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.

14 Healthy Snacks for the Working Artist

Plenty of artists have painted fruits and vegetables, but do we get enough to eat?  Americans tend to have unhealthy diets, so I thought I would promote some health tips for both the artist and average American.  Here are some tips to help the busy working artist get enough fruits and veggies.

14 Great Snacks for The Healthy Artist on the Go

1. Peppers – peppers (mini sweet peppers are my husband’s favorite) can be cut into bite sized pieces and placed in individual serving size containers. If you like you can add you favorite salad dressing to dip them in. If you can find a pepper that you like without the dressing you will certainly save calories and fat. I like to stuff peppers with beans and corn.

my healthy fruit cake for my graduation

2. Homemade Trail Mix - Take your favorite dried fruits, add peanuts (and other nuts), pretzels and M&Ms or any other mini treat you desire.  Don't forget that even though peanuts have a lot of nutritional value they are high in fat. 

TIP: When you have a snack that you tend to eat too much of or that you know is high in calories or fat, create individual containers or baggies.  I do this with fig newtons and reuse the bags.  I know exactly how much I can have for 100 calories.  I also know that if I took an entire pack, I would eat them all.

3. Fruit - I love how grapefruit, Avocado and Kiwi come in their own serving bowl.  Just cut in half and spoon the yumminess out.  Avocado is also high in fat, so don't over do it. Any fruit will do.

4. Veggies - Pre-cut carrots, radishes, peppers, broccoli, and any other vegetable work well.  Snap peas are quite filling, delicious and only 35 calories for a serving.  I have even done this with jalapenos (though I am not sure about their nutritional value).  I learned to be more careful cleaning them out than I am when I use them for cooking. Zucchini and cucumber are great with hummus. Veggies can be added to many meals such as eggs, pasta, breads, or turned into patties.

Outdoor Inspiration

I absolutely love summers.  I have had another great weekend in the outdoors.  Hot weather and the outdoors are wonderful.  Weather backpacking, campin, hiking, snowboarding, or just sitting and drawing, I will never get sick of being outside in the sun.  Although most of my artwork does not revolve around landscapes and nature, it is difficult to not be inspired by the natural beauty that surrounds us in Midwest.  I have always used being in the outdoors as a reflection and art time (read more about how the outdoors has played a role in my spiritual life on my religion blog. 

I found this quote and decided to use it for my own handbill/meme because it describes me perfectly...

"I just need some time in a beautiful place to clear my head"

so true...

The Snowy Mountains, Wyoming.

You can see some of my outdoor photos (which may turn into artwork) on my photo blog.
Be sure to follow my blog for paintings and drawings inspired by my summer outdoor adventures.

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?

My Bra Art

Felicia Follum, 24"x36" 1 in 8 Bras

This poster is for the "Support the Cure" art exhibition at the Artful Hand Studio and Gallery in Cheyenne, Wyoming.  All of the work in the exhibition feature or are inspired by the bra in some form or another.  I chose to create a graphic design poster, in a style inspired by Paula Scherr.

Through research I found that 1 in 8 women have or have had breast cancer.  This poster displays 8 different kinds of bras, one of which is specifically for women who have had a breast removed due to cancer.  The Mastectomy bra is the same color as the stat to show that it is the 1 out of the 8.

If you would like to purchase a print of this poster 20% will go toward cancer research.  Please let me know and I can set up an item on ETSY or we can trade in person.

Bra Art

Tomorrow is the opening reception for the Support the Cure exhibition.

The exhibition was set up by Georgia Roswell at the Artful Hand Studio and Gallery in Cheyenne, Wyoming.  All of the art in the exhibition will be inspired by the bra.  I will have at least one poster in the exhibition and would love to see you there.

If you purchase any work from this exhibition, 20% will go to support breast cancer research.

I did not create the poster design.  Check out my blog in a couple days or check out the show to see my poster.

Spirits

Did you know that there are towns in the United States with the one purpose of selling alcohol to, and killing Native Americans. White Clay Nebraska is one of these towns.  The population is around 14 people and they sell $4 million worth of beer a year to the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota.  The town has nothing but liquor shops. 

