Tagged: Collage

May 29

Strathmore Visual Journals

Strathmore is introducing a new product which will be released in stores June 1, a line of Visual Journals designed for those of us who love to paint, draw, journal, collage, and otherwise freely express ourselves in journal form. These spiral bound journals are available in 3 sizes and 6 paper selections, so we finicky art journalers can chose the right size and paper for our favorite medium. I received a box with a variety of the sizes and papers this month, and look forward to giving each of them a try. Thank you, Strathmore, for including one of my pages as an example of visual journaling at your trade show, and for the generous box of inspiration. My favorite to touch is the 140lb. watercolor paper. Its thickness and texture are inviting me to express myself in collage and paint. I can already envision the messy hands and joyous heart. My plans are to visually express the goals & visions that come from diving into Lisa Sonora Beam’s book, The Creative Entrepreneur: A DIY Visual Guidebook for Making Business Ideas Real. I’ll be sure to share the pages that come from the union of this book, my mind, and the visual journal.  Pam Carriker will also be sharing a series of instructional videos using these journals. Can’t wait until these are available!

When I ordered The Creative Entrepreneur, I also ordered another book that grabbed my interest while I was Christmas shopping last winter, Art Journals and Creative Healing: Restoring the Spirit Through Self-Expression by Sharon Soneff.This book goes hand in hand with the monthly classes I teach at Veronica’s Voice. I look forward to the postal carrier delivering these books to my door, so that I can absorb all they have to teach me.

Speaking of teaching, I am planning summer soldering and art journaling classes.The planning phase of teaching classes stirs all sorts of creative juices within my soul. I often think that I learn more by planning than I am ever able to teach. My all time favorite phase of putting classes together would be the hands-on instruction. Each class is so unique depending upon the personalities and collective groove of the students. Dates will be announced very soon! All classes will be taught from my home in the Kansas City area.

amanda ∞

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Posted in Art, Art Journal

Mar 06

Graffiti

Yesterday at Veronica’s Voice, we created a graffiti art, first layering words from local newspapers.

Then using spray paint, the image of the woman with raised hands was added using a stencil pattern I cut the night before.

Color was added to the pages using Portfolio Oil Pastels. The collage was then sealed with gel medium. Didn’t they turn out great? I love all the color and the layering of the words, each telling a story known only to the artist.

amanda ∞

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Posted in Art, Inspiring, VERONICA's Voice

Sep 04

Art Journal Morphing

First Fridays at VERONICA’s Voice are so much fun. The art journaling class has morphed into a general art class due to necessity. I found it difficult to explore new art journaling techniques when so many times the women in class did not have their journals or had not begun one yet. Many times the class was about making a new journal or altered book which did not develop past the cover. There were a faithful few who brought their altered books to add more to their pages, but overall I began to lose enthusiasm. So today we tried something new.

The assignment was to choose an image from a magazine, any image that spoke to them, and glue it on a piece of cardstock. After adding a bit of gesso, I had them add words, words about their day, their feelings, or why this image spoke to them. Then the layers with creamy Portfolio pastels were added. Some were very satisfied at that point while others journeyed on with layers of paints. My favorite part was listening to the stories behind the finished collages. One spoke of her mother, another of her new life, another of her freedom, beautiful stories, eyes lit up with sharing.







So my sweet artist friends, if you have ideas to share for this art class, please leave comments. I need projects that will work as a one-time class with limited supplies, since the audience is different from month to month. Have you experienced a project or taught a class that would work well in this setting? Art = community.

amanda ∞

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Posted in Altered Art, Art, Relationships, VERONICA's Voice

Mar 06

Harvest

This last piece for the Summit is entitled Harvest. The face is of a child, so I added imagery from children’s books and encyclopedias. The clock was stamped by my mother-in-law when she was a child. The verses featured were:

John 4:35-36  Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.  (36)  And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.

The wheat is from my grandfather’s field the year that he died, and the dirt is from my back yard. Our basset-lab was kind enough to dig a fresh hole for me. The sides are cut from an old farm journal.

While I was gluing everything down with gel medium, I was reminded of the 4th grade. Being bored in class, I had spread glue on the palms of my hands and was peeling off the dried glue when the teacher noticed. She thought that was the strangest thing I could be doing. I thought it was cool how the glue came off in sheets and I could still see the lines and wrinkles from my hands. And here I was again peeling glue off my fingers after having such a wonderful time spreading it all over this final piece. Maybe I am strange, but glue makes me happy.






amanda ∞

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Posted in Altered Art, Art, God's Word, God's leading, Prayer, Worship

Mar 05

Providence

The focus verse that was used for this year’s Summit is Esther 4:14b.

