March 18, 2011
by Marie Rainier
This is a cute Martha Stewart inspired way to express your love to your Valentine. Write a short, personal message in it in lieu of a store-bought card from the store.
Adorable Valentine's Card
Materials
- 1 sheet of cardstock in white, pink, or any Valentine’s Day sort of color
- 2 sheets of different colored tissue paper
- Scissors
- Glue stick
- Felt-tip pen
- 1 thin strand of ribbon, twine, or similar material
Instructions
- Cut out a heart from the white card stock and fold into thirds with a square in the middle. It doesn’t have to be exact, but you might want to trim it up with your scissors so it’s fairly symmetrical when you fold it up.
Step 1
- Cut a square from one of the sheets of tissue paper about the size of the cardstock heart. Draw a smaller heart on it and cut it out. Repeat with the other sheet of tissue paper except make the heart still smaller.
Step 2
- Glue the tissue paper hearts on the cardstock so the hearts get gradually smaller. Make sure the edges of the hearts are glued down well so they don’t flap around when the card is unfolded. To keep the tissue paper from ripping when you’re doing the additional gluing, tap the glue stick instead of rubbing it over the paper.
Step 3
- Cut a small bit of the original cardstock into a square that will fit the square within the heart. Write a message with a pen and decorate as you wish.
Step 4
- Crease the heart along the lines so it folds into a square
Step 5
- Tie it off with the ribbon and present it to your Valentine.
Step 6
Maria Rainier is a freelance writer and blog junkie. She is currently a resident blogger at First in Education where recently she’s been researching higher paying jobs versus lower paying jobs. In her spare time, she enjoys square-foot gardening, swimming, and avoiding her laptop.
Posted in Uncategorized | 7 Comments » |
August 17, 2010
written and experienced by Remy Francis
I grew up in a South-East Asian Metropolitan city, where colour, flavour of the people and man-made structures co-exist. This modern city has remnants of the western invasion, with a thick cultural flavour and several people of different faiths living in harmony.
The chimes from the belfast (bell tower) at a church, during the early hours of sunlight was as close to my heart as the chanting from the temple and the prayers from the mosque.
This story is about one such fine sunny day when I picked up my paintbrush and painting kit, slipped into my jeans, put on my hat and rode away to a very busy “hustley bustley” part of town, where I could see people go about their business with rich and colourful traffic passing by. I was just at the spot where I wanted to be that day, to capture a historic subject right at the heart of the city, where everyone had somewhere to go in a mighty hurry.
It was the Madras Central Railway Terminus as it looked in 1989 in the City of Madras.
Madras Central Railway Terminus
I decided to sit right across the traffic-filled road in front of this magnificent British Building to capture its stature, which it has held more than a century now. This was a structure built during the British Rule in India and is one of the few monuments left behind as an impression of the British Footprints before 15th of August 1947, the Independence of India from the British. Hence I consider it an honour to be able to present this article on this very day, the 15th August, marking India’s freedom from the British Imperial rule.
As citizens of this city, we have enjoyed the sight of this great red building, as it proudly stood, weathering all the years that have rolled by, as we have gone about growing up, studying and working around it. The building is open for business 24/7 up to this day.
So on this day, I felt it a great pleasure to be able to capture it by seating myself in an unbelievably welcome setting, in the midst of a few friendly people who made a living just selling flowers as white and pure as one can imagine – the very fragrant and elegant Jasmine flowers. What better a setting than this, with the serene fragrance of these flowers and the chirpy conversation of these humble florists.
This day, 20 years ago when I setup this make-shift drawing venue for myself, I was overwhelmed by the hospitality I received while I sat engrossed in my quick sketches, having street-tasty snacks and warmly prepared beverages. As this was a very strange sight to see someone sit by the street and sketch much to the amusement of passers-by making me a wee bit shy when I noticed that I was being given a whole lot of attention because it is uncommon in South India especially in the 80s to see artists sketch by the street. But I drew up the courage to live as if in New York at least for a day when I had the chance (wink!) So I went on with my mission, not loosing this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Fighting my timidness, I sat there till I finished what I started.
Today, I am glad I made this journey as even in the hustle and bustle of it all, I found a special sense of peace and satisfaction that I was fortunate to get this rare opportunity without being ridiculed as being insane. Sitting in between a few Jasmine Flower Vendors who spent their whole waking/working life sewing together chains of scented, just-picked jasmine flowers is a rare chance to get. This, I can never fail to repeat because I know I got lucky here. Jasmine flowers are used as adornments on the braids of local Hindu women. It is considered both auspicious and sacred and something which makes them look beautiful.
I immediately found friends in these flower ladies, just about living a happy life, with their small daily earnings, making just a living for one days meal. They were so kind as to offer me a box made of planks to sit on. This was luxury considering the humble kind of lives they led.
This location was just at the right spot, across the busy high road, looking up at the grand, central station which stood there with its stiff upper-lip, yet Indian loyalty, reflecting the brilliant sunlight always looking up at a new brilliant day. This 100 year old fellow deserved to be as proud as he was, withstanding the harsh weather of this coastal city by the Bay of Bengal, which survived the devastating South-East Asian Tsunami of recent years.
So must I say it was a double-whammy for me on that day? One, for the pleasure to recreate this historic monument and another to part-take of the day in a life of such rich-hearted people who dwelt by the street, who had all the good cheer to give me.
