Sense of Wonder

I always appreciate when I receive feedback that something I have made has inspired others. My artwork is nearly always visual in nature. But occasionally I feel the need to express myself in verse rather than through images. The following poem, which has been previously posted on my blog, has provided an instance where my inspiration has been paid forward:

After The Storm

When the thunder ends and the rain stops falling

When the sea is calm and the birds start calling

The clouds will part like a curtain drawing

Promise of an open door

When the air is clear and the wind stops blowing

The sun reappears and the earth starts glowing

A light so strong as if all knowing

Sense of wonder to explore

In that window, in that time

A clearing of a cluttered mind

A ray of hope, it all takes form

In that moment, after the storm

When this poem was first posted, it inspired this companion poem by Jill Zaheer from JazWorks:

It took me on a journey

Which I read to be my own

Visually traveling to another place, another time

Yet in my own home.

The picture was a visual visceral rendering

Of the traveling of my soul.

It was mesmerizing, calming, captivating,

Transporting me, transforming me,

Making me whole.

Within that magical moment described,

After the Storm imparts a miraculous, new ability to see,

After the Storm ...........

Is now a special part of me.

And more recently, it inspired JoAnna Pierotti from Moss Hill Studio to create this beautiful artwork:

If you know Jo and her husband Ron's story, you will understand why this meant a lot to me. Click here to read Jo's post about this piece. While Jo initially gave this to Ron, she ultimately and generously decided to send it to me instead. She assured me that Ron did not mind at all.

So thank you Jill and Jo, for what you each created has inspired me in return!

Secret Sunday 17

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.......Melange!
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Linda Moran
Website: The Art of Fabric
Blog: Marbled Musings

I absolutely love everything about marbling – it is incredibly addictive, and it doesn’t get old, even after 16 years of marbling. There are several patterns I am trying, and I would really like to be able to create flowers the way ebru artists do.

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Lise Hofmann
Blog: Bohemian Caravan

Mom always told me I should not peel apples or pears because it contains lots of healthy things. When I have to, I save their skin, roll them into cinnamon and sugar and put them in the oven for at least 15 minutes at low temperature. Simple and healthy snacking for breaks!

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Jill Zaheer
Blog: JazWorks

THE BOOK CELLAR:
Down in the cellar of The Webster Library in New York City, volunteers have assembled thousand and thousands and books, records, postcards and other fun items, as well as racks of videos, tables with postcards, CDs, tapes and ephemera.

They receive donations every day, which are put on the shelves for your browsing pleasure. Categories include rare first editions, autographed books, Judaica, art books, entertainment, mysteries, romance and much more.
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Roben-Marie Smith
Blog: Every Life has a Story
Website: Paperbag Studios
Digichick: Roben-Marie Designs

The lazy susan is perfect for organizing things like paints, inks, glues, etc. on your art table. Just give it a gentle spin and grab what you need! :)

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Curio (AKA: Sonia Simard)
Blog: atelier Curio studio

It may not be apparent because a lot of my work seems pretty serious or dark, but I also paint childrens murals; knick-knacks for my in-laws; I seem to be attracted to all types of puzzles;

and I've been known to paint the occasional scenery...There I've said it!
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Jonna Barnett
Blog: Just Jonna

Hum! Art secret. I’m not sure I have anything that really qualifies as an art secret. But now that I think about it I guess I do have an art secret... My friend Cindy. She considers herself un-artistic but her artistic ability is organization and finding the most amazing items imaginable. She just returned from Florida and one of the items she found for me was a small alligator paw with claws. Just the perfect size for a doll or maybe an alien? She has gifted me with many wonderful things over the years that have found a place in my artwork. So I’d have to say Cindy is my art secret.
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David Castle
Blog: David Castle Art
Website: David Castle
Facebook: David Castle

“Elements of Dynamic Symmetry” by Jay Hambidge. My abstracts have essential basis in the mathematics that Jay Hambidge developed based on dynamic symmetry found in nature (such as the seed pattern in a sunflower). I use the math to create the size, shape and exact measurements of some of my elemental rectangles and squares.

