found fun

...sell individual journals of drawings, random writing, and miscellaneous creativity (each journal should be created over several months)
...create a zine that, after read and enjoyed as a zine, can unfold into a large piece of art for a frame
...write a poem or piece of prose, then draw the letters/writing onto a large canvas
...create the lines of a large mixed media drawing by poking holes in the paper, canvas, etc
...paint with espresso, red wine, dirt, and/or grass stains

Why am I revealing my ideas for future work? Aren't I sort of "giving away secrets"? Ha! Of course not. First, I will always have more ideas. But what's more important than more ideas is the notion that someone else has the same ideas.

Let me take a step back for a moment. Rarely are there ideas in art that are original; most art is usually inspired by something that came before it...at which point, the work attempts to take on a different perspective in a unique way. That's the best we can do as artists. So why am I sharing my ideas? Because these ideas have probably entered someone's mind at one point or another and have probably been created as artwork at one time or another. In other words, they're probably not new.

[the point]

The only thing more interesting than a good idea is to see all the ways in which multiple people communicate that one idea.

So I say to all of you, take these ideas and create your own art! Regardless of whether you're a professional artist or a hobbyist that dabbles with "paint-by-numbers", give these ideas a shot. See what happens. If you want, send me an image of your creation and I'll post it in abstractLatte (giving you full credit of course).

At the very least, you'll have fun so enjoy your creativity!

Detour: a Moleskine project

Fascinated by journals and their many functions? Maybe you're a Moleskine fan? Do you like creative collaborations? Then you need to check out "Detour" (http://www.moleskine.com//events/detour/)...



I'll be honest, there is a lot of work displayed but the time spent browsing is worth it. Yes, there are images of journals but there are also videos that show the respective artists flipping through their Moleskines; it's a nice perspective to have when trying to make a connection to the artist and their work. The Detour project also supports the non-profit foundation lettera27.

This site is definitely bookmark-worthy; check it out at http://www.moleskine.com//events/detour/. Perhaps it will make you think twice the next time you pass a Moleskine journal in your local bookstore.

fifty-two {a study in words and their meanings}

I thought about publishing a new word and its definition every day but reality forced me to understand that won't happen, especially if I'm out of town. Then I thought about every week, which is when I realized that anyone could pick up a dictionary and look up a word anytime they wanted to, without ever having to read my word posts.

That's when it hit me...fifty-two {a study in words and their meanings}...my committment to a new word, and its definition, every couple of weeks. But instead of just typing the words and definitions, I'm going to draw them...or maybe use collage...and possibly found letters. Each handmade treatment will support the word's definition while providing a bit of contrast between digital type and a sense of humanity.

Each week a new image and hopefully, a new understanding of how letters communicate..

...{first word coming January 2010}

the "coffee & tea" section has cafes!

After a few months of planning and a decent amount of traveling, the first coffee shop has been published to the "coffee & tea" section.

"The Coffee Bean" is a great place, one that I've visited many times; even if you're not in the area, their wide variety of drip coffee is available through phone orders. Although I've included a link to a second shop, "Mudhouse", the content is being developed and I still need to take the photographs of the cafe. Don't worry, I plan on having content for this cafe by March 2009.

For now, enjoy abstractLatte's first featured cafe and check back soon for more featured shops!

the assemblage of Art Foundango

As I've said before, when career creatives take a step back from the traditional approach to their industry, great things happen. This is the case with Art Foundango, the blog of assemblage artist Randy Hill. I've been fascinated with his work for quite a while and had the pleasure of sending him some interview questions so that others could learn more about this talented artist and his work.



1. Before I ask you about the incredible assemblage art that you create, how did you get your start in the visual arts?

First, thank you for this interview, I really appreciate it.

Like so many other people, I was first interested in art as a child. My earliest memory of drawing took place in elementary school. I can remember studying and sketching the ear of the student sitting in front of me in class when I should have been studying. That was just the beginning of a lot of bad grades in school and my interest in art.

In my teens I did a lot of ink and charcoal drawings and pointillism. I especially loved to draw old classic cars and anything having to do with cowboys, Indians and the civil war.

