Thursday, December 23, 2010

Celebrate the Season!



We wish you love, light, warmth, creativity, health, good food, good times and good friends
as you celebrate the joys of the season. 

Please plan to join us in the New Year for more creative endeavors. 
Details on our January meeting are at right. 
See you there!

Thursday, November 25, 2010

CMMAG at Art of the Carolinas

Diana and an eager student at Jeanne's demo
2010 marked our third year of participation in the art-filled extravaganza that is Jerry's Artarma's Art of the Carolinas.  We spent four days assisting the Jerry's staff with making sure the art workshop rooms were ready for the eager artists who'd come to learn and create; hauling an unbelievable volume of water, both clean and dirty for those rooms; displaying our mixed media work for all to see; answering questions about our Guild ("So, what exactly is mixed media?"); providing demonstrations on the trade show floor and in our Make and Take ATC room; creating ATC with novices and experts alike; and laughing, learning and loving being mixed media artists and sharing our love of what we do with others.  Here are some images which capture just a bit of the fun we had.  And, to see more of the fun we had, visit our Facebook Photo Album.  Enjoy!

Pat creating ATC















Travis, Penny and Pat:  The Water Hauling Crew!









Young ATC Artists
 
Sharon and Christina, organizers extraordinaire!

Michelle at her cut paper collage ATC demo
  
Lisa, Laurel and Liz at the CMMAG Information Table

Friday, September 10, 2010

September Member Interview: Denise Saunders

1. What inspires you to create?

Life inspires me! Every day I see or do something that entices me to create. From looking at my pile of works in progress, the stacks of supplies I have on hand or the beauty of the sunset from my office window, the urge to be creative is always there.

2. When did you decide to pursue art or did art pursue you?
There was never a pursuit, it was always there. Creativity has always been a part of my family’s culture. I grew up with my mom sewing, my aunt painting, my Nanny crocheting & my Papa working in his woodshop, so having an artistic outlet seemed a normal part of life, not a special activity. At times it still baffles me that other people think I what I do is special. What! This is what I do for fun; it’s not really that special. I’m glad you like it!

 3. If you weren’t an artist, what would you be?
Ironically, it wasn’t until I joined CMMAG that I considered myself an “artist”. Van Gough is an artist, Monet is an artist. I’m just a person that likes to paint on stuff, string beads together in interesting patterns & glue pictures & mementos on cute paper. Fortunately, the ladies of the Guild have showed me that my painting, stringing & gluing indeed make me an Artist!

4. What other jobs have you had which have aided you on your artistic path?
Um…. None in the traditional sense. I have a business background and my work so far in this life has been business minded. What I do now in terms of program planning & having the ability to bring art in to my community center has given me the most artistic freedom so far.

5. At the art supply store, which section do you gravitate to first?
I gravitate to all things colorful! Sparkling beads and crystals, vibrant paints, luscious papers, I want it all.


6. What new technique or art form would you like to learn? Do you have plans to do so?
I consider myself to be a basic crafts style painter, I don’t do a lot with shading or using colors to help create the feel or scene of my work. I would like to become a more skillful painter, but I haven’t made any plans to work on it yet. I seem to always have several projects in process or projects waiting to be done that it’s hard for me to justify spending time or money to learn more until I catch up with what I got!

7. If you could do anything, and knew you could not fail, what would you choose to do?
If I could do anything & not fail I would be a stay at home mom to a bushel of adopted kids.  Adopted kids because I know there are great kids out there in need of love & homes. Adopted kids because I am okay if I never give birth, I’ve seen it, not really interested. Stay home mom so that I could dedicate my time to them & still preserve time for myself with out having to figure work in to the mix. Definitely in that dedication of time my kids would learn about the greatness that is art & being artistic. I would always have a space for them to creative in & a place for them to share what they have made.

Those would be some very lucky kids, Denise! Thanks for doing the interview.



Thursday, July 22, 2010

Upcoming Special Event: "Who Does She Think She Is?"

The Carolina Mixed Media Art Guild will present the first Triangle-area screening of the documentary film by Academy Award winning director Pamela Tanner Boll:

Who Does She Think She Is?

Our House Party screening will take place on
Saturday, August 28 from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm at ‘our house’:
The Chavis Community Center (located at 505 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard., Raleigh, NC).

Suggested donation:  $10.00
includes: movie, popcorn, soda, and guided discussion following the
feature. For more information on the film, the creators, and the
featured artists visit the official web site:

In the spirit of ‘paying it forward,’ net proceeds will be donated to
SWOOP (Strong Women Organizing Outrageous Projects)! To learn
more about what these amazing women are doing, please visit:
http://www.swoop4u.org/

To purchase tickets (on sale August 1) visit: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/119247

For any questions and/or additional information, please contact CarolinaMixedMediaArtistsGuild@gmail.com

Spread the word, and see you there!

