Amada (a-mha-da): Loved
(Brown polymer clay, colored pencils, acrylic paint)

Let's talk about crossing over in art. (why? just cause it's my blog and I wanna)

So, when you talk about something "crossing over" in a cultural kind of way, you expect the thing being made to be infused with something you recognize being from a different culture/background/country but still appeal to your overall understanding of what said object is and what it is for.

Like a singer who crosses over a new culture and finds that the message resonates here too, Like Shakira, Ricky Martin, etc. None of them I am proud of, very pop for my taste, but still, they managed something unheard of, to take their message to a new world, like Spanish conquistadors in the new world, and being successful at it.

And I am now applying this crossing over idea to art too. I am beginning to cross over from painting to the tiniest and shiest attempt of sculpture,to use painting techniques in 3D objects, and being an Architect major, it seems right, I usually paint with my mind on 3D mode, it feels right, I feel comfortable managing not only x and y but also "Z" 

So from now on, in this website you might see 3D pieces here and there, I am excited of exploring them, I am also researching a lot about sulpture because (um, don't tell anyone, cause I haven't really told anyone) I will start teaching a Children's History of Sculpture class in the fall to a group of homeschoolers, and I am so excited by that project! So many doors can open here. There are also plans for later teaching a "History of Architecture" and "History of Painting" but we'll see how this first one goes.

You know how I absolutely love a swap! And how could I resist when one of the most fab artists I admire proposed a swap in her blog. Magic Jelly (she's in Australia) conceived this swap where she will make an original collage in exchange of interesting and unique papers. And since paper is something I also collect! (remind me to insert a write-up about Kerri Smith's new book and how very passionate I feel about this very subject of collecting and stopping to notice your surroundings, more on that later)

So, Magic Jelly, her work is so amazing, so creative, and I specially like they way she understands texture and color. And I decided to share a little treasure with her. I have been collecting these papers as far as 15 yrs ago. (I started this collection even before I started painting and collaging) Lottery tickets from Mexico, Paper money, old deeds from the 1800's, playing cards, old letters from 1940's, etc. I am sure she will put them in very good use. (See picture above) Can't wait to see what she makes! The best part, is I'm getting some of it back! in a form or an original collage from her! Now how could I not participate?!

The paper chase is ongoing, so hurry up if you want to send her something too!! Checl out this link where she shares of all the packages she's recieved! so much inspiration!

I'll keep you posted once I get my collage on the mail! 

{EYE Pendant/Charm. Polymer clay, acrylic paint, clear varnish, Found Art Tuesday July 15 2008} 

So the other day as I was waking up, you know, when you're still kind of dreaming but not really, I started thinking about "Polimeros" something I know nothing about and sounded really unfamiliar, but it kind of sounded interesting,  so I made an invisible post it note in my head to figure out what it was, but of course I misplaced that post-it, the same way I misplace all the real ones, even if the have super-sticky glue or super-brilliant-hurt-my-eyes yellow. So I forgot all about it until I was in Michaels, and I happened to be there just because I was just passing by on my way to buy milk at Target, and I am sure it has also happened to you, I really think they should do something about those gigantic vacuum machines they have on the doors, because no matter where you were headed, no matter if you were just walking by to go somewhere, that store SUCKS YOU IN. It may be the baskets outside or maybe the plastic flowers, who knows, but that store is like a carnivore plant, it eats you up and only lets you go after you buy your weight in stuff. ahhh.. but what beautiful stuff...

So, anyway... I was at Michaels, and I wandered into the clay aisle. I've never payed too much attention to clay since it's something I have little experience with, when I saw something called POLYMER CLAY And I thought, this is a sign! the universe is calling me! So of course, I got two different colors and a little instrument to poke it with. (It was all on sale, so that makes it Ok in my mind) And later while browsing through the dollar bin (You gotta see what's on the dollar bin!) I saw a set of letter stamps for a DOLLAR! the WHOLE alphabet for ONE DOLLAR. I almost passed out right there. You see, I am a stamp junkie, and I love love love letters, all those typographies, they just make me melt.

