Why it's good to be a "PLAYER"

It was last minute and very impromptu, but a bit of time for PLAY was necessary and what better place than Port Townsend, WA with Teesha and Tracy Moore at their PLAY retreat (and yes, everyone who goes is called a "player"). A group of very talented artists got together, shared ideas, techniques, and creative energy. It was fantastic! Everyone had an opportunity to work on whatever projects they chose, and many of us chose to create new journals using polymer clay following some samples and demos that Tracy and Steve Salic provided to guide us along the way.

I've never really worked with polymer clay before, so I thought I'd give it a try.....here's book number one:

The Book of Dreams

The crown and the keyhole are metal embellishments that were glued and then painted, the spine is leather, and everything else is polymer clay. I used a combination of molds, stamps and some freestylin' clay manipulations. All in all, not too bad for the first try.

Then, feeling fairly confident, I figured I'd make a journal for my oldest daughter, she has trouble falling asleep, so I thought that I would make her what I call a Tranquility Journal, where she could write down her thougths and quiet her mind before bed. I based it one of my drawings called Tranquility:

Tranquility sketch

Taking a drawing a turning it into something out of polymer clay, well, let me just say it was tougher than I thought it was going to be, but here's what I ended up with:

Tranquility Journal Cover

I must say that this isn't exactly the result that I was hoping for and there are definitely a number of things that I would differently next time, but it was a good learning experience. I also think that it was good preparation for my next polymer clay experiment which will involve making eyes in preparation for the next Michael deMeng class that I'll be taking in March. Yup, that's right, Michael is going to be teaching right here in Vancouver, if you are anywhere in the vicinity you are not going to want to miss it - he is a phenomenal teacher (and artist!)...check out his website for all of the details. By the way, if anyone out there knows how to make eyes out of polymer clay, I'm in desperate need of all the tips and tricks you've got!!!!

A Confession for Day Three

Reluctantly, I have to admit I struggled a bit with this one. I looked at the original that Angi sent me, and I got nothing, no vision for what I wanted to do. I looked at the collage and wondered "What is she trying to say?" And then, as I was studying the collage, I began feeling that this woman seems worldly, not a huge stretch given all of the buildings on her head, I know, but hey at least now I had a starting point. Then I began reflecting on when the "Digital Smackdown" started:  I began with the image of a young woman at the pivotal transition in her life where she is deciding what path she'll follow to find her destiny (see Day One). The second collage is a young adult woman which inspired the fertile and nurturing Empress (Day Two). Well now, I'm thinking that this woman has "arrived", she's chosen her life path, maybe raised her family, has a wealth of experiences, knows her own mind, and while she's still looking forward to all that is yet to come, she has accomplished much and is somewhat self-satisfied. Here's what the original looked like:

Now clearly to achieve my new found vision for this piece there were going to have be some changes.The turnkey in her back - gone, this woman was in control, she can't depend on being wound up to get where she wants to go, and she gets where she's going under her own steam, so bye-bye birdie. I added some of the great landmarks of our time into her headress, representing her worldliness and accomplishment. A tiny hot air balloon hovers in the distance to remind us of her desire for future adventures. A few more additions, some more photoshop adjustments and voila:

Smackdown Day Three is done! I'm hoping that you see her as accomplished and worldly as I do, and you've enjoyed these "smackdowns" as much as I have! Thanks Angi!!!

Smackdown Day Two!

For day two of the challenge, Angi sent us this scan of her original collage. I knew in an instant what her transformation would look like:

So this is what I came up with...

I've been fascinated with the gorgeous designs featured on Tarot cards for a very long time. I just love the way every single element on the cards have a purpose, no single element is ever there by chance. With skillfull intrepretation the "reader" can divine the cards meaning and significance. So when I saw Angi's original collage, the nest, flowers, and bunnies immediately made me think of the Empress. Surrounded by the bounty of the earth and symbols of fertility, the Empress represents Matriarchal authority, the birth of new ideas, and creativity. I  placed three eggs in the nest to represent her maternal nature and also the new ideas that she is nurturing (three specifically, because the Empress is the third card of the Major Arcana in the deck). The crossed arms are added embracing the nest in a gentle, yet protective fashion. A crown, a halo, a few more layers and adjustments and ta da....The Empress.

