LMM NEWS
12 April 2012 newsletter
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Welcome to the 1st LMM Newsletter for 2012
Not only is this the first newsletter for 2012 but it has been composed from a new location! As most of you are aware i am now residing in Melbourne, Australia and I have to say, I am GLAD to be HOME. Stepping off that plane was like being born again, and the huge emotional weight which i had been carrying for the last 3 months was finally lifted from my shoulders. So a big 14 year old school girl screeeeeam to that!! and also to the beginning of a new chapter in my extraordinary life.
This experience has really given me time to reflect on the last 7 years and to look at what i have achieved. I have been so caught up in the 'doing' that rarely have I stopped to consider and contemplate my own personal achievements. And i have broken down in tears many times over the last few months with an overwhelming feeling of being so blessed to be able to have been in a position to have shared my passion for art and to have inspired and BEEN inspired by so many people from LMM in the process. So thank you from my heart!
So just a quick update on what is happening with me and then I will get onto talking about LMM.
So currently I am boarding with a good mate and this is only temporary until i get on my feet again. My ex-father in law (can u say that?) lol, has generously decided to pay the rent on a studio space for me until i get permanent work, which is amazingly generous. So I am currently looking for a small small space in the city or close to it, where i can paint to my hearts content and make as much mess as i like. This also means i can teach a couple of private one on one classes if the opportunity arises. So if your in melbourne please get in touch 0452454294
90% of my art and supplies were left behind in Norway due to the expense of having everything shipped so that means i am basically starting again in terms of building up a new body of work. As fate would have it an LMMer who resides in Melbourne has generously donated some art supplies to help me get started which is amazing, so thank you Lucy, your a life saver.. but much sweeter lol! So i will be spending the next couple of months focusing on being a painter, which is exciting.
I am also putting together a couple of workshops which i intend to teach in Australia and I will be applying to several organisations over the coming months to get some workshops happening. Thanks to Mo Godbeer who runs the Encaustic Group on LMM for her kind help in giving me links and info on teaching workshops in Oz. I am judging grades 8-12 Art at St. Monicas in March which is a Catholic School here in Melbourne, so that will be a lot of fun I am sure!
So that is basically it from me in terms of what I am up to at the moment, but if you want to keep up with my developments (sounds personal doesn't it lol) then you can always check out my blog on my website. But if you have any suggestions, leads or ideas you can always drop me an email or send me a text message.
As we all know facebook is the best social network for connecting with friends and family. It is also a fantastic way for us artists to promote ourselves! I think one of the reasons FB is so popular is the immediate response we get when we post something and I don't know about you but the first thing i do when i turn my computer is go straight to FB!
But this is where I turn the table a little on FB and say HEY sure your fantastic and here to stay BUT there are some disadvantages to FB which is where social networks like LMM and other art related sites can pick up!
Sure you can have your own community on FB but when it comes to collaborating on bigger ideas and art projects and bringing together a 'larger' group nothing beats an art social network like ours. Over the years we have collaborated on some wonderful projects such as The Naked Calendar, Many Hands Many Lands journal project, The Sardine Can Shrine Challenge. Our community have also come together in 'reality' as a large group meeting up in Hampton Virginia! LMMers have also come together to support artists in need, so I really believe that a community like ours is important and it deserves nurturing and promoting! Sure we have some basic guidelines and image size requirements which FB doesn't but I believe the feedback and content you receive here, is more personal than just a 'LIKE' which really doesn't offer you anything when you think about it.For artists 'Critique' is definitely an important part of growing and learning.
So in saying all of that, I hope you all continue to stop in and support LMM with your meaningful comments and thoughts, And that you continue to post your work and share your techniques with this community. I have learned that what you put in you really get back 10 fold!
Up until now the chatbox has not been the best, but there has been some recent improvements and I am happy to announce that the new improved chatbox on LMM is up and running. I have added a short tutorial video on the front page to give you a quick overview. Also you will notice that the Skysa bar which was at the bottom of the site has been relocated to the top left hand corner. Now this is the site's 'instant messenger'. To activate it you simply have to scroll down a little and then you will see a little 'Apps' box appear which you simply click on to bring up the Instant Message service.
I know it has been a long time coming but i am currently putting together my new course 'No Boundaries' which I will be offering really soon. The course will be set up as a group on LMM and once I am ready to go I will announce it and open up registration! This course will also be offered as a 'real' life workshop in the near future and I will be announcing locations around Oz where you can sign up.
I will also be teaching the plexified course again with some improvements and I will be setting that up on LMM (details and times to follow soon).
Mo Godbeer's 'Encaustic Crackle Challenge' has been extended to the 26th of January so that means you still have sometime to get your entry in. She is giving one of her small works on board as a prize which is fantastic. As you know Mo is the leader of the Encaustic Group and she is a well respected and known Encaustic Artist both in OZ and now starting to break into the international Encaustic scene! For more details on the challenge please visit the Encaustic group!
The new challenge is up and it is 'Guess what I got for Christmas?'. For this challenge, you can take a closeup or macro photograph of a Christmas gift you recieved this year. Diana Quinn's photo entry into the challenge, I have to say looks like she had a close encounter with Santa himself ROFL (if you get where i am going with that he he he and if not best you forget it.)
The yearly site fee to run LMM is coming up. The yearly fee is $600 USD so I am hoping that those who are in a position to help can do so. I appreciate your financial support because without your help LMM would not be able to continue. I have put up a Chip In button so that you can see how much is raised and also how many contributors. The Chip In button will remain on the site until the 7th of March and if the target is reached before then, then any extra funds will be used for future site related projects and prizes. You can give as much or as little as you like. So thank you to those who have 'Chipped In' already it is really appreciated! So thank you :)
So that is it for the first Newsletter! I will be spending a lot of time on LMM from now updating and improving the site, so if you have any questions or suggestions then please drop me an email in my LMM inbox and I will get back to you as soon as i can! And if your in Melbourne or anywhere in Oz then don't hesitate to get in contact !
Have a great week and I hope you continue to be inspired and remember to take your passion and make it happen!!
Gaz
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Hey Folks!
Hope you are all having a nice weekend whatever you are up to. Have a few things to share with you in this broadcast so stay tuned!
New Site Feature - Instant Messaging
Two days ago I introduced a new instant message bar to the site. Now when you come to LMM you will see at the bottom of your screen a spotty horizontal bar (see image below.)
On the right side of the bar you will find
'Announcements and Instant Message.' If you click on the instant message button you can see who is online and then instantly chat to them. They will be confronted with you popping up on their screen dead centre so there is no escaping or missing them.
Also if I have any important announcements to let you know about a pop up screen will appear letting you know the information.
On the left hand side you will find-
You will see a chat Room button. If you click on it a chat room window will appear and you can see who is online and in chat! So check it out and have fun. I will be adding more features to this bar at a later date.
This week Di catches up with Plein Air Artist Gary Garrett
To read the full interview click HERE or you can simply go to the 'LMM NEWS' tab located under the main banner and if you hover your mouse over it a sub tab called 'Artist Interviews' will appear!
See image below for visual
explanation
Apart from that have a great week!
Gaz
Hey Folks
Can you believe it is almost the end of March already? How crazy is that! Where does the time fly, never enough hours in my day, how about yours?
It is great to see so many new members joining the LMM family and I know many of you regular contributors will make them feel totally at home. To the new members, don't be afraid to share your thoughts and your artwork with us! You will find we aren't a bad bunch.
Voting on Images for February and March
Because I have been super busy lately I have a bit of catching up to do with the Images for February and March. Below are all the Images I have selected. Please make your selection from the images below (Only pick one image from each month) and leave your vote for both months on my page. You have until next Saturday to register your vote as I shall name the images of the month for February and March during next Sunday's Broadcast update!
February's Weekly Images
Week1
Marian Savill's 'Every Possible Mistake'. To see the image click HERE!
Week 2
A video piece called 'As I am Told' by Mitsi. To watch the video click HERE!
Week 3
K. Wayne's ' Point of Departure'. To see the image larger, click HERE!
Week 4
Nikko Miladinovich's 'WIP on Paper'. To see the image larger click HERE!
To vote for your favorite artwork for the Month of February please leave a comment on my page
March's Weekly Images
Week 1
Leslie Wang's 'My Shadow'. To see the image and comments, click HERE!
Week 2
Heather Snow's 'Shrine'. To see the image and comments, click HERE!
Week 3
Heather Gordy's ' Get out of my Head'. To see the image and comments, click HERE!
Week 4
Gary Garrett's 'Boone Park'. To see the image and comments, click HERE!
To vote for your favorite artwork for the Month of February please leave a comment on my page
Site tech problems
Please just remember that if you are experiencing any technical problems with the site to contact me either through the 'feedback' button (located on the left side of the screen) or by emailing me direct through LMM. I will get back to you ASAP! I am aware that there is a problem with 'favorites' (some members who have been marking images as their favorites have discovered that there is only one page of favorites when they had several. I am currently looking into this and hopefully I will have an answer for you this week).
My New YouTube Channel – Parody Art Interviews
For those of you who don't know, I have just created a new YouTube Channel called Parody Art Interviews.
This channel gives me an opportunity to explore another side of my personality- The Comedian.
Parody Art Interviews is a humorous look at artists and the arts industry. All of the characters I have created for the show are based on real people and events. The show interviews artists from all different backgrounds and walks of life.
