As promised....

So here are some photos of what I've been working on lately. Lots of gesso, printed papers, and markers. I feel like I've somehow gotten a little better at composition--it used to be really hard for me to work around one or two elements without drawing away from them. I don't really know how I've been able to improve on that; I haven't taken a class in god-knows-how-long, other than "color," maybe it's just been looking at the work of so many others all the time. I don't know. Anyhow, enjoy the new pics, there are a bunch more on my flickr page.

Symbolizing

Well, folks, it's been awhile. Since June 18th. Sorry about that! I thought I'd update my art blog a little bit, since I had a great time sharing some artsy-craftsy fun with the ladies at the Mission Peak Women's Campout this past weekend. I had decided to bring up a bunch of supplies to donate/share, partly because I wanted to use them myself and also because I know that outside, in the woods, where there are no jobs/husbands/kids/etc., people are more likely to take time out to indulge in some creativity. Oh, and we did! I had just received my second "cut book" from Anahata Katkin, Spare Parts, vol. 2, so I was totally excited to use her incredible images, as well as find some inspiration from the images of her own personal work. And really, it was so neat to be with women who were creating, to just allow ourselves to let go of that inner critic voice and just have fun with paints and stamps and paper.

I'll post pictures of the two pieces I did while I was there, I haven't photographed them yet. Besides those two, I also worked a bit in my journal and played with my markers and Caran d'ache Neocolor watercolor crayons. I've been really into Anahata Katkin's work lately, looking at her photo sets from the Symbolic Icons workshop (oh, how I wish I could have afforded to go!) and thinking about my own symbolic alphabet--what icons, colors, patterns, compositions, do I use often? My friend Keri, from school, also picked up a little supply box by Joseph Cornell, which contained a little book of ideas and inspiration, papers, and clip art by him. Very cool. One of the exercises in his book is to write a list of words which are, basically, important to you, and try to match them up with images. For example, "freedom" could be portrayed by a bird, "metamorphosis" with a butterfly, etc. All of that fits in very well with Anahata's ideas of symbolic alphabets. I'll post pics when I actually finish something!

Artists

I've been looking at the Marie Antoinette project, a collaboration by Lisa Kaus, Pam Garrison, Anahata Katkin, Lynne Perrella, Teesha Moore and many others, and wondering, how does one "get in"? I've been following Lynne Perrella and Teesha Moore's work for years, how would I get to collaborate with them? Hmmm...I get the feeling that I would have to get my stuff published, or attend ArtFest for a couple of years to be able to do that. I'm trying to put myself and my art out into the world and see how its received, but it's tough when no one in my immediate proximity (that I know of, anyway) is experienced in this sort of work.

I think I'm drawn to artists like these because their art isn't "elitist"--it's not meant to be confusing or only to be understood by a select few people who have studied art history extensively. I have an instructor who tells our class that she uses "relational" media, yet never offered to explain that to us. She's been our instructor since January and I still have no idea what kind of art she does, even though she refers to "her work" all the time. It seems very "holier than thou" to me, but maybe that is just my own perception. I understand wanting to use the creative process as emotional one, but I also want to include the general public in art that I share with others--I want people to "get it", and I try to make sure I can speak to my observers.

And, on that note, here are some flickr favorites of mine!

Creative risks

At this particular moment, I should really be working on one of my various essays or papers for school, reading some school-assigned book, or trying to find three photographs which I feel represent my "self." But I thought I'd write a bit here first, since it's been a little while since I've posted an update.

I downloaded a bunch of podcasts on art and other crafts, and listened to a couple today. WOW!! I loved Alan Lastufka's words of wisdom on creating your own media, and of course Kathy Cano Murillo's CraftyChica podcast. The episode I listened to today was interview with Jennifer Perkins of NaughtySecretary.com, DIY Network's Craft Lab and Stylelicious. I'm really starting to realize how important it is to just get my stuff out there, in whatever way I can. I know that not too many people read this blog, but I know that if I stop writing it, no one is going to read it! Plus, it's kind of fun to track my progress and experiments in art. And if nothing else, I hope that I can help support other artists by providing links and referrals to other sites.

