An Ode To The Forest Floor by Muse Jenn Pipe

My internal GPS is normally set to the ocean, but today I want to pay homage to the restorative powers of the forest floor. A few years ago, I was feeling burnt out by the fast and furious pace of my 21st century life. The nonstop responsibilities of being a business owner were wearing me down. My husband and I were having a difficult time connecting due to our opposite schedules. And my daughters were involved with multiple activities that had us playing “divide and conquer” most weekends.

I joked one particularly stressful night that I needed some Calgon to literally take me away. Alone. For at least two uninterrupted days. I put out feelers on Facebook to see if anyone had any tips for a peaceful, remote location I could explore. My criteria included no chain hotels, no bed and breakfasts, and bonus points for no TVs or wifi. I was hoping to not see a single soul or feel pressure to remain plugged in.

A friend suggested the Getaway cabins in New Hampshire (they have outposts scattered all over the country), and I was sold! I booked a midweek trip, packed a bunch of art supplies and reading material, and told my family it was my goal to be completely unplugged (i.e. “Don’t call me, I’ll call you”).

When I tell you it was absolute nirvana, I am not exaggerating! Each cabin was perfectly distanced from the others and nestled among canopies of trees. They were also outfitted with all the modern amenities you could want (including the comfiest beds and linens, cooktop, dishes, bathrooms with running water, firepits, and picnic tables)! I was in heaven! That single getaway was a commitment to both myself and my creative process. I drew, wrote, mapped out content for new classes and workshops, and took the most delicious naps after exploring the area on foot. I left feeling more recharged and relaxed than I had in years and I vowed to give myself a gift of at least two of these trips per year (which I was able to do until covid hit).

With this MUSE project, I wanted to pay homage to that forest, those cabins, and the forest floor that cradled and restored me over and over again. 

I started with both colors of Apoxie Sculpt and I sculpted a variety of mushrooms, adding little details as I went. Once the Apoxie Sculpt was dry (*note: the black clay takes longer to cure than the white clay), I coated the mushrooms with clear gesso. Once primed, they were ready for multiple coats of VerDay finish to give them that earthy, mossy vibe. 

I then gathered up some moss and tree bark and got to assembling my “forest floor.” I used a tree slice with a raw edge as my substrate. The moss was adhered with a hot glue gun, and then I arranged my fungi just so and used the hot glue gun to adhere that as well. The final touch was a few adorable little metal acorn embellishments that were also finished with VerDay. I scattered those on the forest floor as well. 

This is different than the work I usually create, but I love how it came out. Just looking at it transports me back to those sublime weekends by the forest floor. I’m going to display it in a place where it will continue to ground me on a daily basis until I can return to my cherished nirvana. 

Thanks for reading! I hope this inspires you to both create AND escape! 

You Can't Change The Wind, But You Can Adjust Your Sails- Jennifer Pipe

Those of you who know me know that the art classes I teach (and a significant portion of the art I create) are based on a lot more than just creativity. Almost everything I do is deliberately and lovingly infused with principles and practices of self-discovery. It’s my niche. And I believe so fully in the power of art as a personal growth tool, that I built my entire business on it. 

To that end, the art I make for myself is often infused with messages and reminders that I need to hear. This piece I created is no different. The year 2020, in its oft-challenging entirety, has reminded me that there is very little in this world that we can truly control outside of the things we say, the actions we take, and the things we think. Sometimes, when things feel thoroughly out of control, we forget that regardless of what is going on in the world around us, we still have complete and unwavering control over one very important thing: OURSELVES. 

We get to choose how we react. 
We get to choose how we show up. 
We get to choose how we respond. 

And, there is tremendous power in that choice! The quote on this ship will be a trusty reminder of that when I feel tempted to resort to blaming, finger pointing, and not accepting the consequences of my actions and inactions. It encourages me to take personal responsibility whenever possible, and to focus on my desired outcome as opposed to focusing on the challenge(s) at hand.  Because, at the end of each and every day, we can’t change the wind, but we can certainly adjust our sails.

