Finished Pages for Artfest Fatbook

So I finished the pages for the 2008 Artfest Fatbook swap. I collaged and painted an original painting from a sketch I had done several years ago passing the time at an art fair. Then created a complimentary simpler painting with all my contact info on it for the back. Then dual sided color copied them and cut them all out and then... embellished one edge, with a whole adventure of staplers, sewing machine, grommets, and hole punching. I ended up liking the stapler best but there was a definate learning curve to get the look I wanted. The concept of the Fat book is that everyone makes a single page and then they are collected and some amazing person covers and binds all of the books. Along the outside edge of everyones pages is a smorgasbord of dangling fibers, charms, and in my case leaves and feathers. I can't wait to see the finished project. This is my first time participating in this swap and it was a lot of work on top of all my other commitments in life, but I am sure it will be well worth it. I will post pics of the finished project when I get my hands on it... yippee...

Work Table

What am I working on these days. Well besides spending a large quanity of time and energy trying to navigate my new online adventures. I am chipping away at some new projects and trying to finish up some old ones.

I am going to ArtFest which is an amazing alternative artist retreat (say that five times fast).

http://www.teeshaslandofodd.com/artfest2008/info.html

So I am working on trades for Artfest (no pictures of yet) and collages for my participation in a round robin book. I am also trying to do more painting and working with my original designs in 2D. So these are pictures of a collage painting I have been working on. The idea started with a sketch done in New Orleans 4 yrs ago of a love protection vodou doll. I really like the energy in the original sketch. I am happy with the painting and love the texture and complexity but feel like it lost some of the grittiness of the original sketch. May have to try again.


Of course and then there is the creepy clown assemblages I have been having fun with.
I found the heads at VV boutique and then did some altering to them with a blow torch and some rust paint. I am enjoying the imagery. I am sure it will creep out some people though.

The Glamourous Life

Damn! Not only do I need to make the art. I need to document it, and let me tell you( if you didn't already know) translating 3d art into 2d photos that communicate the subtle nuances of color and texture is quite a feat. Perhaps a feat of divine intervention. There was after all quite a bit of praying and sacred names flying about during the process.
Lighting, camera settings, macro, flash, no flash, download, crop, adjust color, convert to jpeg, and on and on. Wow! The glamorous exciting life of the artist.

Then of course after accurately documenting it , I need to promote it. Write about it, email about it, more uploading, linking, describing and tagging. "Tagging" who knew, I thought that was something kids did with spray paint in alleys.
Ok all my grumping aside, I am excited to be creating a presence for myself in cyber world.

Got the blog started.. two posts that makes a blog. Right?
When you type in http://www.clarissacallesen.com there is something there other than the coming soon page that has annoyed interested parties for at least a year and a half.
and... there is an etsy store opened in my name. ClarissaCallesen.etsy.com
Nothing there for sale yet.. But soon very soon...working hard on it, thus the frustration with photos and downloading and cropping, and , and...