...in my spare time

New Blog, New Name, New Art

noreply@blogger.com (Jan Allsopp) — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 01:18:00 +0000

Howdy. Just so you know, I've got a new blog The Artling and it's really coming along nicely. Just so as you get an idea of what you might see over at The Artling, here is one of my little ink drawings based on emotions.

And in case you need even more motivation to check it out - there is a free ebook on sketching available there too. Look forward to catching up with you! xx

Exciting News Soon!

noreply@blogger.com (Jan Allsopp) — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 07:14:00 +0000

My dear readers, I've been gone from this blog, and from you, for much longer than I expected! Lot's has happened but I won't go into a narrative of everything over the last year plus! I just wanted to let you know I'm fantastic and creating up a storm! In fact, I will be announcing something very new and very exciting in the next little while. Be ready!

Blogging hiatus.

noreply@blogger.com (Jan Allsopp) — Wed, 19 May 2010 22:46:00 +0000

I've been blogging for over 4 years now and loved every minute of it. Suddenly, however, I don't love it. This is a feeling I could never have imagined but, here it is. So I'm taking a break. At this point I plan to be back at some stage later this year either here or over at my new blog I've been working on (it was going to be a surprise!) I don't want you to think it was you that made me feel like this. I have truly loved and felt humbly privileged to have your company here. It is you I will miss! I just don't want to be a blogger right now. So,

cheers!

Look what I just got in the mail!

noreply@blogger.com (Jan Allsopp) — Wed, 19 May 2010 02:50:00 +0000

My prize from Grace of Little Black Crow's giveaway! Woohoo!

http://littleartycraftycrow.blogspot.com/

Thank you so much Grace! I LOVE it. Xxx

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

I'm waiting for something

noreply@blogger.com (Jan Allsopp) — Fri, 07 May 2010 05:23:00 +0000

I'm not sure what.

But while I'm waiting I'm having a lovely time with the daily 'thank you' posts on THXTHXTHX. Like todays...

and yesterdays...

I think you get my drift now...

"Leah Dieterich's mother always told her to write thank you notes. So she does. To everything. thxthxthx is her daily exercise in gratitude."

Giveaways? What giveaways?

noreply@blogger.com (Jan Allsopp) — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 00:01:00 +0000

The giveaways are coming! I promise!

Firstly I sent out the prizes to the winners of the last giveaway (no. 2). I posted them off last week so you should have them by now winners! Still waiting to hear from incywincycider though. I don't have your address so please contact me!

I've been slow in offering giveaway no. 3 & 4 because I'm working on some big news here and I'm not quite ready to share yet. Soon. I promise!

My Creative Space

noreply@blogger.com (Jan Allsopp) — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 23:35:00 +0000

I'm joining Kirsty in showing my creative space again this week. While I haven't been posting much lately a lot has been going on albeit mainly in my brain. However, today I am experimenting with what I think might become my new favourite thing - Ampersand Gessobords.
These carefully constructed PH neutral boards are perfectly coated with a special gesso finish that is specifically for acrylic or oil paints. They are light and phenomenally sturdy. I'm thinking they will easy for posting and shipping. I'm also doing further experiments with oil paints and coloured grounds.

What is your creative space like today? Join in or check out the other creative's spaces.

Alice giveaway on Little Black Crow Studio blog

noreply@blogger.com (Jan Allsopp) — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 03:04:00 +0000

Really I didn't want to tell you about this giveaway because I want to win it and if you enter then I have less of a chance but it's one of the rules of entry so I have to. Hmm. Oh well, enter if you like, but be aware that I WILL win it! (Isn't it fabulous!?) Click the picture for the link!

And speaking of giveaways, I haven't forgotten. My 3rd giveaway will be up on my blog very soon! Have a great day!!

...and the winners are...

noreply@blogger.com (Jan Allsopp) — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 22:42:00 +0000

Firstly THANK YOU EVERYONE WHO ENTERED! You really made this fun for me :]

To draw the winners of Giveaway no. 2 I got out the black felt hat my man bought in Paris last year. I thought you all would appreciate the opportunity to go Parisian even for just a moment.
Making sure I put in all of the entries each one was entitled to and to swish and swirl you enough, I turned my head away and squeezed my eyes shut, dipping my hand in I grabbed the first one I touched...

