The Importance of Using Symbols

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This article was written by Anjuli Johnson

Google defines a symbol as “a thing that represents or stands for something else, especially a material object representing something abstract.” In other words, a symbol is something tangible that represents an abstract idea.  When we think of symbols, I believe the tendency is to think of them as obscure references, not widely used, but the truth is we use symbols every day.  They are all around us. Logos and banners, gestures, signs- symbols are on our money, on our cars, and even in our language.  Letters and words are themselves symbols if you stop to think about it.  Each letter of the alphabet is simply a mix of lines and curves on a page.  By themselves, letters and words don’t mean anything, but because our culture has ascribed meaning to these markings and the order they may be arranged in, they enable us to develop thoughts and ideas about the world and share those ideas with other people.

Symbols are a teaching tool, and as such are indispensable when it comes to artistic expression.  Artists can teach absolute truths indirectly by incorporating symbols into their art.  I’d like to talk about a few of the ways I have added symbolic meaning to my art, and how each of us can share our ideas of absolute truth with our audience through the intentional use of symbols.

This panel represents corruption and sin- our attempts to hide our sins, and the fact that such an endeavour is impossible.

Symbols are best for sharing ideas when they are easily recognizable.  The piece pictured is one in a series of panels, and this particular panel is using color to symbolize sin and corruption.  Black and Red together are easily recognizable as symbols of darkness and terror. (Think “The Masque of the Red Death”, by Edgar Allen Poe.) Combined with the mess of elements, the erratically stitched muslin, the splashes of paint, and the overall messiness and chaos of this piece, the ideas of corruption and attempts to hide that corruption are well represented.

I use text in this piece to represent our knowledge as individuals and as a society.

In this piece I used blocks of text from different books that are easily recognizable in western culture (The Bible, Shakespeare, Don Quixote, etc.)  By themselves, these blocks of text could symbolize an accumulation of knowledge and culture; the birthplace of our western societies and way of thinking.  However, combined with the mess of paper clay, the splashes of brown paint, and the randomness of the paper elements, the meaning changes.  Now it represents how our culture forgets and covers the past in many ways to justify the choices of the present.

The symbols of direction and guidance are important in this piece.

I generally approach my art in two different ways- I work on a piece one element at a time and allow it to develop a life of its own, or I plan things out carefully and really take my time to ensure my vision matches what I have created as closely as possible.  I’ve found that deliberately finding ways to incorporate symbolic meaning generally means I have to take my time and plan my work very carefully, but that process really stretches me as an artist.  It’s when I’m working in this way that I experiment more, I expand my thinking and my ideas, and I end with a creation that feels like more of myself.

There are so many ways to incorporate symbolic meaning into our art.  Through color, texture, text, visual signs and tokens, etc. we can share important ideas and themes.  Just as words are written down to reveal truth and knowledge to its readers, so too symbolic art can teach absolute truth to those who take the time to understand it.  This is one of the main reasons why I believe art is so important- the fact that it can help change and stretch us as artists, individuals, and societies.

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Anjuli Johnson is a Mixed Media Artist from Raleigh, NC.  She began her art career as a scrapbooker, and it’s been an evolutionary process every since.  She loves all things mixed media- paper, glue, paint, canvas, pens, wire, gears… the list goes on and on.  She is constantly trying to push through her fears to discover and develop her talents, meet new people, and learn from those around her.  TheFarPavilion

www.thefarpavilion.com 
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Altered Book Jewelry Box

This article is written by Anjuli Johnson

Box cover close up

I have been a fan of Tim Holtz for a loooooong time.  I mean, who isn’t, really?  His lines of scrapbook and art supplies are just delicious, especially to a steampunk fan who loves to add text to most of her projects, whatever they may be.

One of his products I’ve been dying to try was his configurations line- book boxes that are filled with interchangeable compartments.  These books are perfect for altering in just about any way possible, including my choice- a jewelry box.

