Sunday, February 28, 2010

Secret Sunday 15

Do you want to know a secret?


Welcome to the fourth edition of The Pulse -- The State of the Art -- a survey in words and pictures of the online artist community. The Pulse is a collaborative project that aims to introduce you to new artists, help you get to know familiar faces even more, and allow you access into the creative hearts and minds of a very talented crew of individuals.


Over 150 (!) artists have answered a series of questions which make up The Pulse. Their responses will be presented as a series of online and print projects. And the first continues right now!

Join the The Altered Page every Sunday for "Secret Sunday." Here the secrets of all your favorite artists will be revealed. It could be a technique, a product, a secret source, a little-known website, a hidden shop, an inspiration, just about anything! If you missed any, no worries. You can find links to all the secrets on the sidebar of my blog.

Today's secret.......Musings!
_______________

Robert Stockton
Artist Portfolio: Robert Stockton

Wabi-sabi is a Japanese concept which has increasingly had an influence on my artwork and my life. Though I may be stretching things a bit to call it an “art secret,” I find that the ideas that wabi-sabi represent are often present in my artwork, and are also frequently on my mind during the creative process. It is loosely associated with Zen Buddhism, and can actually mean quite different things to different people. To me, it is a recognition that nothing in life is permanent or certain, and that everything in life is in a state of change: of being one thing at the moment, but also being in the process of becoming something else.

It is a recognition, also, that in this life of impermanence and uncertainty, when you are able to be “open” to it (and can avoid holding on to things too tightly), a great deal of beauty can be found there. It is the beauty found in a decaying leaf; the rust stain on the wood left by a nail in a weathered fence board; a once splendid mansion that has fallen into disrepair with crumbling foundation, and overgrown with weeds and moss.


Some basic precepts of wabi-sabi include:

Things are either devolving toward, or evolving from, nothingness

Truth comes from the observation of nature

“Greatness” exists in the inconspicuous and overlooked details

Beauty can be coaxed out of ugliness

Acceptance of the inevitable

Getting rid of all that is unnecessary

I think, more than anything, the concept of wabi-sabi can give one a real sense of the place of the individual in the natural order of things.
_______________

Jacky Williams
Blog: ART4MOI

My secret is a quote by Sark that always helps get me going... I'm such a procrastinator. "Remember: First comes action, then inspiration". I have this pinned in my art room and on my fridge to encourage me to just get in and start and it will all come together.

_______________

Jayne Harnett-Hargrove
Blog: Harnett-Hargrove

I am an artist that practices the bastardizations of traditional crafts when needs direct. I think we all know much of process comes down to intuition/intelligence. In the designer/client world knowing how to change the intention, the media, and the expertise level to please the project introduced is imperative for me. I’ve learned how to deal with the real world while living in the creative flux. I have been collaborating, with Hanzon, on a cross-training dictionary of sorts and here is a few of our simple revelations:

1. Materials-altar / Method-alchemy / Inspiration-spirit.

2. There exists in everything the potential of transformation.

The marble not yet carved can hold the form of every thought the greatest artist has. -Michelangelo

3. Try to know if that was the easy part or the hard part.

4. If something is not changing you are not looking close enough.

5. Muse: Learn to work this. Most successful freelancers can't afford to wait for inspiration. People in other professions work everyday whether they feel like it or not.

6. Keep the iron moving.

7. Use gravity to you own advantage.

8. In a proposal I like to always throw in something terribly wrong... just to see if they are watching.

9. Inner-directed / Outer-directed.

10. Edentulous; Without teeth. I just really like this word.

11. Dynamic Change; Change that happens positively, immediately and, is not irreversible.

12. Great creative works are hard work and not simple. But if one is in true quiet profound excitement, and, being in this slipstream of the creative flux is indeed our element of trusting the outcome.

_______________

Leighanna Light
Blog: Leighanna Light ThingMaker
Blog: ThingMaker Studio
Etsy: Leighanna's Etsy Shop
1000 Markets: Leighanna Light ThingMaker

Just do it, get yourself in the studio everyday no matter what. If you don't know what to do or don't have a plan, just start by playing.
_______________

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Melt


as darkness falls
the ache is felt
a one way road
as dreams do melt

detail:


Ingredients: vintage book page, book board, acrylic paint, coffee grounds, calligraphy ink, watercolor marker, color pencil, leafing pen, dry transfer, found metal. approximately 4 5/8" x 3 1/8".

Available for purchase in The Altered Page on Etsy.

Sold. Thank you!

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

The Book Guild


Coming Soon...

Sunday, February 21, 2010

Secret Sunday 14

Do you want to know a secret?


Welcome to the fourth edition of The Pulse -- The State of the Art -- a survey in words and pictures of the online artist community. The Pulse is a collaborative project that aims to introduce you to new artists, help you get to know familiar faces even more, and allow you access into the creative hearts and minds of a very talented crew of individuals.


