My blog has moved to my website www.feliciafollum.com
My artwork tends to focus on social issues. I combine drawing, watercolor, ink and graphic design to create socially conscious work that communicates with the audience. In addition to creating art my passion extends to a desire to use my work to help others. Two ways include teaching kids art and helping to raise awareness.
If your New Year's Resolution is to be more creative? How about more thankful? Maybe it is to take some time to yourself and journal more. My in-progress series of creativity prompts may be perfect to jump-start your creativity.
If your resolution is to eat healthier or $ave Money (on artwork) be sure to check out these links.
Laramie, Wyoming is growing on me but these winters are always
shockingly brutal. Laramie is one of the coldest places on the planet
(ok maybe the US) and the town is known for it's bad wind and bad winters.
This being said I figured I would start by sharing some creative prompts that
don't require traveling outside your home (though if you so choose I suppose you
could).
These 40 creative prompts are designed
the get your creative juices flowing by allowing you to detach from
your daily routine whether it is writing, making art, staying at home
with children or working. Changing how you think by applying rules and guidelines is beneficial for our creativity and drive.
Of
course feel free to alter these prompts to fit your needs, but don’t be
afraid to stick to the rules and experiment outside of your comfort
zone. Rules can inspire great work. Enjoy!!
What are some creative thinking techniques that you use??? Be sure to share. They might even show up in my list.
I am stoked to announce that I am getting my first professional large tattoo!!! It's a Sleeve!
Felicia Follum Art+ and Jason Jeffers Tattoo
There are several reasons for wanting to get inked. Most of the elements in the piece will be symbolic of experiences, people, values, stories, or my life in general. Not only will there be personal meanings (which I will talk about more in future posts about my tattoo) to the work but I am excited to simply have a beautiful piece of artwork on my body.
Eye Inspiration for my back
Though my tattoo is not an exact replica of my artwork this first section is certainly based on my art. If you have been following my recent artwork you can probably already see how my Lily Pad art is represented on my sleeve. I also have a lizard eye from my Eden watercolor painting on the back of my shoulder that I am hoping to add some scales to.
Each element from the first session also has some personal meaning but that is for future blog posts. For now I just wanted to show off my new tattoo and share the influences from my artwork and the artwork of Jason Jeffers from Extreme Point in Cheyenne.
I will continue to share more about my reasons behind my tattoo, both personal and my love of beautiful artwork.
As artist we have all had "creative blocks" or days when we are just not motivated to work on what we "should" be working on. When these days arise it can be nice to have a change of pace.
These 40 Art+ Creativity prompts are designed
the help you break past the creative block by allowing you to change up
your daily routine whether it is writing, making art, staying at home
with children or working.
As the world becomes more globalized people seem to be traveling more and more which means you have probably taken some sort of trip or vacation in the not-to-distant past or you plan to soon. Traveling offers the perfect opportunity to change your daily routine and practice creativity.
Why not create a travel journal? Creative prompt #8 is to create a travel journal or travel art book.
This coming summer I will be traveling to India with the University of Wyoming Art Department. I told the professor that I plan to create a journal for the trip and decided to start journal ahead of time. He suggested create a before, a during, and an after journal. I think this is a grand idea and am excited to get going on this new endeavor.
When tragic events occur it is natural to want to help while simultaneously not knowing how. These 26 acts of kindness may not directly help the victims but they are certainly ways for you to make a difference in your own community.
Below is a possible random act of kindness for each of the 26 people in the Newtown shooting.
Here are my final five ideas for this years Holiday Countdown. These five gift, craft, and decorative ideas are sure to brighten your home and could serve as last minute gift ideas. I hope you have enjoyed this Advent countdown.
21. Upcycled Bows made from an old magazine. I made these from varying numbers of magazine strips formed into infinity signs and glued together. I then rolled a center strip. They are all different. Here are the directions I found on Pinterest
I absolutely love music and some of my favorite bands have some excellent Christmas songs...I hope you enjoy...Though I grew up in a Lutheran church (and still consider myself a "Church Camp Lutheran" not all of these songs are your grandma's hymns (or Sphen and Olie's hymns for that matter) from the LBW (yes, that is Lutheran humor for you. If you understood those references please let me know in the comments).