Ok, so I've found a few interesting things about polymer clay, and when I try new things, since I am way too impatient to sign up for a lesson, and sometimes even to read the instructions, I started using it right away and trying to see what I could do with it.

THINGS I've learned about polymer clay:

One: It is not messy. I love that.

TWO: It hardens when you bake it on the oven. ON A REGULAR OVEN! at 275 F, that's like 135 C. No need to fire it like ceramics (oh, I know about ceramics, I HATE working with ceramics, they are so messy, you have to glaze them, keep it moist, fire them at a gazillion degrees... ugh)

THREE: The colors don't change after the baking process. I was really impressed by that

FOUR:  You can make anything with it! so far I've been working an a few pendants and charms, and I love to make little tiny dots all around them.

FIVE: You can paint it with acrylics! Wait until it is baked, though....

SIX: You can use rubber stamps on it and it likes it! Numbers, letters, I have so many stamps lined up to get their chance to play! yay!! 

And I had the intention of letting these pieces stay the color of the clay, but you know me, if it stays still long enough, it will end up gessoed and painted, Sorry little guys...

Here are a few of the pendants I've done, I'm adding them to my etsy store soon. I really don't have too much faith in etsy, I haven't sold anything in months! And I read somewhere that you need to be buying  stuff in order to get more positive feedback and then maybe get more sales, but really, why should you need to BUY anything to make a sale?

 

 

 

So what do you think? More pictures on my flickr!

This week I thought of a new experiment for Found Art Tuesday. Upon my discovery of Mixwit, I made this tape of the exact playlist I have in my iPod that I listen to when I feel kind of stuck (creatively speaking) and it always, ALWAYS! jiggles my creative button, you know we all have one, don't you? it sometimes get stuck on the "uhh... I dunno what to paint" setting, it is sooo so hard to change gears when you're stuck on that, and I've found that this precise music, ON THIS PRECISE ORDER always helps me change to the "wait.. maybe combining these colors..." and after that, it quickly turns the creative flow to ON.

So for this week's Found Art I thought maybe if you want to participate, all you got to do is listen to this mix tape, which I have cleverly label as "Music Mix For Making Art" (I know, I am so very creative!) So let's see what these songs do for you in the creative department.And then MAKE some art, something small, to be left as found art.

If while listening to it, you suddenly feel like you've gone back in time to the 80's - maybe early 90's, don't worry, in fact, yes, you have. But only for the hour, you will make it back safely, I hope. (If you don't, let me know and I can suggest some more 80's music until you're done or you really really need to come back to the present).

Happy Creating!! and have a great weekend! Can't wait til Tuesday!

This is the prize I did for the fantastic giveaway from yesterday. I know, it was so fantastic I just couldn't believe it myself (ok, so I'm exaggerating a little)

It's a charm I made from a piece of wood and collaged it with antique paper. There's also a key charm and a brown ribbon with white polka dots.

I used antique paper and sepia india ink to write "I am" on one side and "creative everyday" on the other. {I wanted to wait and see who would win before finishing it so that I could personalize it a little bit}

 

I hope you like it Leah. 

PS, Need your mailing address! 

A Little of what we've been up to. Between melting on the heat (what is up with that heat??!!), a birthday Party where there were 26 kids out of control!! and I didn't even invite everyone I would've wanted, there were just so many, (Susan, if you're reading this , we missed you!)

And also we have Grandma over visiting from Mexcio, and oh how fun are we having. We just come home to touch base and maybe take a quick nap while outside is so so hot, before leaving again to do something fun.


The Piñata was a success!! I officialy have a three year old now, and you know how 3 is the new terrible 2's....

And on the art front, Metallic staples and Moi are still an item, we love each other forever and ever, and to declare my undying love, I just spelled "BFF" (best friends forever) on my arm with staples. ouch.

I also have one very exciting news!  I made it to the front page of etsy!! woo-hoo!!! I didn't see it live, but  thanks Robayre for taking the screen shot!! You ROCK! I'm thinking on saving my other arm to staple your name on it next!!