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Showing posts from March, 2013

recycled sock inserts

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An exciting title - ha - but really just about anything fit for the recycling bin can be a substrate... Kleenex boxes, cigar boxes, puzzle pieces, or in this case, the foot-shaped inserts that came with my son's no-show socks. My photo background is also very glamorous - the underside of an old file box top - wrinkles and all. What I find so enjoyable about these low-tech projects (thanks to Seth Apter for the term:) is that it's WAY easier to let loose and work without that tricky-thinking brain that sometimes turns into a major block.  It also makes me feel a bit better about having accumulated so many supplies that I don't often use - velvet leaves and fabric flowers, stamps, something from just about every bin and drawer in the studio. the gold half-circle with dangling coins is a vintage piece from a costume I wore, well, over 30 years ago! Did I mention it also eases my mind about being a pack rat? A watch face, mica, beads, la

Finished book pages

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Looking at gessoed panels and unfinished pages is fascinating... for about half a second. Slipped my mind that I hadn't posted any of the results, after I added elements until I couldn't add any more - and I'm really happy about the way they turned out! As I mentioned in the earlier post, I tried to incorporate processes and materials that I don't use often - stamps, rub-ons and stickers, tiny charms, transparencies, flowers... I settled on found words as a concept. Random phrases and found-word poetry and words as art, with no particular theme or subject matter. Even when each page was fairly packed with elements, I added to them until they felt really done! So much fun that I've started another, no plans for them, just enjoying the creative process...

Fabulous giveaway!

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My lovely blog friend, Caterina Giglio, is giving away three fabulous pieces of her art, any of which I would LOVE to own. OK, if I really had to choose, it would be this one! Hop over to La Dolce Vita and enter too (though I really hope I win:) La Mode, Caterina Giglio

Low Tech Kleenex Fun

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Not long after whining about the art rut, I was browsing on Create Mixed Media and came across a video featuring Seth Apter , the amazing artist, person and creative friend extr a ordinair e. In the p review of the Easy Mixed Medi a Techniques for the Art Journal DVD, 'low tech' was a term he used to describe using whatever we have at hand to complement our fancy, expe nsiv e art supplies (my words:). After watch ing him make fabulous texture on watercolor paper using acrylics, gesso, wallpaper an d doodling , I was inspired to play. The 'low tech' approach made it easy to bypass my art critic in residence ( in my brain) and start ... I cut apart a Kleenex box and applied gesso to the panels, leaving a few of their design elements sh owing .    Making a book using a tissue box, coffee bags, anything recycled has many benefits. First, how can you screw up a Kleenex box? No fine art standards in this project. It also stimulate