I came across the website for this film that looks like a great way of getting the story out there of many women artists. Take a look at some of the videos of the artists featured-- I love hearing artists talk about what they make art about and how they got there because it always helps me figure out where my own art is going and how to talk about it.
www.whodoesshethinksheis.net.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
CRAFT Video: Paper Making with Lisa Jacobs
here is great video that shows a bit more about making paper from makemagazine, one of my favorite youtube channels.
Handmade Paper
Tomorrow, our goal is to try our hand at making our own paper to be assembled into our handmade books. Here is a little demo on the process that I found at pioneerthinking.com
Making Handmade Paper in 10 Easy Steps
Many types of paper that can be used include:
* Computer Paper (unprinted)
* Newspaper (If you want a grayish colored paper)
* Magazines
* Egg Cartons
* Old Cards (For heavier paper)
* Toilet Paper
* Paper Bags
* Non Waxed Boxes (Pre-soak in warm water)
* Office Paper
* Tissue Paper (For finer paper)
* Typing Paper
* Napkins
* Construction Paper
Supplies you'll need:
* Sponge
* Window Screening (mold)
* Wood Frame (old picture frame can be used too) (deckle)
* Plastic Basin/Tub (Large enough to totally immerse frame)
* Blender/Food Processor (For making paper pulp)
* White Felt or Flannel Fabric
* Staples or Tacks
(For tacking screen on frame)
* Liquid starch (optional)
Instructions:
1. Select the pieces of paper to be recycled. You can even mix different types to create your own unique paper.
2. Rip the paper into small bits, and place into the blender. (about half full). Fill the blender with warm water. Run the blender slowly at first then increase the speed until the pulp looks smooth and well blended. ( 30 -40 seconds) Check that no flakes of paper remain. If there are, blend longer.
3. The next step is to make a mold. The mold, in this case, is made simply by stretching fiberglass screen (plain old door and window screen) over a wooden frame and stapling it. It should be as tight as possible.
4. Fill the basin about half way with water. Add 3 blender loads of pulp. (the more pulp you add the thicker the finished paper will be) Stir the mixture.
5. Now is the time to add the liquid starch for sizing.(This is not necessary but if the paper is going to be used for writing on, you should add some, the starch helps to prevent inks from soaking into the paper fibers.) Stir 2 teaspoons of liquid starch into the pulp.
Place the mold into the pulp and then level it out while it is submerged. Gently wiggle it side-to-side until the pulp on top of the screen looks even.
6. Slowly lift the mold up until it is above the level of the water. Wait until most of the water has drained from the new paper sheet. If the paper is very thick, remove some pulp from the tub. If it is too thin, add more pulp and stir the mixture again.
7. When the mold stops dripping, gently place one edge on the side of a fabric square (felt or flannel square). Gently ease the mold down flat, with the paper directly on the fabric. Use a sponge to press out as much water as possible. Wring the excess water from the sponge back into the large plastic tub.
8. Now comes the tricky part. Hold the fabric square flat and slowly lift the edge of the mold. The wet sheet of paper should remain on the fabric. If it sticks to the mold, you may have pulled to fast or not pressed out enough water. It takes a little practice. You can gently press out any bubbles and loose edges at this point.
9. Repeat the steps above, and stack the fabric squares on a cookie sheet. Save one fabric square to place on the top of the stack to cover the last piece of paper. Use another cookie sheet to press the remaining water out of the stack. (do this outside or in the bathtub, it can make a mess)
10. After you press the stack, gently separate the sheets. They can be dried by hanging on a clothesline or laying them out on sheets of newspaper. When they have dried peel them off the fabric and voila! you have paper!
Making Handmade Paper in 10 Easy Steps
Many types of paper that can be used include:
* Computer Paper (unprinted)
* Newspaper (If you want a grayish colored paper)
* Magazines
* Egg Cartons
* Old Cards (For heavier paper)
* Toilet Paper
* Paper Bags
* Non Waxed Boxes (Pre-soak in warm water)
* Office Paper
* Tissue Paper (For finer paper)
* Typing Paper
* Napkins
* Construction Paper
Supplies you'll need:
* Sponge
* Window Screening (mold)
* Wood Frame (old picture frame can be used too) (deckle)
* Plastic Basin/Tub (Large enough to totally immerse frame)
* Blender/Food Processor (For making paper pulp)
* White Felt or Flannel Fabric
* Staples or Tacks
(For tacking screen on frame)
* Liquid starch (optional)
Instructions:
1. Select the pieces of paper to be recycled. You can even mix different types to create your own unique paper.
2. Rip the paper into small bits, and place into the blender. (about half full). Fill the blender with warm water. Run the blender slowly at first then increase the speed until the pulp looks smooth and well blended. ( 30 -40 seconds) Check that no flakes of paper remain. If there are, blend longer.
