Art | Janet Towbin

Kaleidoscope Central: Jerome, AZ

06/04/2014 | Comments: 1 | Posted by: JT | In: Art, Photography

I recently traveled to Jerome, Arizona (AKA “the largest ghost town in America”) and had a chance to visit one of my favorite shops. Nellie Bly is an incredible store dedicated specifically to kaleidoscopes. These are not just your average, run-of-the-mill kaleidoscopes, but out-of-this-world, amazing, magical kaleidoscopes. Some incorporate massive crystal rock structures embellished with copper and brass. Others are made of stained glass panels embedded with glass beads (the rotating element) which makes vibrant and colorful glass patterns when it is spun around. All are whimsically constructed by extremely talented (and highly collectible) kaleidoscope artists. I don’t think there are any two alike in the whole store.

I have two small kaleidoscopes from Nellie Bly, but would love to own more. I especially want to have the giant kaleidoscope seen at the store’s front door. Botanica is a large sculptural work with a planter basket that is ideal for an outdoor garden. You can fill the planter with virtually anything: flowers, cactus, glass globes, stones…well, really just anything you can think of–even lace and yarn skeins. The removable mirrored scope mechanism focuses on the planter’s contents. The planter bowl itself rotates 360 degrees which makes the patterns and designs change. The scope, though stationary in one place on a circular arm, rotates, too. Botanica is pricey, but one of these days I will definitely have to take the plunge.

Here are a few photos I took at Nellie Bly by placing my trusty little P & S camera lens up against the viewing glass of a rather large kaleidoscope.

Kaleidoscope 2 by Janet Towbin

Kaleidoscope 1 by Janet Towbin

Kaleidoscope 3 by Janet Towbin

Kaleidoscope 4 by Janet Towbin

All images copyright by Janet Towbin, 2014.

What Happens When…?

28/02/2014 | Comments: 2 | Posted by: JT | In: Art, Photography

What happens when you combine and layer two unrelated images in Photoshop? Magic!

Pansy Pool Mandala by Janet Towbin PansyPool Mandala; 2014; Digitally manipulated photography; size variable.

Below are the two images I merged together. The final creation (above) is so much better than the two images in their original form. Talk about synergy!

Pansy Mandala Inverted by Janet Towbin Pansy Mandala (Inverted); 2014; Digitally manipulated photograph; sizes variable.

Pool Mirror by Janet Towbin Mirrored Pool; 2014; Digitally manipulated photograph; sizes variable.

I wonder what will happen if I merge the pool water image with an agave? Or, maybe a…????

4 New Prints

20/02/2014 | Comments: 5 | Posted by: JT | In: Art, Printmaking

I’ve got 4 new prints in the works! After last week’s gremlin attack, this was a very uneventful studio experience. It kind of made up for all those mistakes I made and the total despair I felt the last time I printed.

Two prints from my Net Series will be printed in editions of 10. I am well on my way to completing one of the editions and will start the other one next Tuesday. NetSquared was printed from a completely new plate and I am happy to say there are no distracting spots like there were in the previous one.

NetSquared by Janet Towbin NetSquared; 2014; Photopolymer etching; 8″ x 10″

This print is called CircleSquared and I intend for it to have many different iterations. I will continue adding lines on the original artwork to create new patterns in what will be at least three more states.

CircleSquared by Janet Towbin CircleSquared; 2014; Photopolymer etching; 8″ x 10″

Solar Mum with chine-collé (below) will be printed using various background colors in smaller editions or as unique prints. Here are 2 samples of what I’ve printed thus far:

Solar Mum chine-collé (peach) by Janet Towbin Solar Mum Peach; 2014; Photopolymer etching with chine-collé; 8″ x 8″