Although I don't think I am a particularly funny person in real life, I do know I have a knack for telling stories. Storytelling is in my blood and so since I am an artist and interested in the Arts...and let’s face it, there are so many wonderful, weird and crazy artists out there inc myself, that there is so much material for me to draw upon (pardon the pun, LOL).
I have uploaded the first 2 episodes to the new channel (Inc new bloopers at the end of the 2nd episode) which can be watched in full HD. The Cast so far includes some of the wonderful characters below:
The Host -Jasper Juddsis pretty much me in my normal everyday way. The name Jasper Judds came out of Jasper Johns. He is the host and the main presenter of the show (he keeps things together).
Art News Reporter- Tamson Dun, attends a lot of exhibition openings and events. She gives the viewers a rundown of what the exhibition is about, she interviews artists, gallery owners, critics etc and after a few wines, she really tells the truth (Blunt and straight to the point).Definitely a great character! She is unlucky in love but then again she has never been interested in relationships.
Art Critic - Alback Reddingis the shows resident critic. He is pretty cynical, straight to the point and direct. I have based his character on a well know Aussie art critic Robert Hughes with a twist.
Scrafter - Chi Chi La Loohas her own segment on the show called ' Scrapbooking with Chi Chi la loo'. And she shares her techniques about scrapbooking and crafting. She calls it Scrafting. Most of the time she ends up talking about her life, but she has lots of great crappy projects to share. Her favorite thing to say is 'Don't Judge'.
As this first series develops you will learn lots more about each of the main characters and you will be introduced to many more unique characters. I really hope you come over and subscribe to the channel (if you like my sense of humor) and that if you enjoy the show please share it with other friends and artists.
So apart from that I don't have much else! I am sure if I have forgotten something I will definitely let you know! Have a great week and look forward to seeing your amazing new creations!
Gaz
Hey Folks,
January's Image of the Month Winner
I would like to thank everyone who voted for January's Image of the month. I received around 20 votes which is fewer than I expected considering voting was open for a week. But anyway, we do have a winner, and so I would like to congratulate Mo Godbeer for her winning entry! Mo becomes January's Image of the Month Winner!
Information about the competition :
Each week I will be selecting one artist of my choice based on your weekly uploads to have their art named 'Image of the week'. At the end of the month, one of those 4 selected artists will have the chance to have their work named 'Image of the Month'. Each monthly winner will be voted on by you.
At the end of the year all monthly winners will go into another round, where you the members will vote for LMM's 'Image of the Year'. The Winner of that shall receive a special LMM trophy especially handcrafted by myself as well as a $50 Amazon gift card to spend on whatever they like.
Contributions
I want to thank everyone who has contributed to help keep the site running for another year! I am amazed and totally grateful for your financial support. We have reached more than $664.95 in just a week, which is incredible. As you may or may not know, maintaining a social network does cost money unfortunately, and I pay a yearly subscription fee of $499.95 to Ning for our network. Not to mention money for prizes and competitions etc, so I do appreciate your contributions. You can contribute as much or as little as you like, there is no set amount...So thanks again:) looks like we are open for another year ;)
Image of the week
My choice for this week’s image is titled ' Every Possible Mistake' by Marian Savill. I think it is beautiful and a great example of what you can create with found objects. It wasshortlisted for The Royal Academy of Arts Summer Exhibition 2008 which is a great achievement in itself.
Promote and Sell- Jodi Lebrun
My Fine Art Photos
I am a photographer and I digitally tweak a variety of photos to make them more artsy. Please check out my Etsy shop for my current offerings. If you are interested in purchasing a print-I have promo coupons on my blog. I am also set to launch a jewelry line that uses my photos and my graphic design.
My blog: http://livinglifephotographically.blogspot.com/
My shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/photobyjodi
Thanks for the support!
To like or unlike? That is the question!
I recently introduced a 'Like' button similar to that on Facebook! I had several emails objecting to the like button saying that many of you wanted to get away from Facebook since it is everywhere! After consideration I have to say I couldn't agree more and so the 'like' button has been unliked and in its place we now have a 'favorite' button.
Also a request for the return of the star rating system, well it is back! So you have a choice to rate photos, blogs and videos as well as favorite them!
Art News
Bacon painting leads pack at Sotheby's
Sotheby’s auction in London raked up nearly $150.5 million in sales led by Francis Bacon’s 1964 triptych of his friend and fellow artist Lucian Freud, which sold for $37 million.
Dali sets record at Christie's
Salvador Dali’s “Etude Pour ‘Le Miel Est Plus Doux que le Sang’” sold for $6.56 million, a record for the artist, at a Christie’s auction this week. The auction raised $136.6 million (85 million pounds), a quarter of which was spent by collectors from the former Soviet Union.
Take a Google Virtual Art Tour
Google launched its Google Art Project, an online cultural/art museum, which gives free virtual tours of around 380 rooms in 17 of the world’s most famous art museums, including the Tate, MOMA, Ufizzi, and Van Gogh museums.
Creative Genius Challenge Update
This coming Sunday I will be announcing details about the Creative Genius Challenge and what you will be required to submit for the pre-selection round.
Challenges
Photo Editing Portrait Challenge PART 2
So the first part of this challenge was to create a portrait using a photo editing program (Photoshop, coral draw etc) or an app (Iphone or Ipad) etc. It was pretty simple, create a unique and interesting portrait! Well I have to say it was a fantastic challenge with some outstanding results! Here are some of the images produced for this challenge by some of the talented members:
Image created by Grant Dowling.
Image created by Deb Godley.
Image created by Mitsi.
Image created by Jess Keeney.
And there are so many fantastic examples, this was just a random selection!
OK, So I am making a 'PART 2' to this challenge.
You have to take the image you created and turn it into a REAL life Artwork. YEP that is right! Get your paint brushes out. You can do whatever you want, If you don't want to paint the entire image, you might want to take a section of the original digital image and create an abstract from it. If you don't want to paint your own image why not ask one of the other artists if you can paint their digital image?
Here is my example:
Digital image on the left and then I have recreated it using oil pastels on the right! See what you come up with ;) Be creative!!
To post your results click HEREto go to this new challenge discussion!
My online courses on hold for the moment!
I am sorry to hold everyone up with regards to a starting date for my No Boundaries and Altered Book Projects class! Unfortunately I've had problems with my internet connection and as a result uploading videos has been taking me ages. Usually around 4 hours to upload a 12min video...so until I have finished uploading all the tutorial videos you just have to sit tight ;)
And on that note it is time for me to say Goodbye and wish you all a very creative week!
Peace to your face! Oh and Happy Valentines ;)
Gaz
Hey Folks,
New feature-Email Digest
Email Digests are a great way to keep updated on the content you follow without being inundated with notifications.
Instead, you can choose to receive one daily email summarizing all
of the activity you normally get individually. This includes
replies to discussions you follow, comments on your posts or My
Page and new friend requests.
Some emails like broadcast messages, personal messages and upload errors will continue to reach you immediately
and are not included in your email digests.
Simply go to your settings, then select 'Email' and then you will see
'Email Notifications' at the very top. Click on
Daily to receive one email with the summary. See
screen shot image below:
January's Weekly Image Winners
Over the last month I have selected one artist’s artwork to be named 'Image of the week'. The artists above represent January. Now
it is up to YOU to vote for your favorite image for January. You
can only vote once. To vote, leave a comment on my LMM page (As I
receive your votes I will delete your posted comment). You will
have one week from today to vote. Next Sunday I will announce the
winner for January based on your votes.
Info about this competition:
So each week I will be selecting one artist of my choice based on your weekly uploads to have their
art named 'Image of the week'. At the end of the month, one of
those 4 selected artists will have the chance to have their work
named 'Image of the Month'. Each monthly winner will be voted on by
you.
At the end of the year all monthly winners will go into another round, where you the members
will vote for LMM's 'Image of the Year'. The Winner of that shall
receive a special LMM trophy especially handcrafted by myself as
well as a $50 Amazon gift card to spend on whatever they
like.
Book Review by Diana Quinn
Inspired Remnants, Curious Dreams –
Mixed-Media Projects in Epoxy Clay
(North Light Books)
by Karen Gale
Review by Diana Quinn
Kerin Gale is a self-taught artist living in Oregon and the founder of the web community MixedMediaArt.ning.com.
In her first book, “Inspired Remnants, Curious Dreams –
Mixed-Media Projects in Epoxy Clay” she proselytizes the
clay’s virtues, saying that it, along with her book, “is the key to
make nearly anything you can imagine. And it matters not if you are
a sculptor or what your art experience has been up until now.”
Gale uses two main products for her jewelry, sculpture, and oddities: epoxy clay and silicone putty. Both are two-part
materials which must be mixed together in order to work. The putty
is used to make molds for the clay, which cures or hardens to a
point at which it can be drilled, riveted, tapped, painted and
sanded. Gale says that the clay is a safe, incredibly strong
adhesive which is waterproof and durable and can be used in fish
tanks and around animals.
The beautifully illustrated book runs 127 pages and includes 22 projects, from simple lockets and goth pendants to an extravagant
display cabinet and steampunk cabinets, light fixtures and magic
lanterns. Gale explains the background of each project in an easy,
breezy manner. Her pieces are whimsical, quirky and sometimes dark.