It's Casey! who is one of my new friends from the Indie Biz course I'm doing. (Actually, while we are talking about Casey, make sure you check out her inspiring blog Live Your Art.)

Second out of the hat was incywincycider! (I love your name incy!) I don't have your email address incy, so can you contact me please?

And third out was tractorgirl! who has a fabulous Etsy shop of cushions and brooches you simply must check out.

Well, now that the paper and hat work is done I'll be emailing the winners next and then get to think up the prize for Giveaway no. 3. Sounds like it is going to be a fun day to me!!!

My week & Giveaway close extended

noreply@blogger.com (Jan Allsopp) — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 10:28:00 +0000

I've had a GREAT week in Sydney and just got back. I can't draw the winner to Giveaway 2 until tomorrow so I'm extending the closing time by 12 hours until 7am Friday 16th (tomorrow EST, Australia). To enter post a comment on the Giveaway 2 post and for a 2nd entry follow this blog!

I had some great fun with my iPhone camera in Sydney...

We went to a Mexican restaurant that served Margaritas in tumblers
because all their Margarita glasses had been smashed.

I spent most of my time in the Inner West which is my favourite part of Sydney
(or it might be if I did favourites).

I stayed with 4 different friends or family, some more than once.
Due to my schedule and theirs I usually got to spend time with them
NOT on the days I stayed with them!

I went to Pub Trivia at the Youth with my daughter and her friends.
Technically we won.

Unfortunately Murray the quiz master has some irrelevant and redundant 'jeopardy question' thing AFTER the final scores are added up (and we won!). After this suspiciously unfair question we came 5th.
Technically we won.

Sat with a drink and enjoyed the beautiful Darling Harbour night view.

Went to the Archibald, Wynne and Sulman exhibition. I always enjoy it. The Sulman is my favourite because it is usually quite fun.

These are detail shots of Damien Kamholtz' Breath (full view below), a finalist in the Sulman.

I hope you had a great week too!

Giveaway no. 2!

noreply@blogger.com (Jan Allsopp) — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 21:22:00 +0000

Here it is, my gorgeous little embroidered pouch, off on it's way to Nicky the lucky winner of Giveaway no. 1. I think I might miss it... No, I'm fine because now I'm completely distracted by Giveaway no. 2!
This time there will be 3 winners!
Each person will receive a hand drawn (by me) original postcard cartoon. Warning! I think I'm funny but a lot of people disagree! Anyhoo, I think they are great. They could be slipped into a frame or used in whatever way you like. I didn't take a shot of the back of them which is custom postmarked "The Little Shop of Horus". They are quite cute! In addition to the postcard each winner will receive a small set of my bookplates so you can label you most precious craft books, or whatever you like. These are hand printed by me on my Print Gocco!

How to enter? Leave a comment here for 1 entry. For a 2nd entry become a follower of my blog and tell me in your comment. If you are already a follower please tell me in the comment too.

ENTRIES HAVE CLOSED. These lucky people won.

Giveaway Winner Announced

noreply@blogger.com (Jan Allsopp) — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 09:26:00 +0000

And the winner is

Morphologica

Congratulations Nicky! Let me know your address and I'll send it off to you ASAP.

I hope those who didn't win won't be deterred and will come back tomorrow for the next giveaway! Remember, it's my blogs 4th Birthday and I'm having 4 weeks of giveaways. This was just week 1!!!

Last chance to enter Giveaway no. 1

noreply@blogger.com (Jan Allsopp) — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 22:48:00 +0000

Firstly this is my first post ever from my phone. It's an interesting process and is necessary because I've got no Internet at the moment due to a dead phoneline. I just wanted to remind you that entries in my 4th blog birthday giveaway close tonight at 7pm. I'm not sure how to post a link to the post where you need to comment to win using this app so you'll need to go back a couple of posts to find it. But I'm sure you can cope with that!

And this is what you will win.

Stay tuned for Giveaway no. 2!
-- Post From My iPhone

What I want today...

noreply@blogger.com (Jan Allsopp) — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 03:11:00 +0000

One of these...

Pictorial Webster's: Inspiration to Completion from John Carrera on Vimeo.

