Prompts 2015 – 24 Hour Art-a-thon

Prompt 2 – Hour 3

October 24, 2015Rhonda Chase 3 Comments

Thank you for joining us on this spooky and exciting evening. While working on the original Creature Card Creation project I used some of the time to quantity, as best I could, what features and attributes equate to an end result. What makes an object or creature cute? What makes something Creepy? Admittedly these are not fool proof but certain generalities tend true.

For something to be creepy it helps to have human characteristics. Humanoid but just a little off. Something stretched, accentuated, and slightly off. For today’s project I’m going to be working with something that starts off a bit creepy. I received a variety of dummy heads used for training at a hair school. It’s just a head which is a little creepy on its own. Perhaps if I take the faces off and use them for something else I can push the creepiness factor. If I take the eyes out and decorate it in a Day of the Dead style it would be mildly creepy but the colors and designs would encourage it in a different direction. If I take the eyes out and paint it like a zombie it would train the creepiness (except for our desensitization towards zombies in general.)

These thoughts and considerations on creepiness are best exemplefied through the concept of “the uncanny valley.” Wikipedia-“The uncanny valley is a hypothesis in the field of aesthetics which holds that when features look and move almost, but not exactly, like natural beings, it causes a response of revulsion among some observers.” For more information and history visit: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uncanny_valley.

I was invited to a mask show at For Artsake Gallery in Newport, Oregon. In preparation for today I created a “mask” using three faces. You can watch a video of it in action on my instagram page. Today I’m going to see what faces I have left and make something similar if possible.

Join us on Facebook to see updates and talk to Rhonda Chase the artist while she works!

Working on my "mask" for an upcoming show in Newport Oregon. No sound. #mask #face #art #sculpture #flicker #halloween #rhondachase #candle #newportoregon

A video posted by Rhonda Chase (@chasescreatures) on Sep 27, 2015 at 2:58pm PDT

For my take on this prompt I plan on creating creepy Halloween decor. Some of you may have already seen the picture below as I posted it in the group as a sneak peek of a project I planned to do today. I will be using the items below to create creepy skulls. The skulls, cotton and liquid latex were all purchased on Amazon. In total I spent $36 on everything. My husband gave me the idea from one of the many Halloween videos he sent me. Below is the video. I plan on creating one that looks similar to the one created in the video and the other I plan to turn into a demon skull.

What’s creepier than worms with teeth? And this is one the whole family can get in on and enjoy! On my blog I have created a step by step photo tutorial with basic instructions and here I’ll give you a taste of some creepy creations I’ve been working on lately.

Creepy things are my favorite things. I especially like to add a little cute to my creep and make things that blur the lines between the two. Failing that, some super creepy paper dolls are never a bad idea.

Here is a video of Jonathan Coulton’s “Creepy Doll”. Am I the only one who doesn’t like old dolls and finds them creepy?? ~Melissa

Let the scares begin! Muahahahaha!!

October 24, 2015Melissa 3 Comments

Good morning all! This is Melissa and I will be your host during this prompt. Are you ready to begin a spooktacular art-a-thon? I know I am. If you haven’t already guessed the theme for this art-a-thon it is Halloween. I love Halloween. Its my favorite holiday. Probably because my favorite genre is horror.

Now on to the first prompt of the day.

Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is a Mexican holiday that honors the deceased. It is not only celebrated in Mexico but in other parts of the world too. It takes place November 1st and 2nd.

One thing that is very identifiable for the holiday is the calavera which is the representation of the human skull like in the sugar skulls which are made from sugar and colorfully colored with colored sugar, icing and foil but can also include representations of skeletons which may be dressed in clothing and doing everyday activities.

During the holiday family and friends decorate altars and cemeteries with the deceased’s favorite foods, drinks, personal items and sugar skulls. The altars and cemeteries are also decorated with marigolds which are believed to help guide the spirits to their altars because of its vibrant colors and scent. The most common marigold used is the African Marigold which is also known as the flower of the dead. Even though the holiday deals with the dead it is a very upbeat and joyous celebration.

So for this prompt you can create a piece that depicts the holiday or certain aspects of the holiday. As always though you can create whatever you want. The prompts and theme are just suggestions.

If you wish to decorate skulls I have created four templates that you can print out and decorate. You can click here or the image below to download them.

For this prompt I plan on creating a small calavera storage box. The skull is made out of paper clay which I created a few weeks ago since it took over two weeks to dry completely. The wooden flower box I purchased some time ago for another project that I then decided not to do. Unfortunately the flower box doesn’t look like a marigold so I am unsure yet if it will be painted in the marigold colors or in another color. This project will probably take the entire 2 hours.

It was partially painted for the other project that I decided not to do so that is not the color it will be.

