Pro skater Steve Caballero and wife Rachael Caballero opened Bela La Vie Boutique & Gallery in Campbell, CA a year ago. Tonight they celebrate the store’s one year anniversary with an art opening reception for graphic designer & illustrator Jimbo Phillips‘ “Skate and Create” show from 7-10 pm at Bela La Vie located at 311 E. Campbell Ave. Support local shops and artists and check it out if you are in the area!
I am a week behind my regular schedule as my day job consumed all of me last week. Sorry about that! As a special treat, I am featuring a ridiculously talented designer and illustrator, Alice X. Zhang, as this week’s Fresh Friday Finds. Her solo show, “Moments,” opens tonight at Bottleneck Art Gallery in Brooklyn, NY with a reception from 7-10 pm. Enjoy a time lapse video of her process as she digitally paints “Virtuoso” drawn entirely in Adobe Photoshop CS5 on a Wacom Cintiq tablet below as well! Happy weekend!
Jersey based and rider-owned Animal Bikes recently premiered new footy from Dave Belcher, Jared Washington, Tom White, Steven Hamilton, and more in QSS #5 “The Price is Wrong.” Check it!
Fresh Friday Finds alum and Philly based artist Sophie Elliot is in the Hump Day Hot Seat today. Get to know more about this family oriented mixed media artist as she answers questions provided by Finch & Ada. Don’t forget to check out Sophie’s artwork currently displayed at two Mugshots Coffeehouse locations through July 1st. Thanks for stopping by today, Sophie!
Photo courtesy of Sophie Elliot
1. Who are you?
I am a fun, friendly, and feisty artist living in Philadelphia… better known as Sophie.
2. What do you do?
Currently, I am living in the Museum District in the lovely city of Philadelphia. I work as a sales associate part time and am a freelance artist every chance I get! I love going on new adventures in the city with friends and am positively influenced by the brilliant artistic scene that most would refer to as the society of the “starving artist”… ALWAYS hungry for new inspiration.
3. When/Where/How did you get your start?
At the age of nineteen, I was headed into Manhattan to begin my schooling as an Interior Designer at The Fashion Institute. While there, I was accidentally placed in an advanced Fine Arts drawing course. This is where I soon realized my passion for drawing and the wonders of impressionism. After only a year at FIT, I moved to New Jersey to study at Mercer County Community College where I would gather all my foundation courses and move on to my studies at Tyler School of Art in Philadelphia. Between my course work at Tyler and attending the Community College in Philadelphia I gained a well rounded understanding and appreciation for the arts and what they have to offer me…. and yes, that is four schools in four years (ha-ha) with a degree in Art and Design.
4. How long have you been at it?
I have been studying art since 2008 but have been creative and artistic since I was a little girl.
5. What is the most important thing we should know about you?
I am extremely caring and have a wonderful sense of humor. My art reflects who I am and the beauty I see in the world. I focus on shapes such as silhouettes but intertwine underlying complexities in the simplest of forms. I have been referred to as an old soul, but lets be honest… any old soul has it’s new visions. It’s what you do with those visions that matter.
6. Is there anyone else in your field that you particularly admire?
I admire my mother who is a writer. She has taught me the power of thought and the true depth of emotion.
7. What other types of art are you in to?
I love all aspects of art! I am envious of all performing artists – their courage and discipline is something to admire.
8. You got any crazy hobbies or unique talents?
I grew up in an extremely creative family. My mother and father are both writers, my older brothers are musicians and writers, and my twin brother works for a brilliant publishing company in Manhattan. Being in a musical household, I was taught the piano at a young age and became classically trained in voice from ages eleven to nineteen.
9. What’s your favorite vice?
My favorite vice would be my middle of the night cravings! I always eat a bowl of cereal then go back to bed…. it must be the gremlin in me!
10. How do you make it over the creative hump?
The best way for me to make it over a creative hump would be to listen to music and just go at it! It’s when I think too much that it becomes a task rather than an art.
11. You eat food? What kind? Like to cook?
I LOVE food. I have already mentioned my cereal obsession as listed above, but on a daily basis, I eat very healthy. My two weakness at this moment are bananas with chunky peanut butter and a bowl of Greek frozen yogurt.
12. If someone was to write a craigslist missed connection about you, what would it say?
“GIRL WHO TRIED TO STEAL MY PUPPY OFF THE SIDEWALK” – I have a weakness for puppies… but who doesn’t!?
13. What is your most prized possession?
My most prized possessions are my own thoughts and imagination.
New York City played host to a trifecta of art fairs that brought in hundreds of gallery owners, artists, and contemporary art work from around the world this weekend. Frieze at Randall’s Island, NADA at Pier 36, and I was lucky enough to attend the third, PULSE New York at The Metropolitan Pavilion. I arrived there with my friend Skims, and we were immediately drawn in by the first booth of exhibitors, The West Collection (Pennsylvania). I gravitated toward the two pieces below and complete sensory overload commenced.
Photo © Bernadette Cruz
Detail of 2011-24, watercolor, acrylic, gouache, screen print. © Alex Lukas
Detail of 2011-26, watercolor, acrylic, gouache, screen print. © Alex Lukas
I knew very quickly that I was going to walk through the rest of the art show as if I was in a dream. I was in art heaven, if I believed there was such a thing, floating on cloud nine taking in the photographs, sculptures, installations, paintings, and all the hard work and emotions that come with. After meeting up with more friends to enjoy the show with, Skims and I left cultural stimulated a little more than two hours later. We grabbed a bite to eat nearby, and I didn’t even need a drink – now that’s rare!
See more photos I took of the gorgeously inspiring artworks below, including a friend of .stART here. Allison Green‘s “Everything Changes” series, which chronicles the life cycle of sunflowers, with exhibitor Susan Eley Fine Art (New York).
Sunflowers, Oil on Canvas, 60″ X 48″. © Allison Green
© William Betts at Richard Levy (New Mexico)
natural pigments and acrylic on canvas. © Salustiano at Kavachnina Contemporary (Florida)
Embassy, mixed media on heavy paper. © Abel Barroso at Embassy Pan American Art Projects (Florida)
Las Conquistadoras, acrylic on paper in artist frames, dimensions of installation vary. © Carol K. Brown at Nohra Haime Gallery (New York)
Discipline Considered an Option, c-print mounted on aluminum, 45″ X 69″. © Rune Guneriussen at Waltman Ortega Fine Art (Miami – Paris)
Piazza San Marco, hand cut archival paper, 50″ X 85.5″. Thomas Witte at Davidson Contemporary (New York)
© Scherer & Ouporov at Kavachnina Contemporary (Florida)
Focus, Tulle. © Irfan Onurmen at C24 Gallery (New York)
YO. © Deborah Kass at Richard Levy (New Mexico)
Today’s a twofer on .stART here. Not only do I have a Fresh Friday Finds for you but also an Art Opening. TGIF!
© Sophie Elliot
© Sophie Elliot
Philly based artist Sophie Elliot (who happens to be a twin – told you it was a twofer Friday!) recently graduated with a degree in Art and Design. Her mixed media artwork will be available for purchase at Mugshots Coffeehouse in Philadelphia for the next two months. There is an opening reception today, May 10th from 7-9pm at the Fairmount Avenue location where her work will be showcased until June 8th, then to the Brewerytown location until July 1st. Be sure to check it out if you are in the area!
From Sophie Elliot’s blog:
She has a passion for illustration, mainly working in mixed media. From pen and ink to watercolor and acrylic her silhouette series expresses her passion for nature and the beauty in simple forms. Inspired by poetry and dreamlike imagery she continues to express emotion and passion through her art.
