Master Class 2: Cornell & Rauschenberg

Welcome to the 5th edition of The Pulse -- The State of the Art -- a survey in words and pictures of the online artist community. The Pulse is a collaborative project that aims to introduce you to new artists, help you get to know familiar faces even more, and allow you access into the creative hearts and minds of a very talented crew of individuals. More than 130 artists have answered a series of questions which make up The Pulse. Their responses will be presented in a series of online posts which will run every Sunday.

Style File and Techniques & Tools were the first two projects posted and links to all 23 posts can be found on the sidebar of my blog. The third project, Master Class, continues now...

Participants were asked : 'If you could take a class from one artist from anytime in history, including the present, who would it be and why?'
(Images and links have been added by The Altered Page)
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Chapter 2: Cornell and Rauschenberg
Many of the classes would be crowded, as there were quite a few artists who were selected by multiple participants in the survey. Today's post highlights two American artists, each of whom came to prominence in the 1950s, worked innovatively with collage and sculpture, and used found objects in their work: Joseph Cornell and Robert Rauschenberg.

Joseph Cornell

"Beauty should be shared for it enhances our joys. To explore its mystery is to venture towards the sublime"

"That's easy" said Rebeca Trevino. "Joseph Cornell for sure, and maybe not a class but rather an afternoon walk around New York City, to the places he used to go. I would like to talk with him about his art. I would like to get an idea of how he put things together, in his head, in his thoughts, and in his art. I would like to get a glimpse of how he selected the papers and objects he collected for his work. Later, maybe we would have time to visit his studio, and work on an art piece together.

Pat Pitingolo chose Cornell "because I would love to learn how he incorporates the magic into his art. Watching him assemble a piece of box art would be fascinating and hearing his thoughts behind the process would hopefully lead to insight into what makes his art so timeless and poetic.

Anne M. Huskey-Lockard chose Cornell noting that "his boxes are so ordered but intriguing; I would love to know the how's and why's of content selection. Was it random? Was there hidden meaning? How did he choose?"

These thoughts were echoed by Amy Duncan who said "Since I consider myself a collage artist, Joseph Cornell certainly comes to mind - he was one of the first to organize found objects into an artistic arrangement. It would have been interesting to hear his insights on what he gathered and how he determined the process in constructing his pieces."

Cornell was also the artist of choice from Pam McKnight. "I love the interesting bits and pieces he put together and how he got his inspiration from walking around in NYC." She added "I grew up in NJ but moved out west at an early age and wished I could have spent some time in the NYC art scene."

detail

Darlene AkA HugGer Wilkinson went right to the heart of the matter with her choice of Cornell, saying "he worked with assemblage creations and they are simple with wonderful composition."
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Robert Rauschenberg

"I think a painting is more like the real world if it's made out of the real world."

Robert Stockton said "I am always amazed and inspired by the fact that he is a master at taking the seemingly mundane and trivial aspects of his environment, and, through his art, transform this ephemera in such a way that the viewer begins to experience the everyday objects that he or she encounters in his or her own environment differently. He introduces us to ourselves, and I think that that is what is the strength of Bob Rauschenberg. We learn about ourselves through him. Yes! Give me that kind of teacher!"

Dorothy Simpson Krause "would love to have been able to work with Rauschenberg not only because he was a master at making powerful work by inventively combining photographs and found objects but also for his spirit of exploration and collaboration."

detail

Eric Adama "would have a look over the shoulder of Robert Rauschenberg, especially while working on his early works." Eric also adds Antonio Tapies and Cy Twombly (two of my favorites as well) to his list.

Laura Lein-Svencner would also take "a class with Rauschenberg, because of his ability to stick to his visual voice." She also included Jasper Johns on her list to, noting "I love his gray series and the use of the letters."

detail

Kim Logan says "I would have loved to have taken instruction from Rauschenberg. The time that he was most prolific as an artist was one of the most exciting times in the history of art. His influential friends and colleagues were testament to his energy and talent. I would have seen it as a privilege to have heard some stories of the time, and learned from a master.
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Next "Master Class" will be held on Sunday, December 25th.