At the end, I was so grateful to them for giving me that space, as fragrant with the flowers and their warm hearts. In spite of being struck by utter poverty, I saw yet a ray of hope and joy in them which nobody else possessed, living just for the day. I relished every drop of the cup of Indian tea they offered me as I knew that every sip I took was from what they had earned from a hand-full of the flowers they had sold. I was humbled by the way they welcomed me most graciously as their guest.
I had such a great time sketching while cracking jokes with my new friends, finally saying goodbye after their hot relaxing cup of tea, my heart felt a peace that these folks gave me to lighten up my spirit like no other community, on that pleasant Summer day. Today, looking at my sketch, I vividly remember, just like yesterday, those precious moments, in the city where I was born, in just a blink.
…. reminiscing with the thought of my pink building done in watercolour, the pinkness still afresh, as if gesturing a thank you to me for appreciating its glamor.
The material I used for my original painting was a pre-soaked, hand-dried, hand-made paper manufactured at The Auroville in the French Colony of Pondicherry in Southern India, making the quick-sketch using Staedler’s Mars Lumograph HB Sketching pencils, then splashing it with extremely thinned Indian Camlin water colours in layers using paint brushes such as Cotman III No. 3 & 7 from Winsor & Newton England.
After the painting had thoroughly dried, I gave it a grey sketchy outline and accents using calligraphic nibs dipped in diluted black watercolour paints.
As my original painting was gifted to a friend (an ardent fan of India) living in another part of the globe, I recreated the painting just for this article, using Pentel watercolors and again, Winsor & Newton Paintbrushes.
20 years (I guess) is not too long to let the details of how I painted this piece, fade away (smiles…) The fact that I was cradled in a fragrance of fresh flowers during this ideal outdoor sketching session, is a unique kind of Art Festival I will always remember.
Salutes to you Madras City the today’s Chennai Pattinum !! And the friendly people no matter from what walk of life they come. They inspire me!
Posted in Drawing & Sketching, Painting, Watercolors | 6 Comments » | Tags: art, artists, Madras, Painting, painting en plein air, street scenes, watercolor painting, Watercolors
May 24, 2010
I recently came across this caring and gifted artist while flitting about the internet. I was so impressed with her work and her creativity that I asked if she would provide an article on a topic near and dear to her heart. Dolores Monet‘s article raises some interesting and thought-provoking questions about our responsibilities as artists and creators of art. I hope you enjoy reading her post as much as I did.
Green Art – The Challenge to Find Strategies to Create Sustainable Art
Interest in the green movement can be a tricky business for everyone including artists. Sustainability emphasizes practices that have a low impact on the environment and include the use of recycled or renewable products and energy. Environmentally friendly behaviors include a thrifty lifestyle and approach to art, based on simplicity. Unfortunately, the products that have a low impact on the environment can be difficult to locate and quite expensive.
A large part of the green movement is a concentration on low impact and renewable products. Bamboo, for instance, is an easily replaced product and is often used in paintbrushes and easels. But some of these products can carry a high cost, making them difficult for struggling artists to afford. Perhaps, increased demand will eventually lower the prices.
In an attempt to be thrifty and green, some artists use recycled materials in the productions of both fine arts and crafts. Sustainable art follows a philosophy of using elements of design that eliminate a negative environmental impact or have a minimal environmental impact. Artists interested in sustainability avoid the use of non-renewable materials, toxic materials, and often focus on previously used items to create fine arts and crafts.
New Meadow by Dolores Monet
This philosophy presents an interesting challenge to artists, including strategies for the creation and presentation of their work. Materials can be gleaned from thrift stores, dumps, architectural salvage years, or even from the neighborhood trash. Sometimes called ‘junk art,’ discarded materials are assembled into sculpture, jewelry, wall hangings, furniture, or frames. The challenges presented by the use of recycled materials stir an artist’s creativity and highlight thrift as a sustainable practice.
Sustainable art created with recycled materials cuts down on waste. The cracks, dents, and rust of time lend a distinctive air to the art, producing an organic, unique beauty to the finished product. Effects can be whimsical, sturdy, or stand as homage to the past.
Salt Marsh by Dolores Monet
The beauty of old materials used in the fabrication of arts and crafts can dictate the form of the final product. A young friend of mine created an attractive garden sculpture using old rebar, rusted chains, and a section of discarded public bathroom tile, all items destined for the junk yard.
A craftsman in Pennsylvania produces beautiful birdhouses, benches, frames, and a variety of artistic crafts from old barn wood, wood salvaged from abandoned houses, and cast-off farm implements.
I create small landscape painting on salvaged door panels. I attempt to procure used acrylic paints and used brushes. I was so happy to accidentally stumble on a frugal, sustainable art form.
Curch Point, Fall by Dolores Monet
However, in the past, lead based paints were often used to paint home interiors, doors, and cabinets. The old naturally crackled paint offers an interesting surface to paint on and creates an aged look to the completed painting. This is quite a conundrum. While using recycled materials, I sand and paint on toxic materials.
It’s like the mercury used in low wattage light bulbs. You try to live green and wind up creating a whole new problem. So, in attempt to practice ‘green art,’ I wind up handing out poison paintings. Life is one big, fat conundrum. The creative use of discarded materials, the avoidance of toxic materials, and the cost of environmentally friendly products create new challenges for the artists who want to take a sustainable approach to their work.
by Dolores Monet
Posted in Acrylics, Painting | 165 Comments » | Tags: acrylic painting, eco-friendly art, green art, painting on reclaimed material, reclaimed painting surfaces, recycled art
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