OPTICOW ILLUSION

GONE TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER

2006-10-13T23:39:00.000-04:00

Opticow Illustion was auctioned on September 21, at the Gala Auction.
Jesse and I went into Boston the week before to do some onsite touch-ups so that she was all ready for the big event.
My parents and Grandparents also made a trip to Boston to see her. (Photo compliments of my dad)

More Visitors

2006-08-24T20:43:00.000-04:00

When we were in Boston, we met Marco & Nazma. They ran out of battery power for their camera, so we took these pics together. Marco & Nazma, I hope you enjoyed yout trip to Boston! Thanks for visiting!

Party at the Common

2006-07-31T20:15:00.000-04:00

We finally made it to Boston to visit Opticow Illusion. Kevin returned once again, bringing his wife, Sonciary, and Tom & Becca joined us all for a day on the town.

Visit from Kevin

2006-06-29T01:14:00.000-04:00

I received an email with one of the best subject lines I have ever received: "I have met your cow." I guess you have to know Kevin, but I could just hear him say it. That was it, a subject line and an attached picture. Classic! Anyway... Visitor #2... Drumroll please...

Thanks Kevin!

1st Official Visitor-Meredith

2006-06-22T23:32:00.000-04:00

Many people have visited Opticow in her new home, and she is never lonely. Meredith is the first who has shared her photos, and so she has earned the distinction of being Opticow Illusions first official visitor, and first official person added to the blog guestbook. She visited last weekend with her Fiancee, Paul. Thank you both for visiting and for sharing your pictures!

Keep the photos coming!

NEW HOME

2006-06-07T21:27:00.000-04:00

Opticow has finally settled in her new home. You can find her at the Boston Common until the beginning of September. A map and full listing of where each cow wil graze is posted at the link below. (hint: Opticow Illusion is #57) I hope you have a chance to see the Cows around Boston this summer.

Opticow would like to invite friends and family to visit and take your picture with her. Send me your photos and they might find their way to this blog. I will try to keep up with it as an online guestbook.

http://www.jimmyfund.org/eve/event/cow-parade/cow-locations.html

1000th Visitor

2006-06-02T23:29:00.000-04:00

Opticow received her 1000th blog visit tonight around 11:30. Thank you all for visiting. I hope you enjoy the Boston Cow Parade!

Out to Pasteur

2006-06-02T23:20:00.000-04:00

As of tomorrow... June 3, the cows are finally out to pasteur, and the Boston Cow Parade officially begins. Much buzz still surrounds Opticow, including another article, this time published in the Manchester Mirror. For those of you who have been asking, I still do not know where Opticow will be grazing, and I'm anxious to know as well. We saw many of the finished designs at a reception held for artists and sponsors, and it was amazing to see them all together.

Jesse and I will be spending several weeks doing mission work in Namibia Africa, and will probably not make it to Boston until after we get back. If you go to the Parade before we do, let us know what you think... and where Opticow's new home is.

Drop Off

2006-05-14T19:21:00.000-04:00

Jesse and I drove Opticow to Boston yesterday and introduced her to her new caretakers. It was sad to see her go, but she is in good hands. Everyone at the Jimmy Fund and The Cow Parade have been so friendly and helpful with pickup, drop off and any questions in between. Thanks! It was quite and ordeal to get down there. I don't recommend driving through Boston in a huge pickup truck in the pouring rain, but it was quite an adventure, and it gave us a wonderful opportunity to meet up with friends for lunch. It's a good thing that she's coated so well (thanks to my dad who pitched in for multiple coats of automotive spray and buffing) We also saw many of the cows that had been dropped off and they look great! I can't wait to see them all out to pasture.

Foster's Showcase Article

2006-05-12T10:56:00.000-04:00

Opticow received the honor of another article in Foster's Daily. (Thank you to Kristan at Showcase for tracking me down!) It ran alongside an articel featuring Beaman Cole and his two Boston Cow Parade bovines, "Tea Party Cow," and "Leav'n Town Cow." Check it out at www.fosters.com in the Showcase section.

Here's the text from the article on Opticow, and my photos that they published.

Thursday, May 11, 2006
Second New Hampshire artist selected for CowParade

Portsmouth designer Lisa Andreasen has also been selected as one of 100 artists to paint a cow for the Boston CowParade. The life-sized fiberglass sculptures will be on parade in select Boston locations from June 3 through September 5.

At the conclusion of the public display, the cows will be rounded up and sold to the highest bidders when CowParade Boston holds a public auction on September 21 to raise funds to support the Jimmy Fund and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. The live auction will be followed by an internet auction. Cow Parade is an international public art event that raises money to support local charities. More information is available at www.cowparade.com.

