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Friday, December 28, 2012

Holiday SMASHbook Travelogue for Saturday Crafts Fair on Linqto - Dec. 22, 2012


Last Saturday was another fun-filled day at the Saturday Crafts Fair on Linqto! The show was live from Chicago and full of holiday goodness. I packed up the webcam along with a recycled 1998 calendar, a baggy full of scraps and found objects, rubber stamps and some supplies... which I transformed into my very own "HOLIDAY SMASHbook Travelogue"

I showed how to make DIY tissue tape using Viva Las Vegastamps! and Miracle tape that appears in the "Season's Greetings" card on my book cover. I also had a very special guest demonstrator, too - DeeDee Catron of UmWow Studios. DeeDee showed how to make this fabulous library pocket with tag.


{in case you missed it - you can watch the playback}

The Saturday Crafts Fair is a weekly event. I invite you to please come on by next Saturday...the fun starts at 2pm EST!!! It's three hours of demos, prizes, and chatting with friends. Get ideas for cards and gifts; paper crafting, crafts for kids... creative projects for any budget and skill level. There are GIVEAWAYS, too - for lucky viewers present watching the live streams {you have to be present to win}. All streams are recorded so if you miss one, you can watch the playbacks at your leisure.

I have my own room called sbartist : daylight musings at the Saturday Craft Fair! My demos begin at 4pm EST {3pm CST / 1pm PST}. Here's the link to my room - 

I hope to see you there - have a fantastic FRIDAY! :) Sb

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Wacky ARTIST Wednesday {or Manic Artist Monday on a Wednesday} - Van Gogh



With the holidays hot on my heels, I don't seem to know what day it is - but I didn't want to wait until after the holidays to resume these fun posts. So welcome to "Manic Artist Monday" on a WACKY WEDNESDAY. This is where I share some interesting tidbits on some of the great masters in art history.

Today's selection is one of the most well known artists, Vincent van Gogh. Above is a photo of myself and my completed street painting reproduction of "Fishing Boats", 1888 by van Gogh. This was at the annual "Lake Worth Street Painting Festival" - which I have participated in for 15+ years. Painting in pastels on the asphalt is a challenge and I love to select paintings that are of the Impressionist era to immortalize on the pavement.

This dutch post-impressionist painted using bold strokes and colors. Vincent van Gogh was a master of capturing light - albeit day or night - especially of the night.


Starry Night Over the Rhone by Vincent van Gogh

Van Gogh is also one of the artists featured in the book "Secret Lives of Great Artists" - not only because he experience bouts of mental illness and died at the age of 37, which is quite young, but might have very well been as a result from eating paint from the tube. Vincent suffered from depression, some say schizophrenia, perhaps bi-polar disorder - yet his paintings capture his surroundings in bright, colorful detail with such passion and obsessive purpose - painting subjects such as wheat fields, and sunflowers over and over. His short artistic career only spanned about 10 years, starting out with bleak, dull-colored and somber subjects which evolved into vivid beautiful masterpieces; the most famous being "Starry, Starry, Night.




Van Gogh Museum as seen from the Museumplein.

I have traveled to the Netherlands which is the home of the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam. It's beautiful modern architecture sits adjacent and in stark contrast to the historical Rijks Museum; and contains a large collection of this masters work, his letters and works of his contemporaries.

Vincent went from one problem to the next, never seeming to catch a break. Most people know of van Gogh because of a single event - that he cut off a portion of his ear and presented it to a woman, a prostitute at a brothel. The series of events that transpired over the two days before Christmas of 1888, resulting in this stunt are only know by van Gogh and Paul Gauguin - and neither man ever spoke of it. They never met again.

Here's a few of my favorite quotes by Vincent van Gogh and these are quite profound.

"For my part I know nothing with any certainty,
but the sight of the stars makes me dream."

"I dream of painting, then I paint my dream."

"There is no blue without yellow and without orange. "

If you would like to know more about Vincent van Gogh, CLICK HERE to read his wikipedia entry.

I hope you find this interesting, intriguing and inspiring. In honor of the holidays the next two weeks, please look for my installments of Wacky Artist Wednesday {or MANIC ARTIST MONDAY on a Wednesday}. I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas! 
:) Sb

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

"All that Glitters" makes the Season BRIGHT!


