music. I revel in those idea moments hitting me like running into a brick wall, they put a huge smile on my face and I want to jump, but circumstances prevent me. (I can't jump in the shower or I'll hurt myself and in the car I'm strapped down by a seat belt.)

Anyway, the research and idea process are probably my favorite parts of the design process. For the past month I've read and re-read THE RIVER by Richard Montoya (several times), which is the new play I'm designing for Campo Santo with Intersection For The Arts, directed by Sean San Jose, that opens in April (78 days to be exact).

I've let the characters and their conversations speak to me and imagined this new world. I usually start to get images in my head and for this one it was a lot of color. The picture below is one of the many pictures I am using in my research and a smidgen of taste of what the show might be like. However, you will have to come see it for yourself.

I always seem to get a photo, a painting or some sort of art piece that becomes my starting point, where then I can springboard off and dive into creating the world of the play and the characters. This is when I start researching different types of clothing and people according to what I'm reading and who the characters are, what they do, how they behave, their personality. I think that's what I love best about designing costumes, figuring out a characters personality because each one is different and exciting.

So, this past Monday, we had our first production meeting and it was delightful, helpful and exciting talking about this world that Richard Montoya has made for us in his writing to put forth in real life. It's awesome hearing all the designers ideas of what they imagine for sets, lights and sound combined with my costume designs coming together in this pot to make this delicious dish of a play. This is one of the reasons I love working in theatre...

And of course, this meeting helped me to get ideas for a few characters that I had not fully fleshed out, which was my idea spark at the beginning of this post. A beautiful thing production meetings are.  

So...what next? Now comes another fun part...sketching these costumes out.  

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

I'll do it tomorrow...

It's going to stop...really.  Tech is over, time to return to normal habits and normal life. Let me go make my list.

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

Changes

Well after 8 long and wonderful years, I parted ways with my Dell Inspirion laptop last week. Well, actually it was more like January, but, its all good.

After much hemming and hawing, I decided to bite the bullet and embrace the Apple world. I mean, I might as well since I have an iPhone and an iPad. So I went and bought myself a MacBook Pro. Although, its easy to use, its still taking some time to get use to it.  I am hoping I can get back to being my MORE productive self again. I'm also hoping to blog more...which I'm always hoping to do.

I'm wondering if I should name my little laptop? Or is that going too far? After all, she is going to be my little sidekick and yes, it is a she.

The Cure for inspiration.

So for the past few weeks my sketch book has been sitting on my Drafting table waiting patiently for me to draw in it.
Well today was the day I finally put pencil to book.  It's a start, but I started designing the cover of my book and the inside back cover. I also had a little musical inspiration from The Cure: Greatest Hits.

I had a little Art Nouveau inspiration.  More to come!

So it begins...

This week a sweet little package arrived in the mail from the people at Art House Co-Op.  My Sketchbook arrived and is ready to be filled in!

First on the agenda:  pick a theme for my sketchbook. I think I have one. You will have to stay tuned for the answer to that one.

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!!!

Summer 2011

Wow! I can't believe it's been about 6 months since my last post! It has been one crazy year and summer for me.
I haven't posted in several months due to my new position that will end in October. Currently I am working as Wardrobe Lead at California Shakespeare Theater(aka:Cal Shakes) in Orinda, CA. That's right folks, an outdoor theater. I originally interned at this theater in 2009 as a Costume Design intern, so it is great to be back amongst people I know in a working capacity, where this time I get paid for my skills.

My work schedule consists of working 6 nights a week with the traditional Monday, Dark Day. My social life is on hold till October, but I'm gaining a theater social life in return with all the amazing casts and crews that I've been working with for each show.

As of now, we have had a pretty great season. Our season consisted of TITUS ANDRONICUS, THE VERONA PROJECT, and now we are smack in the middle of George Bernanrd Shaw's, CANDIDA. We have a week off after CANDIDA finishes and then right back to our last show, TAMING OF THE SHREW.

I have to say that its been a great experience to see the different nuances and "vibes" of the personalities of each cast. I have to say, each cast is different.

I've also had a great hands on experience of working with the different nuances of costume needs for each show.

For TITUS ANDRONICUS, my main issue was blood, cleaning it up and washing bloody laundry. It was a big cast, so lots of maintenance on costumes.

THE VERONA PROJECT, was a easy show. Just two small loads of laundry every night, but we did have the cold factor, so thermals and body suits to keep everyone warm.

CANDIDA, has been lots of starch!!! Working with liquid starch is interesting and fun. Also dressing the actresses in some beautiful period style dresses with corsets has been fun as well. Don't forget the wigs too! It has been a high maintenance show with having everyone look perfect!!

