Powerful Words of Wisdom to Artists

Joyce Owens is a primarily a painter

but she is also a sculptor and mixed/mutimedia artist.

In her blog she shares some extremely perceptive

words of wisdom that are meaningful for artists working in any medium...

"More than Skin Deep" by Joyce Owens

Acrylic on Canvas on Wood

An Artist's Pain: Being Judged and Juried - "...dilemmas artists wrestle with are many...submitting to exhibitions may be at the top of any top 10 list of things we hate to do, but know we must! I will tell you what I know that could save you from too much pain."
http://monroeanderson.typepad.com/joyce_owens_on_art/2010/07/pain-and-power-the-critique.html#tp

To Mentors/Teachers, Say the One Thing an Artist Needs to Hear - "My message is that it is important to validate that strange, different kid who may live inside his or her head and doesn't march in lock-step with the others. There is possibly an artist, musician, actor, scientist, computer programmer or other creative type living there figuring out the world as they see it! Give him or her permission to come out!"
http://monroeanderson.typepad.com/joyce_owens_on_art/2010/09/well-i-will-never-forget-this-scene-when-i-was-still-a-teenaged-girl-i-was-walking-along-chelten-avenue-near-germantown-a.html#tp

Pay Me Like You Pay for New Shoes - "It is not bad to be rewarded for your efforts. You need money to buy new shoes! It is also about respect. Respect for the time and effort it takes to produce art. Respect for the money artists spend to purchase materials. Respect for the thousands of dollars some artists pay to get their training in traditional, and other art programs. Artists travel to learn, go to workshops and art centers that cost money. Why shouldn't we expect a return on our investment to develop our skills as a doctor or a chef would?"
http://monroeanderson.typepad.com/joyce_owens_on_art/2010/07/pay-me-like-you-pay-for-new-shoes.html#tp

We Have a Museum for Women, Why Not a Man Museum? - "Separate is just not equal and it won't ever be!"
http://monroeanderson.typepad.com/joyce_owens_on_art/2010/03/there-is-no-man----museum-priceless-----sure-feel-free-to-use-my-comments----------j---------joanne-mattera.html

Who Do You Exhibit With, Where and Why? - "I have found that sometimes it's better to respectfully decline an exhibition offer and wait for the next opportunity."

http://monroeanderson.typepad.com/joyce_owens_on_art/2009/02/who-do-you-exhi.html

To view more of Joyce Owens' art:, visit her website

http://www.joyceowens.com/

and her photo page on Black Art in America

http://www.blackartinamerica.com/photo/photo/listForContributor?screenName=1leeh0jjsopky

Fractured Atlas

Fractured Atlas is a support organization that artists need to know about. They offer a broad range of services, but the one I'm most excited about are the online courses geared to provide training in those aspects of business most important for practicing artists. Furthermore, you can take them at your own convenience as well as start and stop as often as you need. Additional courses are being added continually.

A free, basic level of membership (Community Membership) is offered. However, you may well qualify for a regular membership through one or more of the arts organizations to which you belong.

Writing an Effective Fundraising Letter - "Learn basic ingredients for writing a strong fundraising letter and start building a community of donors who will support you and your art for the long haul."
http://www.fracturedatlas.org/u/courses/44

Audio Description: The Visual Made Verbal - "This course will introduce you to the principles of producing quality audio description and the importance of close communication with the end users – people who are blind or have low vision and people who seek to provide greater media access."
http://www.fracturedatlas.org/u/courses/46

Getting Your Sh*t Together - "This course will take you through 10 steps to getting your sh*t together. If you complete these 10 steps, you are well on your way to being ready to engage with the art world and having a handle on just what else you need to figure out."
http://www.fracturedatlas.org/u/courses/40

Professional Identity: Demystified - "This course walks you through some basic steps to clarify your professional identity, which will lay the foundation for all of the strategic planning work to come."
http://www.fracturedatlas.org/u/courses/37