I had a huge love of music growing up and I became a drummer in my early teens. In a round about way it started me on the road to designing band logos, media kits, album covers and things of that nature. It eventually grew into an over 30 year career in graphic design.

2. Could you elaborate on the following excerpt from your artist statement..."My passion for creating this kind of art reaches back into a childhood that was rich with the vision and imagination that is naturally found in my home state of Texas."

First, I consider myself very fortunate that I grew up in the great state of Texas where you are brainwashed as soon as you start first grade.

As a child you are drilled with facts and trivia on your knowledge about everything Texas. "What is the state bird? State song? State rock?" In addition, you have this vast colorful history of Texas, the battles of the Alamo and San Jacinto and the fight for independence from Mexico. Then to top it all off, Texas becomes the Republic of Texas – its own country. It's a very romantic story, full of myth, legend and a little bit of truth.

I am struck with the immensity of state pride that people who live in Texas have, especially now that I have lived in other states and countries over the years. I have yet to find a state here in the U.S. that comes close to matching the pride that Texans have. I mean, we put the Texas flag and the state shape on everything!

Probably the largest influence comes from growing up on a farm in central Texas in the middle of a melting pot of cultures; German, Mexican, Czech, French and all the foods, music and traditions that go with each of them. Combine that with the fascinating array of farm implements, tools and everyday living sorts of objects I grew up with, it had to have had an influence on the way I look at things.

3. Who are some of your influences in the assemblage art world?

Michael DeMeng is someone who really fanned the spark of assemblage creation for me. It was through finding a book that featured his works that I realized that what I had been creating all along actually had a name and was actually considered art. Since then there are others that I really admire; James Michael Starr who is another fellow Texan, Christopher Conte who produces absolutely amazing assemblages and assemblage clockmaker, Roger Wood.

4. How do you get that first spark of inspiration when starting a new piece? What is your process for creating a typical piece?

That is a very difficult question to answer. Frequently the assemblage I am working on just evolves as I start looking at the various objects that I have to pick from in my collection. It also makes a difference whether I'm just doing the piece for myself or if it is a commissioned piece.

I would say though, that my childhood and the era I grew up in had a huge influence on my artwork. I was born in 1955 and grew up during an amazing period of time. The race to the moon…the Beatles and all the amazing music that was created during the 1960s all had an influence. Movies I was exposed to as a kid like, "The Time Machine" and "20,000 Leagues Under The Sea," "First Men In The Moon" and "Journey To The Center of the Eath" fired my imagination even more.

I always joke that the Twilight Zone TV series back in the 1960s totally messed up my mind. What was lacking in any special effects we had at the time was made up for in creative writing and storytelling of which the Twilight Zone is a great example.

5. What do you find most challenging about assemblage art and how do you successfully move past that challenge?

The hardest part for me sometimes is the initial idea. Is it creative? Is it forced? I pretty much know by now when I'm forcing an idea that doesn't fit and when I'm genuinely inspired. There's nothing like that feeling of excitement when everything is clicking and the artwork is growing and changing as I work on it.

Little happy accidents are always welcome too. The guitar piece that I did titled "I Saw The Light" was one of those little accidents. My son-in-law was going to throw out his broken guitar from his childhood and I asked him if I could have it because I thought I could make something cool out of it. I made a tribute to Hank Williams with it, due in part to my love for old classic country music. It was only a couple of years later that I realized that it was the same brand (Silvertone) guitar that Hank Williams played. That was cool.

6. Have you ever considered creating assemblage portraits of people? Would you consider creating a self-portrait assemblage piece?

The closest I've come to doing an assemblage portrait is when recently a couple asked me to do an assemblage to represent their love for each other. That one will be an interesting challenge. As far as creating an assemblage self portrait? I might go crazy just trying to get started on that one. My whole life has been an assemblage.

Here are two examples of his work:

Title: "Sanctuary"

Title: "This One Wants To Be A Blues Guitar"

If you're like me, you're already interested in what he's going to create next! Having said that, check out http://artfoundango.blogspot.com for updates and new work. Thanks, Randy, for a great interview and continued inspiration!

lost idea + lost inspiration = lost potential

What goes through your mind when I say "journal"? A diary perhaps? Maybe daily events such as a rough travel itinerary? Maybe you think of fine artists or writers and don't see the correlation between a small book of personal notes and your personal creative activities. I can assure you there is a connection; and with a small effort any creative activity, no matter what it is, can be enriched with a journal.

