Found Object Work in Progress

This week I’m pulling together my powerpoint presentation (artwork, photos and text) for my upcoming May 16th webinar with Interweave called “Found Objects: Searching for Texture, Style & Relief”  – More deets on this soon! The webinar inspired me to dig around in my plastic bins filled with found objects. I started picking from my collection of vintage hardware and found oodles of inspiration in this particular drawer pull. I still have to finish off my transformed necklace by making some chain and closures but here’s my Work in Progress pic for now. If you want to see the finished piece, sign up for my webinar. (How’s that for a tease??!)

Calling all Art Journalers…

Oh yeah, there’s a new eMag in town from the fine folks at Cloth, Paper, Scissors. Art Journaling Exposed was such a hit that über editor Jenn Mason followed up a second edition filled with more great inspiration and education for people like myself who love art journaling.

Now, I have to admit, that I’m not nearly as prolific in this art genre as I would like to be. I have so many mixed-media jewelry ideas in my sketchbook that when I get creative time I tend to spend it at my bench working with metal and/or resin. Luckily, almost every Saturday morning is playful art time in my studio with my 3-year-old daughter where we get out the paints, paper and pens for a couple of hours of special mother/daughter time. Once I get her paint palette all set up at the big round table in my studio, I’m free to grab a journal of my own to work on. Sometimes she wants to dig into my collection of rubber stamps and other times we grab my big box of recycled objects for mark making.

When I read Art Journaling Exposed 2 last night, I was so inspired that I immediately wished for Saturday morning. My friends and fellow artists/instructors in the publication got my creative wheels turning with their responses to the creative prompts Jenn and her team sought from us. Heck yes, you can bet I’m trying out Indian Yellow, Leaf Green and Magenta as my next color combination, as suggested by the fabulously talented Jenny Cochran Lee. I also adored the video of my dear friend Kari McKnight Holbrook’s technique of raindrops on backgrounds. Seriously fun stuff. I also couldn’t help having my face split into a big happy grin to see one of my BFFs Kristen Robinson show how to make an awesomely up cycled journal from plastic cereal bags. Trash art where there’s nothing trashy about it.

Of course, it wasn’t quite as easy watching myself on video in this publication showing how to make ICE Resin paper. (This was shot, but the way, when I was in Colorado last October to shoot my DVD Breaking Out of the Mold). But then again, I don’t know any one who actually enjoys watching themselves on film. My journal pages look great though when the resin is applied to it, so I’m sure there will be lots of readers out there who will want to try out a cool new technique. I’m truly thrilled for the opportunity to be part of this new eMag.

If any of this piques your interest, here is the link to Art Journaling Exposed 2 at the Interweave store. (I know the image above looks like you can click those video links, but alas they are only screen shots from the eMag). Also, if you haven’t yet joined the Cloth, Paper, Scissors online community and sign up now, you can get a free copy of the Art Journaling Exposed 1.

Here’s wishing you a truly Artful day!

A bit of news to share

The current issue of Cloth, Paper, Scissors magazine. Be sure to pick up the next issue to see Susan Lenart Kazmer’s cool resin paper lamp.

Just a little bit of news to share on my blog today. As you may know, I’ve had the sincere pleasure of teaching at the Cloth, Paper, Scissors CREATE art retreat in Southern California. In fact, I will be returning next year with some all new classes that I’m really excited about. I’ve also been working with Jenn Mason, the fabulous editor of Cloth, Paper, Scissors on and off for the past couple of years on some feature articles.

Starting with the January 2013 issue, I will have a brand new column with them called The Mixed Media Metalsmith. The column will work in tandem with my new book Making Metal Jewelry, due out this December with North Light Books, in that it will focus on beginning techniques to make your own metal jewelry. I’m really over-the-moon happy about it about both the book and the column.

But wait, that’s not all. I will be doing a DVD with Cloth, Paper, Scissors as well(!!!). While I can’t yet announce the subject, it can tell you I fly to Colorado early November to do the taping and the DVD should be released next year sometime. Whew, I’m feeling a little lightheaded.

