Altered Art

New Life For Old American Steel

New Life For Old American Steel

May 2, 2010 · Leave a Comment 

Like those guys from American Pickers, Joel Hester of Weld House digs through scrap yards and turns rusty old junk into awesome functional art. You can also see works in progress, items for sale, past creations etc. at Flickr. (I’d love a vintage car hood as a headboard on a bed!)  Read More →

Painting

The Dollypop Guild

The Dollypop Guild

May 24, 2010 · Leave a Comment 

Paul Richmond (whose upcoming exhibit, Cheesecake, will be opening in June at the Center on Halsted in Chicago) explores the path of his own identity and sexuality in his paintings. Prints and original paintings available at Etsy — and there’s a book of his works, with text, titled Ins & Outs: A Collection. (Via A Slip of a Girl.)  Read More →

Illustration

Trade Your Pretty Pancing Pink Ponies In For Psychedelic Art Deco Zebras

Trade Your Pretty Pancing Pink Ponies In For Psychedelic Art Deco Zebras

May 4, 2010 · Leave a Comment 

This vintage art deco print of zebras is signed “May” and it’s still in the original faux bamboo rimmed frame. I can’t tell from this photo if this vintage print is from an illustration or a painting; but I really love it!  Read More →

Paper Arts

No Excuses!

No Excuses!

April 21, 2010 · Leave a Comment 

So, how does the average or budding zine scribbler get through one of these fests in one piece? How do you guarantee that a vibrant day out with your creative peers doesn’t descend into an adrenaline-soaked nightmare of knotted pulp? Well, here’s some advice that I’ve found quite useful – hopefully it might help you too. In How To Survive A Zine Fest, Martin offers some pretty good advice for any nervous newbie who enters a creative (and perhaps collaborative) community. Check it out for tips on what to bring, why you should buy a thing or two, and how to navigate the types of tables... [Read the full story]

Sculpture

Daisy and Dandelion Chains

Daisy and Dandelion Chains

July 10, 2010 · Leave a Comment 

My Mother taught me how to pop off the head of a dandelion and use the stem to make a chain link. One summer we made endless dandelion chain necklaces, bracelets too, all while weeding the lawn. I think she found a win-win situation to keep the kids busy and get her dandelions dug out of the grass. But, we did stick at it for a long time and (of course) my ultra competitive sister turned it into a contest to see who could have the longest chain that would not snap or slip apart when we stood up to parade around with them. It was fun as those little outdoor things are, especially when you are a... [Read the full story]

Photography

Real Flash Photography

Real Flash Photography

May 4, 2010 · Leave a Comment 

Capturing lightening has always fascinated me. I know there’s a science to taking such photographs, but that doesn’t make it any less amazing. Electric 4th in Series, photograph by TMC Photo.  Read More →

Art Appreciation

The Dollypop Guild

The Dollypop Guild

Paul Richmond (whose upcoming exhibit, Cheesecake, will be opening in June at the Center on Halsted in Chicago) explores the path of his own identity and sexuality in his paintings. Prints and original paintings available at Etsy — and there’s a book of his works, with text, titled Ins & Outs: A Collection....

[Continue reading: The Dollypop Guild]
Can You Remember My Dream?

Can You Remember My Dream?

In Can You Remember My Dream?, by artist Julia Hepburn, lanterns of diorama dreams surround a nested bed. Hepburn’s work was exhibited as Come Up To My Room, the annual alternative design event held at Toronto’s Gladstone Hotel. See Also: The artist’s own blog is Collection Hepburn. An interview...

[Continue reading: Can You Remember My Dream?]
The Most Awesome Thing I’ve Discovered In A Long Time

The Most Awesome Thing I’ve Discovered In A Long Time

I’ll admit, I get excited — I’m probably the definition of “easily amused” — but when I was told about Project ETHOS, I was giddy with excitement. Project ETHOS merges fashion, music, and art in one event, at once creating a unique avenue for both participants (artists) and attendees....

[Continue reading: The Most Awesome Thing I’ve Discovered In A Long Time]
Antique Painting On Glass DIY

Antique Painting On Glass DIY

From the March 1831 issue of Atkinson’s Casket (aka The Casket), tips and information on the art of painting on glass: Found after reading this post at A Tad Too Tan For Taupe.

[Continue reading: Antique Painting On Glass DIY]
I Know It When I See It

I Know It When I See It

There are two broad semantic categories in our society that are defined largely by intuition. One is ‘What is Art?’ and the other is ‘What is Obscenity?’. And the two are related in that anything deemed to be art, is generally excused from being suppressed as obscenity. Indeed this very...

[Continue reading: I Know It When I See It]
Handmade Craft Shopping Parties

Handmade Craft Shopping Parties

Back in the day, I offered and held a few home parties for selling my artworks. Being about 15 years ago, ish, I felt like I was charting new territories. I had a bunch of catalogs and brochures from other successful home party plan businesses — and my vast knowledge of attending such parties — to build...

