Scribble Town (ST): The world is your canvas!  Visual artist Andres Amador proves that to be true with his landscape art whose primary canvas currently is the beach.  After you read more about Andres I think you’ll be inspired to create with the earth and appreciate it for all its beautiful components that make it fresh, colorful and alive.

Andres Amador (AA): I call myself an Earthscape Artist, though this feels to more capture the heart of my pursuit- engaging the natural world at the landscape level using natural materials.

ST: I think Earthscape Artist encapsulates what you are doing and what the art is about!  Where are you and what are your days like?

AA: Currently I reside in an open-walled, safari-style tent on a family homestead farm outside Grass Valley, California. When I am not working on the farm, I am working on projects for clients and developing the next iterations of my art.

ST: You live and work with nature- both with sand and soil.  When did you start creating beach murals?

AA: I started in 2004. The idea came to me as I was studying crop circles and sacred geometry while on vacation in Hawaii. I was on the beach explaining concepts to a friend when, like a bolt from the blue, I saw what could be possible on the beach.

ST: Wow! I can imagine the blue bolt came straight out of those Hawaiian blue ocean waters! You never know how these ideas will volcano out from your imagination. When it comes to visualizing your projects, does the place inspire your style or is it the purpose of the drawing that takes precedence?

AA: In general the design is primary. However, there have been opportunities in which the shape or limitations of a location suggested a certain way to work with it. There have been rare moments in which a location inspired a design.

Currently, now that I am using a remote controlled aerial camera, I will have the opportunity to truly work with the landscape- to know what it looks like from vantage points higher than I have been able to see from before and to capture the imagery. This is the cutting edge of my art development and has me quite excited.

ST: It’s great to see how technology is advancing your artwork not only with documentation but also with accessibility.  I can really see how the cave and the rocks guided the flow of your design elements!  What other forms of creativity do you do?

AA: At the moment I am appreciating origami- its tough! I also love contact improvisation dance, in which I have been developing a signature style. Sculpture weaves in and out. Cooking is a major love. Many creative thoughts pass by me all the time, like butterflies flitting about. It feels as though I am capturing and expressing such a tiny percentage at any particular time. As my major expression at the moment is the earthscape art, many of my ideas turn towards pushing its boundaries. Often this means entirely new lines of creativity being born and adapted to the beach.

ST: For a person that has so many different creative interests, sometimes it’s also good to just put more attention to one project or medium. How do you start planning your projects?  Some have been very big productions requiring a lot of help from others! What is then your process for creating it on the beach?

AA: The main thing I do is somehow capture the idea- whether as a sketch, a written note, a phone message to myself, a recording- whatever I have on hand. For the past 10 years I carry with me practically all the time a pencil case with pencil, sharpener, and flash cards. I have found flashcards to work the best for me. With them I can do many sketches of ideas and make variations then later group them into categories and later still select a few that would make good candidates for being on the beach. I also carry an iPod touch, the kind with a camera. I use it for taking notes, for doing recordings, and most usually for taking quick photos of inspirational imagery.

If there is geometry to work out then I will use Illustrator on the computer as it makes the process, and being perfect, very easy (with the geometric designs perfection is important).

Once on the beach I will turn to a number of techniques. Often I am coming up with new ones to fit the needs of the design. In general though, the main thing I am working with is keeping a sense of what is happening around me while I work from the inside. Its an acquired skill, keeping it together. With the geometric is about knowing the steps I have set for myself. With the organic designs its about knowing the process I am engaging, which shifts according to the design. I am always learning more. Now that I am using an aerial camera, the scale can go even larger, which means that the lines that have generally been good enough now much be much much larger to be visible. So there’s a constant re-orienting. For me that’s part of the fun. There is no ‘way’ to do it. It’s a constant exploration.

Here’s a guide I made to create a geometric design,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

which became this:

Below is a photo of an organic design.

ST: I really like the impermanent aspect of your work. So much effort only to last for a short time. I wonder in what ways do you document your work (to make it permanent : ) ).

AA: Impermanence was not an aspect I was looking to engage when I started. But its the overwhelming feature of the artwork. Often as I am working on a piece it is being simultaneously washed away. I was being filmed recently and as I finished and the film crew was flying a camera up, a huge wave bit into the art- too soon! We had to redo the creation the next day (fortunately we had that option!). Prior to this art form I was doing large sculptural installations. I still have a garage full of my art. I can’t let it go! With the beach, I have no choice, which is refreshing   Of course I do take care to capture my creations and so am dealing with digital detritus(!)

