IT'S TIME!!!!

Thanks for shakin me up Elizabeth of Alteredbooklover.blogspot.com. 
I'm still here and have been working on various projects like the clock shown here.  Anyone who knows me knows that I love vintage images, especially from the 50's.  I took some of those images and collaged a background on canvas for this one of a kind clock that is hanging in my art room.  My favorite part of this piece is the second hand which is actually a picture of a woman's legs covered in fishnet stockings.  What could be more kitchy I ask you...well, glad you asked. 
This background collage sheet was compiled using various vintage ads and pictures.  Feel free to take a copy and use it in your own work.  I would LOVE to see what you create with it so please send it on.
I would have more images, lot's more, of the pieces I have been working on, but alas, my six year old digital camera fails to cooperate.  Just what is the life span of a digital camera these days anyway???  When I get another camera I will post many pics of these projects I am either working on or have finished:  Cross made with numerous vintage religious medals, more Taintor-esque pieces, altered dominoes and charms (this was new for me), and the biggest project is a shadowbox depicting the life of a school marm which includes a frame covered in antique book spines.  Sound intriguing?  I hope so. 

They say that whatever you are doing at the beginning of the New Year is what you will be doing for the remainder of the year so I plan to spend lots of time in the next few days working on art projects. 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Favorite Fall Colors

This picture shows my favorite fall color palette.  While I love the fall colors of the changing leaves, these "weed" colors from the gold, dark reds, various shades of brown and green, and especially the purple are so beautiful to me.  Hopefully soon I will create some pieces using this palette.

Another Handbag

I am also including a picture of a couple of my handbags that are for sale at Gifts From The Cottage in downtown Warren.  The owner of the shop, Wendy, has a natural talent for display and hung two of the handbags inside a vintage frame and displayed them in the front window of the shop.  Within a day of Wendy placing them like this they both sold!  Thanks Wendy. (sorry for the flash reflection in the picture)

 

Pearls Of Wisdom

Made with vintage bingo card and vintage images from old encyclopedia. 

Any suggestions for this ATC? 

I was thinking about, "She showed signs of an Exhibitionist early on."

VINTAGE HANDBAG WALL ART

Score!  I see crowns in my near future.

Made this last week and plan on making more.

My version of the Cloth Paper Scissors May/June 2010 front cover art.

More Bottle Art

More altered bottles I created this past weekend. 
I love making these!

I've also started making charms and included my Barbie hand holding the crystal ball. (sure wish I had one of these)  I also used power tools and cut, drilled, and sanded some vintage rulers to make charms with them.  I'll add some pics of those later.  I stayed up until 2am last night making a new collage background by using all the scraps of papers that were laying all over my work table and the floor.  I used gel medium to attach them to a piece of cardboard and then colored it with chalk paints, stamped, and then cut out shapes for use in ATC's, tags, future collages.  A lot of the colors reminded me of Halloween so I will probably use a bunch of them to get some early Halloween pieces done. 

Somehow amongst all of my art play, I managed to clean the house and do laundry since the temperature was below sweltering; but I hear that is going to change by tomorrow.  We don't have central air in our house and only our bedroom and my artroom have window air conditioners so unfortunately (yeah, right!) I can only stay in the art room or bedroom on those days/nights when it is hotter than Hell outside.  Guess I'll have to spend all my time at home this week in the art room.  tee hee

Here are the pictures of my scrap background before and after adding color and stamping:

The only thing I forgot to do was to make a copy of the sheet before I cut into it.  I have always thought that if I make one of these background sheets that I should make a copy so I can use it again in the future but that never seems to work out.  I get so excited about the process that I always forget to make the copy first.  Well, at least I really enjoy making these and if I don't copy them then I can say that they are truly one-of-a-kind. 

Hope you have a good week!

marianna

"Another Saturday Morning" or "Work of Art" or "Free Image and It's Story"

(I couldn't decide on the title of this post so I added all three)

Yeah, here I am again.  I promised myself I would get up early today and go outside and pull those weeds before it got too hot and I really had an excuse but...I...just...can't...seem...to...pull...myself away...from art blog surfing. 
Yesterday I went to one of our local vintage resale shops and was speaking to the owner who is interested in seeing/selling/buying some of my work.  Uh Oh, there is that word, "work."  My fear is that my art will become work so I have vowed to make sure that if I sell my art that I will not make promises that I don't want to keep.  You know the type, "Sure, I can have 12 of those ready for you next week."  Or, "Yeah, I can make some of those with your Aunt Martha's picture in them in time for her birthday...this weekend."  I just don't want to take my love of creating and turn it into just another job so I vow to
1)  Still continue to make one of a kinds.
2)  Only make items that my heart urges me to make, not to try and simply please others.
3)  Create at a MY pace. 
You see, I've been there before.  I enjoyed making art and had so much of it that I began selling my pieces and then it turned into a Production Line with deadlines.  Never Again will I make this mistake.  Besides, the greatest artists created for creation's sake.  Not simply to fill a gallery right? 
If I can stick to these rules, this should be a great experience.  I would be interested to know what others feel when they see my art.  Do they "feel" it enough to purchase it and display it in their own home? 

