Inspire Me Thursday

Big News!

2006-05-18T21:59:00.000-04:00

Inspire Me Thursday has a new home!

http://www.inspiremethursday.com

Don't forget to update your bookmarks and links!

In addition to the new link, we have also made a few changes in attempt to improve the site. Go check it out and let us know what you think!

New Challenge....Journaling

2006-05-12T19:55:00.000-04:00

For this weeks challenge we are going to explore ourselves by journaling on paper. Journaling is a wonderful way to get to know yourself, enhance your writing skills, and create art for yourself.

One of my favorite links is by Teesha Moore..."How I journal" If you have any great links on journaling please feel free to comment.

Thanks and have fun!!!

How To Participate Create a new piece of art (no old work please) inspired by the current week's challenge. Post your interpretation of the current challenge on your blog. Leave a comment here to let us know your artwork has been posted. It would be extremely helpful if you could include the direct link to your creation and the name which you prefer to be listed (i.e. WhateverBlog, http://yourdomain.com/yourart.html).

Spotlight on Faraway Lands

2006-05-12T00:36:00.000-04:00

Geninne's Illustration Blog

New Challenge :: Faraway Lands

2006-05-06T15:38:00.000-04:00

Close your eyes and think of a faraway place, perhaps one that you have visited before, or somewhere you hope to go to someday. Or imagine a whole new place that exists only in your mind. Allow yourself to indulge in a bit of wanderlust as you create a piece of art inspired by this special place.

Your creativeness still in need of a jump-start? Rummage through some ephemera you have been hoarding from a past vacation. Borrow a book about a foreign country from the library. Buy a travel magazine. Make a list that describes your own personal utopia. Most importantly, enjoy the ride!

Sorry I'm posting this so late!

How To Participate

Create a new piece of art (no old work please) inspired by the current week's challenge.
Post your interpretation of the current challenge on your blog.
Leave a comment here to let us know your artwork has been posted. It would be extremely helpful if you could include the direct link to your creation and the name which you prefer to be listed (i.e. WhateverBlog, http://yourdomain.com/yourart.html).

Remember...

You have one week to create and post your artwork on your blog and give us the link.
We will spotlight several entries for the current week's challenge throughout the week.
If you have a Flickr account, please join the group and add your Inspire Me Thursday photos!
The next challenge will be announced the following Thursday.
If you have any questions or suggestions, email us or leave a comment.
New participants are always welcome!

Inspire Me Thursday Digital Collage Tutorial.

2006-05-04T18:58:00.000-04:00

I am quite new to digital art but I find it so inspiring. With photoshop being such a huge program no matter your ability and comfort with working digital, learning photoshop can seem so daunting. It helps me to just focus on one aspect at a time. I am just going to show you how to make your own photoshop brushes and then use those to make a small digital collage. Photoshop brushes are like virtual rubber stamps. The right brush can do wonders to a piece of art or just spruce up the background perfectly. You can even make your own fabulous versions of the lovely Basic Grey papers to print out for backgrounds in traditional cut and paste collage.

If you don’t have a digital program you can sometimes pick up older versions of photoshop or photoshop elements on eBay for a good price. Or you can download it free for a month http://www.adobe.com/products/tryadobe/main.jsp#p39 If you want to try a free program that has some of photoshops capabilities you can download Gimp. Not the easiest thing to download but it is a powerful free program. http://gimp-win.sourceforge.net/stable.html

Okay on to the tutorial. Lets make our first brush. You can use any image you want, but for the purpose of this tutorial I would recommend downloading and using the same images I used for this tutorial. You can download them at http://www.picturetrail.com/tartx The folder titled Inspire Me Thursday just right click on the images to save them. Now open up photoshop. I like to open all of the images up and lay them out so I can see them all on my screen. I started with the image named coral but it does not matter what image you open first. Select the brush tool by mouse or by pressing B on your keyboard.