Everyone has ideas. For professional creatives, these general and sometimes vague notions often end up as stepping stones to greater, more specific ideas for projects and approaches. On occasion, they can move an entire body of work to creative success. And sometimes, it's not the ideas but rather the subjects of inspiration that can lead to creative epiphanies. But these ideas, these epiphanies, these subjects of profound importance, along with the resulting creative success, won't happen if that initial kernel of thought is forgotten.

That's exactly what journals do, they help you remember.

From ideas to observations, journals are portable handwritten hard drives of information that you stumble upon from day to day. Sometimes they can read like exhausted ramblings; that's alright because it's better to have the ramblings down on paper than bouncing around in your head while you're shooting photography or trying to enjoy travel sites of interest. Observations can also inspire, which could lead to a lot of excited and messy writing, arrows, and scratched-out words. That's fine too; by writing out a thought process that was, for example, inspired by some really interesting signage you came across the other day, you help yourself make sense out of the bubble of excitement that just burst within your mind. And don't feel limited to writing or doodling. Take photo studies or quick pictures as observation, print them and cut them out, then glue them into your journal. Maybe down the road those pictures or doodles will inspire a new project or support an existing one.

For me, my journal is irreplaceable. I write prose and poetry, I draw, illustrate, and shoot photography so my journal pages have varied content (your journal should be tailored to your needs). And since it's something I take with me nearly everywhere I go, it had to be interesting to look at and to use while remaining durable at the same time. After buying a leather journal at Borders that used a piece of leather threaded through three holes as binding, I took it apart. Using a variety of paper from my art supply(newsprint, charcoal paper, packing paper, as well as plain white drawing paper), I cut the paper down to the journal size, punched the necessary holes in all the sheets, and re-bound the journal with custom paper. It's inspiration in itself but again, that's what works for me.

How do you know what type of journal will work for you and your creative interests?

That's easy, whatever you think will be fun and interesting to use. Just make sure it's durable since it will (or should) travel with you on a somewhat regular basis. If you carry a pack to store supplies such as a camera or paint/brushes, journal size may not be an issue. But, if you don't carry a bag of some sort, you may want to look for something small that can be tucked into a coat or pants pocket.

It sounds like a lot of work but once you integrate it into your creative life, using a journal becomes second nature. Even if it is a small inconvenience, the benefits are definitely worth it.

Hanger 3

I find that when creative individuals take a step back from the traditional approach to applying creativity and develop their own ideas into fully branded and conceptually tangible realities, great things happen...everytime. Hanger 3 is an example of this idea...http://hanger3.com/.



What I enjoy most about these necklaces is that there is a real story behind them. The token design, its lettering, where they could take somebody in that respective city; there are so many questions that come to mind when I see them. This is the kind of experience people should have with their personal belongings/accessories/accents.



I encourage anyone who is looking for a unique way to express themselves to check out the website; keep an eye open for t-shirts and buttons as well!...http://www.hanger3.com/

found objects as art and fiction

How to create a path to inspiration by going around a creative block

Creative work thrives on change and variation. Whether you're a professional artist or weekend hobbyist, creativity needs an open mind in which to work and an open mind is one that allows inspiration to enter at any time. However, inspiration is unpredictable when it's allowed to show up on its own; sometimes, it needs to be "found".

To give you an example, it's no longer enough for me to shoot a random subject. I need to know in advance what I want to capture as well as have a reason for capturing the shot. After writing out my ideas and overall thought process, I decided to shoot found objects. Found objects, random items that are found (as they lay) in public spaces, have always fascinated me so I figured this would be a good place to start. But I wanted to spice up these shots, give them something extra beyond just being pictures on paper. Since I write on a regular basis, I thought it would be interesting to add a story to each shot; taken one step farther, I decided to let the subject of the photograph dictate the story.

That's where I came up with found objects as art and fiction. I realized that those objects somehow got to that spot, either on purpose or accidentally. Who was it that dropped that bottle cap? Did the wind blow that piece of paper into the pile of leaves? These types of questions started popping into my head and that's when I knew I was inspired.



