Shannon Christensen Artist•Designer•Coach
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CREATIVE LIFESTYLE

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LIVE LIKE AN ARTIST
(Or at least come along and see how an artist lives)


  “…there is evidence that engagement with artistic activities,
either as an observer of the creative efforts of others or
as an initiator of one's own creative efforts,
​can enhance one's moods, emotions, and other psychological states as well as have a salient impact on important physiological parameters.
”

​(2010) by Heather L. Stuckey (DEd) & Jeremy Nobel (MD, MPH)

Art • 5 Purposes of a Sketchbook (even if you're not an artist)

10/5/2010

1 Comment

 

5 PURPOSES OF A SKETCHBOOK

Do you have to be an artist to have a sketchbook? Absolutely not! 
Most of the reasons an artist uses a sketchbook are applicable to anyone. 
Here are 5 purposes to your sketchbook.
PRACTICE
repeated effort, proficient exercises, habitual execution

do an exhaustive study of some subject matter, try new mediums, see if you can draw something, experiment, develop skills, make mistakes, challenge yourself,   

PERSONALITY

character, qualities & behavior, style
visual reflections of your character, qualities and behavoir, record of you and your progress, your dreams, fears, 

POINT OF VIEW

personal opinion, attitude, appraisal or judgements 
life, living, world inside and outside of your head, write text, shows development of ideas

POSSIBILITIES

ideas that don't seem feasible, items that may not exist yet, imaginings that haven't taken place yet, 
information that hasn't been thought yet
imagination, fantasy, experiment, explore ideas, 
example - Leonardo diVinci's drawings of machines and new ideas

PURSUIT
quest and conquest of what's engaging, searching and securing inclinations, there are no rules
it's personal passion on paper
Picture

HOW TO USE A SKETCHBOOK

• take it with you everywhere
• use a page a day
• don't be inhibited in what you record,

WHAT A SKETCHBOOK MIGHT CONTAIN

• sketches
• cartoons
• drawing from observation
• rough drafts
• found objects
• clippings
• textiles
• pen and ink
• colored pencil

GET CREATIVE • GET A SKETCHBOOK

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Art Speak - Define: Genre

8/17/2010

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GENRE


zhahn-ruh; Fr. zhahn-r

A distinct kind or type of artwork
A similar feature creating a unifying category
A particular class of artistic pursuit by one or more artists
Groupings can be divided by 
form, content, technique, style, geographic, time

oil painting small works cup and spoon
shannon christensen 8'x8'
FORM
miniatures
small works
murals
large scale
similar subsurfaces 

oil painting cut apple
shannon christensen
CONTENT
figures
children
flowers
fruit
marine

oil painting paint brushes and paint impasto
shannon christensen
TECHNIQUE
oils
watercolor
impasto
alla prima
grisialle

oil painting cupcake
shannon christensen
STYLE
realism
abstract
impressionism
minimalist 
surrealism 

oil painting of sphere
shannon christensen
GEOGRAPHIC
south american
europe
russian
chinese
american

oil painting .44 mag handgun
shannon christensen
TIME
early christian
great depression
civil war
western
gothic

These are just some of the art genres to give you an idea.
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10 Steps of an Emerging Art Collector - Week 1

7/23/2010

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If buying art is something you've wanted to do but didn't know how then this blog series - The 10 Steps of an Emerging Art Collector - is for you. The process is bitesized (a small but wise course of action) so it will develop growth without the growing pains. There are also other benefits that developing an art attitude help that have to do with a baboon, but I digress, that is for another post. 
eBook cover 10 steps of an emerging art collector
In the art world there is a term "emerging artist". It refers to someone who is in the early stages of their career or someone who has caught the eye of an art critic or gallery owner but hasn't yet established a solid reputation as an artist.

Logically, it would seem that by definition an "emerging art collector" is someone in the early stages of their art collecting or someone who has an eye for art but hasn't yet established a solid reputation as a collector.