[Continue reading: Handmade Craft Shopping Parties]
Celebrating & Collecting The Art Of Bookmarks

Celebrating & Collecting The Art Of Bookmarks

Bookmarks are a great way to try on art. And I’m not just saying that because I’m one of the presenters at the first Bookmark Collectors Virtual Convention, either. Bookmarks come in so many styles and are made of so many materials, you can enjoy and experiment with form & function ideas and concepts...

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2009 Art Sales May Not Have Been Bad For Auction Houses, But Was It Good For Art?

2009 Art Sales May Not Have Been Bad For Auction Houses, But Was It Good For Art?

Antique Week, Vol. 41, Issue No. 2112 (January 11, 2010) has a report in the national section on art sales in 2009. In the article, two things stood out for me. First: Auction houses started slashing pre-sale estimates by as much as 50 percent to stimulate sales. When Sloans & Kenyon of Chevy Chase, Md., gave...

[Continue reading: 2009 Art Sales May Not Have Been Bad For Auction Houses, But Was It Good For Art?]
Read More Posts From Art Appreciation »

The Eye Of The Beholder

Goat & Mole Shoes

Experimental footwear or art? Is there really a difference? Goat Shoes feature hooves...


The Economics Of eBooks

The Economics Of eBooks

Whether you want to write and sell an ebook on crafts or you just want to buy one,...


I Know It When I See It

I Know It When I See It

There are two broad semantic categories in our society that are defined largely...


Hey, Me, Get Out Of My Travel Photos (Not!)

Hey, Me, Get Out Of My Travel Photos (Not!)

There are just about as many reasons for taking photos as there are people who take...


Is Art In Your DNA?

Is Art In Your DNA?

Over at The Emerging Times, Michael Ferrare has written The ‘Picture Painting’...


Is Stock Photography Evil?

Is Stock Photography Evil?

It is no longer difficult to take an adequate photograph. I say that with confidence,...


Is Focusing Your Creativity Important?

Is Focusing Your Creativity Important?

At first glance, this cartoon by Emily Flake (originally published in The New Yorker)...


2009 Art Sales May Not Have Been Bad For Auction Houses, But Was It Good For Art?

2009 Art Sales May Not Have Been Bad For Auction Houses, But Was It Good For Art?

Antique Week, Vol. 41, Issue No. 2112 (January 11, 2010) has a report in the national...


Hell’s Bellas

Hell’s Bellas

Sebastian Faena’s homage Italian director Fellini, part of a series titled...


What’s Kitsch?

What’s Kitsch?

In order to discuss the meaning of kitsch, you first need to know it’s definition....


2009, The Year In Quilting

2009, The Year In Quilting

I’m not a quilter — despite the ridiculous number of quilting books (old...


Pop Art: Pop Culture Defined

Pop Art: Pop Culture Defined

I dated a musician, once upon a time; a jazz musician. He was often put off by my...


Michael Jackson: King Of Commissioned Kitsch

Michael Jackson: King Of Commissioned Kitsch

We keep hearing how poor MJ was, but the dude spent a fortune commissioning art —...


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Process

The Economics Of eBooks

The Economics Of eBooks

Whether you want to write and sell an ebook on crafts or you just want to buy one,...


Creatively Organize Your Workspace

Creatively Organize Your Workspace

At Design Sponge, Haylie Waring shares her creative solution for storing, organizing...


No Excuses!

No Excuses!

So, how does the average or budding zine scribbler get through one of these fests...


Doodle Week: Horse

Doodle Week: Horse

Horses are not as easy to draw as you may think. There is a slim line between a horse...


Doodle Week: Bug

Doodle Week: Bug

I’ve caught some kind of a bug. Here is a drawing of the little beastie. Let’s...


Doodle Week: Cars

Doodle Week: Cars

This week for Doodle Week try to draw a car. Any style, any price range, any colour. For...


Antique Painting On Glass DIY

Antique Painting On Glass DIY

From the March 1831 issue of Atkinson’s Casket (aka The Casket), tips and information...


Doodle Week, March 6 – 7th: Cityscapes

Doodle Week, March 6 – 7th: Cityscapes

This week it’s cityscapes. You can do some extra work, a little research and...


Doodle Week, February 27 – 28th – Toadstools

Doodle Week, February 27 – 28th – Toadstools

Welcome to Doodle Week. You have a week to try the doodle challenge. This week it’s...


Doodle Week, February 20 – 21st

Doodle Week, February 20 – 21st

This week it’s gargoyles. I’m about to catch the bus so I can attend...


Snowy Day Crafting Idea

Snowy Day Crafting Idea

Instead of making snowflakes the classic way via folding & cutting a piece of...


Stitches In (My) Time

Stitches In (My) Time

My mother, as she will tell you, is neither a very artsy person nor a very domesticated...


Handmade Craft Shopping Parties

Handmade Craft Shopping Parties

Back in the day, I offered and held a few home parties for selling my artworks. ...


Read More Posts From Process »