Look Inside!

The "Look Inside" feature has just been enabled on Amazon for my book The Pulse of Mixed Media. Head on over and have your first look at the inside pages. See the list of contributing artists (all 130+) and get a sneak peek at some of the words and art that together keep The Pulse beating.

Work(shop)

I have been working overtime, planning and prepping workshop proposals for 2012. I have one workshop set to go in New York City in March and will be announcing all the details soon. Several other workshop proposals have been submitted and I will be eagerly waiting to see if they are accepted. And several additional proposals are being prepared for a January deadline. I hope to be able to add a long list of 2012 workshops to my sidebar soon. Stay tuned...

Master Class 1: Women in the Arts

Welcome to the 5th edition of The Pulse -- The State of the Art -- a survey in words and pictures of the online artist community. The Pulse is a collaborative project that aims to introduce you to new artists, help you get to know familiar faces even more, and allow you access into the creative hearts and minds of a very talented crew of individuals. More than 130 artists have answered a series of questions which make up The Pulse. Their responses will be presented in a series of online posts which will run every Sunday.

Style File and Techniques & Tools were the first two projects posted and links to all 23 posts can be found on the sidebar of my blog. The third project, Master Class, starts now...

Participants were asked : 'If you could take a class from one artist from anytime in history, including the present, who would it be and why?' 
(Images and links have been added by The Altered Page)
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Chapter 1: Women in the Arts
The only thing I know is that I paint because I need to...Frida Kahlo

Jacqueline Auvigne sums this chapter up very well by 'breaking the rules' and listing 7 artists, all women. Jacqueline says "My short list includes all women who fearlessly live out their potential in most authentic ways. Making art as a women has never been for the faint of heart. These women have all been balls to wall kinda gals - while being true to themselves and their convictions, art and otherwise. The list includes but isn't limited to (yes it was a much longer list!) Georgia O'Keefe, Louise Bourgeois, Frida Kahlo, Carolee Schneemann, Kiki Smith, Yoko Ono and Coco Chanel."
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Bonnie Clark would also like to study with Kiki Smith. Says Bonnie "I consider her to be one of the greatest feminist artists of our time.

Throughout her career, she's used her artwork to explore issues such as gender, sexuality, self, and the role of women in society through a diverse array of creative mediums including painting, sculpture, collage, and printmaking, as well as mediums often considered women's crafts such as embroidery and surface design.
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Georgia O'Keefe's workshop would be very full, with three of the participants listing her as their teacher of choice.

Wen Redmond gave several answers but listed O'Keefe as first. Stephanie Hilvitz would "love to hear her speak as to how she 'saw' her world and how she distilled it into such rich, simple color and shape. And Liz Hampton-Derivan admires "her work and her character. She is a major art icon. Thank you to Georgia for her female presence and significant status and contributions to the art world.
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Judy Sidonie Tillinger makes a great point when she says "Knowing too much about the personalities and personal lives of so many artists I esteem eliminates many from the running. I would most like to sit down with Agnes Martin, watch and listen.

The stillness and the immensity of her work moves me in ways I will never be able to understand much less articulate. Looking into her work is like confronting something absolute and perfect."

I am highlighting this piece from Agnes Martin that I saw at Sotheby's because while the style is clearly Martin's, her use of what appear to be nailheads makes this painting very unusual and unique.
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Diana Trout says that "if there is a heaven, I would watch Eva Hesse work. Her process is so present in her drawings, painting and sculptures. She was experimental and married minimalism and conceptual art in ways that excite me.

She brought humor and great sensitivity into her art - simultaneously. Dang good artmaking."
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Roseann Cazares "would love to have taken a class by Frida Kahlo. She is my favorite artist and has been a BIG influence on my own work.