Here’s How I Made This Boat:

My husband and I took a trip into a local antique shop and I saw this boat. I figured it would make a nice decoration for one of the mantles in our new home and I knew I would be able to alter it and make it fit our aesthetic. 

·       I then started by coating the entire piece with a thin coat of clear gesso. 

·       Once the gesso dried, I painted it with my base coats. The sail was painted with a coat of acrylic paint, and the base was painted with a contrasting color. 

·       I knew I wanted a focal point on the sails, so I added some contrasting, abstract splotches of Liquitex acrylic inks (I used two shades of blue and a gold). I layered the colors, and made sure I dried them in between so the resulting colors wouldn’t be muddy. 

·       I splattered a bit of paint on the sail and the body of the boat. 

·       Then, I took out some stamps from my collection and added the quote, the number “4” on the sails, the waves on both sides of the hull, and the letters “ri” on the back of the boat. 

·       Once all that was dry, I started working with some products from the Relics and Artifacts line. 

·       I adhered some of the gold Daisy Chain Dresden Trim around the base of the boat. It made the base of the boat pop a bit and helped to bring out the golds in the painted sail. 

·       I then started painting and layering assorted sizes and shapes of the Helios laser cuts, knowing that I wanted to adhere them to the sails for a gorgeous 3D effect. I chose paints in gold and bronze for the Helios pieces. 

·       Then, I used one of the Roman Sun Coins, noticing how it fit perfectly as a focal point in the center of the Helios pieces. I painted the coin white and brought out all the details with layers of a fiery orange wax. 

·       I then assembled all of the pieces together using a 3D medium, and then once they were completely dry, I attached them to the boat using Apoxie Sculpt.  

·       *Tip: if you are going to stamp a quote on your artwork, practice on a piece of paper first to ensure that it will fit. Nothing worse than starting to stamp and realizing you actually don’t have enough space. 

The end result of this project is gorgeous and it came out exactly as I hoped it would. I can’t wait to give it a place of prominence on the mantle. 

My parting challenges to you this month: find some of your favorite products from sandraevertson.com, sit down to play, and incorporate an inspiring quote or reminder into your project if you can. Then share your projects with us in the Relics and Artifacts Facebook group—tag me in your post so I can be sure to high five you and show your post some love!   

Thanks for reading and happy creating, 
Jenn Pipe 
MUSE Design Team Member 2020

Long Ago and Far Away

Editor’s Note: This is a re-cap of a challenge we had in the Tribe a couple of months ago. Then a pandemic ensued. Enjoy!

MUSE Spoon Challenge Blog Post by Jenn Pipe

There is a flea market that comes to town three times a year. Last September, I was scouring the grounds for finds that I could use in my upcoming studio classes. I was seeking inspiration while sifting through fields and fields of antiques and other people’s junk.

I eventually came upon a vendor who had lots of bits and baubles and an inordinate amount of old silverware. Once I saw the box full of old spoons, I knew I had hit the jackpot—I bought the whole lot from her and went on my merry way. My love affair of transforming these utilitarian instruments began that day!

Fast forward to February 2020: I was teaching an in-person women’s “spoon” class in the Self Esteem Through Art studio and I also volunteered to host a challenge in the Relics and Artifacts Facebook group. I thought, “Self, why not have the tribe create some spoons as well?” It seemed like a no-brainer and something that probably hadn’t been done in the tribe yet. 

Over the course of the challenge, we had quite a few beautiful submissions. There was a stunningly created winged spoon with a rich VerDay finish and lots of Relics and Artifacts products. There was another spoon that was transformed into this magical woodland scene, complete with tree branches, a swing, and these adorable little mushrooms! There was a solar system with a beautiful golden sun. A gorgeous submission that looked like a very intricate hand-held mirror that perhaps a god or goddess would own. One participant created three different spoons with three different themes and R+A products. And there was another spoon that was straight out of a fairy tale, complete with Apoxie Sculpt snake, candelabra base, and the quintessential good vs evil theme. 