Select Edit then scroll down and click “Define Brush Preset”. Name your brush whatever you would like and click ok. There you go! Your first brush is made. Go through and do the same thing for the fish, hand and map image. (Select Edit > Define Brush Preset. Now lets make a word or phrase brush. Create a new photoshop document by going to File > New. Set your size to 200 pixels x 100 pixels at 300 dpi.resolution, with a white background. Select the type tool on your tool palatte with your mouse or by pressing T on your keyboard. Create a text box (writing space) on your document by holding the left button on your mouse and dragging out a box large enough to type a few words. Choose a font you like from your top toolbar and then type in the text box any word or phrase that you want to make a brush of. Make sure the brush tool is selected (B on your keyboard) and then save it by selecting Edit > Define Brush Preset. Lets finish our set of brushes by making a grunge brush. I love how these add texture and age to pieces. Open the file named grunge. This is a scan from a piece of an old worn out book. I am working with a dark background with light-colored scratches, so I invert the colors (control-I or on the toolbar Image> Adjustments> Invert. If you're working on a light colored background with dark lines, don't invert. There is still quite a bit of color left so I want to get rid of some of that. Image > Adjustments > Levels. Click on the white eye-dropper tool and then click once within the cream color that is left in the grunge file. This gives the image a lot more contast. Then to get rid of the cream color that is left in between the lines, grab the magic eraser tool and click within some of the cream sections until all that is left are some of the bolder blue lines and spots. Taking the regular eraser tool I also randomly erased some of the edges and fine lines that I did not want. When you are happy with the pattern you are left with then save the brush. Make sure your brush is selected by using your mouse or clicking B on your Keyboard. Then save the brush by clicking Edit > Define Brush Preset. When you are done making all the brushes, you want to save them as a brush library (or set). To do that click on the little arrow in a circle on the top toolbar where it says Brushes and Choose Save brushes > enter name click save and there are your brushes in that set. Now lets lets try them out. Create a new photoshop document by going to File > New. Set your size to 500 pixels x 500 pixels at 300 dpi.resolution, with transparent background selected. When you first open a new document, you have a background layer. We will be opening new layers to put on top of the background layer. Layers are like virtual transparency sheets. It is always a good idea to not place anything on your background layer as it is not editable. Think of it as a piece of cardstock you put the pieces of your collage on top of. So to make an editable layer go to the menu bar and chose Layers > New > Layer and click ok. This will make a transparent layer the same size as your current document for you to work with. You can see this layer and your background in the layer palette. If your layer palette is not open you can open it by going to the top toolbar and selecting Window > Layers. You will see it pop up on your screen. On the tool palette click on the colored squares. If you click on one of the squares it will open the “Color Picker”. Change the foreground color to whatever color you want or in my case I changed it to #99cccc. Then click the paint can in the tool bar palette then click on your new layer in your canvas and it will change it to that color. We are now ready to try our brushes. I changed the foreground color to #330000. The great thing about using brushes is by changing what your foreground color is you can then use your brush to “stamp” the canvas in that color. It is like having tons of different color ink pads at your disposal. Before you pick your brush it is a good idea to get used to making a new layer for each brush or item in case you change your mind. That way you can always adjust or delete just that one image. Click on the brush tool or press B and you will see under the top toolbar some options for the brush are available. Where it says Brush click the small arrow to see your brush choices. Choose what brush you want and place it on the canvas wherever you would like. Now grab one of the other brushes you made by clicking on the tiny arrow by the word Brush. (Remember to make a new layer for each brush. Go to the menu bar and chose Layers > New > Layer and click ok). Continue to do this until you are happy with your collage. *To get a watery effect before I placed the grunge stamp on the canvas I change the foreground color to #ffffcc and then after randomly stamping the canvas I made the fill level 35% in the layer toolbar. If you want you can even go through and alter each layer to have different transparent effects. When you are happy with your collage you can merge the layers by right clicking on any of the images in the layer palette and chosing Merge Visable. This will combine all of your layers into one. You can then save your new beautiful digital collage. You can EVEN save this whole collage you just did as a brush by following the same instructions. Make sure the brush tool is selected and then Edit > Define Brush Preset. Now the whole collage you just did is a brush! Viva Inspire Me Thursday! xo Tiffini Elektra X

More Options for Digital Art

2006-05-03T14:10:00.000-04:00

For those of you without image editing software, here are a few more options. These are online programs, so there is nothing to download, however the features and tools are very basic. Nonetheless, they should be fun to play around with! Collage Machine 1.0 Art.com ArtPad ToyTheater Doodle Pad MyImager Online Have fun!

2006-05-02T23:49:00.000-04:00

Tiffini Elektra X has pointed out FREE software for anyone that does not have image editing software.

