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Say What?
The latest crusade over at Michelle Ward's GPP Street Team is to journal sayings and words used within your circle of family, friends etc..
I decided to journal some of the words my two munchkins have come up with, or used, over the few years they have been in my life. The list isn't long but there is room to add as they grow.
Around the photos are the names that I have or do call them.
I was really hononoured and touched by what Ro Bruhn said about me on her blog when she nominated me for a Thinking Blogger award. Thank You Ro. I know there are many blogs out there that make me think about things, and I know that people read my blog, it is just such an interesting feeling to actually think about people thinking about what I have written.
I now get to nominated 5 Blogs That Make Me Think, the nominees are...........
Michelle Ward - her art work has been an inspiration to me for a few years now. Always making me think of ways to push myself. Her generosity & kindness with her time & talent make me think of ways to be a better person. Some of her entries allow me to think of things I have not thought of before. Her second blog GPP Street Team is a great source of thinking matter in the challenges she puts out each month.
Misty Mawn - beautiful, inspiring artwork; a very gentle, caring, generous, earthy spirit; each outpouring on her blog always provides lots of food for thought. Another person that keeps me in check for striving to be a better person.
A little aside - both Misty & Michelle were very helpful in answering my emails when I was looking into, and then setting up my blog. A BIG thank you to both of them.
Sulea's Art Box - Some of her artwork is TRULY amazing. She has such a talent for capturing thoughts in her paintings. I have been so moved by some pieces I have asked her to sell them to me but alas to no avail.....maybe one day!
Penny Rabbit Art - Penny's art work is truly amazing. It provides inspiration and makes me think of ways to better the work I am producing, giving me an extra push.
LuLu's Bay - Probably quite a biased nomination as I have known Lynda for a few years, long before our blogs. I have had many indepth, thought provoking discussions with her and know her blog is only a small part of the amazingly talented and thought provoking woman that she is.
I was not sure on the rules for nomintaing people that I know have already received a nomination but I thought the spirit of this would be to nominate new people. There are many blogs out there that I like to visit and that make me think but the rules (see below) state that you can only nominate 5.
I feel 'safe' in giving a mention to some other blogs I consider to be ones that make me think as I know they have already been nominated.
Kristen Robinson - A treasure I have discovered through Michelle Wards GPP Street Team Crusade. Some of her posts that reflect her thoughts can at times mirror mine or add another dimension to what I was thinking. Others provide reflection or more food for thought.
Is There A Shadow - Julie is such a gentle soul. Her artwork is amazing and her range of talents is extraoridnary. Again all food for thought on how to better myself as an artist. Some of her other post provide interesting points of view and observations, giving me things to take away and think about.
Art Felt - my dear friend Megan who inspires me and makes me think every day.
So thank you to all these inspiring, thinking people, and thank you to the many more that I could not list but provide me with much thought, inspiration or entertainment.
I also think now is a good time to thank all my dear friends who give me plenty to think about on a daily basis. You help make me the person I am. XO
Here are the rules, should they decide to play:
Rules are easy:
1. If, and only if, you get tagged, write a post with links to 5 blogs that make you think,
2. Link to this post so that people can easily find the exact origin of the meme,
3. Optional: Proudly display the ‘Thinking Blogger Award’ with a link to the post that you wrote.
This is where it all started HERE
....Traci Bautista (from Cloth Paper Scissors Issue 3).
This is the 13th theme for our Altered Book Round Robin. I created these pages in Megan's Book.
First I did a background using various stamps and then stuck down torn bits of hand-died papertowels.
Added another stamp and a little stencilling. Then added the image (which is a gel medium transfer) and the lettering.
The photo above is coming off a little greener than the actual piece.
Assemblage 62mm x 98mm
There is often debate as to whether or not copying another artist work is OK.
Copying other Artist's work is something that has gone on for many years. Many of the works by the great masters have been copied by many a student. In doing so the student learns, and gets the feel for how the master painted. Looking at composition, perspective, colour, shapes and so much more. Whenever you look at this copied art, in most cases, there will be at least a trace or hint of the student. How can an artist create without putting some of themshelf into the piece.
The student takes what they learn and develops it further.
Some will go on to create pieces using skills & techniques learnt but not in the same style. Others will create within the same style of the master but make it their own.
Today in the world of Mix Media & Alternative/Altered Art, I believe the same to be true. Many Artists publish books, articles in magazines, do DVDs and teach. A student learning from these masters will copy as a way of learning, particularly from books/magazines and DVDs as it can often be easier to learn the skill/technique by copying. As the student creates more work the similarities learnt from the master/s may still be there but as they develop more and more of themself is put in to the art.
Some Artists 'complain' that there are more people doing art similar to theirs but isn't that part and 
parcel of the fact that if you teach or publish you will have people doing similar work, and the more you teach the more people you will have doing it. Again, the work produced will not be the Original Masters work, similar yes, but there will be traces of the person that made it.
I beleive copying is OK as long as that person does not copy exactly and then try to pass off the work as their own, or does not give credit to the original artist. In most cases it can be obvious to a viewer that 
the artist is in the same style of someone else.
For me there are times I see a piece of art that I really like and can't get it out of my mind. I need to produce it, often I start and then the piece never gets finished. Then there are other times when I am stuck creatively I will pull down one of my many beautiful eye-candy or how-to books and look for something that I like and do something similar...as warm up or a way to get the creative juices flowing. It is also fun to create in the style of some one else. This can give us a push out of our comfort zone, stretch us further as an artist.
