And on a lighter note...

A poster design completed in Adobe Illustrator CS6. This is a 'call to printmakers' for a print exchange coming up in April. The theme of the print is Round and Round. 

End of the World...

An illustration completed in Adobe Photoshop CS6 for cover of the Bay Window. This month's feature article focuses on the 'end of the world' predictions. Mayan calendars stop sometime in December and hence the concern that we are all done then.

It was a fun assignment as I haven't worked in Photoshop for  quite awhile!

Already October...

In a calendar year... in my life. Strolling past windows, mirrors, shiny doorknobs, a reflection, a glimpse of  someone unrecognizable...older, gray, lumpy, with a quick step...appears. Who in the world?

I love Autumn...even the word is comfortable. Auuuutuuummmnnn....like a delicious dessert, a cozy fire, gorgeous colors, cinnamon and sass, that's this time of year. And my time of life? Playing on the internet (Facebook specifically) led me to a site offering a mosaic of images created with images of your personal choosing. Hmmm...sounded easy...and it was.

mosaic by Nancy Slater

The resulting collage seemed like a snapshot in the autumn of my life...kids, grandkids, students, dogs, other careers and friends. And it was created in a minute...just like my life. Looking at it fills me with a sense of joy and intrigue as I move into yet another season of life.

Some work...

Fine Art WebSite

I've happened upon a new (to me) website this summer, while meandering through the internet. It's Fine Art America and gives all artists and designers a venue to show and sell their work online...inexpensively and easily.

Although many artists and designers have their own website, this site seems to be a community that allows us to connect, look at what's going on in the art world around us, buy some if we are interested in it, as well as offer up some of our own work for sale.

As a first time user, the process was nearly painless. It's easy to upload, price and market your work (can connect to Facebook with a click.)

So...take a look at this at the site...whether you're a photographer, fine artist or something in between, this may give you a gallery online and another chance for the world to see your work :)

http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/nancy-slater.html

Let me know what you think!

Sketching...a combination of meditation and pure joy

Working on sketchbook...having a great time drawing...forgot how much fun it is...how relaxing...and how gratifying.

What is it about drawing with graphite that is so satisfying to me? The resulting art isn't necessarily terrific, the subject matter is normally mundane, but there is something about sketching that IS great. In the last couple of weeks (with my pencil) I've discussed my political beliefs, studied those great little lizards that occupy every corner of my yard, looked very closely at a bottle of beer I was drinking and drawing, did a study of a flower in a painting, made up a cup pattern, studied and drew a tea bag with intensity...and the list goes on. So to remind myself of the reasons to draw when I get busy with life and don't...here goes:

For those of you who draw or sketch, you'll understand this...first, when drawing and listening to music, tv, etc., it seems to forever link my drawing with that particular activity, show, music or occurrence. I love to look back at sketches and sketchbooks and remember.

Secondly, it's way that I can do art and continually revise (with the eraser) parts of the art that I don't like. It's like looking at life in black and white...what you like, you keep...what you don't, you get rid of with no ill effects. Simple. Especially gratifying when I wish my life was simpler...but isn't.

Thirdly, less toxic, less messy, more portable than a lot of other mediums...you can travel lightly and use the tools in good health.

And finally, while you can draw with the computer and get great results as well...drawing with a pencil in your hand is an unbeatable high. And...the more you do it, the more you love it, the better you get at it. Try it! You'll love it!

Doing some freelance work this summer...

Herrera Homes Rentals

Another endeavor...just in case there wasn't enough to do in my life. Here's a link to it's website along with the blog associated with it.

Let me know what you think.

http://www.sandovalslater.com/

http://herrerahomes.blogspot.com/

Creating in Italy...

It's been almost twenty years since spending six weeks in Perugia, Italy. Still looking back on it with great memories, occasionally I'll pull out sketch books created during that time.

Here is some verse written then...

Light
 
Reflecting back on previous journeys
Tiny flecks of light appear--
Giving sparks to imagination,
flames to passion, and
illuminating our passages
through dark tunnels that lie ahead.

Occasionally, faltering and flickering,
The lights diminish...
Until almost sightlessly
We blunder and plunder
Through thickets and brambles
Ripping yesterday's wounds,
Trekking through today's uncertainties
Towards tomorrow's unknowns.

Yet when our way seems lost
And darkness inevitable,
The flecks reignite...
Like flashes of lightening piercing the sky,
Brightness becomes our life,
Pathways are straight, our journey direct;
Today a pleasant reality
Tomorrow a warm promise of desire fulfilled.

