Copper Blog

Indian Summer

The best part of our job is getting the chance to meet up and coming VB talent. We recently had another opportunity to create custom work for local poet, Evan Quitelle. Mr. Quitelle has recently published his first book of poetry titled, Indian Summer. To commemorate his achievement we created bookmarks decorated with one of his poems.

There is no high ranking position held greater than to be held in the position of love.

Check out more of Mr. Quitelle’s poems by visiting the link below.
Barnes & Noble
Amazon.com

Feel free to contact us if you’re interested in customizing a bookmark for an organization or as a gift.

Douglas

CAC Teen Apprentices

This past week we had the opportunity to have the Teen Apprentices from the CAC stop by our studio for a guided tour. This was both the first time we opened our studio to a group of students and the first time we were placed in a teacher role. Needless to say, we were a bit nervous but excited to have young eager minds take part in what we have worked so hard at creating over the past few years.

As most students in a new and unfamiliar place they were a bit shy but it only took us asking a few questions to get them to start talking art. We learned that they were painters, sculptors, passionate drawers, and all of them loved the idea of using recycled materials, a staple in the creation of Copper Art Designs. After learning each student’s strengths and weaknesses we moved our discussion to the gallery which quickly turned to a wonderful brainstorm session. We were able to help provide insight and ideas for their upcoming art event that is completely planned and put on by the students themselves.

Through out the afternoon it became apparent that there really is a desire and need for more art in our area. Our high school students are searching for any outlet where they can be creative, learn techniques, and show off their ideas. We were happy to grant them a safe haven for the evening where they could talk freely about the abstract and absurd, even a bit of the classics for good measure.

We hope this is only the beginning of sharing our passion for art with students and fellow artists alike. The Teen Apprentices showed us there is a pulse still beating at the center of our community. It is asking for collaboration, it is begging to learn and share, it wants to feel cultured and loved and we plan to help in any way that we can.

The Teen Apprentice Program will host their event on Friday, May 28th at the CAC. The event will be centered around their own artwork and will also include an open mic, live bands, Guitar Hero on the big screen, and an art raffle. It is sure to be a good time, one that you don’t want to miss, or in their words it is certain to be EPIC!

-Douglas

An Artists Tale: Episode 3 – Levon Walker

The third episode in my series that chronicles artists that live in the Virginia Beach area. This episode introduces us to our first musical act of the series, Levon Walker. We get to hear Levon play and fill us in on where his music comes from. It is easy listening from this clever lyricist with a gentle approach to the world around him. Though Levon has left the area to continue his adventures in Mexico a part of him remains as an inspiration to the art community.

Follow Levon @ noroomforhipsters.wordpress.com

Stream of Conscious Mapping from the Abyss

If we had to, in just a hundred characters or less, I guess we would explain the project some what like this:

“With scrap materials as building blocks, the tale of how storytelling and creativity was conceived.”

Well, that is a jumping off point at least though we would like to think there is much more at play here. These pieces started off as most of the projects John and I have worked on together, with a lot of ideas and not nearly enough time to execute them all.

Stream of Conscious Mapping from the Abyss is our initial attempt at a visual metaphor, sculpting how humans learned to express their inner emotions through stories. Early development and understanding hinged on our ability to interpret the world around us. Science, and more specifically math, helped to form the foundation of understanding. From there humans were able to abstract and create with the elements in their environment. These creations evolved into music, written stories, visual art, and many other forms not traditionally thought of as art. As human understanding grew and technologies progressed, humans slowly were able to start capturing and interpreting more and more of the world at large. In the modern day human creativity appears at a point that which building blocks are reaching new heights and pushing the bounds of expression. These pieces serve as the road map of how humans arrived at the door step of today.

The colorful collages are representations of the reaches of the human narrative. They are paired with pieces of “Remainder Art” as John and I have deemed them. Rough cut cardboard that has collected excess paint, glue, and lacquers used in the creation of other art projects. This pairing allows us to cleanly see the unknown happenings around us that, if given a chance, have at the heart of them what the human narrative is all about, life.

Unfortunately we did not get accepted into the exhibit this year. This could be seen as a let down but for us it was a chance to create that we were able to seize. Our collage of scrape materials now decorate our own studio walls waiting for their next evolution.

-Douglas

Blog of the New Year

As the sound of the new years bells slowly settle in the back of our heads our hands and minds are fighting the frost to keep art alive. This year we plan to take a new approach to our blogging. We will still keep up with our traditional posts showing off new copper work and updates about shows and events. Though, we want to focus on not only the art that we create but the art that is created in our community by friends and new acquaintances alike as well. As our fiends at AltDaily [altdaily.com] seem to point out on an almost daily basis, Hampton Roads is in need of a sustainable artist community!

