Saturday, February 25, 2017

Sun Shadows at Waterfront Park

"Waterfront Park No. 1" 2017 from the Sun Shadow series

Following the sun again after several weeks of much needed rain, I decided to capture a new set of images for my Sun Shadow series. These studies were taken at San Diego's lovely Waterfront Park playground.

Working with the abstract shapes in Photoshop, I manipulated the depth of their shadows to give the two dimensional image more space. All scratches on the polls and debris on the ground were removed to focus on form instead of being distracted by their visual noise.

I was delighted by the crack in the ground seen in "Waterfront Park No. 5". This intrusion into the abstract forms drew the image back into reality. I think I may want to explore this idea further in subsequent entries in this series.

In the meantime, I continue to enjoy capturing abstract forms that pop up in front of me while basking in the warm mid-winter sun.

Julie Green
February 25, 2017

"Waterfront Park No. 2" 2017 from the Sun Shadow series

"Waterfront Park No. 3" 2017 from the Sun Shadow series

"Waterfront Park No. 4" 2017 from the Sun Shadow series

"Waterfront Park No. 5" 2017 from the Sun Shadow series

Saturday, February 18, 2017

Home as Hat: Elvia Lahman


"Elvia Lahman" 2017 from Home as Hat series


Continuing to create hats inspired by architectural styles, Elvia's chapeau was based on the famous William G. Low House in Bristol, Rhode Island. It was known for its 140 foot long low single gable and was a prime example of Shingle-style architecture. It's continuous horizontal shape and lack of ornamentation was a backlash to the highly decorated patters of the previous generation's architectural style.

Although Shingle-style architecture flourished between 1879 and 1890 primarily on the coast of New England, I believe it was one of the forerunners of modernism. It shunned the revivalism going on during this period and looked towards the future of functionalism with its open plan blurring the lines between interior and exterior space.

The roof was in fact the home.

Using cedar shingles to cover its monolithic facade, the architect Charle McKim built the William G. Low House in 1887 using a single massive asymmetric shape. The organic color of the continuous shingles helped to connect the house to the outdoors making this uniquely American architecture stand out from the highly decorated structures of the past.

Julie Green
February 18, 2017

Saturday, February 11, 2017

Home as Hat: Robin Jackson

"Robin Jackson" 2017 from Home as Hat series


Fish scale shingles were the inspiration for this Home as Hat entry. The steep roof top Ms. Jackson posed in front of prompted me to think of the Victorian gables I frequently saw in San Francisco. The American Queen Anne Revival architecture seen by the Bay always reminded me of exquisitely decorated birthday cakes. Their turrets were usually covered in fish scale shingles with an inset bay window. Coupled with contrasting paint colors, these formidable ladies always appeared to be so regal yet comical at the same time, depending on the color combination.

Often described as "fancy cuts", the fish scales were also practical with their pattern of staggered and overlapping shingles which helped shed water efficiently.

This ornamental siding was not an easy to replicate in embroidery floss on paper. I had to improvise its rounded edges with a scalloped pattern but feel that the finished "Hat" gives a hint at my intention to replicate the layered details of these decorative shingles.

I love this party hat and it's range of pink hues. It makes me happy and although quite large for a human, it's exaggerated proportions makes me smile.

Julie Green
February 11, 2017


Saturday, February 4, 2017

Patterns and Tones Turns 4


Four years ago today I started my weekly blog and haven't looked back since! It has provided me a platform to share my vision with you and I am grateful for the 500+ subscribers that allow me to drop a visual present into your box every Saturday morning. 

If you would like to subscribe to Patterns and Tones, email me at julievox@sbcglobal.net

Every anniversary I like to look back at the top 10 most visited articles to see what you're most interested in. This year "Johnny Bartlett on the History of Wig Torture" and "When Hot Dogs and Records Collide" were the hits of the year! Scroll below to see all top 10 posts from 2016.

I hope you continue to enjoy my little neck of the woods and that my visual perspective enhances how you look at life.

Love,
Julie Green

February 4, 2017


TOP 5 BLOG ENTRIES IN THE PATTERNS DEPARTMENT




An early prototype from my Home as Hat series, this entry saw a LOT of viewers. I explored fashion as a metaphor for shelter and was still hand stitching the photograph with cotton thread. 



I was thrilled to see that a large majority of you were interested in checking out an exhibition I was included in back in October. Alimento, which was curated by Joan Agajanian Quinn at the First Congregational Church in downtown LA, included my photograph "Pie" 2014 from Asia Muka: A Day in the LIfe of a Rock n' Roller. 




Also a hit was an entry from my woven portrait series featuring Anglo Saxons and their connection with music. Andrew Wells, a proper English gentleman and punk rocker shared an in-depth view of his life growing up in England and tales from having a front row seat to the birth of punk in the UK.



A true Bay Area icon, tons of you flocked to read this blog piece I did on my childhood hot dog stand. Growing up with graphics like these deeply affected who I am today. I love seeing that so many of you felt the same way.



And coming in at #1, the most visited Pattern entry of the year was a feature on my connection with Pulse Magazine, a now defunct rag I used to contribute to for Tower Records. These particular images featured the one and only Ms. Danielle Pimm from The Trashwomen dressed in a hot leather cat suite! Using her tower records bag as a purse, she was casually reapplying her makeup at a Casper's Famous Hot Dog stand in Dublin, CA.


TOP 5 BLOG ENTRIES IN THE TONES DEPARTMENT





There was a big turn out for the blog piece I did on LA favs The Savoys. Fronted by my old band mate George Garcia, his new band The Savoys raved it up the way only GG King can do. Although they are no longer around, these guys garnered a big following on my blog and came in at a respectable #5 on Patterns and Tones' top 5 entries I did based music.



Coming in at #4 on the list of musicians is none other than San Mateo's own notorious rock n' roller David Nudelman! This entry was a peek into David's early years in the South Bay as well as in indepth look at the bands her birthed and the pot he smoked!



Before she left for Oregon I caught up with the coolest chick in town, the talented and tough Ms. Tina Lucchesi! The kids can't get enough of her and have come back to visit this blog entry time and time again. Tina talked trash on every thing from boys to booze and coming in at #3, is obviously a fav.



Deathrock at it's finest, the Bay Area's own Altar De Fey has had a long and storied career. Coming in at a respectable #2, this blog piece has had a huge turn out on Patterns and Tones. Now fronted by my friend Jake Hout (The Undead Boys, The Divvys), Altar De Fey continues to put death back in rock.



And coming in at #1 in the Tones department is the lovable and incredibly talented Johnny Bartlett. The blog piece is an interview with Mr. Bartlett setting the record straight on the origins of his first band - Wig Torture.