U2 Series at GCC

Check out GCC's website for more information on the series. Also, what do you think of the poster design? Please leave comments...we love 'em.

What the heck, ARTery?

Oh snap. I'm in trouble. Life got a hold of me and made me not post here! For that, dear friends, I do apologize. In the mean time, here are some links from around the web to get your creative juices flowing:

The Bright Side Project (they give away stuff for FREE!)

Creative Overflow (I just discovered it and I like it, so far. Lots of useful stuff.)

Recession Recipes (they have a feature that lets you search recipes by price per serving!)

And a whole bunch of PhotoShop tutorials here

Be good. Have fun and I will be back soon. Promise :)

Kittens will get your attention

The only thing that would get more attention would be free cookies....but kittens will work in a pinch.

Summer is almost over and we've made some changes

Yup. It has been WAY too long since the last post over here. That will change, friends. As you may have noticed, our profile has changed. And, hopefully, this will create or generate more activity on this here blog. So please, contact us if you have something you want to share, say a tutorial or some photos of your recent work. We love that stuff.

For now here are a few of my favorites from the web:

All about spring clamp love at Photojojo (seriously I L-O-V-E this site)

ArtPrize in Grand Rapids....go check it out! Yours truly is collaborating with other artists :)

Make a confetti gun with the folks from Instructables

And a surprise one just for fun

Enjoy the day!

Summer's here and we have been busy

We'll be back to regular posting in between visits to the beach :)

A quote on creativity

"There is nothing in a caterpillar that tells you it's going to be a butterfly." Buckminster Fuller

Some tutorials to keep you busy and off the streets

Here is a list of things that I would like to make and thought that you, dear reader, would like to make them, too:

cardboard stampede at design*sponge

photos using tilt shift maker

eraser stamps

scratch foam prints

Okay.....now go have some fun!

I have been working

I love the spring...because that means it's time to break out the dye buckets and paper pulp! I have been dyeing fabric. Lots of fabric. Here are a few textile-love links for you:

aboubakar fofana (I just discovered this one....breathtaking)

lena corwin (I L-O-V-E her book!)

dharma trading (my favorite place to get textile supplies from)

dosa (click on special projects and then the life of jamdani)

There. That should tide you over until next time.

Want One!

From the lovely, lovely Photojojo. *LOVE* this!

I'm back...

...and ready to blog again. The format here is going to change, a little. I am going to try to post more ideas, tutorial links, artists, shows, etc. Let me know what you think!

So true!

"Only put off until tomorrow what you are willing to die having left undone." Pablo Picasso

From color to gorgeous Black and White

This tutorial is brought to you by the lovely folks at Photojojo. And the letter "C" for camera. Now go grab yours and take some pictures!!!

Artprize

This is, quite possibly, one of the coolest things ever. Please take part...I know I am! I will be posting my progress here, too. If you want your progress posted, please email me to let me know. This is so exciting!

I feel like upcycling

I have this strong, overwhelming urge to upcycle something. DO you ever get this? I have no idea what I will do, though. I just want to re-purpose something and be both spontaneous and creative. Unpredictable and awesome. I found this really cool antique/junk shop in town and just may have to go tomorrow and look. I do need some creative storage solutions for my studio and I would like to make my home more "us" if you know what I mean. I have not done much decorating at all, aside from painting the boys' rooms and the living room. I want to have art parties and people over for art sales or a progressive dinner or something. I wonder what I will come up with? Any ideas, suggestions and/or comments are greatly appreciated and welcomed.

A repeat

"Creativity takes courage." Henri Matisse

I know I have already posted this one, but I felt that it needed to be posted again. I think it is an important one to remember. Be courageous and be creative today. Myself, included.

What???

Did you notice that the fonts are different on the posts I have made lately? How do fonts change without me changing them? Strange.

A rain quote

“Anyone who says sunshine brings happiness has never danced in the rain.”

Does anyone know who said this? I have no idea...but I like it.

