Alexandra Levasseur: One Drawing a Day

Alexandra Levasseur

Let Me Sleep, acrylic & colored pencils on paper, 14x11"

Alexandra Levasseur, who lives and works in Quebec, challenged herself to a "therapeutic investigation" by completing one drawing a day from 2011 - 2012. The final project consists of 35 pieces, each 11x14", each made with acrylic painting and colored pencils on paper.

"My objective is to explore the spontaneity and inspiration that every morning gives me, either by environmental or emotional circumstances - states of mind, energy, desires, etc." Because this project began in the fall, Levasseur found herself gravitating towards the impressions and perceptions she finds of autumn and winter in Quebec: the increasing tendency toward hibernation and laziness is a common phenomenon and mood during the dark and cold months.


This need for comfort and warmth is illustrated through the physical comfort of the blankets, pillows, and wool clothes that surround her figures.

Winter Bed, acrylic & colored pencils on paper, 14x11"

 In contrast, the walls and coverings often feature flowers and bright colors, elements of spring in which the figure can hide.

Couverture, acrylic & colored pencils on paper, 11x14"

Levasseur's figures encapsulate the difficulty of waking and getting up, the tendency to oversleep, the anxiety, the irritability that comes hand in hand with the cold and the dark winter. Whether these figures are still in bed or are going about their day, these feelings linger.

In her statement, written before the final completion of the project, Levasseur states that she hopes to bring the "diary of seasonal emotional transmutations" through to the spring and summer as the irritability and anxiety of winter disappears.

Not only does this subject matter pertain to my own experiences, but also I find myself drawn to these pieces in general. What I really seem to respond to is the obvious marriage of illustration as an art form and the overt need for telling a story. Each piece does tell its own story. Levasseur's style in general seems to include the fragmentation of the form itself apparent in the samples shown here; I think this only adds to the narrative aspect of these pieces. It sets up a continuous narrative of sorts. At the very least, it establishes movement through the piece, further adding to the anxiety and the irritability she discusses.

Insightful at a Young Age

Dieter Roth: Artist 1930-1988

At the age of ten in 1940, Roth was put into membership with a paramilitary organization of the Hitler Youth,the Pimpfe (Cubs).  He was removed from Germany for a period of time in 1943, and he began writing and drawing frequently commenting on the society’s anxiety from war being a burden on the individual. In 1945 he wrote:

“And as long as this war is raging-it is probably my inner war too - one of development - I will not have personality for the world outside. The war has to be over first, the big one for the development and ultimately the peace of mankind, and the same, small one inside me, then mankind will be mankind, then I will be Dieter.”

Lee Price: American Figurative Realist Oil Painter

Lee Price

Working out of New York this contemporary oil painter focuses on overhead self-portraits.  The viewer is positioned directly above the subject, forcing a literal play-on-words of the viewer looking down on the figure.  The figure's posture responds to this overhead view sometimes with tight-crouching shoulders that hide the body or sometimes with a more relaxed but heavy pose.  Figurative heaviness is apparent in all of her works exemplified by the presence of weighty foods.  The food in combination with settings of bathtubs, beds, and comfy chairs suggests the figure is fetishizing lethargic activities.

Full, Oil on Linen, 44” X 54”

Lemon Meringue, Oil on Linen, 32" x 72"

Price has commented that her works are a comment on "body image, feminism, and our cultural relationship to food."

Butter, Oil on Linen, 66" x 44"

What sparks questions for me in her work is the process.  To capture self-portraits that feature the full body from an overhead angle she must work either with a large-mirror (most obviously) or photographs.  (Or she very adequately renders figures without looking at any reference)  So if she does work from a photograph (to be able to render the proportions of her back, such as in the piece above) why paint it? She can many these works using photography.  Contemporary artists must continuously be conscious of the effects of technologies on the appreciation of art.  These are immensely impressive realist paintings show off her skill as a painter, but what about painting is important for the viewer to understand this piece?

http://www.leepricestudio.com/painting13.html

DIY: Tie Headbands

Have you ever felt like you paid way too much for a headband? Or tried to make your own and spent too much money on fabrics? Dana has. And if she were here (and she is), she would tell you to listen up because I have great news for you!
You know what makes fantastic and unexpected headbands? Men's ties.

My dad has a ton that he doesn't wear any more, but I'm sure that he would not appreciate me cutting them up. So instead, Dana and I picked up  some good ones at thrift stores around town. Goodwill seems to be a good one, but sometimes it can get a bit pricey, as far as thrift stores go. Lucky for us, we just keep going on days when they have $1 sales. Everything in the store is only $1. Seriously. Best. Thing. Ever.
Punctuation makes things dramatic-ly emphasized, you know.
I picked up eight different ties in one go!
So naturally, this crafty chica was ready to get to work straight away. (Did I really just call myself a "crafty chica?" Guess so... Hmmm... maybe the extent of my Spanish is not just "taco." Who knew.)

First step: I cut the skinny end of the tie so it was just long enough to tie around my head. (If you cut it a bit too short, there's a piece of white canvas on the inside of the tie that you can take out. It'll give you another half-inch of room or so, depending on how thick the tie is. Just stich the back right on up once you're done, and it's on to Step 2!)
Second step: I like to fold down the end that you cut in a triangle. This way, it kind of mimics the actual end of the tie, the one that you won't do anything with other than maybe cut the materials tag off, if it's even there. Or, if you want to advertise that your tie is 100% silk (and who doesn't love bragging now and then), then by all means, leave the thing on there!
Brag away. I won't tell you what to do. Much.
Third step: Now's when you would sew up that open (now folded) end to the headband. Make it as neat as you like. Sometimes I like to let the stitches show, give it a more handmade feel. Sometimes I make it as neat as I can, just to be a bit more polished.

And voila! Instant headband! Just tie it around your head, and you're ready to par-tay. Tea party that is. Might as well get fancy with it.
If you're feeling super crafty and have some floral wire or even jewelry wire hanging around, you could try putting a wire down the center of the headband (on the inside, of course) to make it super chic and fashionable. And to wear with a bit more ease.

Like I said, I picked up eight of these bad boys at various thrift stores earlier this weekend, and I "converted" all of them to headbands in an hour or two.
So experiment, play around with things, and if you come up with any bright ideas for the other half of the tie, let us know!
Dana might have a treat for y'all later on the tie front,  but I'll try not to spoil things.

Until next time, my dears!

Seven out of eight are chilling on my floor. Next project: storage...