-Nancy Sandoval Slater

And a drawing completed from photographs of the trip...aaahhhh...such great memories :) Am thankful to this universe for a life well lived thus far...and the promise for so much more to come!

Mother's Day_2012

Looking at past mothers' days, this one seems to be one of the best. And maybe all seem to be that way the day after, right? Although one of my children is working out of town and was unable to come over, he did remember call/text me...wished he could have been here too. The others were there, with their children...what a great day.

Starting motherhood at the barely legal age of eighteen (during the late 60's it was either war or parenthood), my own mother and father helped tremendously. Babysitting had not been one of my favorite activities and this coupled with having no younger brothers or sisters, having a baby was a shock! Being a voracious reader (parenting books) and with a supportive family, somehow my first daughter made it through my novice parenting skills to become a successful lawyer, loving, giving, doting mother and great partner to her husband Rick. Their son is brilliant and will do great things for humanity some day.

Over the next several years and a couple of failed marriages my instincts for mothering did improve. Still a career woman, homemaking seemed to be always rushed...fast food, quick kisses good night, and on to the next item on my list. That and a philosophy that in order to take care of anyone (parents, children, spouses, friends and relatives) you had to take care of yourself made me a mom of dubious skills (in my eyes.)

How then...did my offspring develop into such good parents themselves? My second daughter has her masters degree in life skills, and has worked at a woman's shelter for several years. She is a thoughtful, pragmatic, risk-taker. She's a great partner to Nick and the absolute best mom to my grandson...how does that happen? Although she mirrors me (she probably doesn't realize that) in many instances, she is a much smarter mom....and her son is so lucky to have her. He will be a gentle giant in whatever he chooses to pursue...something active as he is all movement!

My first son and third child is brilliant, extremely hardworking and will develop into a great businessman, and I fear, a staunch Republican. He has slowly completed his bachelors degree while working full time (with excessive amounts of overtime) the entire time. We rarely agree on politics (me being a staunch anti-Republican) but we do agree on the value of smart, hard work. His daughter does not see him often enough unfortunately as he has so much to give. My hope is that he will soon realize his value to her (and to the world) and start giving back to them both. She is his 'spitting image' with a smart, vivacious, live hardy attitude.


My second son and fourth child is the one that reminds me most of my father. Sensitive and sincere, his son is so lucky to have him as his dad. I watch as he teaches him math on the garage floor, science in pond scum, and the value of hard work on the excavator. Although he hasn't fulfilled MY desire for him to go to college, he follows his own path...taking over his dad's excavating business and prioritizing it after his family...something neither his dad nor me could figure out how to do. He too is brilliant...one of those that just figures things out, by looking, thinking and trying (all things.) His son is brilliant too...knows how to turn on the charm...and hopefully will prioritize learning, as he could rule the earth with his smile and his smarts.

And that's how it looks this year...can't wait for the next to see how things develop!

Kimberly Page Creations: The end of a wonderful winter semester is h...

Kimberly Page Creations:        The end of a wonderful winter semester is h...:        The end of a wonderful winter semester is here. This is our Portfolio class all together. Many of these students are going on to ot...

Agreed, Kim! Couldn't have said it better myself...so I didn't :)

Foray into Property Management

http://www.sandovalslater.com/

By property management, I simply mean renting my house out when I'm in Florida, or visa versa :) The Michigan house is intended to be rented as an artists' retreat...weekly or monthly. The Florida house will be available the months of September through November initially and can also be rented weekly or monthly.

It's been a long process to get this to a point where I can upload the website. Still working on the images and details, I was concerned if I didn't hurry and activate the website, the renting season for the houses would be gone.

So take a look...and offer suggestions. And let me know if you'd like to rent either house...by emailing me at HerreraRentals@gmail.com!

Tri-Fold Brochure for West Shore Graphic Arts Society

WSGAS' previous years commissioned prints

Card to be returned with dinner choices

Outside...gives information for dinner and unveiling of commissioned prints.

Most recent design completed for a WSGAS. Always fun to do work for them...they give me an assignment and let me go with it...wish I had about 50 more clients just like them!

Another design created recently...this one for our union local. The design will be used on goblets given to retirees, from the union. If you watch my designs, you'll see I've reused the basic circle, banner layout recently seen in my screenprint and embroidery design.

