E is for Elephant

E is for Elephant

This heavy mosaic collage hangs in my living room –  the elephant symbolizes …

Strength * Wisdom * Solitude * Intelligence * Courage * Loyalty

and is said to protect a home from bad luck –

and bring good luck to all who live there.

They are also said to be a like a “call to arms”  for those going through a battle.These powerful beasts are inherently peaceful and family-oriented. Standing strong for their cause.

Now, I am not terribly superstitious, but I am inexplicably drawn to symbolism – and if there isn’t any there, I will make it up myself to suit my needs :)

Blogging through the A to Z Challenge
here and on Sylvie Says….. E is for Eccentric
and on Creativity Explosion...

Enjoy!

D is for Dylan

Okay, this doesn’t quite fit the pattern of artsy posts and business plans- but – then again, maybe it does.

Sometimes inspiration and energy come from the unusual places. Lately not only am I strangely drawn to Bob Dylan’s music, I have been running across quotes, references, and images of his art everywhere I go.

His art is loose and cool, like his music….this train track image is one of his newer pieces, and one of my favorites. ..but it is sold out the  BobDylanArt website.

Come gather ’round people
Wherever you roam
And admit that the waters
Around you have grown
And accept it that soon
You’ll be drenched to the bone.
If your time to you
Is worth savin’
Then you better start swimmin’
Or you’ll sink like a stone
For the times they are a-changin’.

Maybe it is a sneaky marketing ploy- throwing his music and name around more often,  maybe there is a message somewhere  – I just need a little dose of Dylan to remind myself that I don’t have to look like, sound like, talk like, or paint like anyone else….  or maybe I just like Dylan.

Either way, he filled up my D post nicely and for that I am grateful. :)

I am also blogging through the A to Z challenge here at Tree Girly – D is for Dave
and at my main blog Sylvie Says – D is for Dyn-O-Mite!

D is for Dyn -O-MITE

 Every morning as part of my job – I flip through online magazines and girl-on-the-street type fashion blogs to find out what is trendy and new – and writable. Then I pull and stretch the thoughts into hopefully informative posts, pop in a handful of items that fit the bill and send it off to the editor.

Most days that comes easily. Fashion is as fickle as it is the same, which gives me lots of words to play with…and I like playing with words.

~there is a D word coming, don’t worry – and no, that wasn’t it…..here it is….

I said “Dyn-o-mite!” after my son told me something or other last night.  He looked at me funny, and then I stopped and realized how odd that was. 

It’s funny how words come in and out of fashion. When was it okay to say dynamite?  The 70s maybe?  Good Times? Jimmie Walker?  (I had to look that up)

And when did I EVER use that phrase before?  … um probably never because I am dork and have never had much luck with exclamations of any kind.  “Dude…”  yeah, that’s really not my style. “Sweet” “That’s hot” not even “Gnarly”   yeah, you’re welcome.

“Awesome”  “Cool”  “Wow”  my repertoire is pretty boring…..maybe that’s why I subconsciously decided to spice it up with a little Dyn-O-mite! 

Wile E. is my alter ego. – no that is not a D word, but dynamite always blew up in his face too. – he lives in a desert….there is a lot of dysfunction in his relationship with the world around him….. 

oh well, time to “Drop it Like It’s Hot”  –(that link takes you to last years A to Z challenge D day)

….I’ve had more people tell me the dancing chick in the Sun Drop commercial reminds them of me – not sure what to do with all that, but say,  “Dyn-O-Mite!” dude.  no no no – see there I am trying to hard, scratch the dude – no don’t really scratch the dude, just forget I said that, k?

~*~*~*~*~A to Z Challenge & Dancing prompt for the GBE2~*~*~*~*~*~*

C is for Chimps, Cartooning and Celebrating!

I teach cartooning classes in an awesome private school.  The class itself is a  fun ‘extra’ that meets the last two periods of the school day, and both class periods are maxed out with 5th through seventh graders.  This results in loud – fun – silly classes that I decided to capitalize on last week.

Friday after school was a surprise birthday party for one of my older students.  Everyone from the school was invited. It was simply a cookout at a nearby park and gifts were not expected, but the email invite did state, “If you insist on bringing something, Andy would love a chimpanzee birthday card.”

