Reuse Repurpose or Recreate- My Approach to Art Supplies

Stamps, papers, inks, sprays, texture materials, rub-on's and of course, PAINTS! They've all been occupying my mind and my table, chairs, and now floor for a week now. It's all because of the class I'm taking, The She Art Workshop. I love how Christy Tomlinson talks us through what she's using as she creates her pieces and because of her background in the papercrafting industry she has a ton of insider's knowledge of how to use all those intriguing art supplies we see.

I know lately I've heard a lot of talk about how artists should be making all their own supplies and tools, or risk infringing on other artists' work. There are collage artists who refuse to use those gorgeous patterned papers because someone else designed those papers. Many of the mixed media sites are touting the coolness of carving your own stamps, making your own transfers vs. using the oh so cool rub-on's, creating your own patterned papers and cloth. And  I LOVE those articles. I have a secret love for creating my own stamps, I adore using scraps from old prints, and think the transfer thing is about the coolest thing ever. BUT I also feel like eschewing the supplies and materials that are created for our use is just kind of dumb. Personally I love the  gorgeous papers, the fabulous printed fabrics, the super cool rub-on's, the amazingly detailed stamps. Truly the only thing stopping me from acquiring as many as possible is the cost and space limitations I have.

So when tempted with some fabulous new supply or tool I ask myself a few questions...
1) Do I have it already or do I have something that's similar that can be substituted? Use what you got should be everyone's first mantra.
2) Would it take up a disproportionate amount of space? Is it easily stored?  I dream of the Vagabond by Tim Holtz, the Yudu screen printing machine, as well as a new sewing machine but I have no room.
3) Could I make something that does the same sort of thing? I really do love making my own texture stamps.
4) Is it really necessary? I love the cool acrylic wheel that you can stick your clear acrylic borders to so you can just roll them on. BUT to get the same end result I just have to stamp a couple more times with the block.

I will buy canvases, I will buy paints and tools and funky cool new ink pens. I LOVE the doilies mixed media kit I ordered from Christy's fabulous online shop. But I will also reuse, repurpose, and reconstruct as much as possible. How about you? Do you have a sweet tip for recreating your fave but off limit art supplies? What do you think about using artist designed tools and supplies in your work? I'd love to know what you think!

Figuratively Speaking...

I'd forgotten how much I love working with the human figure and then this week it all came flooding back. Funny how you take a turn in life or in art and in do so leave behind part of yourself for a while. It's not a bad thing, just a turn you're taking. When another turn takes you back to that forgotten or set aside part of yourself it's such a wonderful feeling of homecoming. I've taken a number of figure drawing classes over the years and enjoyed each and every one of them. But when they're done I tend to be done and I leave the figure behind. Because of the She Art Workshop I'm taking online I've returned to the human figure and I'm enjoying it so much.

What I love is the way our body movements and gestures can convey a super clear message without words. You've probably all seen the Willow Tree figures that are hugely popular, she doesn't draw faces she just shows figures in different positions and those positions tell a story. I know the no faces thing bothers some people but I think just as many of us like them blank. I like it because then you really do notice the figure and how it's positioned, and because then I can sort of insert my own idea of what that person looks like. Suddenly the sculpture becomes much more personal because I've injected my own vision into it. I hope this makes sense.

It's also been super fun to see all the different she girls that all the class participants are making. You can see them too by checking out the official She Art Workshop flickr group here. And here are a peek at my next two girls. I haven't added text to any of them yet, other then a "faith" stamp I added to the backgrounds. It's really been a fun week, and I can't wait for the next two. A couple of people have mentioned that Christy plans on offering this class again in April. If so, I would highly recommend it. It's SO much fun. I'll be back soon with more sneak peeks. Thanks!

Girls, Girls, Girls!

Girl in progress...

It's girls, girls, girls here. I've been taking Christy Tomlinson's She Art Workshop and loving it. I registered for it because a couple of friends were going to take it and I thought it might be fun to play with my mixed media supplies again. As the workshop approached I got more and more excited and when it debuted on Monday I swear I was all aquiver with excitement. It's just so much fun to have something special to look forward to even if that something special is just some classes online.

Pitt artist pens by F.C.

I started to watch the first week's videos as soon as they were posted on Mon. morning. I got through about four then. All about supplies, super cool things to do with supplies, how to layer to make fabulous textured backgrounds.... so so so much fun. I went to Dick Blick the next day and spent all my allowance for the month. But I got the coolest things... my favorites being the Faber Castell PITT artist pens. They come in three different tips, I like using the brush tip best. What is so darn cool about these pens is that they're india ink pens. Super vibrant and they worked like a dream. They go on looking like any kind of marker but if you're using them on a hard glossy surface, or on a sealed surface like I was, then you can rub that sharp line to create a soft shading effect. I used them to do the shading around my girl's face and in her hair. You can see how soft they are. I tried to do the same thing on regular paper and they just looked like marker again. I would never have given them a second glance in the stores. But Christy raved about them and demonstrated how super cool they were so I got a few. LOVE! So I'm glad to have taken the class just for that little discovery. But I'm also glad because I've never tried doing girls before and really enjoyed the paper doll aspect of them. My first girl is a Prayer Girl. She has her Bible and is waiting on the Lord. I've got another girl who's praising and then two more canvases being prepped. Definitely girls, girls, girls around here. :) I'll keep you updated. ;)

Just about done....

Sign Me Up

I don't know if I've actually mentioned it but I've been taking the Soul Restorations online class taught by Melody Ross. I registered for it just a day before registration actually closed, it was a total last minute decision that was the result of a dream I had (in the dream I'd missed registration and really really regretted it). I knew I wouldn't be able to start until it was already a couple of weeks in, but I decided I needed a reason to take some time to refuel. So I purchased the class as a tool to motivate me to refocus my attention inward for a while. It's worked great. There are fabulous videos, a super fun curriculum, and I love the projects I've done as a part of the class. It's also focused my journaling which has really helped me get in touch with how I feel about life right now, my art, my goals, and has helped me figure out what I'm really willing to put my energy into.
I would highly recommend it. People I know will just randomly come to mind as I work through a lesson and I'll think "if only they knew this", or "if only they could experience this". It just really hits home in a lot of ways.

Soul Restorations is the second online course I've taken. The first was Kelly Rae Roberts' Flying Lessons which is another I really enjoyed and felt was well worth my time and money. I know many of you are constantly taking online courses but it's something I just didn't know much about and felt pretty trepiditious about. But after these two experiences I'm excited to keep going. Then a friend mentioned a class that begins at the end of the month that she and another friend had signed up for. It's called The She Art Workshop by Christy Tomlinson. I had never heard of her or the class but jumped onto her website to take a look and fell in love- hard- with Christy's art. So whereas the first class I took was fabulous for it's information about the business of art, the second class is great because of how it's refocused me, this third one just looks like fun. So I think I'll do this too.

I was hoping that a few of you had some killer courses you'd like to recommend as well. It's fun to find out what's out there. I also know of something super cool that's just debuting that will act as a clearing house of sorts for all the fun e-courses out there. To quote , "The FEEL GOOD DEAL OF THE DAY arrives in your inbox each weekday morning, alerting you to sweet savings on creative, artistic, soul-stirring, spirit-lifting products and programs. Created and delivered with love by [Liv Lane of] ChoosingBeauty.com." So check it out, and if you have anything to cue us in on, please leave a comment!