Gulf Sands Beach Resort

Embroidery and Tee Design © Sandoval Slater Art Studio

Just finished a new design for Gulf Sands Beach Resort. The hotel, on the Gulf side just south of Siesta Keys in Florida, is definitely Old Florida.

The design is intended to target the mature traveler...one who likes to live like the crackers, in an Old Florida environment, on a beach that's uncrowded, uncomplicated...and beautiful!

And I respond back to PETA...

Dear Peta;

You are talking to a 62 year old feminist…one raised in Southern California in the 1960’s. Please don’t insult my intelligence with your foolish justification ‘freedom to use your body’ for use of sex and violence in your advertising. How in the world can you possibly believe that to protect and provide for animals can be justification to use and abuse women and men? And by the way, if you had read my letter, I’m equally opposed to the Ink and Mink series of male nudes…you know, the ones that you included the links in your response letter to me earlier today?

The Feminist Movement defends equal political, economic and social rights for women.  It has nothing whatsoever to do with YOUR right to use sexually explicit or implicit imagery to sell products or services.  In fact in feminists’ campaigns for women’s rights we fight to protect women and girls from domestic violence, sexual harassment and sexual assault.

And your inference that these women and men exemplify power by their ability to undress in front of an audience, seriously…do you believe that???

Women in these situations have no power. Power is the found in an individual’s ability to receive equal pay for equal work, in their ability to own land, be CEO’s of large organizations, hold positions on boards running these organization, ability to hold political offices, to become better educated, to earn the respect and admiration of other women and men because of their accomplishments, because of who they are…not because of how they look!  

I do appreciate your quick response, but unfortunately you’ve convinced me of nothing more than this flawed reasoning runs deep in your organization. I am convinced that if your ability to reason through this advertising campaign is as defective as it obviously is…how in the world can your decisions regarding cruel treatment to animals possibly hold up under closer scrutiny.

Although a strong supporter of animal rights, it will not be through your organization. If and when you choose to take different approach to marketing and advertising, contact me, please, animals need people passionate about their care.

Nancy Slater

PETA Responds to my last post...

Dear Ms. Slater,

Thank you for your letter expressing concern about the women who participate in our ads and campaigns. We appreciate the time you took to share your thoughts with us.

As an organization staffed largely by feminist women, we would not do something that we felt contributed to the very serious problems that women face. Our demonstrators and models choose to participate in our actions because they want to do something to make people stop and pay attention. We believe that people should have the choice to use their own bodies to make social statements, and that there is nothing shameful or “wrong” about doing so. This tactic has been used since Lady Godiva rode naked on a horse to protest taxes on the poor in the 11^th century.

Please know that we also feature men in our ads and demonstrations; the following are just a few examples:

·        Kristoff St. John: http://www.mediapeta.com/peta/Images/Main/Sections/MediaCenter/PrintAds/AdKristoffStJohn.pdf

·        David Cross: http://www.PETA.org/features/David-Cross-naked-fur-ad.aspx

·        John Abraham: http://www.PETAIndia.com/mods3.jpg

·        Dennis Rodman: http://www.PETA.org/features/Dennis-Rodman-ink-not-mink.aspx

·        Dave Navarro: https://secure.PETA.org/images/content/pagebuilder/20334.jpg

·        Steve-O: http://www.peta2.com/oUTTHERE/images/SteveO_InkNotMink.jpg and http://www.peta2.com/oUTTHERE/images/SteveO_RatherGoNaked.jpg

These activists are dedicated to helping foxes who are electrocuted and skinned by the millions for the fur industry, calves who are torn from their distraught mothers and slaughtered for the meat industry, elephants who are beaten bloody and forced to live in chains year after year in circuses, and the billions of animals who suffer from torture, maddening isolation, starvation, terror, and violent death at the hands of uncaring industries.

Take Traci Bingham (http://www.PETA.org/features/pages/Traci-Bingham-naked-vegetarian-ad.aspx) and Pamela Anderson (http://www.mediapeta.com/peta2/images/printads/PAMpartsP2300.jpg), for example, who posed for our “All Animals Have the Same Parts” ad campaign. Both are deeply committed vegetarians known to millions for their television work, and chose to use their bodies as a political tool to grab public attention for serious animal issues. In this case, Ms. Bingham and Ms. Anderson were offended by the traditional “meat” posters that treat animals as “parts,” and they wanted to make the point that neither farmed animals nor women should be viewed as parts—we are all precious.