I have textiles on the brain

Please, please, please check this out. Click on the "special projects" link, and then click on the "life of jamdani." Scroll through all of the photos and read the text. Simply gorgeous, and so, so, so inspirational. This made me want to find some fabulous, gauzy cotton and try to mimic these handwoven textiles with batik and block prints. It also made me realize that gorgeous art does not have to come from pristine studios...your backyard and an old bucket are all that you need. Let me know what you think in the comments below. I love reading comments and respond to everyone that I receive.

Quotable Goodness

"Painting is just another way of keeping a diary." Pablo Picasso

"Painting is poetry that is seen rather than felt, and poetry is painting that is felt rather than seen." Leonardo da Vinci ( I like this one a lot)

"All art requires courage." Anne Tucker (amen, sista!)

"Art disturbs, science reassures." Georges Braque

There. That should tide you over for awhile. Now go create something from these quotes...that's the project for this blog. "Drawing from Quotes." What do you draw from quotes? Images, doodles, poems, stories, paintings, typography...what? The ARTery wants to know. If you are interested in joining this project, please leave a comment below and your email address. If I get enough participants, we'll start a Flickr group or something......

I'm back...

...and I wanted to say hi. Check back for more posts, quotes and random goodies.

Watch this and then go make something

Here you go. Some techniques for overcoming artist's/writer's block. Brought to you by the lovely Design for Mankind.

What inspires you?

The ARTery wants to know what inspires you. Leave your inspiration story below...maybe you will inspire someone else!

Now go be inspired and take some pictures outside. Draw something. Doodle, paint or sew something wonderful. You can do it....speaking of art, I am going to go make some now!

Happy Spring

I love crocus. The end of snow, the beginning of warm weather. Hello, lovelies.

Quotes from famous photographers

"I would say to any artist: 'Don't be repressed in your work, dare to experiment, consider any urge, if in a new direction all the better.'" Edward Weston to Ansel Adams

"All photographs are accurate. None of them is the truth. " Richard Avedon

"There are no rules for good photographs, there are only good photographs." Ansel Adams

"… put your camera around your neck along with putting on your shoes, and there it is, an appendage of the body that shares your life with you." Dorothea Lange

Spring quote

"Spring is nature's way of saying, 'Let's party!'" Robin Williams

It's nice out, so go outside and use your camera

That is what I am going to do right now. Take my rowdy boys, my dog, myself and my camera and go play outside. And take pictures. Gotta love spring time!

I like this one

" I am for an art that is political-erotical-mystical, that does something other than sit on its *** in a museum." Claus Oldenburg

This actually might work

Check this out. I love the people over at Photojojo. I think, since I have time off this week, that I might have to try this. I still have all of my old darkroom supplies; I would just need the coffee, powdered vitamin C and fixer. Too cool!

Quotes, gotta love 'em!

"Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature. It will never fail you." Frank Lloyd Wright

I like this one. I think it is because I have a SERIOUS case of spring fever and daydream frequently about vegetable and herb gardens, walks in the sun and eventually trips to the beach.

BTW did you know that Frank Lloyd Wright's son invented lincoln logs? Is that true?

For the music lovers out there

I just discovered this album. Love it! Go check it out, especially if you love old Motown and Stevie Wonder. It's brand spankin' new (less than a year old), but has that fabulous rich, deep, dirty sound of good old records. It's guaranteed to make you start dancing in the kitchen or something.

A great quote

"Be the change you want to see in the world." Mohandas Ghandi

I know that this quote is everywhere from t-shirts to tote bags to Hallmark cards, but it is so true. Go do it. Now! No, really. Go! I mean it. :)

Update!

So I have not been good at posting here lately and for that I apologize, dear reader. I have a full time job and it sort of eats up all of my time. I am going to try to think of posts during the day and then post at night after my kiddos are in bed. Here's to hoping and wish me luck!

I have lots of projects in the works and lots of ideas so stay tuned and check back daily for pictures. I see a lot of dyed fabric, paintings, prints, and altered things (including furniture!) in the near future. Good stuff....oh and some sewn goodies. Yahooo!!!

More typography love

Found here. Love!