Fundraising: Demystified - "Producing art is generally not inexpensive. So, how do we go about paying for the work that we want to produce? We fundraise!"
http://www.fracturedatlas.org/u/courses/35

 Marketing: Demystified - "As an artist or arts organization, you have to be able to market your creative offering. Learn about marketing basics like market research, segmentation, positioning, distribution, and promotion of your creative offering."
http://www.fracturedatlas.org/u/courses/34

Presentation Venues - "This course on artistic venues is primarily geared towards visual artists and those working in a multidisciplinary nature. However, all artists can find some information to take away. We list the pros, cons, and how to research all kinds of spaces."
http://www.fracturedatlas.org/u/courses/39

Social Media Marketing for Arts Professionals - "This course will introduce social media marketing to those who are relatively unfamiliar with the subject. It’s friendly to those who are new to social media, marketing, or both. (But seasoned marketers who’d like to brush up are also welcome!)"
http://www.fracturedatlas.org/u/courses/41

All the Accounting You Need to Know - "In this course, you will gain an understanding of basic accounting principles — with minimal jargon — to prepare you to work with an automated accounting system (such as QuickBooks) for your artistic business."
http://www.fracturedatlas.org/u/courses/50

Personal Financial Planning for Artists - Peace, Love, and Financial Planning - "Using the case study method, we’ll go through a process, introduce some techniques and vocabulary, so that you can find the right way to become comfortable with this important topic."
http://www.fracturedatlas.org/u/courses/48

Independent Contractors vs Employees: What's the Difference - "Do you know what makes an employee different than an independent contractor? Did you know you can be charged back taxes if you misclassified the artists you pay? Learn the rules in this 70 minute video workshop!"
http://www.fracturedatlas.org/u/courses/52

The Fabric Collages of Wycliffe Lincoln Bennett

 

Angela by Wycliffe Lincoln Bennett

Wycliffe Lincoln Bennett creates textile collages on a base of either canvas or wood. His work is compelling, evocative and captivating. It immediately draws and holds the viewers eye.

Linc by Wycliffe Lincoln Bennett [self-portrait]

"To me an artist is someone who is gifted in being able

to express the feelings we all share.

If my art evokes a memory, changes a mood, captures an image

to which you can relate then I've done my job."

Wycliffe Lincoln Bennett

The Art of Linc Bennett - 5-minute video of the artist speaking about his work.

http://www.veoh.com/browse/videos/category/entertainment/watch/v6389580GaQG62pG

Linc's Art

http://lincsart.com/index.htm

Wycliffe "Linc" Bennett's Photo Page on Black Art In America - More examples of Linc's artwork.

http://www.blackartinamerica.com/photo/photo/listForContributor?screenName=3n9i9kwn5etit

Extreme Textile - Porcelain Clothing

Li Xiaofeng (who originally was trained as a muralist) sews porcelain ceramic shards from the Song, Ming, Yuan and Qing dynasties onto a leather base to create clothing which is actually wearable. Each shard is hand shaped and polished. Holes are then drilled into each corner and linked together using silver wire.

 Suit Jacket / Front View - Li Xiaofeng

Li Xiaofeng
http://www.designboom.com/weblog/cat/10/view/4585/li-xiaofeng.html

Porcelain Dress - Li Xiaofeng

Li Xiaofeng Porcelain Clothing
http://yagosweb.blogspot.com/2008/11/li-xiaofeng-porcelain-clothing-robes-et.html

Li Xiaofeng
http://www.hongart.net/?option=art&collectionid=6&single=true

Artist Li Xiaofeng Does Porcelain & Cotton Polos For Lacoste Holiday Collector's Series
http://ifitshipitshere.blogspot.com/2010/06/artist-li-xiaofeng-does-porcelain.html

Porcelain POLO shirt by Li Xiaofeng - Interview and closeups of artist at work
http://www.yatzer.com/2254_porcelain_polo_shirt_by_li_xiaofeng