When ever I am attempting a style I’m not familiar with I google images it. In this case you will come up with a number of face paints, drawings, decorations and photographs. Scrolling down the page look for designs and styles you find appealing and translate them into your piece. Notice the color pallets and contrast that highlight the style. Incorporate choice moments and use them as inspiration.

I’m fond of using make up and clothes catalogues as my base faces. I can draw on them and choose the most successful. If you make an atc sized window from cardboard or contact paper you can use it to choose your composition. Interacting with the side can have very positive effects. After cutting out the magazine I attach it to a sturdier paper or board.

As far as what to use to draw on this material, I suggest ink. Sharpies and sparkly colors work great. I’ve also heard nail polish is a great way to get bold vibrant colors or sparkles that don’t end up all over your work area.

I’ve already created some goodies and plan on following along with Melissa. I was born and raised in Las Cruces, New Mexico and in Denver, Colorado where I grew up seeing and being exposed to a lot of the visual traditions of the Day of the Dead. I’ve had to go back as an adult to learn about the reason for the holiday and traditions.

This little lady was made for Melissa as a gift and was inspired by some gorgeous artwork I saw on Pinterest. She is actually the direct combination of a couple of different really awesome sculptures and then, of course, my own inspirations… because everything is more fun with a bird on your head.

Day of the Dead is my second-favorite holiday. I find myself throwing sugar skulls, Monarch butterflies, and marigolds on something at least on a weekly basis. I’ve been wanting to make some more Skullbunnies, so I think I’ll take this opportunity to make it happen!

Here is a video of Marilyn Manson’s version of “This is Halloween” from The Nightmare Before Christmas special edition album, Nightmare Revisited. I prefer this version over the original. ~Melissa

Prompt 12 – Hour 23

March 22, 2015Ruth Hinman 1 Comment

Found Poetry – 6:00 – 8:00 a.m.

Its The Final Countdown! 😀

“Found poetry is a type of poetry created by taking words, phrases, and sometimes whole passages from other sources and reframing them as poetry by making changes in spacing and lines, or by adding or deleting text, thus imparting new meaning.” How nice of the wiki to define it this way… LOL

I’ve really personally struggled with this art form and finally found some examples of styles of found poetry that appeal to me!

The most popular method of creating found poetry right now is to find words still on a page of text from a book and black out or create art over and around the words not chosen, usually flowing down or across the page in a shape in the same order as they were originally presented as if the genius of the artist was simply waiting for this page and in meeting some sort of magic happened.

Google it and click “images” and you’ll find dozens of types and styles, mostly all circled words on a page.

Here is one that one of my co-hostesses created for me in a Round Robin journal we did together.

I suck at this entirely.

And then I found photos of collage pieces, and ransom note style poetry that leapt off the page all grungy and amazing… FINALLY… something that spoke to me personally and that excited me about this art form!

So I cut up a pile of words… all from a single page of text… and I selected the ones that I liked best. I’ve worked to replace them from text in different forms or sizes and shapes and I’ve otherwise altered the ones I have here.

And now they are my flow and my words. Not entirely unlike Dr. Seuss who first wrote the Cat in the Hat using only a list of 220 vocabulary words then being challenged to write a whole book using only 50 words, and turning out one of the most favorite children’s books of all time, Green Eggs and Ham.

No, I do not compare my art to the master of the wacky rhyme, I simply point out that limiting my list is as good as it gets, because I do not see poetry in words already published on a page until the page has been deconstructed again. Creativity is in part the finding of a way to express yourself regardless of your limitations. Particularly when they are your own.

I find poetry in the flow of things around me. And in words piled on a desk. Or in text here… maybe. Come on, if you’re out there and awake and hanging around… post some words in the comments here or on the Facebook group feed and let’s see what I can make of them with the time we have left after I complete this canvas.

Here is a poem written on the bus going home night after night past the same signs and advertisements until they formed a story in my mind… sometimes it isn’t so much that we find a poem as that we see that it has found us…

*hint: think beat poetry and read aloud*

I’ll take pictures for you of the piece of artwork I’m creating now as a close to this fantastic experience with everyone… please, if you’re not interested in finding poetry on a page the way that so many people are so beautifully capable, think in your mind of a poem that you could say you “found” inside yourself or from your life, or that found you from someone else’s experience… illustrate your poetry and tell the story of how you “found” it. Post it.

This piece of art will be one of the prizes offered up today, and it is a little different… because you can’t win it, you can only trade for it. You must trade it for the one YOU create.

NOTE: When wingeing to my co-hostesses that I was afraid I’d bomb this thing I got some exceptional advice that I would like to share. As a student in school Rhonda did a found poetry piece that was so good that her teacher featured it on the first page of the class poetry book. Her exact words, “Grab something and read it. Write down the most interesting words. Put them on individual small pieces of paper. Like tiny rectangles. Mix those up in something and drop some on the floor. Compose those into a sentence and continue until you are happy with the results. You will need to add a few connecting words. I prefer to keep those to a minimum, but use as needed.”

