When inspiration comes from others

On an especially warm summer day I happened upon the artist Matthew Courtney selling his art on Prince Street, NYC. I am a big fan of Matthew's work, so was seaking him out. I was happy to see that he is still around. He has been selling his art at this location for quite a few years. He is known as the Newspaper man of SoHo. Selling his art there since 2001, says his instagram account. I think it has been more years then that. I believe he used to run ABC No Rio, in a squat on Rivington Street, LES. Founded in 1980 by an artists collective.

I purchased his "The Urban Tribal Man" piece. Inspired by this piece, I went home and created my version, "The Urban Tribal Woman".
His piece is not in this blog. I hope to include it soon.

I posted it on instagram and someone was interested in purchasing it, so I had to create a second one. I would like to frame up Urban man and woman together, as a conversation between artists.
Enjoy!
Callie

What Art Means to Me

Callie Danae Hirsch

CallieArt.com

When did you know you were an artist?

The first time I created something and got back positive feedback about my creation I knew this was for me. I became addicted at that point to creating, it felt wonderful to be noticed for something I did on my own. I was around five or six at the time, and found some wood laying around, and a nail and began hammering dots in the wood, I then washed it over paint, filling in the dots. My mother asked me who taught me to do that, I said no one. It empowered me to push further into my unknown.

Why do you make this type of art?

I create in many different ways, directions. Why dot paintings? For me, each dot represents energy, a life force on black paper, representing an atmosphere. Together they create a dynamic environment that could be anywhere. It could be in space, or the dark depths of the ocean.

What does your artwork represent?

For me, art represents freedom, it enables me to explore, to experiment, allowing for discoveries. It is a space without rules, things to memorize or lessons to learn, all things I am horrible at.

What inspires you?

Simply put, the world inspires me. My surroundings, the things I see, colors that speak to me. I find many things inspirational, you can not name them, they are what touches you.

How do you make it?

Sometimes I paint large works on the floor, rubbing in a background with rags and oil paints. Sometimes I stand at an easel, and other times I sit at a table and draw. There is no one set way of being.

What does your artwork mean to you?

Artwork is a way of speaking to others, sharing your visions, and expressing oneself. I love being surrounded by my artwork in my home/studio. I love watching others look at my work and embrace it. It is a way of connecting, an intimate way of exchanging ideas.

Rather Random Moments

My life in NYC from 1983 - 1989. During this time period I moved from Rockland County to NYC to attend Parsons School of Design to study photography. I never left the city. My life would be forever changed by the people I met and the crazy things we did. I had found my peeps, and knew this was where I belonged. I was not one who enjoyed High School, or college for that matter, but I loved the bizarro people I was meeting, and the places we would go. Danceteria, Area, Limelight, the Palladium, Private Eyes, and the Peppermint Lounge. These clubs were buzzing with excitment, a thrilling feeling that fed my soul. So much to discover and embrace, opening my eyes to another way of being. The following photos are from this period of time. The photos were created in a process that I created titled, "The Drop Negative" techique. My senior thesis at Parsons School of Design featured this technique.

Thank you for your visit. Callie Art

Art as Fashion

Photoshoot featuring Robin and Pirate Lucy. Jacket art by CallieArt, 2022.

Thank you for visiting! Callie Art

Art for Spring

It is Spring 2022 and I thought I would post some of my favorite painted drawings on paper.

Enjoy the season! Callie Art

2022 - Women in the Arts, Celebrating the Genius of Women

Thrilled to be accepted into the 2022 - Women in the Arts, Celebrating the Genius of Women. My piece, titled: pandemic daydreams vii, is from a series I completed at the start of the covid pandemic. Click here for full series.

2022 -Women in the Arts, Celebrating the Genius of Women, juried group show inclusion. Orlando Public Library, FL. The show runs March 10 - April 22, 2022.

Women in the Arts, Inc. presents the 11th. annual international competition: "Celebrating the Genius of Women" at the Orlando Public Library, in honor of Women's History Month. This juried exhibition highlights selected works from local finalists and honor awardees; including a digital exhibition with selected works from United States and international artists.

Winter Beach Days, 2022

My first love was photography. Their is nothing as thrilling as a new camera right out of the box. The smell, it's sleekness, combined wonderfully to make the first foray out on a shoot extra special. I loved learning the camera's capabilities, figuring out the options it avails you, all to create a vision unseen by others. I am constantly encouraged by the possibilites enticing you. Making the unseen visable is magical to me.

Thank you for viewing!

Callie

CallieArt.com