Esther 4:14b  and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?

In the last couple months, our pastor taught through the book of Esther. Wow. I loved learning and applying what was being taught. In Esther, God’s name is never mentioned. God is represented by Providence. Esther was created to be queen to save the children of Israel from annihilation.

During the teaching on Esther, the topic of providence and purpose in each of our lives was heavily implied. This can be a difficult topic for me when I am in the throws of depression from Seasonal Affective Disorder, but knowing the truth, that God has a purpose even for me while I am dealing with depression, helps me to find joy within my winter days.

And here is step by step, Providence:






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Posted in Altered Art, Art, God's Word, God's leading, Prayer, Worship

Mar 04

Purpose

Our church puts on an annual event focusing on missions called the Summit. This year I was asked to submit some art to support the theme, The New Missionary. As I worked through each piece, I felt prompted on each step through dreams, prayer, words, thoughts (with exclamation points). I was guided by the Spirit through the process of each piece.

Here’s the first one which I entitled Purpose, the focus of this one being God’s purpose for each individual. I enjoy seeing the process behind other’s art, so I thought I’d share the steps with you:






amanda ∞

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Posted in Altered Art, Art, God's Word, God's leading, Prayer, Worship

Feb 03

Up for air

Glimpses of my projects:

I’m almost finished with my latest project. Seems to me the hardest part is knowing when each piece is really finished. I’ll be sure to post full pictures after the church receives them.

And another thank you for a dear friend:

A great experience for me has been learning to juggle homeschooling and project deadlines. While my Latin has suffered, my students are still on track and I will have everything done on schedule. I thought that accomplishing art on a larger scale would have to wait until my students graduated, but am finding that it is possible to do both. And knowing that just fills my head with larger dreams.

amanda ∞

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Posted in Altered Art, Art, Homeschooling

Jan 20

Shift -ed

Towards the end of 2008, I felt anticipation, intuitively knowing that something was about to change. I found myself making concrete goals, taking affirmative action, becoming that artist I’ve been telling myself I am. My journal pages reflected this.

I do owe much of it to this book:

Taking Flight by Kelly Rae Roberts

Taking Flight by Kelly Rae Roberts

But something pushed me, prompted me to purchase the book. I have so many on my wish list. How did this one make it to my home? And I’ve only made it through the first chapter.

This book, the first chapter of this book, widely opened a door that had only been cracked just enough to peek through. Fear had been holding me back from opening the door, fear of rejection, of failure, of depression, of becoming overwhelmed, that I might find out I’m not really an artist after all. And what did I find on the other side of the door? Why my art studio and myself.

One of my favorite movies is Strictly Ballroom. I’m not sure if it is the ludicrous dress and hair, the animated characters, or the underlying theme of the movie that made me fall in love with it. I’ve adopted its motto:  “A Life Lived in Fear Is a Life Half Lived.” And it’s Biblical…

2 Timothy 1:7  For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

After Christmas, the shift occurred. I have been Creative Every Day in an very active way, more so than ever before. Out of the blue I’ve received several requests for specific artwork or jewelry. I have a list of items I am working on and through. And when I get these projects done, there is more, so much more.

I am very excited about a specific project of which I’ll show you a glimpse:

There will be three 16×20 collage pieces in this series which I’m making for our church. I’ve decided to wait to reveal them until they are done and show more of a step by step process. Also I want the church to be the first to see the finished project.

So now I have a new dilemma. Between homeschooling, cooking, and working in my studio, blogging has taken a back seat. But I’m not too concerned. I’m sure with the ebb and flow of life that I will find my way back here more regularly. Until then, picture me with messy hair, a far-away look in my eyes, paint on my fingers, and passion in my heart.

amanda ∞

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Posted in Altered Art, Art, Art Every Day, Art Journal, Balance, Blogging, Challenge, God's Word, God's leading, Hidden Art, Homeschooling, Liberty

Dec 25

Merry Christmas

amanda ∞

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Posted in Altered Art, Art, God's Word, Hidden Art, Worship

May 06

Son of a gun

My dad’s birthday is next week. I’m hoping he doesn’t read my blog before then because this is his gift. The photo is him as a boy. I collaged a 1940 Hunting and Fishing magazine ad page onto an old dictionary cover, 6.25″ X 8.75″. The silver strips are soldered. I was a little nervous that I would burn up the paper with the solder iron, but it worked great. The finishing touch will be adding wire on the back to hang it.

This piece also fits into the Mixed Media Monday theme of Paint, since I painted the paper and around the photo using acrylics.

amanda ∞

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Posted in Altered Art, Art, Relationships

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