Inspiration Revealed - Going Backwards or forwards?

Guess who's back? Yes me from another one of my hiatuses. Artscape and kids kept me busy for a few weeks. Posting will continue to be sporadic until September when I get 7 hours of my day back after the boys go back to school. I have been working on some stuff though so I thought I would do a quick post to share. I'm still opening a 2nd shop (hope to have it all done by Sept. 1) for prints of collages, photography, and other artwork so I have been working on my stock for that shop. I also broke my camera, so I haven't been able to take any good product shots with the cheap pawn shop one I bought as an interim replacement. So unfortunately I have some new jewelry stuff to post, but I just can't get a shot that I feel is up to standard.

To ease my camera frustration, I have been using my pendants and jewelry as inspiration for some new pen and ink drawings. I figure I already have a ton of designs done, so why reinvent the wheel. I'm trying to combine ideas and grow them even more. It's been fun to merge the old with the new. Here's a little collage of my latest drawing that was inspired by a couple pendants and an ACEO:





So take a little time to look back on some older designs and then move forward by creating them in a different medium, combining them into one piece or expanding on them in some way.

Art With A Heart Craft Supply Drive at Artscape

Help inspire others to create!

The BEST team had a really successful craft supply drive for "Art with a Heart, Inc." last year during Hampdenfest, so we've decided to do it again at one of our largest group venues, and "America's largest free art festival" Artscape.

So help us help Art with a Heart, Inc. carry out their mission by bringing craft supply items to one of the BEST artists at Artscape. As a "thank you" for your donation, BEST is offering a one-time 10% discount off a single item purchased at Artscape from one of our participating BEST artists. Please bring any unused craft (or office) supplies or gift card to our BEST tent at Artscape or to any of our participating artists at Artscape to receive the discount. One discount per person, and the offer is only valid on purchases made at Artscape on July 17, 18 & 19th. We look forward to seeing you there!

Participating Best Members:
BlockPartyPress
DandelionBlu
ElisaShereJewelry
greenstarstudio
JenMenkhaus
JennyJen42
JillPopowichDesigns
SweetPepita
TheBrokenPlate
TigerLillyShop
Yummy & Company

Here's a list of items we are looking to collect:

* Deco Markers / Paint Markers
* Elmer’s Glue
* Erasers
* Fabric Glue / Fabric-Tac
* Hot glue guns and glue sticks
* Glue sticks
* Markers
* Masking tape
* Mod Podge
* Paint brushes
* Pencil sharpeners
* Pencils
* Single hole punchers
* Scissors
* Scotch Tape
* Tacky Glue
* Aluminum foil
* Beads
* Disposable/plastic bowls
* Elastic string
* Glitter glue
* Jewelry hardware
* Mat board
* Mat cutter
* Mini hot glue gun sticks
* Paper towels
* Puffy paint
* Screw gun
* Sculpey clay
* Self-hardening clay
* Tag board/poster board
* Thread
* Watercolor paper
* Wire

All donations will go to Art with a Heart, Inc.

"Art with a Heart, Inc. brings the joy and benefit of visual art to those who need it most. They provide interactive, hands-on art activities to disadvantaged families and children, and to people with developmental and physical challenges. They offer our unique, custom programs at a variety of sites throughout the Baltimore area, including:

• group housing facilities and shelters
• senior citizen centers
• assisted living facilities
• community centers
• public schools

Art with a Heart programs include an exciting combination of interactive activities and various art mediums. Some projects recognize important cultural and/or historical events, while others introduce participants to the world's most famous artists. They see how these accomplished creators used their medium to express emotions. Participants are then encouraged to create their own works using varied techniques and mediums.