New assemblage by Jennifer

"TYPO" is one of my newest pieces. The reason for the title is from the typewriter parts that I used to create it (as well as some pages from a vintage typing manual). The cabinet photo is of two sisters (as seen through a wood window frame). I used a tintype in the piece in the foreground.

Jennifer Campbell

THIS IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY

Attention Art & Soul attendees and everyone who will be going to vendors night.

Here is an opportunity to really help and get some art in the process.

Some of the teachers at Art and Soul were ask to take a tea pot and alter it in the medium of their choice. Then that piece will be entered into a silent auction at the event next week. The auction will be held near the Art & Soul office at Embassy Suites 7900 N.E. 82nd Ave. Portland, bidding starts Tue 10/5 and ends Sat evening at 9:00 pm. All the proceeds will go to CHAP . Here is a clip from their web site....

CHAP works with over 10,000 children and their families each year in our partner facilities: Doernbecher Children’s Hospital and Shriners Hospital for Children.

Please click on their link above and read all about them I think you will be impressed.

                                    

Poor little crow has really got himself into a pickle this time. You can see by his expression he is a bit worried.


                                       
His wings are pined and just three tail feathers have popped out of the spout.

I think this silly crow will be just fine and hopefully he has learned a lesson....

I would love for my tea pot to go home with someone and help CHAP at the same time. Thank you in advance, Tory

Anyone like Birds? Doesn't Everybody? by Lenall Siebenaler

This weekend I wanted to sit down and do some collage pieces that might be sister pieces to two collages I did four years ago of Portland.  Here's my very popular card:

It's oftentimes interesting to see where one starts and where the muse takes you.  Here's what I ended up with...

Bird Bath?, I

Bird Nest at Sunrise

Bird Nest at Eveningtide

Bird Nest at Sunset

Bird Bath?, II

One might ask, "What happened?"

Lenall

Maybe this time I've got it...

Mary is here helping me figure out, yet again, how to post pictures.  

I'm so pleased to have finally learned enough about posting pictures to be able to share some of my work here, after enjoying other members pictures so much.  This is a recent page in one of my watercolor journals.  I have adhered tissue paper with clear gesso to achieve the texture.  I love these colors and first saw the combination on one of Dayna's pages. 

Heartwings Tin Pendants by Jennifer

Here are a couple of tin pendants that I created from vintage clock faces. I'll have these (and more!) for sale at our "Open Doors" show in December. And...these are also part of the workshop that I'll be teaching at Portland Art & Soul on Friday evening, October 8th (6:30-9:30).
Come join the fun! Jennifer Campbell

Jennifer's watch bracelet

I've just created this watch bracelet from a vintage Folger's Mace tin. Bet you never knew that Folger's made Mace! The image of the ship on the front of the tin was too much to resist. Look closely and you can see the vintage brass numbers that I attached with a cold connection. I found the numbers at an antiques fair. I cut the discs from the tin using a circle punch. You can learn to make one for yourself in my Art and Soul workshop, Sunday evening, October 10th!

Sept. Question of the Month

This month we asked: What art supply do you hoard? You'll probably notice several themes developing here.

Lenall:
YIKES! I don't know if I like that word. I suppose those who are not artists might think that I am a hoarder, but not me. I think I am a collector. A collector of beautiful and future useful things. I buy things I don't need but think that I might use all the time. That's why my garage studio is very full. The weird thing is that I do end up using things sooner or later. I "hoard" everything: paint, paint brushes, fingernail polish, beads, wire, crayons, stamps, paper, other people's art, marking pens, colored pencils, pens, ink, erasers, odd trinkets, stamp pads, glitter, embossing powder, frames, matt board, small pieces of handmade paper, fabric, thread and bins to store them. I have enough art supplies to keep me and several others busy for the rest of my life. WHAT DON'T I HOARD? Oops, I mean collect.