GIMP

Check out her site to see more of her work (like pictured here) and for more great links. Thanks Tiffini!

Lets go Digital....

2006-04-28T09:18:00.000-04:00

For this weeks theme we are going to go digital... so stay right where you are and start creating...with your digital images. I will have a little digital demo sometime this week. For those of you that may not have a program to create digital art you get to come up with your own theme with a full report. ;-)

Thank you to everyone for participating, you are awesome. It's so wonderful to see everyone inspiring everyone else...let's KEEP it going!!!

Spotlight on Art in the Everyday

2006-04-28T09:02:00.000-04:00

MBC Designs Studio

Challenge Yourself to Find the Art in the Everyday

2006-04-20T23:19:00.000-04:00

This week, let's take a moment to slow our pace and really take notice of the common, everyday objects found in our daily life. What ordinary things can you find to make extrordinary art? Look for things you can use in your art. Or items that can be used as a tool to create art. Or perhaps an object that simply inspires you to create. This week, your challenge is to find the art in the everyday.

How To Participate

Create a new piece of art (no old work please) inspired by the current week's challenge.
Post your interpretation of the current challenge on your blog.
Leave a comment here to let us know your artwork has been posted. It would be extremely helpful if you could include the direct link to your creation and the name which you prefer to be listed (i.e. WhateverBlog, http://yourdomain.com/yourart.html).

Remember...

You have one week to create and post your artwork on your blog and give us the link.
A new tutorial related to the current challenge will be posted every weekend.
We will spotlight several entries for the current week's challenge throughout the week.
If you have a Flickr account, please join the group and add your Inspire Me Thursday photos!
The next challenge will be announced the following Thursday.
If you have any questions or suggestions, email us or leave a comment.
New participants are always welcome!

Vernal Equinox Roundup

2006-04-19T23:58:00.000-04:00

· Melanie...Navylane Studio · Turquoise CRO Thyme · Rita B. Fox · Jo's Nest · Ma Vie en Rose · Whimspiration · Turtle Jones · Denise...Firstborn Studio · La Fee Coriandre · AscenderRisesAbove · Creative Kismet · Koukla Carolyn · Ratlion · Shannonjyl · Ellen...From My Treehouse · Mumspotting · Sarah's Scribbles · Art Junk · Sioux's ZEST · Paper Thoughts · Firstborn · Geninnes Illustration Blog · Anonyrrie · Jennifer...Open Doors · Tammy's Art Blog · Brandi...Visual Awakenings · Kirsten · Robyn : Scratches & Scribbles · Teri's Painted Daisies · Karen Winters · My Right Brain · Tongue in Cheek Antiques · Scarecrow · Isay...Meaningful Undertakings

Oh, what beautiful, gorgeous spring-inspired art! A warm thank you to everyone who participated this week! Did we miss anyone? If you created a new piece of art for this week's challenge and have it posted on your blog, leave us a comment here and tell us the name and URL to your blog and we will add you to the list. Thanks! Be sure to check out Inspire Me Thursday artwork on Flickr!

Spotlight on Spring...

2006-04-19T23:25:00.000-04:00

Sharon Wisely

Karen Winters...a creative Journey

My Right Brain

A Vernal Equinox Challenge

2006-04-14T10:52:00.000-04:00

Okay, First I must thank Melanie for all of her time. She was been doing all of the work for the IMT, loading all of the links and images, and going through the piles of emails....While I have been trying to get somewhat organized...Thank you, thank you, Melanie!

For this weeks challenge we are going to celebrate SPRING and Nature! Create a piece of art using pieces of nature or thoughts of nature in your work. Go outside, talk a walk, pick up pieces of spring or remnants of the past seasons, bring them home with your collected thoughts and create.

Series of Art Roundup

2006-04-13T00:55:00.000-04:00

· Liz's Blog · Firstborn · Creative Kismet · Open Doors · Ratlion · Linda Harre · TXArtcGal · Sue Pieper · Paper Thoughts · Anonyrrie · Tammys Art Blog (2nd entry) · Right Brained Gal · Melba · Diong - Objects and Pixels · Sarahs Scribbles · Firstborn · Tammys Art Blog · Artist In Progress · Robyn : Scratches · Kirsten · Ma Vie en Rose · Whimspiration · Jacey (Cherry Pits) · The Odd Neighbor · Judy Scott · Isay : Meaningful Undertakings · Scarecrow · Geninnes Illustration Blog · Shannonjyl · Siouxs ZEST · Nomad · Art Junk · Teris Painted Daisies · Tongue in Cheek Antiques · Something Sublime-Deryn Mentock · Jo's Nest

Many thanks to those who joined us for this challenge -- so many wonderful series of art were created this week! Did we miss anyone? If you posted this week's challenge on your blog, leave us a comment here and tell us the name and URL to your blog and we will add you to the list. Thanks! Be sure to check out Inspire Me Thursday artwork on Flickr!