Scattered through the book are photos of other artists’ works made
using epoxy clay.
To read the full review please click
HERE. (Note you must be a member of the online and Live Art
Course, Book Review group to read the review, which is located
towards the bottom of that page.)
Altered Book Projects Class- Coming soon
I have a new class due to open in just over a week which is all about altering books. This class is all about giving you
inspiration and ideas to create altered books which are sellable! I
will be showing you 4 projects I have created (some easy and others
more advanced) and it is my hope that you will create your own
versions based on my examples. I have set a challenge for you to
create your own altered book based on what you have learned.
This is not an exhaustive in depth class but what it offers is some good advice about choosing the right books as well as some
tips and tricks in creating altered books which SELL, AND there are
a tone of video tutorials which will get your creative juices
flowing.
The class is only $30 USD, you work at your own pace (there is no finish date but approx 4-6 weeks max is definitely more than
enough time), you can chat live (video option is available for
those of you who have a webcam), you can share your works in
progress, start discussions etc.
So if you would like to register your interest in this class please head on over to my website www.garyreef.com and look under
courses (Scroll to the bottom to find info about the course and
also how to register your interest).
Or you can simply click on the 
image icon located at the top right hand side of LMM to go directly to my website.
February's Challenges
old rusty road sign or a funky, retro motel sign to big city neon
lights. Get Creative and take advantage of location - lights and
perspective! Click
HERE
to go directly to the Challenge.
This challenge is all about creating a portrait using a photo editing
program (photoshop, coral draw etc) or an app (Iphone or Ipad) etc.
Click
HEREto go directly to this challenge.
And Finally A big Welcome to all the new members!
Have a great week!
PEACE TO YOUR FACE
Hey Folks,
Technical problems with site
Thank you to those of you who have reported problems with the site this past week. Our site is not the only one encountering
technical problems. I have reported all issues to 'NING' (the
platform operators) and they are working on resolving them. I
can't
give you an exact time when things will be back to normal but
hopefully very soon. Sorry for any frustration or
inconvenience,
I
feel your pain!
The Creative Genius
Challenge
As some of you have probably seen the image in the main banner advertising the upcoming 'Creative Genius Challenge'. This is a
competition about seeing how diverse and creative you really
are.
At the moment we are assembling the judging panel and from our
inquires so far, we have scored a HUGELY respected artist to be
on
the judging panel. There will be 5 judges, the majority of
which
do
not belong to LMM. I myself won't be judging for the majority
of
the competition (except for the preselection and the final
round)...I will play Host!
There will be a preselection round which is judged purely on the artwork you submit (From the initial entries received, we will
be
selecting 5 artists to compete in The Creative Genius
Challenge.
Artists will participate in 5 rounds). Each round the artists
will
be set a challenge artwork to create within a time deadline and
at
the end of the week it will be judged and critiqued by the
panel...I will be reading each judges critique out, as well as
asking the participating artist questions regarding their
submission. There will be a prize given out after each round to
one
artist who gets the highest number of votes from the judges.
I can't tell you what is required at this stage for each round but it will require you to be as creative and imaginative as
you
can be..as this is what the challenge is all about.
The competition is open to all types of artists whether your a painter, a digital artist, an installation artist,
photographer,
encaustic, assemblage...you name it. But you must be a member
of
LMM! This is for our site!!
I am currently seeking some sponsorship for this competition so if you think you can help in anyway (whether its giving
vouchers,
art materials, free online workshops or anything else please
let
me
know!).
But more to come soon!
Image
of
the week
'Sniffing Flowers'
My Choice for image of week goes to Lesley C
Vines for this awesome photo. Not only is the composition
wonderful and interesting, but at first you can't help but
wonder
what it is. When I first viewed the image I thought it was a
hairy
Monkey...lol (face was the black section) but then reading the
title and what Lesley wrote, it became clear. What I love about
this image is the story Lesley shared and it was really moving,
so
I thought I would share what she wrote:
This photo means alot to us...someone stole my daughter's little puppy last year and it
broke her heart so the photo's are all she has of her little
"Bella
Mae" that she loved so dearly!
Sardine Can Shrine Challenge
For those of you who don't follow me on youtube, this past week I set a challenge based on my sardine can
shrines.
The challenge is to create your own sardine can shrine
assemblage
sculpture using my empty shrine cases (which you can purchase
from
my website). For $15 USD inc Postage you will get an empty
shrine
case (as seen above right) and a bag of 3 found assemblage bits
and
pieces (you don't have to use them in your assemblage). Each
shrine
case has had the wings coated in copper tape and aged slightly
using rusting solution and a blow torch.You can do whatever you
like but you must not change the basic shrine shape as this is
what
will tie our works together.
This challenge runs for a year. You have until November the 1st 2011 to complete your shrines. I would like to
put
a book together at the end with everyone's completed shrines.
Basically everyone will get 2 pages (one will about you and ur
work
and the other will be a large photograph of your shrine. I am
even
going to look into the possibility of a traveling
exhibition...but
that is still a long way off!
Since announcing this challenge on youtube i have sold 15 shrine cases and now I have put a waiting list contact
form. So as soon as I have the next batch of shrines ready to
go
out, I will contact those people on the waiting list! Remember
you
have until 1st of November so plenty of time.
This week in 'Promote and Sell' - June
Knowles
This awesome piece of handcrafted jewelery comes from the talented artist June
Knowles. She says " I have a small ETSY shop with
handcrafted
jewelry for sale. I use lamp work beads from many talented
artists,
sterling silver and only top quality materials in my work. My
goal
is to develop more of a mixed media style for 2011. I put a lot
of
love and pride into my designs so I hope you will stop by and
let
me know what you think. I am always open to suggestions and
happy
to accommodate custom orders". You can check out June's online
store at www.junebugart.etsy.com
Thanks for your continued support and involvement with LMM. Have a creative week ;) Remember take your passion
and
make it happen!
Gaz
Hey Folks,
Embedding Videos from Youtube changes
Recently Youtube changed some of their settings in regards to their embed code. It is now in Iframe format. As yet Ning has
not
updated the platform for this and so you may have experienced
some
trouble embeding your videos. Until such a time that Ning
updates
their system, you will have to do the following in order to get
your videos working correctly. Please look at the diagram below
for
details:
It is important when getting the embed code from your youtube videos that you click the box 'Use old embed code'. This will
solve
any troubles or issues when embedding into Ning.
Art Trader Magazine
Lucky old me was fortunate enough to be interviewed by online magazine Art Trader this month! And what's more is that my
artwork
made front cover. You can find my interview on page 10. It
comes
as
a completely free PDF download, and here is the link to the
magazine for those of you who are interested in reading what
the
interview was about :http://www.arttradermag.com
Image of the Week
My choice for Image of the week goes to this awesome painting.
Called
'White Rose', it is a watercolor and pastel artwork created by
the
very talented Galina
Kokhan. It is great to see such color and vibrancy in a
nude.
So each week I will be selecting one artist of my choice based on your weekly uploads to have
their
art named 'Image of the week'. At the end of the month, one of
those 4 selected artists will have the chance to have their
work
named 'Image of the Month'. Each monthly winner will be voted
on
by
you.
At the end of the year all monthly winners will go into another round, where you the
members
will vote for LMM's 'Image of the Year'. The Winner of that
shall
receive a special LMM trophy especially handcrafted by myself
as
well as a $50 Amazon gift card to spend on whatever they
like.
Photo Upload Information
We are still monitoring and approving all new photo uploads. Please be aware that any photos from now
on which are larger than 120kb, will be removed.
Please
also note that the number of images which can be added per
member
per dayis 5.
Also it is important that you title your images, add a description and fill
out
the tag line. Failure to do so will result in your images being
rejected.
This week in the 'Promote and Sell' Group
For more info please visit Digital Montage Studio
Remember if you have something to promote or sell whether it is
a
workshop, piece of art or you just want to promote an upcoming
event. Then please add it into the Promote and Sell group. Each
Sunday in the broadcast I will be randomly choosing someone to
promote.(Note: Apart from your personal page and the online and
Live art courses group and Promote and sell group, you are not
allowed to advertise anywhere else on site).
Group Closures
I have decided to close 2 of my groups (Altered Objects and Gary's
popular
youtube videos). I feel that a better place to share your work
and
ideas is through using the FORUM. It is a
great
way for you gals and guys to share (and be noticed) your style
of
art. So I encourage you to use the forum to get feedback on any
particular style of art that you like to create.
Mixed media artists are diverse, we have our fingers in many
different
areas, so feel free to share who you really are, and what your
passions are!
If you have any questions regarding group closures please contact me
direct.
The Exercise Bike
Eirik bought me a gym membership for my birthday...hint hint! So i have made a
decision
to go 3 days a week. I have an exercise bike at home and only
been
on it a handful of times lol. Do you have any exercise
equipment
laying around gathering dust? Eirik told me to get rid of the
bike
because he says i will never use it and it is an eye sore in
the
lounge room...but as i have pointed out to him, it makes a
great
indoor cloths line (cause you can drape cloths all over it
lol)AND
sometimes i use it to hold my video camera steady (cause it has
these swivel legs which rap around things) lol. I just can't
bring
myself to get rid of it because you never know...i might just
get
the urge to ride it and if it isn't there, what will i do
then???
