Thursday, March 24, 2011

Viewing Art Can Reduce Stress

In UK there is an increase in the number of people suffering from stress and other related symptoms. Professor Angela Clow, from the University of Westminster studied the stress levels of 28 participants.

They were all under increased stress. The researcher tells us that saliva cortisol levels are the best indicators of one’s stress level.
 The participant’s saliva cortisol levels were tested after they spent their lunch hour viewing art. It was very surprising to see that their saliva cortisol levels reduced by 32%.

But usually it would take about five hours for the cortisol level to fall to this extent but this was possible in a short time period of 40 minutes. These people had visited the Guildhall Art Gallery in the City of London and wandered for 40 minutes.


Read more: Art Reduces Stress http://www.medindia.net/news/view_news_main.asp?x=7012#ixzz1BhR8wUoK

Related : How to use Art Viewing to Relieve Stress
http://ezinearticles.com/?Art-Imagery-Can-Reduce-Stress&id=4813349



The Sun, The Son by JaMax
                                                      

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

New Commission - 1st Folds


My current project is a commission for a track enthusiast. The nice part about a cloth sculpture is that they can be free flowing abstract pieces, people, and/or things. Moving into a new home is exciting, but even more exciting is decorating a new home. I spoke to my latest client over the phone and asked for him to email me pictures of a relay exchange.  It was already established that he wanted a track theme that could cover quite a bit of wall.

While shopping I suddenly had a vision of using two panel canvases to create a larger work. Each runner will now have their own panel. Roughly, the work should be about 16 x 60. Here is an extremely early peek at the beginning of a cloth sculpture.



1st Folds


          
Upon completion this should resemble a relay runner's arm passing a baton. Stay tuned as I post more progressions.









A little more folding


Saturday, March 5, 2011

How to Have Commissioned Art on a Budget

Often people think of commissioned pieces and they think wow maybe one day I can afford to do something like that. When the truth is you can afford to do it right now! Why? Because with a commission you are already establishing up front what you CAN afford. It truly is creating custom art just for you.

One of my favorite commissions was when I was brought on to create the focal point of a room. The couple was redecorating their bedroom. They had already picked out a favorite sheet pattern so the color palette had already been established. From there I received a pillowcase and that's what influenced the creation of the piece. To begin the process, we negotiated the size artwork that they could afford. This is what most people don't understand. They didn't commission a $3,000 piece they commissioned what was within their means. If your budget can only handle a certain amount then that's what is established upfront, it's up to the artist to let you know if that's possible. In most cases the artist can control the price by size and complexity. It's up to you to decide if the cost is within your grasp.

As with most cases this couple had a decorating budget, so they had a price in mind for art within that budget. After the focal piece was created, we then picked a wall color to complement the piece. The couple loved their piece so much, that they decided to have another complementing work commissioned for another wall in the room. This second work was smaller than the first and had the same exact colors so as to color coordinate the room. The final touch was for me to create a hand-painted cloth throw pillow to match the sheet design. Keep in mind that swatches were used from the time the original sheet pattern was picked so the wall art colors custom matched the store bought sheets. Once the cloth was painted it was ready to go to their seamstress to create the custom throw pillow. However, when I returned I found that the couple had put the cloth on stretchers as a third original piece. They had fallen in love with the cloth and had decided  that they wanted it on the wall instead of on their bed.

Their room had been transformed into a master bedroom art gallery! All they needed to complete their look was a comforter, throw pillows (store bought), and curtains. All these items were purchased with the original artwork in mind. Three of the four walls were commissioned art based on their budget. Indeed, the budget  did expand as they fell in love with adding additional pieces. But the bottom line of the story is, that they only spent what they were willing and able to spend. They now were the proud owners of unique, commissioned artwork.

You don't have to be a Rockefeller to own original art pieces, you just need to have a room, a wall, and a budget. No one decides to redecorate a room without a budget, just make sure you include artwork with your calculations.

What's your favorite hobby? Favorite colors? Favorite destination? Why not have a commissioned piece created as the focal point of a room.



FSB by JaMax
This piece was created to match a already painted room and included the clients initials repeated in all the paint colors.


 
By: Jayne Maxwell - Unique Cloth Sculptures by JaMax http://www.clothsculptures.com