Still waiting on what will be the main focus wardrobe wise with TAMING OF THE SHREW. We will definitely see!!

In other news, I'm quickly moving up in the world of technology with a new iPad to help with my design career, its also helped with wardrobe too!
I've founds some great apps such as Evernote, which is great for collecting research, Dropbox, for storing my documents and a great task list for my to do lists, called Complete HD. I also have a great Project Management app, called MyProjects which helps with all my shows.

Alas my BlackBerry Storm 2 went out on me, so I now have a new iPhone 4. All these MAC products are starting to make me want a MAC computer. We will see about that one.

So all in all, a very productive, exciting and fast paced summer, I can't believe it's almost over!

It's getting busy!!!

It has been a crazy past two months for me filled with new and exciting jobs!
Since OUROBOROS has ended, I was offered and took on the job as assistant to the Costume Designer for the Magic Theater's production of WHAT WE'RE UP AGAINST that ran and closed last Sunday in San Francisco. It was a great job where I worked with amazing and talented people. The Magic is such a great theater!

Currently, I am working wardrobe crew for the production of RUINED at Berkeley Rep Theater, in Berkeley. It's an intense and powerful show, with a ton of costumes that me and my fellow wardrobe crew take care of. The cast is an amazing bunch of actors and the backstage crew is wonderful as well.

So much is going on and I'm gearing up for summer working on wardrobe crew for Cal Shakes in Orinda.

I'm already having to plan my work for 2012 if you can believe that. I have some proposals for some shows to design that are in the works.
I can say that 2011 is a great year so far career wise! Meeting so many wonderful, nice, kind, amazing, talented people and getting the chance to work at some amazing theaters. I am truly blessed this year!!!

Onward and upward!

OUROBOROS @ Renegade Theatre Experiment

Now that tech week is over, another costume design baby has left the womb! My costume work on OUROBOROS is complete.

From January 15 till February 5th, every Thursday through Sunday, the play OURBOROS by Tom Jacobson and directed by Virginia Drake is playing at the Historic Hoover Theatre in San Jose, California.

Tickets are available here. OUROBOROS Tickets.

Feel free to come and watch the show! Opening Night was a full house!

"Two American couples vacationing in Italy. Not that unusual. One couple is married and the other are friends. Again, not that unusual. One couple travels forward in time, while the other travels backward in time. Still, not that...wait, what? From the mind of renowned LA playwright, Tom Jacobson, comes the amazing palindrome play, OUROBOROS.

The forces of nature get all twisted around when Margaret and Tor meet Philip and Catherine. One couple is beginning their journey and the other in ending their's, all because of a cosmic connection and a ring, or rather rings. Is there one ring or two? Honestly, it all gets so confusing! One night the play will end as a comedy (The Nun's Story) and the next night it ends as a tragedy (The Minister's Story). Come experience this true experiment in storytelling! Love, lust, loyalty, betrayal, and faith are all wrapped up together to make the Regional Premiere of OUROBOROS by Tom Jacobson. " -Renegade Theatre Experiment

The Beginnings of Forum.

Before my two week break for the Holidays, I was able to have a week of free time to start building for our new show at Cal State East Bay. Currently we are building costumes for the production of "A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum" by Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart, with music by Stephen Sondheim. The production is directed by Marc Jacobs, one of the faculty directing instructors in the Theatre Dept. If you would like to check out more information about "Forum", the show opens in March and click on "Forum" to direct you.

"Forum" as we like to call the show in shop, is having its costumes designed by a wonderful undergraduate student who loves Costume Design, Chalia La Tour.
I'm in charge of building one of the characters, Tintinablula. Of course I'm documenting my work because its fun and also a good way for me to see how I am improving with my build skills and also a great way to show people one of the many jobs that I do for a living.

So without further ado, here are some 1st draft patterns in muslin of the Tintinabula costume for "Forum."

We are now waiting to do a fitting on the actress playing TinTinabula and in the next week or so, I will be cutting out the patterns in fabric.

Things are looking up!

Wonderful things happening right now!

Many friends and family have shown interest in helping me get to the Prague Quadrennial so now I now officially have my donation/fund raising website for the Prague Quadrennial. If you would like to help me travel to Prague for an on site installation I will be taking part of, feel free to contribute. So far I have raised $75.00, help me raise $6,000! Courtney's Prague Trip Donations.

I have also applied for a travel grant to help with my trip, hopefully this will come through. Stay Positive!

In other news, a production I was a part of in Fall of 2010 was named as one of the Best of Bay Area Theater in 2010!! Awesome.

Now back to work tomorrow for a new year!!!