heidi muller : juxtaposed

Check out my New Blog, Mish Mash Make!

2011-11-14T12:02:00.001-08:00

Come on over to Mish Mash Make and check out my new Creative Process Blog!

You'll find musings on good ideas, creative inspiration, and how to live an artistic life.
Also, read interviews with fellow "makers" - - find out what they're working on, what inspires them and how they make creativity part of their lives.
Check out great art and thrifty design finds.
Do some DIY with me!

See you over at Mish Mash Make! :)

- Heidi

Update...

2011-09-01T11:17:00.001-07:00

Just wanted to let you all know that this little guy, Desmond Muller, is a big reason why I've not been producing much art lately. He's 5 months old, and such a joy. I love hanging out with him and my four older sweeties.

I have been getting a bit of my creativity out by blogging for Saffron Marigold, a wonderful maker of luxurious, 100% cotton hand printed linens. I truly enjoy my job, and love the people I work with (albeit remotely - they are in California and India)!

Finally, my Cleveland Trunk is set to be auctioned on September 9! The auction will raise money for the Cleveland Orchestra and Blossom Music Center. I'm glad it will be out of the gallery and into someone's home soon.

Cleveland

2010-05-13T12:18:00.000-07:00

This painting is a shout out to the 'hoods in Cleveland. I really do get so tired of hearing people talk about the city with such negativity. Problems? Yup. Every city has them. Post- industrial economic decline? There's that.

I'm not such a pollyanna to believe that people aren't part of/ most of the problem. But I do believe that human beings are a strange mix of brokenness and beauty, and when we cease to seek and see the beauty, then we have a REAL problem.

Cleveland

each panel is 18"x18"

acrylic and paper

on canvas

(sides painted black)

Love Covers

2010-05-13T11:58:00.000-07:00

This piece in my text/montage series is getting a little more literal. I've been focusing on design, composition and color, but since I'm using so much text I felt I might as well say something!

Love Covers

8"x10"

acrylic, mixed media

on hardboard

No Sleep 'Till...

2010-04-27T14:01:00.000-07:00

This is the second in my montage series inspired by paper plastered telephone poles. On this piece, I also used an old map of NYC and antique dictionary pages. I'm really enjoying the convergence of text and color. I can see this being a direction I want to push a little harder. As a matter of fact, I think it could be fun to do some personal montages for folks... More on that later!

No Sleep 'Till

8x10

acrylic, mixed media, acrylic glaze

New Series

2010-04-24T11:59:00.000-07:00

The idea for this series emerged last fall, when I spent some time in Huntington Beach, CA. Maybe it was the always blue sky and the perfect sunlight, but everything seemed beautiful... including the peeling, scraped off and half-covered show posters that covered every telephone pole and light post.

I took a lot of photos of these graphic wonders, and am finally getting around to using the references for a series. I think they will give me a good opportunity to learn more and experiment more with composition and color relationships. I hope some good things come from these!

The first photo here is the actual light post - pretty sweet, huh? I think I'll make it a goal to photograph these where ever I go. I can collect shots in Kent, Cleveland, and SanFrancisco in a month when I visit there!

The second photo is the first painting in the series. It is called "Gazetteer", after the dictionary entry.

Gazetteer

8"x10" unframed, 10"x12" framed

acrylic, acrylic glaze, antique dictionary page, acrylic transfer

Comes framed in a semi-gloss, black, wooden frame.

See my etsy site for sales information:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/JuxtaposedArts

Cleveland Trunk!

2010-04-21T12:13:00.000-07:00

I have been working on this so fun project for a while now... The goal was to take this old steamer trunk, and make it into an auctionable piece for a Cleveland Orchestra fundraiser.

I was given the trunk, which, in fact, has been used by the Orchestra for almost 100 years! Various musicians have stored their personal belongings in it when the orchestra has traveled overseas. Most recently, a the principal tuba player had it.

After loving the trunk, and staring long and hard at it as it sat waiting to be worked on, I finally saw the Cleveland skyline emerge along the sides. (The trunk is actually oriented vertically, but it seems to be more versatile in a home as a low table rather than as a column.) Once I saw the skyline, things began to fall together.

I am a huge fan of the city of Cleveland. Such a wealth of culture there, and so underrated! I am really happy to be able to express my appreciation for the city and its culture in this piece.

It's Finally Here!

2010-03-19T04:47:00.000-07:00

Spring Fling

sold

36"x42"

Acrylic on canvas

2.5 inch deep wrap

This commission is almost finished.... Just have to paint and glaze the sides.