There is something
beautiful about the time of year. Baked goods, junk food, and some of my favorite flavors are a few examples. This next set of 5 days in the advent calendar is the promised food post. Turn on the oven, sit back, and let your mouth start watering....
16. What are the holidays without great food? Well they are still pretty great but there is no better way to a woman's heart than some great flavors. Peppermint is one of
my favorite flavors and scents. Check out some
peppermint holiday recipes I found for this holiday season. Which is your
favorite?
"Life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react."
"Life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react." John Maxwell
It is clear that the past few days have be composed of some gnarly events. We all process tragedy differently and that is ok, good even. For this week's Creativity Prompt (#7) I invite your to take a look at my response and respond in your own time and your own way.
I have been writing a lot of lists for the blogging class I teach at The Cooper Center for Creative Arts. It
serves as a way to brainstorm and process information. I have seen a
lot of heartfelt posts and a lot of posts using the tragedies in the
news as a political sales pitch. I understand that we all grieve
differently and I understand that all the Facebook posts and trending topics on Twitter are important and necessary to those doing the posting.
I
wanted to respond a bit differently so I decided to create a list and
jot down some of the words going through my head. I am not opposed to
explaining why I picked some of the words (though they might have just came to me). I really don't want to
argue or even debate (maybe I will put up with some respectful dialog, maybe). However, I am much more interested in knowing what words my list conjures inside of you. Share a couple below.
For the third part of my Holiday Countdown I am sharing some of my favorite Pinterest posts including inspiration, photography, crafts, projects, gift ideas and more.
My advent calendar will consist of 25 links, songs, tutorials, home
decorating ideas, photography and artworks that inspire me. Since I
started late I will share the first five today.
Are you going home for the holidays? Did you save all of your packing for the last minute? If you stress out about packing like I do, this list is for you.
My husband and I in Yellowstone, WY
I created this packing list to use for my last minute travels and I hope it comes in handy for you as well. I am a big believer in planning ahead and being organized enough to allow for creative thought (just because I believe in this does not in any way mean that I am any good at it). When my mind, desk, studio, closet or other workspace is cluttered I am forced to focus on the mess rather than what I really care about which is being creative (and to get back on topic, packing).
This past summer I had several fantastic opportunities to travel and every time I stressed over what to pack and how to pack all of my art supplies.
So here is my last minute packing list to allow stress free packing.
1. Pashmina scarf or other large warm scarf - No matter what time of year or where I am going I have either used my scaves or regretted not taking one. I have used one for everything from cute fashion accessory (they really do spiff up an simple tank top and jeans) to a blanket in the airport on the way to Haiti. If camping or in another rustic climate you can use an older scarf as a towel, skirt, bag, pillow, or table cloth.
2. Snacks – I have some pretty annoying allergies that could ruin any trip so it is nice to be prepared if I cant find food. I also get hungry in cars and like to take some healthy snacks so I am not forced to eat gas station food. Dehydrated foods are great. A water bottle is a must for me as well.
3. Phone and/or camera – Other electronics are included here.
Does your creativity need a boost? Even the most creative people need a little nudge sometimes. These 40 creative prompts are designed
the get your creative juices back in gear and encourage you to switch things up.
I tend to create a lot of social justice and activisty type work. Some
of my subjects can be quite heavy. For me, Upcycling offers some great opportunities to switch things up a bit and still practice daily creativity.
#6 Upcycle – find some scraps of something you plan to recycle or toss and create something functional, beautiful or new.
Here are some sets, 5 to be exact, of my 12 day countdowns for Christmas. That's 60 days of Christmas. Can't beat that. Keep reading for date nights, music, craft ideas and more fun winter ideas.
6. These ideas will be great for the next 5 months of winter here in Laarmaie. 12 Dates of Christmas is such a fun idea.
I absolutely love Advent and Advent calendars. There is something beautiful about the time of year. The coming of a savior for those who share my personal Christmas beliefs as well as a time for family, sweaters, hot chocolate, scarves and winter sports for the rest of us. The season is full of joy for many.
My advent calendar will consist of 25 links, songs, tutorials, home decorating ideas, photography and artworks that inspire me. Since I started late I will share the first five today. The fist set of five are a bit random but be sure to check back in a few days for music, gift ideas, food, and more.
