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 Each month, we put together an Artella Studio Collage kit for our wonderful Luxury Studio Cabin Members, and it’s always fascinating to design all the elements of the kit around each month’s theme. Becoming immersed in each month’s theme always yields surprising results. For example, in June, the theme of the kit was Postal Passion – a celebration of everything that artists love about the mail (You can see a sampling of what was included in this kit, here). While working on that kit, my mind was filled with childhood memories of learning about stamp collecting from my grandmother, an avid collector.
I loved the closeness that came from “working stamps” together. As a very young child, I learned the valuable skills of sorting, organizing, and displaying them. I’m convinced that learning to pay attention to the very small details on those tiny thumb-sized canvases certainly played a role in my later interest in art. And this experience set the stage for my lifelong joy of collections: finding treasures-on-a-theme and displaying them proudly to share with others. Recently, we posted our Bi-Weekly Blog Topic Challenge in the Artella Café was “Collections”. It was so interesting to hear about the bloggers’ various collections and what they mean to them. Amidst the stories about collections of books, buttons, and magazine covers, a couple of Artella Café bloggers described their “inner collections”. Artella Café user CopperCat said, “I admit it:I am addicted to collecting ideas. It's got to be better than collecting dust.”
I imagine everyone reading this can relate! In fact, I don’t know how better to describe creative people than to say that we are collectors of ideas. The question is, how do we treat that inner collection? Do we proudly display it, or is it hidden away in boxes? Do we take time to care for the collection, removing dust and making necessary repairs? Or do we let the broken fragments lie alone in neglect? Are we constantly on the hunt for more to add to the collection, or have we given up in finding more precious pieces to add to the menagerie? I just posed this question, “How do you take care of your collection of ideas?” here in the Café. Already, the thread is full of wisdom and great ideas! Drop by to read what others have written and add in your best tips for caring for your precious artifacts: your own thoughts and ideas.
By the way, the current Bi-Weekly Blog topic is “Serendipity”. If you already have an Artella Café blog, get details here about how to enter this challenge. If not, remember that all Artella Members – at any Membership level – get a free, fully-featured blog with Membership. Existing Members, simply sign up for your blog in the Link Lobby of the Member Ship. If you’re not a Member, you can get Membership details here.
If you're in a hurry, here are some "quick links" to the highlights in today’s ARTELLAGRAM. You can simply follow the links that you're interested in to go directly to the relevant information!
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The Shoppes of Artella are filled with products created by talented artists in the Artella community. One look at the beautiful art dolls by Lisa Poole shows that she is obviously a collector of great ideas (not to mention fabric, ribbon, and baubles of all kinds!)
I hope you enjoy this interview with Lisa in the ARTELLAGRAM’S new “In the Studio” Feature.
Artella: What was happening in your life at the point where you were able to say "I am an artist"?
Lisa: It's funny that I remember the exact moment. It wasn't that long ago. I was working at a retail store and was cleaning the glass entrance doors. I suddenly had the very strong feeling that I was no longer a retail store cashier making art as a hobby! Rather, I realized that I was an artist working part-time as a cashier. It was a wonderful realization. I was fortunate enough to quit that job soon after that and now am a full-time artist.
Artella: Does art play a healing or helpful role for your life?
Lisa: Creating art has changed my life completely. Learning to express myself through fabric and paint has helped me to let go of painful experiences that I was unknowingly allowing to hold me back. In fact, for a while I wondered if I could be an artist without all those painful feelings to express and then I realized that I could express my newly found happiness! That is what I love to do now, in hopes that others will find hope and happiness in the items that I create.
The gift of trusting my intuition and watching my art unfold in front of me, in fact, watching as ideas come from seemingly nowhere has bled over into all of my life. I don't worry anymore. I know that an answer will come for any situation just when it is needed. It comes from the same place that causes me to suddenly find that perfect combination of fabric or to miraculously be able to draw a face when moments before I could have sworn I didn't know how.
Read the rest of Lisa’s interview, here!
See Lisa's Inspiring Creations in The Shoppes of Artella, here.
 If you want more artist interviews from Artella, take a look at our eBooks Artist Profiles Assembled and Artist Profiles Assembled, Vol 2, and look at the "Ask the Artist" column every single day in The Artella Daily Muse, our daily online creativity newspaper. You can even sign up to preview a subscription to The Artella Daily Muse, to see what it's all about.
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 ART TIP OF THE WEEK: Try creating a self-portrait that represents your own “collection of ideas”.
For example, this art journal page is calls “More I.D.s”. I designed it around the idea that a creative person’s identity can be synonymous with her ideas. To illustrate this, I altered a paper doll and gave her a necklace of I.D. tags filled with “I.D.eas”.
See step-by-step instructions for how to create this project, here. WRITING TIP OF THE WEEK: Write about the non-tangible items you collect. For example, you might collect: - Dreams
- Sighs
- Promises
- Giggles
- Summer Memories
- Stubbed Toes
- Rolled Eyes
- Erasers for Mistakes Made
- Butterfly Kisses
- Stomach Aches
- Teardrops
Write a poem, free-form essay, or simply a list like this one.Have some fun with this! And come share your writing in the Artella Café, here!
