Jun 26, 2014

A Quote...

Life is sometimes getting very intense, there are always things to worry about. 
For myself I have found two things calming me down if needed. 
One thing is tea and the other thing is creating art. So when I saw this quote, I immediately thought it is me. 
And giving it an other thought, family members and people close to me live this mantra, too. So it is true and totally works ;)
 If this is new to you, maybe give it a go and see how you feel.

Happy Thursday !

copyright©Pattern Jots by Maike Thoma 2014
copyright©Pattern Jots by Maike Thoma 2014 ( source for Keep Calm Quotes )

Jun 19, 2014

MATS June Boot Camp Final Design

June is almost over and I have finished the MATS Boot Camp assignment "Ship in a Bottle" wall art... 
I have been quite excited about this topic at the beginning but I must admit my excitement faded over the weeks. Somehow I was not able to fully warm up with this theme...I found the bottle restricted me in space ( in my head everything should "happen" inside the bottle ) and this made it difficult for me. I like to explore space and I mainly work large. And nautical in general is not my world - even though I love the sea and I know nautical is a repeating trend in fashion and interior. Of course I could have gone just nautical all over my art board  and forget about the bottle but I was determined to stick to the assignment as much as possible for the challenge. 
So I am ok with my result but not thrilled...anyway it was an other experience and challenge I overall did enjoy. 
Please check out the June gallery with all the amazing nautical wall art over here.

copyright©Pattern Jots by Maike Thoma 2014
June assignment "Ship in a Bottle": Wall art "Deep Sea" copyright©Pattern Jots by Maike Thoma 2014

Happy Thursday !

Jun 12, 2014

What Inspired Me This Week...

Phew...it is so hot over here, I am having a hard time thinking straight. Over 30 C for the past 6 days...on the plus side, the water in the lake is perfectly warm now and I really enjoy my time swimming in the outdoors. 

Lake Zuerich

This week I was inspired by Matisse. The Tate Modern in London is currently showing cut out art by Matisse. I immediately fell in love...the colours, the shapes, the compositions...wished I could beam me over to see it. The exhibition is still on until September 7th 2014. 

This exhibition shows the final chapter of Matisse's career. When Matisse was not healthy enough to paint anymore, he began to cut into painted paper with scissors...he had invented a new medium.

My favourite pieces...

Matisse 1952
Blue Nude II by Henri Matisse, 1952 ( source )

Matisse 1947
Polinesia, the sky by Henri Matisse, 1947 ( source )

Henri Matisse 1952
La Perruche et la Sirene by Henri Matisse, 1952 ( source )

Vegetables by Henri Matisse, 1952

And this video is fabulous...Happy Thursday !


Jun 5, 2014

What I am Up To - New Mini Assignment for June MATS Boot Camp



It is June and it is getting hot over here...the lake has warmed up and this weekend I am planning to take the first plunge of the season. 

A new month means a new mini assignment for the MATS Boot Camp. Of course we all have been very curious what new topic Lilla has chosen for us and I would not have guessed right with this one - again. It is a take on nautical : Ships in a bottle ! It includes sea creatures, nautical stuff...everything around the sea. I would say it is a perfect theme for summer. Not sure how I will work it but I love it. It is a topic where details can be important which I really like.


Pirate Ship in a bottle ( source )

And I really love this gigantic ( 4.7 x 2.8 m ) ship in a bottle by artist Yinka Shonibare. Do you see the pattern on the sails ? 
"The richly patterned sails were inspired by Indonesian batik, mass-produced by Dutch traders and sold in West Africa".
If you have time and you are a pattern lover like me, you must check out Yinka Shonibare's work...beautiful patterns everywhere and I also like his collages.

Nelson's Ship in a Bottle by Yinka Shonibare at National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London/UK

Here you can see my first sketches...hope I find time to add many more over the weekend before we receive the main assignment on Monday.

copyright©Pattern Jots by Maike Thoma 2014
Sketches "Ship in a Bottle"

Happy Thursday !