The Altered Page: January 2016

Sunday, January 31, 2016

The Week Links: 87

Join me every Sunday when I share some of my favorite links I discovered in the previous week. Earlier posts in the series can be found here.

And here is Week 87...

1. What's on your desk? 6 artists share their desk space with you.

2. And speaking of work spaces...how about 100 famous artist studios.

Francis Bacon

Alexander Calder

3. Totally in love with this artwork from Mary Beth Shaw. And you will never believe how she made it.

4. Really excited to head to the Grolier Club in NYC to see Blooks -- an exhibition of things that look like books but aren't books.

5. I am always mesmerized by whatever Elena Nuez posts.

6. Instagram love: Amy Duncan from Four Corners Design. Love the simplicity of her vignettes.

7. Juts in case you missed it: my top ten trends in mixed media for winter 2016.

Saturday, January 30, 2016

Outside the Zone

My column The Creative Pulse in the January/February issue of Cloth Paper Scissors is all about the benefits of stepping outside your comfort zone.

The following ideas are just a few that I have included in the article:

-Crack open a supply that you've never used.

-Take a class in a technique that's outside your wheelhouse.

-Work on a collaborative project with other artists.

-Add another layer to a piece you are satisfied with but know could be better.

-Usually use a paintbrush? Use your hands instead.

Friday, January 29, 2016

Twice a year, the Craft & Hobby Association (CHA) publishes a report for their members that covers the trends in the industry. Relevant to manufacturers, retailers, designers, bloggers, crafters and artists, this document presents a snap shot of both the current and the upcoming trends in the world of craft and art.

For Winter 2016, the report was expanded and includes the following categories: Altered Pages, Art & Illustration, Canadian Craft Trends, Colors & Motifs, Children's Crafts, European Craft Trends, General Craft Trends, Home Decor Handcrafted, Jewelry Art, Mixed Media, Needle & Sewing Arts, Paper Arts & Craft, Renegade Crafts Stateside, Renegade Crafts Global, Surface Design, Tools & Techniques, and Wearable Art.

As a member of the Trends Committee of the Designer Section of CHA, I am responsible for writing the section on mixed media. I wanted to share some of latest trends from the report with you.

Top 10 Trends in Mixed Media

1. Art Journaling: more focus on art rather than text, with a continued emphasis on authenticity and the addition of hand-drawn details and visually complex imagery; Bible journaling continues to gain popularity as well

2. Mark Makers: markers, pens and pencils continue to be popular and used in conjunction with many of the other 2016 trends (see #1, 5, 10)

3. Collage: an art mainstay seeing a resurgence, with paper, metal, fabric and hand/machine stitching increasingly popular

4. Texture: the addition of increasingly varied texture mediums on the market is fueling an increased interest in all-things textural and dimensional

5. Text and Lettering: this trend, strong in the past few years, continues with no end in site

6. Stencils: popularity continues with trends evident in abstract patterns, nature-themes, background texture, and text

7. Color Palette: increased use of subtle color tones and metallics can be seen, along with a decrease in bright, bold colors

8. Design Elements: circular, organic and natural shapes are replacing the hard, geometric shapes popular in recent years

9. Portraiture: an increased interest in adding faces to art continues, especially with the help of stencils, masks, and collage

10. Coloring: coloring books for adults are booming and fueling increased interest in pencils, crayons, sketching, and stamping

Seeing your own trends? Add your thoughts to this post in the comments section.

Wednesday, January 27, 2016

IO Giveaway

I am holding a giveaway to celebrate the release of my newest collection of stamps from Impression Obsession. Two people will win their choice of the following six sets:

Alphabet Scramble

ConText

Journal Coins

Journal Frames

Extras

Roundabouts

To be eligible to win, please leave a comment stating which stamp set you would like to win. Entries close end of day on Saturday 1/30. Everybody is eligible-- yes even the Internationals out there! The random number table will choose two winners. Please be sure that I have your email to contact you in case you are one of the lucky winners.

The giveaway is now closed. Thanks to all of you who took the time to join in. Congratulations to both Diana Gabriella and Nan Gustafson who will each receive their chosen set.

Monday, January 25, 2016

Art Revealed: 3

This is the last of three posts sharing recent artwork that I created using my new lines of products from both Spellbinders and Impression Obsession. Prior to the recent CHA show where I unveiled my new lines, I could only show you glimpses and peeks:

Happy to be able to share it all with you. You can see the first grouping of artwork here and the second here. A number of the pieces are also available for purchase in my online shop where you will find detailed descriptions and additional photos.

Dream Catcher

Dream Catcher: detail

Extras

Extras: detail

Found

Found -detail

Story Book

Story Book - detail

Descriptio

Sunday, January 24, 2016

The Week Links: 86

Join me every Sunday when I share some of my favorite links I discovered in the previous week. Earlier posts in the series can be found here.

And here is Week 86...

1. Color wheels throughout history.

2. Trend Bible shares a preview of home trends in 2016, one of which is weathered.

3. Nathalie Kalbach takes us to the Picasso sculpture exhibit at MoMA, which the NY Times describes as a once-in-a-lifetime show.

4. A look inside Louise Bourgeois's home, just how she left it.

5. Nobody knows who the Philadelphia Wireman is. Read the mysterious story here.

6. 2,500 pigment samples are on view in Harvard's lab.

7. Want to see a little bit more from the CHA Conference & Trade Show from earlier this month? Check out Marjie Kemper's Periscopes.

Friday, January 22, 2016

Love My Memories+

I am so very excited to be in Japan. Well...to have my picture in Japan that is.

The most recent issue of Love My Memories+, a Japanese craft magazine, includes a page on male designers. I am happy to be featured along side of Tim Holtz, Frank Garcia, Ken Oliver and Richard Garay.

While I cannot read any of it, I still want to thank Margie Higuchi for including me!

Thursday, January 21, 2016

Art Revealed: 2

Now that my new product lines have been unveiled at the CHA Trade & Conference Show, I can show you the artwork that I created using my new products. Before the show, I was only able to share glimpses -- such as this: