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What is Art? – Part Two – Abstract Art Source Revealed

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Abstract art – what does it mean to you?

A couple of posts ago, I wrote about the madness of art. At the end of the post, I showed a photograph (see below) of some art that I really liked when I saw it on the website of a fellow writer.

abstract art

Is this abstract art?

To me it is. From what little I know of its creation, it wasn’t intended to be a piece of abstract art but in my eyes, it ended up that way.

The origin of this work was in three dimensions. It was, as I am sure some people will see, a piece of pottery. You can read about it here on the website of the creator. (Not God :-))

The creator in this case was writer, Christoper Waldrop of Free Thinkers Anonymous whose quirky work I adore.

I first read about Christopher’s early dabblings with ceramics here in this very entertaining blog post about the eccentric sounding aunt who introduced him to clay.

When I saw his later post about the making of a ceramic bowl from small fish fashioned out of clay, I was intrigued to see the finished product and was looking forward to seeing pictures when it was done.

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European Style Paper Beads Workshop Success

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European style paper beads are so much fun to make and they shock so many people when you reveal that they are made from paper.

When I wear my bracelets made from European style paper beads, I get lots of compliments.

And when I casually say they are made from paper, very often, people will look at me as if I am joking!

When I run my workshops teaching people how to make these beads, it is brilliant to see their faces when we reach the point at which the real magic happens.

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Christmas Crafts Decorations Made From Bread!

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Christmas crafts are very sought after at this time of year.

There are some brilliant projects around but really – how on earth do you get these…

Yes really – I made these Christmas decorations from bread.

After making the first batch, I soon realised this is a brilliant way of making lots of trendy looking tree decorations quickly and cheaply.

They are so cheap and easy to make and, they look really do look trendy. You can find my step by step video tutorial on how to make these Christmas decorations here on YouTube.

I have seen decorations like this in the fashionable places where they sell ridiculously expensive home decor items to people with money to burn.

(Usually in places where they also have barn style cafe’s full of trendy food that costs a small fortune!)

There seems to be a thing going on for decorations that are quite textured with dense fibres.

Well guess what, that’s what these look like! And for a fraction of the cost.

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What Is Art?

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Yes, what is art? And is there a specific, irrefutable answer?

what is art?
This graphic was supplied at very short notice by a talented artist and designer called Jonathon Laming. If you need graphics or clip art, designed to order at very reasonable rates, to use on your website, get in touch with me through the contact form and I will give you his details. Doesn’t matter where you live – he sends work out worldwide.

Anyway, the question – What is art? – is one I found even more perplexing after watching a TV programme recently called ‘Who’s Afraid of Conceptual Art?’

A more apt name for the programme, in my opinion, would have been ‘WTF is Conceptual Art Anyway?’

The only way I can think of explaining that kind of art, (and I may be wrong), it is by highlighting one of artist Martin Creed’s more puzzling pieces. It was probably a very expensive piece but you can’t actually pick it up, move it or touch it.

There is no tangible object involved, so naturally, it won the Turner Prize in 2001.

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European Style Paper Bead Making Tool

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The European Style paper bead making tool is especially designed for creating big hole beads (BHB’s as they are known).

Beads made with the 5mm European style paper bead making tool can be easily fitted with silver cores that will give your beads a beautiful finish.

European style paper beads made with this tool will fit Pandora style bracelets and other larger stringing materials such as leather cord.

You can see a video about making European style beads here.

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Julie Driscoll – Suffolk Artist

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Julie Driscoll
Southwold Beach Huts by Julie Driscoll

“Julie Driscoll…she sounds really familiar…where do I know that name from?”

That was the response I got from a friend when I said Suffolk artist Julie Driscoll was the next painter to be featured here.

Then…

“Oh my goodness! Julie Driscoll – that 60s singer! Wow – she paints now? And lives in Suffolk?”

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Making a Living As An Artist – One person’s Story

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making a living as an artist

Making a living as an artist – if you are a ‘starving artist’, those words may make you smile.

Having spoken to a few working artists lately, I realise there is a huge difference between making a living as an artist and making money from your art now and then.

In my next few posts, I will be showing you the work of artists who are making money out of their art and who are working towards the ideal of making a living as an artist.

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Paper Bead Cuffs

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Paper bead cuffs are my way of using my own art to create pieces of jewellery.

To create the paper bead cuffs, I do an abstract painting in acrylics on a sheet of paper slightly bigger than A4 (US letter size roughly).

The paper I use is usually quite thick and sturdy to create chunkier beads.

To find out more about making paper beads and the tool I use, click here to see a previous post that explains the process.

And to watch a video showing how I made a similar cuff bracelet click here.

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