When all of the MUSES convened to vote on the winner, we certainly had our work cut out for us! After discussions and deliberations, we decided that we had to award two prizes. 

Our 1st place challenge winner was Lyneen Jesse. She was the participant who created three separate spoons. But, it was her ocean-themed star spoon that truly captivated the judges. The composition was breathtaking, the finish was rich and vibrant, and the use of craft blanks was very well executed. 

Lyneen shared with me that mixed media is where her heart is, so she was excited to create on these unique little spoon “canvases.” Never having used VerDay before, she purchased some from sandraevertson.com. She admits to being disappointed after the first coat, but completely blown away after adding the second coat and applying the activator.

This is how Lyneen felt after applying the activator and watching the transformation: “OH MY! The transformation was AMAZING. I never would have believed it if I had not seen it with my own eyes. I am loving all of the finishes so far and the only one I still have to try is the bronze. Trust me, you will not be disappointed when you work with VerDay!”

Here is Lyneen’s award-winning spoon. Her spoon won her a $30 gift certificate at sandraevertson.com.

 Our runner up was Naomi Montana Walsh. When I first saw her spoon, I couldn’t take my eyes off of it. I knew it was telling us a story and it reminded me of something from a fairy tale. I couldn’t wait to reach out to Naomi to learn more! 

Naomi calls her spoon “Eve’s Temptation” and it is rich with symbolism. She wanted the bottom of the spoon to be like a pool. The foot represents Eve dipping her foot into that pool of temptation (in this case, the temptation is knowledge). Naomi sculpted the snake with Apoxie Sculpt and twisted it down the spoon handle. She then built a fruit tree at the top and then attached the spoon to a broken candelabra-like Halloween ornament for the platform.

Naomi believes Eve was best represented by an expressionless face as she was somewhere between her fall from grace. She also included an element of hope, which is represented by the dove at the bottom of the platform. So brilliant! So unique! 

This is Naomi’s spectacular spoon. She won a $20 gift certificate at sandraevertson.com.

I want to thank everyone who participated in the challenge. I also want to thank my fellow MUSES for their creative contributions, which certainly helped this challenge to gain a bit of traction, and for their expert opinions on the submissions. 

This was a lot of fun and I can’t wait to host my next challenge for the Relics and Artifacts Tribe! 

Mother Nature's Heart- Lanette Erickson

Hello Everyone, Lanette here. With all the craziness in the world right now I find myself trying to take a moment to enjoy the little things that so often go unnoticed. For example Hostas, Hydrangeas and Lilies emerging from their winter sleep. It happens so quickly every year, one day its gray and gloomy, the next the yard is green.  Normally I miss it, I'm busy with the end of school year activities. But this year I haven't, I saw glimpses of the quick change from gray and gloomy to alive and green. 

So with the wonder of Mother Nature on my mind I picked up Sandra's Vessel Heart and went to work.  This is what I ended up with: 

I truly enjoyed creating this little heart. I started by cutting a wooden block for the base and attaching a piece from a wire hanger to the back of the heart with a bit of Apoxie Sculpt.

Next I went to work on decorating  my block base with just a bit of tissue paper, watercolors  and Sandra's Beautiful stamps. (Oculus Stamp & Elements Set of 4 Collection)

Next it was on to Sandra's Vessel Heart , I opened up my New Dina Wakley Gloss Sprays and sprayed my heart out. I know this heart was indented for Halloween. But with a mix of ribbon and bright colors I think it found another use.  

Thank you so much for stopping by today I truly appreciate it! I hope that I have inspired you in some tiny way. 

