Sherri finale

Friday the 13th was the Season Finale of Sherri Lifetime Network's 1st sitcom, starring Sherri Shepherd of The View. I worked on the show as a scenic artist, painting the sets and also as the camera scenic, standing by during filming. I thoroughly enjoyed this project because of the quality, professionalism and great personalities on the prep crew, camera crew and cast members! If you haven't seen it, you're missing a lot of laughs. It's a very funny show on Tuesdays at 10pm on Lifetime. 2 more left, but sure they'll be repeating some :D Hoping the show will be picked up for another season, think it will!! Here are some of the photos I took our last night...

I'm not sure where this guy above came from, but he hung out in our paint workroom.

Below is the last swing set they built, Bo's classroom (Bo is Sherri's son on the show). Swing sets are the ones built per episode, as opposed to the permanent sets. I missed working on this particular one, but I thought it looked great! Bo's image is 2nd from the right, lettin' his hair grow up & out ;) Rachel Dratch of SNL played the teacher in the final episode.

The 3 permanent sets were built last summer-- Law Office, Breakroom and Sherri's apartment below. Once the sets are built or in progress, which is usually the case, scenics come in to prep all the surfaces, paint, wallpaper and faux finish anything that needs it. For example, her floor is faux wood, painted directly on the concrete stage floor. We also age or distress anything that looks too fresh or new. The lighting really brings it all together in the end.

Her apartment hallway is attached to her office breakroom set as a way to save space. One of my jobs was to make sure the hall plug that covered the breakroom window looked as if it were flush to the wall. I used painted tape for this. *Camera scenics spend a great deal of time just painting artist tape to hide imperfections, cracks, etc. This is so changes can be made quickly in between shooting. The plug comes off each time they film in breakroom (on/off...on/off...)

Above is the breakroom and below is her law office set. Sherri, Elizabeth Regen, Kali Rocha and Tammy Townsend play paralegals in NYC.

This is Shawn Shea, the 1st Assistant Director. Shawn is great at her job and was so much fun to work with. I know it was sometimes hard for her to be here, because her home is in Los Angeles. Most importantly, that is where her beloved dog resides!

Above is our art director, Toni Barton. I love her! Here she is hugging the equally lovely, Kevin Walsh the lead person (head set dresser) for Sherri.

I adore this camera man, Alain Onesto!! He's filmed many shows including Kate & Allie and Hope & Faith. Alain also films performances of various operas at The Met in hi-definition. He is full of positive energy and very supportive in general. My postcard invite for my last exhibition hangs on his camera and he made sure to get excellent shots of my toddler tees that made it into a kids' store set on the show. Of course, they made it in thanks to Sharon White our wonderful set decorator!

I thought this shot above was interesting because of just how tight it was fitting in the cameras, another was inside a doorway to the left. We had a total of 4 cameras rolling for majority of time.

Here is Sherri in a scene with Elizabeth and below with Theo ;) I mean, Malcolm Jamal Warner!

Hot scene above!!

We filmed on Thursdays & Fridays. Friday nights were with a live audience, which was fantastic!! We had DJ Babaloo and a comedian to entertain the crowd between shots. The show often took on a party-like atmosphere. Above gaffer, Tigre McMullan and electric, Evin Lowe. These two were my regular dance partners when the music was good ;D Most of the crew stand-by in the background while filming occurs.

Above is key grip extraordinaire, Dave Bowers!

Alain Onesto again :)

Kali Rocha plays Summer. Here, she gazes at the shellac-glazed licorice jewelry created by Donna, played by Cindy Caponera. Cindy is hysterical as Donna and is also a writer and producer of the show!

This was the last night and Sherri was very gracious and thoughtful in her speech and thank yous :)

I cannot say enough about Sherri and her cast. They are all so talented and extremely funny! The 4 women have terrific chemistry and each character has their own individual style, charm & humor. They cracked up the crew over & over despite the number of times we watched the same scenes again & again. I appreciate just how nice and down to earth they all are as well! It really set the tone for the entire crew and feel of the show.

Striking their poses... Karen Wald, far right, an amazing script supervisor and actor/stand-ins. Deborah is a dancer and trainer. I often asked her for tips on diet & work outs ;)

Holly Moore, charge scenic, packing up and pouring excess paints out in eco friendly canisters to be picked up by city :)

Below are some of my baby & toddler tees appearing in the Halloween episode...

I took these with my cell phone. They came out somewhat readable I think?! I was thrilled when I saw that they used the take where Sherri hands the other actress my Space Mouse onesie!