“Elementals No. 18”, watercolor mounted on canvas. Shape dimensions calculated using principles of Dynamic Symmetry.
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Rebecca Trevino
Blog: Rebeca Trevino
Website: Rebeca Trevino

I am inspired by everything around me. My art involves "hunting and gathering" and I am always on the lookout for "stuff", when I travel, when I walk, when I am waiting at my doctors office or waiting for my car to get serviced, I always find usable art "stuff", it's everywhere.

Another secret is hanging out with other artists and exchanging ideas.
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Caffeine

Sumatra

Detail

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

Available for purchase in The Altered Page on Etsy.

Brew

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".

Available for purchase in The Altered Page on Etsy.

33,333 Touchdowns & 5 Giveaways

200,000. That number boggles my mind. 200,000 days is equal to 547 years. 200,000 miles is equal to 7,633 marathons. 200,000 calories is equal to 1,000 donuts. And 200,000 visits is equal to 1 very grateful and happy man.

Today my blog counter passed that mind-boggling number. So to celebrate my 200,000 hit and to anticipate the opening of The Book Guild (more info on The Guild soon I promise), I am having a book giveaway. Five different people will each win one of the following books:

Journal Spilling: Mixed-Media Techniques for Free Expression by Diana Trout

Printmaking + Mixed Media: simple techniques and projects for paper and fabric by Dorit Elisha

Collage Unleashed by Traci Bautista

Cover to Cover: Creative Techniques for Making Beautiful Books, Journals & Albums by Shereen LaPlantz

What It Is by Lynda Barry

All you need to do to enter the giveaway is to leave a comment to this post and include the ONE book you would most like to receive. In the end, I will divide the names into five groups based on the book choice, and choose five winners. Please make sure I have a way of contacting you to let you know if you have won. If you do not want to leave your email address within your comment, please send it to me by email.

Comments will be closed late on Friday March 26th and winners will be posted on my blog on Sunday March 28th. Good luck. And thank you all for your visits, your comments, and your support!!

What Inspires

Beginning this month, I will be a contributing writer on the MMCA Marketplace blog. Debbie Overton has invited Cindy Davis, Christine Mason Miller, KC Willis, and myself to become Creative Contributors. One of us will be posting every Sunday. My first post, In and Out, talks about the magic that can happen when INspiration and OUTspiration collide. It was posted yesterday and you can read it here.

If you click through, be prepared to stay a while. Debbie has made the MMCA Marketplace a must visit destination. In addition to the Creative Contributors Sunday postings, just some of the features you will find include:

Book and product reviews on the 2nd Wednesday of the month.

Galleries - brick & mortar and online on the 1st Tuesday of the month.

Artist interviews scheduled for the 4th Wednesday of the month. Mark you calendars now for Judy Wilkenfeld on March 24th.

Resources for the business side of art on the 4th Thursday of the month.

Favorite blogs and websites on the 3rd Tuesday of the month.

Copyright free digital images to download and use in your art projects on the 1st Friday of the month.

Places of interest (shops, galleries, restaurants, local favorites, off the beaten path, etc.) all over the world on the 3rd Friday of the month.

So bookmark the site now and remember...you heard it first at The Altered Page.

Secret Sunday 16

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.......Lesson Plan!
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Regien Dwarkasing
Blog: Mostly Turquoise

Whenever I visit a Starbucks, I take pictures of the art & wallpaper, that is always there. I like to use these pictures and combine them with my own ones for digital collages.
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Debbie Mihalick
Blog: Senses Engaged

This tip comes from Keith Lo Bue, a fabulous artist who works with found objects. Although the tip came from a class he taught on building jewelry, I feel it applies just as well to any composition and material: choose one thing you love as your starting point and look at everything else in relation to this piece. Consider hiding part of it for an added element of mystery and to invite the viewer to look closer. I used these principles with a simple pendant.

The bit of ivory was a recent purchase and I was dying for a way to use it. It seemed to fit really well over the vintage photo and I liked the tones of both pieces together. Even though my metalwork needs a lot of improvement, I was very happy with the way it turned out.
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Rainey J. Gibney
Website: The Josie Baggley Company

When I'm painting a face I sometimes turn the canvas upside down whilst I paint. I've gotten some surprising results by doing this as the mind's eye is working here and shapes rather than an exact image is being built. It is a free and expressive way to paint.