Status Update

So sorry that I have been really MIA lately. I got a full time job (YEAH). It's a temporary job, but it takes the creative energy right out of me. It will be good experience to put on my resume, too. This job ends in May, so I am hoping to be back to normal posting then. Until May, I will do my best to keep posting ideas, images and inspiration. And thanks for understanding...in times like these, a girl's gotta make some money.

So neat

Watch this and then get busy making something wonderful.

So cool

I think this will be our first group project. Check it out and let me know what you think in the comments below.

I think screenprinting is so much fun! And I don't know if any of you out there get this, but when spring comes I always want to do something with fabric, outside. Something messy...like screenprinting or dyeing fabric or batik. Papermaking comes to mind, too. Oh so much fun.....

In memory of Paul Harvey

"Like what you do, if you don't like it, do something else."

I thought I would give you a quote from Paul Harvey today to serve as inspiration, or, in this case, a kick in the butt if you do not like what you are doing.

"Good Day!"

How cool would this be???

Check out Threadless. I am going to look into this! Start drawing, doodling, clicking, printing, painting, etc.

Quoteable goodness

"If I could say it in words there would be no reason to paint." Edward Hopper

Think about it......

Please do not lick your monitor

I know cookies are good. You know, I can smell them just by looking at them on the screen.

Image above from Blanco Bunny

I decided to give you a quote about dogs

"I think dogs are the most amazing creatures; they give unconditional love. For me they are the role model for being alive." Gilda Radner

So true!

I love dogs

I just found this. So fabulous! Makes me want to get my dog and take a million photos. I also just found out that we will be dog sitting for my in-laws, so I will have two adorable dogs to take pictures of. Yeah! BTW be sure to check out her blog, etsy store AND her dog photobooth images.

What a great idea!

I think this is great! From the wonderful folks at Photojojo.

The Photographic Dictionary

Lovely. Go check it out!

Just for fun, a photo project

I found this here. Check it out. I have some ideas going in my head right now...

An oldie, but a goodie

This was one of my very first digital photomontages that I created. I still like to use this technique when I work. I need to do more of this...

Image above by Blanco Bunny

Wisdom from ancient Greece

"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit." Aristotle

Now there's something for you to chew on! I am also thinking that we should illustrate these quotes that I find in the artist's journal. You could take a picture, draw something, doodle something, collage something, paint, print, sew or write. You could even sing it, but I would have to figure out how to keep that in a journal. I wonder if you could take apart one of those recordable Hallmark greeting cards? Things that make you go hmmmmmm.....

Artist's Journals

I think that everyone knows my love of typography. But I did not share how much I love artist's journals. Check out this post over at the very lovely Design*Sponge's guest blog. Design*Sponge is one of my very favorite sites to visit...you should check it out. You will not be disappointed.

I think we should either start individual artist's journals or have a collective one. Or maybe do both??? Let me know what you think by leaving a comment below!

What do you think?

...of this? I think I like the idea, a lot. Then again I am a huge fan of photomontage. This image was found on dear ada and is from lotte geeven. I am going to check out the rest of the website! Please see dear ada or lotte's website to see the full image; I cropped this guy.

Quote

"It doesn't matter how the paint is put on, as long as something is said." Jackson Pollock

If you have never watched Jackson Pollock at work, you should. It is amazing to see him paint on those gigantic canvases.

Handwritten typography love

It is no secret. I love typography. L-O-V-E it, I tell you. Anyway I just discovered this blog dedicated to, yes you guessed it, typography! It is not just any old typography, but rather handwritten stuff. Lovely. Heavenly. Beautiful. Check it out here.

More quotes for you

"At a certain point, I just felt, you know, God is not looking for alms, God is looking for action."

"The world is more malleable than you think and it's waiting for you to hammer it into shape."

"Every age has its massive moral blind spots. We might not see them, but our children will."

"Don't get me too excited because I use four letter words when I get excited."

All of the above quotes are from Bono of U2. What a great band! I smell a photo essay coming on here...anyone want to participate? We could submit this to JPG magazine and/or I know of a few galleries that would be interested, too. Oh the possibilities here AND the truth behind quote number 4 for me! I am so excited!

