Published on March 7th, 2009
As crafters, whatever our craft may be, I think it’s important that we also feel free to define ourselves as artists. This is true not only because we create works with our hands, with meaning and intent, but also for a couple more reasons in particular:
- In a mass-market, consumer culture society, in which creation is often thwarted by purchase, and beautiful, meaningful things are often replaced by cheap, disposable, products created far away by workers in often untenable situations, it’s very important for EVERYONE to realize their capability for artistry and for things that are made by one’s own hands. Crafting defined as artwork can help bring significance to crafting and relevance to artwork.
- Green crafting, especially, is an important craft to highlight as art because of the added significance it takes on in our current environmental context and its status as a sustainable, perhaps even healing practice both for our world and for ourselves.
As a crafter, no matter your craft, Artist Trading Cards are a fun, easy, and accessible way to translate your work into artwork. Here’s how to get started: Read the rest of this entry »
Published on February 11th, 2009
1. Sculpture: Look at this inspiring upcycled artistic re-creation of metal made by artist LadybugCircus on etsy for an interesting wall hanging, clock, or hook.
2. Furniture and Lighting: A light fixture made out of an old shredder, or cheese grater looks cool. Perhaps you are into the steampunk look or modern, recycled metal for cabinets, sliding doors, cabinets on wheels and storage containers all look slick… Read the rest of this entry »
Published on February 2nd, 2009
Artist Don Simon creates stark worlds that cut to the chase and make thoughtful commentary on human’s impact on animals and their habitat. Via Grist, you can see a flash movie of his work, complete with commentary by the artist.
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Published on January 20th, 2009
Have you ever wanted to expand your crafty side and try stitching a creative texture on a fabric, hanky, notecard or decoration? If so, here are a few neat finds and tutorials on the subject this season:
- The ideas for crocheted valentines are too cute (shown above) the step by step card stitching process is fun.
- Crocheted flowers on etsy are so soft, decorative, elegant and fuzzy, they are easily the perfect winter bouquet. Read the rest of this entry »
Published on January 16th, 2009
I recently found out about this great collabortive art piece called The Box Doodle Project. The idea is that you take a cardboard box that would otherwise be thrown out, and make art with it. Their tagline is “Make the most of the least,” and I couldn’t agree with that more. If you’ve got a cardboard box, some Sharpies or paint, and some bursting creativity, you too can be part of The Box Doodle Project.
The Box Doodle Project even has an online tool, so you can still join in on the fun if you don’t have boxes waiting to be recylced. It gives you all kinds of paint colors and marker sizes. This is a great option if you would rather recycle your boxes than make art with them, but like the idea of recycled art, or if you’ve already sent your boxes off to the recycling facility.
If you don’t want to make your own, either with real materials or online, you can still enjoy surfing through all the projects that have been posted to the Project. There are some truly awesome boxes on the website, and worth browsing through.
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Image Credit: The Box Doodle Project]
Published on January 9th, 2009
Check out Elven Forest Creations on Etsy.
All the products are made from recycled, reclaimed or organic fabrics. On the top above “the feathers for the wings are from someone who had gathered fallen feathers from their farm” and“the feathers would have gone to the landfill had they not started selling them.”
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Tags:
Elven Forest Creations,
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fairytales,
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feathers,
found feathers,
reclaimed materials,
recycled fashion,
recycled materials,
recycling,
reused natural materials
Published on October 27th, 2008
I think we all know by now where the presidential candidates stand on things like taxes and the war in Iraq, but have you dared to wonder what kind of funding they have in mind for the arts? Despite the U.S. being in a dilly of a pickle, I don’t want to see the National Endowement for the Arts cease to exist.
This eye-opening article in The L.A. Times gets to the bottom of where the candidates stand on funding the arts. Although the new wave of crafting is a grass roots movement not widely supported by outside funding, sustained interest from the public correlates to the level of importance placed on arts culture. Read the rest of this entry »
Published on October 17th, 2008
One of the things about being an artist that has always bothered me is it’s a hobby (or life) which is geared towards social & political change, yet is entirely toxic to the artist and the earth. Which is an oxymoron that really hit home for me when I became chemically sensitive from the overuse of unsafe materials in unventilated areas. For years after I contemplated what art really meant to me if I could not use the toxic oils, acrylics, stains and glue I was accustomed to- all the beautiful bright colors & goop I had based my entire style on.
I love the idea of making vibrant meaningful art from materials that are locally, organically, and safely sourced- and was shocked to find that we have things in our back yard and grocery that create quality art that’s sure to make your heart thump and hands clap. These videos are of the painting process using poke berry & turmeric paints, made easily by boiling each with some kosher salt for about 45 minutes. I started 
experimenting with these paints a few months ago and the color has not faded at all- plus you can mix these organic colors together to get more variations. The paint brushes I used are made with human hair (mine and my neighbor’s), a stick and a rubber band to hold the hair in place (you can shape it perfectly with scissors!). The “canvas” is paper sewn together and hung in a tapestry fashion with locally woven organic cotton scraps.
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Published on September 12th, 2008
Some of you may already be aware of the craze that is sweeping the Feudal lands. I am sure your masters and lords have taken the time to inform you, toiling serfs, of an art form delicate in its composition, fantastic in its successful rendition, and so green that burying it within your rice paddies and wheat fields would yield no corruption of the soil. For those still ignorant of this most glorious and holy art forms I submit to you the wonder of the far east: the Mandala!
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Published on August 22nd, 2008
It’s election season ladies and gentlemen! I mean, well, it’s been election season since the beginning of the year but now we’re into the final rounds; the all-out, smack-down, Thunderdome two-men-enter-one-man-leaves, thick of the fight. What better way to voice your support for your particular candidate and focus attention on the issues you care about most than some DIY election crafts?
My first piece of political craftiness will show your above-average grasp of U.S. politics (by knowing at least one of the candidates for president). You’ll certainly be fashionable if you sport these beautiful earrings blessed with the face of a possible U.S. president-to-be!
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