Until Next Time,

-Lanette

Relics & Artifacts Products Used: 

Vessel Heart 

Elements Set of 4 Collection

Oculus Stamp

Apoxie Sculpt

Persephone's Journey- Wendy Aspinall

According to Greek legend, Persephone was Demeter’s daughter. One day while she was out gathering flowers she was snatched from the Earth by the God Hades and taken to the underworld. Her mother was so upset with worry, grief and anger she caused crops and plants to wither and die for a whole year. The earth was gripped with a terrible famine. So Zeus commanded Hades to release Persephone. But before Hades let her go he tricked her into eating some pomegranate seeds, knowing that if she ate anything from the land of the dead she would have to return to him for part of the year.

Demeter was overjoyed to have her daughter back. However every time Persephone had to return to Hades Demeter mourned and the earth's plants and crops stopped growing. But when her daughter returns she is happy and the earth comes back to life. 

I wanted this project to have a distinct play of dark and light, The darker colors represent the time when Persephone is in the underworld and her mother is sad. The light brighter colors when she comes back.

Spring is all about growing and new beginnings. Where new blooms of life bring new hope for our lives. Maybe it’s to start a new class or push our boundaries. When we do we blossom. We again look for the elements missing in our life and like the growth in the spring we become who we are meant to be. 

Never stop growling and reaching for the person you are meant to be. 

Artists Model, Kroma Crackle, VerDay paints, Apoxie Sculpt, Acrylic paint

Twigs, White gesso, Moss, Molded flowers, Wooden block

Creating Change: An Homage to Mother Nature, Jennifer Pipe

I’ve had Mother Nature on the brain lately. She is so forgiving, so generous, and so regenerative, but I think she is getting fed up with our collective apathy. She is desperately trying to tell us something and I’m not convinced the majority of us are listening. 

The fires in both Australia and the Amazon. 
The unfathomable plastic pollution in the ocean. 
The earthquakes and hurricanes in Puerto Rico. 
The leveling of natural parks and historic burial sites in the US for “walls,” pipelines, and drilling. 
Seventy-degree weather in Antarctica. 
The pollution-for-profit mindset of our current political leaders.  

These are all signs that something is amiss. The warning bells are ringing loud and ringing often! It’s mind-boggling and concerning and should be top of mind for everyone. We’ve lost our way; and our short-sightedness and greed could certainly be our undoing. Humans are our planet’s worst enemy. We take and we pillage, often forgetting that our resources are finite and this is the only place we can call home.

As I was creating this project, I pondered my roles and responsibilities as a member of the 2020 MUSE Design Team. Am I here to simply create unique pieces of art? Is my main purpose to solely promote fabulous art products? Should I keep things light and fluffy? Or am I called to go deeper than that? Could I share with you my passion for Art as Activism? Can I be real, raw, and vulnerable about my feelings? Can I simultaneously create beautiful things while also being educational and thought-provoking? 

Since art often helps me process my emotions and make sense of the world around me, I think I have to be true to myself and go with the latter; knowing that not everyone will share my viewpoints or feel my sense of urgency. This piece is simultaneously a tribute to our natural world and a canary in the coalmine cry for immediate and lasting change. I hope it inspires you to create something beautiful in the days and weeks to come—I also hope, if nothing else, it results in you thinking about the importance of clean air and clean water for all. After all, the human race can’t survive without those things!

The Project:

The base of this project is a 3.5 x 3.5 inch wooden cube, which I coated in black gesso. Atop the cube sits a resin eagle from Sandra’s “Totems” collection in a nest of moss, bark, and greenery. The eagle was painted using the “iron” paint from the VerDay paint kit and I am loving the results! The eagle’s nest is anchored by one of the resin frames from the Italian Baroque set, also painted with VerDay—brass this time.

The flags sticking out of the nest are our clarion calls:

·      Stop taking things for granted,

·      Pay attention to our ecosystems,

·      Remember, we only get one chance!

On each of the four sides of the cube, I made an homage to a particular aspect of nature. Water, forests, air, and soil. 

