arlene sy

Like strange fruit under the willow

by Arlene on Aug 26, 2011 (0) Comments

Few runway shows leave a lasting impression on me, and fewer designers make my heart go a-flutter. But while I’ve always loved Lanvin, their Fall 2011 collection (which showed in Paris last March) really took my breath away. The feel was very gothic, peppered with preacher/pilgrim references, transitioning later into expert drapes and jewel tones. The end of the show was the perfect, hauntingly beautiful summary–a parade of models, arranged from darkness to lightness of dress, like a wave of ultra-chic zombies. To quote Style.com‘s Tim Blanks, “They gathered like strange, exotic fruit under the willow.”

Sketches 08.15.2011

by Arlene on Aug 15, 2011 (2) Comments

Six years

by Arlene on Aug 12, 2011 (0) Comments

Back in 2007, during our second anniversary, B and I celebrated by having a fun, spontaneous studio photo session. In one of the photos, he wore a fedora, while I wore… angel wings!

Fast forward to June 4, 2011. B proposes… And surprises me with one of the most beautiful handmade gifts I’ve ever received–his own watercolor rendition of the two of us in that photo.

Today, we’re celebrating six years of being together. But now, I’m not just looking forward to another year–I’m looking forward to the rest of our lives :)

WIP 08.10.2011

by Arlene on Aug 10, 2011 (0) Comments

Drawing leaves, stems and flowers has become an obsession–and learning experience–as of late. And because I’m no botanist, I’ve turned to Google to help me capture plant parts as accurately as possible!

Here’s a lavender themed piece that’s about 80% complete (sorry, but the exhibit theme will definitely be revealed when it’s launched–and I promise, it’s not just about flowers!). Although I’m loving the effect of utilizing negative (white) space to define shapes, objects and people, I still need to color in some of the lavender flowers on this one. I might reduce or enhance some of the shadows on the girl, too, and fix her hair a bit (I think it’s a bit too big and poufy).

I love… Bonne Maman

by Arlene on Aug 05, 2011 (0) Comments

One of my constant companions is this empty jar of Bonne Maman strawberry preserves, which I love using for watercolor painting (with how wet my work gets, I’m amazed the label hasn’t really come off). So far, I have a couple of these empty jars at home (the other one says “Peach Preserve”). I can’t wait to acquire the rest–especially the tiny versions! I can imagine a kitchen shelf holding nothing but these pretty jars. And, it goes without saying that they taste just as good as they look.

Working with a lot of red hues lately, I love how the water in the glass turns into a pretty red strawberry shade. It always get me hungry for breakfast–one that’s set atop sweet, red-checked cheesecloth.