Just as there is training and processes for the emerging artist to follow I have created 
                 The 10 Steps of an Emerging Art Collector 
for those who have never ventured to think they could buy art let alone become a "collector". 

So EVERY FRIDAY CHECK IN FOR THE NEXT STEP. Okay, I am only yelling so that I can remind myself to post every Friday. 
Let the journey begin.

                      ____________________________
Sometime our discomfort in certain circumstances result from unknown surroundings or the unfamiliar synergy of the situation. No one likes to be in a conversation where there's a need for clarification, don't understand the discussion or actions have to be measured to avoid missteps. This can be avoided if you

        Advance Your Art         
           Understanding

The first step in becoming an emerging art collector is to advance your own art understanding. Art speak is not complicated and usually some basic vocabulary, terminology and principles will increase your knowledge quickly. Surprisingly enough this can start at home through self-directed education. I'll point you in the right directions. There are 

             4 things you can do this weekend -

1 - Learn Terminology & Vocabulary

The Greenwich Workshop carries art originals as well as reproductions. They specialize in fine art prints and on their website they have a thorough FAQ section that will inform you in some of the terminology and definitions. 
Read these sections first -

What are Greenwich Workshop 
Fine Art Reproduction Techniques?
and
What are  Greenwich Workshop Fine Art Definitions?

They are further down on their page - click on the link
Picture
Go to my old blog (click here) for some art talk there.
Check back here for vocabulary I'll be adding as well.
Picture

2 - Start an Art Journal

Write down what you learn. Questions you have. Artists and artwork that you find interesting. Websites you visit and like. Maybe even sketch a little artwork of your own. Keep this the duration of the 10 weeks to record your emerging tastes.

3 - Subscribe to One Art Magazine

I subscribe to about 4 art magazines and then I periodically pick up others. You don't need to get that crazy. Just pick one. You can go to a bookstore or order online. One I like and recommend is American Art Collector. Art Instruction delivered to your door and computer (they offer an online version in the subscription.) click image
Picture

4 - Ask Questions

You might come across things you just don't quite get. Feel free to post a question in the comments or email me. I'll find the answer for you and either email or make a post for everyone's benefit. 

DATE NIGHT TIP: Go to Barnes & Noble. Check out art magazines, buy one and have cheesecake from the Starbucks Cafe. About $20 total for two.

You are on your way. Have fun with your fist steps. More next Friday.
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Art Speak - Define: Orientation

5/7/2010

3 Comments

 
ORIENTATION
Portrait or Landscape

There are 2 ways that a rectangular painting 
can be turned and 
it is referred to as a paintings orientation. 
A paintings orientation can be either 
Portrait or Landscape

Portrait is where a painting is taller (vertical) 
than wider (horizontal). 

 Landscape is wider (vertical) than taller (horizontal). 

A couple tricks to remembering which is which - 
Portrait - when we look at a person we look 
up and down (vertical) & 
people are taller that wider

Landscape - we look side to side (horizontal) &
the horizon is vast and wide

It is not the content of the painting that determines orientation. A painting of a person reclining can have a landscape orientation and a painting of tall trees can have a portrait orientation.

Landscape Orientation

oil painting of a young woman with blowing cloth
'FAITH' 6' X 2' Oil on Canvas on Board

Portrait Orientation

painting of old fashioned milk bottle
Local 36' x 16' Oil on Board
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Art Speak - Define: Iconography

5/1/2010

0 Comments

 
ICONOGRAPHY
\ˌī-kə-ˈnä-grə-fē\

an image, subject or style that is traditionally or popularly used
to represent, symbolize or associate meaning to another thing;
a visual image used to represent a religious figure;
symbolism associated with an image
Picture
Here is an example of contemporary iconography - 
New York's I Love New York image.
The heart icon has long been associated with "love".
It's symbolism is recognized by most people and now needs no explanation to the meaning. An Icons beginning can be intentional or accidentally but it's the repetition that gives its meaning strength.
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