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To these incredible women I would add:

Pat Steir

Kara Walker

Maya Lin

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Next "Master Class" will be held on Sunday, December 18th.

You be the Judge

Are you all familiar with Gary Reef? He is an Australian mixed media artist with a very successful You Tube channel with over 1,500,000 views, his very own social and art network Loving Mixed Media with over 2,500 members, and of course a blog and website. I am happy to say that he is also featured in my upcoming book.

Gary asked me to be a judge of a fascinating, online art competition - the Sardine Can Shrine Challenge.

Participants were provided with an empty sardine can and had to create a mixed media assemblage. Boy, those Aussies are imaginative. The above image shows the empty can and an example of a shrine made by Gary.

There were a lot of creative entries. I had a hard time choosing between my final two but feel great about the winning shrine. You can read all about the competition, see the submissions, and decide if you agree with my choice here.

Thanks for the opportunity Gary!

Back Around Again

This week Diana Trout, artist and author of Journal Spilling, is guest curating on Jenny Doh's site CRESCENDOh.

She has chosen to link back to an old favorite of mine from 2008. Click here to see all of today's selections on CRESCENDOh. Thanks so much Diana for featuring my work.

Class in Session

The Pulse

The next chapter begins 12/11/11

Technique & Tool: Chapter 11

Welcome to the 5th edition of The Pulse -- The State of the Art -- a survey in words and pictures of the online artist community. The Pulse is a collaborative project that aims to introduce you to new artists, help you get to know familiar faces even more, and allow you access into the creative hearts and minds of a very talented crew of individuals. More than 130 artists have answered a series of questions which make up The Pulse. Their responses will be presented in a series of online posts which will run every Sunday.

Style File was the first project posted and links to all 12 posts can be found on the sidebar of my blog. The second project, Techniques & Tools, the second project, continues now...

Participants were asked: 'The one technique or tool that you cannot live without is... ' I have added links of my own choosing to each contribution below, sometimes to products, sometimes to videos, sometimes to the artist's own work, and sometimes to something unexpected. Even the contributors do not know what I will be linking to!
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Angela Cartwright

That would be a pencil and paper...(does that count as one? They go together like sugar and spice). There is always something to sketch, and I feel like I'll be using these two items till the day I die.
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Roxanne Evans Stout

I love using a process of layering of photographs, original art and paints. And what ever else that seems to fit into my projects. I love to use metal pieces as well, and to twist wire in interesting ways. I like to sew pieces together with wire instead of always using glue and the way metal makes my art feel heavier and strong.
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Dawn DeVries Sokol


A black .05 tip pen, such as Micron.
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Sharmon Davidson


It might be cheating here, but I have to say it would be paper...and my press. All my work is on paper, it's the primary material for printmaking and collage, and I love everything about it, including the precious trees it is made from. But since most of my work starts with monotype as a foundational base, I have to include my press, because for me the two are inseparable.
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Pat Pitingolo


Liquid or gel matte medium.
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Victoria Crowder Payne


Embroidery over Lyra Watercolor Crayon painting (on unbleached, unwashed muslin).
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Marion Bockelmann


Stamping! It's so versatile and can be done in soooo many different ways and styles that it never gets boring; in fact it gets more interesting the longer you do it and the more stamps you have. You can even use your stamps to get texture in your layers of gesso, UTEE or beeswax.
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Rhomany


I don't know what I would do without a waterproof black pen. It was my first tool working in my art journal all those years ago and it still serves me today for my artwork and art journaling. My pens of choice are the Uniball Pin pens. For all my illustrations I use a 0.05mm which gives a very, very fine, broken line that looks like dark pencil and contrasts well with the bright colours I like to use.
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Debrina: Debbie Price-Ewen


Layering: for depth it is everything!
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Robert Stockton


As am intermediate step in creating my mixed media work, I create monotypes by rolling-out, or brushing, acrylic paint onto a glass plate. I then press drawing paper (frequently, Rives BFK) to the plate's surface, and "pull" prints off the plate which can be left "as-is" or modified, or altered, in any number of ways. The resulting monotypes have many applications in my work.
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This is the final post in the "Techniques & Tools" series from The Pulse. Join me at The Altered Page next Sunday, December 11th with a brand new series. Stay tuned...