Beauty. I’ve asked her to share her poem in the feed below when she’s able to log in today.

Prompt 11 – Hour 21

March 22, 2015Ruth Hinman Leave a Comment

Something using yarn. 4:00 – 6:00 a.m.

Now we’re burning the midnight oil!

We are tasked in the wee hours with this great and fun challenge.

Make something from yarn. I’ll have been doing THAT for the past 20 hours, give or take. In one way or another. I’ve been sort of yarn addicted of late, so yarn is making its way into journal pages, jewelry, fashion accessories… kind of a little bit of everything.

Scarves, Sugar Skull Lolita Hair Comb, Star Purse, Serenity Garden Yarns, Quickie Arm Knitting Yarn and Sassy Cloth Yarn

I like to learn something new every day, I didn’t know I’d be learning something new at o’dark:30 in the morning and documenting it for you all… maybe this can be fun without the stress.

This is roving weight yarn made specifically for arm knitting by Lion brand yarns and the other two fabric yarns I’m using.

Here is the tutorial by Maggie Weldon that I used for my materials and will use for the pattern and the tutorial by Chandi of Expression Fiber Arts that I am actually following for my method, particularly on the cloth scarves I’ll be wearing to work since she is working with sari silk which also does not stretch.

I have not done any arm knitting yet… I have wanted to do some for about 4 weeks. I am going to document my journey and I’m secretly hoping that Alex (my insomniac son) is awake tonight just so that he can take pictures for you. I want to do a 5 minute time lapse for you from start to finish. Of both projects. And this is going to be harder if I have to try to stop, take a picture, upload it and then move on. MUCH easier if my cameraman does it for me!

The first project; a fluffy cowl that can be worn stretched over the shoulders and covering the chest and back or that can be pulled up to protect the head as well as neck and shoulders. Something soft and yummy for my most beloved Stephanie who loves “tu-prises”, particularly when they manage to come off as actual surprises! (are you surprised?)

The second project is the same as the first only not… NOT fluffy yarn… NOT stretchy and warm… made from cloth strips is for me, for wearing to work. Because I’m a big girl and finding pretty things long enough, or just wide or narrow enough, or in the right weights is sometimes more of a challenge than it is worth, and so sometimes we just have to make it for ourselves.

Pictures are incoming… watch the Facebook or Twitter feeds. You might just like what you see.

If there is time I will make the second work scarf by this method, since I bought two different patterns of the cloth yarn. I will also post the ingredients and “pattern” in the Facebook feed for those of you who adore the colors and prints as much as I did. Alex will also get a fashion shot or two for you if he is still awake, or I’ll do it myself and post them as selfies!

Prompt 10: illustrating from a poem

March 22, 2015Rhonda Chase 3 Comments

Welcome committed artisans and fans we are entering the final stretch. Those of you still awake have a chance to win a prize for staying up with us.

A lesser known fact about me (Rhonda Chase) is that I write Children’s stories and poems. I’ve always loved Dr Seuss and Shel Silverstein’s unique artwork paired with rhyme. I have started working with a company recently to help me get my drawings and poetry together for print. I would like to share with you the first one we are trying to tackle. (Thinking it to be easier than the longer stories.)

There are a couple of things we still need to work out for the story. I need some sketches and items for the title type pages and to figure out what is missing in the story. We feel like it needs one more line before the end…. What do you think the crayons do before they get put back into the box?

Here are some of the images I made to go with the story some years ago.

Crayons:

I spilled my crayons they rolled around the table.

Yellow stood up plainly with a happy prideful grin.
Planting itself squarely underneath my little chin.

Blue was speaking lightly in a very mellow tone.
Asking in it’s own way to be left a bit alone.

Orange kept on rolling tell it ran into a chair.
Pulling out a bandage for it’s wrapper had a tear.

Red was staring smugly at my little forest green.
Wanting him for herself to create a Christmas scene.

Green was watching fearfully about to run and hide.
Behind the salt and pepper, or maybe deep inside.

Pink began to promenade around Purple with glee.
Hoping she would be invited to a cup of tea.

Lifting each one gently, I placed my crayons back into their box.

Rhonda Chase

You are welcome to make a drawing about my story or any other you enjoy. What is your favorite story?
Here is one more poem to help inspire you:

The Cat

There was a little cat.
That sat and sat and sat.
Until his butt began to grow.
Because he sat upon it so.
He got off his rump to eat.
And fell back down upon his seat.
The little cat began to fear.
His rear had grown too large to steer.