1. The best way to start my 25 days of Christmas Countdown is with this super cute photo from my Pinterst page,
Untitled Project Created while listening to music I like and music I dislike
Make the best with what you have. Does a family member or friend really love a genera of music you abhor? If so let them listen to the music while you respond this next creative inspiring prompt.
These 40 creative prompts are designed
the get your creative juices flowing by allowing you to detach from
your daily routine whether it is writing, making art, staying at home
with children or working. One way to detach is to give into to an activity that you actively avoid whether it is a show you dislike or even a specific chore. This prompt embraces of the those dislikes.
Draw to Music you Dislike – Pick a song you do not like and draw for the
duration of that song. This is an exercise for the subconscious mind.
Don’t try to draw the lyrics or musician. Use shapes and color to
describe what you feel.
These 40 creative prompts are designed
the get your creative juices flowing by allowing you to detach from
your daily routine whether it is writing, making art, staying at home
with children, making art, working, or something else. This prompt is designed to help you continue on in the Thanksgiving spirit a couple more days (and hopefully everyday).
It is often easy to complain especially when...oh never-mind.
Let's practice being thankful today.
Be Thankful – Create a list about things you are thankful for. Include at least 10 items, people, events, privileges or opportunities in your day-to-day life. If you want to be super ambitions make a list of 100 or more and start a blog or an art journal about what you are thankful for. Journal everyday or week for a set amount of time.
1. My family - including my husband Jim, my parents and my grandmother
2. My friends - I love spending time with my creative friends
3. My job - I have the best job in the world
4. Food, water and shelter - Life is good
5. Creativity - I love that I have been given the opportunity to learn to be creative
6. My past - good and bad
7. My future - I welcome the challenges to come
8. My pet salamander - and the pets I had growing up
9. That I have found things I am passionate about - I love making art and advocating for others
10. My stubbornness - I have learned a lot by not giving in and standing my ground
11. That I don't need to do it all on my own - I am thankful that I have friends and family as well as a strong faith life
12. The many opportunities I have had - I know how fortunate I am
13. My privileges - Light-skinned privilege, American privilege, etc. I acknowledge that some are more privileged than others and I recognize the things that have helped me get to where I am today.
There have been several people interested in purchasing necklace charms or magnets from The Lily Pad Project.
Since I am not offering my lily pad paintings, sculptures, and most of the experimental art for sale until my exhibition in April, I decided that I would put these guys on sale for Black Friday and maybe a bit longer (but no promises as to how long).
Each magnet and charm is hand painted using watercolors, sized to match a glass bead, and pieced together. The paper back is sealed with diamond glaze for waterproofing. Each piece is unique.
The Lily Pad Project uses lily pads and water lilies to talk about human trafficking. The flowers represent the beautiful women that we often see in the sex industry. What we don't see in the sex industry are the root systems below the surface. The lily pads take resources back to the root system. You can view my blog for more connections to human trafficking.
I am also selling greeting cards. $1 per sale goes to Arts Aftercare.
Untitled Project Created while listening to music I like and music I dislike
Sometimes we all need a little boost when it comes to creativity and I hope my series of 40 creative prompts can provide that boost for you this winter. These prompts are designed the get your creative juices flowing by allowing you to detach from your daily routine whether it is writing, making art, staying at home with children or working.
This Sunday I am encouraging you to take out some music and enjoy.
Draw to Music you Love – Pick a song you enjoy and draw for the duration
of that song. This is an exercise for the subconscious mind. Don’t
try to draw the lyrics or the musician. Use shapes and color to describe
what you feel.
If you are not currently receiving my Felicia Follum Art+ News you are missing out on several opportunities to $save big. I send an E-news letter about once a month or every other month. The letters include upcoming events, special deals, announcements and more.
There is no better way to start off your Sunday that a little writing. The second Creativity Prompt in my series of 40 is free writing.
Free Write – Write for 10 minutes non-stop. Write about anything.
Anything goes; save censoring and editing for later. This is just to
get your mind thinking. This is also a good way to draft your artist
statement. Don’t be surprised if you only have one or two usable
sentences or even just a word here and there. The point of this
exercise is not to write a novel or any finished composition in one
setting but rather to help your mind start flowing more creatively.