I’m also thrilled because I will still be writing my business advice columns for Belle Armoire Jewelry Magazine. I truly love love love all the Stampington publications and have ever since I first learned of mixed-media many years ago. So inspirational, always! I also plan to continue writing business advice over at CreateMixedMedia.com, even though I’ve had to take a little break because of my schedule.

I know there are lots of you who love these publications as much as I do, so I wanted to let you know about my exciting news.

Here’s wishing you a truly Artful day!

Breast Cancer Art Fundraiser

Jenn Mason, the editor of Cloth, Paper, Scissors magazine contacted mixed-media artists six weeks or so ago and asked if we’d be willing to make a piece of art for their Artists Give Back fundraiser for the National Breast Cancer Foundation. (Please be sure to click the link above and read all about this cool event!) Artists were chosen because they’ve been either 2012 contributors to the magazine, or teachers at their CREATE mixed-media retreats. I’ve been honored to have done both this past year.

Being a successful longtime artist, author and designer herself, Jenn knows how busy working artists often are juggling it all. She made it super simple to participate by asking for either a 5×5 or 8×8 canvas. The only other rules were that it had to be fairly flat and uplifting. Easy peasy.

Since I had just received a brand new box of Susan’s Industrial Chic Mixed Media Line to design with, I knew I wanted to incorporate something from it into my canvas. Also, as much I do love the color pink now because of my sweet little girl (I used to despise it), I was trying to keep from being too cliché so I wanted to work in my favorite turquoise with pops of red color  palette. I also wanted the piece to feel relaxed and happy, which is why I included my handwriting in it. Still not a big fan of my handwriting, but I’m trying to be more forgiving of such things. I had some of Ranger’s Grungeboard in my studio from a class I taught years back that I used for texture, a large chipboard lowercase b that I had from a Creative Imaginations project from way back and of course, ICE Resin paper and a resin-filled bottle cap from my stash. The long metal piece in the middle is new Industrial Chic.

Cloth, Paper, Scissors September/October issue is hitting news stands now. The art made for this fundraiser is gorgeous! And the coolest part is that anyone who wants to can own a piece by purchasing it from their Etsy shop, which went live on the 28th. My piece is up for sale. I’m hoping one of you take it. As a matter of fact, if someone who reads my blog buys the piece and let’s me know by email, I will send you a handmade ICE Resin bezel charm as an extra bonus goodie.

Go check it out. Be inspired by great art and help make a difference too.

Art Unraveled 10th Anniversary

Congratulations to Linda Young for creating and organizing a decade of fabulous mixed-media art retreats held each August in Phoenix, AZ. Art Unraveled – or AU, as it’s affectionately called, has such a special place in my heart because, being in my hometown, it’s the first art retreat I ever attended when I was re-discovering my own artistic being.

I am thrilled to tell you that I’ll be teaching 3 classes at AU this year! They are all evening classes, which is good if you’re local and have to work during the day. You can just sign up for my classes and zip over after work to have some art making play time! For those of you whom come in for the whole retreat, I hope you check me out and sign up for something that interests you. I’m packing lots of technique/information in 3 short hours so it will definitely well worth the money spent.

Here’s a peek at my classes:

Tuesday, July 31st — The Pitch, The Project, The Paycheck (it says contract on the AU workshop page, but since I’m not an attorney, I won’t be talking about any legalities). This is a lecture-style class with handouts on how to approach editors to get your work published. It’s a complete “how to” from coming up with an idea, to querying the editor to follow through. I will also be handing out some extras like a sample press release, a non-disclosure agreement should you ever need one, a sample invoice, etc.

Wednesday, Aug. 1st — 1 Mold, 3 Mediums. I’ll be teaching how to cast found objects in molding putty and then how to make cast objects using resin clay, paper clay and ICE Resin. Also, various surface treatments to bring your cast pieces to life. This class is based on a Workshop article I wrote for Cloth, Paper, Scissors magazine in their January 2012 issue.