Spotlight on Series of Art

2006-04-13T00:52:00.000-04:00

Sioux's ZEST Stranded Nomad Geninne's Illustration Blog Right Brained Gal Scratches & Scribbles Shannonjyl Creative Kismet

New Challenge :: A Series of Art

2006-04-07T09:14:00.000-04:00

Sorry we bailed on you last week without warning! We were away at Artfest, an annual artists' retreat organized by Teesha and Tracy Moore. If you ever have the chance to go to a venue like this, we highly recommend it! It is a great way to connect with like-minded people and recharge your creativity! There are many, many comments and emails we still need to read through, so while we try to catch up and recover, we give to you a new challenge. So without further ado... This week we challenge you to create a series of art -- more than one piece of art that together makes a whole work of art. So have fun and be creative!

How To Participate

Create a new piece of art (no old work please) inspired by the current week's challenge.
Post your interpretation of the current challenge on your blog.
Leave a comment here to let us know your artwork has been posted. It would be extremely helpful if you could include the direct link to your creation and the name which you prefer to be listed (i.e. WhateverBlog, http://yourdomain.com/yourart.html).

Remember...

You have one week to create and post your artwork on your blog and give us the link.
A new tutorial related to the current challenge will be posted every weekend.
We will spotlight several entries for the current week's challenge throughout the week.
If you have a Flickr account, please join the group and add your Inspire Me Thursday photos!
The next challenge will be announced the following Thursday.
If you have any questions or suggestions, email us or leave a comment.
New participants are always welcome!

SpOtLiGhT on monochromatic Art

2006-03-26T15:16:00.000-05:00

New Challenge ~ Monochromatic ART ~

2006-03-23T21:12:00.000-05:00

Monochromatic : ~ having one color or hue; monochromatic works of art are limited to a palette of light and dark shades of one single color This weeks challenge is to create a work of art using only one color! So find your favorite color and shades of it and get started.

Think BIG Roundup

2006-03-23T13:50:00.000-05:00

· Art of Humungous Proportions · Artful Adventures · Art Junk · Be Present, Be Here · Cadence · Cheryl...LOL · Creative Kismet · Deb Trotter · Firstborn Studio · Khya · Isay...Meaningful Undertakings · Kirsten...One In Five Billion · Lori-Lyn...The Dream Life · Ma Vie en Rose · Melba · Musings of My Mind · NickieBlog · Objects and Pixels · Open Doors · The Painted Pear · Paper Thoughts · Pickled Cherry · Ratlion · Sarah's Scribbles · Shannonjyl · Teresa's Journal · Teri's Painted Daisies · Toni Kelly · Zoe..A Nice Day Out · Zorana

Did we miss anyone? If you posted this week's challenge on your blog, leave us a comment here and tell us the name and URL to your blog and we will add you to the list. Thanks!

Be sure to check out Inspire Me Thursday artwork on Flickr!

Spotlight on BIG Art

2006-03-23T09:31:00.000-05:00

Pickled Cherry Musings of My Mind The Painted Pear Creative Kismet NickieBlog Open Doors

Design Your Own Paper

2006-03-20T20:27:00.000-05:00

You can easily create your own custom designed paper by stamping with a common household item -- bleach. To make a bleach 'ink pad', fold and layer a paper towel in a shallow container or plate, and pour in enough bleach to saturate the paper towel (not drown it). Dab the stamp on the bleach pad, then stamp on paper and watch the color gradually change. Experiement with various colors and types of papers to see how each reacts with bleach; mulberry paper works really well for this technique, as well as some colored cardstock (not all paper will change color). To make a variety of designs, experiment with rubber stamps, foam stamps and household items such as a spice jar lid, bubblewrap, or a credit card. The end result is a variety of cool papers -- custom designed by you and ready to be incorporated in your art!