From time to time I sign up for challenges - they are fun and they help get out of your creative comfort zone. I wanted to share my creations for the fourth challenge I was selected to participate in with May Arts Ribbon. They put out a call for a challenge and to play, you submit a proposal of your project - then cross your fingers to see if you are one of the lucky creatives chosen to play. There are about 20 chosen and the projects are so wonderful and unique!

The current May Arts challenge is "All That Glitters" A Christmas Craft Challenge. You can CLICK HERE to see all the submissions from the chosen players. If you leave a comment you will be entered to win a prize - ribbon from the "RIBBON LADY" herself!

This is the ribbon provided to use for the challenge. I chose to use some of all five!


(May Arts Ribbon used -> Green String: SJ15, Red Metallic Velvet: 377-38-14,




First I transformed a vintage candy cane cookie cutter into a gorgeous sparkling ornament. This sparkles and shimmers from every angle!


Second, I revamped this vintage snowman cookie cutter into an ornament that is as sparkly as Frosty the Snowman's personality.



Finally, this is a handmade paper tree made of collaged painted papers that is embellished with May Arts glittery goodness. 

If you would like to learn how to make this project, please join me this Saturday, December 15th at 4pm EST {1pm PST} at the fun-filled Saturday Crafts Fair on Linqto. Look for the question mark to enter the Daylight Musings Room!

Happy Wednesday! :) Sb

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Manic Artist Monday - Edgar Degas



Welcome to "Manic Artist Monday" where I will share some interesting tidbits on some of the great masters in art history. Today's selection is one of my most favorite artists, Edgar Degas. Above is a page in my art journal featuring a stenciled background painted with mists. The background is wonderful and goes perfectly with my favorite quote from one of the Masters...Edgar Degas!

Degas is referred to as one of the founders of Impressionism, though he rejected this and wanted to be called a REALIST. He studied the traditional methods of classical painters and he applied his masterful technical skill to his colorful paintings best known for capturing movement and private moments; exemplified in his works of bathers, ballet dancers and horse racing.


The Dance Class (La Classe de Danse),1873–1876, oil on canvas, by Edgar Degas

Edgar Degas is also one of the artists featured in the book "Secret Lives of Great Artists" - and several pages are dedicated to his dramatic life. He was one of the group of painters who rebelled against the Paris "Salon" exhibitions. He never married and it was quite the topic of speculation. He is quoted in saying, "What would I want a wife for...so I can come home after a long day at the studio to hear...'that's a nice painting, dear'..." I can totally relate. To an artist that could be as bad as hearing nails on a chalkboard. 

One woman seemed to be his companion, artist Mary Cassatt - though it was an on-again, off-again complex relationship. His biting commentary of her work would alienate her and she wouldn't speak with him for months, then eventually their painting collaboration would bring them back together again. I am a fan of both painters and it seems she was his mental equal and vice-versa.

If Degas was still around today, he would probably go delirious with our modern day fashions. He couldn't stand women who were past their prime, particularly those who insisted on dressing in clothing only appropriate for younger ladies, and he didn't have a problem scrutinizing them for it. I couldn't help but laugh out loud when I read this.

Here's a few of my favorite quotes by Degas - I think you might like these and have a little chuckle, too.


"In painting you must give the idea of the true by means of the false."

"Painting is easy when you don't know how, but very difficult when you do."

"Everyone has talent at twenty-five. The difficulty is to have it at fifty."


If you would like to know more about Edgar Degas, CLICK HERE to read his wikipedia entry.

I hope you find this interesting, intriguing and inspiring. I will feature another artist next week for the next installment MANIC ARTIST MONDAY. Have a great week! 
:) Sb

Monday, December 10, 2012

Saturday Crafts Fair December 8th Recap - Making a Two-Part Mold


Just wanted to share a brief recap of this weekend's Saturday Crafts Fair on Linqto! Saturday was the debut of the sbartist : daylight musings room where I shared my Viva Las VegaStamps! December Daily Altered Christmas Card spindle and how to make a two-part mold with Amazing Mold Putty.