Lastly, on Sunday, Aug 5th — Filigree and Fiber Bracelet where we’ll be putting together a really lovely cuff. I will be teaching some basic metalsmithing techniques, such a cutting and stamping metal and wirewapping beads. This project is something that students can easily translate into pieces for their Etsy stores or craft fairs, as the project is one that’s very desirable to many mixed-media jewelry collectors.

Because its AU’s 10-year anniversary, Linda is offering a 10% discount on workshops if you sign up before March 15th. Also, I don’t know how many of you have been to AU before, but she puts on an all day Shopping Extravaganza on Saturday that’s just the bomb. Not only do the teachers vend, but many of the attendees are mixed-media artists and store owners who bring mini-stores to the event. People always ask me where I get many of my found object treasures that I use in my collages/assemblages/jewelry and usually, my response is Art Unraveled!

Registration is open now. Hop on over and take a drool at all the offerings from many of the top mixed-media artists in the country today.

Registration begins for CREATE

Registration opened yesterday for CREATE Art Retreat in Orange County, California. The event is put on by Cloth, Paper, Scissors magazine, and I’m so thrilled to teach again at the retreat. I have three classes this summer, and I’ve put a lot of effort into coming up with projects that are jam-packed with techniques.

The first class I’m teaching Wednesday, May 30th is a 6-hour class called “Mermaid Dreams,” where we’ll be having fun with resin clay, paints, fibers, wirework and resin. I’ve been exploring resin clay ever since I first heard my friend Kerin Gale talking about it. She wrote a really amazing book on the subject called Inspired Remnants, Curious Dreams. I began experimenting with the product and just find it amazing to work with. The reason I get so excited about resin clay is because it’s an epoxy clay that air cures. Let me put that in caps it’s so exciting. AIR CURES.

Over the years, I’ve experimented with all brands of polymer clay for beads and pendants. I’ve done paper mache sculpture, paper clay embellishments for my collage and assemblage, molding clay, clay that you fire in a kiln and glaze for color, etc. The fact that I can take resin clay, work with it and then just leave alone to cure and have it harden to where it’s virtually indestructible is creatively mind-boggling. Of course working with resin clay after working so closely with ICE Resin is another reason it struck a nerve. Epoxy in its many forms as an art medium is phenomenal.

Oops, rambled some there. Anyhoo….”Mermaid Dreams” is going to be oodles of fun with lots of great technique for making your own cast embellishments. Students are encouraged to make the project their own by changing colors, casting a different pendant (I’ll have a number of found objects there to choose from) and even sizing the necklace to their tastes. I guarantee that once you learn how fun making molds and casting your own objects is, the technique will become a staple in your art toolbox.

To keep this from becoming too long and even more rambly, I’m going to end today’s post with this note: Come back Monday for pics and a little more background on my other two classes.

For now, head on over the CREATE website and check out all the amazing art that is being offered. Oh my goodness, there are 91 workshops taught by 29 instructors. How does one choose?

Tied up with Bling

Have you had a chance to peruse the first annual Cloth, Paper, Scissors Gifts issue yet? I know there are so many choices for magazines these days, but Jenn Mason, CPS editor, did the most amazing job producing artwork and ideas for this special issue.

 
I was checking my email the other day and a note from Jenn came through to remind people about the Gifts issue. The advertisement included the photo of the stack of artwork above. The bottom square photo references my article "Brown Paper Packages Tied up with Bling."

I used non-traditional open backed bezels and ICE Resin® to create my package bling. I thought you can make these for Christmas, Mother's Day, Valentine's Day, or even just create a few and put aside for birthday presents for girlfriends.

I also turned this project into a class that I'll be teaching next summer at Art and Soul New Orleans. If you happen to live nearby or want to come learn some amazing techniques from today's top instructors, check out Art and Soul's offerings.

I know the holidays are less than 3 weeks away. Still plenty of time to make some package bling of your own. And if not my project, then check out the talented artists and ideas that are jam-packed in the CPS Gifts issue. Interweave is even offering a $5 off coupon starting Dec. 9th.