If someone didn’t know how large my works were, the designs alone would not be so impressive. But knowing that so much effort went into something with such a short lifespan creates a different impact. Attention is given to the work and the reasoning behind it. Philosophically, the aspect of impermanence has had a big impact on me. In the end, our own existence is temporary. Nothing that is made will last forever. We subconsciously anchor ourselves to what we feel is solid in the world. We act as though the lives we live have stability to them. But that is an illusion. When upheavals in life happens we are reminded that the only thing we can count on is change.

It can seem as though making my paintings on the beach is a pointless act. But in reality, all acts are ‘pointless’ in that there is no inherent meaning. When we are able to stand tall and enthusiastically create from our hearts unencumbered by such concerns, aware that all our acts and achievements are but drops in the rain but engaging regardless, the offering becomes even more powerful, more poignant, more infectious. It doesn’t matter what we do- if it is done as an expression of love- that is its own validation and it is then a true offering to the world.

ST: Even if your beach murals have faded, they have made an impact on who has experienced them. Have you done collaborative beach murals with other artists?  I got an idea- what about collage beach murals?!  Your murals would be a perfect stage for a performance- instead of a curtain you can draw the next props to set the scene!

AA: I’ve done lots of collaboration. I love collaboration- the mixing up of ideas and abilities. At the moment I am collaborating with the director of the Santa Cruz Symphony. I am always open to interesting collaborations. And I have done performance within the artwork [see image below]. I look forward to other opportunities to do interesting things within the art I create.

Over the years the art has dictated the documentation. As I got more serious about the art, I had to get more serious about the recording of it. I’m working on the next iteration of that trend as I shop the next level of camera I wish to use. I recently did a memorial ceremony artwork [see image below] that had about 200 participants, which was very powerful.

ST: Please tell us more about your Playa Painting Workshops.  How can we get involved?

AA: I haven’t been as active with the workshops since I moved from the San Francisco bay Area. However I do work with groups and very much enjoy working with schools. I am also looking to do some very large creations for which I will be putting out calls for assistance. The best way to be involved with something I do is to join my facebook fan page:

ST: Thanks Andres for all your insight and inspiration!  Scribblers, here’s an activity Andres came up for you to start with your own Earthscape Art.  Click here to have a look.  See you by the shore!

Have you heard the phrase, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure?” Well, sometimes your own trash is your own treasure! Crafts that utilize recycled materials are not only good for the environment, but they can look surprisingly chic and unique. For unexpectedly elegant and super cool flower vases, try painting some old soda cans. These mini vases are so striking that several companies manufacture porcelain versions to buy; however, you can make your very own in hardly any time for hardly any money!

 

For this project, all you’ll need are empty soda cans and white spray paint. Really… that’s it!

 

Wash the cans out thoroughly and dry them off (you don’t want any soda residue left inside). If you’d like some of them crushed a bit to add dimension, simply do so with your hands. Next, take the cans outside and spray paint them. White paint gives the project a very clean, modern look—a great contrast with the recycled can—but feel free to use whatever color appeals to you. Cover them in two or three coats of paint and let dry.

 

Finally, fill them with water, put a flower in each, and display!

 

 

Image via Indulgy

Image via Two’s Company

 

Even without flowers, these cans make an eye-catching, unique sculpture set.

 

This simple craft is a great example of turning the ordinary into something extraordinary and a wonderful way to enhance your recycling.

 

When the weather is so gorgeous out, my favorite projects are those that combine art with spending time outdoors. Whether it’s something that can be completed outdoors or something that requires found materials from outside, count me in.

 

Today’s project falls in the latter category. Painting sticks is a fast, simple, and fun craft… and is a unique, pretty decoration for any room.

 

So for painted sticks, all you’ll need are… surprise… paint and sticks! A quick trip to the backyard or local park is all you need to get started. On the other hand, some people actually collect neat-looking sticks (for many years, I saved one with a weird eye hole from a hike when I was eight years old). If you already have a good handful of sticks you’d like something to do with, now’s the time to use them! If you don’t have any, just go for a walk and grab some! Look for various lengths and widths and avoid those that are too tiny or brittle to work with.