Eden, Watercolor, Felicia Follum, 22x13, $145
Possible free write topics
A specific piece of art
A favorite pet
Emotions from looking at your art
A city you would like to visit
The next holiday
Other people's artwork
A favorite artist
A gallery exhibition
An ETSY item
Your wish list
Black Top
Glass Bottle
Respond to the painting
Alright to kick off my Art+ Creativity Prompts I figured I would start with some election inspiration. So many people seem to be fueled by the politics surrounding us though we never really step out and look at the 2012 election (or any other for that matter) from the other side or analyze the benefits of the opposition. Regardless of results we need to learn to honor and support our country/president even if we disagree. Since this post is a little late in the game I am offering a couple alternative options.
1a. Political Ad – Create a political advertisement for the candidate you do not plan to vote for.
It might help if you try to look at areas where two parties agree or try to keep in mind that all people genuinely want what is best for the country but we all disagree on how to get there.
The reason I chose to encourage the creation of an add opposing your views is to avoid all of the terrible designer work we see on Facebook. Just take the time to think differently and brainstorm. That's what creativity is all about.
Regardless of ones political beliefs Obama's logo and campaign were both revolutionary in the fields of Art history and graphic design.
I remember sitting in my Art History class and my professor getting excited because she knew some of the art historians working on the campaign. We discussed the Orator's pose and the new concept for logo design. In my Conceptual Graphic Design and Typography classes we talked about the
versatility of the logo design, and the use of image as type, and type
as image.
Not only is this the first time I can remember seeing a strong campaign logo, but it is also the first time where an actual street and graffiti artist played a major role in a political campaign with the iconic Shepard Fairey posters (pictured below). It was, and still is, clear that there was something different. Obama is about change, at least to much of the art world and counter cultures (but we wont get into that now).
I am a fan of logos that can function as a recognizable image without text (such as Target and Nike). Obama's logo accomplishes this and I cannot think of another presidential campaign with the same accomplishment (even the 2012 campaign). The Obama flag is a another example of the diversity his logo embraces. Change was present in the visual rhetoric whether we believe we have seen it in Obama's time served in office or not.
I love this logo more than most anything dealing with
the presidential campaigns. It is a breath of fresh air in the 3 1/2
year long election season.
What are your thoughts on the design? Are there other election campaigns that have a srong visual language?
Keep reading for some blogs insights and posts offering deeper insight from the logo designers and more.
With estimates as high as 27 million slaves world wide and hundreds of thousands in the US it is obvious to me that much of my time needs to be spend on the topic of human trafficking. Through research that has gone into my Lily Pads series I have found a vast array of resources addressing human trafficking and would like to share some of my favorite with you.
IJM - Simply put IJM is a human rights organization that aids in the rescue of trafficking and other victims. IJM can be found on Facebook. There are advocacy pages for many states that can update you with specific information for your state. Find the Wyoming IJM Advocacy Group page here. To find your state search "___________ IJM Advocacy Group." If your state doesn't have one contact JusticeCampaign@ijm.org.
Photo taken in Art Alley, SD to use for inspiration.
Arts Aftercare - Arts Aftercare helps create art therapy kits to send to aftercare facilities throughout the world. Art is one of the most powerful tools when it comes to working with children, people who have experienced trauma, and when there is a potential language barrier. Currently 10% (or more) of all my sales will go to Arts After care. You can see more on the Arts Aftercare Facebook page.
JUBILEE - Curtis Romjue founder of Arts Aftercare is also a part of a not-for-profit band raising money for Arts Aftercare and other aspects of fighting slavery. You can find JUBILEE on Facebook.
Polaris Project - The Polaris Project has an international hotline that you can contact about all things trafficking. They have several databases and registries for all of the state and provide a plethora of other resources including a variety of trainings. As you read this enter their toll free number into your phone. 1-888-3737-888 Polaris Project Facebook
Not For Sale - This organization is working on behalf of vulnerable communities and offers apps that allow you to check how products have been made. Free2Work - This app grades brands on a A-F scale based on how they relate to child and forced labor. Slavery Map - Maps stories of slaves world wide The Underground Church Network - An invitation to all who have a faith based community. There is a specific branch for the Jewish community.
Many women's shelters, safe homes, police departments and other organizations have some training or knowledge on the topic. Though there is a good chance that they are not fully qualified to handle a trafficking situation.
What are some of the most helpful resources you have found on human trafficking and sex slavery.
