A bike innertube made into a fashionable belt, painted cut-outs from credit cards made into dangling earrings, a necklace from hardware, a dress from Doritos bags. That’s just some of the many examples of inventive thinking at the “Make-Do, a Recycle and Upcycle Art and Fashion Show” at the K Gallery at Rhythmix Cultural Works in Alameda, Calif.
Before I attended the “Make Do” Show at the K Gallery, I wasn’t aware of the term “upcycled art.” Upcycling art embraces the beauty of things we use every day and would normally toss in the trash. I found a site that explains it in greater detail if you want to read more.
“Make Do” features Jennifer Serr, Leonie Holzman, Cheryl Hayward, Bette Barr, Brianna Learnihan, Julie Baron, Linda Lu Castronovo, Susan Leung, Tina Martin, Mary Loughran, Amy Zimmer, Upcycle Clothes, Debbie Callen, Nic Griffin, Chris Rummel, Phil Hargrave, Mary Elizabeth, Stephanie Rodriguez, Michelle Morgan, Joy Johnson, and Shevon Dieterich (and others whose names are not available).
Here’s some creations that caught my eye: Trash Fashion by Nicola GriffinWalking into the gallery I couldn’t miss the mannequins donned with San Francisco-based Nicola Griffin’s trash fashions.
Earrings designed by Cheryl HaywardCheryl Hayward of Olivia Hayward Designs is an Oakland-based artist who, ironically, had taken classes lead by Michele Cassou and Stewart Cubley. You can read more about Cassou in a previous post. Hayward said she wanted to make art that was affordable and applying her artistry to jewelry-making meant more people could buy her art. I could see what she meant since that evening she made some sales.
Innertube belt designed by Leonie HolzmanLeonie Holzman has several pieces in the show including a halter top and a versatile medium-sized pouch. The photo shows a belt she designed using a bike innertube.
Riveted hardware by Tara Evans
This necklace by Tara Evans caught my eye. It’s made from riveted hardware, pyrite, and vintage ball chain.
Michele Cassou, photo by Suzanne Christine I left my letterpress class early to meet a rock star in the world of creative exploration using intuitive painting (also known as “process” painting, and in this case “Point Zero Painting“). This is an area I’ve been exploring, since intuitive painting puts to words the method of painting I enjoy the most. It is more about the experience of painting rather than the product of painting.
Now I had a chance to see and meet the pioneer of Point Zero Painting. She was giving a presentation at John F. Kennedy University’s Art & Consciousness Talks. Her introduction included what some people I admire have said about her:
“Michele Cassou is a catalytic visionary: a fuse lighter who sends people rocketing into their creativity,” said The Artist’s Way author, Julia Cameron.
“Michele Cassou offers a wise and profoundly creative inspiration for the liberation of the human spirit. Just the way lively music makes you want to get up and dance, this book makes you really want to get up and paint the fullness of your life,” said leading Buddhist teacher, Jack Kornfield.
Cassou has been praised by the American mythologist Joseph Campbell and the French painter and sculptor Jean Dubuffet.
Michele Cassou at JFK University
Needless to say, the introduction made me even more eager to hear what she had to say. She stood with a large projection screen above her and spoke passionately about her journey to and through what is known as “process painting.”
I took notes throughout her talk since just about every sentence resonated with me.
Cassou was born in Marseille, France. She started making art as a kid. She had formal art training but had given up studying art because her last art teacher said “Do something else, painting is not for you!” (from p. xxi of “Life, Paint and Passion). A series of events put her in touch with the Free Expression Studio in Paris. There she had a profound ah ha moment watching the uninhibited children make art. “Sheltered from judgment, criticism, and competition, the children were giving themselves to the natural process of expression, to the pulse of creation.” (p. xxiii of “Life, Paint and Passion). It was there she found her true calling.
She spent three years painting with the children and learned to listen and explore freedom of creative expression. From there she started teaching small groups in her home. Now, several decades and thousands of paintings later, she continues her unteaching.