I took this seriously and set my classes to work on creating massive chimpanzee birthday cards. We did a quick “how to draw a chimp” lesson and then I gave them all full reign of the paper supply to create silly cards and pictures to really load Andy down with birthday cheer.

Here are just a few of the ridiculous pile of cards created that day….

 

The Chimp above is “Justin BeiberChimp”  JB is wishing Andy a “Beiberific” Day!  You can’t see it in the images, but the sheets of paper are huge – poster board size. Most of the kids folded them in half to create cards, the rest just drew on the big sheets.   So in honor of the A to Z challenge…..

 

C is for Chimps, Cartooning and Celebrating!

Note: Unfortunately Google Friends is no longer allowed on Word Press sites,

but you can follow this blog by liking the Creativity Explosion facebook page

THANKS for stopping by!

B is for business, buildings… and bike

Creativity Explosion is the current title for my art classes that I offer – but it soon to be the name of my business as well.

I am excitedly working on the plans for an Upcycle Exchange in the Cleveland area which will serve artists, crafters, teachers and other DIY’ers who want to find a great deal on art supplies.

The business model is based off of Autumn Wiggins Upcycle Exchange in St. Louis. (with her blessing of course)  She has a perfectly adorable shop that holds all sorts of treasures. The kicker is that most of the items are donated from fellow artists and others who want to clean out their stash….and offered with unique pay-as-you-wish pricing.

This means if you find the perfect bolt of fabric, you have to come up with what it is worth to you. At first I was skeptical of this practice, but after watching her success and the success of stores like hers such as Tampa Upcycle, I am convinced.

So far I have started collecting items, spreading the word cautiously,  and am stashing away ideas for future use. (Pinterest is a lovely resource.)  I am also constantly looking at building space. -with or without a business plan, buildings call to me. :)

Some of my favorite possibilities …. are either too expensive or too far. I am holding out for a location I can bike to and from without having to psych myself up for the trek!   This may or may not happen, but in the meantime I have plenty to do to prepare.

pretty pink with flowers ………… outside seating, a must   ………or look – a mobile unit!  that would be nifty, now if only I could hook it to my bike…  :)

b is for bunny – and busy ….

 Picture heavy post today – but it works well for the letter B.

Bored “babies” because mom is busy
took photos of the bunny.

 I picked up a handful of tiny hats – yes, for the bunny. They were approximately 15 cents a piece, at my favorite paper store, so why not?  The girls draped a sheet off the side of their bed and had a little photo shoot this afternoon. Perfect timing!  My B post is complete : )

   Enjoy – or ignore, I completely understand either reaction. Cute has it’s limit and I think I have greatly exceeded the recommend daily allowance with these images….oh well. 
(but please note, they took upwards of a hundred shots – I was fairly kind)

 White cowboy hat

 Please, no more photos!

But wait, I do like this pink hat can I try it on again?

yeah, good idea, I should hide my face too~  

~*~*~*~*~*~B post for the A to Z challenge~*~*~*~*~*~

Art Fire and an Apparition

A is for Art Fire…..and ambitious, absurd, absolutely asinine…   Art Fire is an awesome sight for artists – crafters – vintage sellers and those who covet those items…I signed up today and am excited about setting up my store. (empty now – working on it) 

 A is also for “Apparition of a Jazz Player”    

 

~*~*~*~*~A post for the A to Z Challenge~*~*~*~*~*~*

Abstract made easy

My high school creative painting class was intimidated by the idea of abstracts. This surprised me, but I was not going to let them completely off the hook.
Personally, I love abstract painting. Applying colors, texture and shapes to recreate feelings comes second nature to me….but to teach this in a short 45 minute class that meets bright and early on Fridays did not.

Instead of frustrating the kids with more free painting ….I introduced Geometric Abstracts. This worked.

First they used rulers, protractors, and stencils to make a pattern.
Then they chose three colors of paint.  (I let them get away with four – but suggest three)
Now all they had to do was paint in the sections.

I did give them painters tape to help mask off sections to create sharper lines – not everyone took advantage of it. But the project relaxed the stressed out students.  : )

 

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ A post for the A to Z challenge*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*