The “forest” side has a hand sculpted tree and heart, both fashioned from Apoxie Sculpt. The text reads, “The forests that protect our wildlife.”

The “water” side has a mermaid tail which I hand sculpted using Apoxie Sculpt. It also features handmade Apoxie Sculpt bubbles. The text reads, “The water we need to survive.”

The “air” side features a night sky scene and has a mixture of items both molded from Apoxie Sculpt and found in my stash. The moon face is the focal point of this side and the text reads, “The quality of the air we breathe.”

Everything on the “soil” side was sculpted by me, using Apoxie Sculpt. The whimsical mushrooms, trio of hearts, and polka dots were all made with love. The text reads, “The soil that fortifies our food.”

I printed the words out and adhered them with Mod Podge, highlighting the area around the words with a black Posca pen. 

I used stencils and both StazOn and Distress Inks to add visual interest to the backgrounds. At the end of the process, I highlighted some of the areas on the cube with unaltered copper VerDay paint. It gives it a nice dimensional appearance and helps create a more cohesive feel between the top of the cube and the sides. 

·      Resin eagle from the Totems collection

·      Resin Italian Baroque frame

·      Apoxie Sculpt

·      Brass and Copper VerDay Paints

I am so grateful for the opportunity to share both my art and my heart with all of you! May this post inspire you to try new materials and techniques. And may it also inspire you to contemplate new ways of existing on this beautiful blue marble we call home. 

 Jenn Pipe 2/18/2020

The Kiss Me Again by Wendy Aspinall

Becoming a Muse made me think about what inspires me, who or what makes my heart beat faster.

For me it is the work of Austrian artist Gustav Klimt. Especially his golden period, when he produced one of the most recognizable and popular pieces, The Kiss.

And as February is the month of romance. What could be more romantic than the painting The Kiss, it’s also my personal favorite and the inspiration for my contribution to this month’s Muse blog post.

I have re-worked some of his pieces with digital images but never in a physical format before, so I’m very pleased to share with you my canvas inspired by Klimt’s work.

The Kiss me again canvas re-invented with help from Relics and Artifacts by Sandra Evertson.

And like Klimt I too have used gold leaf to bring my piece to life.

Also resin blanks from Visage and Persona.

Apoxie Sculpt. Verday paint in bronze, a canvas painted with black gesso

Acrylic paint, Gold paint, Gold leaf.

I really had fun making this canvas.

I would like to hope the artist is looking down and is pleased with my interpretation of his stunning work, from one Muse to another.

I also hope I’ve inspired you to have fun and make art!

Our Muse, Sherry Matthews' Flight Path

“It’s ok...

Use your wings

A true bird never returns to the wrong nest

Fly. Soar. Fly. Never losing your way little bird.” ~ swm

It finally happened. I’ve heard about creative block. I’ve even written of ways to overcome the barrier to inspiration. I’ve experienced short dry spells in which my mojo just didn’t flow as well as it usually had. This time, however, I hit a wall.

The more I tried to create- the more frustrated I became. The more frustrated I became- the more worthless I felt. I questioned myself constantly- I was an artist who couldn’t “art”. What a vicious cycle!

The chaos began in my home- my nest. With devastating changes in my personal life, came disruptive changes in my personal space. Both of which contributed to my loss of self. I withdrew from the people and activities that are critical to who I am as a human. My creative wings were “clipped”.

I would love to announce that this post brings my grand re-awakening. However, the truth is....still, I struggle to fly. I HAVE managed to create for the first time in months. So maybe this is my proclamation of a FLIGHT PATH. My path back to myself.

My hope is that if you are reading this, and experiencing similar frustrations, you now realize you are not alone. My muse is returning and so will yours. Maybe I can send a feather your way to tuck into your wings!

MATERIALS:

Relics & Artifacts Mini Santos

Apoxie Sculpt

Wire, acrylic paint, lace, string, feathers