I have been wanting to start this big project for a few months but have not organized it enough to build something solid. In order for that to happen I need others to work with me... but how are they going to volunteer if there is no source available to refer to? Thus my reason for writing this post... "Awareness through Creativity" That is the goal and main reason behind putting this project together. In this post I shall attempt to highlight the main ideas and thoughts related to this project... so that anyone interested in volunteering or participating any amount of energy and creativity can refer back to this. WHAT IS IT? Creative awareness is a project (soon to expand into a group) focusing on using creativity to promote awareness of the harm and danger that some species are in. IUCN has been kind enough to put together the Red List of various conservation statuses for all kingdoms of Earth. Our focus is to promote awareness for these lists in the hopes that awareness shall result in action (help). Although we are going to be focusing on awareness we are going to do another cool thing: artists shall create art of the Red Listed species in the style and medium they choose. These art creations shall then be auctioned off (some online while others in person) with all of the funds going towards that species (or kingdom if general). We are going to slowly start by promoting awareness, in that time gaining the interest of many artists and supporters. During this time I am going to focus on contacting organizations and groups that are already working on awareness and support of Red Listed species through different methods. The goal would be to work with these groups and organizations in helping the species survive and flourish. Not all art created for this is going to be auctioned off! All we are doing is making art - by making art we are showing others just how beautiful these species are and mentioning they need help. Humans would then appreciate your art and in turn wonder why such a beautiful species is in danger... then start digging and doing research... thus our goal of awareness getting accomplished. We are going to do auctions for those artists who want to make art that directly contributes to Red Listed Species. Auctions are totally different from the awareness aspect of this project. WHY WOULD WE DO THIS? As an artist I realize that I have a tool that most other professions might not: the ability to inform in a fun way. I can inform others in a creative way that they can enjoy and learn from. As such I think it should be simple if artists focused on just making other become aware of the harm and lack of life that is increasing day by day. By using creativity to help us, we can make the awareness not look like advertisements - the awareness we create is not advertisements! We are not gathering money to give to corporations or for us to use to party with - we want to use our abilities, talents, and passion to do a good cause for our planet. By doing something we already love with just a slight twist we can really make a difference! PROJECT GOALS These are the goals that I hope this project can achieve by March 2018 (in no particular order).
TO DO LIST Grand list of things that need to be done in order for this project to take off.
YOU WANT TO DO SOMETHING?
If you want to help in any way possible then please do not hesitate to contact me through the contact page on this blog, or any other social networks I am on. Things that you might be thinking about but are not sure if they are important in sharing with me... but trust me they are important.
0 Comments
Some odd ACEOs that I wanted to share as they all are really different from each other. I made a bunch more art as well but they are not ATCs (mainly chunky pages and inchies). These are pending for now, if available shall be posted to AFA or iATCs. All done in watercolors with some sharpie fineliners (that ended up acting as watercolors anyways). A few more coming in the next post but for now here they are...
Intro: I am hosting the inchie-a-thon for a week on ATCsForAll.com this year. Just wanted to share some of the fun things I made following the prompts and challenges that were listed. I'll post one last post when the a-thon is over with the rest of the creations. Cute kittens - they are going to be used to make a chunky page that is front and back completed... after I finish making one more. Absolutely no plans for this pair yet. I might create a few more to use in a giveaway instead or use them for a future Easter Hunt on DeviantART.com by making a few more. These 3 have more that I have lined but not painted yet. As you can see they are laid out on a grid...that grid is actually cut out now and is going to be an inchie exploding box. On the bottom: all of the finished anthropomorphic food that I made in one setting and mounted to scrapbook paper. I used five of them to complete one of the challenges for the a-thon: make an inchie accordion book. I made 3 each of elephants and bees but was only able to finish one each to post in time. The Elephant, Rhino, and Bee related inchies and art is going to be used to auction off or sell off in order to donate the earnings to the appropriate animal that needs them.
My rinchie is inspired by a monthly prompt set out by the Droogon-Sky group on DeviantArt. We are to make a mask for our Droogon (tiny potato dragons) and then create another art piece that shows our Droogon wearing their mask or making it. I decided to make the mask inspired by another ARPG: Shi'vali Empire. The mask is of a Foo Lion (foo dog). I am thinking about remaking it into a twinchie and attaching some movable parts or maybe making it out of clay...? Time shall tell what the muse can get done. Intro: Time to see what I can do when it comes to paper dolls! So I signed up for a swap on IllustratedATCs.com for it and I have been eager to get some turtle art done perfect swap! What I created: I finished only 3 out of 5 turtles for the swap. I have two that need to be cut still and painted but I'll save those for later to try new things on. I used watercolor pencils for these plus white gel pen, black liner, puffy paint and shimmer paint by Hobby Ideas. And yes, when you tuck in the 5 movable parts to hide behind (in front of) the shell they easily fit inside a clear sleeve (ATC size). Title: Iridescent Green Sea Turtle Canvas: Paper Doll Series: Sea Turtle Dolls Title: Iridescent Blue Sea Turtle Canvas: Paper Dolls Series: Sea Turtle Dolls *My favorite one* Title: Earthy Sea Turtle
Canvas: Paper Dolls Series: Sea Turtle Dolls Intro: My first PAT (pick-a-theme swap) ever! I also got to make chunkies for the first time. I have these labelled as Art Tile B on my commissions listings but these have only one side completed. For my tiles, both front and back are completed.
