The Pulse of Mixed Media- A Follow Up Project

Seth Apter, of The Altered Page, recently had his first book published!!!

This book was a result of the interaction he had with many online artists, and a survey that these artists all participated in.

I am thrilled to say I got to participate, and altho' I am not one of the 31 spotlighted artists in the book, one of my survey question answers is in there, and my blog is listed. Woohoo! I already got my copy- I pre-ordered on Amazon!!! It's a great, must have book, spotlighting many great artists, including  Angela Cartwright, Sarah Fishburn, and Robyn Gordon- to name a few!!!!

The Altered Page 

Now, Seth has taken 3 of the survey questions, one from each section of the book, and is asking everyone to answer 1, 2 or all 3. These creations will travel with him on a rotating basis. Very exciting!!

1. The Artistic Ingredient: If your artwork could talk, what would it say?

2. Passion in Action: Who has had the most impact on your creative life?

3. Secrets Revealed: What is one thing you have never shared with the creative community?

Each answer had to  be on a  5" x 5" square,  a piece of paper, card stock, canvas, wood panel, fabric, whatever strikes your fancy. 

There was no specific deadline - one day, he will just pop up and say it is now closed to all submissions!!!

So, I rushed off to complete something.

I have several old book covers (many of which I have given away to others, since I had no idea what to do with them!)

These seemed like the perfect opportunity to use some of what I kept! I searched thru the few I had left, and cut them into three  5" squares, thinking I would answer all three questions - why not?????

Then, I took my little dremel drill and drilled holes in the sides, thinking they could be loosely bound together, so it would fold up in a neat little pile, and/or stand upright.

I was looking for brown card stock for the words, had none, and couldn't find any in the local craft store. Suddenly, I had an idea - not an original idea, I am sure- but thought I would see if my printer would accept a brown paper bag to print on - and it did! Whew!!! Didn't want to hear it from D/H, if I screwed up the printer!!!

Then, I rounded up some of my saved used teabags, some vintage text, and used them to cover one of the squares. Also, found a lovely handmade paper from one of my online swaps, trimmed it up, and started pasting away.

I ripped the text printed on the paper bags, and burned the edges over a candle. That worked for the first few, then some of the thinner bags started going up in flames, a bit too quickly!!LOL So, I "aged" the remaining edges with brown ink.

I "bound" the pieces together with a waxed cord, nothing fancy, so it can fold up, or stand up.

                                                 Here is the finished product

                                                                 but-

                                                         it 

                                                             is 

                                                               only 

                                                                     a 

                                                                 peek!!!

Don't want to spoil the fun- it just went out in the mail today to Seth. Hope he likes it..........


I can't wait to see the other ones, as they come rolling in to his studio!!!!


It does feel good to have actually completed a project-and, on time!!!!

The Pulse

Woohoo- I am included in Seth Apter's Sunday Pulse .
Please drop by and check it out!!
He's got a GREAT and inspiring art blog!!!!

Tea on Tuesday and Stacks

Today's tea photos were prompted by a project that Seth from The Altered Page will be featuring tomorrow on his blog.
Over 70 artists and artsy folks will be showing stacks of ephemera, paper, journals, and the like. Seth always thinks of these fun things to do!!

Who among us, does NOT have a stack of SOMETHING???
                  I DARE you to raise your hand!!! LOL


I have many stacks - so, I included a few- the last photo being the one to be included in Seth's post.
But, first- the tea: sideways, again, for reasons only blogger knows (altho hubby thinks he's got it figured, using photoshop- but I am tired, and don't want to mess with it right now- soooooooooo)

My oolong tea and mug are sitting on my 2nd mug rug from an Art4Mail online swap. The quilter did a fabulous job with fall colors.

Mine are almost done - but today was taken up by purging the basement and  making grape jam (the reason I am too tired to fool with photoshop and why this post is late today!)

                                                                             


                                                                        STACKS

 

Tea on Tuesday - teacups, of course!

                             Books that are yearning for their own book shelf- or a new home elsewhere
                                                        (see a title you like? Let me know!!!)

 

                                                    Stuff on the couch I am reading my way thru'

 

Guest bath

 

Spell check? Nah -stacks of ancient dictionaries 

(usually neatly shelved- just posing for the "stacks" photo shoot) 

                                  Journals, book covers, vintage pages, ephemera awaiting new life....

