CRUSADE No. 32 ~ Knock Yourself Off

 

Recently Stampington & Co. made a call for entries for "True Colors" pages through Post Script, their online newsletter.  It got me thinking about my own work in that project and how differently I might approach a page today.  My style and interests have changed, and the process and techniques I use have evolved since that collaborative began in 2001.  As a way to chart our own growth it might be interesting to revisit older work through our current filters, don't you think?

A knockoff is an unauthorized imitation or copy, and is usually considered a bad thing.  Think:  designer purses sold on the streets of New York.  Or, an item that is popular or trendy becomes knocked-off by wannabes.  Ewww.  We don't do that....because we know how to Make It Our Own.  But if we knock ourselves off, that could be good.  (We have the authorization to imitate ourselves).  We could take something we've made, months or years ago, and try it again, armed with new skills and techniques and an evolved style to see how much we've grown.  Are we more sophisticated, more complex, more messy, more authentic?  Has your color palette changed?  Do you use more or less texture, paint, fabric, metal?

Here is an example.  I made this Exemplar for Somerset Studio a long time ago.  If I were to take on that self-imposed assignment today it might look a little different.  Those of you who know my work will recognize both styles, and that obviously the one on the right is designed with my current vision. 

 

While I love my pages in my Autumn journal for True Colors, I would most definitely have a different approach if I were to begin that project today.

 

We've all heard "cover" versions of music.  They aren't always better than the original, just a different version created through the perspective of another artist, in another style, and of course, with better recording technology.  For instance, here is T. Rex performing Bang a Gong.  Years later it was covered by Power Station HERE.  It's a little more punchy and powerful thanks in part to the growth of the recording industry.  More examples:  Careless Whisper by George Michael vs. Seether.  We can't leave out HIM, their version of Don't Fear the Reaper vs. Blue Oyster Cult. 

So this month, Knock Yourself Off, or Cover Yourself.  Go back a few months or a few years and select a journal page or piece of art and re-make it by your own "today's standards". 

 

 

NOTE:  I will be away for a week starting 7/8 so I won't be loading links during that time but you can check the comments and follow the posted entries.

Links will be posted in the order they come in with the newest at the top for easy navigating to new links.  Archived crusades are alphabetical order by first name.  If you wait for this page to load before clicking on links they will open in a new page. If you participate in the crusades and hope to get comments be sure your blog settings aren't so secure that it makes it difficult to leave a comment.  Here's a tip:  the more comments you leave the more comments you will get!

EDIT:  Archived links have been moved from sidebar to here.

CRUSADE No. 32

• Aimeslee W
  
• Darlene
  
• Diane Cook
  
• Fiona Whitehead
  
• Jane Royal
  
• Jane Royal (more)
  
• Jean
  
• Jean (more)
  
• Julie Prichard
  
• Kim H
  
• Lay Hoon
  
• Lisa Myers Bulmash
  
• Lorraine
  
• Michelle Ward
  
• Regina Rooks
  
• Robin Mayberry
  
• Rosie Rowe
  
• Talisa Selby
  
• Wanda Miller
  
• Wanda Miller (more)

Comments

[inge]

hello Michelle ,
great challenge ! If I think back the way I made a card when I just started stamping and how my cards and other stuff now looks layered and textured... it' s a huge difference. I search for a good exemple of the change !

About the examplar : I still like the way you drew the letters then ! It has something architectural...

Your work in the true colors was special and because of your contributions I learned who you are : I still love the" matrasses" you created for each participant. It was a very creative idea to sign in.
The layered style you use now really shows how you evolved and I like the layered style too !

Have a good week with your family. We are aware of the difficult period last year...

greetings from Belgium
Inge

[Erin Prais-Hintz]

This is really intriguing (as are all your crusades!).
I will challenge myself this month to find an early piece of jewelry and reinterprete it and make it more in keeping with my current style. Thanks for the great ideas on how to make it my own and challenge myself to grow.
Enjoy the day! Erin

[Chris]

This is a GREAT idea. I think I say that every crusade, but this is really a great idea. Well the other ones are, too, but I'm telling you, THIS one....

What was I saying?

[Greta Young]

I will join a crusade ONE DAY Michelle! I love your firstletters too. Something VERY special about them.

I do have something to get in the post to you too. Hopefully it'll be on it's way soon... only a -little- late...