Spotlight on ~ BIG ~ art.

2006-03-20T15:41:00.000-05:00

Dawn Supina

ISAY...meaningful undertakings

Teri's Painted Dasies

Toni Kelly

Shannon JYL

March Challenge #3: Think BIG!

2006-03-17T00:07:00.012-05:00

This week at Inspire Me Thursday size really does matter. Take a look at your past work and make note of what size art you create most often. Then think BIG! Challenge yourself to make your art bigger, wider, taller, longer, broader, thicker. Perhaps you could choose a larger canvas. Or go from two-dimensional to three-dimensional. Or alter a piece of furniture instead of an altoid tin. Whatever your chosen medium, push yourself to take your art to new heights!

How To Participate

Create a new piece of art (no old work please) inspired by the current week's challenge.
Post your interpretation of the current challenge on your blog.
Leave a comment here to let us know your artwork has been posted. It would be extremely helpful if you could include the direct link to your creation and the name which you prefer to be listed (i.e. WhateverBlog, http://yourdomain.com/yourart.html).

Remember...

You have one week to create and post your artwork on your blog and give us the link.
A new tutorial related to the current challenge will be posted every weekend.
We will spotlight several entries for the current week's challenge throughout the week.
If you have a Flickr account, please join the group and add your Inspire Me Thursday photos!
The next challenge will be announced the following Thursday.
If you have any questions or suggestions, email us or leave a comment.
New participants are always welcome!

Senseless Art Roundup

2006-03-16T02:23:00.000-05:00

Did we miss anyone? If you posted this week's challenge on your blog, leave us a comment here and tell us the name and URL to your blog and we will add you to the list. Thanks!

Be sure to check out Inspire Me Thursday artwork on Flickr!

Spotlight on creating senselessly

2006-03-15T19:29:00.000-05:00

We have a Flickr group open to everyone that participates here. If you have a Flickr account please join the group and add your Inspire Me Thursday photos! Thanks!

Click HERE

Sharon Wisely

Trisha

Sally Turlington

Spotlight...

2006-03-15T16:15:00.000-05:00

Sarah's Scribbles

Pink Oranges

Cheryl...LOL

Bright Red Shoes

Melba

Spotlight on Sense-less Art

2006-03-13T20:48:00.000-05:00

Did you create senseless art this week? Let us know -- leave a comment with your blog name and link so we can check it out!

A sense ~ less entry...

2006-03-11T23:55:00.000-05:00

I just recently purchased a Moleskine and have been using it for personal writing and illustrations. Looking through the pages I feel very conservative with my pages, so I wanted to create this challenge in my journal, knowing whatever the outcome, it most likely wouldn't be like the other pages, plain and simple.

I started out using a green paint that, I question why it is even among my paints being that it is so un~me...it felt liberating to use a color I am not too comfortable with. Once the pages where painted I added a white piece of watercolors paper to the center. I then did a drawing with my eyes closed. I then used markers to color in the drawing, a medium I find a bit challenging to begin with. Next, I added a few more bold colors with crayons. Then, I worked in a little more paint, added a little collage, some thoughtless writing, more crayons, more paint, and called it done!

As I created this piece I let my thoughts go...not grabbing onto any one thought for more than a second. It was completely quiet and I cannot smell or taste anything due to a lingering cold, making this challenge a little easier!

I hope everyone is having a great time with these challenges! We are thrilled with all of the wonderful work that everyone is creating! Thank you!

March Challenge #2

2006-03-09T10:15:00.000-05:00

Now that we have put our sense to the test let's see what we can do when we take them away... This weeks challenge is to create a piece of art without using your senses. How??? Vision ~ Sight ~

We all have visions of the artist we are or wish to be...Let those visions go for now. Try working with your eyes closed. Try it, you will be surprised at how much fun it can be... It's a whole new perspective. Feel-ings ~ touch ~

Let yourself go, don't let yourself get caught up in the feelings of your work or what you want from the outcome. Give yourself complete freedom to create art without expectations. Hear ~listen~|

Don't listen to your inner critic. Forget about your conscience telling you to fold the laundry...Keep it quiet, no distractions.

Tastes ~ taste~

Everyone has tastes that define who we are...Let these go. Try using a color you might not gravitate to normally. Try a new style. Try a whole new medium.