Over 150 (!) artists have answered a series of questions which make up The Pulse. Their responses will be presented as a series of online and print projects. And the first continues right now!

Join the The Altered Page every Sunday for "Secret Sunday." Here the secrets of all your favorite artists will be revealed. It could be a technique, a product, a secret source, a little-known website, a hidden shop, an inspiration, just about anything! If you missed any, no worries. You can find links to all the secrets on the sidebar of my blog.

Today's secret.......Surprise Supplies!
_______________

Amy Grennell
Blog: Amy Grennell

I like to use baby wipes and the hand sanitizer! I use the baby wipes to wipe things off but also dab the paintbrush on it. After you are done using it you can sew them together or adhere them onto your work. They also come in handy if you are washing off your palette in the sink because they don’t disolve in water.


The sanitizer has alcohol in it of course and so if you use it with paint it has a weird effect. Also, if you are using inks it takes it off your hands if you can’t get to the sink and soap right away.
_______________

Sharmon Davidson
Website: Sharmon Davidson Original Mixed Media Artwork
Blog: True adventures of an Art Addict
Artslant: Sharmon Davidson
Art Scuttlebutt: sjennings

I don’t know if this is really a secret or not, but it’s my favorite recent discovery, and is the best substrate I’ve found for collage work. It’s called Multimedia Artboard, and the only place I’ve been able to find it is Dick Blick.


Here’s what Dick Blick says about it:

“Multimedia Artboard accepts both oil and water-based paints without buckling or warping. A new formulation of artboard, it is made with paper and thermal-set epoxy resin, allowing media to adhere to the surface without penetration. Whatever media you are using holds a definite edge, with no bleed. The surface can be erased, scraped, and sanded, and both front and back are usable surfaces (one side is smoother than the other). Multimedia Artboard is laboratory-tested and is rated archival quality, with a neutral pH factor of 6.5. Boards are 1/32" (approximately 0.8 mm) thick.”

I love it because you can glue anything onto it, and it doesn’t get soggy or warp- an issue I’ve had with everything else I’ve tried!
_______________

Donna Joy
Blog: World of Joy

I use clear caulk for glue-wood to wood, metal to wood-you name it. You can also use it to texture metal, paper and wood. It's paintable.

_______________

Don Madden
Blog: Fully Flummoxed

Old-fashioned shoe polish comes in colors. It puts a waxy, waterproof protective surface on both clay and paper. It's easily applied with either a cloth or cosmetic sponges. The clay should be bisque fired first and I'm referring only to ceramic clay. I'm not familiar with polymer or paper clays, it might work with them. It definitely won't work on glazed clay as the receiving surface must be able to absorb the shoe polish into its surface. Be sure you buff it with a soft cloth or brush.


P.S. Might be interesting to see how these react with encaustics.

For gluing stuff in your journal or sketch book use ModPodge (matte) Regular glue (NOT the pathetic kind designed for paper), apply it with a cheap foam brush and rub it down/burnish it with a piece of wax paper. This will give you a pretty smooth surface with no bubbles or ripples, even with newspaper pictures. Store the brush in an empty Starbucks Frappacino bottle (put the cap back on tight), it will stay glue-y for days.

_______________

Angela Cartwright
Website: Angela Cartwright Studio
Blog: Said & Done
Art Wear: ac studio 9
Zine: Pasticcio Quartz
Books: Angela Cartwright Studio

The notch tool…I love it. It’s used to layer cement onto tiles..but I use it to pull through gesso or molding paste to create design and texture.

_______________

Carol Leslie
Blog: ZenDotStudio

Golden's Tar Gel - I used this for softening and adhering a brittle and cracking but treasured Bodhi leaf to a canvas as part of a commissioned mixed media piece. It worked to almost plasticize the leaf, strengthening it, preserving it and holding it in place. Then I started mixing paint with tar gel for an effect a lot like a resin.


Also something I learned from a fabric artist is that if you use a photo copy from an older copier and a non solvent based cleaner called "orange ultimate" rubbed on to the back of the image you get these fabulous image transfers. Works best on silk. New photo copiers don't seem to work for this process, has something to do with the toner used.

_______________

Debbie Price-Ewen
Blog: Debrina's Diary

I’m a big fan of fibre dyes. I use them on virtually anything that is porous. Favourite ingredients: Procion powdered dye, different types of paper (printed or plain), water, vinegar and salt. Final results are always a surprise!

_______________

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Branch Out


Collaborations continue. Bridgette, Jen, and I continue to create.


This project, along with my other collaborations, challenges me, pushes me, and inspires me.


Working with others and seeing their creations up close and personal provides an energy that acts as high octane fuel.


