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ArtTRADER

PUTTING THE ART IN TRADE

m a g a z i n e
Issue 14 - Spring 2011

Interviews with
Kati Barrett
& NADINE THOME

Junkie
NECKLACES

In SEARCH
of the Perfect

White Pen!

ARTIST'S

B L O C K

INCHIES

An Exploration

Cover art by Kati Barrett

All About Trading

ATCs, Altered Art, Art Journals, Chunky Books & Creative Inspiration

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Table of Contents
3 ArtTrader Team 4 Letter from the ArtTrader Team 5 Reinventing Jewelry - The Junkie Way 10 Gallery: 4x4 Color Challenge 14 In Search of the Perfect White Pen 18 Gallery: White Pens in Action 19 Overcoming Artists Block 24 Gallery: Handwriting in Art 26 Online Workshop: Retro Women! 27 Interview: Kati Barrett 31 Exploring Inchies 34 Klimt Gallery 38 The Art of Nadine Thome 43 CONTEST: Summer Hats! 44 Advertisements 46 Submissions: Call for Art & Articles

SPRING 2011
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PUBLISHER Sal Scheibe COPY EDITOR Meran ni Cuill ART DIRECTOR Sal Scheibe LEAD GRAPHIC DESIGNER Andrea Melione CONTRIBUTORS Catherine Bailey Sara Dudenhoeffer Andrea Melione Sal Scheibe ArtTRADER Magazine www.arttradermag.com Publisher: salscheibe@arttradermag.com Advertising / Products: salscheibe@arttradermag.com Submissions: art@arttradermag.com Call for Entries: www.arttradermag.com

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ArtTrader Team
Andrea Melione (AKA EraserQueen) has a B.S. in Arts Management and is doggedly pursuing a Masters in Library Science. She has been involved in Mail Art for five years and is the co-founder of IllustratedATCs.com. She is a contributor to ArtTrader Magazine where she is a graphic designer and author. She mainly works in watercolor, colored pencil, acrylics, markers and gel pens. Her work has been in four exhibits, though two were academic and she isnt sure if that counts enough to sound cool. eraserqueenstudios.blogspot.com Sal Scheibe works as a creative designer for print and web and also as a freelance illustrator. Her designs and artwork have appeared in books, CDs and DVDs and posters. Sal is currently working on a number of large canvas paintings for art shows. She also enjoys trading ATCs and is an administrator at IllustratedATCs. com. Sals favorite artists and illustrators include Joe Sorren, J.C. Leyendecker, William Bougereau and John Singer Sargent. Her favored mediums are acrylic paint, colored pencils and markers. www.slscheibe.com www.randomleft.com (art blog) Meran niCuill Fascinated by nature and science, Meran ni Cuill attempts daily to translate her passions into art. Sometimes she feels she even succeeds! And then something else will catch her attention and off shell go! Chasing another ideal. Meran enjoys gardening, sunsets, dogs, birds, and just about anything as long as its not endless crowds of people. When those present, shell retreat to a quiet place and read a book, or cut some glass, both of which she finds therapeutic. www.meran.etsy.com

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Letter from the Art Trader Team


Hello everyone and welcome to our Spring 2011 issue! Weve done some research and answered the question everyone in the art trading world asks at some point, What is the best white pen? (page 14). Of course, we didnt test every pen, just the more common ones and we tested these pens on standard surfaces. Its not a definitive or overly scientific test and people will still have their favorites, but perhaps our test pictures will help you decide which pen is right for you. Write to us and let us know what you think. Do you have any white pen suggestions of your own? Weve love to hear them!

We also have a fun article for you ephemera and itty bitty junk collectors - junkie necklaces! (page 5). This step-by-step tutorial features fun instructions for making a cool necklace out of all the fun bits you have laying about in your art supply drawers. We would love to see your creations if you follow the article. Please send them to us at: art@arttradermag.com.

Art by Meran niCuill, Copy Editor

Art By Andrea Melione, Graphic Design & Artist Interviews

Art by Sal Scheibe, Art Director & Article Contributor

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REINVENTING JEWELRY
THE JUNKIE WAY
By Catherine Bailey

Have you ever opened a jewelry box and discovered only one earring? Do you stoop to pick up a sparkly piece of metal on the ground? Does looking through the basement at all the little things your husband/partner saves make your brain start spinning? Is it impossible for you to toss broken jewelry or things that bring you happy memories? Do you no longer use your sewing supplies or has a relative given you a box of buttons, zippers, snaps and hooks? I find it extremely difficult to toss out stuff that could possibly be used for some other purpose. My imagination goes wild when I walk anywhere. I can see strange and common things used in unusual ways to create jewelry, pieces of art, clothing, accessories, etc. I can see magical items being made from other persons discarded things. The idea of waste not, want not has been a big part of my creative endeavors. My objective in writing this article is to inspire people and help them look at everything in a different way. I want to create a spark that will make you want to use something different, look at the unwanted or discarded in a different light, and to fall in love with making jewelry that will amuse and delight.