But the other thing I was thinking about was really trying to put together a zine. I've toyed with the idea for a couple of years now; even collected some submissions for a "how-to" zine, just never, er, put it together. I don't really want it to just be mine, I would want it to be a collaboration between artists. I have an "art-ish" project due for school at the end of summer, I was thinking of asking people in my class to each contribute, and then I'd make copies of the whole booklet for everyone. But we have so much work already, I would feel bad asking them all to produce yet another piece just for me. Eh. Maybe I'll throw it out there and see what happens.

On what I've been up to

It seems that when I start to sell art, I start to create based on what will sell, not what I consider to be my artistic truth. Then I realize what I'm doing and feel awful, and start expressing myself "naturally" again, therefore stopping any "production for sale" process. UGH! So many other artists seem to have found a very comfortable balance between personal and business art, and I'm having a tough time of it. I guess the solution would be to just keep on working on what I've started, and be patient. I don't want to make things that look machine-made or mass-produced, but I'd also like to get my stuff out there. I need to keep taking creative risks, and use what "works" in what I sell, right?

Other than that, I'm loving my brand new copy of Somerset Life, which, ironically enough, features an article on creative blogging, interviewing Corey Amaro, Michelle Ward, and Hanne Matthiesen. Also, Amanda Belle Nolan has written a fabulous article on paper cone gift wrapping and display--have I mentioned that I have 3 or 4 of those lying around? Anyway. Check it out, I picked up a copy at Barnes and Noble.

New stuff is UP!!

New MOO cards!!!
Originally uploaded by alexn614.

Well, some divine power must have been reading my post yesterday, because guess what came in the mail? Yes, my new glass! So definately check out the new pendants in my store (you can click on the "etsy" icon to the right), and keep checking, I'm putting new ones up every day!

And if you order a pendant from me, you get one of my new Moo cards!

Suddenly busy

Whew! I'm so excited-- my art is going to be sold in a FABULOUS store called Thistle in Palo Alto. Apparently the store owner met my mom last weekend at the Gamble Gardens show, and wanted me to bring in some more pendants, cards, tags, trinkets, etc. I went in yesterday and WOW! They have incredible stuff. Very cottage/shabby chic, kitschy, vintage, and a huge selection. I saw notebooks and candles from Anna Corba, great stationary, pretty aprons, even 5-inch glitter letters, sold individually. I'm so thrilled that they actually like my artwork!

And of course, I've been making stuff. Tags, mostly, while I'm waiting for a new shipment of glass pieces to make pendants out of.

Hooray!

On Thursday night, my mom told me that she had a booth at the Gamble Gardens California Creative event, which would be held Friday and Saturday. She was selling her fantastic California landscape oil paintings, and offered to take some of my glass pendants as well. I had school all weekend, but said "Sure!"

I really didn't expect to sell much, but apparently, I did pretty well! I sold11 of them! This is one of the first times I have tried to sell to the general public, and I am very happily surprised to have done so well. I was completely unprepared, didn't have any business cards, no artist bio, etc. So, I decided to give Mom what was left of my MOO cards and a bunch of my ATC's--hey, at least they have my contact info on the back! According to Mom, people loved the artist trading cards.

1001 Journals

Have you ever heard of 1001 Journals? I've never participated in any of the traveling journals on that site, but I've done many similar ones with other members of Nervousness.org. Anyway, the 1001 Journals site has a call for submissions, which will be published in a collaborative book. How cool would that be to get some of my stuff published? I need to take some better pictures of some of the pages. I wish I had one of those really nice cameras so I could take more "pro" pictures, but my little Canon Powershot works fine. One Nervousness member had a call for journal pics a couple of years ago, she was going to publish them all in a journalling zine. I sent a bunch in, but never heard anything about the final result. Bummer. I thought that was a cool idea.