Smackdown!

So, my good friend Angi Sullins comes to me the other day and asks if I want to take part in a "Digital Smackdown". She creates a collage the "old fashioned" way scans and sends it to a bunch of us graphic designer type geeks and we see what we can come up with by digitally altering the image. The challenge is on to create the most appealing result - and may the best guy or gal win. The rules are that there are no rules except that each design must be completed in one day, we can do whatever we want to the image as long as you can tell in the end that we did use Angi's original image as our starting point. Sounds like fun, so I'm in! Here's what happened on day one:

This is Angi's collage, the starting image for everyone in the challenge. I was really drawn to the youthful sweetness of the face and the whimsy of the hat, so here's what I came up with:

This piece I call "Destiny at the End of a Branch". The green background is infused with pastels and greenery indicative of spring and therefore the beginnings of life and youth. Our young friend here wears a whimsical hat indicative of the folly of youth and has several butterflies in their airy spirit to represent the different possibilities and paths that may yet be chosen. The body is a symbolic cage, or simply a home for the spirit or soul that takes refuge here for now; the cage is monochromatic, while the soul is full of light, life and colour. At the end of the branch is the gilded cage, where one butterfly is feeling things out. The door is still open, all things are still possible.

Between the Covers

I attended Journalfest last month because there were a couple of bookbinding workshops that I just had to take. I've been fascinated with the book making process for sometime, in particular the dimensional books with beautifully stitched exposed bindings that just beg to be examined and filled with all manner of inspired paraphernalia....but I digress. I thought I would start out by learning the basics, from some of the best in their craft. Daniel Essig, who is by all accounts what you could only call a true master craftsman, taught an enthusiastic group of artists and amateur bookbinders his technique for a smock stitched Mica covered book. This is my book here:

Corpse Mica Journal

This is one of Dan's books featured in the Smithsonian. Hey, when you really want to nail down your ideas...

Dan Essig - Book of Nails II at the Smithsonian

Then LK Ludwig taught us her unique techniques for painting journal pages and binding them together using some cording, waxed linen thread and a couple of old book covers. Her easy manner, generosity and thorough directions made the class a pleasure to attend.

Criss Cross Journal

If you ever have the opportunity to take classes from either of these two artists - I highly recommend them! Now I.m off to hit the books...

An Artful Fetish for Words

I've had a love affair with words for as long as I can remember. As a precocious youngster, I would read the dictionary for fun. (Hey, I didn’t say I was popular, just precocious). I understood all too well that the pen truly is mightier than the sword, and a word once spoken would linger and continue its impact long after it has been uttered. Words are powerful indeed and "fetish" is one of the greats - it's an attention seeking word, it has sizzle and as many exciting synonyms as you can imagine: obsession, fixation, mania. Fetish is a word with a dark side; a word perfect for the world of art!

Fetish:–noun

1. an object regarded with awe as being the embodiment or habitation of a potent spirit or as having magical potency.

2. any object, idea, etc., eliciting unquestioning reverence, respect, or devotion: to make a fetish of high grades.

3. Psychology. any object that causes a habitual response or fixation.

Yes, I confess, I have an art fetish. There's no question in my mind that every artist pours at least a little magical potency into their work and that it is meant to elicit strong feelings. That the artist aspired to create a sense of awe and wonder, and more than likely went through at least a brief period of fixation before the piece was done.

I wish to share with you some of my favourites here. The artists and the artworks that embody a potent spirit, and along the way I promise I’ll share with you my fixations and challenges in creating art that I hope will inspire others.