Put it on the wall

 a Brick background, Text in a font called In the Streets of Europe, and brushes.

Three Muses--Hello, Sailor!

not too complicated--an image (free wallpaper) and a few brushes.
...and a lotta leg!

What I did this Summer

Or--what I learned from a stack of 3 x 5 index cards

{index card from 2011 challenge year}

For the folks doing in the index-card-a-day challenge, some questions to ponder!

    Have you tried new techniques, themes, mediums, materials, palettes, pens?

               98% my art is digital—so all these techniques are new, or long unpracticed for me.

    Do you look forward to your creative time each day?

O Yes!  I snatch bits of time where I can-at the office, on the train or the bus (I’m actually drawing zentangles) and I work in the evenings and weekends while listening to TV

  Have you made a little time each day for the past two months for a bit of art?

               Not every day, but most days I do.  And I can never make only one!

   What did you change about your schedule to allow time for art?

               I stopped doing nothing in the evenings—I think the art process is as least as relaxing.

How did you feel when you skipped a day?

OK, because I was always ahead, and even if I didn’t complete something, I made a foam stamp or two, or cut words and images out of old magazines, or painted a background, so the process went on.
 

    What was it like to make an extra card?

I couldn’t not make 2 or three cards at a time—I’m up to around 85 or so, and my goal is to fill a 100 page photo book.

 

    Do you carry art materials in your backpack or purse for those little gaps in your day?

I do, at lease a small journal, a few icads and some sharpies.

 

    Have your creative ideas bloomed or faded?

               They seem to be blooming.  This project has given me a lot of confidence in my own creativity.

    Are there any techniques or cards that you would like to create in a larger format?

               I think so, I’ve been getting interested in mail art and in art journals.

    What did you learn about yourself?

That I don’t have to be afraid to show my art, and that it doesn’t need to be “good enough” for anyone but me.  And I’m learning not to be afraid to try stuff.

 

    Will you continue your theme or series?

               At least through the 100 cards, but I think I will still carry the blank cards around after that.

    Are you ready for something fresh and new?

               Yep!  Soon I’m going to unpack the little sewing machine I bought and take off in that direction.

    Do you love flipping through your cards?

   I really, really do.

    Did you underestimate the impact of this simple challenge?

Yes!  I was sure I would go on for a week or two, run out of ideas or decide it was crappy and stop.

 

    Did this inexpensive, flimsy canvas surprise you?

               Yes, not only didn’t I stop, but most of my cards are NOT crappy at all.  It’s very empowering!

    Do you adore that pile of blank cards, that stack of potential?

               No, but I like them a lot.

    Did you surprise yourself?

               Yes, over and over again!

    Did you stick to the challenge?

               I did!

    Did you have fun posting to the Flickr group or the FB group?

I posted to the Flickr group and love the comments I got, and really enjoyed seeing what others created as well.  I loved the cards made by the kids!

 

    How many cards did you complete?

               Well over 80, and I’ll go to at least 100.

Thank you, Tammy, for this amazing challenge!  I don’t know if it will continue to be life-changing, but I sure hope so!

Take word--PINK!

I don't know why "Cotton Candy" was the first thing I thought of when I read the prompt-PINK- but it was, and here it is.

image from Google, altered with Fotosketcher

SPA--Friends

I love this photo, and use it often.

some more ICADS

Well, I've passed the goal of 61 ICADS in 2 months, and am still going strong.  I have a cheapo ($1.00) 4 x 6 size album from AC Moore that has 100 slots and I'm going to fill it!

Here are some recent ones...

# 70

stamped on watercolor printed card.

I made puddles of watercolor on freezer paper and pressed the cards on top.

# 71

collage

# 72

collage

# 73

collage, foam stamps, sharpie and washi tape

# 74

 collage

some postcards--Mail Art

MAIL ART

as defined by WiseGeek.com

Mail art is artwork created specifically to travel by regular postal mail service, with the artwork often placed on either a postcard or envelope, but the medium can also include a package. A related type of contemporary art, called artistamps, is the practice of designing art in the size and shape of a postage stamp, not to replace the real stamp but to decorate an envelope alongside the real stamp. Artists who participate in mail art can create their pieces by painting, drawing, rubberstamping or printmaking. They can make a collage or employ other methods to create their artwork.

There are two different beliefs concerning when mail art was created. One camp believes the art form began with artist Marcel Duchamp, who sent off a batch of his personally created postcards in 1916.

The other camp says art mail was first conceived by another artist, Ray Johnson, in the 1950s, when he mailed his artwork, including collages. Following Ray Johnson’s mailing, an informal group of artists formed to do the same with their artworks, sending them through the mail, and they were called the New York Correspondence School of Art.

 About two decades after Ray Johnson’s first mail art was delivered by the postal service, the art form gained popularity following a Whitney Museum of American Art exhibit. Showings and mailings of mail art grew in numbers, and magazines began to write about it, further spreading the word.

 

If you want to send me your mailing address (logibbons1951@yahoo.com)  you may get one of these (or something else) in the mail!

 

Sharpies and markers

crayon and markers

homemade foam stamps on painted watercolor paper

Take a word--Memories

I couldn't resist this wonderful quote--so full of adventure and wonder and such love...

SPA--Ephemera

I chose a theme for my ephemera card--can you guess what it is?

Images from the Graphics Fairy, Dover. Trine Secher, Google and Pinterest

The original painting is La Ghirlandata, by Dante Gabriel Rosetti.  The model is Alexa Wilding, a favorite of his.

Altered to become La Ghirlandata as a child.

Summer of Color--Sage and Sepia

a difficult challenge...

 

Digital brushes, painted using Adobe Kuler palettes

Some Altered Portraits

Portrait of Alexi Bobrinsky in his ugly duckling phase.

 

 

Emperor

 (original portrait, Caterina Cornaro, queen of Cyprus)

Collage Obsession--Incongruous

SPA--Fairies of the Sea

La Princesse de la Mer

 

 

The mermaid is from a vintage French magazine cover, the fishtail wings from Seawaterwitch at deviantart, and the seabird from Google,  The background made from a Hubble telescope image and a piece by Elizabeth Golden.

 

In the style of Rodney Gates

Rodney Gates is a wonderful artist who works in collage.  His work is our inspiration for this week's Digitalmania challenge.

Still more ICADS

paper amd marker

paper, washi tape and the quote found on Pinterest

(my new and absolute FAVE place to find great quotes!)

 

 

I made these stamps with sticky back craft foam and a dry ballpoint pen--easy peasy!

  Houses stamp

Dots and dashes stamp                                                        star stamp

Some collage postcards

Been busy with the paper and gluestick.  Some of these are going out in the mail soon.

 

 

 

Collage Obsession--Clowns

a little raw on Sunday morning...

 

 

 

 

Elements and papers from Beth Rimmer

Summer of Color--Candy-apple Red and Yelow

 

Images from Google, Chick from a vintage Easter card from Flickr free to use site and hat from a free collage sheet from Annstanley.

Take a Word--Fish

the Rainbow Schools

 

 

Background texture from Elizabeth Golden, Kelp from Google and the fish are brushes.

SPA--Heartsong

What a wonderfully happy theme!

Image from Google, background from Media Militia, stamp is my own.

 

 

 

and, just in case...

 

 

My original photo, grunge layer and frame from Shadowhouse.

 



Some collage postcards

Having fun with scrapbook papers, magazine pages and Washi tape.  The scanner doesn't do them justice.

 

more ICADs

I must be a real artist ...I have a white pen!

 

yes, it's blue...

 

round pegs in square holes?

 

really, I'm not

 

It looks pink, but it's really red.