michelle ward

you asked for it

 

I am hardly an expert in Photoshop.  I call my version PS DS (as in DinoSaur era).  I do have a later edition, given by sweet friend Kathy, but I can't bring myself to install is as it will render my own custom brushes invalid.  In addition to making your own brushes you can purchase brush sets - there are some really cool ones out there.  With this tutorial I am advocating for making your own - because there is nothing like having tools made from your own stuff. 

 

 

 

 

   

 

Don't forget to save your custom brushes.  At the drop-down menu you'll see "Save Brushes", click on that and name the set, and note the location.  You will only get the hang of it once you give it a try.  I can't answer any questions about later versions of Photoshop because I've never seen how those programs are set up but I can imagine it's not too different.  Again, there are alot of online tutorials. 

That's is for now....hope it's been helpful. 

naughty or nice

Don't you feel like preparing for Christmas is an exercise of endurance?  You make list after list, check them twice, and decide if you want to be naughty or nice.  Naughty is relative isn't it?  Spending too much, or not enough, might be naughty.  Endulging in something for yourself might be naughty...or maybe not being good to yourself at this time of year might be get you in trouble.  Breathe, be good.

Here's some nice things that happened since we last spoke....Wednesday night the Room 10 boys performed with the band at the school's holiday show.  They played the drums, and they rocked it.  We were in the last row - best view, but bad for photos.  Still, so nice.

 

I was out shopping with Fallon today, and we scored a pink tree to go with the deer.  Nice.

  

A nice surprise came in the mail today from Ann Marie and the Festival Ballet of Providence (Rhode Island).  They have permission to use my nutcracker image for their merchandise - this year they made black hoodies with a silver print, and she sent me one!  Thanks Ann Marie.  Nice.  When I took this photo I had an a-ha moment.  Sam collects calendars, and that is all he wants for Christmas.  There are about 40 on the walls of his room.  He has a few perpetual calendars - and he loves this nutcracker with the countdown numbers.  It never occured to me to paint some blocks for him - a gift I'll be making tomorrow.

  

The local fire station suited up and paraded through our part of town with Santa.  The all-volunteer firemen ran up and down the street delivering candy canes while the sirens blasted and rockin' loud music played.  How nice is that?

  

This just in - Artists' Cafe Volume 2.  It is really NICE.  (I have a few things in it!)

   

We're expecting a big snow storm.  How perfect that I'm almost done preparing and can spend a day wrapping while listening to my Christmas music.  Nice.

planning and procrastinating

When I have alot to get done I tend to procrastinate.  I actually think it's part of my creative process.  Sometimes I'll take up a mini-self-imposed-project that is totally unrelated to an article I should be writing and yet somehow it feeds me enough to get my thoughts focused and the words fall into place.  I've been at the computer which presents a great tempation - not for surfing, but for messing around in photoshop.  It's kinda related to my article, kinda.   

 

You can see the photo I started with above.  Then I made about 17 variations - all part of my self-teaching and keeping up with PS skills, but really, a procrastination.  It's ok, I learned a few things today, even if I didn't get everything crossed of my list.

 

The party was a success - a perfectly ordered thunderstorm added to the aura.  I will take more photos on the 31st as I didn't do the best documentation of Saturday.  Thanks for chiming in on Fallon's costume and make-up rehearsal.  Like a 13-yr-old, she didn't take advice from ANY of us but was adorable.

 

Latest Ink

What?  Did you think I got a new tattoo?  I'll keep you guessing on that.....instead, here are some recent magazine articles.

The Jan/Feb issue of Somerset Studio is terrific!  Cover art by Pam Garrison, (congrats Pam!).  You can get a peek into the Marie Antoinette collaborative zine I told you about HERE, with a terrific close-up of Lisa Kaus's piece.  And that little boy?  It's Peter!  Yep, he rolled his eyes at me for including him in my article.  Also in this issue:  With One Palette by Kristen Robinson,  Artisit Portfolio:  Sally Jean Alexander, and some wonderful journal pages by Roben-Marie Smith. 