Below, are most of the scenics I worked with on the show when we were at Pasita eating, drinking & looking at David's mural/scenic work here *(original blog post in September archive).

**A final goodbye from the cast! I'm so happy I was part of the show and wish it many many years to come!!!** Thank You :D

pretty

November posts coming soon! Busy couple of weeks for me, but have to stop and smell the roses, right? ;D

Richard Carlyon ...above and beyond...

VCU it is! After procrastinating about applying to college, I scrambled to put together a portfolio and set up an interview with the Dean of Admissions at Virginia Commonwealth University. I had always enjoyed art classes, drawing, collage-making as a kid, but I had never seriously considered becoming an artist. That changed within my 1st few classes with Richard Carlyon. I had the great fortune of being enrolled in one of his Art Foundation classes. I had never met anyone like him. His high energy, knowledge, creativity & humor captivated me completely and I wanted to be like him! I am just one of the countless students, fellow artists & friends to share this feeling.

A Retrospective of his work has been on view simultaneously at four Richmond galleries-- The Visual Arts Center "Chance", Reynolds Gallery "Early & Late Eleanor", Anderson Gallery "Choice" and 1708 Gallery "Interval", for which he was a co-founder. If you are in the area, 3 of the exhibits are still up, with the exception of 1708. I made a visit home so I could see the shows and I'm so glad I did!

Richard Carlyon 1930-2006.

Above is a recreation of his studio in the Anderson Gallery. People in the downtown area who had never even met him became accustomed to seeing him walk along West Broad Street every day to his studio. He once brought our class here and seeing the space where someone you admire works & spends their time is a real treat!

It's hard to express in words, particularly for a visual artist, just what was so special and spectacular about him. He was a spectacular person! I'd like to share a bit of my experience, because he had such an impact on me and the way I try to look at the world and live my life. He was a force of nature, that rare person who had focused, not manic, energy with actual knowledge to impart, a fantastic sense of humor and contagious enthusiasm.

Freshman year, my class could barely take their eyes off him when he spoke. He was full of charisma and he knew so much about art, culture, media, history, it inspired all of us. Until that time, I had not heard much (if anything) about Marshall McLuhan, John Cage, Abstract Art, Happenings or Minimalism. He connected that world to typical everyday life and to current popular culture (mid '80s-- good times ;) I was aware of Andy Warhol, but more from New York & People Magazine than any of his underlying ideas & concepts. Mr. Carlyon, as we called him, treated us like adults and did not go easy on anyone who did not put effort into their projects. It seemed to genuinely hurt & upset him if an assignment was not taken seriously.

On the other hand, he could find some bit of promise or insight in the most flimsy of pieces. I once benefited from this ability and his kindness. We were expected to create a visually interesting, movable piece that made sound(s). Mine would not have created a sound unless you threw it to the ground and crushed it loudly under your feet! I attempted to hide it over in a corner (it hung, think they all had to) I hoped that we would never get to it that day, but he spotted it, asking who had made it. Instead of being made to feel embarrassed by it's lack of function, he complimented me on the way the colors were mixed & how it was painted. He was the 1st to suggest I look into the painting program.

A terrific catalog is available and can be purchased online from the Anderson Gallery

Style Weekly's article, "A Long Goodbye" can be viewed online and you can hear interviews on VCU's journal, Blackbird

I went into Communication Arts & Design my Sophomore year, but did fall in love with painting by Junior year and received a minor in it. This is what I still enjoy doing most today :)

My favorite assignment had been a series of self portraits we created. I was most thrilled when he got a kick out of the giant check I made with "BOUNCED" stamped across the face of it. He had the best laugh! I can hear it so well when I think about it. The unusual thing about him is just how long he sticks with you. I had not seen him since about 1994 when I ran into him near Strawberry St (walking as always, he never drove) on a visit home. I graduated in 1989 and had taken only one other class (in Communication Arts) with him and I sat in on his extremely popular Art History Seminar. Something about the way he expressed himself and some of his observations are so fresh in my mind, I may as well have run into him this afternoon.

I always kept up with what he was doing through articles in local papers that my mom sent me over the years. He retired in 1996 and I regret that I never attempted to contact him or show him my work. I don't know if he would even remember me, but I was pleased to read about the outpouring of support and gratitude he received when he 1st became ill. It was obvious that he was an important and much loved instructor, but you always wonder if the person realizes just what an impact they have had on others. He really helped build VCU into what it is today, one of the very best art & design schools in the country. I am amazed by how much it has expanded each time I visit.