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My attic studio began as a sewing room, but has evolved into an eclectic workspace. I have learned to use trays as portable workspaces. They are ideal surfaces for holding items that might be useful in my current piece(s). I place supplies that are color coordinated as well as jump rings and jewelry findings that might be useful in the piece.

INGREDIENTS FOR NECKLACE BASE

Broken chain necklaces Pop tabs Jump rings Snaps Ribbons Old telephone cords Leather cord Key rings Shoe strings Anything to which charms and junk can be attached

SUGGESTIONS FOR JUNKIE CHARMS


Bottle caps Broken jewelry Electrical connector parts Small toys Keys Christmas tree lightbulbs Paper clips Hinges Fishing tackle items Watch parts Clock parts Miniature furniture/accessories Springs from pens Small perfume bottles Earrings Rings Bolts Washers Picture hangers (hooks) Pen caps Game pieces Puzzle pieces Zipper pulls Safety pins Coins Window shade hardware Beads Buttons Sewing machine feet Seashells Brads

I like to work on several different pieces at one time. As I work and see how designs are developing, I get ideas for improving or expanding on another idea.

Supplies sorted by color in pictures below.

TOOLS

Needlenose pliers Drill Nail file (to open jump rings)

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DEVELOPING THE NECKLACE BASE My first step in designing a necklace is to establish a base. I need to decide whether to create the entire base from scratch such as using individual beads, connecting pieces, hardware, etc. or whether to use a premade base such as wire, cording, chain, ribbons, an old necklace, etc. or to use both in combination. This is a very important step from which the rest of the piece evolves. I like to decide the length and visualize how to place the junk charms. Once the base has been established, the fun begins. I quickly lay out pieces around the base to decide a color theme. My necklaces generally have one or two colors with an accent color, but attractive pieces can be made using multiple color combinations.

Necklace Base: Spiral from an old Notebook

Original Design Layout

When I found a box of doll accessories at a yard sale, I knew immediately that the shoes would be perfect charms for junkie necklaces. Here is my original necklace design using black doll shoes. The pop tabs that I use have been collected for years and often appear on my jewelry, fiber pieces, and journals.

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The Necklace in Progress Sometimes as I begin the construction I run into unplanned difficulties; as was the case with this necklace. The pop tab charms did not lie between the spirals of the book binding edge and the snake chain base allowed everything to slide around. At this point I had to decide whether to work with this problem or figure out a different method to construct the piece. My decision was to use the cluster appearance because it allowed quick and easy construction. Also, should I tire of the necklace, deconstruction and reuse of the pieces and base would be easy.

The following necklace was made using a plastic necklace circa 1965 that was destined for the trash. In this necklace, I use pink plastic doll shoes and doll accessories for some of the charms.

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Here are a few more necklaces to inspire and amuse you. I hope you are now excited about a way to have fun and display some of the valued junk in your life and that your creations will brighten and amuse those who see them!

Editors Note: We invite readers to submit their own junky creations for our Junk Jewelry Gallery in the next issue of Art Trader. Send your submissions to: art@arttradermag.com.

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4x4 Color Challenge!


Artists at IllustratedATCs.com were challenged to created 4x4 works of art using a limited color palette of turquoise and yellow organge. As you can see, the artists all interpreted the colors in a unique way. Challenge yourself by trying out the same technique; use paint, pen, text pages, scrap paper, fabric, or metal bits to create your own limited color palette 4x4s!
Nancy Pelfrey

Kari Kryder

Deborah Baker

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Jennifer Moore

Sandi Tascarini

Joyce Ripley

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Pam McVay

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Jennifer Moore

Sandi Tascarini

Deborah Baker

Pam McVay

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Joyce Ripley

Nancy Pelfrey

Julie Howell

Kari Kryder

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In Search of the Perfect White Pen


By Sal Scheibe White gel pens have so many uses for so many artists but the problem for many of us has been finding that elusive white pen of perfection. Perhaps it doesnt exist but that doesnt stop us from trying out every new white gel pen we come across. I know that I have quite the collection in my art drawer and over the past few years, I think Ive tried close to 20 different pens searching for the one that does it all.