Here's another recent publication - Artists' Cafe - revisiting some archived articles for those who are new readers of Somerset.  It was fun to see some gems done by friends over the years.  One of my all-time favorites is Anne Bagby's clown journal.  That girl rocks.   And my sweet friend Judi shows us her classic book arts, and you'll see Lynne and Karen and Nina too.  Even if you aren't a new reader of Somerset, I think you'll find this issue full of visual vitamins.  (There are things in here I don't even remember seeing before and I have every issue ever released!  Maybe it's because as our interests change, we see things differently.  Articles that had no appeal to me 5 or 6 years ago now get my attention.  Good excuse for hoarding magazines, right?)

I may have to pull together all the things I've done I've done with chess imagery over the years.  I didn't realize how far back it started showing up in my work.  No long ago I spray painted a few pieces with some newly cut chess stencils - I'll show you that soon.  I'll leave you with a photo taken some time in 2005 when I was making the letters for the collaborative exemplar with my friend Laurie Mika.  SHE is the master of using clay but it was fun for me to revisit playing with it for a project we ended up selling on ebay for Katrina Relief.  It's always good to change the medium you work in - often you'll gain a new or different perspective that will manifest itself in your default medium.  Next to the tiles is a piece I completed after catching the clay fever.  (Might be time to pull out the pasta machine again.)

making headlines

See the news story HERE.  How about that headline?   I swear it was the author's choice, but it couldn't have been cooler!!  If you're here for the first time because of the article, here is the Marineland story:  READ  To order a copy of Chicken Soup for the Soul:  Children with Special Needs, click HERE.  As you can imagine, it's a book filled with heartwarming stories.  (Great holiday or teacher gift!)

how often do you......WINK?

Sure, a wink is a physical gesture of blinking one eye with a twinkle in the other and a sly smile that delivers a secret message.  Maybe it says "I'm thinking if you in a special way", or "I knew you'd love that", or "I'm full of surprises", or "See, I'm paying attention, and I GET you".  Sometimes it's not even a facial expression, but an act that makes you realize someone is winking at you.  Take for instance a few months ago when I told you about an article where my friend Jenny Doh, director of publishing at Stampington, was winking at me.  You can read about that HERE.

The latest issue of Somerset Studio arrived and I got WINKED at again.

 

If you've seen Lynne's book Beyond Paper Dolls then you're familiar with this paper theater.  Somerset presents additional views in my article in the Sept/Oct issue.  It was fun to revisit this project and give it new words.  It was so much fun to make and provided endless amusement as I conjured up all the set drop-ins.  When I first sent it to Lynne I had enclosed in the prop drawer a figure of Edgar Allan Poe as well as a scaled down replica of a puppet I had created for Teesha's Art and Life, depicting my favorite rock star Ville Valo.  It was a way of sending a little WINK to Lynne.  To my surprise and delight, Ville showed up on stage in the Somerset article.  A total WINK from Jenny.  Not many people will know who he is or why he's there but WE know.  Say it....H.C.I.T.  There is a Valo/Poe connection which is another reason why I included him in the theater but I'll spare you that story today.  For more views of The Willow Playhouse presents The Raven, see HERE.

 

If you've been following my blog this is old news, but here are the pages I had done for Teesha over a year ago....and a photo of me with Ville when I gave him the puppet.  Now you know who that dude is on stage in the article...and why it was a WINK from my editor and friend.  And because I'm on a music crusade for the GPP Street Team I will share with you a HIM video where Ville is wearing the top hat. 

Also in this issue is an Artist Portfolio on Julie Pearson.  I was honored to be the one to introduce you to her as she is a very dear friend and incredible artist and mentor.  It was difficult to edit myself and not sound like a total fangirl when I wrote the article.  It's only here that I can share with you HOW CRAZY I AM ABOUT THIS WOMAN.  We are working together on a website for her and you will be the first to know when it's ready.  Pick up the issue to see her beautiful work. 