Don't forget to enter my giveaway!

Lucky No. 4 - Blog birthday and giveaways!

noreply@blogger.com (Jan Allsopp) — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 03:42:00 +0000

It's been 4 years since I started this blog! What a wonderful time I've had. It has been quite extraordinary in fact and very different to what I expected when I started out, not knowing quite what I was doing or why. I want to thank all my readers for being so wonderful and I'm going to do it in grand style with an emphasis on the number 4!

During the 4 weeks of April (the 4th month of the year) I will be holding 4 giveaways! There is a bit of a crazy schedule to the giveaways because I'm going away for a while in the middle of it all. This weeks giveaway will close on Wednesday 7th at 7pm EST (Australia). I'll announce the dates for the other giveaways each week so stay tuned!

This week to enter the giveaway all you need to do is answer this question: What are 4 things you want to do in the next 4 years? Leave your answer in a comment on this post. I'll randomly select the winner but I really want to know what your plans are because I'm making plans at the moment too. It'll be fun reading your plans and letting you in on my plans as we go along.

I finished sewing this last night and it will be the first giveaway! I love it! It is 100% hand-stitched - hand pieced, hand quilted, hand stitched, even a hand sewn buttonhole! It is also hand embroidered picking out the leaf pattern in the ecru coloured fabric. All cotton fabric, thread and batting means it's as lovely to hold as it is to look at. It could be used for so many things. I've made heaps of these pouches lately (none quite as special as this one though!) and the most popular use for them is to hold all your bits and pieces in your handbag. Makes changing handbags a breeze! So add a comment to enter and don't forget to name 4 things you want to do in the next 4 years. Thanks everyone!

GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR YOUR INSPIRATIONAL ENTRIES! AND THE WINNER IS...

My Creative Space

noreply@blogger.com (Jan Allsopp) — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 23:39:00 +0000

I love looking at everyone's creative spaces each Wednesday and I've been meaning to join in for ages. This is my first go. I've got lots of reading to do today - some research and some for my Indie Biz course, and lots of brainstorming and ideas to come up with so this is where I'll be most of the morning!

Thanks to ninianlif for the free photoshop overlay I used in playing with the photo.

Check out other creative spaces at kootoyoo

subterranean - Illustration Friday

noreply@blogger.com (Jan Allsopp) — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 21:05:00 +0000

EDM Challenge #262 & #263

noreply@blogger.com (Jan Allsopp) — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 04:24:00 +0000

It's been years it seems since I posted any EDM sketch challenges here. Firstly, here is my shower. It's amazing how something you look at every day just isn't 'seen'! I am definitely moving on getting that new shower rail after this!
This one is 'draw your favourite cleaning product'. Favourite cleaning product? Well, as much as I hate cleaning I must admit I do have a favourite 'product'. Because I hate all products (they make me sneeze and the skin on my hands peel off, I make my own which is not only Jan friendly but environmentally friendly too. I've been using this for a decade or more now. What more recommendation could it need?
I'm wondering what others 'like' to clean with now actually. Do you go for 'smells nice' or 'cleans like paint stripper'? Or do you make your own?

Let's talk about inspiration..

noreply@blogger.com (Jan Allsopp) — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 03:43:00 +0000

Sometimes I can be as empty of inspiration as this patch of wall in my studio. Luckily it doesn't happen very often. The subject of inspiration has come up in my Indie Biz course, of course! The suggestion is to make an 'inspiration board' to pin up images and things that inspire and, with luck on your side, the juxtaposition will spark off some new ideas.

Great! I've been meaning to do this for ages, however, the last thing I need is yet another 'thing' in my tiny studio. Space is my biggest issue these days and I was reluctant to even think about another object vying for wall space. Luckily I have one wall which is almost entirely pinboard! I chose that section of it which is now near my 2nd desk (is it any wonder I have no space!) to turn into my inspiration board. A Poscar pen and a bit of acrylic paint and I now have... ta da!

An inspiration board!!

I wrote "dream a little dream"; I was thinking "dream a little dream of me"; I often think I 'need' to dream big; encouragement to dream little is what I need right now (while I'm dreaming big in my Indie Biz course, of course!) And here it is now - completely filled to overflowing!