My most recent page in Bridgette's book:

Monday, February 15, 2010

The End of the Earth



My piece Earth Works has been in my Etsy shop for almost 4 months. Any piece that does not sell within that time frame will be "retired" and that will happen to Earth Works on February 18. If you are interested in purchasing this piece, please do so before next Thursday. Thanks for looking!

Sold. Thank you!


Sunday, February 14, 2010

Secret Sunday 13

Do you want to know a secret?


Welcome to the fourth edition of The Pulse -- The State of the Art -- a survey in words and pictures of the online artist community. The Pulse is a collaborative project that aims to introduce you to new artists, help you get to know familiar faces even more, and allow you access into the creative hearts and minds of a very talented crew of individuals.


Over 150 (!) artists have answered a series of questions which make up The Pulse. Their responses will be presented as a series of online and print projects. And the first continues right now!

Join the The Altered Page every Sunday for "Secret Sunday." Here the secrets of all your favorite artists will be revealed. It could be a technique, a product, a secret source, a little-known website, a hidden shop, an inspiration, just about anything! If you missed any, no worries. You can find links to all the secrets on the sidebar of my blog.

Today's secret.......Link Love!
_______________

azirca
Blog: Speak Without my Voice

I adore Mike Rivamonte's work. He cleverly assembles whimsical robot type sculptures by recycling old scientific instruments, mechanical devices and discarded vintage objects. Each piece that he constructs has it's own uniqueness and charm.
_______________

Jill Zaheer
Blog: JazWorks

The New York Public Library has a digital art library filled with 700,000 free art images.

_______________

William J. Charlebois
Art Gallery: WJC's Art and Stuff
Blog: Billizetti's World

I hope other digital artists don't cringe when they read this. I get a lot of my inspiration from elements found in digital scrapbooking kits. A woman named Christine Honsinger designs for Scrap Artist. She creates a lot of characters with wings as well as all kinds of wildly colorful objects. I love using a couple of her elements and then creating a whole digital collage inspired by them. I often write poems to use in my collages.

_______________

JaPRA
Blog: Just a Plane Ride Away
Blog: Where I Talk About Art

Online classes! I love learning new things, and because I live in Europe now, it makes it a little hard to attend all of those lovely workshops in the States. I see many of my favourite artists are thinking about launching online classes in 2010. All I can say is: Woo hoo! And thank you :-)

_______________

JeriAnn Geller
Blog: Commuters Journal

John Neal booksellers for book binding and calligraphy supplies and books on Celtic, Hebrew, Arabic or any English hand. It’s also THE place for the magnificent publications Letter Arts Review and Bound & Lettered.

_______________

Kathryn Antyr
Blog: True North Arts
Blog: Collage Diva

The Flora Bella Collection
My latest experiments with my photography have been enhanced using textures and overlays from The Flora Bella Collection. Looking for a dreamy effect? These textures make it super easy.


_______________

Steph Brouwers
Blog: vLaDtHeBaT’s aTTiC

I am crazy about beads and ethnic jewelry. So I want to share with you a little known website: Halter Ethnic Jewelry. The owner is Belgian, he has a tiny shop in Brussels. The pieces on sale are museum quality.
_______________

Shona Cole
Blog: An Artful Life

I was having trouble photographing the pieces I made until I discovered this simple and cheap way of making a light box out of cardboard. The directions can be found here.
_______________

Seth Apter
Blog: The Altered Page
Etsy: The Altered Page

A free and simple-to-use online photography program is FotoFlexer. It allows you to do many image manipulations simply, including adding text, borders, and (my favorite) quickly resizing your images for your blog sidebar and posts.

_______________

Friday, February 12, 2010

Proceedings


Books for Looks:

Creative Time and Space: Making Room for Making Art by Rice Freeman-Zachery

Trading in Memories: Travels Through a Scavenger's Favorite Places by Barbara Hodgson

Thank You:


Best to Linda at Bella Bead Jewelry for passing on the Sunshine Blog Award to me!



And a big thank you to Beanie Mouse from Found-Art for giving me the Kreative Blogger award.





Art Link List:




Egmont Van Dyck's The Directory



Swap Meet:

LaWendula from Woven Letters continues to host the most amazing paper swaps. Click here to see and sign up for upcoming projects.




For Sale:

Proceedings at The Altered Page on Etsy




And visit my Etsy shop to see the first series of my Elements on Etsy. You can see one of the distressed Xs being sold used in Proceedings above.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

In Every Wind


Last in the series, here is one more set of pages that I completed for the Inner Works altered book collaboration that has just ended.

Roxanne Evans Stout - Earth Tones


embroidered over with millions of silver flowers


where olive leaves were twinkling in every wind that blew



Thank you Supria, Jill, Roxanne, Rita, and Veronica for sharing this experience with me.

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Paper Wings


One more book...one more style. My pages in the fourth altered book in the Inner Works collaboration.

Supria Karmakar - Helen Keller