Paint Chip ATC Challenge #3

Little Lilac, Mexican Moonlight, Root Beer, and Pink Clay Pot

I'm not sure why, but I always have to grab some paint chip samples wherever I go that has them.  Lucky for me I could actually use them.  They are a little difficult to work with as most are slick and do not like glue.  These are the four I turned in for the Paint Chip ATC Challenge #3 over at ATCs For All!

In The Style of Tim Burton Swap

Wow, I am so sorry.  I can't believe it has been over a month since I posted last.  I'll catch up with other swaps later, but I really wanted to post this about the "In the Style of Tim Burton Swap".  I love Tim Burton's work and I figured that what better way to honor him then to try and draw something he has in his website gallery.  Three of the ATCs I did were from his gallery and the fourth one was based on the his character from his art display at MoMA.

For those that are not aware; MoMA stands for Museum of Modern Art.

I figured out that Tim Burton does alot of art with stitches, black and white checkers, and spirals.  I am really partial to the flowers he does with cactus bases!

Color Palette I Purple/Blue/Green

 I never really join the "color palette" swaps, because you can use very little black or white and the main portion of the artist trading card (ATC) has to be the colors listed.  However, I really like the colors purple, blue, and green.  This was going to be a challenge for me and I had to think outside the box.  What could I do that would allow me to use all three colors while incorporating little to no black and white. 

I decided to break out the watercolors and start there.  I took three ATC sized watercolor cards and started to paint the three colors on the cards without really thinking about form.  When I was done I walked away, so when I came back it would be with new perspective.

When I returned to the cards; I was excited to see some type of form or shape and immediately broke out the glitter and metallic markers to start adding the needed flare for each card.

Needless to say, I was both pleased and impressed that I could actually handle doing a color palette ATC without alot of strain on the brain.

Our Fine Feathered Friends Swap

I was invited to join another art doll swap.  I was really excited to find out that it was about birds!  I made four bird dolls and they all turned out very colorful and pretty.  I drew each bird and then used watercoloring for coloring the birds.  I then used my permanent markers and outlined and added the details.

I haven't even begun to pretend to know how to watercolor, but I sure do like the effect.  I tried some different techniques like using a watercolor pencil to "draw" in the wet watercolor.  This can be seen on the parrot.

I really enjoyed making these birds and just wish I knew the name of the bird that hangs upside down.

Jungle Fancy Pigeon

Jungle Parrot

Jungle Blue Bird

Hanging Tropical Bird

Cat in the Window Popularity

I made a silhouette ATC called "Cat in the Window" with a Citra-Solv background and I couldn't believe how popular it was.  I've had 3 requests for the ATC.  So, I made another one using a different colored Citra-Solv background and am trading it for a Halloween ATC called "Frightful" from Rogue Gal.

Cat in the Window 002

You can never have too many Halloween ATCs and I really like her work.  Then I received another request for the "Cat in the Window", so  I PM'd the third person and asked if she didn't mind me making her one as well to trade.


Now to let her know which ATC I want from her gallery!!

More Metal Embossing

I had some scrap metal left over from the embossed metal ATCs that I did the other day and doodled on them.  I've only walked past them for the last five days wondering what to do with them.  Last night I decided to take these small pieces and put them onto ATCs.  I had some scrap paper from some very nice people that have recently sent me extras with the couple of personal trades that I've done, as well as, some Citra Solve background scraps.

I then proceeded to add some old language torn up book pages and other picture scraps and then I sprayed them all with alcohol ink.  Once the alcohol ink was dry I started tracing different patterns on the paper with various colored permanent markers.

After all the collaging and coloring were done; I glued on the metal pieces and ended up very pleased with the final results.

What I am not pleased with is the scanner I have.  My printer is going down hill and so is its scanning quality.  I scanned the four cards together and they all have the same metal, but one of them scanned really dark.  I still enjoy looking at them and I hope I get to trade them soon.

Captured Destruction

Great Work

The Dream of the Illusion

Truth in the Streams

Mount Sunflower, Kansas

Mount Sunflower is 26 miles northwest of Weskan, Kansas and we drove by on our way to Colorado. 

Our family traveled from Oklahoma to Colorado for Christmas and on the way, in Kansas, we saw a sign for a place called Mount Sunflower. I couldn't stop thinking about drawing or painting it, so when I got home I did this watercolor.

Mount Sunflower

I'm not sure if I should take this place seriously or laugh.  It really isn't a mountain, but as it is the highest point in Kansas, it deserves some recognition, I guess.

Metal Embossing

Well, I joined another swap, but this one has to do with Metal Manipulation.  I remember making some Christmas cards one year using a similar technique and decided I would try to free hand some art on the metal and make some ATCs for the Metal Manipulation Swap over at ATCs for All!

I first used the tools I had, which equated to a sculpture tool, thin end paint brush without the end, a 2/2.25MM crochet needle, and a stylus.  While you can see what looks like scratch marks up close on the scan, it doesn't look like this when you just look at the card.