LOL
Have a great week
Gaz
Hey Folks,
I hope the first week of the year has been good to you and that you are all charged up ready to create some magic this year!
New Groups and Forum discussions
So this year i have decided to expand Loving Mixed Media to include more variety and types of art. Up until now the site
has
been mainly focused on mixed media techniques. We have included
some popular styles of art e.g Assemblage, ATC's, Encaustic Art
and
Abstract Painting, but I believe to continue to grow and expand
we
do need to open up to other popular forms and styles of mixed
media
art, after all we aren't called Loving Mixed Media for nothing,
right?.
Mixed media has really exploded in the last few years and has crossed into many other genres and so it is my intention this
year
to start to include more. Further more, many of us mixed media
artists work in many areas, and a lot of the time it is hard to
define us to one particular style or medium.
Some of the areas I would like to include are: Digital Art, Experimental Video and Photography, Scrapbooking, Journaling,
Illustration and Installation Art. (There are a plethora of
tips
and techniques to be learned and shared from any of those)
I know there are many sites out there dedicated to just one particular field of expertise and they are great to be apart
of,
but by exploring and offering a variety of mixed media art in
once
place and sharing techniques, i believe it will benefit us all.
I
know many who have come to the site looking for painting
techniques
and have cross pollinated with Assemblage and Encaustic which
has
helped them better express their ideas. By experimenting and
playing with different styles and mediums, it exposes us to
endless
ideas and ways to improve how we deliver our message.
To help to encourage forum discussions in these new areas, I have added many new categories, these include: WIP, Drawing and
Sketching,
Members Techniques, Oil Painting, Portraiture, Contemporary
Art/Abstract Art, Watercolour Painting, Sculpture,
Scrapbooking,
Digital Art and New Media, Photography, Pastels,
Jewelery.
So I encourage you to share your art, your thoughts, techniques and ideas with us here.
New Groups Idea
If you would like to form a group whether it is a group of teachers who want to come together to talk about the classroom
and
ways to motivate and inspire students through the teaching of
Mixed
Media techniques. Whether you are a group of
Crafters/Journalers/Scrapbookers who want a place with a
dedicated
chatroom to share journals, techniques and ideas. Please get in
touch I am open to suggestions (as long as there is enough
interest
and people to form a particular group then I am completely
open).
Each new group will require a moderator to oversee the running!
Photo Monitoring
I want to thank you all for your efforts in regards to your
images,
i
really appreciate the time and effort gone into adding a title
and
description. Those of you who are having issues with sizing
remember you can contact Diana Quinn or myself who will happily
help you with your images.
New Group-
Last week I opened a new group called Promote and Sell. This group is the only place (apart from your profile
page) you are allowed to promote and sell your work on the
site,
so
please take advantage and use it. I will be selecting one
member
of
that group a week to promote during the weekly broadcast. So if
you
have something wonderful to sell or an event to promote, then
please share it with us. Note: At the end of every 2 months all
discussions in that group will be deleted, this is to make way
for
new items and also to refresh and keep the list up to
date.
Blogs and Discussions
It is great to see activity returning to blogs and forum discussions. I have really enjoyed your thoughts and blogs over
this past week. There has been lots of replies and debate which
is
fantastic and I encourage all of you to get involved in sharing
your thoughts, your art, techniques and ideas. Your all so
creative
and it is such an inspiration to see so many of you making your
dreams a reality. Keep fighting for your passion!
New series ART 21 posted in Study Hall
Each season, Art:21 — Art in the Twenty-First Century presents four hour-long programs
profiling
four to five diverse visual artists currently working in the
United
States. The programs are structured around themes like those
used
to organize art exhibitions, narrowing what Robert Rauschenberg
called “the gap between art and life.” Each segment offers an
intimate view of the artist’s creative process, by filming the
artists at work, documenting their artworks, and providing
thoughtful, in-depth interviews.
So there are hours and hours of awesome artist interviews up to be seen. You will certainly see some amazing art created on a
grand
scale. Click
HERE to go directly to the Art 21 series documentary
videos.
Course 'No Boundaries' and what am I doing
I have been very busy preparing for my upcoming online course 'No Boundaries', hence my absence from chat lately. I also have
been busy in my own little creative bubble getting myself
inspired
and charged up. To help this happen I have been working on lots
of
small projects. These include creating a new assemblage box
every
week for the next month, creating a series of small abstracts
on
wood panels which i will be 'demo'ing in a future youtube
video.
I
find if i get the creative ball rolling now, come March I will
be
in full tumble!
Feedback Button
Remember if you have any suggestions or ideas on how I can improve the site, Whether you want to report an issue or give
praise. The feedback button on the left side is the one to use.
Thanks again and have a great creative week!
Gaz
Hey Folks,
Well another week rolls on by and the weather here seems to
have
dropped in temperature considerably. I don't think i have
experienced such cold weather this early on. I was driving home
from town the other day and it was -15 degrees (5 Fahrenheit)
which
is just WRONG lol. I know some of you who live in the colder
climates enjoy the winter and the snow but i have to say i hate
it
LOL Only because this time of year and Christmas means
harvesting
Christmas trees for my father inlaw to sell at the local
markets.
And the Christmas trees are spread out on mountainous terrain
so
you can imaging cutting and dragging trees all day down to the
road
then having to pack them onto the back of the tractor is pretty
labor intensive work. So we start harvesting now and we will
collect trees up until around the 20th and then take them into
town
to sell. I dislike selling them the most lol only cause we have
7
different types of Christmas tree (yeah who would have thought
hey?) and ofcourse everyone wants the perfect tree, so there is
a
lot of bartering.
Site improvements and Banner
This week we saw some improvements to the sites appearance. This included a intro page, a new
scrolling
Banner and a Feedback button. I have been doing some tweaking
with
the Banner, as a couple of you reported that it was making you
dizzy with the speed it was scrolling at, so it has now been
slowed
right down to around 17 sec per rotation. The majority of the
spaces are going to be used to promote events, members, show
artworks, challenge winners, artist of the month, courses etc.
There are 2 places for adverts so whether you want to advertise
of
a month or 2 then please get in touch using the new feedback
button. The space will cost you (Special- $30 bucks a month or
$50
for 2 months) It is a great space to promote yourself and your
art.
If you are experiencing any technical problems whether it is that you have to constantly sign in each
time you come to the site, or you can't upload images or
anything
else you are noticing, please use the feedback button to report
a
problem and i will get onto ASAP! Stage 2 of the sites
improvements won't be happening until next year and those
include
customizing of individual groups and an improved photo viewer
and
chatroom (with the ability to post pics, links etc).
Reflections
It is great to see many of you who took the time this week to reflect and share a bit of your
2010.
So
thank you for your stories and your honesty, i have to say
after
reading them all it gave me a feeling that i wasn't the only
one
riding the roller coaster of ups and downs.
But I want to thank those of you who wrote blogs, posted videos and pictures this week, and posted
updates on what is going on in your world, one thing i love
about
LMM is that it is pretty active with blogging and discussions
and
sharing of techniques and ideas, and i hope this will always
continue for the life of the site!
Motivation
I've noticed a lot of artists seem to be lacking motivation and
a
sense of direction lately.I know myself on more than one
occasion
having felt like this, more so in the last couple of
weeks
to
be honest.I think it just has been a mentally draining, energy
sucking few weeks blah blah blah! I have been away most
of
this last week due to a trip to Denmark. During the car drive i
had
a lot of time to reflect and also listen to a few audio books
which
i have stored on my iphone. My favorite audio book is called
Excuses Begone by Wayne Dyer. I highly recommend the audio book
or
book, because it is just fantastic. 2 key things i took away
from
this book were about how we use excuses to stop us from
achieving
our goals and dreams. And i guess that is where my expression
Dream
Big No Excuses originated from. The idea that you can turn all
of
those excuses and reasons why you can't do something (lets face
it
a lot of people use excuses to give themselves a reason not to
do
something because it may involve more effort) into reasons you
can.
If you really want something bad enough you can make it happen.
The
other key point i took away from the book is about holding your
passion. The key to achieving your artistic goals is holding
onto
that passion and never letting go, and never giving up when
things
seem impossible.
I haven't felt like painting much but have channeled my
creativity
in other areas. I always find the act of doing something manual
meditative, so i've just been playing with images in photoshop,
printing and cutting them into collage to create little
artworks...which maybe transformed into paintings at a later
stage.
I've been obsessed with some vintage photos of a little creepy girl and an old Italian woman and
have
been manipulating their images, collaging different parts,
creating
positive and negative space compositions, adding text and
transfers. One thing i'm never thinking when playing like this
is
about 'selling' and about how sellable will the artworks be! I
think it is always important to stay true to yourself and just
go
with your own instincts regardless if what you are doing is
'sellable' or not. Creating these little works has completely
opened me up to new directions and possibilities, so that alone
is
worth more than the monetary value. So focus on what you are
passionate about and as they say..the rest will follow!
Have a great week and remember If you have the choice to be right or kind, always choose kind!
Kindness
is something we can never give or have too much of! Be
thoughtful
in your words and actions towards others, it might just save
someone's life!
Oh while i think of it, I received a message on facebook from Stellan Kidman a few days ago! He is
recovering from his accident. So thanks to all of those who
posted
on his profile i know he truly appreciated the support and even
from complete strangers! Spread the love ;)
Gaz
Hey Folk,
Big update this week because there wasn't one last Sunday!
