greenpepperpressblog

Tag: rubber stamps

  • coming soon

    I've been off the radar as it's been a busy few weeks here.  I feel like a new parent.  We are very in tune with our new resident, Lucky.  She's a sweet little thing.  We've only heard her meow a few times – the tiniest little sound, although her purring is much more audible.  I'm afraid to let her have full access to the entire home yet so we have her blocked off from the basement and the studio.  Speaking of which, the overhaul went really well.  Still a few things to sort and stow or shake off.  I've gotten rid of so much stuff – it feels really good to have organized alot of it and allowed more s.p.a.c.e.  I've also been designing lots of new things which I will reveal soon.  Some prototype stencils arrived and I had to take a break from cleaning and taxes to shoot them with some spray paint.  These are going to be super fun and will coordinate nicely with the existing stencil patterns.  There will be several in the next release that feature multiple sizes of my favorite shapes.  More soon.  Sending hugs to Boston – my home for many years.

     

    MW New Stencils April 2013

  • I love art: rubbings

    I started doing gravestone cakewax rubbings when I lived in Boston.  There are so many beautiful old headstones in the cemeteries and some of the engravings are spectacular, especially for rubbing.  A few years ago I was really into taking crayon rubbings of textures – mostly stamps and stencils.  If you use the side of the crayon, and a heavy hand, you can get really nice wax coverage to reveal the pattern, then overpaint with acrylic for a cool resist.  You can even iron off the original wax for another effect.  Why rub?  It's just a way of making your own collage elements.  The additional bonus is that once you start doing it you will start seeing interesting patterns and textures everywhere.  Don't you love that?  A simple case of heightened awareness and suddenly you see your surroundings differently.  In these samples I show both current and archived rubbings, some with painted layers to demonstrate the resist.  I also include some journal pages that show how you might incorporate a rubbing.

     

    MWILOVEARTrubbings1

    MWILOVEARTrubbings22

    MWILOVEARTrubbings3

    MWILOVEARTrubbings4

  • I love art: rubbings

    I started doing gravestone cakewax rubbings when I lived in Boston.  There are so many beautiful old headstones in the cemeteries and some of the engravings are spectacular, especially for rubbing.  A few years ago I was really into taking crayon rubbings of textures – mostly stamps and stencils.  If you use the side of the crayon, and a heavy hand, you can get really nice wax coverage to reveal the pattern, then overpaint with acrylic for a cool resist.  You can even iron off the original wax for another effect.  Why rub?  It's just a way of making your own collage elements.  The additional bonus is that once you start doing it you will start seeing interesting patterns and textures everywhere.  Don't you love that?  A simple case of heightened awareness and suddenly you see your surroundings differently.  In these samples I show both current and archived rubbings, some with painted layers to demonstrate the resist.  I also include some journal pages that show how you might incorporate a rubbing.

     

    MWILOVEARTrubbings1

    MWILOVEARTrubbings22

    MWILOVEARTrubbings3

    MWILOVEARTrubbings4

  • Using them…new stencils

    Thank you so much for the enthusiastic response to the new collection of stencils and stamps.  I thought I'd show you the prototype for a visual on the set of both stencil and mask you will receive on all but the Grasses and Noise sheets.  And here is a large canvas I made using them.  LOVE how thick they are, they work like a dream.  PRE-ORDER special offer for stencils and stamps good through Monday evening, December 3, then they will be produced and shipped.  My guy said turn-around will be quick, yay! 

    Visit GREENPEPPERPRESS.com for the ordering info. if you're interested.

     

    MWFrondStencilCanvas

     

    MWFrondStencilCanvas2

  • Using them…new stencils

    Thank you so much for the enthusiastic response to the new collection of stencils and stamps.  I thought I'd show you the prototype for a visual on the set of both stencil and mask you will receive on all but the Grasses and Noise sheets.  And here is a large canvas I made using them.  LOVE how thick they are, they work like a dream.  PRE-ORDER special offer for stencils and stamps good through Monday evening, December 3, then they will be produced and shipped.  My guy said turn-around will be quick, yay! 

    Visit GREENPEPPERPRESS.com for the ordering info. if you're interested.

     

    MWFrondStencilCanvas

     

    MWFrondStencilCanvas2

  • Calling all Frond Lovers – new stencils & stamps

    I've been working on this for a while and I'm really excited to finally share this with you.  I'm introducing a new line of stamps, stencils, and stencil/mask sets.  Take a look – you get both the innie and the outie – the stencil and the mask with these sets.  How cool is that?  I've been teaching this technique and advocating that you utilize both the stencil and mask when you apply images.  I also love having images in multiple scales which is why you can get the fronds in stamps too.  After many requests following my Frond Chronicles workshop (which seems to be the most popular 'pin' of my work) I was swayed to launch this collection.  It is available for pre-order this week as I await the inventory, then the prices will adjust.  Visit GREENPEPPERPRESS.com to order.

    GPP Frond Collection Title

    Some digital samples…I like messing around with shapes, color, layering and composition digitally so I know they work prior to production. 

    MW FrondStampSample1

    MW FrondStencilSample2

    MW FrondStencils2

    MW FrondStencilSample3

    MW Frond Masking

    MW Frond Noise

     

    I will be teaching this workshop again next year.  I can't post details yet – announcement will come in January (I think!) so stay tuned.

