Category Archives: zne

New Work in Shop

May 12, 2009 By in art, brandie butcher-isley, collage, etsy, melange team, mixed media, pam carriker, portrait, zne 11 Comments

I just listed three new pieces in my etsy shop. Two of them are pieces I did while attending Brandie Butcher-Isley’s workshop at the ConvenZioNE. We hit it off right from the start and it was a joy to finally meet her in person. We are talking about collaborating on some future projects so stay tuned for that!

This 6×6 piece ‘Waiting to Fly‘was done on a premium artist panel, look for more of my work on this substrate as I am loving it. Such a different feel from canvas work.

This second piece ‘There Are Three’ also came out of that workshop and is dear to my heart as Mother’s Day was right around the corner and the inspiration behind this work. Remember that excitement when you first found out that you were to be a mother? Or a grandmother? So much anticipation and dreams for the future.
This third piece was inspired by friendship. It never ceases to amaze me how friends are always present when you need them most. Even the online friends, just with a few words can totally set the tone for your day. ‘Without Wings’ is about friendship and how much we need each other to get through the joys and the trials of life.
Thank you all of my friends, both those whom I have met, those whom I have known for years, and those who I may never meet but who bring a smile to my face just with their words.

Challenges

May 6, 2009 By in anna corba, art, art challenge, art retreat, brandie butcher-isley, convenzione, creative workshops, melange team, mixed media, mother, zne 18 Comments

I have so much to share from the ConvenZioNE last week that it will take a few days. I of course had to journal about the event, so I will start with one of my pages. I needed to take some images to use in the projects I did in the workshops, so I used some of those in my journal, prepping a few pages with some paint to be added to later. This page reflects my online, friendships with some of the people there. I knew them by name, but had never met any of them. A little scary, but the instant I met these ladies, I felt right at home. We all share the bonds of creativity and it is evident when you walk into a room full of amazing artists.

This piece was done in Brandie Butcher-Isley’s class. She is an inspiring artist who’s work I have admired for a long time. We met right away and hung out together for the whole event. We will be doing some collaboration on projects in the future and left with our minds full of ideas. Brandie truly has the soul of an artist and there was an instant connection that I will always cherish.

This piece also serves as my response to last weeks Melange Team Challenge, FUN, as I can’t think of anything more fun than being in the land of ZNE!
The other workshop that I took, was Anna Corba’s class. She lead us into her world of lovely vintage papers, beeswax, and simple elegance. She is the loveliest of ladies and was a huge inspiration to me with her words and presence.
I completed 5 pieces of art in 2 days which in itself was amazing. As a mom I just don’t get to sit down and work start to finish on projects. Having someone bring me lunch, and no housework or anything else to do but art is a great way to live, let me tell you! But for most of us that is not our reality and I have become adept at working art around life and finding balance between the two.
This piece will serve as my response to this weeks Melange Team Challenge, ‘Mom’. I used some images from my own artwork. This is something I have been wanting to do and the beeswax collage is the perfect format. I was unable to scan the whole piece, which is 9×13, but this is the main portion.

I will be posting more through the week there is just so much to share!

Just Out

April 25, 2009 By in art, art journal, cloth paper scissors, creative workshops, magazine, melange team, mixed media, pam carriker, publication, zne 26 Comments

We made a little impromptu visit to our boat yesterday because the kids were out of school and it was 80 degrees, and how could we not? It was our first overnight of the season and my brother and sister-in-law went with their kids too. Very fun and relaxing little getaway.

I came home and found this waiting for me in the mailbox! The latest issue of Cloth, Paper, Scissors featuring an article I wrote. Also featured in this issue are two other Melange Team members, Nancy Lefko, and Sue Pelletier.

Here are some little snippets from my article and a peek at the Homework section featuring some additional tips and one of my journal pages that those who are taking my Visual Journalism 101 online class will recognize.

Included in this article are step out pictures/instructions for the process I use in some of my mixed media portraits.

With Mother’s Day soon approaching, you will find the inspiration behind my portraits and why I find them so much a part of my art life.

This issue has some wonderful articles and I hope you will be able to pick up a copy. Let me know if you do, I’d love to hear from you!
A little insider info, the dress in this portrait, ‘Letting Go’ was inspired by my living room drapes. You just never know what your muse will lead you!

Barb’s Angel

April 22, 2009 By in angel, etsy, melange, mixed media, portrait, zne 8 Comments
I tried to stay away from Facebook for a looong time, but finally one of my arty friends got me over there and I have been ever so thankful.

One of the reasons is because I have found some long lost friends that I haven’t seen for years and years. One of these friends is Barb. We were friends in my senior year of high school. We went to church camp together, took art class together, and were even in a parade together-lol!
Then after high school I moved and life went on. I am so glad we found each other again and so touched that she asked me to do a custom piece for her with an angel.
It was a joy to do, and I savored each moment, starting with a journal page awhile back. I love the quote I found as it is perfect for the love of art we shared so long ago, along with a love of angels that we still share today. This one’s for you Barb:-)

Timeworn and heartfelt

April 19, 2009 By in art journal, byzantine, gesso, melange, mixed media, moleskine, paint, zne 21 Comments

Gesso and paint finally made their way into my Moleskine journal. I knew it would happen one day and yesterday was it! I prepped several pages and used up some leftover paint to start a section of painted pages. The Moleskine held up beautifully. It works especially well if both the front and back of a page are coated with gesso.
I am trying to get back to posting journal pages more frequently, but just because I don’t post them daily, doesn’t mean I don’t do something in my journal almost every day.
I was told by my father in law that my work has a Byzantine feel to it, so these pages were inspired by that comment and some of the glorious work I saw at the art gallery in D.C.
I like to play ‘rough’ in my journal sometimes, creating edgier, more distressed pages. It just feels good! Playing without worrying about perfection.
Just the process of adding layer after luscious layer of whatever is on hand.
I like to just use things I already have out, whatever
is in reach. Try using old tools in new ways.
I get my fingers messy when I work like this and have
been known to ruin good clothes, so I do try to remember to wear an apron. I said, try…
I loved the posture of his hand, I need to try one like this on a canvas.
My favorite thing about this page is her halo. I love that it is imperfect, looking like it is aged and worn away.