Reflections of 2010
I don't know about you but usually around this time of year i start to get a little melancholy (Is
it
me, or is that the most funniest and weird word ever? I mean
who
sat down and said " yes, i'm feeling a bit.....Melancholy" What
THE?
But yeah i was feeling a melon and a cauli this week..they felt great! LOL, thinking about 2010 and
all
the highs and lows and to be honest I came to the conclusion,
'Rock
on 2011' LOL But i started looking at all of my youtube videos
from
way back in 2007 when i was just a shy and
bashful beginner
Youtuber (chuckle chuckle). Today if you check the main page
you
will see a little surprise! Now VERY few of you would have seen
this video, as i decided it was no longer fit for public eyes
almost 2 years ago. So i flicked it over to private and their
it
has been laying dormant...until now (But will return to
dormancy
on
Monday).
Now for all of those who are really scared to get in front of a camera, to film yourself because
you
think you will sound and look stupid AND make an idiot of
yourself...U ain't seen a thing until you have seen my video!
So
PEOPLE get a grip and realise if I can go from a slow talking,
nervous 'care what everyone says' film maker
wannabe subscriber whore, to a confident don't give a crap
what people think film maker (after you reach 100 subscribers
you
no longer care about how many subscribers you have, so i am no
longer a subwhore lol), THEN SO CAN YOU! Oh a warning about the
video, if you are offended by seeing a guy in undies i would
discourage you from viewing this video....ESPECIALLY around
Children, Husbands/Boyfriends and animals! LOL I say no
more!
But year Big year, lots happened! So this coming week i am
dedicating it to the theme of Reflections!
What do you remember most about 2010? Blog about some of your
high
and low moments and the things you remember the most? Good or
bad,
happy or sad? Come and share it!
Encaustic Art Challenge Winner
Those members who are in the Encaustic Group will know that Mo
Godbeer posted a challenge a little over a month ago and
entries
closed on the 19th NOV (due to the site being down for 24hrs).
Well
yesterday Mo judged the numerous entries, and she has selected
a
winner. So a big congratulations goes out to Josephus for his
entry
'Galaxies'
So as the winner, Josephus gets to choose either Lissa Rankin's
'The complete guide to creating fine art with wax'
book or Daniella Woolf 's DVD . So congratulations to
Joesphus and also to everyone who participated. I am glad i
wasn't
judging it because there were some fantastic entries!
Site to get a Ricky Lake Makeover
Next week you will see some changes to the look of LMM. I have
had
the good fortune of teaming up with a very talented young web
designer who has been translating my crazy ideas and vision
into
'do-able' reality. Stage 1 of the makeover happens next week,
Stage
2 will happen in the new year. These changes will be gradual
and
will improve the overall look and function of the site. We have
come a long way and hopefully (fingers crossed) we will
continue
to
improve, grow and adapt. We also have some new groups opening
up
early in the new year which I am excited about as well as my
course 'No Boundaries'!
Stellan Kidman
Many of you know Stellan Kidman and 2 days ago i learned through Susan- redshoeartist that tragically
Stellan had been involved in a serious car accident. He is in a
critical condition with serious head trauma. I have known
stellan
for a couple of years through youtube and a few social networks
and
i have to say he is the nicest guy you could ever hope to meet.
A
smile which just lights you up, and a heart of gold. I ask
everyone
to please take a moment to send your positive thoughts, well
wishes
or prayers to him and his family. If you would like to write
something on his profile page then click
HERE
Are you having a Christmas Sale?
So Christmas is fast approaching again (I'm still recovering from the last one, how about you?). I
know
many of you will be offering Christmas discounts on your
artworks.
If you are one of those arty sellers, then get in touch with
Santa
Reef and he will be happy to sit you on his knee and let you
advertise your discounts in a new and exciting way (contact
Roedolf
the big nose reindeer for details...that's just me
pretending,
ok?). Hoe hoe hoe...OH NO U DIDN'T
Hippie Hats for the Homeless
Many of you know Daligoddess and what a wonderful woman she really is. I have known Dali pretty
much
from the beginning of my youtube days. She was there supporting
my
stupid ass from the very beginning..WHAT? and she is still
around??
I know, some people like to suffer ROFL!
Anyway Dali began selling her 'now famous' 'Hippie Hats' this year and they just took off! I
have one, which i just love to bits because green is my colour.
And
i know loads of other members have hats also...we might have to
start a hippie hat group soon...in fact we shall have a hippie
hat
day next year to celebrate.
Now apart from the hats being totally unique, funky and cool like us artists...there is a good reason
to
get one! And that is Dali gives away a certain amount of her
hats
to the homeless. That is right, when she sells, she gives! And
i
am
100% behind artists who give of themselves, to not only help
themselves but pass it forward onto others! Giving and kindness
go
hand in hand and if there were more people like that, the world
would be 'one big happy hippie hat hoedown' LOL (now say that
fast
3 times). To check out Daligoddess's website click HERE
Artist opportunity to be in an awesome book
Call for Artists. Seeking submissions for a new book to be
published by North Light Books in Spring 2012. Tentatively
titled
"The Artist's Pulse", the premise is to take the pulse of the
online artist community that loosely falls under the category
of
mixed media. This will be accomplished through a series of
projects
that include both questions and answers as well as artwork
created
specifically in response to prompts. While the book will
include
practical, art-related information,it will primarily focus on
more
personal and provocative issues. Deadline for Q & A:
November
30, 2010. Deadline for artwork: December 31, 2010. No entry
fee.
Information and guidelines: http://thealteredpage.blogspot.com
OK so that is the info...now let me say DO IT DO IT! I know Seth Apter and let me say..if there is
one
book you wanna get your name in..then this is it!! I know for a
FACT there are some BIG NAME artists in the book, so Seize the
DAY
and the Opportunity! You haven't got long...DREAM BIG NO
EXCUSES!
JUST DO IT! Nothing to Lose ALL to gain!
So to finish i will leave you with a thought and a quote-
People are like swimming pools, they have a deep and a shallow end!Which end are you today?
Never believe what an artist says, only what they do!- Walter
Sickert
Hey Folks
Twilight Zone Nightmare
Today started out as every other day does. The alarm goes off
at
5:30am and i roll over knowing i have another 10mins before the
next buzz. During which time i feel for my iphone, adjust my
ball
sack and squint my eyes as the bright screen blinks to life
(looking no doubt like a deer in headlights). I usually lay in
bed
until the 2nd alarm goes off just scrolling through the emails
and
this happens every morning...but this morning was a little
different. I'm looking at some of the comments coming in from
LMM
and i notice something bizarre! 2 emails with the names Mo
Reef,
Wendy Reef. Now knowing every single member's name off by heart
it
dawned on me i didn't know anyone on the site with the last
name
of
Reef.
So dragging my ass out of bed as i do, i feel my way to the
toilet
where i plonk myself down to take a pee...cause i'm too tired
to
stand and aim at the bowl. Iphone in hand i noticed more names
appearing. Now normally i don't check the site until after i
milk
the cows but curiosity got the better of me and with my first
cup
of coffee i dragged myself to the computer. Got to the site and
all
of a sudden i'm looking at the Mad Hatters Chatroom, and there
in
front of me is, ME only
cloned like 5 or 6 times. I'm thinking WTF? As i start to look
around the main page OMG I'm everywhere. I pinched my doodle to
make sure i wasn't dreaming Nooooch! So my alarm goes off (the
3rd
alarm means i have to run and begin milking otherwise the cows
titties are gonna bust). So not having time to inspect the
damage
and thinking it could be a possible hijacking...i took the site
offline until i had time to see what was happening.
On returning I realised it was just the 'Mad Hatters'
lisa,
Mo, Wendy, Mitsi, lea, Diana, Mary B and a few others and so i
opened the site again.
Can i just say,thanks for the morning heart starter gangeroo's
LOL
but can i say " What a bunch of sad artists you all are!,
because obviously you don't have anything better to do than
take
the piss (an expression meaning make fun of, joke with) out of
boring old Gazza. Now if you REALLY want to impress me...lets
see
you drag out some of your paintings and burn those bitches?
LOL...I didn't think so
But
yes very funny you had me ;)
But can i say it has been so much chatter going on in the
chatroom
lately. A real mix of personalities which is why i named it the
'Mad Hatters Chatroom' because it is very appropriate. So
thanks
for the involvement, the banter and laughs you guys are really
awesome and make the site a lot of fun.
Change of
Plans
As i had mentioned several months ago, i was planning on taking
next year off. I had planned on being here of course but i
wanted
to take time out so i could be Mr Nigel No Friends and sort of
get
into developing some new characters and art. I asked Diana
Quinn
to
take over which she kindly agreed. But I have changed my
mind..as
one does every 2nd day Nooooch. I am staying and im still
playing.
I realised i can manage the site and still do my thing...so u
haven't gotten rid of Gazza just yet LOL A big thanks to Di
regardless and she will be opening a new group next year
'Business
of Art' which we are all looking forward to.
New
Groups/Courses
Early next year we have several new groups opening, 'Business
of
Art' and 'Loosen me Up'. Now many of you oldies are familiar
with
a
series of 'loosen me up technique videos' i created almost a
year
and half ago. These videos were surprisingly popular!! Well, i
have
made a new series of videos as well a bunch of new techniques
to
get you looser than a prostitute on a Saturday night. So stay
tuned
to that fun fab group opening soon.
