greenpepperpressblog

Tag: cool stuff

more shapes

I've been working on some more summer shapes and will show you those later this week. I dug up some older ones, from 2009. I hope it inspires you to look around at the interesting profiles and silhouettes that come with the season.

Speaking of silhouettes – I read in the exhibition catalogue from the recent Alexander McQueen show that he preferred designing a garment from the side view.

    "I design from the side, that way i get the worst angle of the body.
    You've got all the lumps and bumps, the s-bend of the back, the bum.
    That way I get a cut and proportion and silhouette that works all the
    way round the body." Lee Alexander McQueen

Isn't that interesting? Gives a much different perspective to look at a figure from the side. We tend to notice fronts and backs – but side view is genius. It was an amazing show – well worth the five hour wait in the broiling sun. You may have heard about the outrageous lines to enter the museum….Fallon and I were two of the thousands baking in the heat to see the exhibit on the very last day.

I loved this one – on display, and with a video to illustrate the painting process. See that HERE. (Photos borrowed from Met site.)

We are continuing studying color and names with the current crusade. It's been a fun investigation to review this aspect of our creative process. Come see what we have been doing HERE.

August 8, 2011
summer shapes

I love the change of seasons and how each one influences my perspective on art-making. Lighter and brighter colors emerge in summer….and I can spray paint outside which makes me want new stencils. I look around the yard and find new shapes to replicate with tyvek to use in my work. Stencils, masks, and stamps – quick, cheap, and easy new tools to play with.

I am currently away from home (typepad lets you pre-schedule posts!). I am in northern Minnesota for a Kelly family reunion – our first gathering that isn't a wedding or funeral. Thanks to the organizer, my brother John, we are having an early celebration of my Grandmother's 98th birthday.

I have my camera – I am certain I will be finding additional new shapes as inspiration in the deep woods. See you next week!

EDIT: I've gathered all my favorite hand-cut flora and fauna stencils and put together a collection of mylar stencils, available at GreenPepperPress.com

July 29, 2011
summer shapes

I love the change of seasons and how each one influences my perspective on art-making. Lighter and brighter colors emerge in summer….and I can spray paint outside which makes me want new stencils. I look around the yard and find new shapes to replicate with tyvek to use in my work. Stencils, masks, and stamps – quick, cheap, and easy new tools to play with.

I am currently away from home (typepad lets you pre-schedule posts!). I am in northern Minnesota for a Kelly family reunion – our first gathering that isn't a wedding or funeral. Thanks to the organizer, my brother John, we are having an early celebration of my Grandmother's 98th birthday.

I have my camera – I am certain I will be finding additional new shapes as inspiration in the deep woods. See you next week!

EDIT: I've gathered all my favorite hand-cut flora and fauna stencils and put together a collection of mylar stencils, available at GreenPepperPress.com

July 29, 2011
ruby tuesday, winks, and spells

I couldn't pass up the opportunity to make a journal spread about this….and of course I have to blog about it too. I was so thrilled with the Artist Portfolio in Art Journaling. I was curious about what pages they would choose to present from the handful of journals I sent them that spanned several years. Those of you who know me well can imagine I squeeeeed when I saw all the evidence that I'm a fan-girl turn up in the publication. They certainly captured the real me, don't you think? But I'm wondering….is it possible that Stampington & Co. is under the spell of the heartagram?

For the uninformed, the Heartagram is the logo for my favorite band, HIM. We have been fans for years, have seen (and met them) numerous times, and serve on their street team.

So what makes me think Stampington is under the spell? The proof is in their magazines. It started with Jenny, who deliberately printed these *winks* between friends. I write about it in this blog post about Altered Couture (April 2007), and this one about Somerset Studio (August 2007).

But then the heartagram shows up again in Art Journaling. This time Jenny wasn't responsible. It was a committee, headed by Kellene Giloff, owner of Stampington, who determined the visual content. I recently asked Amber Demien, editor of the magazine, to share some insider information….did they realize what they were doing? Was it serendipity that these images appear in print, was it another wink, or had they fallen under the spell? Amber is an enlightened girl, and knows the heartagram, so she imparted the knowledge to Kellene, who freely selected the pages you see. It's obvious the emblem has either cast its magic….or maybe they simply believe. *grin*

Be careful when you look into the eye of that partial portrait stencil…..you are getting sleepy….very very sleepy…..sleepy….

July 26, 2011
ruby tuesday, winks, and spells

I couldn't pass up the opportunity to make a journal spread about this….and of course I have to blog about it too. I was so thrilled with the Artist Portfolio in Art Journaling. I was curious about what pages they would choose to present from the handful of journals I sent them that spanned several years. Those of you who know me well can imagine I squeeeeed when I saw all the evidence that I'm a fan-girl turn up in the publication. They certainly captured the real me, don't you think? But I'm wondering….is it possible that Stampington & Co. is under the spell of the heartagram?

For the uninformed, the Heartagram is the logo for my favorite band, HIM. We have been fans for years, have seen (and met them) numerous times, and serve on their street team.

So what makes me think Stampington is under the spell? The proof is in their magazines. It started with Jenny, who deliberately printed these *winks* between friends. I write about it in this blog post about Altered Couture (April 2007), and this one about Somerset Studio (August 2007).

