Vintage Image Freebies

I was just browsing through my collection of vintage images this morning and thought I would share a few here on my blog. Feel free to use these images in your art, but please do not reproduce them in the form of collage sheets or CDs for resale.

Most of these images were from a local antique shop...actually they were stuck in a frame my MIL purchased. She knew I'd put them to good use.

This one I call "Picture Day"...and this little girl is definitely not happy about it!

Don't you just love the intricate chair that this baby is precariously perched in? Oh and that gown has to be one of the longest I've ever seen...lol!

"Sisters with enormous bows"

Meet the most beautiful little boy ever.

Hope you enjoy the pictures!
~Alisa

A house for ozbushfireappeal

If you've not heard by now, there is an amazing etsy shop out there that was set up in response to the Australian Bushfire Tragedy. Artists and craftspeople from around the globe have donated items for sale with all proceeds benefiting the Austrailian Red Cross. So, when I was approached to donate an altered house for the cause, how could I say no?

My house measures approx. 8" tall by 6" wide by 1.5" deep and is weighted down so it stands freely on its own. I'll have to admit that I'm not really comfortable working in 3-d, so this was a little bit of a challenge for me. But, I'm really happy with the way it turned out. I covered the house with vintage ledger paper, collaged a few other vintage elements onto the front (illustrations for a children's book, sheet music), then added a transferred image of two little girls dressed up in their mothers' clothing, clinging tight to their babies. The piece is embellished with black thread, buttons and fabric. "Playing House" will be offered for $45 in the ozbushfireappeal shop.

All items listed have free international shipping, so if you're look for supplies, art, you name it... please visit the ozbushfireappeal shop and know that your money will go to those who need it most. I did a little shopping myself...of course I don't NEED any more vintage paper, but how could I resist? I bought this fun paper pack donated by TheCupboard.etsy.com...I can't wait until it arrives.

So far ozbushfireappeal has raised around $13,500 Australian!!!Truly Fantastic! The shop will stop accepting donations on Monday 23rd February, but will remain open until 31st March 2009.

I urge you to get involved if at all possible!

~Alisa

Thank you, Nancy!

This week has been a whirlwind to say the least. It started off well enough, but by Wednesday it had dramatically veered off-course and by Thursday, things couldn't get much worse. That's when I noticed that I'd received an unexpected package in the mail from a dear friend and very talented collage artist, Nancy Lefko. In that package I found an amazing little collage that I had been admiring in her etsy shop. It says "Bee Happy" and was exactly what I needed to lift my spirits from an otherwise very depressing week. I plan to pick up a frame tomorrow (with my 50% off president's day Michaels coupon) for this lovely little piece so I can find it a permanent home on my studio wall.



Be sure to first Nancy's etsy shop and blog to see some of her wonderful collage work.

Thank you, Nancy for your kindness and generosity! I'll treasure this collage for many years to come!

~Alisa

New work and fun with image transfers

I finally finished another new piece...yippee! I’ve been trying to use more color in my work, and to my surprise, hubby actually said this is his favorite piece so far. My color experimentation must have been successful this time around, although I still hate using yellow…lol. I've still got two more canvases to finish up (remeber that wip post a couple weeks ago?)...they are coming along albeit very slowly.

The World is your Stage measures 8”x10” and was done on gallery wrapped canvas. To create the piece I used scrapbook paper, vintage papers, acrylic paint, a photocopy of a vintage image, ink and charcoal. The sides of the canvas are painted black, so there’s no need for a frame. Look for it in my etsy store soon.

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I’ve also been experimenting lately with different transfer techniques. My latest self-portrait was a (failed) attempt at one new technique…hey, live and learn, right? I typically do transfers with acrylic medium. If you’d like to learn more, visit this site http://www.calsk8.com/zeitgeist/acrylicgeltransfers.htm for some great information and a tutorial.

Anyway…yesterday I was playing around with acrylic medium transfers using different paper than I normally use and the result was a quick, easy transfer. Instead of regular copy paper, I used Printworks Satin Photo Paper. I spread out some medium over the image using a foam brush, pressed it down onto the surface I wanted it on (in this case some vintage ledger paper), burnished with a spoon, then peeled the photo paper up before the medium was even dry. Here are the results.

I added some hand-drawn scroll work in the corners. I’m also planning on embellishing them with thread eventually, but haven’t quite gotten around to it yet...maybe after my two canvas wips are done...hmmm.

~Alisa

Happy Birthday, Dad!

A couple days ago was my dad’s birthday. He’s one of those guys that if you ask him what he wants, he replies “nothing”, which makes birthday shopping incredibly stressful and unpleasant. Of course, I gave up buying gifts for him several years ago…after I got him a wallet and belt for three consecutive years. Now he just gets a gift card…not the most inventive gift, but at least I know he’ll use it. This year I also played around with photoshop and made him a card. Here’s the image I included on his card…I must say…I’m pretty proud of myself.

Submit a portrait!!!!

Did you ever long to have your artwork displayed in a museum? Well…now is your chance! Whether you are a professional artist, student, child or child at heart, you are invited to create a portrait (any portrait…it doesn’t have to be a self portrait) to be displayed in the upcoming exhibition, Facing West: Celebrating 20 Years of the Eiteljorg Museum. The only requirement is that your artwork is original, measures 4”x6” and is accompanied by a signed consent form. Don’t miss the opportunity to have your work displayed in a nationally renowned museum. Please spread the word.

The consent form and additional information can be found here.

This is my entry…the transfer I attempted didn’t quite work the way I’d anticipated, but I was left with a “happy accident” that I really liked.

To create the piece, I used a page from a vintage ledger. Yes it does “hurt” to destroy…I mean re-purpose a turn of the century document, but it’s all in the name of art, right? I also added some words cut from vintage books, charcoal and ink, then embellished with black thread.

So don't miss this opportunity to have your artwork displayed for the world to see. Submit a portrait today!

~Alisa

A couple new pieces

Celebrate Life

4"x6" mixed media on 140 lb. watercolor paper

Available in my etsy shop

For these pieces, I decided to revisit my old style. My plan was eventually to make small prints of these pieces and make them into pendants. I love the sentiments and just happened to find the perfect images in my photo collection to go along with them. These pieces were a fun little distraction from the larger (and darker) pieces I've been working on lately.

Go out on a Limb

4"x6" mixed media on 140 lb. watercolor paper

Available in my etsy shop

Look for soldered pendants with these images very soon!