Smell

Don't tune into any smells. Let it all go. Be creatively senseless!

Remember...

You must create a new piece of art for this challenge, no old work please!
You have until next Wednesday to post your interpretation of this challenge on your blog.
We will feature several entries for this challenge throughout the week.
The next challenge will be announced next Thursday.
If you have any questions or suggestions, email us or leave a comment.
New participants are always welcome!

Five Senses Roundup

2006-03-07T11:54:00.000-05:00

It is truly a delight to the senses to see all of the entries for this week's challenge -- thanks for another inspiring week! Below the featured entries, you'll find a complete list of all the fabulous artists who participated in this week's challenge.

Did we miss anyone? If you posted this week's challenge on your blog, leave us a comment here and tell us the name and URL to your blog and we will add you to the list. Thanks!

Spotlight ~ Creating with all five senses ~

2006-03-06T10:42:00.000-05:00

Zorana

You still have lots of time to take part in this challenge...

If you have posted your finished work on your blog please leave your link in the comments for this post.

Thank you!

A Mixed Media Collage Using The Five Senses

2006-03-06T08:05:00.000-05:00

Sand an unfinished piece of wood.

Apply a few layers of gesso.

While the gesso is still wet, stamp an image repeatedly over the entire piece.

Soak a torn piece of a music sheet in coffee. For quicker results, dampen a pinch of instant coffee grounds and rub over damp paper.

After gesso is dry, apply a layer of color.

Apply a second color, gently, focusing on the raised parts of the textured background. Use a paper towel to wipe off any excess paint.

Choose some collage elements -- the coffee-stained music sheet, fabric, a stamped word, and a faux flower.

Adhere with gel medium and voila!

Exploring creativity and the senses...

See... art supplies scattered before me, a view of outside -- leaves and twigs rustling on the ground, a closed studio door. Touch... the feel of paint on my fingers, the texture of the background. Smell... the mustiness of the vintage music sheet, the smell of the paint, the aroma of coffee. Hear... the rough sound of the sandpaper against the wood, the whirring noise of my heat gun as it helps quicken the drying time of the wet paper and paint, Cyndi blaring from the speakers. Taste... the coffee used to stain the vintage paper (I poured myself a separate cup to enjoy while I created my collage).

March Challenge #1: Five Senses

2006-03-02T07:06:00.000-05:00

This week's challenge involves some sensory exploration: Can you use all five of your senses in your creative process? See. This one is probably a no-brainer since most, if not all, of us use our eyes to create. So how about doing things differently -- cover one eye, look through a tinted piece of acetate, or change the lighting while you work? Touch. Go beyond holding your supplies -- come up with a way to add some texture and make your art feel gritty, velvety, bumpy, squishy, soft. Smell. Depending on your chosen medium, this one may or may not be easy. Whether it's a pleasant scent or an offensive odor, explore what materials or techniques can stimulate those sensory receptors. Hear. Make some noise while you create: tap, snap, tear, pound, rip, or scratch that piece of art. Taste. Please refrain from tasting any toxic materials, of course, but instead, head for the kitchen: is there anything edible you can use in your art? So get those creative juices flowing, and be sure to get those five senses involved! Remember...

you have until next Wednesday to post your interpretation of this challenge on your blog.
we will feature several entries for this challenge throughout the week.
the next challenge will be announced next Thursday.
if you have any questions or suggestions, email us or leave a comment.
new participants are always welcome!

Spotlight on Self Portraits Without A Camera

2006-03-02T00:54:00.000-05:00

We loved all the various interpretations of this theme and clever ways you portrayed yourselves! From digital to pastels, assemblage to pencil, and everything in between and beyond, all the self portraits were so inspiring!! Cowboy's Sweetheart The Collage Contessa Toni Kelly Bohemian Girl