Today, when I should have been packing, I escaped with Susanna to see Becoming Jane.  DIVINE film.  If you're a Jane Austen fan DO NOT MISS IT!   

Raise your hand if you want to see a spin-off that follows the life of Henry Austen.  Susanna and I vote YES.

It takes two

The best is when you can design an image that results in both a stencil and mask.  For instance, see HERE. 

Often, you actually have to alter an image, and cut it twice to yield both a stencil and a mask.  Like the text above....it needed small portions to be removed in order to be a stencil.  The black parts get cut out.  If the are any "islands", portions that aren't connected to the main background, they will fall out with the cuts.  In order to preserve the image, in this case the letter forms, you will need to alter the image.  I've indicated in red where the cutting should stop to preserve the "islands".  Imagine those red markings as white and you can see how the stencil  is formed.  For a mask you need to reverse your thinking.  This time the black is going to be the end product.  All parts need to connect so you will have to modify the original text by extending connectors.  Imagine the green markings as black and you can see the mask.

Here is the completed stencil and mask.  I cut them from acetate with an exacto blade.  The image was printed directly onto acetate.  (I also like to use a heated tip stencil burner.)

Kari has initiated an online blog party.  It's a great idea as I believe networking and building communities is one of the perks of blogging.  If you are new here and just hopped over from Kari's party then I welcome you.  You'll find my current obsession is utilizing stencils and masks with spray paint in my art, and you will find many blog posts here about that subject.  I recently compiled most of the images into my "Sprayed!" album in the left sidebar.  I run another blog called the GPP Street Team which was featured in Artful Blogging.  You are invited to come over and see the fun we are having there.  It is an example of an online community that is building itself.  This months crusade is about adding music to your blog, and last month we were all about Mail Art.  Thanks for coming by!   (Oh, and if you haven't been to Kari's site yet - she has been adding dozens of links to artful bloggers who have joined in the party!)

P.S.  DUH!  Since this is a party i should be giving something away, right?  I have extra copies of Artful Blogging...so leave a comment if you want to be in the drawing for a copy of the magazine and some other goodies from my studio.  (Collecting names through Thursday @ midnight EST)

Less Toxic

I get asked alot about my concern for the environment with spray painting.  I do protect myself by wearing a mask (especially indoors).  An alternative to paint is ink.  There are several colors available through Ranger.  I call them spray ink but it's really named Color Wash, and is a water based dye in a spritz bottle.  They can give you some cool effects, but don't work in the same way as paint.  After alot of experimenting I choose to mostly use them for backgrounds.  Above is an example of a full sheet that I enjoy making and will cut down for various end uses.

Notice the alphabet (on the right), monoprinted like we talked about earlier this month.

If you use stencils the way I do with paint, then you know you can work fast because of the way the paint dries on the surface and the stencil.  If you try to work the same way with ink you will bum out because the ink puddles on the plastic stencils and will drip off as you try to move it.  Bleh!  You could be prepared for a quick monoprint with another sheet of paper....that would sop up alot of the ink from the stencl before you move it.

It helps to know that sprayed ink will smear as it's water based.  Use that information wisely.  Be careful when using a glue to attach something over it...the gooby edges could get all weird and if your layered image is too thin the color might bleed through.  Might be cool, but might be heartbreaking.  The smear factor is cool if you want another look, spritz with water and pull a paper towel across it.  Or be lazy like me and try spitting and smearing with your hand.  Some smears below.

Stencilled or stenciled?  Had to look it up.  Now we know.

Lots of love being spread over on the Street Team.  I'll post some of the cool arrivals to my own mailbox and front step in the next few days.

because of a blog...........

Being a blogger has been a rewarding experience particularly because of the connections made with new and interesting people.  In addition, I get to see into the worlds of those close to me and total stangers too.  This morning presented an added bonus!  I met in real life with a new friend, and fellow blogger, Susanna Gordon.  The hours flew by as we discovered we had much in common.  She has amazing talent and had brought show and tell of some stunning encaustic work.  She is also a gifted photographer which you'll see when you hop over to her blog, or crack open Artful Blogging to page 100.  STUNNING.  Next time I hope I get to see her sketchbooks!  Bookmark her blog...she's always sharing something interesting.

