The Cure for inspiration.

So for the past few weeks my sketch book has been sitting on my Drafting table waiting patiently for me to draw in it.
Well today was the day I finally put pencil to book.  It's a start, but I started designing the cover of my book and the inside back cover. I also had a little musical inspiration from The Cure: Greatest Hits.

I had a little Art Nouveau inspiration.  More to come!

So it begins...

This week a sweet little package arrived in the mail from the people at Art House Co-Op.  My Sketchbook arrived and is ready to be filled in!

First on the agenda:  pick a theme for my sketchbook. I think I have one. You will have to stay tuned for the answer to that one.

Back On Track

After a quite long hiatus, this new year has led to getting myself back on track. I have been working mostly doing wardrobe work at local theaters and have enjoyed it immensely. I have met a ton of new people, worked with some old colleagues and just enjoyed myself. I have also seen some wonderful shows in between.

In between the working, I have had two major projects I am currently working on, prepping for another season of summer wardrobe work and I am also planning a trip for Fall 2012.

This past week, I added another small project which I am super excited to be working on! As of this week I am now participating in "The Sketchbook Project 2013". I will be receiving a sketch book that I will be filling up with my wonderful art work. My sketch book along with hundreds of others will be part of nationwide tour and eventually be part of a permanent collection at the Brooklyn Art Library, in Brooklyn, New York. I have till January of 2013 to complete my sketch book and I am super excited as well as nervous. I have no idea what I will draw, which makes it that more thrilling.

This project will be a wonderful experience that I will share with a ton of creative people from all over the world. It is also so thrilling, that my work will be out in the world and part of permanent collection for the public to see.

Here is also a video on the project from the creators of The Sketchbook Project, Art House Co-Op.
 

In the months to come, feel free to watch my page(Courtney's Page), since I will be uploading pics of my progress. It would also be great if you went through and looked at all the other great and amazing people contributing to the project with their art work as well.

If you feel like joining the project yourself, since anyone can join, you have until October 31, 2012 to sign up since the sketch books are due January 15, 2013. Here's the link: The Sketchbook Project 2013 Have Fun!!!

This is going to be great!!!

Summer 2011

Wow! I can't believe it's been about 6 months since my last post! It has been one crazy year and summer for me.
I haven't posted in several months due to my new position that will end in October. Currently I am working as Wardrobe Lead at California Shakespeare Theater(aka:Cal Shakes) in Orinda, CA. That's right folks, an outdoor theater. I originally interned at this theater in 2009 as a Costume Design intern, so it is great to be back amongst people I know in a working capacity, where this time I get paid for my skills.

My work schedule consists of working 6 nights a week with the traditional Monday, Dark Day. My social life is on hold till October, but I'm gaining a theater social life in return with all the amazing casts and crews that I've been working with for each show.

As of now, we have had a pretty great season. Our season consisted of TITUS ANDRONICUS, THE VERONA PROJECT, and now we are smack in the middle of George Bernanrd Shaw's, CANDIDA. We have a week off after CANDIDA finishes and then right back to our last show, TAMING OF THE SHREW.

I have to say that its been a great experience to see the different nuances and "vibes" of the personalities of each cast. I have to say, each cast is different.

I've also had a great hands on experience of working with the different nuances of costume needs for each show.

For TITUS ANDRONICUS, my main issue was blood, cleaning it up and washing bloody laundry. It was a big cast, so lots of maintenance on costumes.

THE VERONA PROJECT, was a easy show. Just two small loads of laundry every night, but we did have the cold factor, so thermals and body suits to keep everyone warm.

CANDIDA, has been lots of starch!!! Working with liquid starch is interesting and fun. Also dressing the actresses in some beautiful period style dresses with corsets has been fun as well. Don't forget the wigs too! It has been a high maintenance show with having everyone look perfect!!

Still waiting on what will be the main focus wardrobe wise with TAMING OF THE SHREW. We will definitely see!!

