Art+ India Exhibitions

If you have kept up with my art and travels via my Facebook page then you already know that I have been creating work inspired by my trip to India and you have been waiting patiently for an opportunity to see this new work.  If you have not been keeping up be sure to like my Art Page on FB and keep reading.

There are currently (I plan to add a third option in the next couple weeks) two chances for you to see my new artwork inspired by my recent trip to North India. Both exhibitions will be up throughout the month of October.

Honey Bee Studio Gallery
Reception: October 4, 6-8 pm

Visual Art Building lobby
Reception: October 25, 6-8 pm

Please visit the Facebook Event Page for more information or if you would like to RSVP.

These two exhibitions will have unique bodies of work from me and several other artists who traveled to India with me through the University of Wyoming Art Department.

Be sure to subscribe so you don't miss the stories inspiring my work. I will post soon with more info and artist statements.

Tattoo Fashion: Off the Soulder Shirt Tutorial

Fashion is something that has nearly fallen off my to do list as I finished up the last couple years of my Art and Humanities degrees. As a creative person I have always enjoy self expression through my clothing, hair, makeup, and body art so it only makes sense that I would return to this area of my life at some point.

I am currently at that point in life where I am transitioning from college to “the real world.” Over the past couple years I have been updating my wardrobe to match and in the meantime decided to make the commitment to get a large tattoo. The tattoo decision is impacting my fashion sense in some fun ways. Since starting my ¾ sleeve, I have really been focusing on clothing that emphasizes a specific part of, shows all, or covers my arm. I currently refuse to buy or DIY any clothing that doesn’t fit into at least one of these categories.


One of my favorite styles that shows off my water lily is the off the shoulder look. I will be creating a video tutorial on YouTube in addition to the one below..

Art In Haiti

Me sharing a a Paper Bead Lesson

Here is a post from my religion blog. I talk about my experience teaching art in Haiti leading art lessons. I will edit the post a bit. To see the original and more about the religions of Haiti and my spiritual experience check out my SckRlgn Blog.

As many of you know I was fortunate to be able to take a trip to Haiti last summer (2011). The goal of our group was to build a chicken coupe in a small village community while spreading the Good News.

One of the cultural differences led to the Haitian males taking away most of the American women’s jobs while working on the chicken house (polaye in Creole). Though frustrating for some of the ladies in our group, this was a good thing for two reasons. First, I strongly believe that it was our job to equip people rather than do for them. And second (third, fourth and fifth), this dynamic led to me being surrounded by tons of kids, and the opportunities to lead art lessons, learn some Creole, and having the chance to spend quality time with one of the older girls. One-on-one time with a role model of some sort is a major need for many young women in Haiti. In fact if I go again I plan to take nail polish to share with the young women (probably women of all ages).

The photo above is me teaching some of the order girls and young boys how to make paper beads. You can read more about the Upcycled paper beads in my tutorial. I also took around 60 friendship bracelet kits (just cut string ready to be braided or knotted) Using art to connect with people was a unique and beautiful experience. I went in with no Creole and some of the older kids knew how to count to 5 in English and say Miami. The art lessons allowed me to make friends with one of the families as well as some other kids and leaders in the community. Using art allowed us to teach each other basic language skills but also forces us to use sign language (actually having sign language experience was more beneficial than my Spanish) and other forms of communication such as body language and sounds.

I would love the opportunity to go back to the small village again, to show the kids that it was not a one-time event, but rather a sincere investment in their lives. I also have a small amount of money to take back from selling my art in response to the first trip.

My Urban Art+ Studio Mini Garden

Even though we have the best apartment in Laramie, I would argue that there are some pitfalls to every great thing.  One of ours is that we have little to no natural lighting, forcing my husband and I to plant our urban garden in my art studio.  (My studio space is actually in our apartment building on the same floor and everything, so its not a big deal at all.)

I purchased some starter plants from a local greenhouse.  An older lady starts all of her plants in her garden at home and sells them.  This was great to know because it means they all grow well in Laramie.  Each small planter was $1.  8 plants for $8, not bad.

For the planters I used some plastic containers the lady at the green house gave me.  I will be taking the leftovers back. 

I also had some wood drawers that were from an old paint desk, from the old Fine Arts building.  Another student had used these drawers for an art project which I later found next to a dumpster.  Upcylcing and urban gardening in one shot!


Here you can see our plants from above.  In the back there are three pepper plants, two Cute Stuff and 1 Hottie.  In the front we have the spices, parsley, dill, mint, chocolate mint, and one more that I just forgot.