I enjoyed thinking about this piece, making it and now looking at it! I think I REALLY needed to see some color this March. - It was a long winter.

Long Enchanted

2010-02-02T12:39:00.000-08:00

sold

This is another commission, which I'm due to deliver this weekend.

I've grown really attached to it, and don't really want to let it go! I guess that's the nature of this business, though.

The colors seem to play very well off of each other, with the red and gold trees each commanding attention. I've always been attracted to the shapes inside and around the focal objects of a painting, in nature, on a page...often these are the main attraction for me. I love these serendipitous goodies, and I'm very fond of a few of these in "Long Enchanted".

"Long Enchanted"

3 cradled, canvas-covered

hardboard panels

16"x20" ea.

Acrylic, gilders paste

and acrylic glaze

Enchanted

2010-02-02T11:39:00.001-08:00

sold

I really like this piece. I like how the colors and movement of the trees interact in a kind of a dance.

I actually don't mind my NE Ohio winters too much, but am obviously wanting to interject a little color into the scenery!

"Enchanted"

14"x14"

Acrylic on

gallery wrapped canvas

Enchanted Series - Red Enchantment

2010-02-02T11:33:00.000-08:00

sold

"Red Enchantment"

14"x14"

acrylic and

gilders paste

gallery wrapped

canvas

I've been reading the book of Grimm's Fairy Tales to my children recently. I loved it when I was a girl, and we are all enjoying it now. I think this is what's put the "Enchantment" in my mind. And the red does remind me of a certain hooded cloak.

Journey Tree for a friend

2010-02-02T11:17:00.000-08:00

sold

Journey Tree

12"x24"

Acrylic, mixed media,

acrylic glaze on

gallery wrapped

canvas

This was a commission I worked on for Christmas. A friend wanted to document the journey he and his wife have been on together. I used a map inside the branch to highlight their hometowns, and where they've lived since they've been together and had kids. This is a personal piece, so while the names may not mean much to anyone else, there are rich memories associated with these places for my friends. The branch and the embedded map continue on to suggest the paths they may take in the future, as well as the continuing journeys of their children.

New "Great Lakes" painting....Huron

2009-12-01T15:33:00.000-08:00

"Huron"

3.5"x 5.5"

Acrylic, mixed media

on Arches 140 lb.

cold press paper

From our trip to Ethiopia...

2009-11-24T20:22:00.000-08:00

"After"

15"x30"

Acrylic and acrylic glaze on

1.5" gallery wrap canvas

More Illuminated Trees!

2009-11-24T20:13:00.000-08:00

These are both

8"x10"

Acrylic and Acrylic glaze

on canvas board...

"Headlights"

"Aglow"

Illuminated Trees

2009-11-24T20:02:00.000-08:00

sold

These are each

12"x12"

Acrylic and acrylic glaze

on 1.5" gallery wrap canvas

Glow

Glow Blue

Glow Blue - detail

More in the Rest Stop Series...

2009-11-24T19:57:00.000-08:00

Both are 5"x7",

Acrylic and acrylic glaze

on Canvas board

Crafty Goodness

2009-11-10T11:44:00.000-08:00

So Crafty Goodness was an all around success. I sold 2 paintings, and got to meet handfulls of tremendously interesting people.

I'm eager to clean up my house, reorient and start working on some new pieces... Can't wait to paint!

Rest Stop

2009-11-01T17:46:00.000-08:00

sold

Acrylic, mixed media on board

15"x36"

Details (x3)

"Direction" series

2009-10-30T21:24:00.000-07:00

all are 3.5"x5.5"

acrylic, mixed media

Arches

140 lb.

cold pressed

paper

Pomegranate Trio II

2009-10-30T21:14:00.000-07:00

9"x12"

Acrylic
on Arches
140 lb
cold pressed

paper

Pom Left and Right

2009-10-30T21:05:00.000-07:00

Pom on the Left

5"x7"

Acrylic

on Arches

140 lb.

cold pressed

paper

Pom on the Right

4.5"x 6.5"

Acrylic

on Arches

140 lb.

cold pressed

paper

More Poms!