What I created: 4"x4" called chunkies...the themes are decided by the members in the group we sign up for. All of these are done with watercolor paints, black liner, white gel pen, and some shimmer paint by Hobby Ideas. I was part of group 5 (for those that are wondering). Intro: For our adorable Envie Addicts Unite group on ATCsForAll the month of April was surely a unique one as we did not focus on envies...instead we got to send out weirdy mail! This was my first one and yes as always being the scared artist I am, I did not explore as I should have. I ended up sticking to something that I normally make which kind of ruined the whole purpose. BUT! I have learned! Next time - it'll be more fun, I promise! Reji Has Mail: If you are ever on Instagram then try looking up what posts are listed under #rejihasmail as all of the mail I receive from fellow artists and pen pals is now going to be marked as such. I have decided to give my senders some light by now posting videos on YouTube discussing the mail I receive... still working on a music library so the channel shall be officially released soon. For April my partner was Donna (dmnh). She sent me an elephant plushie named Ellie! And oh is he adorable! He has bells - my most favorite thing to add to any mail! She spent time on this because she put efforts on the address as well. I have blocked the address off but as you can tell by my name she made the mailing address by thread and needle. The unique thing about this is that Donna did what was suggested for us: she sent Ellie as is. No, he did not come in a box or bag or envelope. He braved the postal journey as is without any aide. The tracking label was wrapped around his trunk (I should have taken a picture when he first arrived but oh well). What I created: I made a mini pocket letter. Originally I was planning on making this so that it can be mailed without an envelope but I just couldn't figure out how to keep the extra art goodies from falling out so I did end up putting it in an envelope. I do plan on figuring out how to make a pocket letter than can take on the postal journey without protection but some other time.
I did try some experiments on this one though. The actual pocket (plastic sleeve) is cut in two different places. There is a slit for where the bunny can be placed in without having to remove the background card. The second spot is for the flower. I did not want to glue the flower on top of the sleeve and so glued the flower on the card first as normal. I then proceeded to measure the location of the flower and size, then cut a circle that was not too big. The flower had to be forced through but I knew that was going to happen which is why I did not make an origami rose. Thank the fates for creating felt fabric!!! I wanted to add another handmade art piece but couldn't find a spot to fit an ATC in... I ended up placing a Moo House in there instead. Intro: For my first ever 1 on 1 trade on IllustratedATCs (monthly sign up trades) I got to make a 4"x6" artwork that I ended up turning into a postcard. KP selected a sheep or goat as the animal she wanted to get and she made me a horse portrait in exchange.
What I created: I wanted to hand-make a postcard that I did the back for as well. No stamps or templates were used for this postcard as I am testing if making postcard backs are better by hand or if I should invest in a stamp (perhaps custom made). The "Night Dreamers" is a series that I started in high school but never got any more ideas for again to make more pieces for. I ended up using the same setting but changing the main animal out. Originally I made a bunny in PJs looking out through his bedroom window. I wanted this to be different to show that the sheep is tiny (the bunny was in a room made for his size). I was going to have more cutout elements added here with the moon like stars and comets but they were too big to look nice so I just kept the moon only. Throwing salt onto the watercolors really does help to make the moon look better than the previous one I had made. I also did not sue a toothbrush or any other tool for spraying the stars on, I ended up using a pen to lay down the stars with a controlled hand. I did this to make it easier to create focusing areas for the moon - even though it was time consuming. Final thoughts: I am going to work my way through the other zodiacs made in a night setting (not the same exact scene). Along with that I think it is better to create a stamp for the back... I'll be repainting this image again in the future just because of all the mistakes I keep picking up everytime I view it. Intro: My first time attempting this Steampunk style/theme in art. I must say after making the "Fawn" ATC I was not all too happy to be working on this. I left it alone for a few weeks then came back with new ideas. I decided it was best to just take a normal drawing I have in mind and start adjusting it so that it fits a steampunk theme. These cards were made for a swap held on Instagram by Pabkins (#atcitupwithfriends).
What I created: So I used these to continue my collection of "Steam This!" theme that I have in my ATC binder plus now moving on to a deco book. I'll just make prints of these to add to my personal binder. Using the regular tools of trade I added only one new material (you can see the little bottle sitting on the left). This is a small packet of 6 colors that I got while on my trip to India - Hobby Ideas Pearl Acrylic colors. This brand is amazing! Especially if you use these on clothes (which is what they are intended for). If used on clothes these are permanent (the fabric is going to fade but not the colors) and if used on paper they are like normal acrylic paints. I say this from experience: I made a dress back in 2011 and used the same colors on a tablecloth. The tablecloth was washed so many times over the years that the fabric is fading but the colors are just as bright as they were on day one! I feel more comfortable now making the steampunk theme now that I have some ideas on the elements that can be added. I still need to do more research though to make the art improve as I am not even 60% satisfied with what I have created. Final thoughts: I think if I get a hang of this, Steampunk might become a regular theme that appears in my future art. If things go well I just might finish this entire series of "Steam This!" ATCs. Intro: My first ARPG references are finally done! I was able to successfully get these two beauties for the Kahuvaa breed group.