Point Zero Painting is based on the Point Zero Method. The method involves a self-questioning method that leads to that place of no judgment or limits within. It emphasizes painting for the process or experience of painting and enjoying it’s meditative qualities. It’s not about the end product. It is not about what you “should do.” It’s about becoming conscious and present.
Another characteristic about Point Zero Painting is there is a completion point to each painting. Only the painter knows when it’s finished.
Here’s my 10 favorite quotes from Cassou’s talk:
1) “When we listen to intuition there’s a connection we don’t know we have. Learn to unblock the places resisting freedom. It’s like going down the river, you’ll follow the current and the stream.”
2) “To be creative is to be completely without habits.”
3) “Creativity is a present energy passing through you. Give yourself a lot of space to be yourself.”
4) “Painting is meditation. You are left with no point of reference. You don’t have to copy anybody’s way. No comparison with anything. It is a very courageous thing to do.”
5) “If you follow your intuition, there’s always a next step. It’s always SAFE.”
Mary Gow's Intuitive Drawing Using "Harmonious" iPhone App6) “The energy of the Universe is constantly wanting to pass through us!”
7) “Every time you create something there is a cycle . . . but you trust. We don’t paint what we are not ready to handle. There is a benevolent aspect of creation.”
8) “Whatever calls you, take it. Don’t feel like you have to cover the white paper. Every dot is precious.”
9) “It’s what has happened inside of you that is important. Not the product. Often it’s about changing our eyes. Your eyes change. You get more of a sense of what’s real. What is compromised.”
10) “Creativity works the same in every medium. It’s not the painting, it’s the process of creativity.”
"Emerging," mixed media by Mary GowThough the purpose of my blog is to speak to the artist in you and not specifically to artists who use brushes and paint, this post and the previous one are more geared for the active visual artist.
Were you inspired by Abbey Ryan and Natasha Wescoat who are making a living producing their art on their own terms?
From my research on ways to sell art outside the gallery environment, I found five helpful resources worth sharing. At the end I’ll tell you what my choices are.
1-Empty Easel offers a hefty amount of information for setting up for artistic success. Found this advice for selling your art online.
4-Fidelis Art Prints has some wisdom to share advising you “make your online reproductions a little smaller and slightly different than the original. Doing this would preserve the value of the original. Don’t miss Fidelis’ helpful article on seven features that help you market your art on Facebook.
After visiting the above sites my recommended methods are print-on-demand at sites like Imagekind and direct selling from your own website or Facebook.
I was in a show recently and the day of the opening I opened an Imagekind account. A few days later I sold a canvas print of “Emerging” from my online gallery! I uploaded high resolution images and determined the markup. (I am still stocking my gallery). Imagekind handled the fulfillment of the order and the shipping.
Seth Godin has written thirteen books (all best sellers) and is considered one of the top bloggers in the marketing sphere. In his book Linchpin: Are You Indispensable? says you don’t need the system like you think you do. Abbey Ryan is artist showing how that is done.
Ryan paints a painting a day and then sells it online, usually on eBay. Recently she was one of the artists featured in the O! the Oprah Magazine in an article about women following their passion.
You’ll find Ryan on YouTube as well. Here’s a short video about her produced by VookTV:
Read more about Ryan’s success in an article in her undergraduate alma mater, Arcadia University’s bulletin.
Another artist I find inspiring is Natasha Wescoat. Among the many places her success as an artist is mentioned is in the New York Times bestselling book by Guy Vaynerchuk called Crush It! Wescoat’s work was recognized when she first sold her work online with “a series of successful eBay auctions in 2004 launched her commercial career” (from her bio). Since then Wescoat has sold over 1,000 original works to public and private collectors and collections around the world.
She’s definitely an artist to learn from. She shares helpful information on her blog, Fresh Gloss.
Since both Ryan and Wescoat show that art is selling online, why not follow their example?
Stay tuned. The next post has resources for getting your art online.
“>Point Zero: Creativity Without Limits, 