greenpepperpressblog

Tag: cardboard

  • New year + new article: In the Shadows

    Happy New Year!  Hope your holidays were grand.

    This just arrived – the Spring issue of Somerset Studio. Feels like I've waited a long time to see these boxes in print since I worked on them in July and August last year.  They were so much fun.  I began with the idea of making just one, but soon it morphed into a series of four.  Totally inspired by one of my faves: Louise Nevelson.  As I write in the article, my first exposure to her work was more than fifty years ago when I was not even ten years old.  She clearly has had a lasting impression on my and often influences my work.  I will plug in a few older pieces, from 2001 and 2013.  You'll also see me standing in front of one of her immense sculptures in the Newark Museum of Art.  That photo gives you the idea of the scale she worked at – filling entire walls.  

    Here's a sneak peek at the article – soon to be in bookstores on February 1st, and always available to order at Stampington.com  

    Michelle Ward Window Somerset Studio SHADOWS

    MWShadowsx4SMALL

    MWNevelsonNJ

    MWnevelson page

    MWcardboardrelief1

    After I made my first cardboard sculpture I went to make many more, then segued into cardboard journals, and taught many classes for both.  Just love making use of readily available and non-precious materials.  Making something from nothing.  That's what I'm doing today – you'll see what I'm up to in the next article.

    Thanks for stopping by!  Again, have a happy 2024!

  • I’m up!

    Today it's my turn to share a video lesson for Nathalie's Creative JumpStart.  Have you joined in?  It's been a fun month of learning all kinds of tricks and techniques.  You can sign up anytime, click HERE.

    MWCJS2017

  • classes

    Oh my…it's been a while since I blogged.  A sign that's it has been a busy and fun summer! Can't believe it's September already. Fallon will be starting at Rutgers next week.  I love the beginning of a school year, even it if doesn't have a direct impact on my personal daily life anymore (packing lunches, driving carpool, monitoring homework….)  However, I always regard this time period as a chance to start anew.  Three quarters of 2016 is over but we still can view this month as returning students do, with sharpened pencils and fresh perspective. Shake off unfinished projects, clear off the table, open your mind, and begin learning something new.  Change of season, change of routine.  That's what September means to me – although I do try to hang on to the last pleasures of summer a little longer.

    My next two classes will be at Pratt in NYC.  See my WORKSHOPS page for the particulars.  Hope you'll come!!

    Michelle Ward Pratt Fall 2016

     

    I had two terrific classes at The Ink Pad last month.  It's always such a treat to see how the artists interpret the projects.  I always leave feeling so energized and motivated when I see the magic of creativity at work.  Thanks for joining me!

    MWFLIPworkshop

    MWFRONDworkshop

     

    I'm off to float around the pool again while catching up on my reading.  Have a great holiday weekend!

  • no-bake gingerbread house….yep, cardboard!

    For several years I've been infatuated with cardboard.  The truth about any supply or substrate: the more you use it, the more you learn.  Since cardboard is a plentiful supply, it is always within reach, and you can try all kinds of things with it.  There's nothing precious about it….trial and error is a good thing.  The only thing you need is a fresh set of blades and some imagination.  After writing articles about using cardboard, including matchboxes and small kraft boxes, for more than a year in my column for Somerset Studio, I thought the year end finale would be the perfect place to show off my Gingerbread House.  

    I've been wanting to make one like this for a while, and finally got around to it.  As I say in the article, it doesn't take any less time to make versus bake, but it will last alot longer.  I planned ahead, and have hinged openings in the back, with little shelves behind each window, to accommodate a battery operated votive.  HCIT!

     

    Michelle Ward NovDec Somerset Studio Cardboard Gingerbread House

     

    My scallop and stone stencils were the perfect tool to create shingles and a brick fireplace.  I have to admit I kinda knew that when I was designing them.  I know, it's early for thinking about Christmas decorations….I'm just putting out Halloween stuff….but it's the time of year when days fly by.  Let me know if you make one of your own!

     

    MW GPP STENCILS

     

     

  • no-bake gingerbread house….yep, cardboard!

    For several years I've been infatuated with cardboard.  The truth about any supply or substrate: the more you use it, the more you learn.  Since cardboard is a plentiful supply, it is always within reach, and you can try all kinds of things with it.  There's nothing precious about it….trial and error is a good thing.  The only thing you need is a fresh set of blades and some imagination.  After writing articles about using cardboard, including matchboxes and small kraft boxes, for more than a year in my column for Somerset Studio, I thought the year end finale would be the perfect place to show off my Gingerbread House.  

    I've been wanting to make one like this for a while, and finally got around to it.  As I say in the article, it doesn't take any less time to make versus bake, but it will last alot longer.  I planned ahead, and have hinged openings in the back, with little shelves behind each window, to accommodate a battery operated votive.  HCIT!

     

    Michelle Ward NovDec Somerset Studio Cardboard Gingerbread House

     

    My scallop and stone stencils were the perfect tool to create shingles and a brick fireplace.  I have to admit I kinda knew that when I was designing them.  I know, it's early for thinking about Christmas decorations….I'm just putting out Halloween stuff….but it's the time of year when days fly by.  Let me know if you make one of your own!