White gel pens can be used for many different types of creative activities. In scrapbooking, theyre often used simply for writing on photos or patterned paper. In mixed media and collage art, many people use them for design purposes or emphasizing shapes and elements. For finer arts and illustration, some people use gel pens for highlighting light areas as well as emphasizing shapes and elements. Ive added different artist samples throughout the article to show you how a white pen can be used in art. Gel pens are made of ink pigments that are suspended in a water-based gel. The ink contained inside the pen is generally opaque and thick, which means the pens are supposed to work better than a ball point pen on darker surfaces or on glossier surfaces. The major downside to gel pens is that the ink is consumed faster than in ballpoint pens and they do require some care in keeping the tips clean.

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WHITE Gel Pens: The Comparison Test Pens Used 1. Marvy Gel Excel 2. Sakura Gelly Roll 3. Uniball Signo UM153 4. Pentel Sunburst Med 5. Sakura Pen-Touch fine (not a gel pen but a paint pen) Paper Used 1. Colored construction paper (black & red) 2. Bristol Board with markers 3. Patterned scrapbooking paper 4. Board with vintage paper glued with gel medium and painted craft acrylics over top Test Methods I used a single instance of each pen to spell out the pen name. I did not go over lines in an attempt to make the text whiter. It was a single pass over top of the various papers to see which one stood out the best. I judged my results based on line thickness and whiteness after drying for 24 hours. Test 1 Black Construction Paper The Uniball Signo had the definite edge here. Its ink seems thicker and it goes on very smoothly. When dried, it still retained the most white of all 5 pens with a thick, clean line. Both the GellyRoll and Pentel Sunburst went on nice and smooth with no frustration though they dried much lighter than the Uniball signo.

Test 2 Red Construction Paper Again, the Uniball Signo was the clear winner here with a thicker white line that retained its whiteness, even after 24 hours.

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Test 3 - Bristol Board with Markers The Uniball Signo came out on top in this test too with a nice thick line that retained its whiteness after drying. However, there is a caveat. I found that the Signo ink took on a pink shade over top of the red marker ink. No matter how many coats I added, the ink looked pink rather than white. Ive also found this to be true over top of red pencil, even with a fixative spray. I think using a combination of GellyRoll with the Uniball Signo makes the most sense for markers and colored pencil backgrounds. Test 4 Patterned Scrapbook Paper The Uniball Signo came out on top with a nice thick white line that worked best over patterned paper. Again, the Gellyroll and the Pentel Sunburst were both very smooth and flowed well, but the whiteness level just wasnt there as compared to the Uniball Signo.

Test 5 Mixed Media Background For this test, I used a mixed media background many artists use: vintage papers layered on with a glue / gel medium mix and then painted over top with acrylic craft paint. This is a combination I often use for my own ATC backgrounds. And again, the Uniball Signo came out the clear winner with a thick line that retained its whiteness long after drying.

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Test Conclusion First Signo Uniball UM153 Second Sakura GellyRoll Third Pentel Sunburst The Signo Uniball UM153 was the clear winner. It had the thickest, whitest lines in most instances and that difference is quite noticeable as you can see by my test papers. The difference between the GellyRoll and Pentel pens was negligible. They both had good flow with a smooth laydown of ink on all papers. I give the edge to the GellyRoll for second place. I know many people are Sakura Gellyroll fans and I am too (I own many!), but hands down, the Uniball Signo was the clear winner with a super flow that puts down a nice thick layer of white that clearly stands out from the pack. The only instance in my tests where the Gellyroll came out on top was over the red marker. It retained more whiteness than the Uniball Signo did. Ill continue to use and buy both pens.

Gel Pen Trouble Shooting Always keep your tip clean. When youve finished using your pen, take a moment to clean off the tip with a Kleenex. This will help to keep your pen free of clogs. And then make sure you have the top on properly and fully closed. If your tip does become clogged, try to remove any dried ink from the top by scraping it with a fingernail or wiping with a damp paper towel. You can often get the pens going again by scribbling on a piece of textured paper which will help to remove the clogged ink. You can also try a heat source such as a lighter or stove top but keep your pen well away from direct heat so it doesnt melt. Sometimes, just a bit of heat is needed to clear out a clog. Storing Your Gel Pens Gel pens should always be stored with their caps in place and firmly on. From my years of experience, Ive found that it doesnt really matter if you store horizontally or vertically, as long as you dont throw the pens and treat them harshly. However, please note that each manufacturer has their own storage instructions, so its best to follow whatever they recommend for maximum gel pen life.