Lisa Andreasen is a 1999 graduate of Merrimack High School, and received her bachelors degree in Studio art, concentrating in graphic design and photography, from the School of Art at Messiah College in 2003.

She resides with her husband in Manchester, and is a graphic designer at Rumbletree, an advertising agency in Portsmouth. Andreasen serves on the volunteer youth staff at Christ's Church of Amherst and is also involved in missions work in Namibia, Africa though the church. The CowParade is a great opportunity for her to combine what she loves: making art and helping those in need. Andreasen's cow, titled "Opticow Illusion," is covered in black and white lines that create the illusion of three-dimensional forms.

Visit http://lisaandreasen.blogspot.com/ to view the photos of the painting process of "Opticow Illusion."

Photos Courtesy of Lisa Andreasen

Telegraph Article

2006-05-06T17:21:00.000-04:00

The Nashua Telegraph ran an article on Opticow on Tuesday, May 2! Here's the text and one of the photos (Photo by Bob Hammerstrom):

Merrimack native creates for a cause

By ELLEN GRIMM, Telegraph Correspondent

In early April, Lisa Andreasen drove to Boston to collect a fiberglass cow covered in bubble wrap.

“People probably were looking at the back of the truck and wondering, ‘What was that?’ ” she said, referring to the life-sized cow sculpture, which she delivered to her mother’s home in Merrimack – where many in town may still know Andreasen as Lisa Taylor, since she married only last summer.

Ever since, Andreasen has been painstakingly covering every inch of that cow with swirling shapes, using black acrylic markers to make ripples upon ripples.

In June, her cow, which she calls “Opticow Illusion,” will join more than 100 others that will be displayed throughout Boston – on its streets and in its parks – through Sept. 5 as part of a public art event called

CowParade, which was established in 1999 and has since traveled throughout the United States, as well as overseas to cities such as Tokyo, Moscow and Bucharest, Romania.

It is the largest public art event in the world, according to Ron Fox, vice president of CowParade Holdings Corp., which is based in West Hartford, Conn.

The cities raise money through the event by auctioning off the cows and then donate a substantial amount of the money to a charity of the city’s choosing. In Boston, the money raised by a live auction of 50 cows in October, as well as an online auction of the remaining cows, will go to the Jimmy Fund, which supports the work of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

The cows are sponsored by businesses and organizations, which choose from among the cow-art plans submitted by the winning artists. For the Boston event, about 1,000 artists entered the contest, with about 100 making the cut.

Andreasen, 25, submitted several ideas, including one that would have involved building moose antlers onto the cow and sawing the legs in order to add extensions to create a kind of moose-cow. Another would have involved gluing coffee beans all over the cow to create a “calfe” au lait.

It was her “Opticow” that won sponsorship. With its ripples of black lines, it’s kind of a wild take on the black-and-white Holstein cow.

As for why cows are the chosen animal for the event, the broad sides and bone structure provide a “versatile” art canvas, according to the organization’s Web site. They are also among the most non-threatening creatures out there, with their lumbering, grass-chomping ways. And they surely must amount to exotic sights on city streets.

Andreasen has never had a particular interest in cows. “But the CowParade itself I’ve known about for a few years, and I’ve always wanted to be a part of it,” she said. “When I heard it was coming to Boston, I was really excited.

“They emphasize it’s public art and pop art versus high art, which is fun because you have to take yourself a little more lightly,” she said.

The cow’s shape has actually been very challenging, she said.

“Figuring out how to get all the angles and in all the crevices is a big challenge,” said Andreasen, who has had to lie on her back to draw on the cow’s belly.

“I called her Michelangelo, when she was lying underneath,” said Andreasen’s mother, Linda Taylor, who often visits with her daughter while she is working.

Andreasen, who lives in Manchester with her husband, set up her cow in her parents’ converted basement and works every weekend in the Merrimack home she grew up in. She has documented her cow’s progress with time-lapsed photographs that she has posted on her blog: lisaandreasen.blogspot.com.

“The shapes are more prominent left in black and white; it has that illusion of fading in and out and being three-dimensional,” she said.

As Linda Taylor describes it, Andreasen was a precocious artist as a child, with a penchant for industrial-type projects that required power tools and chainsaws, even when she was in elementary school. Those projects required special approval from her teachers, as well as help from Andreasen’s father, who fixes antique cars for a hobby.

On a recent Saturday afternoon, Andreasen, who works as a graphic designer for Rumbletree, an advertising agency in Portsmouth, patiently drew line after line on her cow, while Taylor sat in one of several recliner chairs that had been relegated to one side of the room and offered her impressions of the design.

“It looks like some fungus grew on the cow, and it’s working its way down the legs and horns,” she said.

“Thanks, Mom,” Andreasen said, causing her mother to laugh.

Taylor tried again. “It looks like misshapen collapsible cups,” she said.

