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Posted on 4/5/2023 10:09:00 PM
By Susan Gainen
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Purple Mosaic Parrot
Yes. I know that its 30 degrees (17 with the wind chill) but Summer 2023 Art Events are on the calendar.
Saint Paul Art Crawl, April 14-16, House of heART, 763 Holly Ave, St. Paul
Art-a-Whirl, May 19-21, Broken Clock Brewery, 1712 Marshall St. NW, Mpls
Art in the Hollow, June 3, Swede Hollow, St. Paul
Powderhorn Art Fair, August 5-6, Powderhorn Park, Mpls
Saint Paul Saints Art in the Park, Aug 13 & 30, Sept 7 & 20
SAINT PAUL ART CRAWL April 14-16 at the Amazing House of heART 2 in Saint Paul. This is an Airb&b that's fully decorated with the work of 26 local artists. It's a wonderful and welcoming place. Find me on the first floor in the Dining Room. I'll have a full array of Creatures and Abstracts, new cards, small framed works, ornament creatures and magnets. Friday (6-10); Saturday (12-8); Sunday 12-5).
ART-A-WHIRL 2023 May 19-21, at the Broken Clock Brewery in Minneapolis. Brew and art by the river. New Whimsical Creatures including Climate Warrior Curlews and the Flamboyance of Flamingos will be ready to charm you. The Fantasy Fibonacci Collective will challenge you. Friday (5-10); Saturday (12-8); Sunday (12-5).
ART IN THE HOLLOW June 3, Swede Hollow, Saint Paul. Swede Hollow is a magical space in Saint Paul. Tucked in the neighborhoods under a freeway (really). I'm excited to be outdoors under a tent. Fresh air and lots of fun. (10-5).
POWDERHORN ART FAIR, August 5 & 6, Powderhorn Park, Minneapolis. I'll be with my pals from The Art Shoppe at Midtown Global Market.
Saint Paul Saints Art in the Park, CHS Field, Lowertown Saint Paul. I'll have art that you can take home easily. I learned long ago that it's hard to pack at GIANT PAINTING into a backpack.
Posted on 1/22/2023 1:25:00 PM
By Susan Gainen
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Purple Paper Mosaic Parrot
Regardless of the art that you make --- painting, writing and making music, cooking, writing, sculpting, etc. -- Filling in the Blank is your imperative.
We all start with a blank page. Our challenge and joy is to make marks that make us happy. "Happy" can be defined as learning and teaching, exploring, contemplating, working with new tools and techniques, or collaborating with new and unexpected folks (not limited to self-defined "artists").
"Happy" can (and probably should) include making mistakes and celebrating happy accidents.
How you deal with your art mistakes can open unexpected doors. Ten years ago, I realized that watercolorists unhappy with their work can cut up the paintings to make mosaics such as my good friend, The Purple Paper Mosaic Parrot. I spent a year making paper mosaics and still love them.
Cave Walls and Golden "Fern Feet"
When creating the first cave walls for the Lost Cave Paintings of Saint Paul, I dropped some Golden High Flow Acrylic onto wet white gesso and was shocked at the little fern feet that appeared. Thinking that I'd bought a bad bottle, in a panic, I called Bonnie Cutts, then Golden's Resident Artist in Minnesota. She laughed and said "Golden calls that 'bloom,' and it's fine." The little fern feet joined my art-technique-tool-box.
Cooks, Writers, and Molten Makers
Dissatisfied cooks work wonders with leftovers. Recipe developers just keep going. Writers delete and cut-and-paste to make work better. I'm not clear on the science, but I suspect that artists working with molten materials (glass, metal) can toss their duds back onto the fire and start again.
Your joy and collateral benefit.
That others may find meaning or joy in your work is a collateral benefit—but not always the point. #artfun
Posted on 8/22/2022 12:31:04 PM
By Susan Gainen
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Purple Paper Mosaic Parrot
The Purple Paper Mosaic Parrot answers some questions that you may have:
1. What do watercolor artists do with paintings that they don't like? They cut them up and make mosaics.
2. Can I do this at home? With small children? Yes, and Yes, if they are scissor-safe.
3. How do I do it?
A. Gather old paintings, and cut them into small shapes that you like. It's a good idea to separate the colors. OR
B. No handy paintings? Get heavy artist paper (300# is best), acrylic paints and mediums. Splodge the paints and mediums onto the paper, creating colors and textures to your heart's content. Wait for all of this to dry. Then, cut the sheets into small shapes.
C. Find a substrate. You can use anything that will take the weight of the pieces, the glues that you'll use, and the acrylic medium that will cover everything to make it shiny (if you like shiny).
D. What should I use for "grout?" Acrylic paint or acrylic mediums: anything that the tiny shapes will stick to.