Please drop by every Tuesday for tea - see Kimmie and Patty for a list of other tea lovers.
Don't forget to visit Seth tomorrow to see many more stacks!! I know Patty and I are playing along, and maybe Kimmie too!!!

I Am Sooo Excited!!!!!

I am included in Seth's blog, The Altered Page Sunday Profile of Artists!!!

Here's the link

Big honor for me to be included among such real talent!!!!!!

Thanks, Seth!!!

Inchies, Inchies, Inchies!!!!!!!!

I am surrounded by inchies- a new found passion!!!!!!
Altho' I have seen these before on many blogs, including Patty's, I read a post the other day, on Kimmie's blog.
Her pictures and description made the process very clear. She was describing the idea of "bricolage", which led me to a post on Elizabeth's blog, which in turn led me to Seth's blog........ You can see why a few minutes on the computer, can turn into hours...............

Anyway, one thing led to another, and I have to thank Kimmie- for affording me yet another distraction from the banalities of daily living!!!!LOL

Kimmie kindly sent me a link to Inchie Arts, where Ellen Hutson stocks an inventory of chipboard inchies, twinchies, inchie +'s, and more!!!
Boggles the mind - I had to bug Kimmie with a few questions about which was what- and placed my order for a package of 72 inchies. I got them in a day or two - fast service, with a nice little thank you note and an extra surprise goodie baggie of St. Patty's Day green ribbon!

These are mine - so far - there is more work to be done on them-and I am already swapping those! I have 40 or 50 more to work on. The recent paper swaps I was in, came in handy for working on these!

When I received the chipboards, I just had to grab one and do a little zentangle on one. My favorite inchie -so far- is the "wee zen angel", the top row, 1st on left. The zentangle is middle row, 2nd from left. I am sure they will all be favorites when completed!!!

So, if anyone is interesting in swapping inchies with an obsessed newbie (that would be me!)- please let me know! We could do 1, 2 or 10 - your choice!!!!

Tea on Tuesday

As I sit here, sipping my hot mug of lemon ginger tea, 100.7FM is blasting rap in the back round........ to get me in the mood for researching today's theme - urban art!!!I'm KIDDING, of course - about the rap!!!

When I think urban art - I immediately think - GRAFFITI!! Growing up in NY, tagged buildings, subway walls, and freight trains, were common sights, especially the closer you got to "the city" (NYC). I was amazed at the artistic bent of these unknown artists, whose huge bubble letters or amazing works of art appeared overnight. I am sure most of this "art" was not viewed with appreciation, by the building owners, or public works folks who need to paint over it! My parents always dismissed it as destructive hooliganism!!!

Martha Cooper published a book in the 80's on Subway Art- a classic!

While googling "urban art", I discovered there is a gallery in NYC on E52nd, called monkdogz.com, featuring modern urban artists. I think they have a blog artblahblah.com I haven't had a chance to check that out yet.It is more than just "traditional" graffiti.

Graffiti, has spread from the walls of NY tenements to where ever there is an "inner" city, to outside of a city- the midwest, or to a train slowly passing thru a southern Va town. It is not just an art limited to the US. It is now seen as body art- tattoos, in clothing design, and has made it off the streets into art galleries.

I think there is much more to urban art than just graffiti tho'. I think Seth, of the Altered Page creates fabulous art with a definite urban flavor, totally unrelated to graffiti.

I recently reconnected with a childhood friend,now based in NYC, who has quite an impressive art resume - and paints beautiful art - very abstractly urban in nature.The city is her muse. I have absolutely no professional backround in art, and could be wrong categorizing her works as urban art. But she draws her inspiration from urban settings, so.......Take a look and see what you think - www.joannelobotsky.com

I am including a couple of examples of urban inmate art that came into my possession, done with the tiny ink stem of a pen- great examples of beauty emerging from despair.


Please join us for Tea on Tuesdays with a theme, and stop in to visit Kimmie for links to our other T.o.T. participants!

The Altered Page Disintegration Reveal

I took part in Seth's fantastic Disintegration Collaboration- and really could not figure out what to do with the pieces in my "bundle". I had one idea in sketch form, but it was way too complicated for me to actually do. I am more artsy, than true artist.