Am I suggesting that every creatively blocked photographer start shooting pics of street litter? Not necessarily. What I want you to do is think of something random that most people don't pay much attention to. Maybe it's retail receipts, lint, lost change underneath couch cushions, or even chewing gum stuck to a sidewalk. Find something that is often overlooked and start taking pictures. Ask yourself how that item got there. Try and figure out what, or who, it belonged to before it was left there. Jot down notes on what comes to your mind. And most important, keep taking pictures! Spend an hour going through this process. When you get home or back to your studio, develop the shots and compare them to your notes. At that point, let the thought process flow naturally and see where it takes you.



Inspiration isn't easy. Sometimes it comes naturally but a lot of times, it's not there when we need it most. So go out and find it. Create your own path to inspiration and creativity; and remember, creativity isn't just a fun product, it's a fun process.

(originally posted in JPG Magazine's online community on 10-21-2008)

© 2008 joe blend. All rights reserved.

my journal

I don't remember how I discovered journals. When I finally decided to invest both money and time into one, it started out as a source for inspiration. I would cut out images and whole articles, gluing them onto the pages and adding my own notes. My journal process moved to drawings, then writing, and now it's a combination of everything.

For some reason, I never finished a journal. What happened is I started using it and realized after a month or even a few months that the book wasn't accomodating my needs. My journals have included the following:

a purchased leather journal - about 6"x9", with a leather tie that wrapped around the journal a few times to keep it closed...{concern}...too big and became too heavy as more collaged elements/pages developed

handmade/retail hybrid, version 1 - front/back cover and spine of a watercolor sketchbook, with thread-bound signatures of newsprint...{concern}...I did a poor job of binding and the signatures were too heavy for the paper, it was also too uncomfortable to use

handmade/retail hybrid, version 2 - front/back cover and spine of a watercolor sketchbook with a handmade accordion pocket inside with various types of paper...{concern}...it was annoying to pull out and return individual pieces of paper, cut out articles, etc using the accordion pocket

moleskine - 3"x5", too small...didn't last long

handmade - handmade paper cut into two pieces for the front and back cover, contained different types of paper, bound with binding screws...{concern}...too fragile

Well, I've finally found one that I consistently enjoy! It is, in a lot of ways, the best parts of my previous journals. I think what I like best about this one is its flexibility and simple binding.

current journal - relaxed leather for the front/back cover and spine, bound by a strip of leather tied off at both ends, contains different types of paper

details: when I purchased it, I took out most of the paper it contained and began my quest for custom paper. I cut pages out of newsprint, charcoal paper, packing paper, and white drawing paper (as well as used some of the paper it came with); I cut the sheets in a sloppy manner on purpose, inspired by the deckled edges of my old watercolor sketchbook.

Once i punched holes in all the pages, I re-bound the journal. Now I had a custom journal with a variety of papers. And once I fill this journal, I can re-bind it with new papers and re-use the leather cover/spine as many times as I want.

Here are a few shots of some of my favorite pages...

cover




first page




random writing



random drawings



For those of you that don't use journals, I recommend you start. You don't have to be an artist, designer, writer, etc to use a journal. If you enjoy traveling, going to antique stores, or enjoy keeping track of various activities, a journal can be a fun and personal way to accomplish that; it's also interactive so more than one person could use the same journal.

Although there are a number of places to purchase a journal, it all depends on what you want. Here are some helpful links to get you started:

Handbound.com

My Handbound Books

Barnes and Noble

Borders

Etsy

Cavallini & Co.

journal content © 2008 joe blend. All rights reserved.

from the butterfly exhibit at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington, DC

something to consider

A trio of butterflies, almost reckless in their fun, flap bold, brittle and beautiful in a game of 'let's duck and weave through the visitors, silently bumping them with a puff of air'.

They chose life over looks.

© 2008 joe blend. All rights reserved.

It was a really interesting exhibit. In a relatively small room/corridor, sealed to keep in the humidity and the flapping exhibits, the butterflies were everywhere and nowhere. No sounds to indicate movement, just a flutter in your peripheral vision or a flash of color next to a leaf. And you had to watch every step you made, there was no way of knowing where (or when) a butterfly would decide to sit.

