Frame decorating workshop

I am running the second part of a workshop tomorrow, this one will focus on using book, maps, magazines, newspapers and papers to decorate a frame.

I have been prepping for it over the last day or two, and here is the frame I came up with, where I tried out a few different techniques. Mainly ones I had saved on Pinterest and hadn't gotten round to having a go at. I was surprised how easy most of them were. I normally spend most of my time creating artwork digitally, so it is so nice and relaxing to make something by hand.

New flavours!

I have added 2 new flavours to the papertoy cupcake range; blackberry and chocolate. If you want to have a go at making them yourself head to my website to download them for FREE what flavour would you like to see next?

New Installation 'An Art Graduate'

Recently I have been putting more of a focus on my more illustrational and I suppose in a way more straight forward work. This is partly because I do really enjoy this side of my work, and I have had great fun improving my skills on Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator. However, it is also because illustrational work is easier to do than my installation work, as I easily have all the tools to hand to create it, whereas for an installation I need the space to show it.

My 'other' side is still working away, coming up with new ideas, but I often don't have the means to see them come to fruition. So I introduce to you some photos of a piece I did called 'An Art Graduate'.

This piece was borne out of my frustration at the job situation for university graduates (including me). Each boat is made from a store receipt from the shop I work in part time, to fund my artwork, and pay the bills! The act of making the receipts into boats is a reflection of the monotonous, repetitive nature of the work. Also boats are a metaphor for the journey after graduating, which can be a difficult and long one.


I felt the snow created a beautiful, but bleak backdrop for the boats. I took photos of the piece over several days to document the pieces own journey.


Below is a sample of the photos I took:

After more snow

And after the thaw

Boat mush!

Really cool installation!

Keep coming across really inspiring stuff on the internet recently.
Read about an amazing installation that was created for a fashion show. A vacant factory was transformed by using magazines, that otherwise would have been thrown out. The designers of the space used the fairly simple modes of construction to create pieces that when completed look very complex and impressive.

A low wall was constructed in a space, by using rolled up magazines, to define one of the areas.

And the method of folding often used by children to create 'Fortune Tellers' was employed as a building block for a magnificent curtain on the runway, that the models walked through. These blocks were layered and stitched together, and as a whole unit they have a huge visual impact

The same folding technique was also used to make the lampshades

More info on this project can be found at http://growingupcreative.typepad.com/tali_buchler/read-art-installation.html

This project was created from a designer angle, but as an artist who has created installations using card and paper in the past, I find this really inspiring. I especially love that the materials used were recycled. In this day and age it is important for all of us to be aware of the materials we use and throw away, and I think it is great that something so beautiful was created our of essentially rubbish! It's making me re-think the paper I put aside for recycling. Now I'm wanting to keep every single bit of junk mail just in case it comes in handy! Though I think my husband might have something to say about that!

Awesome Book!

Just thought I'd share with you one of the amazing books that I got for Christmas.

This book is just so inspirational! Some of the artwork that graces the pages is just outstanding. A few examples are the work of Brian Dettmer.

His work is just so amazingly intricate, carved into pages of old books. Through the work of his skilled hands the books come to life and take on new meanings.

New Universal

Compare this with the bright, striking, geometric forms of jen stark's pieces. They use the most simplest of materials, but are so cleverly constructed, so that the flat piece of paper becomes something dynamic and hypnotic:

Coriolis Effect

and ofcourse how could a book on papercraft be complete without an entry on the wonderful Peter Callesen?! Once again, his pieces are so delicate, and complex, but simplistic at the same time, always using white paper, so as not to detract from his wonderful craftsmanship. They often darkly humorous and invert ideas. I have had the delight of seeing one of his pieces (Dead Angels) at The New Art Gallery Walsall.

cowboy

Dead Angels

This book was just a perfect present for me, as since the last year of my BA studies in 2008, I have become increasingly interested in using paper as an art form. This book has most definitely fueled that interest! Much of the work is just so playful and innovative.