Q&A with Ceramic Artist Li Xiaofeng - This interview provides additional insight into his thought and work processes

http://www.azuremagazine.com/newsviews/blog_content.php?id=1588

Li Xiaofeng
http://www.virginiamiller.com/artists/LiXiaofeng/LiXiaofeng.html#

The Silk Thangkas of Leslie Rinchen-Wongmo

Manjushri - Leslie Rinchen-Wongmo

Leslie Rinchen-Wongmo is a contemporary American textile artist working in a Tibetan tradition. In her fabric thangkas, sacred Buddhist images commonly portrayed in Tibetan thangka paintings are rendered in vivid mosaics of silk.

"Leslie is one of few non-Tibetans and probably the only Westerner

to be formally trained in this traditional art form."

Green Tara - Leslie Rinchen-Wongmo

How Silk Thangkas are Made - Leslie states that the Thangkas are "...a mosaic or patchwork of silk pieces outlined, cut, and arranged like a jigsaw puzzle to form a precise and intricate image."

http://www.silkthangka.com/the-tradition/technique

Creating Buddhas: The Making and Meaning of Fabric Thangkas - 3:07 YouTube video - this is the trailer for a documentary about Leslie's work
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlAk10Y72qw  
 
Leslie's Blog
http://silkthangka.com/blog/?p=927  

Textile Related Tutorials - Part 9

More tutorials to titillate and inspire those creative impulses...

Part 8       Part 7        Part 6       Part 5

Part 4       Part 3       Part 2        Part 1

Don't Have Photoshop? Use MS Publisher for Graphic Design - KweliArt
http://africanamericanfabrics.blogspot.com/2010/07/dont-have-photoshop-use-ms-publisher.html

Uploading Your Custom Background Image in Blogger - Loreen Leedy
http://studioloreen.blogspot.com/2010/08/uploading-your-custom-background-image.html

Innovative Use of Lutrador - Lesley Riley - vidcast with Bonnie McCaffery
http://bonniemccaffery.com/vidcasts/048.html

Lutrador Tips and Tricks: Transparency Transfer - Lesley Riley
http://www.lesleyriley.com/weblog/?p=27

TAP Transfers + Lutrador - Lesley Riley
http://www.lesleyriley.com/weblog/?p=26

DIY Bobbin Organizer - The Sassy Crafter - uses tubing from the hardware store
http://sassycrafter.blogspot.com/2010/07/diy-bobbin-organizer.html

Discharge Printing with Bubble Wrap - Lyric Montgomery Kinard - 3:50 minute vidcast
http://lyrickinard.blogspot.com/2010/07/tutorial-discharge-printing-with-bubble.html

Pojagi Machine Stitch Tutorial - Victoria Gertenbach
http://thesillyboodilly.blogspot.com/2010/07/pojagi-machine-stitch-seam-tutorial.html

Needle-Felting Tutorial - Jane LaFrazio
http://janeville.blogspot.com/2010/06/1.html

Shibori with Fabric Paint - Gloria Hansen
http://www.gloriahansen.com/weblog/?p=3887

Printing on Teabags - Judy Coates Perez
http://judyperez.blogspot.com/2010/06/tutorial-tsunami-day-4-wave-hits-shore.html

Sumi Smoosh with Vellum - Diana Trout
http://dianatrout.blogspot.com/2010/06/sumi-smoosh-tutorial.html

Screen Printing Registration without a Press - Amy
http://craftchi.com/blog/?p=1304

Rolling Pin Prints
http://craftchi.com/blog/?p=886

Machine Quilting Loopy Flowers - Elizabeth Hartman
http://www.ohfransson.com/oh_fransson/2010/06/machine-quilting-loopy-flowers.html

Choosing Photos for Citrasolv Transfer - Lyric Kinard
http://lyrickinard.blogspot.com/2010/06/tutorial-choosing-photos-for-citra-solv.html