To see one in public is amazing; to see many of them in one space is profound.

url - http://www.mnh.si.edu/

"I'm asking for the extra espresso shot because there's a lot to do and I just woke up."

Several months ago, I realized I didn't know what I was trying to accomplish as an artist.

Over the past several months, picking up a pen to draw or planning a few hours to shoot a hundred photos seemed like old habits that were on their way out. My writing continued. And I was reading...a lot; my home library became more interesting to me than my sketchbook and that's a hard thing to accept as a visual artist.

As I said, I'd increased my reading. Publications like "The New Yorker" and the "A Series of Unfortunate Events" series by Lemony Snicket fascinated me and I started to realize I wanted my work to have more function, more utility. Although I didn't mind creating fine art, I wanted there to be an aspect of my work that provided an experience. I revisited my journal writing, the stuff I'd scribbled and scratched out over the last several months that pertained to my future in the arts. And this is when things started to click into place. Among my scribblings were comments on Kramer Books and Afterwords Cafe (a really cool local bookstore/cafe in Washington DC) and notes on various sketchbooks of very talented illustrators, along with references to art journals. That's when it hit me. I needed to make a change.

So I've decided that I'm taking my work and blog in a fresh direction...handmade books and art, and more of a bookstore/cafe approach to my blog. I guess it's not so much a new direction as a reallocation of my skills and creative focus.

Some sample work:

A table of contents page from a small writing zine

A sample spread



I'll post more images as projects near completion but look for writing and drawing previews as well!

above images and content © 2008 joe blend. All rights reserved.

a pregnant pause in slow motion

the last cigarette of the pack,
thoroughly enjoyed,
smoked to the filter;
the last drag, intense and almost intolerable,
pulled with dedication;

or

maybe comfortably discarded during a brief pause,
a hairline opening between lips and words
as the only cue?

the filter drops.

...hits the ground,
bounces,
for a moment,
then,

stops.
{...as if the smoker knelt and placed it with care};

maybe next time it will be out a window.

© 2008 joe blend. All rights reserved.

"2008 minus 1799 equals..."

Mount Vernon hedge perfume, a favorite greeting but how long will the shrubs keep their voices? Old brick and fun house mirror glass, all of it weathered, but mature. I guess the bushes will be fine.

Its collective ass has been kicked by inherited or purchased neglect and its birthdays are well into triple digits but it’s still giving “meet-n-greets”. I’ve decided there’s no sense in worrying.

But, the “Sons of the...” and the “Daughters of the...”, even everyone in between, don’t realize death is inevitable. A wrinkled chair is no match for people putting their fingers on things they shouldn’t put their fingers on. A brittle portrait doesn’t stand a chance when camera flashes are allowed to cripple. A bio-print is more like a bio hazard to paint that’s 220 years young. Prosthetic parts and cloned pieces will help the mansion blow out the last few candles before the icing melts...“restoration”, if you don’t mind. But is that truly being a part of the “Friends of the American Revolution”?

I’d rather see Monticello stagger with a cane than run with bionics.

© 2008 joe blend. All rights reserved.

"On Trees...different location"

where manmade ends and the trees begin,
overlapping green,
floating,
no obvious connection to the course brown
that protrudes from
ground and trunk;

staring reveals infinite nature and its accessories,
a safe haven,
a mature security blanket,
i'm not embarrassed to be wrapped up in this
because green is good;

we're cousins, organic, of the earth...


...but...


we kill them,
without hesitation,
while they help us live by donating oxygen
to our cause;

in this moment they're protecting me,
from traffic,
from buildings,
free therapy because i had the sense
to open my eyes and listen.

© 2008 joe blend. All rights reserved.

creative thoughts in typed form

Since the beginnings of my blog, I've slowly developed an interest in writing. It started as a need to craft better workhorse copy but is now a strong focus on the creative aspects of written and typed words. Sketching, communication, creativity, documentation, they're all reasons for my writing.