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Robert Stockton
Artist Portfolio: Robert Stockton

The concept of “bricolage,” which is defined as: a construction made from whatever materials are at hand; something created from a variety of available things. I like this idea, and use it frequently in my work. I look around my studio, and simply choose, at random, whatever it is that falls into my line of sight as a way of selecting materials to use on a given project. Certain combinations of materials often suggest using certain techniques, and so it goes!

Bricolage is simply letting serendipity and intuition have the upper hand. Once you begin using it, the process becomes virtually subconscious and, I think, puts you more directly in touch with your creative self. It frequently leads my artwork in interesting and unexpected directions!
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Laura Pace
Blog: Found Memories Art
Facebook: Laura A. Pace

I think something that has helped me immensely lately is a folding tabletop easel. As mixed media artists, we tend to work flat on the table. We are usually gluing something in place on the paper or canvas or whatever background we have chosen. We do all our painting/coloring flat also. What we might forget is that when its done, the piece of art will be viewed upright, against a wall usually. This gives it a whole different perspective.

With the work on an easel, I can step back and see how the balance and composition is as it will look on the wall at a distance. By working on a folding tabletop easel, I can lower it down to do the glueing, then raise it back up to do whatever painting or coloring work that needs to be done.
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Leslie Marsh
Blog: Snips and Snails and Puppy Dog Tails
Blog: Daily Focus

I have found the best way (thanks Isabel) to remove a wine label, which has introduced an entirely new and entertaining dimension to shopping for wine. It’s simple: pour boiling water INSIDE of the empty bottle and let it sit until the label peels off, adhesive and all!

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KC Willis
Website: Lipstick Ranch
Blog: KC Willis
Ning: KC Willis Collage Camp

Almost all of my pieces start with unprimed artist canvas, torn, washed and coffee stained. When I wash the canvas, the edges fray off and what started out as a mess in my washing machine turned out to be an important part of my work. These clumps of thread that have tangled themselves up in the canvas are cut apart and coffee stained then hung outside to drip dry. They then are a part of almost every collage I create for my bigger pieces.

They add wonderful texture and become the "seat" for most of my embellishments. Sometimes whether I need more canvas pieces or not I will wash canvas just for the "clumpie" harvest. I have been known to get down-right ecstatic when my washing machine produces a bumper crop.
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Coffee Break

More Melts...

Java

Detail

Ingredients: vintage book page, book board, acrylic paint, coffee grounds, calligraphy ink, watercolor marker, color pencil, leafing pen, dry transfer, found metal. approximately 6" x 3 1/4".

Available for purchase in The Altered Page on Etsy.

Sold. Thank you!


Expresso

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" x 3 1/8".

Available for purchase in The Altered Page on Etsy.

Muse Flash

I am happy to share that my artwork from the Graffiti Wall collaboration that I completed with Julie and Lynne has just been published in the March/April issue of Cloth Paper Scissors.

It is part of the Muse Flash section, which spotlights "a-muse-ing tips, tidbits, and tales from our editors and readers."

Sending out a thank you to Barbara Delaney and Jenn Mason at CPS for this opportunity. This issue is the first under the helm of Jenn, the new editor at CPS. Look for an even better magazine with her in charge.

Drips & Grounds

Melt Series continued...

Drips

Detail

Ingredients: vintage book page, book board, acrylic paint, coffee grounds, calligraphy ink, watercolor marker, color pencil, leafing pen, dry transfer. approximately 3 3/4" x 2 3/8".

Available for purchase in The Altered Page on Etsy.

Sold. Thank you!

Grounds

Detail

Ingredients: vintage book page, book board, acrylic paint, coffee grounds, calligraphy ink, watercolor marker, color pencil, leafing pen, dry transfer, found metal. approximately 5 13/16" x 2 5/16".

Available for purchase in The Altered Page on Etsy.

Sold. Thank you!

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.
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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.

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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.

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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.
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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!