Museum of Paper

Artsy Mama and Getting Art Bloggers Known

I was wandering around from some incoming links I'm getting in the Case Notes from the Artsy Asylum blog (who are all these people I don't know but am SO flattered to be mentioned by?)

Anyhow I clicked on a comment on Nancy Baumiller's Art Blog and in turn stumbled across something truly amazing,  ArtsyMama uses three shades of green on her layout and I LIKE it.

Money for YOU Means Money for Them

The Bank of International Art Money has been joined by an African artist.

Otto Mlanda from Tanzania creates his fascinating art money from banana leaves collected during his stay as a tour guide in the African bush.

If the Bank of International Art money is successful in selling the Otto Mlanda collection quickly, BIAM can transfer the money to his fathers account before Otto he returns from his present bush tour.

Then this 24 year old will be able to open his own bank account for the first time, and enjoy the sudden financial freedom as the first art money artist of the third world.

It is the sincere hope of all of us at the Artsy Asylum and in the community of Art Money Artists that art money can help artists in the Third World access the same purchasing ability as citizens of the industrial countries. Let this first African artist be an example for others.

You can find Otto Mlanda’s art money here

If you're interested in creating your own line of Art Money, stay tuned and look for the Topic: Art Money BIAM

The Museum Walls are Exploding

New Look

As you've seen in the graphic at the top of the blog, there seems to have been a population explosion.

We're building community with lots of room for varied interests and multiple skill levels and this is just one step on the way.

The Searchlight is On

We welcome other artists and writers who would like to contribute to what's happening in the Museum. Email us and let us know you'd like to share with us - OR just that you'd like participate. We have a long list of ideas for you to take on!

The New Kid

Today artist Darcy Altaville joins us as a guest author. You can meet Darcy via her first blog entry at  this link. She hopes many readers jump into the discussion about her topic: Altered Art.  I promise surprises and even rewards for those who take part.

Please drop by and chat with her by way of the comments area below her post. And look forward to more from Darcy. It's bound to be lots of fun!

To see Darcy's work, be sure to pop into Blue Jude Studio and the All NEW Blue Jude Studio Shop.

BlueJude In An Altered World

It seems every time I turn around there is something new being "altered" in the art world. This is a movement that seems to be snowballing at a very rapid pace. We can alter just about anything and everything and call it "art". But is it really?

There are altered playing cards, Cds, books, photographs, shoes, purses, skirts, and even bras!

I did this at the ripe old age of eleven when I stuffed mine. It certainly was altered though maybe not a work of art

Then there's furniture

Yup, done that too with my old dining room table when I realized there were no funds to buy a new one - and well, with three kids why bother? It is a lovely shade of green now, with painted designs and decoupage. Very Tracy Porter-ish.

And let's not forget altered dolls.

I think as little girls we all experimented with that one. And I bet we all thought that our creations were lovely after we lopped off their hair and painted their faces.

I have also altered jeans and jackets, we all did - back in the day when I went to the High School of Art and Design. We would embroider them with band names, quotes, designs and the like. And we "altered" the bathroom walls with our paintings.

What can I say? Most NYC schools have graffiti in the loo, we were a bit more elite and creative, or so we thought. - Until we got caught and sent to the dean's office
...... read on ....

Is this Really a Pink Easter Bunny?

What is it? Could it really be a bunny constructed on what looks like a hillside? How did I miss it?  And is it art? 

Here's what the public statement says:

Title:  Rabbit

Artist: gelatin

Year: 2005-2025 (the Rabbit will stay at its place for the next 20 years)

Location: on a Mountain Hill (Colletto Fava, 1600m) close to Bar La Baita above the Village of Artesina, Piemonte, Italy

What a process this had to be to put together. And good thing these people work as a group!

Most of the time when my son who's working in Europe goes to Italy it's to snow-board - other than to drool over auto factories.  I'm betting that I won't be able to talk him into going to check this out for me instead of doing some late spring skiing..

Artist Gets Athletic – A Step Along Life’s Path

An exclusive from guest writer Melody M. Nuñez

It’s amazing how one random idea can make such a drastic change in your life

. . . and I'm a perfect example of that.  Last year I was going about my normal life - work, lots of art, very little exercise, and minimal community involvement.

Then I received a mailer from Team In Training, a fundraising branch of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

Team In Training trains individuals for endurance events like triathlons, century rides (100 mile bike rides), and marathons, and those individuals raise funds for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. 
 

1. The mailer intrigued me.

2. I contemplated possibilities.

3. Enter random idea.

According to the mailer, one of the events that I could participate in was the Honolulu Marathon. 

I could walk a marathon, help in the battle against blood cancers, AND walk my marathon in beautiful Hawaii?! 

It was a win-win-win situation for me.

•  I needed to become more physically active.
•  I love to help others.
•  I love to travel.

I found myself at an information meeting last July, and though the prospect of making it all 26.2 miles on race day seemed daunting, as did the $4300 I had to raise to participate in the event, I took the leap and signed up.

Nearly overnight my main focus changed. 

Instead of creating art and sleeping in whenever I could, I was learning about gear, nutrition, hydration, and was getting up at the crack of dawn six days a week to train.  I walked over 500 miles to prepare for the event, and had an incredible time along the way. 

Not only did I improve my own health, but I also met wonderful people, who will likely be lifelong friends. I participated in something much bigger than me, and did something - however small - to help those battling blood cancers like leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma, and Hodgkin's disease.

I ended up raising over $5000 last season, walked all 26.2 miles of the marathon, and grew so much as a person as well.

My experience with Team In Training was so profound that I decided to participate again . . . and I'd also be a Team Mentor.

My own mentor, Pat, was such an amazing resource and support during my first season that I knew I had to help others as they faced their challenges - and fears.