Stay tuned...

marianna

Oh, in the meantime, here is a photo that you can add to your image file for use in your art.  I have to tell you that I found this photo in a pile of vintage papers that I bought at a garage sale.  Going through all the papers a story unfolded.  A young guy in Ohio who attended high school during the 50's was interested in photography, theater, and opening his own photography shop when he finished school.  Within all of his personal papers, I found his test scores from his classes, his reviews from plays he acted in, and a few photos of his friends that he took while honing his craft.  This is one of those photos and it seems that the girl in the photo was a friend/love interest of his.  He circled her name in all of the reviews of the plays they were both in.  I don't know if he ever got together with her, but he did finally open that photography studio somewhere in Cleveland Ohio.  In all of the shots of her, she seems to be posing as if her future dreams were to be a Hollywood star.  In one of the photos she actually gives the photographer a shot of her panites peeking out from under her dress.  I imagine that she might have actually ended up in a Playboy magazine or something. LOL.
I used this same photo in a recent piece that I made for my Year Long Workshop group.  I've added a few images of that assemblage as well.  Have fun with the picture and, as always, please send me an email and photos of what you have created with the images I offer you.  I would LOVE to see them.

Well, now I MUST get up and see about those weeds.

marianna

This is the stupidist tea party I ever saw!

Hey, I didn't say it...this is actual text from a vintage book I have that includes the Alice In Wonderland story.  I personally never liked Alice and the story but when I got this little teapot (for free) at a garage sale, I knew that it had Alice's name written all over it.  I found the line in the Alice book and the rest is history as they say. 

I have been looking to alter little objects for a quick create fix since I just finished my altered box for the Yearlong Workshop group I am in.  So, what better way then to dress up some vintage bottles of which I have many.  Here is the first bottle I made.  It's entitled "fly" and I used vintage paper from a music book, a cutout of a swallow from a vintage bird book, and I made the nest with some wire and blue beads.  I had seen a lot of examples lately of artists making their own bird nests using wire and so I tried my hand at my own.  Here is how it turned out...

A few more bottles I've done recently and one I am currently working on.  It is an inkwell and I am using an old barrette to decorate the front of the bottle.  It's in progress, but will post the pictures when it is done.  Oh, I also thought I would include a picture of all my bling.  I just love these old costume jewelry pieces and digging through the old jewelry box gives me inspiration when I feel like I have none. 

Free Images

I thought it was time to share some free images with my friends and followers.  This is especially for my fellow group members from my Yahoo Group Altered Pages who helped me to figure out what I can use to help to protect my vintage papers (letters, sheet music, book pages etc) from further age damage.  I decided that Archival Mist from EK is probably my best bet.  This product should change the acid in the papers and keep them from falling apart when I use them in my art--at least that is the idea.  I'll let you know how it works when I get that far.

Here are some old photos I have in my collection.  I love the chubby faced baby and the sisters who look a bit unsure of getting their picture taken.  They would both probably make great subjects of an assemblage.
I hope you enjoy the photos and if you make something with them I would love to see your creation!!!
Now, back to my current project:  working on an assemblage for my year long workshop group (see previous post).  I'll post pictures soon.
Till then,
Marianna  

Saturday Mornings Are Great!