In other news, I'm quickly moving up in the world of technology with a new iPad to help with my design career, its also helped with wardrobe too!
I've founds some great apps such as Evernote, which is great for collecting research, Dropbox, for storing my documents and a great task list for my to do lists, called Complete HD. I also have a great Project Management app, called MyProjects which helps with all my shows.

Alas my BlackBerry Storm 2 went out on me, so I now have a new iPhone 4. All these MAC products are starting to make me want a MAC computer. We will see about that one.

So all in all, a very productive, exciting and fast paced summer, I can't believe it's almost over!

It's getting busy!!!

It has been a crazy past two months for me filled with new and exciting jobs!
Since OUROBOROS has ended, I was offered and took on the job as assistant to the Costume Designer for the Magic Theater's production of WHAT WE'RE UP AGAINST that ran and closed last Sunday in San Francisco. It was a great job where I worked with amazing and talented people. The Magic is such a great theater!

Currently, I am working wardrobe crew for the production of RUINED at Berkeley Rep Theater, in Berkeley. It's an intense and powerful show, with a ton of costumes that me and my fellow wardrobe crew take care of. The cast is an amazing bunch of actors and the backstage crew is wonderful as well.

So much is going on and I'm gearing up for summer working on wardrobe crew for Cal Shakes in Orinda.

I'm already having to plan my work for 2012 if you can believe that. I have some proposals for some shows to design that are in the works.
I can say that 2011 is a great year so far career wise! Meeting so many wonderful, nice, kind, amazing, talented people and getting the chance to work at some amazing theaters. I am truly blessed this year!!!

Onward and upward!

OUROBOROS @ Renegade Theatre Experiment

Now that tech week is over, another costume design baby has left the womb! My costume work on OUROBOROS is complete.

From January 15 till February 5th, every Thursday through Sunday, the play OURBOROS by Tom Jacobson and directed by Virginia Drake is playing at the Historic Hoover Theatre in San Jose, California.

Tickets are available here. OUROBOROS Tickets.

Feel free to come and watch the show! Opening Night was a full house!

"Two American couples vacationing in Italy. Not that unusual. One couple is married and the other are friends. Again, not that unusual. One couple travels forward in time, while the other travels backward in time. Still, not that...wait, what? From the mind of renowned LA playwright, Tom Jacobson, comes the amazing palindrome play, OUROBOROS.

The forces of nature get all twisted around when Margaret and Tor meet Philip and Catherine. One couple is beginning their journey and the other in ending their's, all because of a cosmic connection and a ring, or rather rings. Is there one ring or two? Honestly, it all gets so confusing! One night the play will end as a comedy (The Nun's Story) and the next night it ends as a tragedy (The Minister's Story). Come experience this true experiment in storytelling! Love, lust, loyalty, betrayal, and faith are all wrapped up together to make the Regional Premiere of OUROBOROS by Tom Jacobson. " -Renegade Theatre Experiment

The Beginnings of Forum.

Before my two week break for the Holidays, I was able to have a week of free time to start building for our new show at Cal State East Bay. Currently we are building costumes for the production of "A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum" by Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart, with music by Stephen Sondheim. The production is directed by Marc Jacobs, one of the faculty directing instructors in the Theatre Dept. If you would like to check out more information about "Forum", the show opens in March and click on "Forum" to direct you.

"Forum" as we like to call the show in shop, is having its costumes designed by a wonderful undergraduate student who loves Costume Design, Chalia La Tour.
I'm in charge of building one of the characters, Tintinablula. Of course I'm documenting my work because its fun and also a good way for me to see how I am improving with my build skills and also a great way to show people one of the many jobs that I do for a living.

So without further ado, here are some 1st draft patterns in muslin of the Tintinabula costume for "Forum."

We are now waiting to do a fitting on the actress playing TinTinabula and in the next week or so, I will be cutting out the patterns in fabric.