Art Supplies

So I don't buy art supplies.  What did you say.  Well, that is the general rule.  There is always exceptions to the rule but that's the rule.  It challenges me.  I have to think about how I can make that or get that effect with what I have (which is a lot) or buy it used.
There is a lot out there and once you start looking people want to give you stuff.   Yep people will give you supplies, art supplies.  Will they be newest and cleanest of supplies, maybe not but learning to work with what you have is very rewarding and great for the environment.

Sourcing things that are in abundance is also a great practice.  

It is hard to let stuff go, aka recycle it.  I feel like everything has at least one more life to live as ART.

NEW Work: Smush Series and Fun

Smush Series 

Here is a taste of the Smush Series.  I am finishing up about 30+ in this series. they are approx. 5x7 inches on illustration board.  Made with monoprinting, squirting, squishing and plain old painting.

 Fun

Things that I save...

I save (and use in my art) glue dots and tape.  Glue dots or bugger glue as I recently heard it called comes on all kinds of things; cards, meat trays.  I removing it from its source and sticking it on wax like paper for reuse in the future.  I use it just like glue or tape.  Love old tape also.  Hehe, I have a tape wall.  I take the used tape and if it still has tack apply it to my tape wall.   I have stuck it on a board before for easy portability and convenience.  Reference the tape wall when you need a piece.  I have a wide variety of different types and colors all because I am sourcing it.

So I have a love/hate relationship with plastic bags.  Okay I really just hate them but they are everywhere and are very useful.  I have a box dedicated for used plastic bags, clean of course.  Most products come in plastic, look how the bag opens. Open carefully or cut a clean edge if it tears.  I like the soft plastic the best as opposed to the crinkly kind.  I keep all sizes and store artwork in them, give work safely to customers or even use as a gluing surface.  Works perfectly after gluing to keep the area clean and will not stick or damage areas if glue seeps out.  Once you start looking for the bags they are everywhere.  Designating a box to store them in, keeps it organized and easily accessible.

Both picture are available on my etsy site here and here.

Workshop Schedule at Plaza Artist Material 9-13 to 1-14

My workshop schedule at Plaza Artist Materials from September to January 2014.  Go to Plaza to find out more about other classes and supplies.  All of my classes are based off of REuse and are fun and
informative.  Please contact me for questions or to register at artandrecycling@gmail.com

So check em out....

Make a Journal out of Recycled Material

September 14th 2013

10:00- 3:00

$40.00

We will reproduce a classic hard cover journal, a sturdy thread-bound book perfect for jotting notes down or sketching in.  Students will choose between the pocket size 3.5x5.5 and the large 5x8.25, learning the construction of the book from beginning to end.  We will work with repurposed material, making our book as sustainable as possible.

Make your own Stickers!

October 19th 2013

1:00-2:00

$10.00

Ever wanted to get a message across and didn’t know how.  Well this class is for you.  Make your own message on a repurposed sticker.   I collect sticky paper, left over labels, packaging stickers and other sticky odds and ends, transform them into my own completely original stickers with a little paint and letraset letters.  The discarded sticker paper is sized and primed, all ready to receive your message.  Letraset is a dry rub transfer popular before computers became widespread, mainly used in architectural and product design projects.  Learn how to say anything that pops up in your head by burnishing the letraset on to the sticker paper.  Make as many as you can in an hour.  Anyone can do it and is fun for everyone.

Paper Mache Ghouls and Ghost Piñata                 

October 6th 2013

1:00-4:00

$40.00

Just in time for Halloween, build your own ghoul or ghost.  Learn how to construct paper Mache piñatas that the whole family can enjoy.  We will work with plaster gauze and recycled newspaper to build your own holiday candy producing fun.  Great for the whole family, children must be accompanied by adult.

Christmas Card Making

November 23rd 2013

12:00-3:00

$40.00

Design and make all your Christmas cards in this class.  I will teach you how to use long strips of paper repurposed from printers cut offs to easily make multiplies of a design. Using paint and recycled paper we can create cards that will wow your friends and family.  Learn to easily fold 8.5x11 paper into a blank card to fill with words of cheer. 

