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Thursday, September 16, 2010

Residency Video

This video starts the moment I arrived at the Blueberry View Artist Retreat by making my first late night pot of coffee for unpacking and setting up my studio.

In 4:36 seconds I squeeze all the things I worked on while there, plus the inspiration behind these projects, then finally breaking down my studio to hang and prepare for the final reception. I've included the gorgeous surrounding areas I happened upon too - incredible beaches, farmland, and even a hummingbird I was lucky enough to get on film!

I assumed from the residency's name, I would be inspired by the blueberry fields so I ordered hundreds of blue bows shipped directly there. These blue bows and bushes never made it into my main video project, but occupied days of filming in all sorts of weather. I only wish I had ordered 5000 bows .... maybe next time :)

9 comments:

Christine Mercer-Vernon said...

love love love love love love love. :] i got a little teary-eyed watching you pack everything back up. there's never enough time. what a wonderful opportunity. :]

Karen Appleton said...

Oh Christine, you are so sweet!!! Thank you so much! How I wish I had had more time! :) Thank you for watching my little video!!

Anonymous said...

Karen, I've said it before, you are an inspiration to me. What a joy to see you in this video! You looked like an innocent flower child, laying in the grass with ribbons in your hair. Absolutely charming.

I'm really looking forward to seeing more closely some of the work you did in Michigan. The white ribbons hanging on the clothes line, the box with chains, the gift box with the little magenta flower... what a mad frenzy of creativity!

Would you say you were more inspired than usual during your residency? Or is this your usual state of mind?

Karen Appleton said...

Oh please! :) thank you so much Silvina! But YOU are an inspiration to me! Your delicious brushstrokes I could just eat!

Absolutely no, this is not my usual state of mind, but I hope to change that. And certainly not my normal output. I think a big factor is guilt. I paint already most everyday, but I have a lot of guilt about that. I should be fixing my husband dinner, be a better wife, sister, daughter, friend, work harder on our renovation, or working a real job to not be a burden. But being at a residency freed up that for me, because absolutely all I'm suppose to do is think about creating 100 percent.

Also I totally allowed myself to play, and I was overwhelmed with how incredibly inspiring simply playing can be. I would not have hung bows on a clothesline or put bows in bushes here in Chicago, because I would worry, 'what would the neighbors think' :) But there it is perfectly fine to be a crazy artist! I thought, 'well it is probably excepted that I do crazy stuff' :) I really hope to learn from this and allow myself to be crazy anytime! This is such a great question, I might do a post about. Thanks Sil!

Unknown said...

Oh, Karen, what a joy to see you in action! The blueberry bows were wonderful...sunflower bows, linens-on-the-line bows...the freedom and joy you felt burst through the outdoor shots! Thanks for another gift...beautiful. May it last!

Karen Appleton said...

Thank you Mary Anne! I truly appreciate your feedback! I hoped the video would translate the inspiration from nature to the paintings, but I wasn't sure I had been successful, thank you!!!

Marilyn Flanegan said...

First time to your blog and I was completely blown away.
Thank you for documenting and sharing this awesome experience you had during your residency in Michigan.
You're both incredibly talented and inspiring.

Liza Hirst said...

As all the other before me have expressed - this was a real treat, to watch you in action and see all your "crazy" and humourous ideas! Thank you so much - you are always an inspiration to me!

Karen Appleton said...

Marilyn and Liza, I am flattered and honored by your comments. I so appreciate you even taking time to watch the video, plus your generous comments. Thank you so much.
Karen