 

Do you have an urban garden you would like to share? Any tips? What plants do you grow? Feel free to share in the comments below.

Ink Lounge Screen Print Workshop

This workshop was a wonderful opportunity to learn some fairly simple DIY printing processes.

All you need is a screen, photo emulsion, wax paper, a squeegee and ink.

First you choose your bottom color and cut that shape out of wax paper. The paper will stick to the screen because of the ink.

More photos and my final print below.

Upcycling Inspiration for Earth Day!

For Earth Day I thought it would be appropriate to share some of my Upcycling projects, my Upcycling Pinterest Board and my  World Water Poster.

Circuit board inspired Art
More Circuit Board Inspired Art
Circuit Board Gift Created from an actual circuit board
Upcycled Shopping Bag
Upcycled Men's Shirt into a Shopping Bag Part 2
Paper Beads in Haiti

T-Shirt Necklaces
Dead Roses

Paper bead art lesson in Haiti

Some of the 150+ projects that can be found on my my Upcycling Pinterest Board include rubber band cards, Gumball Machine Fish Tank, Newspaper Art, CD Jewelry, toilet paper tube and plastic bag projects, Lego necklace, QWERTY key art, old window projects and many many more fashion, decorating and art ideas.


I am sure that these ideas will provide you with just the project inspiration you are searching for this Earth Day!

What are your favorite upcycling projects?

Journal - Ink Drawing

 Here is another book arts piece with a simple binding and ink drawings.  The back and inside of the front cover also have drawings.  

I would like to make these using homemade paper for the filler paper in the future.

I think that it would be a fun way to upcycle some scraps that I have laying around.

I plan to create more but would like to personalize them a bit more (so if you have any friends you want to buy a gift for, give me their name and we can work something out : )

I might also make some with "Live, Laugh, Love" or something like that as well.

Productive Playtime and Profitable Passions

Over Spring Break I went to the Golden Key National Honour Society Regional Summit (This is the official terminology). One of he sessions that I attended focused on how you can do the things that you love doing and build your resume at the same time. My list from the workshop included things like arts/crafts, snowboarding, hiking/camping/backpacking, rock wall, riding my bike, working with people, blogging/journaling, yoga, and networking. Many of these interests could translate into leading art lessons with kids, graphic design projects, photography projects or volunteer work and community service.

I would now like to use the chart we were given to see where some of my more random projects (which I have posted in this blog) could fit into my grand scheme of being a an artist (photographer, illustrator, and/or graphic designer).

Click below to see my final chart and to read more about being a scanner (or to learn what the term refers to).

Pillow Turorial

In this tutorial you will learn how to make a pillow cover and pillow form from upcycled material.  Click a link to see more about the finished product and to learn more about the Works of Wyoming Gallery and their workshops (click this link for more photos from the workshop).


Materials include a sewing machine (could be done by hand but would be much more difficult), pins, zipper, stuffing (or pillow form) scrap material.

 

My Sewing Kit

Before you learn to sew you should know what to have in you kit.  Here are 10 items in my sewing kit and 3 I still need.

1. Fabric scissors – I still need these. All I currently have are old scissors. If I ever get some facy material I will get the scissors too.
2. Paper Scisors
3. Pins
4. Black thread
5. White thread
6. Misc thread
7. Pin Cushion I made with my grandma
8. Sewing needles
9. Straight Pins
What I still need to add
10. Chalk
11. I probably should get a thimble
12. Pinking shears – I still need these too. I was recently able to see the magic.
13. Seem ripper – I still need one and keep forgetting to pick up even a cheap one…

I also have misc fabric to sew on and old clothes to upcycle.

Upcycled Shopping Bag Tutorial

Here is where the basic idea came from these bags came from.  I tweaked it quite a bit.

My bags are upcycled from old mens dress shirts from the free area in our apartment.

Gotta love the free area!

Supplies you will need are fabric, scissors, pins, a needle and thread.  Some additional supplies I used were included chalk (a pencil or pen will work), a sewing machine, a safety pin, an iron and ironing board.  You could also use a ruler but I didn't. 

5 Upcycling Projects I Would Like to Try

I love love love researching and looking for new projects to try.  I figured I would share some of my findings with you guys.  Many of these will make great gifts and be fun, simple projects.

The projects are handmade paper, a T-shirt patch, a purse organizer, picture frames and a skirt from a pillowcase.

Curcuit Board Isprired Art

This project was from my Drawing III class where we explored a variety of mediums and pushed the definitions of what drawing is and can be.  My other circuits piece was also from the same class.