I love Saturday mornings. 
Sitting here on my bed amongst the dirty clothes, half-empty glasses and the overflowing ashtray on the bedside table I plan my day, update my blog, think about what I can make today as I reach over to kiss and talk to my always loving lab Molly.  It is a great day when I don't have to jump out of bed and get ready to leave for the workday.  I am reviewing in my head the treasures that I bought at the garage sales I went to Thursday and Friday.  I got some great stuff and should post a picture of the kitchy Jesus night light from the 60's, the old 50lb typewriter I practically stole for only $5, the Easy Bake Oven with the beautiful blue-green color that invokes the 50's, and vintage stamped brass tags I found in the bottom of a shoe box full of other beautiful rusted objects from someone's past that will now get a new life.  I also hit the jackpot at a garage sale that was selling the remains of the art pencils and inks owned by a local artist who created the Schwebel's logo.  I grabbed an old bandaid box full of grungy calligraphy pen nibs and ink bottles and a few boxes of charcol and colored pencils from the 60's.  Great stuff! Maybe I can channel the artistic creativeness of the previous owner as I use them.   The small old German Bible I found for only a couple of dollars will get to spread its message again but this time as a background for my next ATC. 
 I also have had a fixation on letters and numbers picking up any metal numbers I run across.  The older and more beat up the better.  While walking by the dumpster at work a few days ago, I happened to look down and find five or six round discs that had numbers printed all around the edge.  They were obviously from some type of counter that was on machinery and I grabbed them all and kept looking around the ground finding some great rusty metal, gears, and even an old registration plate from a piece of manufacturing equipment and have will make it a point to take a walk around that dumpster at least once a week looking for more of these wonderful stragglers of the past.   Yeah, anyone who sees me picking up this 'junk' thinks I'm crazy, but where they see only junk, I see one of a kind artistic elements that tell a story and call out to me.  Finding and picking up these pieces destined for the dump is like finding a stray diamond laying in the dirt.  How could I just leave it laying there?  
Now that I have a plan, or many plans for the day, I'll get up and get moving.  
Maybe.  Or maybe I'll just blog surf at my favorite art blogs for a bit. 
That's the beauty of Saturday mornings.  

  

Here are more pictures of pieces I created at Artiscape. 

New Book and Year Long Workshop

I am a member of the Yahoo Group The Latest Trends in Mixed Media Art.  They have a new book and with the purchase you can participate in a year long workshop for free!  I have the book and am signed up for the workshop.  One of the classes is taught by Lesley Venable (one of my favs).  Check it out and consider participating as it promises to be a great learning opportunity. Just click on the link for more information.
marianna

Back from Artiscape 2010

I can't believe it is over already.  Last weekend was a whirlwind of art that left me exhausted yet fulfilled at the same time.  I had scheduled to take five classes in three days.  I think that next time I will try to focus on only three classes if I can resist. These are the classes that I took:
Creative Composition-The Layering Effect with Lesley Venable
Crossings with Sharon Andrews
Artistic Soldering for Beginners with Paula Hardesty
Triptych with Sharon Andrews
Journaling in Wax with Patricia Seggebruch

I loved every class but really excelled in the class by Lesley Venable and the soldering with Paula Hardesty.  I think it is no accident that I did better in these because they were both held in the morning and because I really connected with both of these instructors.  They were great.  I seem to do my best work when I have the class in the morning and when I sit as close to the instructor as possible.  (note to self)
The venue was great but very jam packed thus tiring - for me anyway. 

One great part of the whole experience was meeting with other artists.  For me this was great because, as I have stated in prior posts, most of my friends and family members just don't "get" my art and I don't have any art buddies that live close to me.  I met some great and talented people and also participated in some swapping.  I was a bit disappointed by the lack of swapping that was going on but still came home with some great stuff. 

I also participated in a silent auction to benefit the Susan G. Kohmen Breast Cancer Fund.  I was delighted to find out that my piece brought in $45!  This was one of the higher amounts that were raised per auction item and I luckily took some pictures of the piece before I left for the weekend which is pictured above this post.  It all started with an old metal downspout strainer.  The theme of the weekend was based on the book/movie Enchanted April and I made sure that I watched the movie prior to creating the piece.

The pieces that I made and my swaps are also pictured here. (working on this)  I have a lot of creative ideas now and just need to find time to CREATE create CREATE!  I hope to add posts more often now so check back soon.
Marianna    

"Family Legacy"

I bought this vintage picture at a garage sale last summer.  I love how each family member, even though touching another, seems so uncomfortable and staged.  While working with the photo, I imagined that they rarely physically or emotionally connected which is why it looks so forced in the photo.  If you look at each of them individually, you can easily imagine that each could have been posing for a picture alone rather than as part of a family.  My mind then wonders if this was a family in which emotions were not considered an important or valuable aspect of life and that this disconnect was a legacy that was passed down from generation to generation. 
Even though I understand that during the time in which this picture was taken getting photographed was an occasion and most didn't smile for these serious portraits, this particular picture still tells me a story.

I have a friend who won't touch or look at any of my art that is made from these old photographs.  She thinks that the spirit of the person in the photo might come back and haunt those who 'defiled' their likeness.  Shoot, I hope that if someone finds a picture of me in a hundred years that they make something fun/artistic out of it.  I'll be sure to smile kindly on them, not haunt them.
Till Soon,
Marianna