2009-10-30T20:55:00.000-07:00

Glamour Pom

4.5"x6.5"

Acrylic
on Arches
140 pound
cold pressed
paper

Pomegranate series, first painting - "Trio"

2009-10-25T17:52:00.000-07:00

sold

Trio

6"x8"

Acrylic

on Arches

140 lb.

cold-pressed

paper

Details 1 and 2

Across the Way

2009-10-20T06:48:00.000-07:00

sold

Across the Way

Acrylic, Mixed Media

on Canvas

12x12

(2 details below)

Michigan

2009-10-18T10:07:00.000-07:00

sold

Michigan

2.25"x3.5"

Acrylic, Mixed Media

on Arches

140 lb.

cold-pressed

paper

Superior

2009-10-18T10:03:00.000-07:00

sold

Superior

2.5"x4"

Acrylic, Mixed Media

on Arches

140 lb.

cold-pressed

paper

Erie

2009-10-18T09:32:00.000-07:00

sold

Erie

2.25"x3.5"

Acrylic, Mixed Media

on Arches

140 lb. cold-pressed

paper

Midwest from the Sky 1

2009-10-05T10:30:00.001-07:00

Midwest from the Sky, Trio

framed with archival mat

Acrylic on Paper

5"x7"

Midwest from the Sky 2

2009-10-05T10:28:00.000-07:00

Acrylic on Paper

5"x7"

Midwest from the Sky 3

2009-10-05T10:27:00.001-07:00

Acrylic on Paper

5"x7"

2009-09-28T11:51:00.001-07:00

City Block

Acrylic on Paper

10x20"

City Block, detail

Gilded Gala

2009-09-15T09:21:00.000-07:00

Gala

2009-09-14T10:14:00.001-07:00

Today is All About Gesso

2009-09-11T12:42:00.000-07:00

9 boards: cut, sanded washed and ready to be gessoed. Plenty of visions for what these white boards will be, a bit of anxiety for what they might not be - what will happen?

Architecturally Orange in 3 parts (acrylic on paper)

2009-09-11T12:33:00.000-07:00

"On the Line" (details) acrylics, mixed media

2009-09-11T12:30:00.000-07:00

"Neighborhood" acrylic, mixed media

2009-09-11T12:25:00.000-07:00

"My Definition" Coasters - from Sand, Sea, Salt, Scuttle

2009-09-11T12:22:00.001-07:00

"My Definition" Coasters - V series (set of 4)

2009-09-11T12:20:00.001-07:00

"My Definition" Coasters - Ease, Vanity, Speed, Utility (set of 4)

2009-09-11T12:18:00.001-07:00

"My Definition" Coasters - Coffee, Tea, Friends, Relax (set of 4)

2009-09-11T12:14:00.000-07:00

New Yorker Coaster series

2009-09-01T11:56:00.001-07:00

Kitchen,
Shells,
Carnegie Hall

Kitchen (stacked set)

Carnegie Hall (set)

Greeting Card Series

2009-09-01T11:26:00.000-07:00

"Spot On" greeting card series,
set 1

"Spot On" greeting card series,
set 2

Getting Ready for Crafty Goodness!

2009-08-30T19:31:00.000-07:00

This weekend I met with a few other crafters/ artists who are joining the inaugural "Crafty Goodness @ Calvin Park Rec" show. Definitely some kindred spirits 'round the table. People who can't but help say "I could make that" while shopping. Thrifters, gifters, treasure hunters... We enjoyed much dreaming and scheming over coffee.

Absolutely check out this venue - November 7th, 10-6. Timed just right for Christmas/ Hanukkah shopping. It's a smaller show, 20-25 artists, but manageable and worthwhile. (I personally suffer from "museum brain dysfunction" - I can really only absorb and enjoy a limited number of pieces/ stalls at an art fair, etc. before it's all over for me! ) This set up seems just about right.

http://craftygoodnessatcalvin.blogspot.com/

I'm getting excited about my first public attempt to show/ sell art in - ah - um - a REAL long time! I can't WAIT to get started on some paintings, but in the meantime I'm having fun working on some smaller projects... a little less cerebral, and more process oriented stuff. Maybe this will affect my approach when I start on the projects that seem a bit more threatening.

2009-08-13T11:38:00.000-07:00

Forms

2009-08-13T11:31:00.000-07:00

Floral Vine 2

2009-08-13T11:30:00.000-07:00

Floral Vine 1

2009-08-13T11:27:00.000-07:00

Orangy Floral (detail)

2009-08-13T11:26:00.000-07:00

Orangy Floral

2009-08-13T11:25:00.000-07:00

sold
Glimmer Grass

2009-08-13T11:24:00.000-07:00

Glimmer City