As I drove away from Starbucks this afternoon I was rethinking what just happened.  I met another new friend because of the blog.  This time it was a neighbor!  So very cool to have spent the day with Susanna.  Meeting and talking with her for the first time was a rare treat.  Here's how it evolved:

Artful Blogging, a new publication by Stampington & Co. arrives.  I am flipping through the attractive pages and I discover the article of Susanna's Sketchbook, a blog I had never visited.  Love what I see....hop over to the site....say to myself, "she's in NJ, must say hello"....jot a note....Susanna writes back....we discover we live IN THE VERY SAME TOWN....as the crow flies it's barely a mile....so here we are....at Starbucks TODAY.  It was a gas to meet ANOTHER ARTIST who gets how cool it is to blog and knows the rewards to be had by putting yourself out there.  She is exactly the kind of person you would want to meet - very interested in seeing all there is in our neck of the woods, plus she makes cool stuff.  A connection and opportunity we might have missed.

You're here, therefore you're a blog reader.  You'll love this magazine.  Thinking about starting your own?  Get it.  Already have your own?  Get it.  It is a very juicy publication - filled with terrific visuals and stories about the blogging experience (including my darling friend Lisa Hoffman and my Street Team!).  Do you have a blog but you get that blank face when you talk to someone who doesn't get it?  This is perfect evidence to prove you're not alone.  Hits newstands August 1st but I've heard it's already showing up in stores.  You can also order direct from Stampington. 

I have enjoyed keeping this blog.  It has been the most amazing experience to connect with readers from around the globe.  I truly appreciate getting your comments and emails.  Meeting Susanna today?  Priceless.  We met because we blog!  Now how cool is that?  Who is blogging in your neighborhood that you haven't met yet?  You'll never know if you don't connect.  (And buy the magazine!)

107

No, it's not the temperature here.  It's how old Zelda Fitzgerald would be on July 24th if she were still alive.  I made a book and paper doll of her for Lynne's book, then followed it up with an article on her in Somerset.  Love her.  And love this....you can make your own slide show too.  The coolest.  (Tune is "Ghost of You" by My Chemical Romance.  You can click off the sound control if you're at work.)  EDIT:  I modified so the music doesn't automatically play.  Click on the little black icon, lower left, for tunage.

This Just In.....

 

The latest Somerset Studio arrived today, and man....it is so handsome.  Just terrific.  I can show you the back of my piece in an article I wrote.....but you'll have to get the issue to see the front.  It was such a rewarding piece to make.  What's really cool is when you get your art back (after making it months ago) and you still love what you did.  Life can often move so fast that I forget about things I've made and sent off.  Good thing I make evidence journal pages.....I'll have to dig those up to show you sometime.

Since I'm plugging the magazine I will blog about this too::

Love that the Street Team is getting some more ink because it's all about networking and creativity, and making an appointment with your journal once a month.....first mentioned in Somerset Life, and now Artful Blogging.  I appreciate the spotlight, truly, because it's so cool that we are all widening our circle of artistic friends with the crusades.  Stampington is keeping stride with the times by inventing this new publication.  How cool is it going to be to learn about other artsy blogs?  You KNOW you're interested in the blog world.....you're HERE aren't you?

I have to say I can't stop watching the video below.  Must have rewound it 2 or 3 dozen times.  So heartwarming.  Even if you're not an opera lover you gotta appreciate this dude.  Music has that way of getting to you, doesn't it?  I know I'm buying the album....I even friended him on MySpace :)

Speckled Eggs

In the current issue of Somerset Studio I am very honored to have my Painted Ladies rubber sheet featured for the article "With One Stamp".   Thank you to the artists who made lovely things with the images.  I have had alot of questions reguarding the unmounted sheet and how to use the eggs.  I often suggest leaving one row of eggs to use lined up.  If you do cut apart the rows of eggs you can layer them in varying colors to create a speckled egg.  Be sure to label the back sides of each size of eggs to keep yourself organized.