Not that we are lacking talent and people with a sense of culture rippling through their veins, it is just not big enough yet. So in hopes that we can keep ourselves creative and inspire those around us we will be posting our attempts at poetry, short films, musical experiments, more artist documentaries, and various 2D artwork. If you have a project that helps us to think or question or that just simply allows us to take a step back and appreciate all the sights and sounds around us please let us know about it.

Stay tuned for what we, and what you, come up with!

Let’s not let the area go stale this winter, until we meet again,
-Douglas

Otis Film Fest

Near the end of 2009 we had an opportunity to work on award plaques for the Otis Film Festival held annually at Regent University. The awards were to be given to various winners at the festival in six different categories (see list below for award and award winners). Chris Free who participated in the festival was also in charge of finding the appropriate ceremonial gifts. He came to us looking for rustic and aged plaques which would honor the outstanding attempts at cinema at Regent.

We produced awards with a rough deep brown patina that gave them an antique look. We also allowed the fill of the etch (the text) to pull out in certain areas to add further effect. The final result was something very original and far from the ordinary plaques or trophies commonly given at award ceremonies.

We thank Chris for seeking us out to help in this project and we hope we can be of service in the future. Congratulations to all the winners at this years Otis Film Festival.

The Otis Film Festival is annually hosted by the Council of Graduate Students and Regent Undergrad Council.

BEST FILM
Brittle Time – Producer & Director: Caleb Stern, Writer: Michael Boling

2ND PLACE
Standing Outside – Producer: Christopher Free, Director: Joshua Overbay, Writer: Molly Hughes, Director of Photography: Benjamin Dyer

3RD PLACE
3. Sad Sarajevo – Producer: Stephanie Bain, Director/ Writer: Jon Mark Nail

BEST ACTOR
Ryan Clemens

BEST ACTRESS
Anna Koehler

MALENDOWSKI AWARD
Crab Feast or Famine – Producer/ Director: Kat Moo

-Douglas

Welcome, Come On In

The newest of our custom pieces was a big one that allowed us to work on something we had wanted to for a while, a welcome sign. Early in the companies evolution we had made a few welcome signs just experimenting and ever since we have wanted to take the time to do another one. After meeting Bob and Brigette in Blacksburg, Virginia this summer we soon realized we would get our chance.

At the Steppin Out Fesitval this August we had an opportunity to take on some custom jobs. Our favorite however turned out to be a 24” x 10” custom welcome sign that Bob and Brigette commissioned. It was to be for the entrance way to their house that serves as a foyer before you actually get into their home.

We worked to make a few modifications to the piece over the span of a month and finally had a solid image to work with. It came out perfect. Just recently Bob sent us a couple of photos of it finally in place. With time the piece will begin to patina and take on a unique character all its own. Thanks Bob and Brigette for letting us help with such a cool project.

If you are interested in a custom piece for your home or as a gift we would love to hear about it.

Till next time,

Douglas

An Artists Tale: Episode 2 – Ashley Addair

The second episode of my new series that chronicles artists that live in the Virginia Beach area. This episode takes a look at a painter I had the pleasure of meeting at the end of this past summer, Ashley Addair. The piece explores her wide use of color on canvas as well as inspiration and influences that have helped shape her inner artist.

Follow Ashley at her blog: http://noroomforhipsters.wordpress.com/

52 Weeks and Its New Home

Our prize winning 52 Weeks has finally made its way to its new home. A lovely couple and their children strolled up to our booth in the final hour as the Neptune Fest was drawing to a close. They simply fell in love with the art work displayed in front of them. After some debate as to what piece or pieces would complement their home the best Diane and Jason decided to go with 52 Weeks. There were a few alterations that needed to be done to the work in order for it to be hung at their home so unfortunately they were not able to take it with them that day. A few weeks later it was ready to go and Diane and Jason payed us a visit at our studio and once again gazed at the gallery walls with a sense of amazement as they pondered how it would look inside their home.

We recently received photos of it perched over their front door and it looks amazing. We are so happy we could bring the joy of the arts into yet another house hold.

Since the creation of 52 weeks we have expanded the idea and it has slowly turned into a three piece series reflecting the cyclic seasonal change of a year here on planet earth. 365 Days and 12 Months are the book ends that round out the series. The titles are self explanatory and we couldn’t be happier with the way they have turned out.

Keep checking in
-Douglas

An Artists Tale: Episode 1 – Electric Skeleton

The first in my new series that will chronicle artists that live in the Virginia Beach area. Episode 1 is about a good friend of mine, Jeff Sheely, often referred to as Electric Skeleton. This video captures Jeff at work and also gives us insight into his paintings, style and his approach to life as an artist.

Follow Jeff at http://iamelectricskeleton.blogspot.com/