Wallpaper sample books and old wallpaper rolls were always part of my childhood artsy craftsy times. In preparation for May day (May 1st) we would create wallpaper cones and fill them with candies and flowers for our friends, neighbors, and loved ones. (We would hang them on the door and ring the bell and run!) Sandy Gordon from Art Tea Life blog has yet another good use for old wallpaper. This great photo tutorial could be used with children to make homemade gifts with an adult to manage the iron and machine perhaps.
Always a hoot, always unique, Lady Linoleum does it again, this time with a felted eyeball tutorial. Nice clear step by steps on how to, plus Regina’s fabulous commentary. Is there nothing this woman can not make from fiber? Clearly not! Great photo tutorial for those of us who are “visual learners”.
Lisa Congdon, Penelope Dullaghan and Ashley Goldberg have come together in an exhibition entitled {un}Limited at artstreamstudios in New Hampshire through July 11, 2007. The theme of the exhibition was rather open, yet the three women created work which speaks to one another’s in this group show. Lisa used black ink on vintage book and magazine pages filled with text. Ashley used vintage book pages too, as base layers for both drawings and paintings – and made new paper vintage-like by dyeing it with coffee. Penelope used text on a small badge in her painting of an elderly woman proclaiming “I’m in Love”.
There are birds, chairs, and intimate scenes where you are not sure what might happen next. The work is charming and in some cases disturbing at the same time. There are mostly originals, but also a few high quality prints in limited editions. Each artist has a strong sense of personal style and yet the show as a whole creates a mood which the singular works might not project.The use of mixed media in the works is exceptional by all the artists.
Some viewers have called the exhibition “girly” others “gritty” and yet others “whimsical”. This indicates to me that at least we have people thinking, which makes it all worthwhile. All the work is online and the gallery shots can be seen here at flickr.
Rama Hughes is one of my favorite illustrators. Here is his latest “good idea” in bringing people, drawing and community together at this newish blog “The Portrait Party. I love the story behind the idea – involving his family getting together to draw portraits of each other. Go to the site and read it all – get a partner, and get involved in the joy of drawing – or start the tradition in your own home!
Over the past fifteen years teaching children art, there have been references which have come and gone but there is one which stands the test of time for me. “Drawing with Children” by Mona Brooks, has always been a great source of inspiration to me. She now has 44 schools in the US, UK and Canada to teach her methods to both teachers and students. Her books are inspirational and the methods are easy to achieve good results with even the first time around. She has a second book geared for teens and adults too, which goes a bit deeper. A great resource for anyone who is interested in drawing, with or without children.