[wanda miller]

thanks for another good idea, michelle. i bravely showed an attempt to improve a painting. it still looks lousy, but it was fun trying. count me in for #32. i also changed my comment section to allow more comments, all around.
i hope your trip proved healing. wanda

[Aimeslee]

Hi, Michelle. This is the first Crusade I've joined, thought I'd try it out. Here is the link to my blog post about it:

http://paper-paisleys.blogspot.com/2009/07/emo-faces-crusade-32.html

I owe you a big thank you for inspiring me, with the crusade and also with those gorgeous journal pages. xoxo

Aimeslee W.
aimeslee@earthlink.net

[wanda miller]

thanks for such a positive comment. my sister said maybe add more color to her face, which i'm trying. who knows!

[jean]

i've visited you before and always have wanted to play along...so here i am, watercolor revisited...thanks for the challenge!!!

http://bluebirdslivinginthemeadow.blogspot.com/2009/07/revisiting.html

*jean*

[Rosie]

I have revisited my first handcarved stamps and carved some new ones in order to create a tutorial for a forum I belong to - at their request! Wow - ME, creating a carving tute!!! Who'da thunk it?

You and all the participating Crusaders have been so instrumental in my growth, that I really am so thankful I got up the courage to join in. You once told me that you believe we are meant to meet certain people throughout our lives... I shall never forget that! xoxoxo

[Fiona Whitehead]

I only found you today via Rosie's blog - but had great fun joining in and altering an earlier boring piece I'd done! Thanks for the inspiration.

[wanda miller]

thanks michele for your positive remarks. new and third times a charm, posted today. love your crusades. wanda

[wanda miller]

well, here i am thanking you again, michele. but have too. i appreciated the extra critique. %) wanda

[Jane]

Well, my post is up, and I have to say it (again) Michelle, thank you for another excellent challenge. I love the Crusades, love 'em! I have really learned and gained confidence from participating.
-Jane

[Elanor]

Hey!

I've been lurking around here for a couple months, and eventually will participate...
I have kind of a suggestion or request -- I would love to do your past crusades but it's really time consuming to go all the way back to the first page and read the older crusade posts. I think it would be really awesome if you could create another page to this site where you list all your past crusades, with a button and description of what the crusade involves. You could also link to the original blog post, so the person can look at the crusade in-depth. With this page, people could quickly find old crusades and do them.

It's no problem or anything if you don't, but the thought occurred to me, and I thought I'd mention it! :D

[michelle ward]

elanor - thank you for the suggestion.
there is already a listing at the bottom of the page, left sidebar,
and here:
http://michelleward.typepad.com/how_cool_is_that/whats_a_street_team.html

[Elanor]

Thanks Michelle! I didn't see that! :D

[Julie Prichard]

Hey Mama- here is me knocking myself off.

xoxo

http://lostluggage.typepad.com/the_land_of_lost_luggage/2009/07/gpp-street-team-crusade-32-knock-yourself-off.html

[Regina]

Well, I think I've knocked myself off. You can be the judge.
http://rgrdesigns.blogspot.com/2009/07/gpp-crusade-no-32-knock-yourself-off.html

[Kim H]

Here is mine, a good knock off I think!

http://runningonink.wordpress.com/2009/07/29/knock-off/

[Lisa MB]

Two knock-offs in one small piece!

http://www.bloggingqueen.com/2009/07/tarot-card-3.html

I have ideas for nine tarot cards in total. And please check out the other ones I've made so far. It's so much fun to hear from everyone on the Street Team, because it reminds me to check out everyone else's work!

~Lisa MB

[Darlene]

I loved participating in this Crusade!!! Michelle, thank you so much for dreaming this idea up. Here's my entry:

http://cinnamonpink.typepad.com/cinnamon_pink/2009/08/crusade-no-32-knock-yourself-off-entry.html

Darlene

[Lay Hoon]

Thank you for this great crusade.
I just realised that ones 'style' could be change / do better after some months/years.

http://mescrap.blogspot.com/2009/08/crusade-no-32-knock-yourself-off.html

[lorraine]

I had to think about this challenge as I am always trying new things and dont stay with projects..then I remembered the cards I used to make when I first started to craft nearly 6yrs ago..so I have blogged about my differing style today..good challenge to get us thinking

[lorraine]

Lorraine again..forgot to add a link to the above post so here is my post for this months challenge

http://loveofcollage.blogspot.com/2009/08/green-pepper-press-knock-yourself-off.html