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|   Just a few more left for Artella’s Summer S.H.A.R.E. Sale! Until the end of August, you can still Share Happy, Artistic, Revolutionary Experiences with Artella’s Summer SHARE Special! For every downloadable Artella product that you purchase for yourself, we will send the same product to a friend you select, with a special note stating that it is a gift from you. This includes all eBooks, e-courses, seminars and recordings, Digital Altered Books™ supplies, Studio Collage Kits, downloadable image packs, and e-Artella issues.
Plus...you can save 25% off all of Artella’s hundreds of downloadable products with a special coupon code just for ARTELLAGRAM readers. This does include YOU * U, Artella’s popular flagship program for building your own creative business, as well as the YOU * U Masters in Marketing Program and The Wealthcare Program.
Also, if you are an Artella Member, note that the 25% savings are in addition to your Member Discounts on all e-courses.
Here’s how to save and SHARE:
- Go shopping and proceed to checkout.
- To deduct 25% off all downloadable Artella products, enter the coupon code in the coupon box during checkout: SHARE08
- Complete your checkout and make note of your order number.
- After your order is complete, you can designate the friend(s) you’d like to receive these gifts by going to this page, and filling out the SHARE form.
Both the discount and the offer to send the product you purchased to your friend are valid on downloadable Artella products only, not including products by individual artists in The Shoppes of Artella. This offer ends at midnight EST on August 31, 2008.
 Digital Altered Books Revealed Part II is here! I’m thrilled to announce the Digital Altered Books Revealed – Part II workshop, which I had to reschedule when I was having difficulties at the end of my pregnancy. Digital Altered Books™ are the latest phenomenon to hit the creative world, merging the fascinating process of altering beautiful vintage books with the creative ease of digital imaging technology. On Wednesday, September 10, I'll be presenting Digital Altered Books™ Revealed - Part II, a free online workshop that will present more advanced techniques for using Photoshop to create stunning Digital Altered Books™. Get more information about Digital Altered Books™ Revealed - Part II and be sure to sign up soon since, like last time, we can only take participants on a first-come, first-served basis!
If you haven't visited the inspiring Digital Altered Books Gallery, be sure to take a look at the inspiring creations by artists in the Artella community!
 What’s New in the Cafe? If you haven’t been to the Artella Cafe recently, we hope you’ll drop by! Here are just a few ways to play:
- NEW! Sign up for one of the exciting art swaps posted in Swap Central.
- Enter one of our many contests to challenge yourself and get great prizes, just for entering! You can find links to all the current contests in the right-hand sidebar of the home page of Artella Cafe.
- Vote for your favorite in our contests and pick up some great gifties! Again, you can find links to all the current contests in the right-hand sidebar of the home page of Artella Cafe.
- Join in one of the many writing challenges in the Word Playground forum!
- Get ideas from hundreds of artworks in the Art Galleries!
- Get inspired when you browse the blogs written by the enchanting folks in the Artella community.
- Get your own full-featured blog and personal art gallery when you become an Artella Member
 Attention Artella Studio Members – Just a reminder that your contest entries for the last Studio Kit, “Home Sweet Home” are due Monday, September 15. Don’t forget to submit your artistic creations with this kit to win your entry prizes and compete in the next Studio Kit Contest. If you’re not yet a Studio Member, you can see what’s included in the “Home Sweet Home” kit, here. If you become a Studio Member, you’ll immediately receive the “Home Sweet Home” Studio Kit, and then you’ll also get next month’s kit, “School Days”, which is coming out in September. PLUS you’ll automatically have access to literally thousands of goodies that come with your Membership. Get all the details, here.
 Ready to sell your work? You've probably seen the wonderful artists from The Shoppes of Artella showcased all over Artella Land lately. Just as we hoped, these new featured spots are really boosting their sales! All these efforts are all part of Artella's Shoppes Artist Co-Op Program, a one-of-a-kind, true community for artists and craftspeople selling handmade goods, providing opportunity and exposure that isn't matched anywhere else, on- or off-line. The Artist Interview you read at the top of this Artellagram is a good example of the dedicated exposure we give in support of our Artists in the program. Take a look at the highlights of the Artella Shoppes Artist Co-Op Program, here! Even if you are not yet ready to list your products, you are still welcome to join this supportive community of artisans while you prepare to sell your work. Sign up to get your invitation to join the new Shoppes Sellers' forum in the Artella Cafe, attend our online monthly gathering of Shoppes artists, receive valuable coupons for Artella products, and more.
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 Interested in working for Artella? If you're interested in becoming part of the amazing Artella Team, check out this post in the Artella Cafe for details. We're rolling out some exciting new features in the coming months and would love to bring a few more wonderful, creative souls on board!
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This Quotz Crystal™ is a high-resolution jpeg image, suitable for printing. Print it out and post it somewhere to remind you of the importance of your collection of ideas….ALL of them!
Swimming in the indigo ocean of ideas,
 Marney
Artella Founder, Mango Lover, Hula Dancer
Artella Land ~ the creative isles of words, art, and spirit
Artella PO Box 6211 Kamuela HI 96743 |
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