“Dad calls them paisleys,” Andreasen said. “I love to hear people’s interpretations.”

As Andreasen sees it, “They’re organic and geometric at the same time.” She has been making the shapes – she calls it doodling – since a high school project that involved using lines to form three-dimensional shapes. “I like how fluid it is,” she said. “Drawing it is almost therapeutic.”

Does she get dizzy? “I’ll be looking at it, and my contacts start watering, and I think I have to take a break,” she said.

“It’s been a nice little retreat to work on it,” Andreasen said.

Her mother helped a bit in painting the hooves black. Taylor leaves the intricate shapes to her daughter, who draws them unerringly for hours.

“There’s no way anybody can help her with that,” she said.

Day 12 - April 25

2006-04-26T22:59:00.000-04:00

OPTICOW ILLUSION 48
Originally uploaded by Lisa Andreasen.

Opticow is finally fully clothed! Now for her final coating to protect her from the elements. My father is going to give her several layers of high gloss automotive clear coat and then she's ready for the wild... well, Boston, which is not exactly native territory for our bovine friends.

There has been some debate as to what the pattern of Opticow Should be called. Everyone seems to have a different idea of what it looks like. What do you see?

Day 11 - April 23

2006-04-23T19:55:00.000-04:00

OPTICOW ILLUSION 46
Originally uploaded by Lisa Andreasen.

After 11 days of working, approximately 40 hours of work it may appear that the end is near, but there's quite a bit of work to do! There are large sections left on the belly, buttox, and udders of "OC," as my mom calls the cow. I'm hoping another two painting session will wrap up the drawing. Then we'll move onto varnishing. Mooooo!

I'm still awaiting my drop off date. So until then, if any of you want to drop by while I'm working, just let me know, and I'll be glad to let you know when i"m in the "studio," couch, er, I mean, mom and dad's basement.

Opening Act

2006-04-22T22:24:00.000-04:00

This just in: I've been so busy with the cow that I didn't even realize that Jesse and I are opening for the upcomming Tara Leigh Cobble concert. The posters have been up for a couple weeks and I didn't even notice on them!You can expect at least one of Jesse's original songs and a few favorites... maybe even our own version of a U2 song. I'm still waiting to see what Jesse has up his sleeve. Come on out to Christ's Church of Amherst at 7pm on Sunday, May 7. You definitely won't want to miss hearing and meeting Tara. This is her second time visiting Christ's Church, and she has this amazing knack of learning everybody's names and putting them into one of her songs!

Day 10 - April 22

2006-04-22T22:23:00.000-04:00

OPTICOW ILLUSION 42
Originally uploaded by Lisa Andreasen.

Opticow came a long way today. I worked on and off from about 10:30 am to 4:30 PM. The Telegraph sent over a writer and photographer today to do an article about the Cow Parade, and they wanted to see me in action, so I still made a lot of headway talking while I worked. It was a pleasant relaxed interview. I have no idea when the article will run, but I'll keep you posted.

SIDE 2 BEGINS

2006-04-19T21:25:00.000-04:00

OPTICOW ILLUSION 32
Originally uploaded by Lisa Andreasen.

Back to a nearly blank canvas, but most of the hard work is done. I'm so glad the legs are done!

be sure to check the photo page so see the slideshow and the turning of the cow!

Day 9 - April 18

2006-04-19T21:07:00.000-04:00

OPTICOW ILLUSION 31
Originally uploaded by Lisa Andreasen.

Black horns it is! Thanks for all the feedback. Side one is finally finished, although a few key elements like udders and tails don't show up in the picture now that they are painted black.

Now it's time to turn the cow... more to come.

HORN POLL - BLACK OR WHITE?

2006-04-17T22:58:00.000-04:00

OPTICOW - BLACK OR WHITE POLL
Originally uploaded by Lisa Andreasen.

It's your turn to help me art direct OPTICOW ILLUSION. Do you think the horns should be white or black? Let me know what you think!

Check out my photo page if you want to see the photo larger. And don't forget to go to the Cow Parade set and choose "View Slideshow" to see the time lapse progression.

Day 8 - April 16

2006-04-16T22:13:00.000-04:00

OPTICOW ILLUSION 30
Originally uploaded by Lisa Andreasen.

The first side is finally finished! The second side is still quite bare, so check back for the second chapter.

Special thanks to my mom for painting the black on the hooves, tail and udders to help keep things moo-ving along. Working on the cow was a speacial treat this evening. After a great church service this morning and dinner with friends and family I headed to work on the cow. Jesse (my wonderful husband) serenaded with acoustic guitar and my mom helped paint while dad critiqued from his lazy-boy. It was a whole family affair.

P.S. Amber, Erik, Tim and Cynthia, we really missed having you for Easter dinner.