Signo Uniball UM 153 in action Heart Squisher art by Sal Scheibe

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I use a combo of pens, usually meaning which ever one feels like working for me at the moment. They are such fickle creatures. The one Im using now is a Sakura Gelly Roll. I also sometimes use white gouache with a teeny brush. Cathy Stevens Pratt

Gellyroll Gel Pen & Sharpie Poster Paint Marker. Shara Osgood

White Gel Pen from Inkssentials Phillipa Robinson

White Pens in Action!


Sakura brand Souffle Gel Pen Laurie Meynig

Sakura Gelly Roll Medium Andrea Melione

Daler-Rowneys Permanent White Acrylic Ink Elina Lundahl

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Overcoming Artists Block


with Andrea Melione

Every once in a while I feel blocked as an artist. I certainly have the desire to create, but the execution seems lacking. Even my usual tried and true block buster method of switching media doesnt always help. So I figured it might be a good idea to use another section of my brain and write about what I am experiencing and how I can feel better about it. Below is a writing questionnaire I created to help me through my blocked periods. You can join me and use this as an art journaling exercise. First, well look through the journaling questions, and then Ill share my personal answers with you. 1) What kind of block are you experiencing? (Do you have no ideas? Are the execution attempts failing?) 2) How is this making you feel? (Be honest about your feelings; you cant get rid of what you cant identify.) 3) Which artist do you currently admire? List five to ten things you admire about him/her and why. 4) Pretend you can right now travel to wherever you want and create art inspired by your surroundings. Where would this be? What would you see there? What would you make? (This location can be as simple as your favorite local park, as exciting as India or Japan, or as outrageous as Fairyland!)

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Before we continue with the next question, lets discuss repetition. Repetition is a useful tool in combating blocks. 1) It can give the mind a rest from trying to force itself into creating too many new ideas. 2) It is productive: creating many of the same instills a feeling of satisfaction and accomplishment - two emotions we lack yet crave during a bout of artists block. The following writing exercises will help you generate your OWN ideas for creative repetition. 5) What colors currently excite you, and why? (Color combinations count too!) 6) How can you immerse yourself in the colors you love? Is there anything you can paint your favorite color? This can be as extreme as your bedroom walls or your dining table, or as simple as plain 5x5 squares to hang on a wall.

g g g g g g g g
7) What forms currently excite you? This can be as complicated as the human body, an animal or a tree, or as simple as a triangle, square or circle. 8) How would you like to surround yourself with this form? What room do you want this form to be in? You can create many circles, or take a photo of a tree, print it out twenty times and paint it with your favorite colors; make 20 purple cats and hang them on a wall! How many variations of a purple cat can you make? Are there other ideas for form repetition you can think of?

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:: Answers from My Journal ::


What kind of block are you experiencing? At first I thought it was an idea block, you know, where you cant think of anything good to make. But then I was having problems with my intuitive art where I doodle or work in collage. But those attempts were not working either. The colors were off, or the composition or the values (light and darks) were not working. So this was a little more serious than I have been used to and what prompted me to start writing this exercise. How is this making you feel? Honestly? Crummy. Artists block can make you feel inadequate as an artist because you arent producing anything that satisfies you. The key is trying to remember that artists block is a Temporary State of Being. It cannot last forever as nothing does. I found a few interesting quotes on art and creativity that I would like to share: Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep. -Scott Adams Another word for creativity is courage. -George Prince Dont think. Thinking is the enemy of creativity. Its self-conscious, and anything self-conscious is lousy. You cant try to do things. You simply must do things. -Ray Bradbury I will tell you what I have learned myself. For me, a long five or six mile walk helps. And one must go alone and every day. -Brenda Ueland

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Which artist do you currently admire? Currently I admire Jim Henson: 1) He did so MUCH: The Fraggles, The Muppet Show, countless movies, commercials, Ed Sullivan and other TV appearances, a fairy tale series, and Sesame Street. 2) He was an idea man. He was constantly coming up with new material. 3) His style: We all recognize Jim Hensons zany style; its formative years were the late 50s and early 60s and you can see the influence of the pop art of that era. Yet his interpretation of that aesthetic time period was very adaptable. 4) He inspired others: his key to success was that he knew creative and competent people who could help him develop his ideas and make them a reality. But he would not have been able to bring these people together if he had not inspired them. 5) I love his doodles. I have a few books on Jim Henson, but my favorite is Jim Henson: The Works because of its sheer comprehensiveness! Its filled with sketches and hundreds of photos spanning his entire career, but his little doodles are meaningful to me and make me want to doodle more. Pretend you can right now travel to wherever you want and create art inspiried by your surroundings. Where would this be? What would you see there? And what would you make? I would love to go to China, I think. Or maybe Japan. I would like to visit a country that has a culture completely foreign to me. The sights, sounds and smells, the SCENERY! I would love to paint a crazy Chinese mountainscape when sitting in front of it! I would also like to visit the US Southwest and go back to Cape Breton in Nova Scotia. Both areas have amazing scenery and Id like to paint that. Landscapes are becoming more and more like exercises in spiritual being for me.