So, simple is best, and I simply took the largest part of the bundle, which was a large container lid, and added shards of vintage pottery that have been unearthed as I garden. A large triangular piece of shale in the center completes it.
If you haven't guessed, and I'm sure you haven't(!) this is a very primitive sun dial. Unfortunately, the sun would not oblige while I was taking a picture- but it does really work.

I will set it in the vegetable garden, where most of the pieces originated.

Disintegration Project

I participated in Seth's The Altered Page Disintegration Project a while back. Today is the big reveal - of what everyone did with their weathered objects. My pile of stuff has not made it past the "plan on paper" stage. I don't have the eye to put something together like that, I guess.

But my bloggy friend Kimmie at Art in Red Wagons definitely is one of those with "the eye"!! She has the ability to take such disparate things and put them together in a truly artistically pleasing way. I am amazed. My friend Patty has that talent also. I am jealous!!!

I am not sure if Patty has her reveal up yet, but Kimmie does. Drop over and see what she has created - it's beautiful.

And visit Seth's blog - to see a list of amazingly talented people who can make something wonderful out of nothing, with ease.

And, maybe later today, I will add the sketch of my 'idea' for my reveal...................or maybe not!!!

The Altered Page's Buried Treasures

Not being a true artist in any sense of the word, I decided to look back into my first blog (my book to be) to bring forth again for Seth's new endeavor. I didn't post anything for the first go around - couldn't find anything artsy enough to be worthy of reposting!!
But, of all my creations, I like my words the best, so here is a post that maybe the artist in you can relate to.
Everyone needs a place to regroup, and let creativity flow, whether it is your studio, a chair on the deck, or browsing thru an art gallery. This is my spot...............

http://ooglebloops.wordpress.com/2009/04/18/thinking-back-on-the-day/#comments

May 1st Disintegration Collaboration Reveal

In January, Seth, of The Altered Page, had an idea to put a bundle of objects out in the elements to see what would become of it over time. This idea took hold, and over 120 folks around the globe decided to participate!

Some of the bundles were art in themselves, while some of the bundles were unassuming, even nondescript, but became art when weathered. Some bundles will be just a pile of stuff- until given new life in an upcoming art project.

Mine did not disintegrate as much as I thought it would- despite exposure to all types of weather- and the efforts off my local birds!The local map faded, and melted together in spots, the drum cover was already rusty, so no change there. The hand dyed wool remained the same, the twine, just a little frayed, and the denim material - a little mildew and bird seed hulls! If anything, a testament to the strength of jeans- no real deterioration by weather!!

All of the participants have until August 1st, to give new life to their bundles, by using part or all in an art-full project. Stay tuned!!!

One of the collaboration participants, Kimmie, of Art in Red Wagons
gave a very insightful depth to this project with her words. Be sure to click on her blog to read about her bundle, and see her beautiful photos.

There is more to this group who joined Seth in this project- more than just putting stuff outside to weather the elements. The weathering did develop a camaraderie of 'art-full' souls- something I would not have expected - or thought of - until I read Kimmie's words.

So, thanks, Seth, for developing this project, and thanks, Kimmie for opening my eyes!!!

Seth's Disintegration Project

Seth, over at The Altered Page
had organized a Disintegration Project a while back. There are well over 100 artists participating all over the globe. All sorts of creative and interesting bundles of objects have been put outside to let the elements have at them. If you check his blog, you can see links to most of the artists participating.Some of them are quite fascinating!
I was a little out of my element here, but I put together some stuff. My first one, attached to the rusty drum cover, is just an assortment of things, to be used in other projects down the road.
The second one, I called the Deterioration of Politics. It did not turn out quite like I imagined! I took layers of the Washington Post, with articles about the election, and inaugural, tied it with twine around a brick, and hoped for the best. I have even put both projects near my bird feeding station, with seeds on it, hoping the birds' interaction would have an interesting effect!!!
I had started a third little project, entitled 3 Blind Mice( a little macabre, I know, but we live in the country) The project started off well, but my subjects were carted off under cover of darkness for 'someone's' late night snack......:>(

The final unveiling of all the projects will be May 1st.

Take a Look................................

Got to Seth's blog, The Altered Page, to see a fab short video. Very artsy, very cool!