Create > Minification

Create > Minification

Goal: Change the perceptual response to a subject through miniaturization

Catalysts:  
animate, empathize, fantasize

Studio Activity:  
Make a miniature art museum.  Collect images from magazines and interesting three-dimensional object for the ‘collection’ of your museum.  Subdivide a small chest of drawers or found box to act as different rooms in the museum.

Be inspired by the work of Evan Lorenzen > https://goo.gl/jM7aEL .  Trying to compress the history of Earth into a single book is an especially daunting task, the difficulty is compounded when the book you’re writing is the size of a nickel and is limited to just a few pages. Oh, and it needs lots of pictures. Lucky for us, illustrator Evan Lorenzen was up to the task and identified a few pivotal moments in history which he turned into this extremely tiny hand-bound book. You can see more of his miniature books over on his Tumblr.

Be inspired by the Miniature treehouse sculptures by Jedediah Voltz > https://goo.gl/qplcBw .  LA-based artist Jedediah Corwyn Voltz constructs miniature treehouses wrapped around common house plants or bonsai trees in his new sculptural series titled Somewhere Small. Voltz relies on over a decade of commercial prop making for film and other projects to craft each structure from scratch using small bits of wood, silk fabric, miniature artworks, and semi precious stones that are hidden throughout. To-date he’s produced some 25 little habitats that resemble everything from tiny watchtowers in secluded forests, to large bustling windmills or water wheels.

Be inspired by Tel Aviv-based artist Shay Aaron > http://www.facebook.com/ShayAaronMiniatures who constructs incredible miniaturized food sculptures at 1:12 scale that look almost completely edible.  You can see more photos on Flicker > http://www.flickr.com/photos/shay-aaron/sets/72157618675112894/ and he also makes miniature food jewelry which is availble over on Etsy > http://www.etsy.com/shop/shayaaron

Also look at PostCarden > https://goo.gl/LHIKnY . The PostCarden is a mini garden you send through the mail. The version pictured above is their recently-available Christmas card, however they have a bunch of other fun designs available via their web site > http://www.postcarden.com/

Look at this French museum > https://goo.gl/g9owIx

Create > Progressive Distortion

Create > Progressive Distortion

Goal:  Show visual distortion in a progressive sequence series.

Catalysts:  

Repeat, distort, change, metamorphose

Studio Activity:  

Depict the ‘melt down’ or ‘evolution’ or ‘metamorphosis’ of an object in at least a three-step sequence.  IN the first step show the object in its normal state, then render four subsequent steps showing the object gradually transforming.

Be inspired by Pablo Picasso illustrating the concept of abstraction. The ‘Bull’ series shows how to develop an artwork from the academic to the abstract.  In this series of images, all pulled from a single stone, Picasso visually dissects the image of a bull to discover its essential presence through a progressive analysis of its from.  Each image is a successive stage in an investigation to find the absolute ‘spirit’ of the beast.  

Look at Roy Lichtenstein’s abstraction series of the same subject matter.

Create > Zentangle Pattern Hand

Create > Zentangle Pattern Hand

The Zentangle Method is an easy-to-learn, relaxing, and fun way to create beautiful images by drawing structured patterns. You can use it to create beautiful images. It increases focus and creativity, provides artistic satisfaction along with an increased sense of personal well being.

Characteristics of Zentangle Art

Intuitive

With the Zentangle Method, anyone can create beautiful images from repetitive patterns. It is easy to learn and easy to do. And even though it is a specified series of steps, it results in a creative expression that transcends its own rules.

Fun and Relaxing

Creating Zentangle art provides a fun and lighthearted way to relax and intentionally facilitate a shift in focus and perspective. The Zentangle Method of creating art is unencumbered by dogma and cost which can weigh on other approaches. Nevertheless, it is sufficiently structured and organized so you can enjoy and benefit from an activity that otherwise might be considered whimsical.

Unexpected Results

With our Zentangle Method we encourage you to not have a preconceived idea of your final result. Following this somewhat unusual approach, your creation is not restricted by your expectations.

Ceremonial

Repetitive, simple steps are part of the Zentangle Method. These steps support relaxation, focus and inspiration. It can be a wonderful daily ritual.

Timeless

Creating designs, manipulating symbols and putting pen to paper is part of our human heritage. In a time of keyboards, computer mice, and cell phones, the simple strokes that are part of the Zentangle Method automatically engage you in a comfort and familiarity of timeless, basic creativity.

Portable

Everything you need to create beautiful Zentangle art can fit in your pocket. This easy to learn method of relaxed focus can be done almost anywhere, alone or in groups, without any special abilities or costly equipment.

Quality

Our Zentangle Kit is elegantly designed, crafted and presented. If you are going to do something, then do it with the finest tools and materials available. We use the best paper and pens available to ensure your Zentangle creations will be a respected and treasured work of art. Unlike other methods of relaxation and focus, you not only feel good, you get a side effect of beautiful art to be appreciated, collected, chronicled and reflected upon for years to come.

Non Technical

Our Zentangle tools and method are not limited by technology. Your creativity is not directed by how someone else wrote a particular program, nor does it need batteries or electricity. Our Zentangle approach provides a counterbalance to our increasing use of computers, mice, screens and keyboards. It returns us to that fundamentally human behavior of manipulating symbols and putting marks on paper. Nothing is pre-programmed. Your creativity is your only limit and this Zentangle method has a way of increasing and inspiring expression of your personal creativity.

Empowering

It is an empowering and uplifting experience to learn that you can deliberately relax and intentionally direct your attention while creating beautiful works of art .

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