We feel that all people should be free to use their minds and bodies as political instruments to bring attention to animal suffering like this, and we appreciate any effort to help those who have no voice. We use all available opportunities to reach millions of people with powerful messages. We have found that people do pay more attention to our racier actions, and we consider the public’s attention to be extremely important. Sometimes this requires tactics—like naked marches and colorful ad campaigns—that some people find rude or outrageous, but part of our job is to shake people up and even shock them in order to initiate discussion, debate, questioning of the status quo, and of course, action. After PETA publicized our “State of the Union Undress,” for example, we were rated the number one “mover” on Yahoo’s search engine, meaning that PETA received the greatest percentage increase of terms searched that day. The situation is critical for billions of animals, and our goal is to make the public think about the issues. Although some consider our projects that include nudity to be controversial, many women express support for these tactics.

You might find it interesting to consider that it is the societies that allow women to wear revealing clothing in which women have the most rights and the most power. Likewise, it is the societies that punish women for wearing revealing clothing in which women have the fewest rights and the least power. Should women only be allowed to participate in activism if they promise not to show their bodies or use their bodies as political statements? If a person chooses to use his or her physicality and sexuality to convey a message of his or her choosing, aren’t those who would censor him or her, even if their motives are good, also somewhat guilty of disrespect and repression?

PETA does make a point of having something for all tastes, from the most conservative to the most radical and from the most tasteless to the most refined, and this approach has proved amazingly successful—in the three decades since PETA was founded, it has grown into the largest animal rights group in the world, with more than 3 million members and supporters worldwide. For more information about PETA’s vital work for animals, please visit http://www.PETA.org/about/default.aspx.  

We respect your right to disagree with our tactics but hope that you will continue to support projects that you do agree with, such as our free vegetarian/vegan starter kit giveaways (http://www.PETA.org/living/vegetarian-living/free-vegetarian-starter-kit.aspx) or our low-cost spay/neuter clinics (http://www.PETA.org/b/thepetafiles/archive/2010/02/16/peta-stems-the-southern-flood-of-pups-and-kittens.aspx).

Thank you for giving us this opportunity to respond to your concern and for everything that you do to help animals!

Sincerely,

The PETA Staff

http://wwww.PETA.org

Peta...what are you thinking?!

In your defense of animals do you HAVE to disrespect women? Who cares who is the sexiest vegetarian next door...really?! And 'Lettuce Entertain You?' Come on...I have no interest in being entertained by a site supposedly dedicated to stamping out animal cruelty by promoting sexist advertising...showing women in various stages of undress with lettuce on them? Who is your target audience anyway?

And even more unbelievable...Boyfriend Went Vegan video not only is sexist, but promotes violent behavior against women. Don't think the Ink not Mink makes it ok since it's primarily naked men in the imagery. It's not ok to disrespect any human being in defense of animals.

I am animal lover and although I went to your website to donate...I didn't and won't until you show respect to men and women in your advertising.

http://www.peta.org/mediacenter/ads/print-ads.aspx

Miss Representation

http://www.missrepresentation.org/the-film/


Now...as an 'older' member of our society, I look back on my attitudes toward politics, capitalism and female sexuality and wonder what happened and why haven't I been more active!?

During the late 60's, although married young and having one child, my belief system was all about equality. Not only for women of course, but everyone...ethnic minorities, disabled, aged and women. In Southern California at the time, it was easy to be politically active...or at least aware. We saw protest marches on the street outside our high school and had discussions at work...about political candidates, civil rights, the shooting of President Kennedy and what that meant to us all. Although as with many in their teens, my life was really mostly about me...how does whatever effect me and mine :) But at least there was discussion.

During the 70's 80's and 90's, my life was about raising children and working. Fortunately my mother, (and with my father's support) somewhat ahead of her time, felt it critical for a woman to prepare herself to be self supporting, so I learned early on working was a virtue, an honor, a responsibility. I worked through the Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, Bush, Clinton, Bush eras with awareness, but not a lot of political activity. Too focused on family and work...an inactive awareness on most issues. My husband was interested in politics...and we normally took opposite sides of the political spectrum in discussions, but at least he was interested and aware.

Then came more education, a different career and the same old white, male dominated world. Did I have blinders on? Why didn't I prepare my own children better to face and resist what is going on in media...really our entire world, today? Why didn't I better use my buying power and more actively support or reject some of these issues at hand?

Well...from today on...I'll be buying products (or not) voting for the candidates who support my belief system, and pledge either time or/and money to bring about change and equality. It's been a long time...and we really haven't come so far, baby!