Also its been over a year since i ran a course and i thought it
was
about time i actually pulled my finger out and did something
constructive lol. So yearly next year i will be running an
Abstract
Course...let me tell you this is gonna be fun. The stuff i have
come up with, the exercises, the challenges, the interaction,
the
mystery packages you will be sent...etc are gonna make learning
so
much fun that you are not going to want it to end. I am the
educator of your wet dreams Nooooch! So stay tuned to details
early
next year on how to sign up! Be prepared to be challenged!!
On that note have a great week! You are all STARS in my eyes
and
a
pain in my butt but nothing i can't handle Noooch
Gaz
Hey Folks,
Hope you have all had a nice week/end. We have had loads of new
artists joining this past week which has been fantastic. I know
many of the regular dedicated members have been very welcoming
and
supportive which is fantastic to see. Love this community!
So a few days ago i launched my new website (www.garyreef.com) and I just
wanted
to share with you the awesome website builder which helped me
make
the process a lot easier.
If your an artist and want to build yourself a website
(customize
it exactly how you want it) without paying a thing, then you
have
to check out www.weebly.com
It is a fantastic website builder. And what is great is that it
is
very intuitive and user friendly, especially for many of us who
are
not technical heads when it comes to computers etc. It is so
easy
to use, it is all based on 'drag and drop' elements. You choose
a
design and then totally customize it yourself. You add your
images,
add gallery, slide show, change the font, colour, links, add a
guest book, blog, embedded videos...you name it, it is packed
with
free features. To find out more, please check out my blog :
The best kept secret for building your own website when i
share
my experiences.
Also when you start a 'Forum' discussion you have the option to
choose from several categories with which to add your
discussion
to, one of these is 'Critique my Work'...I have now altered
that
to
Critique my Work or Website'.
It is my hope that those of you who have a website or are going
to
create a website might like a critique or just want some feed
back
on how to improve your current layout etc. Because lets face
it,
there are loads of really bad, poorly designed artist websites
out
there!
So take that next step and get yourself a website, you have no
excuses anymore!
Halloween Theme
It is so awesome to see so many of you that have taken up the
Halloween theme and pimped out your profiles and pages. There
are
truly some wonderful and gruesome profile pages and
avatars..thanks
for making the effort . One lady complained to me about the
Halloween theme, in fact several emails which ended in her
calling
me a big kid and that i should grow up. She decided to leave!
Well
there was no tears shed and in fact i was there to give her a
pumpkin on her way out.
The thing is, i try to encourage tolerance on the site, we have
all
different backgrounds, religious beliefs, sexual orientations,
some
of us are abstract painters, figurative, Assemblage artists,
journalists and so forth. I can't please everyone all of the
time
as much as i try. I've always encouraged that if your not happy
about something then 'blog' about it, get it off your chest. I
am
open and willing to listen to your thoughts and even
accommodate
as
much as I can but if the majority of active members are happy
and
are enjoying something, then i'm not gonna stop for one person.
As
another member put it, it is like going into a restaurant and
asking them to change the decor. Halloween is only for a few
weeks,
it gives artists the chance to create art which isn't the
normal
pretty and nice. It is a chance for an artist to be open to
explore
different areas of creativity and themes.
Halloween
Inspired
ATC's
ATC's Group leader, Danielle Evans asked if I would create some
Atc's for her which i finally got around to doing last week.
This
coming week I will be posting them all to her. I think there
are
around 25 cards in total and she will be organising their
distribution to members of that group! Some are oversized and
others are 4x6. They were a lot of fun to make and using the
citrasolv papers as backgrounds made them so easy to make. I
just
added some collaged eyes, and spray painted a few stencils and
glued some image tranfers and hey presto!
The company Citrasolv loved them so much and were so impressed
with
my use for their product they contacted me and not only
promoted
me
on their Facebook page but also added me to their Artist
Gallery
(click HERE
to see it) AND created a new video category just for my video
(which i posted several weeks back on my Youtube channel about
'ideas for citrasolv).
Well that is it from me. Hope you all have a productive week
ahead
and that you stop in to share your creativity, thoughts and
ideas
with us all at LMM.
Gaz
Congratulations to Mike Nowlin for his Poster Design. You voted
and
Mike was awarded the most popular design followed by Kimmie D
and
then Claudi Simon! I managed to catch up with Mike to ask him
some
questions. (1)Tell us a bit about your poster design? (How
you
came up with the idea, how did you create it and any other
relevant
information you think readers want to know). The poster
design
contest really spoke to me because it made me step back and
look
at
myself. Some people may not have taken a challenge like a
poster
so
serious, but I do love the dramatic. I thought to myself, “What
do
I represent as an artist?” Being a mixed media artist is quite
challenging to put on a single poster. I was trying not to
throw
so
much into the mix that it turned to mud. I thought about how
most
of us do what comes from the soul, heart and mind. It’s a
complex
process sometimes, but eventually the process has to be
conveyed
to
the audience through our hands. (or feet if your Bonnie Rose)
As
we
all know, experimenting is sometimes fun and frustrating at the
same time. The poster actually went through several changes
before
the final photo. Who knew taking a photo was so
difficult—lighting,
shadows, etc. It took me several experiments to get the photo
for
the poster and I was about to give up when my wife said, “Stand
back and let me take one more.” Like magic that was the shot.
(2) How long have you been creating art? And what are you
working on right now if anything? I have been serious about
my
art the last two years, but have been doing art pieces since I
was
very young. About 2 years ago my father-in-law and I were
talking
about a local artist and he looked at me and said, “I know
somebody
that’s a pretty good artist too.” Until that day, I did not
think
he knew that my artwork even existed. That one comment made me
really truly think hard about doing what I love to do. No, I
have
not quit my day job, but some day…. I am currently working on
so
many things it would drive anyone insane. I have about 10 or 12
works in progress. I would love to finish one of them soon! My
big
project right now is actually enclosing half of my garage and
making it into my very own studio. Half for woodworking and the
other for artwork. My little cave for creativity! No internet
connection or computer. There is something to say for Jackson
Pollock having his art studio away from the city and
distractions.
(3) Who are your favourite artists? and what inspires
you?
I
am so inspired by the work that everyone here at Lovin Mixed
Media
so freely shares. I have learned so much more than I ever
thought
possible. This is such a first and an honor for me because my
fellow artist voted on the designs. Thank again to everyone
who
participated and voted in this competition!
New
Guideline update. I have made a change to the site's
guidelines
regarding language (specifically swearing and the use of
certain
cuss words.) While this site endorses freedom of speech, due to
the
nature of this site taking into consideration the type and age
of
members we have here on the site. A very small and select group
of
swear words will not be permitted. They will be censored like
this
F*** so you will understand what the word is but will not be
offensive to certain members and ages. Please take the time to
review these changes. If you have any questions regarding the
changes please email me personally.
Hey Folks,
Well I don't know about you but Autumn for us in Europe has
definitely set in and I am in a mad scramble trying to get some
clay masks made before the weather turns really nasty. Where I
live
is a pretty windy place and being perched on a hill doesn't
help.
Here is photo of my little homemade kiln I use to fire my
masks.
Cost next to nothing to make, the only thing which cost
something
was the ceramic fiber mat which lines the inside of the drum
and
the propane gas bottle and blow torch. Because I live in the
middle
of nowhere there wasn't an option of getting my clay fired
anywhere
close so I just thought why not make my own. And you really
don't
need to have a big back yard either.
When I get up at 5:30 to milk the cows it is dark and cold but
thankfully I only have to walk about 50 meters to get to the
warm
cozy YET smelly cow shed, LOL. Those big stupid animals give
off
lots of heat too. I am very lucky to live where I do even if it
is
pretty lonely much of the time, but then being an artist can be
lonely especially when your surrounded by people who don't get
your
art or who simply aren't interested in art. I know it is great
to
have a place like LMM to come when I need some inspiration or
to
share my thoughts and I hope you feel that way too. In my
latest
YouTube video I talked about wanting to spend less time online
and
more time focused on my own journey. I think that is important
for
everyone at different times. I've given so much of my time and
sunk
so much energy into this site over the last year that I am
needing
some space to develop myself. I feel my art has suffered in
development in some way because I have spent so much time
online
and helping others, which I wouldn't take back because I have
made
some great friends as a result, learned so much about
myself
in terms of strengths and weaknesses, been inspired by so many
creative souls and been challenged on so many levels. But you
know
what I mean. People come and go all the time, some of us cross
paths for a short time and others keep revolving in the same
circles. One thing I do know about true friendships, is that
you
don't need to be constantly in each others faces. I know I can
go
without talking to some of my best friends for months and then
suddenly we talk and it was like we spoke yesterday. I also
have
made that connection with many of you from LMM...and we don't
need
talk all the time but when we do there is that connection.
I think my biggest fear is of becoming stale and that can
happen
when you get into a comfortable place. Which is where I am now
in
my artistic journey. I like so many have become bored with my
art
and I believe that is not a good place to reside. So it is time
for
me to take a step back, to take some time to do some self
reflection. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel
because
I
believe I am on the right path, I just need to dump the
backpack,
take my shoes off and run for the open field, roll in the
grass,
smell the wild flowers and dive into the ocean and be like
seaweed!