Recently, I became a member of the editred online writing community. It's proven to be a good place to share writing, access writing resources, and interact with other word artists. Although I'm working on an art/writing project offline, I've uploaded a sample of my work here...

http://www.editred.com/JoeBlend

I'll upload more work as its produced. I'm very excited to merge writing, art, and graphic design in a way that allows the words to take a more unique form while still doing justice to the content; I'll post more on that soon.

random sketchbook stuff

Here are some random sketchbook pages that I've been working on recently; there are more but these are the most interesting.

comments, and chalk drawings from chalk board at Caribou Coffee




random objects




some thoughts on R.E.M.




random objects




writing on a glass coaster, clocks, and construction



"Caribou Coffee" and the R.E.M. name/logo/song titles belong to their respective owners, and include any applicable copyrights and trademarks.

all other work © 2008 joe blend. All rights reserved.

my new art journal

Journals have fascinated me for quite a while, it was only until recently that I made a serious effort to keep one on me at all times. So, before I talk about my current journal, here's a little background info...

My wife bought me an artist journal with handmade paper about 6 months ago. I filled it up with various drawings and illustrations, then carefully cut out most of the pages as final artwork. After realizing I didn't want to have the book sitting around, its remaining pages full of subject studies that will never see the inside of a frame and matte, I decided to cut out the remaining "useless" work and re-bind the book. It had sentimental value and it marked a key stage in my career so I was determined to continue using it.

Well, I'm not a book artist so my first two attempts at re-binding the book were horrible. The vision was there, the craft was not! Not only did the unstable result have a fraction of the pages I would normally need, it was uncomfortable to use. The only good thing about it was the accordion pocket I made and secured to the inside back cover, filled with various types of paper. And that's when my "a-ha!" moment occurred.

Since I really liked the dimensions of the original book (roughly 9" x 6"), which made it comfortable for me to keep in a bag or in my car, I decided to only fill it with accordion pockets. This way, I could fill one pocket with different kinds of paper for drawing and writing, and fill the other pocket with "found stuff" like cut out photos, labels, etc. Gone were the feelings of uncertainty when handling my journal; now, I could get the most use and fun out of the journal! Anyway, here are some photos:

The cover in all its glory. It has a nice handmade/textured feel to it...

The journal opened, with paper slid out of the back pocket. The papers I have in there now are newsprint, Strathmore drawing paper, regular notebook paper, paper with the texture of packing paper, and some smooth paper from an older journal...




A different angle of the pockets with some found items and experiments. I can't wait to start drawing on the front of the outside pocket...




This is the first page from the original journal, cut out and adhered to the inside cover. It started as a "table of contents", then became a montage of words and thoughts to include my favorite definition of illustration from the book "FINGERPRINT, The art of using handmade elements in graphic design" by Chen Design Associates...

"The visual communication of an idea or an object is executed, at least in part, by someone with exemplary powers of observation - and the ability to translate those observations into meaningful hand-articulated forms."



I think what I love most about this new journal is that when I use all the paper I just refill the pockets, keeping select older pages for future reference.

ink snacks

Zine name: "ink snacks"
Concept: bite-sized creativity
Content: prose, poetry, and small format artwork...along with a few surprises in each issue
Dimensions: 4"x4", unfolding to 14"x17"

cover



open zine



ink snacks (tm) content and design © joe blend. All rights reserved.

zines

Handmade, and generally inexpensive to produce, these small self-published books can cover any topic that your imagination can think of...from your daily gardening routines to drawings and pictures of your favorite signs to funny faces that your pet makes every week. There is no limit to the possibilities of their design; while some may choose to use paint and markers, others may photocopy their zines in black and white.

While it's true I've published a zine through abstractLatte before, and that I am working on a fresh version of that zine, I would like to make other zines around different concepts. Regardless of how easily they can be printed, zines require illustration, design, and production in addition to writing so they generally take longer to produce from concept to completion; check back periodically for updates!"

upcoming zines:

"ink snacks [bite sized-creativity], second edition"

"ink snacks" (tm) content and design © 2008-2010 Joe Blend. All rights reserved.

kramerbooks and afterwords cafe

subject: Kramer Books and Afterwords Cafe
materials: pen, pencil, gouache, found items, and torn paper on newsprint



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