The Fog

In the midst of the fog, illuminate your own path.

A Pause

In honor of the long Thanksgiving weekend, there will be a brief pause today in the postings for The Pulse. Come back next Sunday 12/4 when I will put up the last post of the Techniques and Tools series. And join The Altered Page the following Sunday 12/11 when a new series from The Pulse begins: Master Class.

Wishing all my amazing, creative, and loyal readers endless thanks for all the blog love that has come my way. You are the best!

Your Blog, Your Way: Part 8

Eighth post in my series on Create Mixed Media.

Click here to read how by Censoring, you can let your art do the talking. 

On the Radio

I recently had the pleasure of being interviewed by Lesley Riley as a guest on her Art & Soul radio program. The show goes live on Monday, November 21st at 7pm EST and you can listen at this link. The show will be available to hear at any time after Monday and will also be available as a podcast on iTunes. Thanks for listening!

Technique & Tool: Chapter 10

Welcome to the 5th edition of The Pulse -- The State of the Art -- a survey in words and pictures of the online artist community. The Pulse is a collaborative project that aims to introduce you to new artists, help you get to know familiar faces even more, and allow you access into the creative hearts and minds of a very talented crew of individuals. More than 130 artists have answered a series of questions which make up The Pulse. Their responses will be presented in a series of online posts which will run every Sunday.

Style File was the first project posted and links to all 12 posts can be found on the sidebar of my blog. The second project, Techniques & Tools, the second project, continues now...

Participants were asked: 'The one technique or tool that you cannot live without is... ' I have added links of my own choosing to each contribution below, sometimes to products, sometimes to videos, sometimes to the artist's own work, and sometimes to something unexpected. Even the contributors do not know what I will be linking to!
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Eileen Bellomo


Gesso! And my hands.
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dorit Elisha


My sewing machine. It works on fabric and paper, it adds texture, color, line and strength, and can replace glue.
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Jodi Ohl


I can't live without my acrylic paint coupled with glazing medium. It's the foundation for everything I do.
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Billie's Craft Room


Distressing paper/card using dye based ink and cut n dry foam.
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Laura Lein-Svencner


Morning Journal writing. It's the way I always start my day. I need to sort things out and find my place of balance continually as things are constantly changing and it helps me adapt to it all.
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Stephanie Brouwers


If I stick with my philosophy that less is more...the one tool I could not live without is my pocket knife. You can do a lot with a pocket knife...
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Nelda Ream


Paint. I can't live without paint. Gotta paint pictures, walls, my toenails; anything that doesn't move.
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Gillian McMurray


My goat hair hake brush. I use it in so many creative endeavours from watercolour painting, to painting background papers with acrylic, and even brushing away eraser rubbings when I do pencil work.
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Jessica Walthall


It's almost impossible to pick just one, but considering all the art I make as a whole, I'd say layering of media. Without layers in my work, I'd lose the depth and dimension, and without that I think my work may fall flat.
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Lottie Anderson


A broken dowel and a bottle of India ink.
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Luthien Thye


Technique: Aging
Tool: Imagination
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Next 'Techniques & Tools' will be posted on Sunday, November 27th. That will be the last post in the series. A new series from The Pulse will begin the following Sunday, December 4th. Stay tuned.

Take a Chance

If you are anything like me, you have a bunch of art supplies and products in your studio that you were excited to get but have never used. I have decided that now is the time to blow off the dust, break open the seals, and actually use these items. In my newest piece, 'Take a Chance', I have used two products that were gifted to me: Liquid Pencil and Wood Icing.