Richard Carlyon was disciplined about his art making and deeply believed in Art and the process as a way of life. He was charismatic & fun, but also serious and a little mysterious to me. I'm sure I cared too much about what he thought of me, because I respected his opinions so much. Wish I could know him now at 42, while I feel ever so slightly more secure ;)

By the time I decided to apply to NYU for graduate school, I was again putting it all together at the last minute. I had work ready to show this time and was about to fly up for my interview, but I had to ask him to fax his recommendation letter to their offices. He laughed. Faxes were not so common yet and while he embraced technology, he often seemed amused by it's effect on us and the speed at which it alters our expectations. He faxed it :D

I loved seeing pieces like the one above where he worked with drawings and notes left by his son Jason as a child. This one reads: Dad fill the aquarium with water or you'll be sorry- very sorry Great!

I wish I could have included images from his videos or had better photos of his gestural Dance Maps, where he plotted out the paths of Martha Graham dancers' movements. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing film footage "Bird Park Lane" from 1966 of at the Reynolds Gallery when he was in his mid 30s and reading some of the very funny postcards at Anderson Gallery that he wrote to his sister.

Here mom ponders his paintings; Above/beyond, (here and there), THISIS, ...over (AND) above from 1984

Above is a photo strip from the catalog and the way I remember him-- animated and perfect.

He meant a lot to me even though I knew him for such a brief period. I'm so grateful that I had the chance to study with him. He will always be with so many of us!

My best to his wife, artist, Eleanor Rufty and his son, Jason Carlyon.

Thanks :)

Thank You to everyone who came down to my Opening at Fat Cat last week!! I really appreciate the support!
The show will be up through the end of November due to the popular cries of fans. Ok I'm exaggerating, but it will be up for the next two months :) Please stop in, if you get a chance.

Above is lovely Miki, co-owner and soon-to-be mom, in front of one of "Face"series. She and Daniel own and run this wonderful Carroll Gardens wine shop that helps support smaller vineyards, while offering a varied selection of wines with a great price range!

They also support local artists like myself by exhibiting work here. I had no idea they had the space they did in back until I saw it. Miki seemed amused as I kept coming back with more and more pieces from my studio (conveniently located right across the street ;) I've always enjoyed setting up work in an installational manner and letting paintings play off of each other.

Above, some of my favorite ladies-- Martha, Holly & Jess :D

This is adorable Georgia and her sister Violet, who opted to check out the snacks rather than pose for a photo. These two are the daughters of my friends, Graham & Emily, super adorable themselves. Some other friends & neighbors brought their kids to the show, fitting for my work! I wish I had taken more pics that night.

Jane allowed me to photograph her in deep contemplation ;D

I enjoyed hanging the flat, illustrative pieces and the bloppy abstractions together :)

I was lucky that a past artist had left up her graphic tree mural, it was a fun backdrop for Big Beach Octy Looms Large Over Tiny People Tanning (favorite title ever). These 3 panels are intended to hang flush against one another, but the jutting of the wall dictated how it's shown here. I ended up liking the space between them.

Thanks for taking a look at my post. It can sometimes feel odd promoting yourself, but I am very pleased to be able to show this amount of artwork in one spot & in such a nice shop. It has been a long time since I have exhibited original paintings. It's especially nice to have some of the Blip Blop series seen by more than just my close circle of friends!

Art Exhibit at FAT CAT

*Opening Tonight * Thursday Oct 1st, 7-9pm * Art, Snacks & Wine* Hope to See You There!*

I will be exhibiting paintings and prints at FAT CAT Wines the month of October. Work will be in Miki & Daniel's back gallery and on the store walls above their delicious selection of wines from around the world. Please join me for the Opening Party this Thursday October 1st, 7-9pm.

538 Court Street between Huntington & 9th Street, Carroll Gardens Brooklyn. Take the F or G line to Smith & 9th Street :)

I'll be showing artwork for kids' rooms, as well as pieces from my Blip Blop series of vibrant, dimensional paintings. Of course, we will enjoy some terrific wine and the company of lovely & lively people like yourself!

Hope you can make it :)

hello

I like these two, so wanted to share... more substantial post coming next week :)
Have a Super Weekend!!

Congratulations!

Congratulations to Juan Martin Del Potro! The 20 yr. old underdog beat Roger Federer today. An incredible feat. Sorry for Roger, but he has had an amazing year(s)!! Congrats to come-back mom, Kim Clijsters (above with her daughter) and the Williams sisters on their Wins at the 2009 US Open!!! Visit this NYTimes slideshow for nice array of photos from all the Finals!