Upcycled art--so neat!! Nicoletta de la Brown
Pages
Saturday, December 17, 2016
Tuesday, December 6, 2016
Monday, December 5, 2016
Friday, December 2, 2016
Tuesday, November 29, 2016
Monday, November 7, 2016
Saturday, November 5, 2016
Lansing Art Gallery Workshop
I joined fellow artist, Catherine Tonning-Popowich this afternoon at Lansing Art Gallery for a small workshop. We had three wonderful students from the Gallery's "Creative Haven" program at Haven House in East Lansing. Catherine showed us how to make teddy bear prints (WOW!) and gelli prints with acrylic paint. She also encouraged us to make our own sketchbooks from folded paper. Then I helped our young artists create collages. Look for a fabulous display of our students' creative endeavors in January, 2017, at the Gallery.
Friday, October 28, 2016
Tuesday, October 18, 2016
Starting an Art Collection for Yourself
I was asked by INVALUABLE, a commercial business, to share a blog post about collecting art. This is my opinion, as stated by an artist.
My area of interest is mixed media art and collage—I
utilize paper, fabric, ephemera, paint and pencil in my artwork, along with
glue, yarn, fiber and beads. As stated
on the Invaluable website, “Mixed
media art combines distinct mediums including painting, sculpture, and drawing
in order to create a new composition that eludes straightforward
categorization. Multi- or mixed media art can also utilize elements from other
arts such as literature, drama, or dance in creating an artwork, or incorporate
three-dimensional objects as an assemblage.”
To me this is the most
exciting area of creativity since basically anything is possible. Artists are only limited by their own
imagination. Consequently, I encourage
anyone who is interested in purchasing art for their own enjoyment to be open
minded and curious about mixed media.
Various styles are encompassed by the “mixed media” category, such as;
folk art, collage, assemblage, naïve art, art brut, art quilts, handmade books,
illustration, abstract art and more.
When thinking about starting to collect
art, it is best to view and appreciate it face to face. Gallery shows, regional art exhibitions, and
museum exhibitions are great ways to encounter art. Local art guilds/clubs, gallery owners and
museum curators may have suggestions for local active artists in your field of
interest. In Michigan, the state
supports the Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs which may offer suggestions
and referrals to artists. Museums may
provide leads for you too---i.e. Intuit:
the center for intuitive and outsider art in Chicago, or the American
Visionary Art Museum in Baltimore. Print magazines may provide inspiration and
leads---“Raw Vision,” “American Craft,” “Cloth Paper Scissors,” or “Somerset
Studio Magazine.” You can also find art online to collect, as offered by Invaluable.
I strongly encourage new collectors,
fresh on the scene, to follow your personal preferences when collecting
art. I encourage you to respond to your
gut (and eye) and follow your intuition to purchase art that grabs you, with its’
color, theme, material or technique.
These pieces that comprise your fresh and nascent collection will
sustain an enduring enthusiasm and excitement.
Over time, you will be able to reflect upon your aesthetic growth and
evolving taste.
Saturday, October 15, 2016
Detroit News Stitch Together 2016!
I had the most wonderful time at the Detroit News on Wednesday, October 5th for the third "Stitch Together" !!!! Jocelyn Brown HANDMADE was our gracious hostess for the afternoon--what a BLAST! Sixteen knitters and crocheters got to share projects, ideas, refreshments and fun! I shared my pattern for an easy knit cap and making "stuff" from recycled/upcycled papers. Of course, I was in heaven--and we were sitting in the Stevie Wonder room!
Friday, October 7, 2016
Sunday, October 2, 2016
Jane is Hosting a Contest!
I
am so happy to have one of my designs published in the Autumn, 2016, issue of “The
Coloring Studio” on page 47! This magazine
always contains numerous delightful coloring pages, as well as pertinent
articles for coloring enthusiasts. In
this particular issue there is helpful article on “How to Organize your
Coloring Tools” which I sorely need.