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What colors currently excite you, and why? Currently turquoise-yellow-orange and fuchsia-purple-gold. I do like other color combinations, so its hard to only name a few! How can you immerse yourself in the color you love? The colors I currently like are not really easy to find already combined that way. I cant really go outside and look at them yet, as its barely mid-spring (theres snow outside as I write this). I need to find other ways of being near the color I love, so I think Ill try painting objects in those schemes. I recently bought a folk art piece, a pig on a pedestal, and the pedestal is painted yellow and turquoise. And it was only $2.80, yay! What forms currently excite you and why? I currently am enamored with deer. They are graceful and can easily be stylized into simple beautiful shapes. I have some I am altering (see question below) but I may also make some VERY simple paintings, like folk art featuring their shape and incorporating repetitive patterns and designs. How would you like to surround yourself with this form? What room do you want this form to be in? To elaborate on the above, I have three flat wooden deer I removed from some 99 cent paint your own wooden Christmas decorations! They are supposed to be reindeer, but Ive painted the large one cream yellow and golden yellow, and the two small ones turquoise and white. Ill have to see if I can make some sort of wall hanging from them. Andrea Melione is graphic designer and writer for ArtTrader Magazine. She currently teaches art workshops online through ArtTrader and is very active in the Mail Art world. You can visit her blog at: http://eraserqueenstudios.blogspot.com

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Meran ni Cuill

Handwriting in Art
In the age of computers, handwriting is slowly becoming a lost art which is why its nice to see todays artists showcasing hand writing and text as part of their art. In Issue 15 (July 2011), were going to explore the history of handwriting and its state today, as well as showcase various ways to highlight the art of text into your art.

Sal Scheibe

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Sabrina Louise Miller

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Sara Dudenhoeffer uses handwriting in her art to help form shapes and shadow. She makes creative use of befitting words (like purple in the palm tree image below) to showcase both form and meaning, and in this case, color! Her creative handwriting use in art is truly a joy to see - and read.

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NEW Online Workshop!

About the Workshop: This fun online workshop will focus on creating retro-styled art, specifically focusing on women and their roles in society and culture. Well explore the housewives of the 1950s to the hippies of the 60s. Well also take a look at the mod, jet-set glamor group of the 60s. Then well move on to feminism and disco in the 1970s and end our art journey in the 80s with acid washed jeans, big hair and Dallas! Well be taking a light and fun approach to these eras. Join us for some mixed media and drawing fun through the ages! Program Level: Retro Women is a workshop for beginner and intermediate students who are interested in exploring mixed media art. This program is also open to drawing professionals who want to explore the messy (but fun) side of mixed media and collage art. Whats Included: ArtTrader online workshops include access to our streaming videos and PDF workbooks. Work at your own pace! Instructors are always available for one-on-one help and critique.

Register no w! Starts May 30, 20 11

Presented by Andrea Melione & Sal Scheibe


Fee: 40$ US per person Start Date: May 30, 2011 2 Module Program

Visit www.arttradermag.com for more information!


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Kati Barrett
Interview by Andrea Melione

Kati Barretts collage work is raw with color and emotion. She juxtaposes the new with the old and the hidden with the exposed. Her dedication to the culture and people of the Mail Art world is inexhaustible. Kati shares with us her creative approach to collage and offers her thoughts to those who might be struggling with the technique.
How long have you been creating art? Since I was a wee lass! My mom has a Bachelor of Fine Arts with an emphasis in printmaking. She would often take me to her job doing graphic design back in the 80s, when everything was done by hand. She would give me leftover scraps from projects that she and the other designers were working on and some glue and tell me to go to town. How would you define your style? Messy mixed media, lol! My go to themes are often outrageous and at times confrontational. I also strive to impart a bit of irreverence.