Decorative Frame           

December 7th 2012

12:00-3:00

$40.00

Build a fun eclectic picture frame out of old magazines and a thrift store frame.  Colorful and environmentally friendly, the rolling and applying of magazines creates a fun surface that can jazz up any dull looking frame.  Everyone will take home a completed frame.   All supplies provided.

Create your own stamps with Speedball Speedy Carve

January 11th 2014

12:00-3:00

$35.00

Whether you’ve never carved a stamp before, or simply want to improve your skills, this class is for you! I’ll show you just how easy it is to carve exactly what you want, with great results, in no time at all. You will leave class with a collection of totally unique stamps carved by you!  Please bring Speedball Lino cutter with multiple blades.

Repeat students receive a 25% discount.

To register, contact Courtney at 615-444-0935 or email artandrecycling@gmail.com

Check out more of my work at www.courtneyadairjohnson.com

Wanting to start a 6 week class on Mixed Media and Experimental Abstracts all based around Reuse.  If interested message me.  Trying to get students together.  This will be a fun exploratory classes with lots of fun tricks to try and experiment with.  Students will supply their own paint but plenty of reuse to share.  Once I get a count on students we will determine a day and start date. 

Back to the grind

I like this grind.  I painted this morning after running errands.  My phone went swimming in a creek.  Fixed that by going to two different stores and then the phone just decided it was fine.  Thanks phone, sorry I dropped you.  

Painted went well.  None of these are from this morning, teehehe just thought I would share.  One thing I didn't get done was photographing today.  I worked on my Smush Series and am now adding letraset to books.  Letraset is awesome.  It is transfer lettering that you burnish into place.  I have a bunch of old fonts, all different sizes, even colors.  The cars in the first picture are letraset.  They were used before computers took over, ahhh.  Will share some more soon.  Learning to have fun and not stress the little stuff.  

Make some art!  Oh and reuse in the process.  No new material was harmed here.  Next couple of post will be about how to add reuse into your art practice. 

REuse and REmake

I stopped buying art supplies in April 2008.  I started working in an art supply store in May 2006 to present day.  I had always been confused with my love of art and my love for earth.  We do not need more stuff on this place we call earth.  There is so much stuff, consumption and waste going on that I didn't want to add to that.  I wanted to create but some how create without adding to our already taxed planet.  Working in art supplies, as in any retail atmosphere I saw all the packaging material that is involved with the new products.  Things literally come packaged 5 to 6 times before they reach you and get used.  I saw all this packing and saw free supplies.  That began my career in REuse.

Workin It

So I have been working on larger pieces than normal.  I normally work small like 4x6 inches, some times 8x10 inches rarely over 16x20 inches.  I have been painting on abandoned credit cards, they are like 2x3.5 inches. So super small.  As a reuse artist I work on what is available.  I enjoy working small because I can work on multiples and move them around easily plus less paint.

Well, I have been working with Nashville the TV show and they have been taking my work and blowing it up.  Printing the small pieces 4x6 inches up to a 4x6 ft or larger.  Cool but not REuse, but makes the art more excess able for the public and I can work on getting my mission out, REuse.

So to the work.  I painted on a 4x6 ft printed canvas and a 20x35 inch plexiglass for demos for Nashville's set.  I do have large canvas that need to be reused so maybe some large canvases in the works.  Can't buy new paint thou, so better use it sparingly.  What colors do you think they have used at habitat for humanity?  More paint and a bit more mess too.

 This is after a few layers of paint, I will have to take a picture of what it looked like originally.  Originally it was a piece in my Smush Series and is paint on illustration board at 5x6.  This painting is a print of the original on slick canvas with lots of paint now!

  

Plexi!!!!  I like this one and had fun doing it. 

This is what the large one is turning into.  I did a little more on it after I took this picture.  I like the plexiglass one better so that means this one is not done.  Needs a punch.  I was bored with it before and the bird came out.  With a bloody mouth.  Sort of need more blood.