Skip to navigation | Skip to content

Share your knowledge. Make a difference.

Loudlife, Designs for Living...and other good stuff

1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic (by 3 people)   Your rating: 1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic

Ranked #4108 in Arts , #94795 overall

Rated G. (Control what you see)

 

Hello! Welcome to my lens! I'm still not clear what a lens is or does - but I've got one! My intent is to present art that I - and others - create and make it available for viewing, sale, or trade.

I recently became interested in collage and altered art.  I had always been interested in mixed media work, and I have made collages in the past, but I have found the mix of vintage photos, art papers, charms, etc. to be very compelling.  I like the idea of layering a story onto a canvas without using a lot of words and I like using the inherent meaning that some images have.  I have started in the small format of ATCs and ACEOs and am slowly moving into (slightly) larger works.  I would like to combine mixed media with my paintings at some point. 

Ghamron's eBay stuff! 

The commercial side of Loudlife, Designs for Living

We sell everything from original art and art supplies to vintage bike parts - check out our stuff!

Loading Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand by
eBay

Here's some good stuff! 

Art, supplies, and more...

Here's a few of the websites I visit regularly to view art (mine and other people's), buy supplies, and learn techniques.
ZNE - We love variaZoNE!
This is a fabulous organization that I belong to for mixed media artists. It is a great, supportive group with lots of activities and not the rigidity that some groups have.
ZNE Galleries
Here is the "Galleries" page for ZNE, go in and check out the fabulous mixed media pieces. Some people's work is so layered and involved that it's just a mystery to me how they achieve those looks.
My first ZNE Gallery
This is the first gallery I created on the ZNE website - and some of the first mixed media ATC/ACEOs I ever made.

ATCs or ACEOs are little 2 1/2 x 3 1/2 cards originally created to be traded among fellow artists (ATCs = Artist Trading Cards) that are now often sold on eBay (ACEOs or Art Card Edtions and Originals) It is a great format for artists to experiment with new ideas, create buzz for themselves, or just to satisfy their muse quickly when there isn't time for something larger.

On eBay I have seen prices for ACEOs range from .99 cents up to $87.50!
A gallery of ATCs made for a swap exploring "My Hometown"
This is a series of ATCs I made to explore the subject, "My Hometown." What a great gift this subject matter was to me! In brainstorming for this project I remembered lots of little details about my past and my family's past. The memories actually gave me a sense of being grounded, a feeling that I had been missing in recent years.

Among ATC enthusiasts there is a practice of "swapping." This, of course, is the "Trading" part of ATC. Large internet groups often post opportunities for artists to be a part of a hosted trade like a "9 for 8 swap."

This means that the moderator chooses a subject matter and announces how many cards each participant will have to offer in the trade - in this case, 9 - and how many each participant will recieve - in this case, 8. When the two numbers are unequal like this it means that the moderator, as payment for the work he/she will do in organizing the trade, will receive one set of cards without having to contribute. Moderators usually have all the cards mailed to them and they in turn divide them up and mail the participants their sets - a lot of work, if you ask me.

One of the fun things about these swaps is that you receive cards from all over the world. I got one from the Netherlands and one from Australia in this swap.
My 3rd gallery - non ACEO/ATC items
This is the 3rd gallery I made on the ZNE website and contains items that are not ATCs or ACEOs. They are what is called "small format art" or SFA on eBay.

One of the other mediums that mixed media artists often turn to is the "altered tag" format. There are some examples of this format in this gallery as well as a couple pieces on canvas and a couple wall hangings.
Gini Lawson, Painter
This is my painting teacher's website. She's a wonderful person and talented artist. Check it out!
Chrysti on eBay
Here's a link to Covet Me, a store owned by Chrysti, a fellow ZNE member. She offers supplies for altered art as well as her own original art.
Bees in My Bonnet
Becky Christian is a collage artist with a real-person attitude. She's also incredibly brave. In 2005/2006 she gave herself the "365 day challenge." This was a challenge to herself to create and list on eBay one ACEO a day, every day, for 365 days. Yikes! When you look at the surface, it doesn't seem that daunting - they're only 2 1/2 x 3 1/2 after all. But when you think of the fact that she had to come up with a new idea EVERY DAY...then it gets scary. I can't even think of something different to make for dinnner every day...

Great Stuff on Amazon 

Why not check them out?

Here are some books that are such eye candy that I wish they were all twice as long!

Pretty Little Things: Collage Jewelry, Trinkets and Keepsakes

Amazon Price: $15.63 (as of 01/09/2009) Buy Now

Altered Art: Techniques for Creating Altered Books, Boxes, Cards & More

Amazon Price: $13.57 (as of 01/09/2009) Buy Now

The Altered Object: Techniques, Projects, Inspiration

Amazon Price: $13.57 (as of 01/09/2009) Buy Now

True Colors: A Palette of Collaborative Art Journals

Amazon Price: $29.95 (as of 01/09/2009) Buy Now

Where Women Create: Inspiring Work Spaces of Extraordinary Women

Amazon Price: $16.47 (as of 01/09/2009) Buy Now

Say hello! Tell me what you think! 

but please be kind...

Please sign my guestbook, rate my lens, and if you're a fellow artist - promote your blog or website. Let me know what you'd like to see more of or if you liked or found helpful something I've recommended. Talk back!


p.s. PLEASE no spamming, flaming, or nastiness...

alteredkat wrote...

More pics of your wonderful art please Mrs. LBM!...you know I'm a HUGE FAN of yours! ;o)

...no flaming, spamming or nastiness eh?...well, I'm outta here then ;o)
xoxo

ReplyPosted November 18, 2008

alteredkat wrote...

Hello from another ZNE'r :o)

ReplyPosted May 23, 2008

VintageNiki wrote...

Wow you love similar books to me! I love Pretty Little Things and Where women create they are fab books.I'm creating a lense all about vintage mixed media collage
come and check it out and rate me.

ReplyPosted May 23, 2007

Lensmaster

Shelley wrote

Hi Laurie! Life works in such fun ways! I was JUST talking about you last week with Sydne J - and then I came across 'Happy Hours' (which I'd love to buy!)... You continue to inspire me!!! xoxo Love, Shelley!!!!

Reply Posted March 18, 2007

Intuitive wrote...

Your links are great and I appreciate your sense of humor!

ReplyPosted February 14, 2007

New RSS: Add Your Own Feed 

Loading Fetching RSS feed... please stand by
X
Loudlife

About Loudlife

I am an artist who works in mixed media, oil, clay, beads, and glass mosaic.  A mother of one adorable girl and wife to a sweet husband.  My work is sold on eBay, at craft and art shows and in selected stores in the Seattle area.

Loudlife's Pages

See all of Loudlife's pages

X

Happy holidays!

The red bow is special. Whenever you see a red bow on a Squidoo page, it means the page is raising money for charity.

Buy something from the page, and we'll automatically make a donation to charity, thanks to you.