There are many racist and ignorant stereotypes that surround the Native American population in the town that I grew up in (Rapid City, South Dakota).  The term "Lazy drunk Indian" is a phrase that you hear on a daily basis.  It is important to remember that the term is applied to any homeless or drunk person regardless of their race.  A story about the racism back home. 

I am not really sure what can be done about the alcohol problems and the race problems associated with both.  My response was to create this poster to help make the point and raise awareness about Alcoholism and towns like White Clay Nebraska.

Diabetes: Solutions?

This poster discusses a couple possible actions that can be made to begin the transition to a healthier Native American (and other high risk people groups).

Those living on the reservation do not always have access to the healthiest and best quality foods.  I a large amount of the food is highly processed and uses unhealthy ingredients.

Corn Syrup is one of these unhealthy ingredients that is in a lot of low quality foods.  I found a restaurant on a reservation (I think that it was in Arizona or New Mexico) that grew their own fruits and vegetables.  The goal was to help the community begin to eat healthier. 

In addition to eating habits, some solutions include taking care of your body and over all health.

Even though it is simple to place all of these solutions here and claim to know the answer, the problems surrounding the reservations are much more complex.  The more you learn about the situations and the history, the more complex the problems become.

Do you have any other tips for those who may be at risk for Diabetes?

Diabetes: The Problem

When you begin to look closely at some of the Indian reservations in the US, you begin to see that there truly is real poverty in America.  This is one of six social justice posters in a graphic design series all about the Indian reservations. 

What are some reasons for the high diabetes rates?  Some solutions to specific causes will be addressed in another poster...

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. 

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.

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.  : )

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

Make a Valentine for Mother Earth...

or What is UpCycling?

Lets start by defining recycling.  Recycling is taking something old and and turning it back into something of equal value.  For example taking plastic bottles and sending them somewhere, having them processed and then turned back into plastic.  Upcycling is arguably better.  Upcycling takes something old, like those same plastic bottles, and turns them into something that can be used and has greater value, like a vase or jewlery.

Quick Definition



Why I Love Upcycling

Well, I have always loved art and being creative.  I also hate wasting.  I am not perfect and don't think this about everything but I go through weeks when I feel guilty every time I throw something away or look at how much trash we have.  I have recently decided to combine these two interestes and they produced Upcycling.  It sure has been a great discovery and journey.

My Projects

Here are my Upcycled projects.  So far I have created paper beads, pot holders, and shopping bags from shopping bags.  I am in the process of creating some storage bins using old boxes and rolled magazine paper.

Here are some great posts/websites on the topic of Upcycling.

7 things to upcycle

Sexy Upcycling - I still like the record bowls.

EDOT (Every Day One Thing)

UpCycle (Giving junk a second chance)

Crafting a Green World

Terracycle - This site collects trash.

Recycle This

Are there any sites that you absolutely love?  Let me know.

Circuit Board Gift Card/Photo Album

This is the perfect gift for the nerd in every young ladies life.  This project was fairly simple and fun.  I was going to make the circuit board into a a photo frame but the dremel bits I had were too week, so I used the circuit board as a cover and added a light up piece.

For those of you who want to make this you need a circuit board, Ulfa knife (like X-acto only better), dremel (my board had holes), electrical wire, newspaper, paint, and ink.

Turtorial and more images below...

Upcycled Curtain Bags



4 Pocket Bag in use



Over break, my grandma gave me an old sewing machine she picked up at a garage sale.   So far, I have created several bags.  My favorite upcycling project involving my grandma’s machine are these bags made out of old curtains that were thrown into the free pile in our apartment building.

There is still enough curtain material to make 3 or four more bags like this.

Here are some other bags I have created 

Upcycled Plastic Bags Bag

Knifty Knitter Bags

More Curtain Bag photos below...

Knifty knitter

For Christmas, I asked for a Knifty Knitter and I love it. I have really been enjoying creating projects and patters. So far, I have created two purses, a scarf, a hat, and an upcycled plastic shopping bag made from used shopping bags.

I don’t really like to use patterns but rather create my own and the edit them each time I make something. Here are images of my first few projects. If you want to purchase anything just comment.

More Photos Below...