Design Philanthropy

Anybody interested? I know I am! Check it out and let me know what you think. I think it is a fabulous idea.

You should really try this!

How many of you out there love Mr. Potatohead? I do. I am thinking about turning this guy into a desk lamp, but am wondering if the bulb would get too hot and do something funky to the plastic. I bet an LED would work. I smell a DIY post coming!

Image above from Blanco Bunny

Some more eye candy for a snowy day

I L-O-V-E Lotta Jansdotter's work. L-O-V-E it, I tell you. So, on that note, I am going to make something today instead of blog ;)

I just found this...

...please check it out. Lovely stuff. Makes me want to go sew something since it is snowing like crazy outside!

Something else to think about

Have you always wanted to see your photos in print? Well here is an opportunity. I am seriously considering it! If anything, this website is excellent for getting ideas going when you want to create something but are stuck in a creative rut.

Quotes, you know you love them

"Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep." Scott Adams (he's the creator of Dilbert)

I like this one a lot! It is so true. I had a professor in college who told me never to throw away any of your mistakes, no matter how bad they are to you at that time. Her theory is that if you looked at them later on in life, then you may find out that they were not mistakes at all. I have thrown away several "mistakes" that now I wish I would have kept.

Even more Poladroid love

I made this one today while the boys (of all ages mind you) were playing Kung Fu Panda on the Wii. Isn't this one so cool? I like it better than the flowers from earlier. What do you think? I am going to get this one printed to hang on the wall somewhere. Or maybe I will put it on a t-shirt, that would be so neat!

Image above from Blanco Bunny

Yes, another quote again

"Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new." Albert Einstein

How true is this? Made me think and gave me a little courage to make mistakes.

Fun time waster

Are you bored? Don't have anything to do but want to do something fun? Check this out. That's how I made the image above. Sweet.

The above image is from Blanco Bunny

Yes, another quote

"At the age of six I wanted to be a cook. At seven I wanted to be Napoleon. And my ambition has been growing steadily ever since." Salvador Dali

This one made me think about how we are always changing. I am definitely not the same person I was five years ago, heck even two years ago. Although I do still think it would be cool to be a Paleontologist. That is what I wanted to be in first grade.

More things to think about

Check out print and pattern today. Some lovely, lovely prints AND patterns. Makes me want to go find my batik wax and block printing ink and get to work.

Sandy Skoglund

Sandy Skoglund is one of my favorite photographers and installation artists. Above is her "Radioactive Cats" from this link. What do you think?

More quote-y goodness

"Our doubts are traitors, and make us lose the good we oft might win, by fearing to attempt." William Shakespeare

Some inspiration for postcards and Project 365

Here is a link to the dear ada blog that I love so much. It is for everything that is labeled "photo love" on her blog. Check it out and start taking pictures! This is one of those blogs that I go to when I need some inspiration or just some art to look at and think about.

Even more inspiration

Hey there. More inspiration. This time, from one of my all time favorite print makers, Lena Corwin. This is a link to her blog, which I love. Enjoy! And I just got her new book, "Printing by Hand." I better get to work on some projects from it now. Anyone want to come and play???

She's got more ideas and craft projects....

Yeah I do but this one is AWESOME. Well so are the others, in my opinion. Anyway here it is. Check it out and then gather some old prints. You know the ones that you had intended on doing something with, someday. Well today is that day. I know what I am doing! Oh and wouldn't this be cool if you used a piece of children's art...or your art...or a cereal box...or.............

Picasso Quotes

" Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life." Pablo Picasso

"Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up." Pablo Picasso

"Only put off until tomorrow what you are willing to die having left undone." Pablo Picasso

There. Run with these and create something.

Another fabulous idea to spread some love!

I love this idea, too. We could get stuff like this printed or buy the ones from their Etsy shop. We could even do birthday cards, we miss you cards.....such a long list of possibilities here!

One more thing...

Check out this Etsy shop. Lovely stuff. Here's the blog, too.

What a wonderful idea!

Check this out. I love it! What better way to spread the love than with some free eye candy. Anyone want to participate? I know I do. We can submit things to Indie Fix AND do this on our blog, too. Love it!