I was introduced to Liquid Pencil by Pam Carriker, who helped developed this line of products with Derivan. Think of this product as graphite in a bottle. There are many ways to use it but I used it as a 'paint', covering the entire surface of the panel along with layers of more traditional acrylic paint.

I first heard about Wood Icing from Mary Beth Shaw, who highlighted the product on my blog in a post for The Pulse. She had me at the word texture. Wood Icing is a versatile paste that can be used on multiple substrates and in multiple ways. On this piece, I sanded it down to create very subtle surface texture.

Take a Chance

Available for purchase from my Etsy Shop.

Sold. Thank you!

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Catori (sold. thank you!) and Hiyana, two pieces from my Facets series, will retire from my Etsy shop on 11/22 and are now shipping free worldwide until then.

Time to Take the Pulse

My first book, The Pulse of Mixed Media: Secrets and Passions of 100 Artists Revealed, is now available for pre-order from Amazon.

Many months have passed since the idea for this book was formed and I am excited that the home stretch is now in sight. It will still be some time before I have an actual copy in hand but having it available for pre-order is one step closer. If you would like to get updates to your inbox regarding the book and the planned events surrounding its release, feel free to join my mailing list.

Technique & Tool: Chapter 9

Welcome to the 5th edition of The Pulse -- The State of the Art -- a survey in words and pictures of the online artist community. The Pulse is a collaborative project that aims to introduce you to new artists, help you get to know familiar faces even more, and allow you access into the creative hearts and minds of a very talented crew of individuals. More than 130 artists have answered a series of questions which make up The Pulse. Their responses will be presented in a series of online posts which will run every Sunday.

Style File was the first project posted and links to all 12 posts can be found on the sidebar of my blog. The second project, Techniques & Tools, the second project, continues now...

Participants were asked: 'The one technique or tool that you cannot live without is... ' I have added links of my own choosing to each contribution below, sometimes to products, sometimes to videos, sometimes to the artist's own work, and sometimes to something unexpected. Even the contributors do not know what I will be linking to!
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Rebeca Trevino


My favorite tool is my cordless drill. I used to be a big fan of glues and adhesives. Today, although I still use glue and adhesive for some things, I find that screws work best for most things. And I pre-drill everything. My favorite technique is making gel transfers and using them in my artwork.
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Trudi Sissons


An eraser.
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Roseann Cazares


The one tool I cannot live without is masking tape. I can't get enough of it!
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JoAnnA Pierotti


It would have to be a sewing machine. My mom taught me how to sew when I was a little girl. Sewing is one thing that I have been consistent with throughout my entire life thus far.
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Kim Palmer


A sewing needle! Have you ever tried to sew anything without a needle? I could make my own paints or dyes, use plant fibres as thread, but a needle. Just give me one and save us both a load of colourful language and frustration.
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Paula Bogdan


I am beginning to rely more and more on what others might term "junk." I reach for the expired credit card/gift card to spread paint or to scrape it off. Corrugated cardboard makes the neatest marks, as does the bottom of a paper cup. A piece of wallpaper used to make numerous prints becomes a journal cover. The numerous bands my husband wore during his last hospital stay become journal fodder. Everyday life's "leftovers" make for great journal pages.
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Ange


A piece of stray cardboard or balsa wood, cut at the right slant. Mmmm, no really it would have to be the basic Chinese paintbrush my calligraphy teacher gave me 3 years ago. I will shed tears when the last bristle falls out of the shaft.
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Kesha Bruce


I am addicted to black sharpie markers. I write with them, draw with them; I use them in my under-paintings. It may not be a sophisticated are tool, but I use it for everything. I love the bold black mark.
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AnTonia Griva


My brushes and color in painting and my MacBook in life.
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Alicia Caudle


This is an ever-changing response for me as I vacillate so very much in my artistic focus on any give day: assemblages, paintings, collages, altered books, sewing, etc. Looking more at my art as a whole though, I would have to say paint, I think, because I can always find objects to assemble and paper to collage. A life without paint would be ever so bland!
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Next 'Techniques & Tools' will be posted on Sunday, November 20th.

