A new piece

I'm a little frustrated with the latest piece I've done...not because it didn't turn out the way it was supposed to, but because of the main image I chose to use. You see, I was browsing through one of flickr's vintage photo sharing groups and came across this absolutely stunning image. There was no info included with the image itself and it appeared to be from the mid-1800s. It wasn't a typical Victorian studio photo...the girls were posed in a way that was not the "norm" for the time. That right there should have sent red flags up, but I was blissfully unaware because I was in love with the photo. Well, I ended up using it in this piece, but all the while had a sinking feeling that this photo was somehow special. I finished the piece and only then did I resign myself to do some research. Of course a quick google search provided the answer...the photo was taken by Lewis Carroll in 1863! It (and others by Carroll) are very well known because of the poses were unconventional for the day.

Original photo by Lewis Carroll

So now I'm torn. I typically use photographs that were found at flea markets, antique stores, etc. Is it okay to use this photo? Are there copyright issues around it? It does look lovely hanging on my wall and will probably stay there. But I'm wondering about copyright when it pertains to a famous photographer. Even if the photo is over 100 years old, is it okay to use?

The moral of the story is this: Do not be blinded by a beautiful image...always do your research BEFORE you create art with it.

~Alisa

The Sisterhood Project has been Published!!!!

Several months ago I participated in a collaborative project with fellow mixed media “sisters” Glenda Bailey, Pam Carriker, Kim Geiser, Denise Hayden, Nancy Lefko, Kathy Maximo and Jodi Ohl.

These women have been a wonderful support system for me over the past couple of years and have become really great friends…even if we’ve never met in person. So, when the idea arose to do a collaboration, I couldn’t have been more excited to participate.



The resulting project was called “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Canvas” and began with a blank canvas. Each sister added a few elements, and then sent it on to the next person. Each sister also contributed a journal page that was bound into a journal documenting the sisterhood project.



I must admit that I was extremely nervous about adding to the canvas. I didn’t want to be the one to “mess it up.” But when the box arrived on my doorstep, I knew instantly what to do.



The culmination of the project is this publication…which incidentally is the very first time I’ve ever been published for something related to my art. It wasn’t long ago that I felt my work was not good enough to make it into publication…well, now I know that isn’t the case. Hopefully this will not be the last time you see my work in print.



I’m so proud of all of the sisters and hope to collaborate with these wonderful women again sometime in the near future.

~Alisa

Summer Fun

Is it just me or does summer always seem to fly by? Where did the month of June go? It’s been a great summer at our house thus far…the garden is growing, the girls have been enjoying the heat…playing in the sprinkler and in their kiddy pool, and almost every day is a daddy day since daddy is out of school for the summer.

We went to a family reunion last weekend in Kentucky and stopped at the Louisville Zoo on the way back to Indiana. The girls had a wonderful day learning about all the different animals…and they even had orangutans and gorillas! They were so much fun to watch, but of course I’m still torn about seeing them in a zoo in Kentucky. They must hate being confined to a small space (compared to their range in the wild) and having people stop to look at them every day. Are they better off in a zoo or facing poachers and the destruction of their natural habitats in Africa???

I just finished another large custom piece, so I’ve been spending the majority of my art time on that. But now that it is finished, hopefully I can work on a few new pieces…and I’m really missing those weekly challenges!

Hope you are enjoying your summer as much as I am!
~Alisa

Summer Workshops...Altered Tin Assemblage

I'm so excited...in August I'll be teaching a workshop on altered tin assemblages at the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art in Indianapolis. So in preparation for the class, I came up with this little assemblage over the weekend.

Inside

Here is my tribute to Pearl Hart...woman of the west, mother, feminist, writer, wife, cross-dresser, marajuana user and train robber. She's really a facinating woman...one of my personal favorite western characters :) See her very interesting bio here.

Back

More info about the workshop can be found here. I'll also be teaching a class on soldered jewelry in July and one on domino jewelry in August (info for those can also be found at the link above).

I have a feeling it is going to be a fun and busy summer!

~Alisa

Mix it up with Melange...FLY

The prompt for this week's challenge is FLY. I have to admit that this isn't exactly a new piece, but I thought it fit the prompt perfectly.

I used pages from old books, scrapbook paper and thread to create this little 4x4" piece. I made it several years ago and it was actually my very first attempt at using thread in my art.

Visit the melange blog for the weekly prompt, then create a mixed media piece and link to your piece in the blog comments. Anyone is invited to participate, you don't need to be a melange team member.

~Alisa

Collage Play with Crowabout challenge

I recently found a fun new (to me at least) flickr group called Collage Play with Crowabout. Each week Crowabout (a.k.a. Nancy) provides a collection of images. The challenge is to use at least three of those images in a piece of art before the week is up. The best part is seeing what all the group members come up with. Some participants use every single element that Nancy provides to create some fabulous works of art. Here is piece I created for this week's challenge. I used four images provided by Nancy, some bits from an old reader, ink and charcoal to create this little 4x4 piece. Visit the Collage Play with Crowabout blog for more info on this fun challenge.

On a totally unrelated note...Sunday Flea Market Finds

Here are my most recent Sunday Flea Market Finds. This grouping covers the past two weeks since I haven't blogged in such a long time. My best deal by far was the blue metal suitcase. I paid a whopping 50 cents for it and it is just too fabulous for words. I haven't got a clue what I'll do with it yet, but I'm sure I'll figure something out. Other finds include...old skeleton keys, a wooden folding ruler, rusty metal junk, really old receipts and other various handwritten documents, some old wooden stamps, a couple vintage games, a box of dominos and yet more old sheet music.

Enjoy!

~Alisa