I ordered some actual metal embossing tools tonight from Dick Blick and should get them around the 15th of January with their super saver shipping and then I plan on getting serious with this new found fun thing to do!

This first one is called Water Lily and is based off of a piece of art that I hand drew last year.  When I was done with the embossing I used alcohol ink to color it in.  I think it's pretty, but the jury is still out on the alcohol ink.

Water Lily

These other two are simply embossed drawings on the metal.  Both of these were done based on drawings I did last year.

Mermaid Head

Sunflower

LADYBUG Swap

I recently joined a swap over at ATCs for All! that I thought would be a lot of fun and get me over my fear of LADYBUGS!  The swap is called LADYBUGS!! and is Due Date January 10 2012. 

I finished two of them and still need to draw and color two more. 

So, without further ado here are the two that I finished;

Ballerina Ladybug

Mr. Bo Bug

Seedy Garden People Paper Dolls

I have never "made" paper dolls, so this swap was a bit of a challenge for me.  We had to use vegetables, fruit, and flowers in order to come up with these "Seedy Garden People".  The fruits and vegetables were easy, but trying to fit the flowers in somewhere was the greatest challenge.

I used brads for the four moving parts, which included the arms and legs and then I just secured the head.  The fun part was putting each little person into an actual seed packet, where they will reside until they meet their new owners.

 

We also gave them names and I used word from the catalogs that I received and put them together to give each a unique name.  There names are, from left to right:

Ruby Red Seascape

Paula Nemours

Sarah Blossom

Alcea Bernhardt

Back into the Swing of Things!

Last week I was able to whip out some artwork and I feel really good about it.  I was able to get in some trades with people over at ATCs for All!  I plan on focusing on doing some serious artwork and laundry.

Feather Mask

Mr. Sun Mask

Coffee Lover's Dessert Recipe Card

Lemon and Blueberry Bread Recipe Card

Fire and Ice Face

So, I've been working and lost my muse for a while.  Seems that is happening alot lately.  I am seriously always trying to get something done, but never in the art department.  I made this ATC a while ago and am now just getting around to posting it.  The really funny thing is that I can't bare to give it up for trading.

I love the porcelain masks with the different pictures painted on them and that is what inspired this particular piece of art.  I think I might just keep creating ATCs with more like this and then I won't feel so guilty about trading one.

Am I an Artist or a Crafter; Is that Art or a Craft?

So the age long discussion on art versus craft is still going. I know this because I recently posted the question "Is there a difference between an artist and a craft person?" I was truly amazed to find out how people felt about the two and what others' reasoning was for how they answered the question. The following is what I posted for my latest response to what has been written so far:

"In the MacMillan Webster's Thesaurus Third Edition copyright © 1997 the following words are listed:

"1.[Skill or creative Power] - Syn. skill, craft, technique, artistry, craftsmanship, artisanship, trade, creativity, skillfulness, expertise, faculty, talent, knack, flair, ingenuity, inventiveness, imagination, adroitness, artifice, cunning, craftiness, artfulness, wiliness, finesse, facility, mastery, virtuosity, know-how.
2. [The study and creation of beauty]...
3. [The product of art, sense 2]...
4. [The study of humanities; plural]..." (Laird, 1997)

After all the words listed for Art there is a paragraph that states:

"SYN. - art, the word of widest application in this group, denotes in its broadest sense merely the abililty to make or do something [the art of making friends], but in narrower sense implies making or doing that displays creativity and unusual perception; skill implies expertness or great proficiency in doing something; artifice implies skill used as a means of trickery or deception; craft implies ingenuity in execution, sometimes even suggesting trickery or deception; in another sense, craft is distinguished from art in its application to a lesser skill involving little or no creative thought." (Laird, 1997)

For the word "artist" the first two sections state for the definition:

"1. [A creative worker in the fine arts]... and
2. [A highly skilled workman]..." (Laird, 1997)

In conclusion and in my opinion we are a little bit of artist and a little bit of crafters. We are artists in that we all have or have developed various types of talent and application with what we do and it is in the eyes of the beholder to interpret what we have done. We are crafters that have learned a skill or talent and are using it to create something wonderful.

When I originally started this discussion it was my true intention to find out what others thought about the two. After reading all of the very insightful responses, I know now that it isn't about what you call yourself, but how one feels about their work on an individual basis.

This has been one of the more interesting discussions I have ever started or followed. Thank you to all who have made this topic a little more understandable.

:0)

Here are some interesting thoughts by others outside this group:
Pixelated Image
On Art(s) And Craft(s)

Wiki Answers
What is the difference between art and craft?

Denis Dutton
The Difference Between Art and Craft

Tangle Crafts
The difference between art and craft

I'm sure there are more articles out there, but I just wanted to list a few for now."

Since I am not the first to bring up this question I feel relieved in knowing that I am no different than others and we are all artists and crafters in our own accord.

Referenced:
Laird, C. G. (1997). Webster's New World Thesaurus (Third ed.). (M. Agnes, Ed.) Cleveland: Simon & Schuster, Inc.