Soon to come... The turning of the cow.

Day 7 - April 15

2006-04-16T22:06:00.000-04:00

Sorry, no picture for today. I feel like an auto meachanic working on the undercarriage... there is progress none-the-less. Thanks for checking in. More to come.

Day 6 - April 9

2006-04-16T22:05:00.000-04:00

OPTICOW ILLUSION 28
Originally uploaded by Lisa Andreasen.

Moo-ving along.

Day 5 - April 9, 2006

2006-04-10T20:57:00.000-04:00

OPTICOW 27
Originally uploaded by Lisa Andreasen.

Here's looking at you. Opticow has eyes (or the base for eyes) now! It's hard to see some of the progress in todays series of photos because it's starting to wrap around. Check back for side two. I'm hoping to get far enough to flip her around by the end of the week.

Day 4 - April 8, 2006

2006-04-08T23:30:00.000-04:00

OPTICOW ILLUSION 24
Originally uploaded by Lisa Andreasen.

This is by far the most challenging surface I have ever drawn on. The curves and crevaces are very intersting. I have to reinvent my approach at each new section. Do I have to lay on the floor, lean over the cow from the other side, wrap my arm around the horn? What an adventure.

Day 3 - April 4, 2006

2006-04-05T23:31:00.000-04:00

OPTICOW ILLUSION 20
Originally uploaded by Lisa Andreasen.

I had an audience tonight. I headed straight to the "studio," aka my parents' basement from work, rather than going home. I was reminded of my days of working on art projects in high school, with one or both of them over my shoulder wondering how far I had gotten. They walk that fine line of interested doting parent, and get out of my light! It really was fun to hang out, chat, and listen as the watched American Idol.

Day 2 - April 2, 2006

2006-04-03T22:43:00.000-04:00

OPTICOW ILLUSION 15
Originally uploaded by Lisa Andreasen.

It's growing! I made some good headway today while Jesse (my husband) played his guitar. Or rather serenaded me while I painted... with everything from heavy metal to soft acoustic riffs. He packed up a bunch of gear to bring along so he could play while I worked. We are quite the pair, visual artist and musician! It was such a blessing to hear him play and each do what what we love doing at the same time.

Day 1 - April 1, 2006

2006-04-02T23:30:00.000-04:00

OPTICOW ILLUSION 11
Originally uploaded by Lisa Andreasen.

End of Day 1. After 2 hours of drawing.

A NEW KIND OF CANVAS

2006-04-02T23:29:00.000-04:00

OPTICOW ILLUSION 5
Originally uploaded by Lisa Andreasen.

We begin day 1.

GROUND ZERO

2006-04-02T23:28:00.000-04:00

OPTICOW ILLUSION 1
Originally uploaded by Lisa Andreasen.

I will chronicle the progress by actual days of drawing, starting with the pickup at ground zero. Check out my photo page for more images of unwrapping Opticow.

A project like this is rarely a one person job. I want to thank a few key players so far...

My friend Sonciary drove me to Boston in her husband's pickup, while both our husbands were at a Dreamtheater concert. We had a blast, driving through security and into a building to get the cow. Thank you Sonciary!

My parents offered their garage as studio space, since our apartment is at the top of 2 flights of very narrow stairs. I can just imagine working on it in our kitchen. he he he. My mom and I ended up rearranging their basement to make a more comfortable work space. Thanks mom and dad.

And of course my husband, Jesse. Thank you for supporting me in this adventure and for laughing with me at the absurdity of painting a life-size cow.

THE WALL

2006-04-02T23:17:00.000-04:00

THE WALL 1
Originally uploaded by Lisa Andreasen.

These doodles, I call them warped plane drawings, began in high school, and have found their way onto many surfaces including sketchbooks, class notes, and even the walls at my office. There are two walls in the Rumbletree kitchen covered in drawings. They are a collaborative work of the genius that appears during the downtime of a number of my co-workers.

Now they will find a new canvas on a life-size fibreglass cow!

OPTICOW ILLUSION-APPLICATION

2006-04-02T22:25:00.000-04:00

OPTICOW ILLUSION-APPLICATION
Originally uploaded by Lisa Andreasen.

I have set up 2 ways to follow the progress of OPTICOW ILLUSION, this blog, and my FLICKR account for more details photographs. My tripod is set up to take a series of photos from the same spot, so viewing the FLICKR slideshow is a neat way to follow along. I invite you to check it out. The links are in the sidebar on the right.

This illustration was the drawing submitted with my application to the Boston Cow parade. For more info, check out the link in the sidebar.

I am so excited to have the opportunity to paint a cow for the Cow Parade. It is such a great event. It provides a great canvas for the art community, is a great community event, and raises money for charity all at the same time.