    MW Frond Journal Workshop

  • Calling all Frond Lovers – new stencils & stamps

    I've been working on this for a while and I'm really excited to finally share this with you.  I'm introducing a new line of stamps, stencils, and stencil/mask sets.  Take a look – you get both the innie and the outie – the stencil and the mask with these sets.  How cool is that?  I've been teaching this technique and advocating that you utilize both the stencil and mask when you apply images.  I also love having images in multiple scales which is why you can get the fronds in stamps too.  After many requests following my Frond Chronicles workshop (which seems to be the most popular 'pin' of my work) I was swayed to launch this collection.  It is available for pre-order this week as I await the inventory, then the prices will adjust.  Visit GREENPEPPERPRESS.com to order.

    GPP Frond Collection Title

    Some digital samples…I like messing around with shapes, color, layering and composition digitally so I know they work prior to production. 

    MW FrondStampSample1

    MW FrondStencilSample2

    MW FrondStencils2

    MW FrondStencilSample3

    MW Frond Masking

    MW Frond Noise

     

    I will be teaching this workshop again next year.  I can't post details yet – announcement will come in January (I think!) so stay tuned.

    MW Frond Journal Workshop

  • for the record

    There was some chatter that arose after Tim Holtz made his announcements for the Stampers Anonymous new stamp releases for CHA last week.  He made it clear he is not taking credit for designing the "Classic Favorites" collection – he simply chose his favorites from the archives of red rubber wood mounted stamps done by other artists.  These are being re-released as cling vinyl.  As a former designer for Stampers Anonymous, many friends and fans of the line have emailed me about it.  I'll bet there are many of you who are not clear which ones I designed so I thought I would go on record with a set of illustrations below.  At a later date I will put together my entire Stampers Anonymous portfolio of images that have been selling for thirteen years….for the record. 

     

    MichelleWardDesigns1

    MichelleWardDesigns2

    MichelleWardDesigns3

    MichelleWardDesigns4

    MichelleWardDesigns5

    MichelleWardDesigns6

    MichelleWardDesigns7

     

    Questions have been asked as to why Tim's name is on the collection and not the original artists.  To be fair, the early artists never had their names on the stamps.  It was not the policy of the company or the original owner.  In fact, the new owner of Stampers Anonymous may not be entirely clear who can claim the designs.  I can only speak up for myself, go on record, and point out which ones were done by me – especially since many of you have inquired.  I have to say it's pretty cool that after many, many years, these images are still considered "favorites".

    UPDATE:  unfortunately there's a Part Two, click here, FOR THE RECORD…..AGAIN.

  • for the record

    There was some chatter that arose after Tim Holtz made his announcements for the Stampers Anonymous new stamp releases for CHA last week.  He made it clear he is not taking credit for designing the "Classic Favorites" collection – he simply chose his favorites from the archives of red rubber wood mounted stamps done by other artists.  These are being re-released as cling vinyl.  As a former designer for Stampers Anonymous, many friends and fans of the line have emailed me about it.  I'll bet there are many of you who are not clear which ones I designed so I thought I would go on record with a set of illustrations below.  At a later date I will put together my entire Stampers Anonymous portfolio of images that have been selling for thirteen years….for the record. 

     

    MichelleWardDesigns1

    MichelleWardDesigns2

    MichelleWardDesigns3

    MichelleWardDesigns4

    MichelleWardDesigns5

    MichelleWardDesigns6

    MichelleWardDesigns7

     

    Questions have been asked as to why Tim's name is on the collection and not the original artists.  To be fair, the early artists never had their names on the stamps.  It was not the policy of the company or the original owner.  In fact, the new owner of Stampers Anonymous may not be entirely clear who can claim the designs.  I can only speak up for myself, go on record, and point out which ones were done by me – especially since many of you have inquired.  I have to say it's pretty cool that after many, many years, these images are still considered "favorites".

    UPDATE:  unfortunately there's a Part Two, click here, FOR THE RECORD…..AGAIN.

  • artmaking tools: carved stamps

    Yesterday I was reminiscing with Mom about May Day activities in our old neighborhood.  We would make (and receive) handmade paper baskets and cones filled with flowers cut from the garden – usually nearly-expired tulips or daffodils, wrapped with a wet paper towel and tin foil, or a handful of leftover Easter candy.  Ding Dong.  We'd drop our offerings on the front step and run for cover.  Did you do that too?

    My doorbell did ring yesterday, but it was the mailman with an armful of deliveries too big for the mailbox.  Included was the latest issue of Somerset Studio.  It remains a thrill to be included in my favorite publication.  My Make it Your Own column has me standing on soapbox to encourage you to carve some rubber. 

    MWcarvingarticle

    Here is a better view on the first piece – metallic doesn't show up very well in print.  Made for Shannon.  We all think of her when we see pink roses, but sunflowers were one of her favorites. 

    MWsunflowersshannon

    MWcarvingsamples

    I included my journal pages but I always find it interesting to see the thought process of an artist at work.  Here are what my process pages typically look like while I'm working on other surfaces.

    MWcarvingpage1

    MWcarvingpage2

    And as I said earlier, and in the article, I've assembled previous posts about carving onto a tutorial page – not meant to be a comprehensive how-to, but you might find it useful, or motivating.  See HERE.

    MWtutbannerCARVINGSTAMPS