Friday, July 9, 2010

We Have a Winner!

Member-at-Large, artist and seamstress extraordinaire, Roberta Morgan entered two pieces in the American Sewing Guild Creativity Contest, and each received honors.  Roberta's beautifully embellished jackets were created using Simplicity pattern #2703 (which she altered "a lot").  The white jacket was a finalist in its category, and the copper one won First Place.  Congratulations, Roberta!

Monday, June 14, 2010

June Member Interview: Sharon DiGiulio

Sharon DiGiulio
website:  http://www.digiuliostudios.com/.
blog:  http://www.sharondigiulio.blogspot.com/

1. What inspires you to create?

I think I wake up inspired! Actually a lot of times I wake up in the middle of the night and have to write things down in my journal, just so I can get back to sleep. I am inspired by my dreams, nature, my past experiences and mostly other people and their zest for life. I’m very attracted to life lovers.
2. When did you decide to pursue art or did art pursue you?
I think art pursued me! I was always exposed to crafty things as a kid: fabric, making candles, weaving, macramé, knitting, etc. I took arts and crafts during the summers, and then taught at the same facility when I was in high school. My original degree pursuit was business, but after my first semester I switched to a Fine Art Major. I took all kinds of drawing, fiber, design and printmaking classes and was really having a great time. As a junior, I realized that I was going to be supporting myself in one year and I still really did not have a direction. I started taking classes in the Industrial Education department in design layout, screen-printing and offset printing. I figured I could always get a job at a newspaper or printing company. That was a real job, right? I certainly did not want to be a "starving artist".

3. If you weren’t an artist, what would you be?
Wow, that’s a tough one…Hmmm. I’m stumped. How about a talk show host? I love to talk! That might be sort of fun!

4. What other jobs have you had that aided you on your artistic path?
Well, let’s see: I worked on the assembly line at Chrysler engine plant three summers to pay for college, was a graphic designer for a full service offset printing company, worked in package design for a cosmetic company, was the art director for a screen-printing company, sales for a printed circuit board and screen-printing supplies company. I learned all the ins and outs of meeting deadlines and customer needs, jumping through flaming hoops of fire and making sure that the promises I made were kept. To me, teamwork has always been my way of accomplishing anything. I found Jerry’s Artarama in 2000. I’ve worked here the longest out of everywhere…10 years. It feels like home. I’m able to use all my skills. I am allowed to run my part of the business as if it was my own and I love that. It gives me a freedom that I’ve never had in the past. I get to meet all kinds of interesting and talented people and it just makes it easy for me to pursue my art career at the same time. I am constantly surrounded by excellent talent and inspiring energy.

5. At the art supply store, which section do you gravitate to first?
The acrylic aisle is my favorite. That’s where I meet most of my new friends! I like stocking the shelves, reading labels and finding out about new products on the market. Other places I love to shop are the fabric stores, flea market and thrift stores. I also love to recycle and reuse items both in my real world and my art world. I am a collector of "stuff" in general. The challenge is to keep everything orderly. I'm still working on that...

6. What new technique or art form would you like to learn? Do you have plans to do so?
At this point, I’ve dabbled into most areas that I enjoy and then some. I think I'm actually trying to consolidate my interests. I just want to experience, play, enjoy and work experimentally. I like to discover new techniques and surprise myself. That is really my joy in creating. It's all about discovering at my own pace and my own time. Documenting the path, the trials and errors, sharing what I love with others. I'm not really a competitor, but more a simple professional artist, wife, mom, business woman, friend and life lover that loves what art brings to my table. My hope is that I can share my passion freely with other like minded souls. Collage, sewing, acrylic painting, photography and encaustic painting are my current art addictions and not necessarily in that order...

Sharon is represented by Artsource Fine Art Consultants and Gallery, Nicole's Studio and Art Gallery both of Raleigh, NC and The Seam Shoppe of Key West, FL. Her work is in shops in Nantucket, Carolina Beach and Key West. DiGiulio is the event coordinator for Jerry's Artarama and Art of the Carolinas. She offers art demonstrations in high schools, universities, retirement communities and at Jerry's Artarama. She also offers free art lessons on line, teaches workshops in the area and has two DVD's available. Sharon and her husband Joe, also an artist, recently built a studio at their home in Raleigh where you'll find them creating a good part of the time.

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

May Member Interview: Maggi Neufer

1.  What inspires you to create?
The hope that I can do it.  Kinda like the ant.  Seeing what others do, glimpses on television, sights when driving or walking:  seeing and how we see is the key.  Artists see differently from the general populace leading to creations that shake people up.