Here is a sample (above) of using the layers of speckles with PAINT.

 

The above shows layering the eggs with INK.  And below shows the entire Painted Ladies 8 x 10 sheet.  For ordering information, go to the GPP site HERE.

Below shows my mess, but you can see how I mount the stamp images on foam, and store them by size in plastic bags.  I use gel formula contact cement as adhesive.  The foam base is a kneeling pag, meant for gardeners, found at this season at places like Lowes and Home Depot.  Trim rubber close to image, apply cement on the back of rubber and face of foam, let dry, adhere and cut with sharp utility knife.  Tutorial HERE.

And finally, below shows how I store my stamps, in acrylic frames.

This Just In.....

My infatuation with spray paint continues.  The latest - spraying on clothing, can be seen in the new Altered Couture No. 2, by Stampington & Co.  How cool are these?  I have two pairs of sprayed jeans I wear all the time so I can attest to the washability of them - the stuff doesn't come off and it's not crusty provided you use a light hand when spraying.  Try it!  You'll rock in your trendy threads.  I'm loving that Stampington showed the INSIDE of the purse which has a Heartagram, something I never thought they would actually photograph.  I think it's Jenny's way of winking at me, knowing I'm a fangirl and would get a kick out of seeing my favorite symbol on the page.  AC2 is a great publication with lots of clever ideas.  Wanna get artsy with your clothing?  Pick it up!

EDIT:  If you haven't seen my previous postings about spray paint you can now scroll down on the left sidebar, find the CATEGORY bubble, and click on "article".  All the posts will appear like magic!

More tips.....

A great way to keep your stencils organized is to get a package of page protectors and a 3-ring binder.  I put paper in mine so I can use both sides of the protector and the stencils won't get tangled.  For slightly larger sized ones I cut the side of the protector open.  When there are alot of little ones I clip the protector closed with a paper clip.  After alot of use your stencils may be tacky so keeping them stored this way helps avoid a sticky mess. 

I find there are some terrific commercial stencils available at craft stores but they aren't usable AS IS.  For instance, this Fleur-de-lis stencils....I would not lay it down on a page and spray.  You could mask off the unwanted images with scratch paper, or you could alter them as seen here with the butterfly.  This was from a full collection of butterflies.  I cut it apart, than attached it, with packing tape, to a blank sheet of acetate to isolate the image as it's own stencil.  Don't forget to cut an opening in the acetate that roughly matches the outline of the image.

 

Once you've been using your stencils over and over they become a work of art themselves.  If you invest in the cardboard letter stencils, consider getting several sets as eventually you may want to use the actual stencil IN your art.  You can see I love to collect alphabet stencils.  Speaking of collecting.....we have started the next GPP Street Team Crusade.  Crusade No. 6:  Pick Your Poison, is about journaling the things you collect.  Congrats to Juliet Wilson for being the Top Hat Draw for Crusade No. 5.  Don't know what I'm talking about?  Come see over HERE.

P.S.  Don't forget to visit my pal Lisa's blog.  She's become a devoted blogger and this week she covered more about stencils.

Beyond the Page

Continuing talk about spray paint - you can move off the page and onto fabric.  Your plain, everyday variety spray can be put to work on your jeans!  And surprisingly, it doesn't result in crusty surfaces.  Well, if you are super heavy handed with the paint it might get crunchy - but a light touch is all it takes to apply color.  How cool are these?  And those funky shoes?  They aren't sprayed, they are from Target.  But they could have been!  Nothing is safe from getting a coat of spray around here.

Here I cut a mask of the logo of our favorite band.  This time, because the fabric of the t-shirt is much softer, I used the Tulip brand fabric spray paint.  And Fallon?  Had to show you how beautiful she is.....with colored hair spray from Hot Topic.  I told ya, nothing is safe.