Although we did not focus on the basic terminology of design, this would be a great project to do so


What you will need: heavy paper, gesso, paint, ink, water color.  You could really use anything that makes marks and a surface that makes sense with that medium.

First you take the prepared drawing surface and you draw all over it.  I made what started as ambiguous shapes and ended up adding detail to create music notes and circuity-like objects.

After you draw on the first piece, cut or tear it up and rearrange the objects in a way that creates an interesting composition.  I mounted mine of mat board.

Here is one of the final pieces that I came up with.  I mostly used ink, graphite, and pastels.
 
 See below for some modifications to this project.

Pillow Project

One of my goals is to teach workshops, or classes, to people.  My dream job would be to do this with troubled youth or homeless for the purpose of either art therapy or to teach a trade of some sort.  For my internship, I have had several opportunities to help teach calsses, in-part for the purpose of learning more about how a workshop would be set up.

I helped with a class at the Works of Wyoming Gallery a couple weekends ago.  The class was taught by Bren Lieske.  While there, I took photographs and helped a couple participants.  I also made my boss a blue pillow to match her new artwork.

Helping with this workshop also helped me solidify the idea that I would really like to lead workshops in the future.  I have given graphic design and art lessons.  Maybe I could combine the tow and lead an Intro to PhotoShop workshop.  We will see...

Here are some of the photos of the finished products.  All of the ladies had a good time and many are excited for the next sewing workshop.

Upcycled T-shirt Scarves and Neclaces

Though I am a social/political fine artists, I do still have periods of time where I just want to be creative and take a break from my more serious work.  I love upcycling and the idea of making something beautiful out of something we would otherwise throw away.  Here is one of my favorite projects to create during the times between heavy social/political research and project creation.  T-shirt scarves/necklaces.

I have seen these all over the place (well in upcycling and DIY YouTube videos and websites) so I decided to start making them myself.  Every time I wear one of mine I get multiple compliments and I am going to share my secret with you..

All you need is an old T-shirt, good scissors.  I like to use fabric glue, charms, beads, and fabric scraps (can be from your t shirt).

Instruction and more images below.

Upcycled Shopping Bag

Here is my new grocery bag that can go in my purse, or your purse if you want to buy, or make one. : )
Let me know if you do.

See how small it gets.  There is still a lot more room; I plan to make the next one smaller when stffed.

Upcycled Magazine Boxes - Tutorial



I began this upcycleing project as a way to help me organize some of my art supplies. I have a bunch of old magazines that I use for various projects. I also have these gorgeous (well they have character) red shelves that are mostly empty. My projects have not been keeping up with my magazine stash, my art supplies were a mess, and the shelves were nearly empty...so I decided to make these cute boxes that would fit perfectly in the shelves.  Keep reading for a tutorial.

This would be a fun project to do with a group of girls.  It would work well if i ever worked at a residential treatment facility again.  : )

What Do You Do With Dead Roses?

Well here is what I would do...
Make Potpourri and Dried Flowers
and maybe take some artsy photographs along the way.

 

Tutorials below...

13 Projects Inspired by My Non-Art Related Interests

As we all know, I love art and design.  However, woman can not live on art alone.  She must have more in her life.  Here are some aspects of my life that serve as both inspiration for my art as well as a break from my work.  See my post on my Non-Art Related Interests. I hop you enjoy.

My ANArexia video

The beauty in nature anything from
1) tiny flowers Photography to 2) gigantic mountains
3) Learning new things - CD Packaging
4) Philosophy and psychology - Miscellaneous Art Therapy Projects
5) Various religions and Jesus - Grace is a bit Queer
People
6) My husband - a gift for him created from a circuit board from his senior design project
7) Family - Upcycled Christmas Ornaments (gifts for family) any one can make these!
8) Homeless people - Native American Reservation Social Justice Posters
9) Troubled Youth - ANArexia animation
Being Healthy
10) Exercise – yoga and rock climbing and currently break dancing and bike riding - some of this photography (specifically the concentric half circles) were inspired by meditation and relaxation.
11) Eating yummy healthy food - Diabetes Poster  from Native American Reservation Social Justice Posters
12) The three Rs (Reduce – Reuse – Recycle) - My first good upcycled book and other upcycled projects
13) Relaxing baths - My mom's Christmas gift was homemade bath salts

What work of yours has been inspired by something completely unrelated?

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Circuits Inspired Art

To create art using this style you will need:

Gesso (or white paint from the scrap section of a hardware store)

Acrylic paints

Ink (black)

Pastel or Conte Crayon

Steel wool

Other miscellaneous supplies

Instructions and process below