Tammy:
What do I hoard? Hummmmmm - Not cats or dogs. Not the year's newspapers. Not money, marshmallows or men. Gosh, I'll have to go up in my studio and think about it. Wait, I can't get into my studio as it is packed wall to wall with all forms, styles, weaves, colors, contents, natural and man made, textures and styles of FABRICS!!!!

Leigh:
What I hoard....buttons, watch parts, beads.

Lorraine:
I hoard large sheets of beautiful paper which I store under the guest bed. When I need some paper, I slide the pile out and revisit all the sheets of paper, telling myself that they are too precious to use. Yup, and then I resort and restack the sheets, slide them back under the bed and walk away, feeling safe and sound. Pitiful, no?

Sue:
I hoard all kinds of paper, rubber stamps, Somerset Studio and Cloth Paper Scissors magazines.

Suzie:
It’s dangerous to let me lose at Columbia art with a credit card: decorative papers. Oh and a girl can never have enough Arches text wove paper.
Fran:
In a word, I guess you could say I hoard glass. No matter how much I have, it never seems like enough.

Jill:
I hoard paper products. I still have greeting cards from the 60's that I can't give up. If you add those to all the decorative papers that are too special to use, you can imagine the amount of stuff I have!

Paula:
Books, travel ephemera and magazines take up a lot of shelf space in my studio. I'm an information junkie-- always want to use new techniques or be inspired by other artists' work. One can find little piles of art books and magazines around my house.

Robin:
Little bits of fabric. But fortunately for my budget, I have little interest in shopping in fabric stores. I love finding the odd remnant, designer sample pieces, or old, discarded clothing that has an intriguing pattern or texture. Since I often combine bits of fabric to make larger pieces, I'm happy with things others would throw away.
Marilyn:
Paper. I love all kinds of paper. I have so much paper, it's almost embarrassing, but not just yet. Another few sheets and maybe it will be.

Laurie:
…. Paper! of course! My flat files are loaded with handmade, paste, and marbled papers.

Z'Anne:
This is an easy question to answer for anyone who knows me....let's say it all together....
BEADS! Beads, beads and more beads. I have beads from the time I started this crazy
addiction in 1993. I possess beads that I have no idea why, but they say to me, "Don't give
me away, I'm waiting for something else to become a something." Yeah, they talk to me.
At least the beads are small and don't require maintenance for upkeep. Although they are
just as addicting and just as expensive as drugs! The picture shows my bead desk in the
living room. You don't see the other stash in my studio, it takes up about a third of the room.
Gotta love those beads!
Suzanne:
I have a collection of many things but would have to say fabric in general, and vintage fabric, in particular. Also, have been hanging on to some old ledger papers.

Donna:
I hoard Mitsubishi white gel pens from Uwajimaya. They are my absolute favorites, as they write over my dark, acrylic journal pages. Actually, it's easy for me to 'stock up' on whatever writing tool I love. I go through many of these pens and feel a little guilty about the landfill. And, I stocked up on Braille Bibles, as they are not always available.

Steph:
Old wood pieces from ancient trees, well worn, with layers of peeling old paint, vintage wood boxes, better yet with old printed writing, and handmade for that unique one of a kind look. Unusual, all-wood tools especially worn from lots of use, then it just sings, anything hand carved and primitive then it's coming home to join the hoard.
Carrie:
I'd have to say for me it would be beads (big surprise right?) Unlike some art supplies, you never know when or if you might see those same beads again - so if you like them you better 'buy now'. It's worse if they say 'these are the last ones'. Then once you have them in your possession, it's kind of tough to use them particularly if you sell your work or give it away. hmmm, does that make me a 'collector' or 'hoarder' ?

Cynthia:
That's easy! Beautiful papers are my weakness, and have been for years. I even buy them when I am traveling, in spite of the fact that paper is not easy to bring home in good shape. I even went to a paper factory in India, with the express idea that I would bring home some papers for bookmaking. That is my excuse, but I just love the colors and textures of paper. Gotta get a grip. I have found a good way to display them, finally, and that is on a futon frame with wooden slats, standing upright. I could probably open a paper store soon!