I will eventually make my way back to the path but when I
don't know.
I am going to focus on finishing my book, I also am involved in
a
few other projects which have impending deadlines and I will be
traveling to Virginia next year in April to take one of Michael
Demeng's classes and hopefully meet many of you. I had been
asked
to teach at the Art and Soul Retreat but have turned it down
due
to
me wanting to be like 'Seaweed' (floating in the ocean, going
with
the tide, LOL! Thanks Bonnie for that analogy). But in saying
that,
they have asked if I would consider coming to teach in 2012
which
I
am very hopeful about. I also would like to run a course next
year
at some point in time!
So what does that mean for LMM! Well a few things. It means I'm
not
going to be here 24/7, in fact only a few days a week at the
most,
I will continue to blog, share my journey, comment on your
journey
and art but you will notice my lack of involvement next
year.You
have a wealth of talented and knowledgeable artists here who
are
also passionate about mixed media so you can always find good
advice and inspiration! I have asked Diana Quinn to take over
the
running of the site beginning next year, but she will start
taking
the reins before then. I have asked Diana Quinn to manage the
site
for a few reasons. She is passionate about LMM, she is also a
mover
and shaker, she gets things done, she is a powerhouse of ideas,
a
good manager and a people person. I feel very confident in her
ability to manage, nurture and improve the site. One thing I
have
always wanted for this site is for it to be constantly evolving
and
improving and I know Diana will take the site to the next
level.
She will of course get help from the other Group leaders.
One major thing which has changed is a guideline I have
enforced
from the start of site. And that was about being Active. I have
decided to drop the rule about being active on the site. You
won't
be asked to leave if your not participating in some way. Some
of
you welcome this change and others have expressed that this
site
is
unique because it cares about members participating and
contributing, and I can see both sides of the coin. One thing I
have realized is that many people are fearful of sharing their
work, of being judged and that is a big hurdle for many to
overcome. I feel I have worked extremely hard to create an
environment where you can be assured that people are not going
to
pick you to pieces, yet offer good sound guidance and advice!
So
I
am asking those of you who are afraid to have a little faith
and
take that next step. I will nurture and support those members
who
do give back to the site and participate. Those members who do
have
empty profiles will still get a little nudge from the group
leaders
and I do ask that you all encourage each other and that you
will
use LMM to not only take ideas and information but also give
back.
That way we all grow! I wish you all well on your own journey
of
discovery, may you all find the holy grail and I am sure I will
see
many of you rolling in the fields as well! Now get off the
bloody
computer!! LOL
OK Moving on! Poster competition! Well what an overwhelming
response, I received close to 150 votes in 24 hours. In fact my
online form was disabled due to it exceeding its quota. If you
still haven't voted and would like to, you can simply send and
email to helpmestaff@gmail.com with your vote for your
favourite
poster. From the results so far there is a definite clear
leader
but you can still change that! You have until the end of the
month
to cast your vote!
Have a great weekend whatever you get up to! It is sunny here
today
and I am going outside to paint while I can!
Gaz
Hey Folks, Making it your own!
Many members of Lovin Mixed Media have profiles and blogs on other sites, but not everyone is aware that there are easy ways
to
bring elements of these together onto your page here. You may
have
made your page your own already, but here's a quick reminder of
some of the things you can do.
* You can drag and drop many of the page elements around your
page
to put things in the order and position which works best for
you.
* You can change the background and typeface to make it a space
which is truly your own, using either our pre-prepared
templates
or
uploading your own backgrounds and headers (you can change all
this
at any time, and reset it if you don't like the results.)
* You can import content, your blog or other web sites using
the
RSS feed in the left hand column (then drag and drop it into
the
centre if it contains text or images.) This will then update
automatically (this works really well if you have a blog
elsewhere.)
* You can embed photos, slideshows or a widget to the Text Box.
* You can import photos from your Flickr account into the photo
galleries here, and include them in the slideshow on your page.
* You can link your Status Update on the LMM to your Facebook and Twitter profiles.
* Explore, experiment and enjoy!
It doesn't take long (you'll be surprised at what you can
achieve
in under 15 minutes,) and it's easy to make it work for you.
It's
a
great way to reflect your interests or personality, and very
useful
for members who want to use their profile to showcase their
art.
Citrasolv
Possibilities
All you need is a bottle of Citrasolv, some national geographic
magazines and a paint brush! The technique is really simple yet
the
results are totally amazing. I think this has to be the
easiest,
least challenging technique out there! And the results you can
achieve are so diverse and varied that you will never repeat a
similar design or pattern. So I was asked on my youtube channel
about some possibilities
and uses for the paper, well i have created a few examples in
the
image above.
- You can use it for original wrapping paper which is so funky and unique it is bound to stand out! You could take it one step
further and customs the paper by adding your own stamp designs
or
signature. - You can create abstract artworks! Mix and match colour/pattern combinations and then create a major painting from it.
- You can cover books, journals and cover the inside of boxes to create something really unique and wonderful or just use it as
collage paper. So give it a try!
Poster Design
Competition
Closes Today
We have received a total of 10 Poster entries into the
competition.
Today, Friday the 10th, is the last day for submissions, so
those
who want to enter still have a little bit of time but hurry!
Next
week I will be compiling all of the entries and placing them
into
a
blog where you the members will vote for your favorite poster.
This
will be done through a secret ballot system.
Next week-'The Artist Within' interviews Greg Hanson!
Household Topography Photo Challengeby Wendy Johnson
We are going on a photo excursion around our own homes with a keen eye for taking photos of items, or
arrangements of items, of any sort and transforming ordinary
household objects into something extraordinary. A fresh
artistic
look at things you see everyday around the house. For
example
steel utensils hanging on a rack in shadowy night time lighting
or
soapy suds glistening in the sink. Play with shapes, lighting
and
distance of shot. This prompt was inspired
by
a
photographer from Prague named Jan Krcmar,
you
can check out his images of the prompt here
Photo by Jan Krcmar, happy shooting!
To go to the blog where you can post your image, click
HERE!
Two groups having the 'Ricky Lake' makeover treatment
Both the Altered Objects group and Online/Live Art Courses group have been getting the royal spit
and
polish over this past week. Diana Quinn leads the Online/Live
Art
Course full steam with a new layout where you can have your say
about online or real life workshops you have taken! You can
also
review any books you think are awesome!
Altered Objects has had a revamp as well and I have some pretty interesting challenges coming up
for
the group! Remember Halloween is just around the corner HA HA
HA
(Evil Laugh).
And finally, Thank you. I can never thank you all enough for your contributions to the site because
without
your blogs, discussions, photos, ideas, techniques, art and
unique
personalities it really wouldn't exist nor would it be as
successful! The group leaders and myself are here to help
answer
any of your questions, listen to any suggestions you may have,
and
offer you guidance and support with your creative development.
After all the site's moto is Inspire, Create and Educate while having a
damn good time!
Stay Strong, Live Long!Gaz
Hey Folks,
Thought of the Week
Maria
Wiley has just posted a new blog about her experiences and
thoughts from her recent solo exhibition and I thought I would
write about one of the things she mentioned which I feel is
important. Maria touched on the idea that if people know you a
little, then they are more inclined to buy your work.
For those who don't know much about Maria, I'll fill you in.
I've
had the pleasure of knowing Maria Wiley for well over a year
now,
ever since she took my texture and layering course. She is a
very
humble, kind, and giving soul...oh and talented! No matter what
technique I threw at her she rose to the challenge each time.
(I
kinda get some sadistic pleasure when I watch some of you
struggle
with a technique, but I do it out of love people 'Love don't
hate'...cause I know when you finally crack it, you appreciate
it
more, LOL) Anywayzzz zz zz
For me Maria is the perfect example of how passion, dedication
and
hard work can pay off. And in just over a year she has achieved
so
much! AND, Maria has had her shares of Ups and downs like many
of
us...but she kept going, kept pushing through! Love ya girl!
(Ok
Maria you can send the cheque to....nooooch, LOL, Jokin.)
Anyway
where is this going? I think as artists we tend to generally
have
this air of mystery around us. There is something captivating
in
the 'unknown.' We are pretty secretive creatures most of the
time,
I know when I first started out on YouTube sharing my creative
journey, I had no intention of revealing myself more than my
art
but over the years that has definitely changed completely. I
think
there is something romantic about an artist who hides away but
I
also believe society has become so voyeuristic in today's
world that hiding away can have a negative effect on how
successful
you become (although it all depends on your definition of
success
and what you want to achieve on your creative journey.)
My mother said to me on several occasions 'Gary you need to
open
up
to people more, don't hide yourself away'. Being a shy person
that
was pretty hard for a while, but that changed once i really
accepted myself, my faults and limitations and just thought,
'Oh
the hell with it, people like me or they don't'. Same with my
art
'they like it or they can lump it'. The lesson I have learned
is
that the more you give of yourself, the more you do get back
and
not just in monetary terms. So the point is, many artists do
hold
back, hide themselves, are afraid to share their art, BUT if we
don't take that NEXT step then how can we expect people to
believe in us and our
passion? Creating art isn't about the money and if it is
then
you need to get out. As artists creating art is something we
'need' to do, it is
programed into our very soul, we don't have a choice and
I
think that is why we find comfort in each other, because non
artists- friends, family etc just don't get it, they don't
understand why we 'HAVE' to create, many think "well if it
isn't
making money why do it?" Deep down anyone who creates art from
the
heart doesn't do it for the money. That is why we get so
frustrated
when we can't resolve a painting or make the art we want, we
get
angry and upset and lets face it, 'How can we not' from time to
time. I know I have cried on a few occasions because a certain
painting is whipping my ass raw, but that is our battle as
artists,
that is part of our journey. Being creative is a blessing and a
curse don't you think?