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What is your creative process? I really like having a theme to get me started. I tend to wander too much when I dont have some boundaries to rein me in. but from there my process is pretty intuitive.Since I am primarily a collage artist, I usually start with paper as my base. I work pretty quickly in laying down scraps from different sources and then I build up from there. What do you find inspirational? What kind of art? Music? Literature? Color! I also find inspiration from other mixed media artists, and I LOVE text in all its forms and most of my pieces include some. I also have an odd sense of humor. I find the strangest things to be funny and I like to add that to my art when I can. Several of the artists on AFA and IATCS inspire me: marla412, nuttynanner, and amyfaerie to name a few. What are your favorite supplies? French photo magazines, graphic scrapbook paper, various glues, white gel pen and something to add color, whether its oil pastels, watercolors, etc. and I must not forget book pages!

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Much of your work incorporates text; why do you like to include it? I am really drawn to the graphicness of it. My mother tells a story about me, at age 2 being able to identify different stores by their logos. She took me to a Kmart that I had never been to before, and she didnt tell me thats where we were going, but I was able to identify it by their well-known logo. I also really love words and language in general. I am an avid reader of literature and poetry and it feels natural to me to add that to my art. I think it can also kick up the irreverence of any piece a notch. What do you think is most important in art: concept or aesthetics? Thats a really tough question! In my opinion, they are wholly inter-dependent on one another. If someone has a great concept but I dont like the way their piece looks, their message may be lost on me. At the same time, there is art that is just beautiful to look at but feels soulless to me if the concept hasnt been well thought out. Do you have any tips for people who struggle with collage? Collage art and artists tend to have a really bad reputation, which I find frustrating, but also understand. Collage, after all, is a very accessible medium. Anyone can grab a magazine, some scissors and glue and create art. When I first started making art on a regular basis, my pieces were pretty poopy, lol! I didnt pay enough attention to composition, color, and blending layers. All the images tended to sit on top of my background and just float without being grounded. I was also lackadaisical about how neatly I cut out my images.

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For folks interested in kicking their collages up a notch, here a few things I have found helpful: Be conscious of the design you are creating, including how the negative space looks. Use a search engine to look for articles on composition theories. Invest some time looking at other artists work and how they blend their elements. There are a million ways to blend; find some that work for you. One I have been using a lot lately is this: giving the background and foreground images a light wash of the same paint. I use a brown acrylic mixed with a lot of water. If you dont know much about color theory, invest in a color wheel. Art supply stores carry them relatively inexpensively. Some colors work better together than others. For example, using two colors opposite of one another on the color wheel together can make both colors pop. Go deeper. Keep pushing yourself to try new things and ask lots of questions.

Blog: http://katilady.blogspot.com/ ETSY: http://www.etsy.com/shop/katilady Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/25580969@N03/ Twitter: http://twitter.com/katilady1

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Exploring Inchies
with Sara Dudenhoeffer
I may not be well versed in the history and development of the inchie, but I have seen it used in a few different worlds including art, card making, mail art and scrapbooking. There are stamp companies popular with card makers and scrapbookers alike who have dived headfirst into the inchie fad. Ive seen beautiful stamp sets by companies like Inkadinkadoo in inchie squares, and some of the art supply companies who put out ATC pads of paper are now selling pre-cut inchies, and even craft book magazines have articles and galleries in their pages dedicated to inchies. They can be a lot of fun to make, trade and collect. They look fantastic when displayed! However, some people are scared of attempting inchies because of their minute size and others have trouble making their inchies match the level of their larger art. Inchies definitely do create a problem because of their tiny size. How do you fit a whole work of art into a one by one inch square piece of paper?

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Creating miniature art is sort of like writing poetry. A fantastic, award-winning, bestselling author might not be able to write a fantastic poem, just as some fabulous artists may struggle with creating miniature art. Because most poems are quite short compared to even short stories, the writer must condense his thoughts into a small space and must select the words he uses with care, as each word must have a reason to be there. I think the same could be said for miniature art especially art as small as the inchie. There is not a lot of space for detail! The artist must be precise with her lines and selective with her colors. It takes a lot of practise get to the point where the artist is able to suggest space when there is none.

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Sometimes people try to fit too much drawn detail in their illustrated inchies and that can end up looking confused or over-worked. This can be solved by paying careful attention to value: creating light and dark areas. Sometimes people dont spend enough time putting details in their inchies because the tiny size intimidates them. But dont stop! Challenge yourself and see how much you can pack into your inchie. Sometimes people dont do enough to their collaged inchies, possibly because they arent sure what else they can fit in. Same thing goes here; try and pack in layers, glazes and depth. It definitely takes a lot of practise and learned skill to make a successful inchie! I, like many, am still learning the art of creating inchies, but I would like to share some photos with you of the process of creating a few inchies. Perhaps they will inspire you to start making inchies!