Yet another notable quote

"The true work of art is but a shadow of the divine perfection." Michelangelo

I did an independent study in college on Michelangelo's sculpture. As a result I read a lot of his personal letters, poems, essays, etc. If you are ever in the mood for some truly beautiful and moving writing, check out his stuff. It is more beautiful than the Rome Pieta, which is saying something! I will have to dig in the archives of my brain to remember what the book was called, I bet I could google it!

Phew!

I don't know if any of you noticed, but yesterday this blog was experiencing some technical difficulties. I wanted to post something but when I logged in I could not see ANY of the posts. UGH! But, I think I fixed it. Phew! So if any of you have this happen, just go to the most recent post in your archives, click on it to edit and then change something and publish it. Voila! All of the posts appeared again.

Another question....do you have a favorite artsy or craftsy blog? If so, leave its address in a comment and I will create a link to it.

Can you tell I like the macro setting?

Seriously...I have to take some pictures of something else. Not that there is anything wrong with a hard drive full of your children, pets and cool plants, but I think I need to shake things up a bit. How about you?

Images above are from Blanco Bunny

Eye candy that will make you hungry

Here is another link to one of my favorite food and photo blogs, 101 Cookbooks. Heidi Swanson takes amazing photos of the recipes she creates and makes. Plus, if you are looking for some healthy inspiration for dinner or perhaps a treat for your fellow artery members (a-hem), check out her recipes. I have made several and they are always delicious. Especially the peanut butter cookies. Yum.

Don't Forget

Don't forget to take pictures, hopefully everyday, for Project 365! Let's post our images here and see what we get. Need some inspiration? Try the notable quotes on this blog, your daily devotional reading or maybe the songs or message from the service on Sunday mornings.

Crafty goodness

Oh boy...I am so in the mood for making things. I thought these notebooks via Design Sponge (one of my daily blog reads) would be great with photos on the front instead of wrapping paper.

I just received two fabulous new books for Valentine's Day from my dear, sweet, wonderful husband. The first is a cookbook filled with WONDERFUL recipes. The second is by one of my favorite printmakers, Lena Corwin. Here is her blog and here is her website. Beautiful stuff to look at. Oh and I will definitely bring this book to our meeting.

Another notable quote

"I tell you, the more I think, the more I feel that there is nothing more truly artistic than to love people." Vincent Van Gogh

Made me think! What do you think?

Notable Quotes

"Creativity takes courage. " Henri Matisse

Update on the philanthropy project

So I spoke to a few people at church who LOVED the postcard idea. So get your cameras charged, your pencils sharpened or your paint poured 'cause we're making postcards. I am so excited about this for some reason and I hope you are, too!

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm...........

This got me thinking and gave me ideas. Check it out.

Let's send flowers and cookies and warm fuzzies

So our first fun philanthropic project will be creating cards and/or postcards to send to shut-ins or whoever needs a piece of good mail. Here is some inspiration to get us started. I will look into printing costs and such. So, ladies, grab your cameras, start clicking and taking pictures of cool things! Anything! You could also draw, paint, whatever and I am willing to scan in the images to print onto cards. Have fun and let's make somebody's day a little bit brighter. I have the perfect person in mind to be the first recipient!

Update: check out this website for cool photo stuff!

Image above from Blanco Bunny

A simple project idea

Hello...I saw this over at Martha Stewart's website and I think it would be the perfect thing to make at one of our meetings. So easy! I bet I have everything we need in my studio.....

A zebra, a peahen and a giraffe walk into a bar...

...not really. But they were all at the zoo. Binder Park Zoo, to be specific. You should go check it out. You can feed the giraffes. These pictures are from Blanco Bunny.

Project 365

Here is the link for Project 365. Let's get started!

Welcome to the ARTery

The image above was created by one of the ARTery members, Blanco Bunny. It is a photomontage. Hopefully, this blog will feature art from each of the group's members weekly if not daily. It is a place for observing life and faith through art. We hope you like what you see. Enjoy!

Oh and please do not use this image unless you have asked and received permission to do so. Thanks!