And lest you think everything I do has black....here's a little color.  Looks like Spring doesn't it?  You can see some custom cut masks, some purchased stencils, the floral is by Heidi Swapp.  Her masks are terrific but they are super sticky and will rip your paper so blot them on your jeans to pick up a little lint before setting on your page. 

Blog Bonus

One of the cool things about having a blog is that you can address, with visuals, questions that get asked.  I've had some inquiries, in response to the Somerset Studio article Lisa and I did on spray paint.  The picture above illustrates the difference between a mask and a stencil.  If you decide to cut your own stencils why not be clever and make sure the image you cut can be used as both a mask and a stencil - a positive and a negative.  Not all images work out this way but you're the designer, make it happen. 

The picture above illustrates both masks and stencils.  You can see I made the scrolly image as a positive and negative.  I've pointed out each so you can see how they can be combined.  The manila background helps you to identify the the masks....harder to pick out if I had sprayed more color on the surface. 

 

Here's an up close view of some of the tags shown in the article.  The DANGER tag was attributed to me but Lisa is the one who cut the barbed wire stencil  What a great gift.  The word was created from an alphabet punch set - a very cool tool to have when you want to add text.  If you've seen the article, you had to notice the cool box Lisa had sent me with "OH MY GOTH" stenciled in over the thorny roses.....is she just the coolest?  The little alphabet in tag #3 is a brass stencil, the negative was created by taking the wet stencil and flipping it over as a mono-print.  You can use brass stencils, plastic stencils, and paper stencils.  Think about all the cool die-cuts that are out there for the scrappers - all usable as masks!  A little shot of temporary spray adhesive to hold them in place and you're good to go. 

Be sure to visit KRYLON to see all the cool products they offer, from iridescent sprays, to suede finishes, spray GESSO, and even a spray product to make your creations acid free.  They have a new product that is water based too.  I also recommend you try RANGER'S spray washes.  They really rock - much different than spray paint and you don't have to form an entire "spray station" to use these.  And a heat cutting tool?  I got mine at Michael's, it's from Plaid.  They are sold near the stencils, and you can pick up the "blanks" to cut there too.

More spray talk later this week.  Check Lisa's blog as she's talkin' aerosol too.

Maximized!

Last week the recent issue of Somerset Studio arrived.  I was thrilled with the layout they created using the work I did for an article about PROCESS.  The entire issue is FANTASTIC!  Check it out. 

Often, it's not about the completed piece, but what we learn in the process that is of value to us as artists.  At the time I did this work I was teaching myself how to use Photoshop in a much different way that I had used it before....and I've grown alot since then but I look back at these pieces and remember the thrill of discovery.  There is nothing like waking up in the morning and being excited about making stuff - no matter what it is or how you go about doing it.  More about that later. 

The rubber is up - 10 new sheets for WayWard Collection are posted to the left.  This new direction reflects my own interests in imagery - layering scrolls and flourishes with favorite engravings and text.  (You'll recognize many of the images from my digital art.)  Also included are some variations with ravens.  Some of eggs on one sheet are meant to be used in a layered format to create your own speckled eggs - HOW COOL IS THAT? 

I'm offering, for the first time, PRE-ORDERS.  I have never done this before as I like to have the inventory on hand when the orders come in.  It drives me crazy to not be able to ship the same week.  However, I decided since I'm offering the pre-order, and you still have to WAIT for the rubber, I thought it would only be fair that you get a DISCOUNT, good through September 15.  I'm not even sure when the orders will ship as it will depend on when the new rubber gets to me.  Visit GreenPepperPress to shop - I take Paypal and MC/VISA, and of course personal checks.  My friend Lisa had a good idea - she said "buy now for the holidays - take a sheet and cut it up as stocking stuffers!"  Not a bad idea Lisa, thanks!

I'm done for the day.....alot got accomplished.  I can't wait to talk about what happened on our trip to Marineland...will save that for another day.