 Photo: Ginette Lapalme

Once you’ve got your sticks, wipe off any excess dirt with a cloth or damp paper towel (you don’t have to be too thorough). Depending on the look you’re aiming for, you could even sand your sticks down with sandpaper for a smoother surface. Personally, I like the rustic aesthetic. Let your sticks be bumpy—the charm of this project lies in the imperfections.

 

Now it’s time to start painting! Grab some paintbrushes and acrylic paint and decorate your sticks however you like. You can make your designs as intricate or simple as you choose. You could paint the whole stick or only a part of it. Use tons of bright colors or adhere to a limited color scheme. Have fun trying ideas out.

 Photo: Scandinavian Deko

Once your beautiful new creations have dried, one great way to show them off is to display them in a vase. It’s a bright, unexpected twist where one would normally expect to see flowers. You could also simply lay them on a shelf or mount them on a canvas to hang up.

 

What do you like to do your painting on? Do you tend to stick to canvas and paper or do you branch out sometimes? Have you tried other natural surfaces like wood or rock?

 Photo: Uploaded by

Call me crazy, but lately it seems like Q-tips and flowers are a crafting match made in heaven. Q-tips make a great, inexpensive alternative to paintbrushes, especially for little hands and their texture is perfect for creating beautiful dandelion paintings. They also present the perfect opportunity to show how what’s ordinary or even a nuisance to some can be beautiful to others.

Take dandelions—technically, they’re considered weeds, but both species (the yellow florets and the white seed heads) are so pretty. And how fun is it to make a wish on the white seed heads and blow on them so the little white fibers sail off into the wind? Well, when you do that, you’re actually just helping to spread the seeds and grow more weeds! But what’s pesky to some is beauty to others.

Q-tips don’t get a great wrap either. They’re a bathroom accessory that’s mostly used for make up or nail polish cleanup.  Q-tips aren’t often given much thought and are usually hidden in a drawer or dressed up in a glass dish. But these little guys can also make a great art tools. And when you combine them with dandelions, these two outcasts can make a beautiful painting.

To create your own dandelion painting, grab some Q-tips and white paint. Now, there’s a lot of room for interpretation here. You can either start with a blue piece of paper or take white paper or a canvas and paint it blue. You could paint a scene, such as grass or a field, or leave it plain. If you painted, wait for the background to dry thoroughly. Next grab a Q-tip and dip it in white paint. For a simpler interpretation, just start making dots. Create a cluster of dots for the flower’s base and then trail your dots off to represent the seedlings blowing away. Finally, add a black or green stem with paint, charcoal, or crayon… whatever you prefer. If you want to get a little bit fancier, you can use lines and dots to create your dandelions. Draw lines coming out of a central point to create a sphere and then add the dots to the end of your lines. This will give your dandelions a full, round look.

Photo: “Fly Away Dandelions,” Artsonia

There are no mistakes here. Experiment in making your dandelions however you like. As long as you have a Q-tip with white paint and a surface to paint it on, you’re over halfway there. It’s important to remember that the ordinary can be extraordinary and you have the power to make that transformation every day!

Photo: “Light Blue Wishes,” SVPPLY

Happy crafting and have a creative day!

Confession: I love magazines. When planning for a relaxing night in or getting ready to travel, I always run to the newsstand for a glossy or two. The problem is I end up with a stack… nay, a pile, of finished magazines at home that I don’t want to throw out, but probably will never open again. While simply recycling them all is viable option, why not make something creative with the colorful pages?

 

To create a unique kind of collage, gather your magazines (try 3), a canvas, scissors, and glue. The best part of this nifty project is you don’t have to cut out a million shapes, making a mess of scraps everywhere. Just roll and glue! Grab a colorful page, cut a straight line across so it’s the size you want, roll it up and glue it to the canvas. Once the whole surface is covered, you’ll have a cool, textured work of art.

photo: Pro Arts

For a cool variation, cut the magazine page into strips and roll them horizontally so they sit stoutly on the canvas, not long-ways. You might lose the color of the page once it’s rolled up, but you can always grab a marker and create your own color scheme.

Photo: Rag & Bone

Fun, right? Now when someone comments on my magazine hoarding, I can say I’m just collecting materials for an art project! Do you have any tips or crafts that involve recycled magazines or newspapers?

Amani and Mario Natescapes with Nate Williams!

