April 15th....hopefully you've mailed off your tax returns and can turn your attention back to the important things in life....like your ART!
Welcome to the first week of the Collage LAB companion. If you don't own a copy of Collage Lab you might want to get yourself one. Collage Lab ( can be found here on Amazon or at your favorite bookseller). Otherwise what we say here might not make a lot of sense!
The intention of this blog is to be an interactive meeting place for those of you who have picked up a copy of my book and want more....more ideas, more results and more experiments to play with.
I am a teacher first and an artist second. There is more joy in my world when lighting the fuse that ignites the spark than any piece of personal work could ever bring to me. So you, dear reader, it's on you. I light the flame but it's up to you to keep it burning.
Post your comments, email me photos of your work and join our on line exchanges so that you can share your results with others walking through the pages on our journey together. EMAIL photos and links to bee.shay@hotmail.com.
Collage LAB is designed to be used over the course of a year (52 UNITS- 12 Chapters). It's also designed so that the units are interdependent on one another...they do not need to be worked in any specific order but here on the blog we will start at the beginning and work through to the end.
What you can expect to find here......
1) There will be monthly giveaways (and sometimes more often,time allowing) of original art from the book, cds of my favorite music and a few surprises here and there.
2) Play the game, "WHERE IN THE WORLD IS COLLAGE LAB?" - find a copy of the book at your local book store (chains or independents), library, someone reading it or yourself working with it!! Photograph it and send it along to enter in to the drawing for a collage kit of hand made papers, old documents and such lovely things to work with you can't even begin to imagine!
3) On-line exchanges that will invite you to share first hand your results using ATCs and postcards. Think of all that mail art! Much more fun than bills in your mailbox.
4) On-line classes will be offered here from time to time beginning May 15 for a small fee...stay tuned for more information!
5) Who's been blogging? I've begun to become aware that there are people out there blogging about using the book so PLEASE, if you know someone have them send me a link to post or send it to me yourself! It's fun to see just how travelled we are!
6) BUT - MOST importantly, you'll find a nuturing environment to spread your wings, test the water and learn how to play again.
So join the fun....share your successes AND the ways that you found didn't work (we never say fail here).
REMEMBER:
"The pessimist see's the difficulty in every opportunity, the optomist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." Sir Winston Leonard Spenser Churchill
Tune in on every Friday morning (starting tomorrow)for the newest LAB, more information and ideas and opportunities to share with the online community.
In the meantime....for TODAY, compose a comment to be eligible for this blog's FIRST give away....a free copy of COLLAGE LAB.
Now OFF WITH YOU....go to your studio or workspace, where ever you work and MAKE SOMETHING!
See you Friday morning!!!
bee
ps.....I wouldl like to take this opportunity to thank each of the 20 wonderful artists who gave their talents to this book to create the chapter headers and complete the gallery. You will find links to all of their sites on the left hand side of this blog....give them a visit and a shout and let them know just how beautiful their work is. I am a very lucky woman to be in such good company.
Oh, darlin' Bee, this is going to be such FUN!
Posted by: Michele R. Unger | 04/14/2010 at 10:46 PM
Bee I was at ArtFest and wished that I had taken your class! I can draw a line but that's about it and when I saw some of the projects in your book, I thought that perhaps I could just draw more lines and make something happen! LOL. The chance to win a copy of Collage Lab is a wonderful giveaway! My "art budget" $$$ were depleted by the time I saw your book, so had to pass... so imagine how excited I was to read you are giving one away Put my name in that hat...and I'll cross my fingers... BIG GRIN
Sharon
Posted by: Sharon | 04/15/2010 at 07:06 AM
What a fantastic idea Bee! You inspire in so many ways. I already have your wonderful book -- pre-ordered. And I look forward to following along here.
xo
Posted by: Leslie M. | 04/15/2010 at 02:13 PM
Hi, Bee. Congratulations on launching the blog. What a treat! And what a wonderful gathering place this is going to be for all collage enthusiasts.
When we can shake ourselves free from our lab work (grin) Kay and I will definitely be popping in here. This is going to be great fun.
Nan and Kay
Posted by: Nan | 04/15/2010 at 02:30 PM
Looking forward to this! (I already have a copy, so I don't need another!)
Posted by: Jennevieve | 04/15/2010 at 03:08 PM
Wait, where can I get my copy!
Posted by: Kim | 04/15/2010 at 03:34 PM
I'm so glad you e-mailed otherwise I would not have known about this wonderful lab and your new book (I just ordered it). I'm finally beginning to dabble in the studio again. This was just what I needed and will give me a great start.
Hugs to you Bee.
Posted by: Nadine Wong | 04/15/2010 at 11:27 PM
WOWZER - I love the site, Bee. You opened so many doors to me at ArtFest and for that, I am very grateful.
Ilene Harris
Posted by: ilene harris | 04/16/2010 at 08:41 AM
What a wonderful and generous idea this blog is! I look forward to doing the exercises, and would love a chance to win the book!!
Posted by: Gwen | 04/16/2010 at 12:16 PM
Thank you SO much Bee! I was thrilled to find out about this group... and you are right...great minds ;-)
VERY much looking forward to trading Art in the mail and seeing everyones creations.
ART ON!
~Rachel
www.artharpy.com
Posted by: Rachel Bowe | 04/16/2010 at 08:46 PM
So glad to see you 'got off the beach'! So great seeing you in Port Townsend - LOVE your book!!!
Posted by: Beverly Gilbert | 04/21/2010 at 09:50 AM
This is such a cool idea - to have a companion blog and projects! Very exciting and if I don't win the copy I'll definately be ordering it!
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