Watercolour Showcase!

Cool colours--so many subtle differences! From Valerie

A post about art! I needed to stop thinking about the whole Myers thing for a bit, at the risk of sounding like I sound like a broken record. Echoes (found via simply photo) did that for me. It's a collaborative art blog, a project to share part of each day. There is a lot of watercolour art in it, and I am reminded why I love the medium!

From Echoes

Acrylic paint is all good, bright bold colours with strange textures too, ink is always a classic medium, making stuff look cool (or is the cool stuff all in ink?), and pastels make me remember the earth, what's real... but today I see watercolour.

mmmm look at that watercolour fantasy... from Moranga

It's a strange medium, being so luminous, almost translucent at times. It can create a light and whimsy feel. Of course, there is also the highly realistic style of watercolour, which still has a touch of dreaminess to it, maybe because it's so bright, especially compared to oils or acrylics.

Red Flowers by printmakerjenn really makes me think I can look right through the grey to the flowers, and even the sky beyond. Originally I was unimpressed with this, actually, but it grew on me!

For me, though, the real magic in watercolour is expressing so much with minimal fine detail work. Expressing lightness and memory, a playful whimsy.

From LaurenAlexander's Etsy--I just love the style!! Light and bright bold colours. "A quiet eloquence", below, has that dreamy feel to it.

We Want YOU

What I love about looking at all the artwork on Etsy (besides being able to look at something and right away recognize the artist - some have very distinctive styles) is that it makes me feel like I can do any of the things I see. It makes me feel good about myself, connect to my creative side, and absorb some cool styles, genres and techniques.


Not to mention that it helps me develop my personal sense of style. After wading through countless photographs or plushies or dishes, you start to really get a sense of what you like, and, if you were to go so far as to start to take something up as a hobby, what kind of style you would have. It's almost like trying on different masks; it's totally risk-free, and actually free. (And if you do buy something, then you have a cool piece of art on your hands) It's a win-win situation.


I think that since I started blogging, reading the blogs that I've put on my sidebar, and exploring Etsy, I have started to feel like an artsier person. Funny thing is, I haven't even changed my activities so much! Of course, I do spend a considerable amount of time thinking about art and personal expression, certainly much more than I had previously. And actually, I am starting to move towards realizing my ideas and putting my stuff out there. (key word being 'move towards' here)

Parts for a project I have imagined creating for years. And now, a small step to completion: I found and bought these parts! At a garage sale across the street no less! These things are big. They're about 10 inches or 25 centimeters long!


I had never before liked to participate in group events at something I considered myself above average ability or talent. I always felt awkward for knowing too much or too little, unfamiliar with the jargon, or bored by topics I thought everyone knew. But 'participating' online (even if I don't contribute much), in a non-threatening environment, and one that allows users of all levels of technical skill, is definitely something I would recommend to anyone with a hobby or interest. And that's you!

It's summer!

I had to be offline for a good part of this week, which meant no posting. It was scary how much I sat there twiddling my thumbs, because normally I get home from work and spend all my time on the computer. I didn't realize quite how much time it took up, and not being able to post all week was killing me.



I love clouds...

News: shops almost Etsy-wide are having YART sales! (yart = yard + art) This is to celebrate the end of spring and the beginning of summer, so if you were ever eyeing some of the etsy items, now might be your chance. And, if you've never been to Etsy, maybe you should check it out!

If you find that little search dialog box near the top of the page and input 'yart' or 'yart sale', you'll hit some great deals on really cool handmade things. And I assure you, these are quality handmade items, not shoddy work.


To buy anything you have to make an account but it's an easy process, and once you have an account you can add favourites!! My account currently has 255 items marked as favourites (oh my goodness!) and 53 favourite sellers - those are the ones that I marked three, four, five items as favourites and kept seeing more that I liked.


What else has summer brought?


In the area, a torrentious rain last Tuesday. Hopefully you celebrated the new season without rental cars and lawyers... (though I'm sure they're delightful people)

TGIF

TGIF: Think Green, It's Friday!


Yay! TGIF! I love Fridays more than ever before...

Fridays I will post something to do with the green theme, with a special focus on green + art. I also post finds to do with the three Rs (reduce, reuse, recycle), new policies in government or industry, eco-friendly appliances and vehicles... anything green!

Totally awesome idea! 1972 children's science textbook birthday cards from cutiepiecompany

I think recycling and reusing goes hand in hand with the 'arts and crafts', and this week I would like to focus on the theme.

From collages to clothing to cards, many forms of expression and art have naturally picked up pieces for use in a project. Sometimes an old material is even the basis of a project. Not to mention the economy of using unwanted materials - get rid of something and make something new at the same time!

My "saved from the recycling" crane collection--I try to make one every day out of usable parts of paper going to the bin.

Used or old materials also have a history to them. For almost every artist, the "story" factor is what will make a sale, and humans are natural storytellers. Show someone a stunning work of art and they will be awed, their emotions stirred. Tell them how it fits in your life story, the background, your inspiration, the quirks and coincidences that shaped it, and your potential buyer is connecting to you. Which also means connecting to your art.

Using materials you went to the store to buy is normal; rescuing materials from the jaws of the dumpster, helping humanity fight to save her planet, is extraordinary.

Reusable cloth bags from zJayne's etsy

Another reason crafts and reusing are a lovely pair is that leftover materials are more unusual. This is especially true of items out of circulation for some time, or things that had trouble selling because they had a fringe audience (so no one knows about them).


And a final symptom of craft + reuse = awesome is that materials are put to use in such a different way than their creator intended them. Normally, plants grow and produce more plants; clothing is meant to be worn on the body; maps are made to instruct the reader of terrain; books are usually read. The artist is so named because they can look at these items, imagine a completely different application, and create the finished product. Suddenly, collages induce dreamy landscapes from fronds of plants, books become purses (here), maps become chess sets, and much much more.