Visit Sara on the web at:


http://multitaskmamma.blogspot.com

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K l i m t Gallery
Gustav Klimt was a Symbolist painter born in 1862 in Austria. His work is famous for its use of gold leaf, obsessive pattern, and strong stylization of the human form. Members of IllustratedATCs.com were asked to create art based on the work of Klimt, and it was fascinating to see the wide interpretation and how each artists own self shone through. Use gold paint or gold leaf, patterns and stylization to create your own Klimt art.

Myrthe Krook

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Douglas ONeill

Mithila Maniketh

Erika Schulz

Elaine King -35-

Pam McVay

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Alina Chan

Laurie Meynig

Rhonda Anderson

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Shirley Vogelhuber

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Mithila Maniketh

Myrthe Krook

Elaine King

Rhonda Anderson

Julie Howell

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Nadine Thome
Interview by Andrea Melione

f o t r A The

Nadine Thomes paintings are bursting with color, life and whimsy. Using watercolor to lay down pure color, she creates rich paintings that delight with stylization, pattern, and realism. Nadine shares with us her influences and how Mail Art has allowed her to experiment. Can you tell us a little about yourself? Where are you from? I was born in southern Germany in March, 1981. I grew up with art; my grandpa and grandma were both hobby artists as were my mum and my aunt. I have no idea when I started to create art; for me it was always a part of my life. I love all kinds of animals, especially horses, dogs and cats. I have been working as a dog trainer for many years, and I love it! Also Im very interested in books, mostly fantasy books and photography/art books. What is your arts background? m a self-taught artist. I took some art courses at school, mostly watercolor and pencil drawing courses, but didnt really get along with the techniques. My grandpa once gave me his old oil

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colors, so I started to paint with oil when I was a kid. I didnt get along with oils either, but I found out how I can paint best. Eventually I tried watercolors again. And I found what I was looking for. I guess I have my own technique of using them now. What are your favorite subjects to paint? As a kid I mostly painted horses, which hasnt changed since then! Meanwhile, I try to paint different themes, but mostly any kind of animal or fantasy-related things. I love creatures that have many tiny details and ornaments in their pelt or feathers or whatever. I guess Im a detail fanatic. Another subject I love to draw in pencil is western saddles and tack. I have no idea why. Because of the details probably. Which artists have influenced you? To be honest, I dont know much about artists. But I have to say that I always loved Leonardo da Vinci and Alan Lee who illustrated the J.R.R. Tolkien books. I love Lees work because of all the details, the creativity and fantasy he has. I wish I could draw faces like he does! But I think that the most influence comes from my creative family. Oh, and one art teacher - who was a great artist - once gave me advice which influenced my art too. He said: You should always paint what you see. I never forgot this one sentence. Unfortunately, he didnt tell me if I he means the things I see with my eyes or those I see with my heart. If I should ever meet him again I will ask him. Until then I try both.

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Where does your inspiration come from? From the life around me. Mostly. I can find inspiration everywhere. Sometimes in tiny things like a simple stone lying on a path, which another person doesnt even notice. Stones can be full of interesting ornaments. And details. My horse is very inspiring as well; also movies, books, music, and other artists works. The list is quite long! Inspiration is just everywhere; you just have to keep your eyes open, and your heart, because feelings are important for inspiration too and they make an artwork complete. You work a lot in watercolor; do you have any tips or suggestions to share? Just try it! Using watercolors is learning by doing. I think it is difficult for me to suggest something because I dont use watercolors in the typical way like most other artists. I use them almost like acrylics I guess. The only thing, which is very important, is that you should make sure to use a good watercolor paper; I suggest a heavy one because the paper is very important for the colors. On normal paper, the colors wont be that brilliant and are very difficult to use. Also you should keep your curious kittens far away from the colors if you dont want tons of cat hairs on your painting.

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How did you become involved in Mail Art? I was searching for art on eBay and found some ACEOs there. I tried to find out what they were, and I found information about ACEOs and ATCs. I think its an interesting idea to trade art, so I searched for an art community to trade ATCs. And I found illustratedatcs.com. And I have to say Im very happy with it. Do you feel Mail Art has had an effect on you as an artist? Yes, it had a quite huge effect! Painting ATCs is great to test new things before you use your ideas on a big piece of paper. Also, I love to meet other artists, to chat about new ideas, and to find out how they create their art. Thats a good way to learn more. I would definitely recommend it to other artists. What is your favorite artwork that you have created and why? You can ask me this question each week and I will always give you another answer. Its difficult to choose one. My artworks are my babies; they are a part of me and its always very heartbreaking to give one away. Would it be very silly to say I love them all? I do have some favorites; I love the collage I made of an old watercolor painting which shows my horse Ali. And Im very proud of my dragon sculpture Sapnir-Kaun. I think this sculpture was the largest and most difficult project I ever made in art. I started to build it without any plan how to do it. That was nerve killing sometimes, but it was worth it!