3. The next step is to make a mold. The mold, in this case, is made simply by stretching fiberglass screen (plain old door and window screen) over a wooden frame and stapling it. It should be as tight as possible.
4. Fill the basin about half way with water. Add 3 blender loads of pulp. (the more pulp you add the thicker the finished paper will be) Stir the mixture.
5. Now is the time to add the liquid starch for sizing.(This is not necessary but if the paper is going to be used for writing on, you should add some, the starch helps to prevent inks from soaking into the paper fibers.) Stir 2 teaspoons of liquid starch into the pulp.
Place the mold into the pulp and then level it out while it is submerged. Gently wiggle it side-to-side until the pulp on top of the screen looks even.
6. Slowly lift the mold up until it is above the level of the water. Wait until most of the water has drained from the new paper sheet. If the paper is very thick, remove some pulp from the tub. If it is too thin, add more pulp and stir the mixture again.
7. When the mold stops dripping, gently place one edge on the side of a fabric square (felt or flannel square). Gently ease the mold down flat, with the paper directly on the fabric. Use a sponge to press out as much water as possible. Wring the excess water from the sponge back into the large plastic tub.
8. Now comes the tricky part. Hold the fabric square flat and slowly lift the edge of the mold. The wet sheet of paper should remain on the fabric. If it sticks to the mold, you may have pulled to fast or not pressed out enough water. It takes a little practice. You can gently press out any bubbles and loose edges at this point.
9. Repeat the steps above, and stack the fabric squares on a cookie sheet. Save one fabric square to place on the top of the stack to cover the last piece of paper. Use another cookie sheet to press the remaining water out of the stack. (do this outside or in the bathtub, it can make a mess)
10. After you press the stack, gently separate the sheets. They can be dried by hanging on a clothesline or laying them out on sheets of newspaper. When they have dried peel them off the fabric and voila! you have paper!
Friday, May 22, 2009
Joseph Cornell
I love Cornell because his work is so imaginative and unexpected. I am especially fascinated with artists who use materials that we are familiar with from our everyday lives and I think this is what I like about this particular artist. He takes things that I know from normal life and turns them into art, which is a statement about what those things mean.
Here are a few links if you want to see more:
http://josephcornell.org/boxes/index.html
http://josephcornell.org/collage/index.html
http://www.josephcornellbox.com/
And we're off!
Here is a re-cap of our meeting last night (and a few additions that have been rattling around my brain since then):
The small details of our work this summer will revolve around these overarching questions and aims:
1) What do we want to make art about and how can the creative ideas of other people become a part of our own work?
another way of saying it could be: Synthesis of reference and inspiration for personal visual statements. Exploration of the purposes of visual communication and what that means to us as artists.
2) What kinds of materials are out there and what can we do with them?
or, in other words: let's be as creative as possible with our materials and push our own ideas about what art is.
3) How can we improve our technical skills?
A few of the things we want to try/do include:
1. making paper
2. batik
3. Book arts
4. painting and stretching canvas
5. getting ideas from print magazine
6. comics
7. various drawing materials
8. field trips to look at and make art
9. Look at the work of other artists
This blog will serve as:
1) a record of our work
2) a way or filing and sharing artists and inspiration
3) reflecting on processes and experiences
The next few meetings will include these activities:
1. making paper
2. putting together a simple book for drawings
3. determining a method of recording Emma's trip to Costa Rica (another simple book? blog? journal?)
I think we are off to a great start. Feel free to let me know if anything I've written doesn't sound right or you think it needs some changes!
The small details of our work this summer will revolve around these overarching questions and aims:
1) What do we want to make art about and how can the creative ideas of other people become a part of our own work?
another way of saying it could be: Synthesis of reference and inspiration for personal visual statements. Exploration of the purposes of visual communication and what that means to us as artists.
2) What kinds of materials are out there and what can we do with them?
or, in other words: let's be as creative as possible with our materials and push our own ideas about what art is.
3) How can we improve our technical skills?
A few of the things we want to try/do include:
1. making paper
2. batik
3. Book arts
4. painting and stretching canvas
5. getting ideas from print magazine
6. comics
7. various drawing materials
8. field trips to look at and make art
9. Look at the work of other artists
This blog will serve as:
1) a record of our work
2) a way or filing and sharing artists and inspiration
3) reflecting on processes and experiences
The next few meetings will include these activities:
1. making paper
2. putting together a simple book for drawings
3. determining a method of recording Emma's trip to Costa Rica (another simple book? blog? journal?)
I think we are off to a great start. Feel free to let me know if anything I've written doesn't sound right or you think it needs some changes!
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