pulse and pause.

Our bodies are designed to pulse and pause – to expend energy and then renew it. In this revelatory talk, energy expert Tony Schwartz debunks common productivity myths and shows us how to regain control over our energy so we can produce great work.    I feel a big pause coming on.

save the date

the latest couture save the date design  — a vintage postcard layout with a whimsical diecut. click on the image to view larger.

first snow.

let's see

tee are oh you bee elle ee.

getting super excited for jillian and jr's shoot next week... looking for some inspiration.
i keep coming back to imagery of vintage hollywood. 

oh! how, pinteresting.

I've only been on Pinterest for two weeks but it's already got my creativity flowing. It's inspired me and caused me to consistently stay up past my bedtime.

How many of you have files on your computer of images you've saved off the internet? I have more inspiration folders than I can keep track of: design, interiors, photography, art, typography... These files are helpful but I don't have a way to keep track of where I got the images from - which would come in handy if I share them in the form of an inspiration board and wanted to give credit OR if I wanted to look back at the original site to learn more or research sources. Enter Pinterest.

Pinterest requires you to either be invited by a current user or to sign up on a waiting list before you can register and start pinning. Current users can invite a maximum of 6 people but the waiting list isn't too long - only about a week or so. If you need an invitation, feel free to leave a comment below and I'll invite the first few people who express interest.

If you want to come check out my inspiration boards I am here. ....and if you are on Pinterest too let me know! I'd love to see what kinds of inspiring things you like.  let's get inspired.

go. see. do. BE.

MOVE from Rick Mereki on Vimeo.

hey, thanks

PARK CITY KIMBALL ARTS FESTIVAL 2011. Best in show - Mixed Media
See you again next year! I have tons of ideas already brewing...
In the meantime, if you stopped by my booth and are interested in a custom art piece or table contact me and we'll collaborate! THANK YOU FOR STOPPING BY MY BOOTH and inspiring me!

You can see many pieces from the show as wel as some new creations on display at Silver Queen Gallery in Park City. Stop by and say hello.

If you are interested in seeing photos of pieces displayed at the festival or shopping for available pieces see my Flickr Galleries at these links: FINE ART PIECES HERE  or  CUSTOM TABLE HERE

Tempe Arts Festival 2011

Acceptance verified! See you in Arizona.... December 2-4 for the Tempe Festival of the Arts.
I am so excited to be escaping somewhere warm to show this winter! See Festival details here.

{lovely amanda}

Some people, you couldn't get a bad shot of if you tried. Among them... miss Amanda. See some of my favorites from our shoot below. Click to view larger.

 

 

Into the Fire

I've been inspired lately by various artist's ability to create beauty with the most unexpected elements. Etsuko Ichikawa's fire glass paintings (also called pyrographs) are stunning. Handling molten glass while aglow at 2100°F, she loops, stretches and presses the smoking mass of lava atop paper to create abstract drawings. The creative process she goes through is mesmerizing. One day I would love one of these paintings in my living room! view her website here.

2011 Park City Kimball Arts Festival

In just five days over 200 artist’s will be invading Park City for the 42nd annual Kimball Arts Festival.
I am thrilled to be able to show my work next to some highly acclaimed artists and to be chosen from a list of over 860 applicants! I’ve spent the last four months working tirelessly through the nights and weekends on 31 new pieces from small to HUGE — AND one very special piece that takes my technique in an entirely new direction.

I hope you can come up, enjoy the festivities and get a little inspiration. I will be in booth 125 — on the East side of Main Street, just a little ways up from the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory & Dolly's Bookstore.  My talented friend and local artist, Joi Aoki, is right next to me in booth 127 with her sculpted wire bonsai trees.

The Festival Hours are:
    •    Friday, August 5th  5:00 pm to 9:00 pm
    •    Saturday, August 6th 9:00 am to 7:00 pm
    •    Sunday, August 7th 9:00 am to 6:00 pm

In addition to great art, there will be a ton of fun things going on in Park City all weekend long.
Here's some of my personal weekend recommendations:

• Hear my friend Jack Dunn play a live acoustic music set on the outdoor patio at Robert Redford’s restaurant Zoom on Main Street Friday night at 7PM (reservations suggested for the best seats).
• Visit the Miner’s Park Stage for variety of musicians all weekend long (just a half block up from my booth on the west side)
• Let the kiddie's imaginations to spill over at the Kid’s Art Center on the lower end of Main Street .
• Get an adrenaline high on the Alpine Slide, Alpine Coaster or the Zip Line at Park City Mountain Resort.
• Enjoy a scenic sunset Gondola ride at the Canyons Resort, Deer Valley or Park City Resort.
• Bring a bottle of wine and enjoy the Utah Symphony play an outdoor concert at Deer Valley Resort all three evenings:
  Friday Evening — Holst: The Planets
  Saturday Evening — Broadway Rocks II
  Sunday Evening — St Regis Big Stars
• For some great after aprés festival spirits stop by the newly opened and highly raved Silver, the ever swanky Sky Blue Rooftop Bar, or the relaxed but always delicious High West Distillery & Saloon (I recommend getting on the waiting list early for all three)

I hope you can come say hello!

Gregory Euclide

Artist Gregory Euclide created the unbelievable cover art for Bon Iver's new album Calgary, which will be released next Tuesday. Gregory's landscapes are unlike any landscapes you have ever seen! absolutely stunning. The details of his relief paintings are so easy to miss at a small size. Check out some of his other work here.  Click on the piece below to view larger.

see it.

One of the most beautiful films I've ever seen. Each scene could be freeze framed and be a perfect photograph. I think this one will be tripping my brain out for the next week at least.

Modern Renaissance Invitations

My latest Custom Couture Invitations for Des and Julian reflected a Modern Renaissance Theme. These 5x7 top folded invitations were printed on a gorgeous metallic pearl stock. Each invitation was accompanied with three insert cards (a Map to the venue, RSVP card and Gift Registry). The final pieces were delivered in dark chocolate parchment envelopes, hand addressed with gold leaf ink.
If you are interested in Custom Invitations for your wedding or event contact me!
Click on the images below to enlarge and see in full detail. 

New Art Pieces

I'm back in art making mode. I've been experimenting with various methods of working with resin the past year and I FINALLY have the technique down! The resin looks just like glass.

See the new pieces at this years Park City Art's Festival on August 5, 6 and 7! All pieces are made of inlaid vintage books with a clear .25 inch resin surface. Sides and edges are accented with guilded gold leafing.

Red vintage books from the late 1800s/early 1900s. guilded details.
36x36 inches. Contact me for purchase inquiries.

Avocado. vintage books from the late 1800s/early 1900s. gold guilded details.
36x48 inches. Contact me for purchase inquiries.

Hold your breath

Just a taste of one of the most adventurous photos shoots to date... underwater! The final invitations are going to be gorgeous! Can't wait to send them out soon so I can show you what I've been up to.

In the meantime here's some cool shots...

a country wedding

alexa and julio had a beautiful country themed wedding at the brookside equestrian center in walnut california. here's a preview of some of the shots of the day. click on the images below to view larger.

if the unspoken things had a sound, this is what they would sound like.

bon iver's much overdue self titled album came out yesterday.  I drove up the canyons last night with a friend to give it a listen and well — I think it just might be perfect. well done juston vernon. well done.
This is going to be the creative soundtrack and definitive music for the pieces that come out of the next two months.

The Colbert Report
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just believe

viktor frankl on the importance of believing in people.