Inspired? Show me your inspiration board, please!

Customising a folder - Indie Biz 2.0 style!

noreply@blogger.com (Jan Allsopp) — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 07:30:00 +0000

I'm quite excited to be starting the Indie Biz course tomorrow. The precourse work has been fun! I thought I'd show you my folder customisation following the instructions from Frecklednest but changing it a bit to suit me!

I bought an inexpensive A4 folder. I chose it because I didn't hate it. Really, what are they thinking when they make those hideous folders!?

I really like the inside though and think it will be fun to work in such close relation to pattern.

The supplies needed for this customisation include scrapbook card so off to the scrapbook shop I went. I've never done scrapbooking but visit the shop occasionally for supplies. This time I found these foam alphabet stamps on the clearance rack!

Flying in the face of the direct instruction NOT to customise the cover of your folder if it was shiny I moved over to my messy table and mixed a little acrylic with medium on my paper palette pad, brushing it out thinly and as evenly as I could.

Testing... Not too bad. I quite like the transparent look too. I learned the hard way years ago with lettering to always start with whichever letter needs to be in exactly the right place and work backwards from there.

Lettering on the cover is finished. Back to my paper/fabric table.

I'm not into measuring much so I used a divider I had on hand to be my guide when cutting the scrapbook card to size on my paper cutter.

Here are my 5 chosen papers trimmed to suitable A4 divider size.

Punch a couple of holes in them and they are ready for the next step. Tabs!

I decided to use the offcuts from the scrapbook card as it is double sided and I can mix them up a bit.

I cut some small rectangles, (approx 7cm x 5.5cm) one of each card, folded them in half and round corner punched the folded edge.

At the scrapbook shop I discovered they keep really good double sided tape in about 10 different widths. This is the widest one they had, just less than 2cm. Add some to both sides of the tabs.

Position the tabs as needed for your dividers.

Voila! I used white gel pen and brown ink pen to write the labels.

Time for the front pocket. I cut some card I had left over from another project to the size of the pocket I wanted plus 2cm fold on 3 sides. Cut the bottom corners diagonally and add some of that super sturdy double sided tape.

Now it's ready to add to the inside cover of the folder.

And here it is, all finished. Well, at this stage I thought it was finished. Here is a quick tour of my folder.

All very gorgeous but I decided to add a bit of light blue Poscar pen to the lettering on the cover.

I put in the pages from my Indie Business workbook. This is all I am going to show you because the rest is shhhh secret squirrel! It's not too late though if you want to join the class, if you do it right now!

A bit of white gel pen to the lettering too - I've never really known when to stop when it comes to things like that!

I wanted a front pocket I could put some extra stuff in because the first pocket would only hold a few sheets of paper so back to the cutting board. This time I cut the card to size plus 3cm fold on 3 sides. I made this one shorter than the first too. Score lines on the 3cm, 2.5cm and 2cm marks. Fold each fold the opposite way (mountain, valley, mountain) to create a concertina sided pocket. Add the double sided tape again.

Position the second pocket on top of the first. Ah! Now that's storage!!!

Don't forget it's not too late to join the class but it does start tomorrow so you'll need to be quick. I hope to see you 'in class'. It looks like it will be lots of fun and there is a great bunch of people I've met already.

3 reasons you should invest in an artwork (and whose)

noreply@blogger.com (Jan Allsopp) — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 22:24:00 +0000

1. It will improve your life.
Usually we are told that art is a good investment because it will increase in value (sometimes enormously) over time. This is true for artists who gain the right attention, hang in the right galleries and, dare I say it, know the right people. If you are looking for that kind of investment this is not the blog to advise you.

However, a small investment in art will improve your life. Art elevates us, speaks to us in nonverbal ways of things we never thought but always yearned to, it moves us. You can have this everyday simply by placing a work of art in your room where you work, in your home, wherever.

2. Buying art will help save the world.
Usually we are told that donating to various charities will help save the world. I don’t want to suggest that this is not true or that you shouldn’t make donations, but please consider the plight of the artist.