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What new directions do you want to explore in the future? I love illustrating childrens books and Im working on some. Perhaps this is something for the future - if I should ever finish them. Also I still want to try acrylics, but I have had this plan for a few years. I never made it to realization because... I dont know. I guess I just love my watercolors too much! Oh, and Ive planned to sew a teddy bear. Yes. But its a fact that Im so bad at sewing that this will perhaps never take place. What I want to care more about in the future is wildlife art. Its very interesting to find out more about rare animals or almost unknown animals. And I think on this front, theres a lot to explore; that should be enough for some years to come. ;)

www.nadine-thome.com

Visit Nadine on the web:

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CONTEST!
Summer Hats on ATCs!
The sun is shining once again and the sun feels good. So its time for a new ArtTrader Mag contest, this time about warm summers and headgear. Lets see what youve got! RULES 1. Please make sure your entry is ATC sized. That is 2.5 x 3.5 only. 2. All entries must depict one or more summer hats. Winter tuques are out! It does not matter if the hat is on a persons head, as long as we can see the summer hat. 3. All mediums are welcome: collage, mixed media, paints, pencils, fabric, metal, etc. Just remember to keep the entries to ATC size. 4. Entries must be emailed to art@arttradermag.com in JPG format (200 DPI / High Res) by June 15th, 2011 at 11:59 EDT. A winner will be chosen and announced on our website and in the Summer 2011 issue available the first week of July 2011. 5. Contest open to anyone worldwide who is 18 years old as of June 15, 2011. 6. You MUST fill out an artwork release form otherwise your entry will be void. Artwork Release form is online, here: http://www.arttradermag.com/node/22

GRAND PRIZE:

You will need to register on the ArtTrader website to claim this prize. You will also need an internet enabled computer to access the workshop content.

Pick any online workshop on the ArtTrader website and it is yours to take (online of course!). See options here: www.arttradermag.com/node/7

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www.slscheibe.com
Creative Graphic Design and Il lustration
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44 Eyes Glass Studio Eyes Glass Studio


Cabs, Beads & Pendants

www.4eyesglass.com

303.420.0348 meran@ghostman.com 503.558.0304


meran@ghostman.com ***Photos upon request***
*** Catalog available online ***

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Call for Articles and Artwork


Thank you for your interest in contributing to ArtTrader Magazine. ArtTrader Magazine is a web-based publication (in PDF format) focused on Mail Art for trade such as ATCs (Artist Trading Cards), ACEOs, art journals, chunky books, altered art and altered books. We are always accepting the following types of materials: How to or Step-by-Step articles on artistic techniques. We are interested in techniques that can be applied to any Mail Art. These include illustrative techniques, and also works in fabric, digital, collage, mixed media, and more. Articles on artistic journeys or experiences. Do you have an interesting story that you would like to share? We would like to hear it. Artist Spotlight/Profile. Do you have a body of work you would like share? We would love to feature you in our artist spotlight. Showcasing Art. We are interested in showcasing assemblages, mixed media work, creative journaling, chunky books, fat books, inchies, ATCs (Artist Trading Cards), post cards and more. These types of articles usually have a small bit of background accompanying them but primarily are visual in nature. Product and Book Reviews. If you are interested in writing a review of a new product or book that is connected to the Mail Art world, we would enjoy hearing about it. Submissions of Artwork Almost all of our articles require artwork submissions. You might also want to submit artwork to appear in our webzine galleries. Our call for artwork is always open and we welcome your submissions of ATCs, ACEOs, art journals, chunky pages or altered books. Everyone is welcome to submit their art. You do not need to be a member of IllustratedATCs.com to submit artwork. You must submit your work to us in digital format. 300-400 DPI is sufficient. Do not submit artwork lower than 300 DPI. Acceptable formats include: JPG, BMP, TIF. Do not submit GIF files. Any submitted artwork should be at least 500 pixels wide and high (they can be much larger than this, of course!)

www.arttradermag.com
Advertising. Product Reviews & Partnership Inquiries Sal Scheibe, Publisher salscheibe@arttradermag.com Article & Artwork Submissions Sal Scheibe art@arttrader.com Critique Corner Andrea Melione andrea@arttradermag.com
For additional details on our submission and artwork guidelines, please visit our website:

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Lord Midnight ATC by Sal Scheibe

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