The Saturday Crafts Fair is a 2 hour weekly event so come on by next Saturday...the fun starts at 3pm EST!!! Join me next Sat., December 15th at 4pm EST {1pm PST} in the sbartist : daylight musings room {look for the question mark)! I will be sharing a collaged paper tree that can double as a holiday card and be mailed in an envelope. Here's the link to my room - 





I hope to see you there! Have a great week :) Sb

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Drawings to be Immortalized in Rubber!

Good morning! I planned to post today with WOWW and be part of the fun - BUT - this will have to begin next week! I have some exciting news to share. I have two illustrations to be forever immortalized in rubber at Viva Las VegaStamps! This is so amazing to me because these will be for creatives to have and love. Pen and ink drawing is something I haven't done in quite some time and this opportunity has renewed my interest of drawing in pen and ink again. My old set of radiograph pens are delighted to see the light of day again.

I am a graphic artist specializing in the printing industry... and many moons ago one of my first jobs was as an illustrator. I worked there for about three years, and in that time I created thousands of images. I'm sure some are adorning walls in many homes as these were for the company "Historical Research Center". This company has kiosks in malls and places of destination, selling handmade heraldic items, family name histories and coat-of-arms printed on site. It was an amazing adventure working there, and every day was a learning experience. Heraldry takes you back in history and marks generations. Each family surname has a written description, with each color, pattern and image {called charges} on the coat-of-arms having meaning.

The first two drawings that will become stamps are a "PoliceBox" and "Dandelion" which are highlighted on the plates below.


 These are now available for pre-order


I'm so thrilled for this new "extension" of my creative talents and thanks for letting me share this with you. I can't wait to see what is created with these. Hope you have a fabulous day! 
Sb :)

Monday, December 3, 2012

Manic Artist Monday - Salvador Dali


Welcome to "Manic Artist Monday" where I will share some interesting tidbits on some of the great masters in art history. Today's selection was picked by my husband {who is not creatively inclined}. I explained to him my objective and I asked him who fit this description and without hesitation said "DALI". 

Above is an altered book page that I created for a round-robin in my local altered book club. I drew this portrait depicting a peeling head of Salvador Dali - a "TWIST" on how I envision Dali viewed the world through his Surrealist eyes. A pen and ink illustration set amonst the scenery from Dali's masterpiece, "Persistance of Memory" colored in Caran D'Ache Neopastel colors.


The inspiration for these posts is an interesting book that I picked up at the bookstore a while back entitled "Secret Lives of Great Artists" by Elizabeth Lunday. This quirky book is not your ordinary art history book - it has outrageous anecdotes and seamy tales of the great masters. I have written to the publisher about sharing excerpts from the book.

Salvador Dali, referred to by most as "Madman". Some would argue. Yes Dali was a man - am man who was "MAD". I don't think he was crazy - but he was pretty angry. You would be too if your parents brought you up as you were a sibling that had passed on and deprived of your identity and name you exactly the same. I love Salvador Dali, not only was he a visionary as a surrealist painter, extremely imaginative and he also was a showman and loved making a spectacle of himself in a grandiose fashion. His paintings are impeccably painted depicting futuristic subject matter that defies gravity and makes you stop and think.


I have read his diary "Salvador Dali : Diary of a Genius" and was captivated by how methodical he actually was. This book was based on a 10 year period and instruction was left for more diaries to be printed after a certain time after his death. I am waiting on the edge of my seat to read more. I have been to the Dali Museum once, but not as long as I would have liked. My husband is my travel adventure companion and is very open and receptive to the arts, but I won't bore him with an all day tour with the museum Docents. Very soon I'm planning a return visit with my BFF who also adores Dali so that we can get the full "Surreal" experience. 

I share a few of my favorite quotes by Dali - I think they are pretty profound and would be pretty great in my art journal, too.

"Intelligence without ambition is a bird without wings."

"Have no fear of perfection - you'll never reach it."

"Drawing is the honesty of the art. There is no possibility
of cheating. It is either good or bad."

If you would like to know more about Salvador Dali, CLICK HERE to read his wikipedia entry.