Other than page 47, my second favorite coloring page is on page 91, with
a whimsical floral playground by Kristen Robinson. Let me know if you also have personal picks
in this issue! Coloring Studio
To celebrate my good
fortune I am hosting a giveaway for one FREE copy of the Autumn, 2016, issue! To enter:
1. Send an email message to janereiter@sbcglobal.net, with “CS Autumn”
in the subject line and your name in the message area. 2. One entry per person and this contest is open to U.S. residents only.
3. One name will be selected at random—the
winner must provide a mailing address to receive prize. 4. The
winner will also receive a surprise gift from me. 5. Entry deadline is Monday, October 17,
2016, at 11:59PM.
Thank you for participating! Jane
Window Display for Day of the Dead
I had great fun yesterday putting up a window display for the Lansing Library, Capital Area District Libraries, at the corner of Kalamazoo & Capitol Avenues. The display is in the exterior window facing east and celebrates DIA DE LOS MUERTOS for the month of October! Please let me know what you think of it.Plus, the other three lobby windows are full of luscious, fabulous handmade lace. The Library is showing off lots and lots of beautiful handwork this month!
![]() |
Back view of shrine |
![]() |
Mini Prayer Flags |
![]() |
Frida Kahlo brooch |
Monday, September 26, 2016
Excellent Quilt Exhibition
I saw a wonderful art exhibit last Friday in Muskegon, MI! The quilts are gorgeous and the colors are fantastic! The show is up until November 6th--I highly recommend it if you have time. Circular Abstractions
Tuesday, September 20, 2016
This is a Long, Long Post!
From June 6-10, 2016, I attended a workshop, Abstract
Quilts in Solids, taught by Gwen Marston Gwen Marston. The Michigan
Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs Grants partially funded my participation with a Professional Development Minigrant of
$900.00. Madeline Island School of the
Arts MISA was the setting of the workshop, located in
Wisconsin on Lake Superior. My art goals
for the workshop included the potential for incorporating ideas from my mixed
media collage into sewn fabric constructions.
Plus, I had attended a one-day quilt workshop with Gwen in 2014 and
loved her teaching style.
The trek to Madeline Island meant driving
myself to Marquette, Michigan, on the 4th, continuing on to Madeline
Island on the 5th. MISA
hosted a wine and cheese reception in the late Sunday afternoon to meet fellow
students and the two resident instructors.
I shared a comfortable suite with one of the writing workshop students,
who was delightful. Classes were held, 9AM-4PM,
Monday-Thursday, while we finished up about 3pm on Friday. Then I drove to
Marquette and stayed overnight before returning to Lansing on Saturday
afternoon.
Gwen graciously shared her extensive
knowledge of quilt construction and history, piecing techniques, and Beaver
Island human interest stories. Each morning she would demonstrate concepts and
processes; such as spikes, stars, inserts, triangles, bindings, log cabins,
making bias tape. She encouraged us (thirteen students) to use
solid colors in order to emphasize the fundamental shapes and colors
involved. She provided an extensive
collection of her own samples and quilts to illustrate and expand on the instructions.
She stressed experimentation, freedom of expression, individual exploration and
enjoying your work. Her liberated style
of quiltmaking embraced a lack of patterns and perfection. I benefited greatly from creating various
small fabric pieces as examples of Gwen’s teachings. The workshop oozed with creativity,
inspiration and joy!
I am incredibly lucky to have participated in
Gwen’s workshop—2016 is her final year of teaching before retirement. This most special experience will provide creative
fodder for a long time. MISA is a gorgeous environment with friendly,
helpful staff and beautiful accomodations. I appreciate the gift of the
Professional Development Minigrant enabling learning so much at Abstract
Quilts in Solids!
![]() |
Inserted lines |
![]() |
THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
![]() |
Bias tape and ric rac |
![]() |
Close up view |
![]() |
Pieced and quilted and bound |
![]() |
Detail of stitching |
![]() |
Liberated log cabin |
![]() |
SPIKY! |
![]() |
I learned about the Snowball pattern (top row) |
![]() |
Happy Star! |
Sort of a Rose? |
![]() |
Oh !?? Gary didn't go to MISA... |
![]() |
Gary loves quilts... |
I had a fun tablemate, Maureen! |
![]() |
She's outstanding in her field... |
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)