In the Studio

I have the pleasure of being part of a wonderful crew that will be talking about the book Inside the Creative Studio: Inspiration and Ideas for Your Art and Craft Space live on Wednesday, November 9.

The show airs on Mark Lipinski's online radio show and podcast Creative Mojo from 3 to 5pm EST. Joining Mark will be Cate Coulacos Prato, the author, along with 5 of the more than 30 artists whose studios were featured in the book. You can hear it live by going here and clicking on the 'Live On Air' button. During the broadcast, listeners can call in to speak with all of us. The show will also be archived and available at any time beginning a few hours after broadcast at this link. Hope to see you there!

Technique & Tool: Chapter 8

Welcome to the 5th edition of The Pulse -- The State of the Art -- a survey in words and pictures of the online artist community. The Pulse is a collaborative project that aims to introduce you to new artists, help you get to know familiar faces even more, and allow you access into the creative hearts and minds of a very talented crew of individuals. More than 130 artists have answered a series of questions which make up The Pulse. Their responses will be presented in a series of online posts which will run every Sunday.

Style File was the first project posted and links to all 12 posts can be found on the sidebar of my blog. The second project, Techniques & Tools, continues now...

Participants were asked: 'The one technique or tool that you cannot live without is... ' I have added links of my own choosing to each contribution below, sometimes to products, sometimes to videos, sometimes to the artist's own work, and sometimes to something unexpected. Even the contributors do not know what I will be linking to!
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Holly Dean


In my work, I am forever experimenting with ways of combining art and word. My love of text and letterforms is evident in all that I create, whether expressed through calligraphy, typography or as pattern. I might write directly on the piece with a dip bib or brush, using acrylic ink or thinned-down paint, or I might choose to use the process of collage, transfer or hand-cut stenciling. Lettering may be obscured in layers of paint medium and imagery or it may be the focal point. In my work, it is often both.
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Theresa Plas


Sauvignon Blanc
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Bleubeard and Elizabeth


It's hard to limit my tools to one, because I use my paper cutter every day and my needle-nose pliers most days. But for painting, I guess my one tool I can't live without is my old faux credit card.
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Bonnie Clark


Collage
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Arabella Grayson


Crayons. Can't live without crayons. In addition to coloring with them, they remind me of the importance of play during the creative process.
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William J. Charlebois


Now that I am creating multi-media paintings, I'm finding out the many uses of gesso.
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Laura A. Pace (LA Pace)


My 24" curtain rod mahl stick. Works for most small canvas sizes when extended to various lengths, and can be closed down to fit on my easel or in my travel bag.
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marianne konvalinka


Currently, matte gel medium - useful for so many things - gluing, texture, layers.
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Lelainia N. Lloyd


In the last year it's been my sewing machine, with which I've been madly sewing paper for Remains of the Day Journals. Most recently, it's been my brand new Canon Rebel DSLR, which is helping me explore a whole new avenue of creativity.
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Dayna J. Collins


Well if I have to pick just one (a cruel limitation), at this moment in time it would be my wood-handled bulbous awl. I use it to draw into wet paint, to scratch and make marks into wood and plaster. I love how the handle fits in my hand and the many marks I can make with the sharp tip.
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Next 'Techniques & Tools' will be posted on Sunday, November 13th.

Small Works 2012

Four of my pieces will be on display at the Long Beach Island Foundation of the Arts and Sciences in  Small Works 2012, their annual juried exhibition. The show runs from November 4th through December 19th, with a reception being held on Sunday, November 20th from 4-6pm (please note revised date). LBIF is located at 120 Long Beach Boulevard in Loveladies, New Jersey.