Anyway, I'll post here with my submissions. Cross your fingers!

So many projects...

I seem to get stuck in my projects...I look at gallery upon gallery of handmade things that I love, and I feel so inspired by them. But then I sit down to make something and...nothing. Even when I look around my workspace and see supplies I can't wait to use, I can't get it together. Or I'll grit my teeth and try to work through it and sometimes it works, other times I just make a big mess and nothing comes out of it. I was looking on Anhata Katkin's website, and found her very helpful page on Creative Resistance and how to work through it. Definately worth a try. I'll let you know how it goes.

I have been making art, though. Yesterday I went to Joann's and bought just a 1/2 yard of these fabrics:
Aren't they pretty? No real idea what I plan to do with them, but they're still cool. :) Other than that, I'm working slooooowly on a flag banner, which is currently unassembled. I'm making on triangle at a time, trying not to worry too much about colors matching and whatnot.

Flickr Faves of the Week

1. Whimsy Birdhouse, 2. Beautiful vintage finds........., 3. I am dreaming of a Shabby chic Christmas..........., 4. Closer view of the "Our Home" book........, 5. Entry into Dariannes baby book........., 6. Acrylic Paint caddy......, 7. My finds this weekend........., 8. Fairy Dress Form assemblage......, 9. basket of vintage goodness..., 10. Share your own spark#98, 11. molto affettuoso, 12. Nature's pink, 13. LOOK CLOSELY necklaces, 14. L- garland mama made me, 15. sea nymph, 16. My mom made this!!, 17. altered photo/painting/collage for a special lil girl!, 18. Front Cover~ Grandma Brag Book I made for my mom today, 19. Untitled, 20. Paperback Book Cover, 21. 3rd month collage, 22. My latest shabby chic commission, 23. Judys Shabby Rose Garden, 24. Ancient, 25. Linda I's deck

As promised...more ATC's!

Here are three more...and I'm still working on them!

I'm also doing a lot with paint, gesso, matte medium, tissue paper, print, and modeling paste. It's the ongoing Box project for school, which I will post pics of as it comes along.

What I've been up to

I've been doing a lot of work in my Dream Home journal, which basically involves cut-and-pasting pictures from magazines. I try to use lots of different sources so that I can really piece it all together. I try to avoid making everything look uniform, you know? Anyway, I need to take more pictures of it, I've been working on all the pages at a time. It's easier for me to do that rather than to finish one spread completely, then start on the next.
I've also been working on my lexicon and box for school, which is due on Saturday, and a journal cover for my mom for Mother's Day.

Other than that, I've been spending way too much time on Flickr looking at pretty pictures. Here are some of my (many) recent favorites:


1. "Swan", 2. ATC - This Sky, This Night, 3. walk_on_water_ACEO, 4. Valentie ATC's, 5. Soldered Art-front, 6. miss, 7. 'Bella Rose' Vintage Wedding Cuff Bracelet, 8. miracle detail, 9. ArtFest Journal, 10. Untitled, 11. in progess, 12. very merrily collage, 13. 3rd month collage - detail, 14. star booklet (front), 15. altered library card- Dedication to Sojourner Truth, 16. its a vicious cycle, 17. dream, 18. Love Song, 19. honeycomb book detail, 20. Intime221L:R#130, 21. Intime221L:R#002, 22. day 9: "play" collage, 23. Grow, 24. Nesting, 25. Journal page front, 26. Lt. Blue, 27. Pink ATC, 28. ladies art group, 29. little mollie and czerny, 30. A little package going out today...., 31. Envelope for Carries Book, 32. Shabby bench on my back porch, 33. Its all in the details........, 34. OOOH la la Paris!, 35. cover of my altered vintage book....., 36. Love's little instruction book........