September Giveaway by Z'anne Bakke

The Archeologist's FindTurquoise Nuggets, Copper and Coral Beads

For my birthday this month, I decided that I would give the presents. This necklace was created from my stash of turquoise nuggets. In the same drawer was a small package of coral beads. They looked so good together, but needed something else to highlight each piece. I tried pearls, I tried gold, I tried silver, none would work that day. I put everything down, walked away and came back about an hour later to see a small copper bead resting under the package of coral. Well, of course! Out came the copper beads and this necklace fell into place. Isn't it great when that happens?

To enter to win this serendipitous necklace, just post a comment here and at the end of the month we will draw a name from all those commenting. Good Luck to all of you!

To read a little more about this necklace, visit my blog at Z'annes Bazaar

Featured Artist--Donna Bauermiller

Our featured artist this month is Donna Bauermiller. Donna makes the most exquisite, heartfelt journals that always leave us speechless when she shares them. Here's just a brief sampling of her beautiful work.

1. What are the main mediums you use? What do you find satisfying about them?

I keep Visual Journals. I work in Braille Bibles and heavy watercolor books. My favorite mediums are Misubishi's Signo white gel pen, as I am usually writing over dark colors, Golden Fluid Acrylics, Holtz Distress Inks (in the bottle, as I paint with them) and paper. I love to see my favorite colors glazed onto a page and then write on top of this. The process if very meditative for me. I work slowly and alone. My mind wanders. It's kind of like traveling through time and space to me.

2. If someone were going to get started in those mediums, what suggestions would you give?

Get a couple of books on your interest, take some classes, then, BEGIN to experiment. We all need some instruction, but don't get fooled into using buying and hoarding supplies and books as a substitute for discovering who you are as an artist. I've fallen into that trap before. Working is how you will discover your style.

3. A perfect art day would look like_______

I like to work alone with my thoughts and myself. So a perfect day would be some time with friends or family, eating late breakfast after sleeping in, maybe a movie, then working into the evening and night in my studio.

4. Do you have dedicated studio space? Give a brief description of where you work.

I am fortunate to be able to use our 'guest room' as my studio. It is small, but has a large window with tiny lights strung across it that looks out onto trees, books, my supplies and objects on the shelves, walls and tables that I long to see.

5. Favorite place you've visited or lived?

My favorite place is at home, wherever that may be. I travel in my head.

6. What inspires you (or are there recurring themes in your work)?

I keep a stash of quotes, poems, etc. and a stash of images in files on my table. If I don't have something on my mind or heart to write about, I look through these. I am rarely without something I want to process/explore/express in my journals.

7. I still struggle with_____

I struggle with many things, but expressing myself in my work is not one of them. I do it for me and am fortunate to have people to share them with, but there are not expectations but my own.

8. I'd be lost without_____

my memory.

9. Favorite dessert?

custard, rice pudding...anything creamy and vanilla.

10. What's on the horizon?

I'd like to develop my blog, continue teaching and maintain my art friendships.

Donna's new blog is premiering in Sept.

Donna was featured in the Premier Issue of Indie Arts. Her journals have also been featured in March/April '08 Somerset Studios and Autumn '09 Art Journaling. She teaches journaling classes at Art on a Lark in Hillsboro. Don't miss her upcoming classes: Braille Bible Journals, Intro. to Visual Journaling, Twig Book, and a Worn and Torn Journal.

Treasures from England flea markets

I've just returned from my two week tour of Great Britain...England, Scotland and Wales. Maneuvering "the tube" to get around London was great fun, especially when it ended at a flea market and a pub lunch on Portobello Road. The 3" German silver evening purse is my favorite find. And the tiny spoon on a card is from the 1937 Coronation of King George VI (a replica of anointing spoons used at coronations). The necklace was from a flea market in Grasmere, England. Seeing Stonehenge, castles, and the Edinburgh Military Tatoo - what fun!

Jennifer Campbell