School of Creative Business - Creative Entrepreneurship

Artist Tip of the Week

Become Personal Invested in Your Artwork

I know sometimes we may create artwork that is intended for a particular market, instead of being true to ourselves.I have to say I am at fault of doing the same. I have done commissioned projects that really did not fit my style. But that check paid a bill. When I create art for myself I become personally invested.

    Marshall Arisman said "When you are involved with a subject matter that is important to you, the work is elevated to another level." Quoted from the book Art Revolution

How does one become personal invested in their work?  Create a list of what you know you are good at doing. Then look at how the list of what you know well can be translated into your artwork.

What I Know:

1. What it's like to be a black woman.

2. The love from a strong and proud family.

3. How to take something simple and make it into something special.

4. How to keep myself organized and focused.

5. That I am ok with being alone.

I am pretty sure I can add more, but for now lets leave it to 3 things. The items listed can mean so many things, but I think that is the good thing about being an artist -We see beauty when others see nothing.  Find your personal investement and translate that investment into your artwork.

Creating a Cheap Photography Studio

A few days ago my cousin asked me to take a few Maternity shots for her. Well I wrote a post and share the images from the photo shoot, but I did not share with you how I created this cheap photography studio. A day before I went to the library to look at photography books and then I came home to look for inspiration on Flickr. 

Setting Up the Studio

I then realized that I needed to set up a backdrop for the photo shoot. So I went to Walmart and purchased a black and white queen size flat sheet at $9.00 each. As for lighting I used my desk lap and I used my small stool for shots that required a sitting pose.  Before my cousin arrived I had to iron the sheets to remove wrinkles. Then I had to hang the sheets. I used push pins to hang sheets to the wall.

I just experimented with lighting and noticed when the flash was off my camera the shot had very little glare. I knew I could enhance the shot in Photoshop so I just went with what I thought looked good on camera. I know that I need to work on composition and other photography elements. This shoot was more about having fun and enjoying the process.

The Photo Shoot

I asked my boyfriend to sit in on a few shots to practice with lighting. I think he enjoyed it more than I did.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Inkjet image transfer

A few weeks ago I purchased the book , Image Transfer Workshop: Mixed-Media Techniques for Successful Transfers. Not until a few days ago did I decide to experiment with one of the image transfer techniques. I decided to do an inkjet image transfer.

The Inkjet Image Transfer Process

1.  I photo enhanced the vintage photo in Photoshop.

2. Then printed the image on glossy photo paper.

3. Before the ink could really dry. I sprayed the photo with water.

4. And turn the image over onto tea stained rice paper.

5. I  rubbed the back of the image with medium pressure.

6. I gently removed the image and with amazement the image was transferred.

I wanted to see how many times I could actually transfer the image. I resprayed the image with water and did steps 4-6 again. I was able to get three good copies from the image. In the picture above you are able to see a second attempt with the same image. Pretty good for the price of one sheet of glossy photo paper. Image the different options with this technique. Smaller images could be transferred on greeting cards, or even backgrounds images could be used to give flat collages more depth and texture.

Order the book and begin your journey with creating interesting image transfers.

 

 

Share Your Image Transfer Favorites

Have you used image transfers in your artwork? Which techinque is your favorite?

 

Taking Maternity Photos of My Cousin

Today I tried my hand at taking maternity photos. My cousin Aisha asked me to take her photos. Please understand that I am not a photographer andI do not think I would change for choice of media. But she asked and I thought I would try it for her. Below are the results from my first maternity photo shot.

 

What results have you had with taken Maternity photos?

Love Life, Not Stuff

Our obsession with stuff has become unhealthy. When we have a void in our lives, we buy things. When we have problems, we buy things. And these things are becoming more and more expensive, bigger, shinier … more wasteful.

via zenhabits.net

A very insightful post from Zen Habits. Sometime I fall into this same trap of loving stuff instead of life. When I am cleaning out my closet and realize that I have not worn something or that it still has the tag attach, I say " I just can not get rid of this, I haven't worn it" . After a few moments of feeling guilty I decide to let go it. It will go to someone who will wear it and cherish it more than I would.

Spending money on stuff also hit home with me. Christmas or birthday shopping use to be fun, but I would try to find things that family would not buy for themselves, like art, a new gadget. But now people want money or a gift card. The fun of shopping has been taken away. But I really like the idea of giving of yourself. Spending time with the person as a gift. My boyfriend and I were bored sitting at home and wanted to do something. We went to the park and walked. It started to rain, so we had to run for cover. As we waited for the rain to stop, we really just talked about us and our future. It was a gift I know I could not have brought at a store.

I hope you enjoy the post as much as I did.

Designers Who Blog

Due to the slopover in the industry, included are: Graphic Designers, Web Designers, Illustrators, Typographers, Logo Designers, Artists, Photographers, Marketers, Writers, Branders and Podcasters and more. Much more.

via www.designers-who-blog.com

It is nice to see other like minded artist who blog. This is a great blog, but make sure to schedule few hours to click through this site.

August Love Links

Reading

 Art Revolution is a great resource for helping artist move beyond traditional art methods. I am also reading Image Transfer Workshop. Another great resource for understanding how to use images in artwork.

Watching

On Video: Latin movies focusing on family. My Brother's Wife is a keeper for my movie collection.

On TV: Design Star on HGTV , just love watching home decorating shows and this show just makes me happy watching other designers create new concepts on a strict time and budget. Glad it's them and not me. I couldn't handle the pressure.

On HULU: I have become totally obsessed with watching Art: 21- Art in the Twenty-first Century.

Inspired by

I've been working on a new direction for my artwork and have run across two wonderful artists who have truly inspired me, Michael Mew and Flora S. Bowley

Listening to

I just love that Maxwell  the R&B singer is back from 8 year break. I have him playing in my car and on my laptop. But when I am not listening to him I am listening to my Quick Mix on Pandora Internet Radio.

Teaching

I love teaching and currently I am teaching fashion students how to create better and eye catching visual presentations. I've been referencing material from Garr Reynolds. He is an associate professor of management at Kansai Gaidai University who teaches Marketing, Global Marketing and Multimedia Presentation Design. His advice and his resources on his website and blog have been helpful in planning my lessons.

Working On

At my place of work: A blog for the Art Institute of Charlotte. The blog's purpose is keep staff and faculty updated on current events on campus.

At the Art & Design Studio: I just finished a website for All -American Recruiting. My marketing assistant is working on an eblast for my sorority, Sigma Gamma Rho,Inc. New marketing materials are being developed for the holidays and I am working on creating a African American woman artist group.

Wishing for

Although it is still summer, fall catalogs are filling up my mailbox. In the new Anthropologie catalog there's a pair of boots that I just have to have. I love boots!

Learning

I am learning how to speak and understand Spanish in my own easy and comfortable way. I am hanging out with those who speak Spanish more than English. I am changing the language versions on videos. I am listening to the Spanish radio stations. Not really sure if this is going to work, but for now it is helping.

Praying for

I am praying for guidance in my business and love life.

My 10 Favorite Cheap Thrills

Download Cheap Thrills

1. Checking out art videos at the public library
2. Watching an old movies on TCM channel
3. Window shopping a high end boutiques
4. People watching at the mall
5. Going to the Dollar Store with only $5 to buy unconventional  art supplies
6. Sitting by the window of a coffee shop jotting down my to-do list or surfing the net
7. Watch music videos on You tube
8. Searching through flickr photos for inspiration
9. Listening to my Quick Mix on Pandora Radio
10. Reading personals on online dating services