Like a book on a shelf: a dog-eared, flea market paperback; the leather bound classic; a coffee table art volume with a kicky, bold cover. She is ruffled pages and ruffled hair. She is a cookbook with grated cheese in the binding. She cups words in her hand and drinks them like water. She drowns in quotes and synonyms. She uses words wrong. She uses them right. She prefers the Book Antiqua font. She is a run-on sentence with made up verbs, too many adjectives, and a few forbidden adverbs. She is inappropriate and she is repetitive and she is a conjunction without a function. She is dangling participles, misplaced commas, and up for interpretation. Could you pass her your Cliff Notes? She would be eager to hear what they say and abide by that Theory. She is page numbers and margins and chapters. She is candied description, a scuffed love story, a thesis without a drink to wash it down. She is a footnote, an afterthought, in a text where she wants to be the title. She does not understand that footnotes have their own place, that a footnote can be fun. She throws snowball bursts of color--ochre, pimento, saffron, magenta, tangerine, cobalt—at the Table of Contents and the Index. She is pastel chalk sketches on the pages in between. She is the sequel. She is the prelude. She is volumes 1 through 34. She is a private diary tucked under a mattress. She is a tell-all memoir with shocking, nude photos in the middle. She is a treasure map to some, and to others, a clue. Feather through the pages and she sighs to you before you go to sleep at night—notice me. Feather through my pages, she sighs. Notice me.

The Bean Counter Colors On My Mind kellyrae

Acrylic Self Portrait

2006-02-26T15:36:00.000-05:00

Gesso the canvas

initial Sketch

Base coat adding a little depth with layers

2006-02-24T22:58:00.000-05:00

February Challenge #2: Self-Portraits... Without A Camera

2006-02-23T10:46:00.000-05:00

This week we'll explore Self Portraits.... without a camera. Any medium, any size, but no photographs, please. If your first instinct is to turn and run in the other direction, please reconsider! You can have a lot of fun with a theme like this: two-dimensional or three-dimensional, abstract or realistic, sketch, paint, collage or sew... explore the possibilities! Need some further inspiration? Check out these sites:

Want to play? Create your self portrait before next Thursday and post it to your blog. If you're new to Inspire Me Thursday, leave a comment or send us an email with the name of your blog and your link and we'll get you added to the sidebar. We look forward to seeing your self portrait!

Spotlight on ATCs

2006-02-22T22:51:00.000-05:00

What a fabulous response to Inspire Me Thursday's first challenge! It was refreshing to see so much diversity in both medium and experience in working with this small size -- several of you had never created an ATC until this challenge. Bravo to you all! Thank you for your participation and your enthusiasm! New challenge coming soon -- stay tuned!

ART of Humungous Proportions

Adding links

2006-02-21T13:40:00.000-05:00

I have added some more links. If you would like to be added please leave us a comment!

Thank you and spread the word ....

A little demonstration on creating an ATC

2006-02-21T09:28:00.000-05:00

watercolors paper cut to size 2-1/2" x 3-1/2"

Gesso both front and back to keep card from warping

Add your favorite color

I added a little gold over the yellow to give the card a little shimmer

Find a favorite stamp and paint it another color (I am using white)

Stamp onto your card to add a little background

It doesn't have to be perfect...Just have fun!

More stamping...This time with ink

Ready to add a little collage

The paper you see here is from Sweet Water Sisters Pantry

Outline and add color with markers

Using Art crayons add a border

Get those ATC's Posted

2006-02-18T10:15:00.000-05:00

Welcome everyone. I am so excited to see people interested! Thank you! If you have not made an ATC before, now is a great time to try. Get out your pens, paints, pencils, brushes, markers, and paper and CREATE! This is not a competition, it is for pure inspiration. So please join us and post your newly created ATC's. We will be posting a few of the created ATC's by Thursday when we post our new challenge.

February Challenge #1: ATCs

2006-02-16T08:41:00.000-05:00

This week, let's make some ATCs! An ATC, or artist trading card, is a small piece of art measuring 2-1/2" x 3-1/2". Other than the size, there really are no other rules -- anything goes! For the base of the card, you can choose from a variety of materials -- cardstock, watercolor paper, cardboard, fabric, or whatever else you might have on hand. Then paint it, collage it, sew it, embellish it, you name it! Post your ATCs on your blog then share your link with us by leaving a comment or sending us an email.

Welcome to Inspire Me Thursday

2006-02-12T16:58:00.000-05:00

Inspire Me Thursday: a weekly dose of inspiration to be creative, try new techniques and explore new mediums. We challenge all artists to get out their art supplies, experiment and CREATE!

Each Thursday a new challenge will be announced on the site.
To participate, create a piece of art inspired by the current week's challenge.
Post it to your blog sometime before the following Thursday.
Email us or leave a comment and we will add your link to the list of participants.
We'll post a few of our favorites on Thursday, as well as a new challenge.