Creepies+Crawlies is an art series featuring several of my snake and lizard watercolor paintings. They will be up in The Grounds coffee shop starting October 23 and remain up for several weeks (The show will most likely come down sometime in December). The opening reception will be held on Tuesday, October 30.
Get more information and updates on the Event Page.
Water Lilies are beautiful plants but the ecosystem that they have adapted to survive in is not so glamorous. The root system and underground workings of the plant are extremely complex and parallel the system that supports trafficking.
One of my past jobs involved working for Works of Wyoming (WOW) a non-profit with the purpose of helping artists turn their art into a career. I had several positions in the two+ years there. As a volunteer my roles included curating and hanging shows, graphic designer, teacher, retail clerk, marketer, and social media expert. As the social media expert I created and ran the WOW blog for a short period of time. Since the blog is no longer active, I would like to share some of my favorite blog posts with you via my art blog.
1. Work and Play - Using Social Media for Marketing
2. 12 Alternative Art Venues - Although many of these specific venues are in Laramie many cities have a variety of places that would fall in each category.
3. Beginner Twittering - Some simple tips
4. Top 10 Art Biz Blog Tips - This is by far my favorite business of art resource and certainly one of the best out there.
5. Websites - DIY website guides
6. $mArt$$Money$ - A list of resources where artists can apply for grants and fellowships for their art.
If you are ever in or around Laramie WOW is a fantastic source for Wyoming art. Even though I am not at WOW nearly as often it is still a wonderful resource for artists and the arts community in WYO and I am proud to continue to promote them and their services. Promote what you Love! and I do love WYO art and Artists.
My Facebook profile says it all. I had a blast in Yellowstone!!! Yellowstone National Park is one of the mot awe inspiring places I have ever been. Though scientifically I have a basic understanding of how the colors and thermal features work, in reality I have no idea how the incredible place exists on this planet.
In honor of the park I thought I would share a few posts of my photography from the trip (but you may need to wait a while). Even though it is not extremely political or social justice-y it certainly applies to my art in a couple ways.
1. Protecting the environment and knowing how to treat the earth with respect when hiking or camping important.
2. The incredible beauty of creation plays a huge role in my spirituality. I have always been a Christian and activities like camping, hiking, and snowboard really help me to connect with God.
3. My images from Yellowstone would work well for the background of a meme or handbill. I have a variety of inspirational quotes I plan to illustrate.
4. There is always the possibility of using one of these photos in a graphic design or other project.
5. I took several Lily pad photographs while on the trip and as well all know (or if you don't know read my blog posts about water lilies a human trafficking) they relate to sex trafficking and human slavery in a variety of ways.
6. And I am writing a proposal to possibly do some sort of project at Yellowstone in the future. The project would likely involve educating people about the outdoors and creating plein air paintings on site. We will see if anything comes of it. Either way, I plan to return to Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons and will of course be inspired by the beauty once again.
I recently had the opportunity to have my artwork in Talent Showoffs, a local event for artists and musicians. Here is the Artist Statement that I used for the event.
Felicia Follum, Water Lilies (Untitled), 11x15
My work combines social justice themed Fine Art with graphic design techniques and processes. I tend to use a variety of mediums. Through research and brainstorming I strive to develop a creative language to talk about current social issues as diverse as African American hair, the LGBTQ community and Christianity, and world water.
The work on display tonight is from my in-progress series dealing with human trafficking and sex slavery. Though water lilies are beautiful plants the eco system that they have adapted to survive in is not so glamorous. The root system and underground workings of the plant are extremely complex and parallel the system that supports human trafficking. The most basic, yet significant, comparison is the function of the lily pads. Each pad takes back energy to the root, which would otherwise shrivel up and die in the mud.
Since I am still in the process of creating water lilies to represent those who have been trafficked in the United States, there are many directions in which this body of work could travel.
Please check out my Facebook page or this blog to keep up with my work and learn more about the symbols and comparisons I am making.
We have all heard of wearing our heart on our sleeve...how about wearing you politics on your feet? I found these great Obama shoes on Pinterest and thought I would share. Regardless of who you are voting for this election, why not share you views with the world in a unique way.
What are some other creative and respectful ways to support your candidate?
