Studio Visit - Ursula von Rydingsvard

This Martin Luther King Jr. Day my family and I had the honor of visiting Ursula von Rydingsvard's studio in Brooklyn.

When you walk into her studio you feel as if you are entering a sacred space. And when you are near an artist, like Ursula, who is so pure, the air around them vibrates in love and truth.

Her work is so impressive, so alive and thrilling. You feel as if moments, feelings and notions have been gently sussed from her consciousness and cooly brought to form. I was so moved by her work and also impressed by her kindness and open heartedness. She heartily welcomed us into her world without making us feel like we knew nothing about art.

I was SO excited to see that she creates her work from blank stacks of wood and then by her unique method, creates and manufactures the "natural" look and weathering. It is painstaking and Ursula and her craftsman, Ruben are meticulous at the execution.

The loveliest thing she said was about her work was humbly shrugging: "It's a way of having a voice."

Some observations:

-She captures everything that inspires her: from fabric to dog hair to African masks.
-She is organized and is no joke.
-She has a team that has been with her for many years.
-She is completely unpretentious and kind.
-She wears black and usually athletic wear to get straight to the work.
-She loves to share her work and her process.
-Her enthusiasm is contagious
-She is positive.
-She never stated that she works hard but you get that vibe.
-Yet even though she works hard, there is flow and joy.
-She has perfected her process and continues to hone it.
-She is curious.
-She takes her work seriously.
-She is vibrant.

Please read more about Ursula's work.

xo,
Natalie

Having a good day...

Today I'm a little sleep deprived but in a terrific mood. Hoping you are in a terrific mood too :-)

xo,

Natalie

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Lunar New Year Drawings

A lot of people say: "HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR!" for the Lunar New Year, but there are actually over 10 countries that celebrate the date.

I am adopted so I had no idea about the Lunar New Year until I married my very Chinese husband where the date is A HUGE DEAL.

I drew this fun cartoon to celebrate the New Year and infused a little Chinese & Korean influences.

Here are some freehand sketches I did of my daughter doing a lion dance.

I traced the sketches to watercolor paper on a light box. Here is the final watercolor and ink drawing I did.

Whatever you are, have a happy new year! (We're all one anyway!)

xo,

Natalie

Workspace

Ever since I was a kid, I was very aware of having a proper workspace. My mother was a secretary at a Stony Brook University and when I visited her, I would marvel at the neat way her typewriter sat upon a desk and how close in proximity she was to an magical room filled with office supplies. (This is probably why I ALWAYS love going on a Staples run).

In my childhood, I played soccer, climbed trees and rode my bike like normal kids. But I also was a weirdo in that I really enjoyed setting up a desk and creating a workspace so I could send a memo to someone. Most likely my step sister who unwillingly had a desk set up in the other room. Some kids liked to play house - I liked to play "office".

Right now having an ideal workspace has been like The Three Little Bears: 

I've rented space at WeWork (beautiful and great but too noisy), IFP Center in DUMBO (too far and I didn't make the time to go) and also had the opportunity to crash the cartoonist studio near the Gowanus (by far my FAVORITE - juuuust right):

Drawn by me for the lovely cartoonist, Robin Ha on her birthday. Source: The Drawbridge

Right now I'm 23 weeks pregnant and don't feel like sacrificing the time commuting to and from home.

My current work space is a tiny desk in the corner of my bedroom:

(Hello lovely plant extracting NYC toxins from the room!)

It appears to be a mess (it is) but I recently organized all of my materials in a way that they are more accessible. I took my towels out of a closet and put my art supplies in there. 

I DO wish I could have a space where I can just leave my materials (pens, papers) out. I didn't realize it until I drew ANOTHER ideal workspace below:

For now it's just a dream. One desk for drawing, another for concocting ideas and doing administrative and writing work. Just myself and for the sole purpose of creating work.

Here are some interesting articles on workspaces:
A Tumblr dedicated to artists' workspaces! (Some not unlike my own)
Buzzfeed photographs of stunning workspaces of creative folks.
Pinterest on art studio spaces.

What does your artist workspace look like? Share some photos of where you work!

xo,

Natalie

A painting and drawing lesson from Quentin Blake

I did not grow up reading Roald Dahl. I watched the films his books created like Matilda or Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. When I had a kid of my own, I discovered Mr. Dahl and his wicked sense of humor. Perhaps he would not seem darkly wicked if he wasn't a children's book author.

I fell in love with Quentin Blake's drawings while reading Matilda to my daughter. The drawings are so simple and filled with energy.

I was searching on the internet for HOW Mr. Blake paints and came across this treasure.

Enjoy!

xo,

Natalie

Morning Ritual Cartoon

Sometimes I wake up in a shite mood. There's no good reason for it and through the years I've learned how to overcome WUIABM (Waking Up In a Bad Mood).

This is a morning ritual I use daily:

1. Wake up and drink a tall glass of water
2. Meditate (20 min)
3. Write morning pages (source: Julia Cameron)
4. Write what I'm grateful for
5. Take a walk
6. Read inspiring and sometimes spiritual literature. Right now I'm listening to Deepak Chopra and Oprah 21 Day meditation CD. (There really is nothing you can't accomplish when you have Oprah in your corner.)

Each morning when we wake up there is a gravitational pull that can make us go negative. We need to purposefully and intentionally combat this gravity. 

It's not some deep, dark and terrible thing. It's simply a matter of shaking out the cobwebs out of our heads.

Do you have a morning ritual? What helps you get the engine revving in the morning?