But then the heartagram shows up again in Art Journaling. This time Jenny wasn't responsible. It was a committee, headed by Kellene Giloff, owner of Stampington, who determined the visual content. I recently asked Amber Demien, editor of the magazine, to share some insider information….did they realize what they were doing? Was it serendipity that these images appear in print, was it another wink, or had they fallen under the spell? Amber is an enlightened girl, and knows the heartagram, so she imparted the knowledge to Kellene, who freely selected the pages you see. It's obvious the emblem has either cast its magic….or maybe they simply believe. *grin*

Be careful when you look into the eye of that partial portrait stencil…..you are getting sleepy….very very sleepy…..sleepy….

July 26, 2011
ruby tuesday: me first

I have probably mentioned this at least once…Me First Journaling is when you score some new stuff – like paper, or ribbon, or another cool supply, and you take clippings for yourself. This is an important part of my ritual as it frees me to USE the rest of it. None of this 'save it for the perfect thing'. I used to be that way. Then I learned that if I take a sampling for myself in my journal, and make a note about where I got it and why it appealed to me, I was more inclined to actually employ the material. My hoarding habits are less severe now. It feels good to come across pages like this in my journal – it is a record of my interests, and was fun and easy to make.

Have too much stuff that you are afraid to use because you don't want to part with it? Take some Me First cuttings and set yourself free 😉

July 19, 2011
ruby tuesday: me first

I have probably mentioned this at least once…Me First Journaling is when you score some new stuff – like paper, or ribbon, or another cool supply, and you take clippings for yourself. This is an important part of my ritual as it frees me to USE the rest of it. None of this 'save it for the perfect thing'. I used to be that way. Then I learned that if I take a sampling for myself in my journal, and make a note about where I got it and why it appealed to me, I was more inclined to actually employ the material. My hoarding habits are less severe now. It feels good to come across pages like this in my journal – it is a record of my interests, and was fun and easy to make.

Have too much stuff that you are afraid to use because you don't want to part with it? Take some Me First cuttings and set yourself free 😉

July 19, 2011
craft/kraft

Have you noticed that lunch-bag-brown type of paper is sometimes called 'craft' and sometimes called 'kraft'. Which one is it? Does is depend on how a brand names a product? That's what I had thought until I strolled over to wikipedia and learned there is an actual kraft process of making this type of paper. It was invented in Germany, where "kraft" means strength or power. I did not know any of this!

When I first started visual journaling my go-to surface was a spiral bound, heavy white paper journal by DMD, sold at Michael's in the scrapbook section. When those were no longer available I switched to my current favorite, made with kraft or black paper, by Paperchase. I could always count on getting them at Borders but recently they are harder to find. Since I like working on a non-white page, and I'm beginning to panic that my stash of Paperchase journals will run out in the next year, I started making my own.

Staples carries a file folder made of recycled material in a craft/kraft color. You can get a box of 100 for $12.99. I wish they were a little heavier but the economics works for me. I cut down the folders into a page size of my choice, then punch and coil bind with my Rubicoil from Bonnie's Best. If you are thinking of trying this keep in mind the page holds a dampness when painted so you should allow a full day of drying before you continue working or it will make you crabby.

I also like to make journals from cardboard. I cut down boxes and make pages – paying attention to the direction of the corrugation. I like to peel away the top surface to expose the grooves. I like to have pages with both horizontal and verticle orientation of the corrugation. I cut strips of tyvek to hold it together. I will present a tutorial on that another time if you're interested.

If you have a favorite source for kraft paper journals share it with us in the comments below. We'd love to hear about it!

July 18, 2011
craft/kraft

Have you noticed that lunch-bag-brown type of paper is sometimes called 'craft' and sometimes called 'kraft'. Which one is it? Does is depend on how a brand names a product? That's what I had thought until I strolled over to wikipedia and learned there is an actual kraft process of making this type of paper. It was invented in Germany, where "kraft" means strength or power. I did not know any of this!

When I first started visual journaling my go-to surface was a spiral bound, heavy white paper journal by DMD, sold at Michael's in the scrapbook section. When those were no longer available I switched to my current favorite, made with kraft or black paper, by Paperchase. I could always count on getting them at Borders but recently they are harder to find. Since I like working on a non-white page, and I'm beginning to panic that my stash of Paperchase journals will run out in the next year, I started making my own.

Staples carries a file folder made of recycled material in a craft/kraft color. You can get a box of 100 for $12.99. I wish they were a little heavier but the economics works for me. I cut down the folders into a page size of my choice, then punch and coil bind with my Rubicoil from Bonnie's Best. If you are thinking of trying this keep in mind the page holds a dampness when painted so you should allow a full day of drying before you continue working or it will make you crabby.

I also like to make journals from cardboard. I cut down boxes and make pages – paying attention to the direction of the corrugation. I like to peel away the top surface to expose the grooves. I like to have pages with both horizontal and verticle orientation of the corrugation. I cut strips of tyvek to hold it together. I will present a tutorial on that another time if you're interested.

If you have a favorite source for kraft paper journals share it with us in the comments below. We'd love to hear about it!

July 18, 2011
ruby tuesday project pages

Sometimes my journal pages show evidence of a project before, during, and after. Here I show my sketches, notes, remnant materials, and photos of completed project for the memorial boxes seen on the current Somerset Studio cover.

I've been asked about the poppy pods. Got them from ebay some time ago and was pleasantly surprised when they arrived as they were much larger than I ever expected. Couldn't resist spraying them red, especially for my memorial boxes. The red poppy signifying eternal sleep.

July 12, 2011