OK, well this is where I flog the dead horse: I hear it time and time again, 'I'm afraid to show my art,' 'when I get more
confidence then I will do it'...well there is no time like
today,
take that step! Don't think
just
DO! Forget outcome, You will be surprised at how
BRAVE you really are!
No
one has to like what you do, except you, learn to be OK with
that!
Some people are gonna love you and your work and others not,
that
is reality! When you give of yourself whole heatedly and
surrender
the ego, any and everything is possible! If people can
associate
with you and if they get to know who you are, they most
definitely
will want to buy a piece of your work, which is really a piece
of
your soul!
Group Closer but...
The colony room group will be closing at the end of this month
and
the information about Francis Bacon will be relocated to
another
part of the site. Thank you to those of you who took the time
to
read the books and to join in on the discussions. I am sure
many
of
you gained lots from him.
For me 'Interviews with Francis Bacon' has to be my favourite
book
to date!
In the coming months we have some new and exciting groups which
we
will be opening. One is all about the business side of Art.We
are
gonna be looking at how to market yourself and your art in
today's
overcrowded art world. We are going to be talking with
galleries
to
find out exactly what they look for when selecting artists for
their stable. We are going to explore the vast opinions on
'pricing
your work'. How to write an artist statement, bio's and much
more.
I will be sharing my own thoughts on what i have found to be
successful.
Another group which will be opening soon is dedicated to
'Scanner
Art'. I will taking this group and I will be adding tutorial
videos
on all aspects of this amazing technique. I know many of you
have
requested a group just for this technique...well it is coming!
The Artist Within Interviews
Next week Diana will be interviewing Assemblage Artist
Greg Hanson. This will be one interview you won't want to
miss!
If you didn't get to see last weeks interview with Encaustic
Artist
- Mo Godbeer then check 'LMM NEWS' to find the full
interview.
Next month we will be getting into some new challenges which
will
be great!
Have a good week and remember to say Thankyou for what you
have!
Gaz
My Moto- Inspire, Create and Educate while having a dam good
time!
20th August 2010
HERE is the link!
challenge?
Design a poster which represent you as an artist! You can
create
an
original artwork or you can create your poster using Photoshop
or
any other photo editing software. Be creative and imaginative.
Judging shall be done by public vote. Only one design entry per
artist! Please send your finished design to
helpmestaff@gmail.com
(In the subject line of the email please write 'Poster Design
Competition entry'. The Winning Artist shall receive a
professionally printed Poster of their winning design.They will
also receive a front page feature article
For details on image size and quality required for a
professional
Print please read this
blog post!
.........................................................................................................
31st July 2010 Hey Folks, This is just a quick
reminder to those member who have been a member of this site
longer
than the last 2 months and who HAVE NOT registered to 'STAY',
please do so today. To register click HERE
.(So if you have joined the site within the last 2 months you
don't
have to worry about registering to stay) As i said, i am going
to
be clearing out dead profiles starting August. Dead profiles
are
those with no activity, no pictures, no response to my emails,
no
discussions, no blog posts...no friggin nothing! ONLY those
profiles will be removed.. I'm not supporting people who don't
support our community, there are plenty of other sites who will
have them! Things are pretty quiet challenge wise but i know a
lot
of people are away at this time of year, so it is good 'down
time'
for everyone. We will fire up again in Autumn/Winter when i
have
more time to be here. Getting away from the computer and online
communities is something i encourage especially when the
weather
is
beautiful and sunny. It is great to see that you guys are using
the
forum and blog discussions to your advantage and I appreciate
those
members who constantly add discussions and responses...it
doesn't
go unnoticed! I will be going away on Monday for a weeks
camping
trip to Sweden...yes i know, another holiday! But trust me if
you
lived in a foreign country you would want as many holidays as
you
could get LOL! So you won't be seeing me around until the
following
Monday but if you have any questions or queries the lovely
Nicole
(she paid me to say that) is more than happy to answer you. You
can
email us at helpmestaff@gmail.com because it seems the
'feedback'
form has a mind of its own...but nothing that a sledge hammer
won't
fix ;O) Technology is great when it works! Have a great weekend
and
I will talk to you all real soon! Oh and remember 'When your UP
your UP, and when your DOWN take it out on somebody else' he he
L8TR GAZ
.......................................................................................................
If you missed my live demonstration showing you how to create a
wall tile, then follow the link below. Tomorrow I will also be
posting a YouTube video I just created showing every step in
high
quality video.
http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/8572388
Live video by USTREAM
Hey Folks,
Well I am pleased to share with you a new feature I have added
to
the site which will 'Help You, Help Me'. If you look on the
left
hand side of the site you will see a new ' Feedback' Tab. If you click on the
tab
a pop up window will appear. Here is a screen capture:
The great thing is that you can do several things. You can
share an idea, ask a
question (please check
Site
Information before asking your question, the answer maybe
there),
You can also discuss a problem, and give Praise. This tool will really help
me
understand more about what you want but also our creative
community
as a whole. In time I will be adding additional stuff to this
form,
e.g Polls etc
We are a 'constantly evolving collective' and our needs change
over
time so this is definitely a great tool for us to use....but
don't
flood me all at once LOL
New Profile
Questions
I have also added some new profile questions and taken some
away
which i felt were no longer appropriate. These questions are
designed once again to help me better understand you and your
needs
and what want from this community.
Main
Tabs
Some of you may have also noticed a new tab 'LMM NEWS'. Most
sites
have a newsletter of some type, it is common because a lot of
the
time when we send out broadcasts they end up in the spam folder
or
buried in your inbox folder. So therefore it was about time to
create our own Newsletter Tab.
So any changes, information, updates etc will be posted there
for
you to view. We will be also adding Art reviews, spotlight
interviews and anything else we feel you should be informed
about.
It's a bit empty at the moment but will start to fill up
soon!
Tomorrow on my USTREAM Channel (http://www.ustream.tv/channel/garyreef)
I will be demonstrating how to make your own plaster wall tiles. I
will add an embedded USTREAM Viewer onto the main page so you can
watch if you don't wish to sign up and follow me. I will also
record the show so those of you who aren't around, can view the
video in your own time. I will also be posting a couple of NEW
YouTube Videos which show you everything you need to know on how to
create tiles like those above. As soon as I go 'Live' I will send
out a quick broadcast email so you know I'm online!
NO nudity terms and conditions
Ning (who is the company that set up ours and 1000's more social networks) have recently (20th
July)changed their policy on 'nudity'. They say:
• No more nudity: We will no longer permit nudity of any kind on the Ning platform. A little over a
year and a half ago, we prohibited the upload of adult content and
pornography to the Ning platform. At the time, we said that nudity
that wasn’t adult in nature would still be allowed. Unfortunately,
many of the issues that caused us to stop supporting adult content
in the first place are still arising on networks that post content
with nudity. We believe that the implementation of this policy will
further reduce abuse on the Ning platform and will create a clean,
well-lit environment for Network Creators as well as the
advertisers and partners you choose to work with. Network Creators
and members will have thirty days (until August 20th) to remove any
nudity they may have uploaded to the Ning Platform prior to today
or to transition their networks off of the platform.
So I am stuck between a rock and a hard place because as I stated in a blog started a few days ago
about this issue, 'We are artists and from the beginning of art
history we have always drawn, painted, sculptured and photographed
nudes. It is what a lot of us do, we go to life drawing classes and
many of us use nudes as our subject matter.'
The conclusion from this popular blog was that the majority of you agreed, some didn't and several where
on the fence. Well it seems that Ning aren't going to change their
minds, they have closed the discussion because there is nowhere to
post.
They have said this: I know this policy change may impact your networks and how you manage them, so
I'd like to clarify where I can. To explain what we consider
"nudity." We consider nudity to be exposed or see-though coverage
of areas that are typically covered by a bathing suit or underwear.
We wouldn't consider shirtless men to be nude. We didn't change our
policy to make your lives more difficult. We made this decision for
good reason and in the best interest of all the networks on Ning.
We know this may not be an easy transition and sincerely appreciate
your flexibility.
OK, so that is what is happening. I have sent in a question regarding consequences for 'ME' if they
find an image on our site in breech of their terms and conditions.
At the end of the day the majority of us don't post any nude
artwork/images. It is a very minor percentage. I am hoping that
they take into consideration that we are an art site if they
discover something. Unfortunately at this stage, I can't just pack
us all up and move to another social network because there is not a
single network which has all of the servers and features which we
have become accustomed to. And also all of the other networks I
have joined to test are not that user friendly. This is the best
platform around and I have done my research trust me! But I will
update you when i hear something! So that is your lot for this
week! LOL
Look guys this is our home and we are a big family, we just have to pull together. Have a creative week
and get outside!! Enjoy that sunshine....Autumn and Winter will be
knocking soon enough!
Gaz
© 2013 Created by Greef.