     

    MW GPP STENCILS

     

     

  • recycling at its best!

    I had the pleasure of teaching two workshops in New York City last weekend.  Hosted by The Ink Pad, and the terrific Anna and Barbara, we met at the fabulous community center, and spread out our piles of collected cardboard then made some really cool relief sculptures and journals.  Sadly, I didn't get any "under construction" photos of Sunday, but I witnessed some really awesome pages.  It's so fun to work on projects in a real-life class as the group environment is so inspiring – you get to see the discoveries each individual makes because they are at-work, and in-the-moment, where the magic happens.  We all get motivated and encouraged as we progress through the process, each of us in our own way.

     

    First up, What A Relief.  The title is two-fold, we were building dimensional corrugated sculptures, with deliberate cuts, peeling, and piercing to create relief with shadow and texture….but it was likely a relief to only have to bring a minimal collection of supplies.  A knife, cutting mat, pencil, glue….that is all you need to churn out some really cool stuff.  After the pieces were nearly completed, we placed them under glass.  Nothing is more validating than to see your efforts elevated with a frame.  Well done girls!!

    MW What A Relief class 2

     

    MW What A Relief class

     

    MW What A Relief class 3

     

     

    Next was DeComposition Journal.  I've taught variations of this class before – one of my favorites, as each artist takes on their own specific direction.  Because of the location, we were able to do some fun stuff that I usually only do at home – not easy to replicate in a classroom.  We poured scented wax into the corrugated grooves – with the assistance of a candle, we burned edges of pages – thanks to access to a sink, and we stepped outside to do some super fun spray painting with stencils.  Swoon!  Thanks for joining me – I can't tell you how much fun it was to see all of you crank out such great stuff.  

    I've got more ideas of how to use this non-precious and plentiful supply.  Stay tuned for more cardboard art classes next year!

     

    MW DeComp Journal class

     

    Up next:  the grand finale to A Year of Cardboard,  with my column for Somerset Studio.

  • recycling at its best!

    I had the pleasure of teaching two workshops in New York City last weekend.  Hosted by The Ink Pad, and the terrific Anna and Barbara, we met at the fabulous community center, and spread out our piles of collected cardboard then made some really cool relief sculptures and journals.  Sadly, I didn't get any "under construction" photos of Sunday, but I witnessed some really awesome pages.  It's so fun to work on projects in a real-life class as the group environment is so inspiring – you get to see the discoveries each individual makes because they are at-work, and in-the-moment, where the magic happens.  We all get motivated and encouraged as we progress through the process, each of us in our own way.

     

    First up, What A Relief.  The title is two-fold, we were building dimensional corrugated sculptures, with deliberate cuts, peeling, and piercing to create relief with shadow and texture….but it was likely a relief to only have to bring a minimal collection of supplies.  A knife, cutting mat, pencil, glue….that is all you need to churn out some really cool stuff.  After the pieces were nearly completed, we placed them under glass.  Nothing is more validating than to see your efforts elevated with a frame.  Well done girls!!

    MW What A Relief class 2

     

    MW What A Relief class

     

    MW What A Relief class 3

     

     

    Next was DeComposition Journal.  I've taught variations of this class before – one of my favorites, as each artist takes on their own specific direction.  Because of the location, we were able to do some fun stuff that I usually only do at home – not easy to replicate in a classroom.  We poured scented wax into the corrugated grooves – with the assistance of a candle, we burned edges of pages – thanks to access to a sink, and we stepped outside to do some super fun spray painting with stencils.  Swoon!  Thanks for joining me – I can't tell you how much fun it was to see all of you crank out such great stuff.  

    I've got more ideas of how to use this non-precious and plentiful supply.  Stay tuned for more cardboard art classes next year!

     

    MW DeComp Journal class

     

    Up next:  the grand finale to A Year of Cardboard,  with my column for Somerset Studio.

  • reminder – new york classes

     

    Tomorrow is October already?  How did that happen?  Time to get out the Halloween decorations!!  We have some new lights that will go around the front door.  They are motion activated and blink + give off scary noises when there is movement….they've been setting themselves off in the package all week!  

    Later this month I will be at The Ink Pad in NYC for two cardboard classes.  Full description on my workshop page.  Follow the sidebar buttons, or click tab at top of page.  These will be my last two classes this year.  Hope to see you there!

     

    MW InkPadClassesReminder

  • reminder – new york classes

     

    Tomorrow is October already?  How did that happen?  Time to get out the Halloween decorations!!  We have some new lights that will go around the front door.  They are motion activated and blink + give off scary noises when there is movement….they've been setting themselves off in the package all week!  

    Later this month I will be at The Ink Pad in NYC for two cardboard classes.  Full description on my workshop page.  Follow the sidebar buttons, or click tab at top of page.  These will be my last two classes this year.  Hope to see you there!

     

    MW InkPadClassesReminder

  • serendipity boxes

    Still defaulting to cardboard……I've been collecting anything and everything with brown paper packing.  These little craft boxes are a terrific addition to my cardboard sculptures, and they were the perfect fit inside an assemblage frame.  See the July/August Somerset Studio for the complete article. 

    Michelle Ward Serendipity Boxes Somerset Studio July August 2014