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Surf City Archives |
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| Stamping, Painting
and Coloring Make Me Giggle Chicagoland artist Trena Brannon takes the prize for the most tell-it-like-it-is site name, and she backs it up with art and projects that let you in on her crafting artistry. Projects here are especially valuable, as each one includes materials and numbered steps, as well as an illustration of the completed art. Among the featured art are cards, pop-ups and tags. And if that weren't enough, visit Brannon's other online galleries at Club Posh and Splitcoaststampers. Just click on their links on her home page. Also visit her companion site, the bounteous card-oriented locale known as The Brannon Factory. It's at thebrannonfactory.com. ARTchix Studio The biggest challenge facing you as you check out this site in British Columbia is where to begin, as it's loaded with gallery art, free classes, swaps and collaborative activities. Especially strong here are art dolls, artist trading cards, handmade books, jewelry, collage, assemblage and themed holiday art projects. All the instructional steps, materials lists and completed art are presented with each undertaking, too, such as the 80-plus projects in the Classes & Activities section, as with the Fun Art Doll Pin and Summertime Notebook. Online galleries are conveniently grouped, and you'll encounter altered books, "chunky" books, purses and many others. The section on the 20 or so featured artists further spreads the joy, again showing project steps and tips, materials lists and completed art. The DreamBox art spotlights highly dimensional shrine-like art, window formats and card-based assemblages. And to make your daylong visit here even more fulfilling, click on the many newsletter links and discover yet another universe of gallery-level art, news and instruction. La La La - Love and Acceptance New Jersey artist and author Emily Townsend here shares her love of art journaling, mail art, altered art, artist trading cards, collage, goddess cards, collaborative deco vignettes and other recreations. All have companion illustrations, for visual pleasure. Townsend's journaling instincts are pursued and fulfilled with a linked companion site, Creative Art Journal, where she blogs about such matters of the heart. The art is clickable to larger size, for close-up inspection and self-edification. Live the Life You Imagined From artist extraordinaire Tim Holtz, at your service. Internationally acclaimed, Holtz presents several monthly techniques challenges, and along with instructional text, a full complement of close-up illustrations (superior camera work is the norm!) result in a first-class lesson. Art is clickable to a larger size, for improved instruction. Archives go back several months, so plan on a total Holtz experience and take your time roaming around here. The artist's blog has Holtz in a conversational mood, for an accent on his personal interests. Diane Maurer-Mathison For more than two decades, Diane Maurer-Mathison has been teaching and writing books about paper and the paper arts, and her Internet site provides further access to her and her creativity. One site section gives an overview of seven of her more recent books, while other site sections look at accordion-fold books, collages, frames, silk scarves and note cards that she makes available. The supplies list for marbling and other paper technique provides insight into her major interests vis-à-vis handmade paper. |
January 2009 Daily Collage Project
As the heading says, this site is about making a collage every day. And that's what you'll see and enjoy here-a new collage to, for example, start your day and to give you ideas on technique, materials, color and composition for your own rubber stamp and mixed-media art. Each piece of art is a few inches wide and tall, so you can click on the thumbnails to see all the art in its finished size. Most of the art uses paper and flat found objects, like postage stamps and admission tickets, and such art abounds in ideas for stampers of almost any stripe. Site archives include hundreds of pieces of collage art, so plan on indulging yourself with a long visit. The site is in English, although an artist in Lisbon, Portugal, operates the site. EZMount Stamps If you're looking to manage your storage of rubber stamps, go with see-through acrylic mounts and the static-cling mounting system. That's what you'll discover here. These clear mounts also help your accuracy with image placement when you stamp, and these wood-free mounts reduce your overall costs as your collection burgeons. Among the several smart, featured designer groups are Dee Gruenig, Art-Kure (from the United Kingdom), Kort & Godt (from Norway) and October Stamps (from Sweden). Starving Artistamps Gallery Oodles of cards are here for your viewing pleasure, and gallery images are clickable to a larger size, for detailed inspection. This combination gallery and blog enjoys regular updates, too, for ever-changing appeal. Artwork is alphabetically arranged by dozens of designers and themes, as well, for quick discovery of areas of interest. From All Things Fishy, Alphabets and Andrea Cloutier to Butterflies, Country Sentiments and on down the list to Western, listings are sure to hit your sweet spot. DIY Rubber Stamping Projects & Techniques Imagine finding a site that offers a bazaar of stamping ideas, projects and related techniques and supplies. That's what's in store for you here, courtesy of cable TV network DIY. They let you relive the stamp arts by clicking on any of dozens of linked DIY episodes. Navigation is quick as you look at the schedule and choose from episodes of interest, such as Found-Object Printing, Monogrammed Pillow, Holiday Accordion Banners, Stamped-Clay Jewelry and Stamped Victorian Postcards. Just click and follow project directions. You also can print directions, to allow you freedom from your monitor. Extra: Look, also, at DIY stamp-related categories, like Paper, Boxes, Clay, Holidays and Memory Crafts, for additional projects. Ginny's Small Studio After the Art Continuum, an iconic art event that ran annually for eight years in Cleveland, Ohio, event founder Ginny Carter has leapt into cyberspace. This is where you'll find her and enjoy an over-the-shoulder look at what she's doing now. In addition to her diaristic offerings, she has organized more than two dozen linked, chapter-like sections that will take you to Mail Art, Travel, Art and ArtWork, 200th Post Contest, Empty Mailbox Contest, Journals and Journaling, and Letter Writing, among others. A wealth of links to rewarding blogs, archived commentary and other interests are a perfect complement. Carefully taken, abundant and professional-looking photographs admirably illustrate site content. |