Intro: Just a few things that are on my mind... plans and such. With discovering plenty of new things to create recently I am sure you are eager to know what things I have planned when it comes to creating art.
Dolls: Artists create and trade (swap and sell and even giveaway or gift) paper dolls. Yes...the old fashioned paper dolls that come with their own accessories and extra clothes. I am interested in creating a few of my own that are detailed in the same way that I have created portraits in the past (with a touch of 3D elements). Something else I discovered: today artists create their own versions of Matryoshka (Russian Dolls). Some make them using paper mache while others make them out of clay.... and for those of us obsessed with trading, artists even shape their ATC to Matryoshka doll shapes. So many different creations are being made around the world with these Russian dolls as the inspiration or foundation. There is another doll from Japan called the Kokeshi doll that is taking the art world by storm just like the Matryoshka doll. With the same methods and ideas being generated for both doll types. I'll be creating both dolls in the near future (once I am done with any challenges and projects that are going on). I am thinking of first making them on paper (watercolor paper) then advancing on to a more 3D canvas like purchasing the actual doll templates made of wood. Domino Tiles & Books: Domino sized artist tiles are another craze that I have witnessed online. Some artists create pendants using Domino Tiles while other alter them to use as embellishments in other creations. There are books made from Domino Tiles too... with either actual Domino tiles put together after alteration or just the tile used as the front and back cover with a long strip of canvas folded accordion style to create a book. Some of these altered Domino tiles are used in necklaces. Like other mini artist tiles, altered Domino tiles also get used as embellishments for bigger art canvases (such as chunky pages, album covers, scrapbook pages, etc). I have already signed up for a Domino book swap that ends February 25th. So yes I'll be making a few Domino Books of my own as soon as I can figure out what proper materials to use. I already have the inside pages planned out but am missing the outside parts. Every time I cut a 9"x12" watercolor paper into 2.5"x3.5" ATCs, I always get strips left over on two sides of the paper. I found that it was just enough to make 6 Domino tile sized canvases, so yes there is going to be plenty of Domino tile art in the future on this blog. Matchboxes: matchboxes that are normally used in kitchens are recycled to create art. Altered matchboxes are quite nifty creations as they have a storage space so it allows for a double creation in one display. Some artists create mini albums that fit inside where the matchbox acts as the album case (holder box). These albums are made in traditional book format or in some cases accordion style. Some altered matchboxes are miniatures of real life objects: I have seen a mini Potion Shelf done where the inside of the matchbox was made to look like a mini shelf that had miniature potion bottles on it and a mini skull. I have also seen on Pinterest a shrine for birds that had a nest with 3 eggs in it along with a shelf full of mini bird sculptures. I have yet to make my own altered matchbox... I have sketches done for one but I am thinking about holding off on it till March when I'll have more time. I am planning on hosting a swap with matchboxes so yes I'll be creating some matchbox art in the near future. Tea Bags: another mini canvas that I discovered was used tea bags. Tea bags once used are recycled to create miniature art. After the tea bags are used, they are left to dry on a plate for a few hours (4 hours is enough for the tea bags I am using). Once dried, empty the tea bag out (carefully) and let it sit for some time again to fully dry. Once you think it is completely dried, then paint translucent gesso on top (the outside part of the tea bag). Use a non-stick cooking sheet for this process but after the gesso has been placed on the tea bags then hang them to dry. Leaving the tea bags laying to dry might result in the tea bags getting stuck to the surface they are drying out on (I messed up my first batch like this). Many artists just paint the tea bags and leave them to display as opened while other after putting gesso on there fold them back up again and then paint on them. Some artists just collect them as is and place them in penny sleeves or small zip-lock bags while others create miniature books/albums out of them. I have already decided that I want to pursue tea bags as canvases for the future as I find the mini canvases really challenging. I am already working on my first batch of tea bags while I have another batch waiting to dry. There is a project coming up here soon focusing on creating a mini tea bag album that I'll be taking part in. Tiles: artist tiles are not a new thing to this blog but I decided they deserve to get put on this post as I have plans already for artist tiles in the future (plenty of sketches already done). Artist tiles have no set dimensions today... they are typically squares but some artists are pulling away from that and creating round, rectangle, heart, etc shaped tiles. Typically tiles that can be purchased are 5"x5" or 7"x7" but all sorts of sizes are coming out now. As with any other canvas out there, tiles have no limit on media or subject matter. When I cut a normal 9"x12" paper into ATCs, I always have strips leftover (mentioned earlier). I have an option of either cutting the strips into inchies, Domino tiles, or 1.5"x1.5" tiles. For one page I did just that... I have 13 tiles that are 1.5"x1.5" waiting to get painted on. I am thinking about testing my skills out on my first mini book using these tiles. Final thoughts: With a whole list of challenges and art projects happening all year long I am sure I can get these canvases incorporated into something or another eventually. I already know that there are swaps on ATCsForAll that focus on these canvases so I might get to create them for that. Any thoughts....?
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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
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