Here’s what Nate said about the artistic collabo collage experience:

Amani looked at the collage “Liquidraw Paintscape #3″ and thought it would be a great place to create a narrative with the game character Mario. Amani describes her collage “Amani and Mario’s Natescape” as an adventure story of Mario, Luigi, and a band of polychromatic toad friends, on a heroic jourey through a Natescape; seeking to rescue Princess Peach. Princess Peach is Mario’s best friend and one true love.

Amani has recently renewed her appreciation of Mario, by playing real life re-enactments of Mario games with her mother, Rachel, sister, Mariah, and new friends Mike and Michael. I love Amani’s collage re-mix! She is a true scribble artist, collage adventurer, and visual DJ. Looking forward to seeing more collaged adventures.

Make your own Natescape by having a look at http://nate-art.com/#/gallery.  Choose a collage and let yourself go with the flow.  Thanks Nate for sharing with Scribble Blog!

Thanksgiving was great this year (as always)!  Loads of family, friends, food, laughter and then double gobble more of it!  The next day my family and I all went for a stroll through the park to digest our feast and we found all these fallen leaves on the ground.  I thought the branches would’ve been bare by now, but no, not yet!  We got lucky.  The fallen leaves looked like feathers to me so we had an idea to make them into Turkeys!

We glued on some googley eyes to make them extra silly, but I’m sure you can come up with something just as good without them. Oh, maybe a nut fallen from the tree?  What do you think?

I know Halloween just passed, but since I was on this kick of transforming fallen objects into artwork when I saw the stick I thought of a broom.  Put a flying lady on it and you have a witch!  What do you think a stick could turn into?  Anything is possible!  Please share with Scribble Blog your fallen object creations.

Thank you Thanksgiving for the fun, family, and more crafty ideas : )  Gobble.

Turkey Day is just around the corner! And how better to celebrate than with the mascot of Thanksgiving… the turkey! Here’s a fun, colorful, collage-tastic craft from A Girl and Glue Gun that just you or the whole family can enjoy!

 

Grab a stack of magazines, some cardstock (plain paper will also do the job), scissors, and glue.

 

On a white piece of paper, draw a simple outline of a turkey. Cut squares of cardstock and give some to each family member and let them pick a color (or a few) to be in charge of. You can make a color theme like autumn or rainbow.

 

Now everybody start cutting out magazine clips in their colors and cover the cardstock in them. Once all the squares are covered, cut them into the shape of feathers and one for the turkey’s body. Glue them down—start with feathers so they’re behind the body. You can use the cardstock scraps for details like feet, a beak, a wattle, and eyes.

 

And you’re all done—right in time for Thanksgiving. Now, no matter what you’re serving on Thursday, you’ll have the most stylish turkey on the block!

 

Photos via A Girl and a Glue Gun

Hi Scribblers,

While wandering through the internet, I stumbled across (of course, through StumbleUpon) this amazing image of a structure made entirely of glass bottles and mortar.

This scene is comprised of “junk” (one’s man’s garbage is another man’s treasure, right?) that was turned into art! It’s amazing how creative a person can be when they really put their minds to it! Tressa “Grandma” Prisbrey created a village of found objects on 1.3 acres of land which is now called “Bottle Village.”

Grandma was definitely waaaaay ahead of her time! Grandma died at the age of 92 in 1988. I’m sure at the time, people may have passed by thinking she was a crazy lady, and I’ll admit, a few things were a bit odd…

However, there is much to be appreciated in her work. She had a unique way of blending colors and shapes and maximizing the use of the sun to change the look of these wonderful creations!

See how the light passes through the bottles in the top image? Working with light and glass is a great way to explore your imagination and creativity! Have you ever seen beach glass? Beach glass is made from broken pieces of glass that have been tossed and turned in the ocean. The glass pieces then wash up on the shore with a slightly cloudy appearance. What can you craft with beach glass? How many colors of beach glass have you seen?

You can see more pictures of Grandma’s Bottle Village and learn more about her at Grandma Prisbrey’s Bottle Village

Hi Scribblers,

Check out this funky sculpture I came across in Denver.

This sculpture, by Jonathan Borofsky is truly compelling. Just seeing it up close really moved me- literally! I wanted to get up and dance with the sculpted dancers!

Jonathan Borofsky is a sculptor and print maker who lives and works in Maine. Borofsky uses bright colors and long lines  and tends to work with  the human form in his artwork. The bright colors really add a happy feeling to the art, and the white sculptures really leave more to the imagination- isn’t that fun?!

You can see more of Borofsky’s work on his website here.