I also knew that my art and writing would take back seat for another five months or so, but instead of seeing it as a negative I decided I was simply "on sabbatical"!  Besides, I could sneak in a project here and there and would continue to carry my art journal around in case I had a few minutes to create or brainstorm.

So here I am, one month into the summer marathon season. 

I'm mentoring 8 people on our team of 52, and am fundraising for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society once again.  I'm also working full time and am helping with the preparations for an art retreat that'll take place in late March.

Sure, I may have bitten off a bit more than I can chew, but I'd rather be ambitious than complacent.  I'd rather stretch myself, and help others along the way, than play it safe. 

Growth, new experiences, setting goals and meeting them, laughing and loving and giving, connecting with others in kindness in this mad world - that's what it's all about, isn't it?

And on June 17, 2006 I will walk the Mayor's Midnight Sun Half Marathon in Anchorage, Alaska!

. . . and have committed to raise a minimum of $3220 for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. 

Please help me, and the Society, by making a donation today.

Not only does LLS fund incredibly important research in the quest for a cure, past research has made great strides in developing improved treatments.  LLS also educates the public and provides assistance to patients and their families.

To make a tax-deductible donation, please visit my personal LLS fundraising site at: http://www.active.com/donate/tntors/mmn

I don't know exactly what my next random and life-changing idea will be. . .but I welcome it. 

Thank you for sharing in this bit of my life's adventures, if only by reading about it, and thank you for your time and consideration.

Ooooh See the Shiny Metal - Colored Pencil Tricks

If you haven't checked out the Daniel Smith website or seen what artist and instructor Janie Gildow can do with Colored Pencils - especially creating shiny metal images - you're in for a treat.

OK - so even if you've seen this before and are seeing it again it will still be a treat!

She says:

"I love colored pencil for its richness of color and exceptional control. My favorite subjects are transparent and reflective objects and I am fascinated with the effects of shiny metal. Metal isn't created with a metallic colored pencil, instead you develop metal by using just the regular colors."

Reading the information and observing the sample drawings from Janie you'll learn about reproducing the look of various metals, the importance of accuracy when you interpret the shapes of the reflections in the metal and even the amount of contrast in the reflections.

For more of Janie's secrets and tips on drawing metal, seeing the shapes of reflections and highlights and drawing them correctly be sure to spend some time at the website linked below. And if you have samples of drawings of metal objects that you'd like to have shown here be sure to let me know.

Link: Creating Shiny Metal with Colored Pencils by Janie Gildow

Fanciful, Graceful, Nurturing, Fun: Meet Karen Weiss

click to enlarge any image

If you get to see the work of artist Karen Weiss in person you're in for a treat. Go prepared, with expectations of something beyond the everyday

Even then, and even if you're only looking at her works on canvas, I contend that you'll be able to tell right off the bat that she must clearly be a multi-media artist.

I met Karen in an online gathering of artists and when I saw her work I was entirely smitten with her line and color and lighthearted approach.

Sometimes I felt as if I might step into a scene from "Into the Woods" at any second.

Her fanciful images and fabulous strong color combinations just scream that her talents can not be confined to a flat surface.

And it's true - beyond fine art, her mural painting, photography, jewelry design, photographic note cards, prints, and jewelry have sold to an international audience.

She has painted murals for residential and commercial clients, and has painted sets for theatre and trade shows.

She works as a full time artist and mom and is currently raising two children with her lucky husband, is working on a series of paintings, all while teaching and running her art and jewelry business in Dallas Texas.

Weiss exhibits her artwork in both group and solo shows in Texas.

A solo show of Karen's paintings 
"Dreamscapes"
will run from February 2 - 27, 2006
                at
the Eisemann Center for the Arts
  2351 Performance Drive
  Richardson TX 75082

Visit Karen at  karenweiss.net.

Artist Meets Rubber Stamps : a New Media Adventure

Mai-Liis Peacock is a delightful and talented artist, designer and teacher who I met through a yahoo group connected to Holy Moly Mackeroly, a book by artist Gloria Page (also author of the new: Art Stamping Workshop).

I wasn't too surprised when the often offbeat Mai-Liis submitted an entry in an email with the subject line: Welcome Serendipity about her experience with new media.

As you can see from the images of Mai-Liis' Shrine which accompany the article, she has taken simple rubber stamps to a whole new level.

And with that introduction, here's what Mai-Liis has to say.

---

 

Several years ago, my daughter commented that she was surprised I had never checked out the rubber stamp store near where she lives.   

The last time she said this, I remembered that I had heard her make this comment many times. At the time I thought rubber stamps were for children, but to amuse her, I stopped by. 

Wow - maybe that preconception had been wrong.

I looked around, feeling a little ill at ease until my eyes caught the many samples displayed in the store. I was enthralled.

My husband had been waiting for me outside and later I told him that I wanted to teach in that store some day.

I kept my goal in sight, reached it, and surpassed it. Rubber stamping was the launching pad into other art: collage, assemblage, altered books, shrines, and art dolls.

I now follow all the interesting "threads" which present themselves to me.

For example, seeing the word "milagro" was the launching pad for my trip to Oaxaca, one of the highlights of my life.

Visit Mai-Liis at her studio

the Gallery Without Walls: Build Your Own

It was late August, and Jenny Krasner's art work was going no place fast.

Not only were no galleries interested in showing her work but she felt like nobody in Manhattan knew who she was. She vowed to move beyond the fantasy that a gallery would magically discover her.

As Jenny tells it -

The worst that could happen was nothing, and that was already happening. In September, I set up a “gallery” on 22nd Street and 10th Avenue in Chelsea. I called the exhibition On The Street and became the dealer of The Krasner Gallery.

My entire life has changed since I did this.