In my current artwork I am using lily pads to talk about human trafficking and sex slavery. For those of you who have been wondering how water lilies tie in with sex trafficking, keep reading. If you already have an idea, enjoy the pictures, look at more of my in progress lily pad art and keep reading just in case there is something new. Be sure to like my Facebook page while you are at it.
Detail of lily pad (early stages)
For starters, I am comparing of the underground root system of the plants to networking system of human trafficking, prostitution, and sex slavery. The intricate roots are located in dirty, slug and leech infested waters several feet below the surface. Traffickers and pimps manage to go unnoticed and stay just below the surface under the guise of a massage parlor owner or one of many other professions. The dirty water tends to be hidden by the beauty of the flowers much like the happenings in the sex industry are disguised by the women with tough skin and fake smiles.
Waterlilies can often have up to 50 lily pads all connected to, and working for, the one root system. In larger species such as the Amazon Waterlily these lily pads can grow up to 6 feet in diameter. The edges and underside often times have sharp spines and air pockets. The lily pads bring back chlorophyll to the roots and the beautiful flowers often bring back oxygen and allow the plant to reproduce.
Beginning of some watercolors and upcycled shrinky dink
With their impressive size it is no surprise that this gorgeous and aggressive plant can easily take over a lake and choke out all other life in a body of water. These plants have learned to adapt for survival even if it is at the expense of other life. Many of the women and children in the industry have been forced to survive often times at the expense of each other. This keeps them submissive and trustworthy allowing the viscous cycle of sex slavery to continue.
These are just the basics of my analogy for this body of artwork developed by significant research. As I continue to research and develop the ideas further I will share more.
"Thank you for being a brown girls dream come true, something tangible to look up to."
~Jasmine Mans
I love this poem. I think it is beautiful for those of us who do not share the physical characteristics of many past American leaders to be able to relate to someone in power in a way we have never before been able to.
I am not posting this post to tell you to vote for Obama this election. I think that there can be wisdom behind any vote. I simply wanted to honor an inspirational First Lady who has made a significant impact in the lives of many young ladies out there. I know that the African Community (Mexican American, and Native American communities as well) all need some more strong positive and beautiful role models for our children.
Reguardless of the outcome of the 2012 election I do not want this amazing woman to be forgotten.
My current plan for my Lily Pad series is to create one Waterlily for every 100 Lily Pads (the details and numbers might change as this project progresses). Each flower will represent one girl who has been rescued from human trafficking (sex slavery, indentured servitude or other forms of forced labor) in the US for every 100 who are not found.
Lily pad postcards
The waterlily is often used to represent hope, rebirth and new life. Making it the perfect symbol for those who are rescued and given the chance to start a new healthy and safe life.
Update: Since this post I have changed the 100 lily pads for every 1 water lily. My goal for total number or lily pads (and water lilies) is 1,500. I am over 500.
Today is World Suicide Prevention Day (It is always September 10 with the week, Sunday through Sunday, surrounding it as the celebrated week). I wanted to share some statistics** as well as ways that you can help to make a difference.
- Suicide takes the lives of nearly 30,000 Americans every year.
- It is estimated that there are 8 - 25 attempts per death.
- It is estimated that there are at least 4.5 million survivors in the US. - Many who attempt suicide never seek professional care.
- Suicide is the third leading cause of death for people age 15-24.
- 80% of people who seek help are treated successfully.
- The rate of depression is twice as high for Americans making less than
$24,000 a year than it is for those who earn above $60,000
Some things you can do to help... - It is up to all of us to de-stigmatize mental health issues so spread the word and encourage people to get help. - Learn to recognize the signs of suicide and depression. - Depression lies. do not believe these lies. - Everything is replaceable, except you. - You are loved and needed in the world.
Here are some of my snakes and lizard in-progress and finshed paintings. I have 2 more in progress and 2 completed. My completed works are currently in the University of Wyoming's Coe Library as a part of the Student Art League Exhibition, Encounters.
I have been waiting to announce this achievement online for awhile now...
My poster "Incarceration" was recently used as a textbook cover for a Native American History and Public Law textbook. I was ecstatic when I received the hard copy in the mail. It looks great!!
Captured Justice: Native Nations and Public Law 280″ by Duane Champagne and Carole Goldberg
You can purchase the book online at Carolina Academic Press or on Amazon.com.