Citrasolv Photo Transfer Tutorial - Lyric Kinard
http://lyrickinard.blogspot.com/2010/02/citrasolv-photo-transfer-tutorial.html

One Bead at a Time: Exploring Creativity with Bead Embroidery - Robin Atkins - 59 page free e-book
http://www.robinatkins.com/OneBeadAtATime_RAtkins.pdf

NOW-I-Get-It Stitching Diagrams - Jenny - detailed pictures and instructions for 7 basic stitches as well as diagrams for lefties
http://www.sublimestitching.com/stitches

Needle Weaving - Laura Wasilowski - "...the idea is to create a thread structure that screens or creates a mesh across the background fabric and sits on the surface as a bold texture. It acts as a grid pattern to emulated window panes or tile or even cobble stones on a small quilt..."
http://artfabrik.blogspot.com/2010/06/thread-u-cation-thursdays-needle.html

Thread-U-Cation - Laura Wasilowski is providing excellent and detailed instructions with pictures for a series of embroidery stictches.
Ermine Stitch
http://artfabrik.blogspot.com/2010/06/thread-u-cation-thursday-ermine-stitch.html
ZigZag Stitch
http://artfabrik.blogspot.com/2010/05/thread-u-cation-thursday-zigzag-stitch.html
Herringbone Stitch
http://artfabrik.blogspot.com/2010/05/thread-u-cation-thursday-herringbone.html
Wheat Ear Stitch
http://artfabrik.blogspot.com/2010/04/thread-u-cation-thursday-wheat-ear.html
Couching
http://artfabrik.blogspot.com/2010/04/thread-u-cation-thursday-couching-lets.html
Fern Stitch
http://artfabrik.blogspot.com/2010/04/thread-u-cation-thursday-fern-stitch.html
Lazy Daisy
http://artfabrik.blogspot.com/2010/03/thread-u-cation-thursday-lazy-daisy.html
Arrow Stitch
http://artfabrik.blogspot.com/2010/07/thread-u-cation-thursday-arrow-stitch.html
Chain Stitch
http://artfabrik.blogspot.com/2010/06/thread-u-cation-thursdays-chain-stitch.html
Sheaf Stitch
http://artfabrik.blogspot.com/2010/03/thread-u-cation-thursday-sheaf-stitch.html
Cross Stitch
http://artfabrik.blogspot.com/2010/03/thread-u-cation-thursday-cross-stitch.html
Blanket Stitch
http://artfabrik.blogspot.com/2010/03/thread-u-cation-thursday-blanket-stitch.html
Stem or Outline Stitch
http://artfabrik.blogspot.com/2010/02/thread-u-cation-thursday-stem-or.html
Fly Stitch
http://artfabrik.blogspot.com/2010/02/thread-u-cation-thursday-fly-stitch-fly.html
Scattered Seed Stitch
http://artfabrik.blogspot.com/2010/02/thread-u-cation-thursdays-scattered.html
Straight Stitch
http://artfabrik.blogspot.com/2010/02/thread-u-cation-thursdays-straight.html
French Knots
http://artfabrik.blogspot.com/2010/01/thread-u-cation-thursday-french-knots.html
T-Stitch
http://artfabrik.blogspot.com/2010/08/thread-u-cation-thursdays-t-stitch.html
Crown Stitch
http://artfabrik.blogspot.com/2010/08/thread-u-cation-thursdays-crown-stitch.html

Ten Commandments of Stitching A Fused Art Quilt - Laura Wasilowski
http://artfabrik.blogspot.com/2010/07/thread-u-cation-thursday-ten.html

Sinking Thread Ends - Kathleen Loomis
http://artwithaneedle.blogspot.com/2010/06/sinking-thread-ends.html

Decorative Needlework Dictionary - Jenny - detailed explanations with colored pictures
http://www.sublimestitching.com/glossary