I hope you find this interesting, intriguing and inspiring. I will feature another artist next week for the next installment MANIC ARTIST MONDAY. Have a great week! 
:) Sb



Sunday, December 2, 2012

Spending today creating with Nathalie Kalbach...

As a new month begins and I embark on a new chapter of my creative adventure...I am cleansing my palette by taking some classes. I believe as an artist, it is an evolution and a product of one's experiences and lifelong learning. 

I love to learn and try other styles by other artists. This weekend I have the chance! Nathalie Kalbach is coming to the Sunshine state...YAY!!! I have been waiting for months for these classes. So I'm putting the top down on the MINI Cooper and taking a much needed creative road trip to Everything Scrapbook in Lake Worth, FL.

I'm so excited to learn some fun new stuff from one of my new creative friends who I have been following all year since her Creative Jump Start back at the beginning of 2012. 

Here is what I'll be doing...

First class...


I figure a new adventure deserves something TOTALLY out of the box for me - a self-portrait. Nathalie has been teaching this class all over the globe and has shared some works from her students on her blog. I haven't done a self-portrait since AP Portfolio class in high school so I'm looking forward to making a mixed-media masterpiece.

Then the Second class...


This class I could not resist! I am a BOOK NUT. I have been doing altered books for years and love it. This has sort of taken a backseat to all of the other creative stuff I've been doing lately. Many moons ago I took two altered book classes taught by Bev Brazelton, author of "Altered Books Workshop"... what I consider to be my altered books encyclopedia. This will be a fun re-introduction to working in my books again.

I've packed my toolkit, supplies, excitement and some snacks - and I'm off. I will share all about it later in the week. 

Have a creative day! Sb :)

Saturday, December 1, 2012

Holiday Tags with Crafting Leftovers for Saturday Crafts Fair Debut



Today was the debut of the Saturday Crafts Fair on Linqto! I was a guest demonstrator LIVE today in the Charity Wings Parlour making these fun and festive holiday tags using recycled goodies like chipboard boxes, ribbon and paper scraps.


The Saturday Crafts Fair is a new weekly event so come on by next Saturday...the fun starts at 3pm EST!!! Starting next Sat., December 8th - I will have my own room, sbartist : daylight musings at the Saturday Craft Fair! So plan on catching me creating weekly. I will announce the times early next week. Here's the link to my room - 





I hope to see you there! Have a great rest of the weekend :) Sb

Greencrafting Comes for Christmas... Join me for a Handmade Holiday Tag Demo Today!!!


Today is the debut of the Saturday Crafts Fair on Linqto! I will be demonstrating LIVE today in the Charity Wings Parlour in the 4pm EST hour making this and some other festive holiday tags using recycled goodies like chipboard boxes and junk mail. {in case you missed it - you can watch the playback...PLEASE CLICK HERE.}

For the debut - there will be prizes given away all day and a grand prize of an iPad! You have to be present to win...the fun starts at 3pm EST!!!



I also have a BIG announcement!!! Starting next Sat., December 8th - I will have my own room,  sbartist : daylight musings at the Saturday Craft Fair! So plan on catching me creating weekly. I will announce the times early next week.

Here's the link to my room - 


Linqto is pretty great - it's interactive, I can stream anytime and episodes are saved to watch at your leisure. But it's more fun live.

I hope to see you there! Off to raid my recycling bin... Sb :)

Friday, November 30, 2012

Daylight Musings... A New Beginning



Hello! I am starting a spin-off to my sbartist : painting in the dark page. Most of my creations are created in the wee hours when all is dark and quiet, but then there are times when I am creative in the LIGHT of day. These times are becoming more frequent - YAY - so in my twisted logic I decided that my daytime muse deserves her own space...

So I welcome you to this new blog sharing my creative daydreams...


by sbartist (Susan M. Brown) - mixed media artist and graphic designer.

Stay tuned for some exciting things to come :) Sb




"Art must be indescribable and inimitable..." – Pierre Auguste Renoir

Please Observe the Fine Print...

All Photos & Designs displayed on this blog are copyright ©2007-2018 Susan M. Brown/sbartist or the artist or company credited in the post. Please do not use images or designs without written permission...message all requests to sbartist1107 at yahoo {dot} com. Thank You & Think GREEN : )