When we look at history we look at its art. Artists today reside in a place in society far from the traditional one with its studio spaces in shabby but trendy parts of Paris or Greenwich Village and its patrons who could be relied upon to emerge from the shadows at an exhibition and buy just enough works to keep the artist going until next time. There are no cheap studios today and no patrons. That means we are all needed to step up to play patron on occasions or artists will go the way of the recently extinct Thylacine. How will the history we are making today look without the diversity of vision artists bring?

3. Art is better than sex.
In researching this article I googled the phrase “art is better than sex” and apparently I am the first to claim this. I’m not surprised. It is really the new taboo in our society.

A statistic commonly bandied about by art-loving bureaucrats is that more people visit art galleries each year than go to sporting events. While this gives me a warm fuzzy, what does it indicate on the ‘sex’ front? We all know we would prefer to have sex than sit and watch some stuffy sport program, so the obvious conclusion is that art is better than sex.

Now that I have you convinced, whose art should you buy? I could suggest many artists but I will give you three that I myself have invested in (yep, I am the lucky owner of these 3 artworks) and have consequently found my life vastly improved - James P Gilmour, Emma Kidd and Annie Matheson (in order of appearance). Actually, I'm going to put in a plug for my etsy shop here too, if you don't mind.

Ten Things Thursday

noreply@blogger.com (Jan Allsopp) — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 02:42:00 +0000

Here are a few of my favourite studio tools at the moment.

1. Angled brushes

2. I've added a small metal sieve to my pot of oil painting medium. It's a brilliant idea. It's a little like this one. Link

3. My circle cutter. Link
4. My Lamy Joy - a great recommendation from Liz Steel. It has great balance in your hand. Thanks Liz! Link

5. My stash of stamp carving blocks. Link
6. My trusty knife. I am constantly amazed how much I use it! Link

7. I had no idea I needed one of these until I got one. I'm just about to buy my third one! Did you know the better quality the cutting mat, the longer your knife lasts? Link

8. My favourite glue is Henkle brand and I get it from here. I couldn't find a picture of it by itself so that's it nestled in the middle of all the lovely bookbinding equipment.

9. Which makes me realise I should mention my bone folder for which I have found a myriad of uses. It is also in the picture above and I bought it from the same shop (along with that lovely thread and twine).

10. With my recent return to oil painting I needed to avoid the toxic chemicals which gave me health problems in the past. This is my new best friend. Not so much a tool as a supply, but I didn't think you'd mind. Link
What are your favourite tools at the moment in your studio or craft room?

I changed my banner...

noreply@blogger.com (Jan Allsopp) — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 02:02:00 +0000

What do you think? I just added my tag line and a little humor. Does it work?

I want change...

noreply@blogger.com (Jan Allsopp) — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 21:00:00 +0000

...so I enrolled in indie business 2.0. I think I need a bit of a shake up and a new direction for my shop and my blog. Well, not really a new direction but a more distinct one! I want to make more art and sell more art and meet more arty types here and while I have a few ideas of my own, it's always the right time for some fresh input! Hopefully this will bring about the finishing of my website which I've been working on (myself! - I'm learning) for about 6 months, the introduction of some different kinds of painting here and lots more interesting stuff. It should be good! Did you enrol? I'd love to know if you did.

You can win a place in the course you know. Visit the dust team blog to find out how. Good luck! and I hope to see you in class!

Open Sesame ~ Close Sesame

noreply@blogger.com (Jan Allsopp) — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 08:33:00 +0000

Converge exhibition has come and gone in a flash of five days only. It was a wonderful experience! I met some fabulous people, made great contacts and thoroughly enjoyed being in charge, with Julia and Natalie, of how the exhibition looked and what was included.

We had about 30 people to the 'opening'. Everyone had a great time and the three of us got fabulous feedback.

Here we are, the artists, Natalie Bateman (left), me (in the middle) and Julia Morrell (right). Behind us you can see Julia's triptych "Kingfisher Message" (digital prints on canvas) and Natalie's "Abstract on Lovers" (acrylic on canvas). In the blurry foreground are 4 little artist books by me.

Uncle Martin Ballangarry helped open the show and welcomed us to country. Here he is with his grandson looking at my books. He is such a fabulous guy! I enjoyed meeting him enormously.

Another shot of the crowd. It was a good size. I got to speak to just about everyone I think.

I took this shot the next day so you had a better look at my "bootiques".