What I created: I decided to make two portraits on postcard sized watercolor paper for both of them. I ended up coming up with names on the spot when uploading them to dA. I tested some watercolor pencils with these two references on top of watercolor paint to see if anything got muddy... and it did not. Everything flows as it should with watercolors. I do not think I like using the watercolor pencils for covering a large area (like the background and even the horses). They work great for small sections when you have to lay down one color type in a small part but for covering large parts the pencils are not great. Good thing I learned this now and not while creating a contest entry. With a few shows and some events going on at dA concerning horse focused ARPG groups you'll be seeing plenty of horse art from me. I hope by drawing and painting them more I am able to better understand the different structures and features of each breed. Intro: I ran into some contests that were happening on DeviantArt.com and just couldn't resist entering because the prices were too good to pass by. I do not have any hopes of winning but I think it helps as I have some art now that I can use in trades or swaps or even as gifts.
What I created: I had to make a group icon (final is only 50x100 pixels exact) and not having a computer I could not use my tablet to do digital work. So! I ended up cutting out domino tile sized watercolor paper (1"x2") and using those to make three total designs for the group. The purpose of the group is ATC being made and possibly even traded but focusing on ARPGs in the dA community. All three were made using watercolors, Prismacolor Colored Pencils, Le Pen marker, and white gel pen. I also entered another contest where we had to draw an original character created by the host - a lioness. The lioness was personally a struggle for me. I am not sure if it is the materials... my motivation or some other factors that got in the way but it was a true struggle. I had decided I was going to paint the lioness in watercolors from the start. So I sketched her out on a 4"x6" (postcard sized) watercolor paper cut-out. I started working in simple values using watercolor paints. When I went in to start blending the results were horrifying. To hide the nightmare I decided to use Prismacolor Markers... with the same thoughts I laid down the main values then decided to use Baby Oil to blend them together to get a painterly effect. Another mistake... it looked like a blurred out painting with no ideas as to what the painting subject is. My final attempts on the lioness was to use watercolors again on top to see if I could fix some things. I was not able to get much done as the watercolors kept sliding as if there was wax underneath. In the end I used a black marker (pen) and a white gel pen to create lines. I outlined the main parts to make the whole thing look like lineart then added some shading in using cross hatch and other techniques using just a black pen. I could not fix it any further...and was too frustrated to make a new one so I ended up submitting her as is into the contest. The final image is above this post. Closing thoughts: Both contests end on February 14th so I should know a few days after that on what my status is.. .as I said I have no hope of winning. For anyone interested I have given a brief into to ARPGs below as I am participating in them now. I believe it'll be a good way to continue adding works to the dA gallery. Also it has inspired me to finally start working on my own story. I am now going to be working on a mixture of literature and art.. combined together. I call them "Quick Reads" because the written part is only suppose to focus on perhaps aiding the illustration or making up missing parts. They are suppose to be shorter than traditional novels, perhaps something in between a manga and a children's illustration book. When I post my first one I'll explain the whole idea at that time... What is ARPG: Like me, most of you are wondering what this is and perhaps are going to be interested in taking part too. Does anyone one remember RPGs? Role Playing Games that you can play on any platform (from mobile, to PC, to handheld)... but instead of playing the actual game add art to it. ARPG (Art Role Playing Game) are designed so that you can progress through set stories (or your own storyline) by making art. When there is a quest, you draw your character participating in said quest. Some artists even take it to a different level by writing only. You can draw just a scene summarizing the quest or you can show a progression by doing multiple art works or setting it up like a comic strip. For those of us struggling to find inspiration or themes to draw/paint these ARPGs are a great place to go. Having regular timed events happening also encourages artists to use skills on a regular basis allowing for the development that any artist seeks. Some people participate in these to make money, while others do it for the development of their artistic skills. Stuff to come: I have been getting behind on my 29 Faces challenges (applause) because I have been busy with contests, swaps, and now ARPGs. So a little overview of what is to come for the rest of this month and perhaps even some of March:
Full list: Art Challenges and Projects 2017 |
Author: RejiI used to be a digital artist but switched back to traditional art as I feel more connected with the art I create this way. Currently, I create art whenever I can for art trades and commissions. I have worked with clay (earth clay to modern forms like Polymer, Sculpey, even Air Dry clay) along with watercolors, acrylics, oil paints, pastels, charcoal, pen and pencil drawings, India ink, Chinese Colors, wires, felt fabric, yarn, weaving, basket making, and the list goes on and on. I am currently working on exploring nail art, make-up, dress making, scrapbooking, and small canvas art. Archives
April 2017
Categories
All
Copyright © Reji Randhawa | The Paradox Sketchbook. All rights reserved.
All work on this blog is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. |