How to Make a Melon Baller Eyeball - At first I saw no relevance, but upon thinking about it more, decided that this technique could be easily altered to add some interesting 3-D aspects to textile art.
http://www.instructables.com/id/How-To-Make-A-Melon-Baller-Eyeball/

How to Make Your Own Stamps - Judi Hurwitt
http://approachable-art.blogspot.com/2010/06/how-to-making-your-own-stamps.html

PDF Version
http://www.hummingford.net/StampMakingForTheTextileArtist.pdf

Advanced Crochet Chart
http://www.crochetmemories.com/crochet4.php

Gallery Hanging Tutorial - Judith Ferguson - Using foam core board
http://judysfiberart.blogspot.com/p/gallery-hanging-tutorial.html

Easy Rules for Hanging an Art Quilt Show - Leni Wiener
http://blog.leniwiener.com/?p=956

How to Make Lovely Fabric Flowers
http://www.simplyvintagegirl.com/blog/index.php/2010/05/29/tutorial-how-to-make-lovely-fabric-flowers

Fabric Peony Template
http://www.scribd.com/doc/30871747/Hof3-RF-FabricPeonyTemplate

Thread Delivery System - Dr. Bob of Superior Threads - 5-minute video - Your machine's Thread Delivery System and the important role it plays in having your machine operate correctly.
http://www.superiorthreads.com/videos/8-thread-delivery-system/

Texture Magic Videos - Superior Threads - videos - This is a series of 10 (or more) videos on how to work with Texture Magic
http://www.superiorthreads.com/shop/category/texture-magic-1/videos/

Painterly Terms and More - Wen Redmond - "...help for confusing or unknown terms."
http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=6509748266256496369&postID=1781943331438520162

Knowing Your Bobbin Mechanism - Ellen Anne Eddy
http://practicalthreadmagic.blogspot.com/2010/09/but-how-does-my-machine-work-knowing.html

Color Theory for Thread: Basic Shading for Embroidered Applique - Ellen Anne Eddy
http://practicalthreadmagic.blogspot.com/2010/07/color-theory-for-thread-basic-s

Make Fabric Prints with Tape - Jessica Jones
http://howaboutorange.blogspot.com/2010/08/make-fabric-prints-with-tape.html

Instant Rust!!! - Lois Jarvis
http://rust-tex.blogspot.com/2010/07/instant-rust.html

Discharge Printing with Bubble Wrap - Lyric Kinard
http://lyrickinard.blogspot.com/2010/07/tutorial-discharge-printing-with-bubble.html

Machine Quilting Loopy Flowers - Elizabeth Hartman
http://www.ohfransson.com/oh_fransson/2010/06/machine-quilting-loopy-flowers.html

Using Your Own Drawings in  Collage or Quilts - Jane LaFazio
http://janeville.blogspot.com/2010/04/tiny-tutorial-reusing-your-own-drawings.html

ArtFelt Instructions
http://www.itsartfelt.com/artfeltinstruction.pdf

Pictures - http://www.itsartfelt.com/index.html

Thread Reference Guide for Home Machines - Superior Threads
http://www.superiorthreads.com/media/docs/quickReferenceHome.pdf

Thread Reference Guide for Longarm Machines - Superior Threads
http://www.superiorthreads.com/media/docs/quickReferenceLongArm.pdf

The Jury Process - An Inside View

"What do people really think when they get your grant application?" - Artist at Large

This article is by a juror/panelist for the visual art grant applications of a regional Arts Council:
http://vercauteren.wordpress.com/2010/08/11/the-jury-process-an-inside-view/

Felt Alive: Sculptural Needle Felting by Kay Petal

"Li'l Mr. T - I Pity the Wool!" - Kay Petal

"Li'l Jay Leno" - Kay Petal

These are absolutely fascinating - and Kay has only been needle felting since 2007.

See more of her work (including some videos) at:
http://www.feltalive.com/