2.  When did you decide to pursue art or did art pursue you?
One night – October 12, 1987, 6 PM to midnight -  I sat down with a dime-store paint box with one bitty brush and painted a picture on some paper of my father walking to the barns.  It was the 5th anniversary of his death.  I took that as a sign.  I've always been awed by artists and surprised myself greatly that I can paint and draw.

3.  If you weren't an artist, what would you be?
Well, I was a secretary (with some exalted titles) for 50 years.  Right now, artist is all I want to be. 

4.  What other jobs have you had which have aided you on your artistic path?
Just the fact that I had a job with which I could purchase art supplies is the beginning and end of it.

5.  At the art supply store, which section do you gravitate to first?
Brushes – of which I need none.  Then paper (not quite a whore, but close).  And paints are last, which is strange to me as color is what it is all about. 

6.  What new technique or art form would you like to learn?  Do you have plans to do so? 
I would like to learn batik and would like to take Kathie's class this fall at AOC.

7.  If you could do anything, and knew you could not fail, what would you choose to do?
Create housing and health for every living being.   Then more time and energy can be devoted to fun things, like art.

So true, Maggi!  We look forward to seeing your next creations, and thanks for doing the interview.

Monday, April 26, 2010

Chavis Community Center Springfest 2010

CMMAG members presented an ATC Make and Take tent at Springfest 2010.  We provided all the materials, including card bases, stickers, foam shapes, pom poms, buttons, markers, magazines for clipping, decorative papers, glues to put it all together, and the kids provided the enthusiasm, creativity and fun!  Some parents even got into the act, as you'll see below.  It was a fun day, until the rains came...but even then, before the workers came to take the tent down, people came in for shelter, and left with a little piece of art they'd made, and great memories of the day.  Here are some images:

Thanks to Denise Saunders for asking us to participate...we had a blast, and we're looking forward to next year!

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Mixed Media Madness Mission (M4T) 2010, part four

Since today is the final day of the M4T exhibit in Southern Pines, this too is the final post displaying the challenge pieces created by our wildly creative members. 
Work shown by:  Penny Arrowood, Roberta Morgan, Sharon DiGiulio, Toni Jarvis, Vicky McCollough, and Vivienne Voyles.  It was a great challenge, with stunningly beautiful and diverse results. Thanks again to Jean Skipper of Artist Alley, and everyone who came out to see and support the work of our members.  We can't wait to see what the next challenge will bring.  

Stay tuned!

Photographs by Lucy Shupe and Jeanne Rhea.



Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Mixed Media Madness Mission (M4T) 2010, part three

Even more of the work of our very creative members, in response to the M4T challenge this year.  Work shown by:  Jodi Ohl, Marilyn Feig, Nanette Zeller, Mayshanna Pandora and Patty O'Day. 

Photographs by Lucy Shupe and Jeanne Rhea.



Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Mixed Media Madness Mission (M4T) 2010, part two

Continuing the display of the fantastic pieces created in response to our latest challenge posed by member and Artist Alley gallery owner Jean Skipper.  Work shown created by:  Jeanne Rhea, Lynn Creech, Maggi Neufer, Lauren Koeth and Christine Candora-Hickey.




Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Mixed Media Madness Mission (M4) 2010

CMMAG member and Artist Alley owner Jean Skipper once again offered a challenge to the Guild.  The theme for 2010 coincided with the 1st Annual Palustris Festival in Southern Pines, where her gallery is located. Twenty five member of CMMAG took on this year's kit challenge, which wasn't exactly a kit.  This year, the 22 required items had to be collected by each participant (no more pizza boxes!).  The items were:

Pine…Pine Needles…A Pine Cone…Anything and Everything “Pine” Will Qualify
Something that Starts with The Letter *P*
Light Bulb(s)
Metal Washer(s)
Fabric
Something made of Wood
Twine, String, Fiber or Thread
Bead(s) (As many as you’d like, and as many different kinds as you’d like.)
Key(s)
Something Blue
Coin(s) or Token(s) (As many as you’d like, and as many different kinds as you’d like.)
Something Made of Glass
Treasure(s) From The Great Outdoors
Part or All of a Book
Ribbon(s)
Something from the Kitchen
Foil
Wool
Tissue Paper(s)
Thing-a-Ma-Jig (Optional)
Doo-Hickie (Optional)
Gee-Gaw (Optional)

Here are just some of the creations of our members.  As always, there were astounding pieces, and each one reflected the creativity, imagination and in some cases, the personality of the artist. 
Note:  photography by CMMAG member Lucy Shupe.  Thanks, Lucy!   Artwork shown by:  , Angela Thompson, Ashanti Walther, Autumn McCollough, Carolyn Coyle, Diana Keever, Denise Saunders, Donna Sloma and Jean Skipper.  More to come.
Stay tuned!