Tim Holtz configuration line

After altering the cover with lots of paper (notice all the text? I can’t help myself!), ink, chipboard, and paint, I used paper and fabric to line each box.  Using rolled up strips of the same fabric made my ring holder quite easy to assemble.  I didn’t even have to use glue- the pressure of the fabric rolls holds everything together, including however many rings I may end up adding to my jewelry collection.

Cover shot

I’m so pleased with how this one turned out, that I think I’ll make 2-3 more and instead of having them lay flat on my dresser, I’ll mount them on the wall and add jewelry hooks.  At first glance they will look like a range of my favorite books hanging on the wall when in reality, it’s the rest of my jewelry nestled in unique little boxes, organized and adding quite a bit of charm to my little corner of the house.

inside my jewelry box

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Anjuli Johnson is a Mixed Media Artist from Raleigh, NC.  She began her art career as a scrapbooker, and it’s been an evolutionary process every since.  She loves all things mixed media- paper, glue, paint, canvas, pens, wire, gears… the list goes on and on.  She is constantly trying to push through her fears to discover and develop her talents, meet new people, and learn from those around her.  TheFarPavilion

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Intuitive painting

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This article is written by Melanie Statnick

Intuitive painting is painting by how you feel. The process is free style and uses your creative instincts to guide you through your painting with minimal instructions. The intuitive approach to painting allows for what I call happy mistakes. There is room for error that you can turn into a whimsy painting with effortless ease.  The step by Step instruction will help you with the bulk of the workshop, but there are times when you have to go with your gut.  In this workshop you will build layers of paint using different tools to create different shapes in your background. Using the shapes in the layered paint you’ll begin to see a whimsy Character. I’ll teach you how to bring it out and then layer and paint again, to create a fun, whimsy one of kind piece of art.

Mixed Media inspired fox painting

Start with a light paint colors first and apply a generous amount of paint directly to your 11x 14 canvas. Using your flat brush create bottom to top motion to spread the paint to your vertical surface. Use the same motion when you apply your other lighter colored paints like yellow, and pink. Rinse brush between colors and dry using your heat tool between layers. After you have applied at least three different colors of paint to your canvas turn your canvas horizontal. Apply a pea size amount of Teal directly to your canvas. Using your Brayer roller, roll over the paint in a side to side motion. The paint will spread in an uneven and grungy look. This will create a different shape than your flat brush.

Melanie and her Mixed Media inspired fox painting

Keep your canvas in the horizontal position. Apply neon blue directly onto the canvas, using the large edge of the squeegee pull the paint in a bottom to top of canvas motion. Repeat this step with the dark yellow. Don’t forget to dry in between layers.

Melanie and her Mixed Media inspired fox painting

Melanie and her Mixed Media inspired fox painting

Your canvas should look something like this. You have created a painted layered background. Place canvas in vertical posing and using your flat brush and some of your lighter paint colors apply them to the spots on your canvas that are unpainted. Dry.

The next step is finding your character by intuitively looking for the shapes your paint strokes created. Wet your water soluble graphite pencil in 8B (very dark) and find your first shape by outlining it with the wet pencil. Take your time here to relax and become familiar with your piece. The shapes will start to pop out at you. Here I have found a nose.

Melanie and her Mixed Media inspired fox painting

Melanie and her Mixed Media inspired fox painting

I have found a nose, eyes and ears. I do not see the shape of the head or body yet. This may or may not appear to you. If this does not appear to you, you’ll have to free hand draw the head and body shape. This sounds intimidating but it’s not. If you feel more comfortable use a 2HB pencil to lightly free hand. Draw in the head and or body shape. There is no need to erase these lines the graphite pencil when wet will go over this line. I will draw in a tail, whiskers, and collar on my character. These are details that you should add in while you’re creating your head and body shape should you not already see them.  This step allows for creative freedom in owning your piece.  Be sure to dry the lines and shapes before the next step. This graphite will run and move around should you re wet it on your surface. Beware of this is the next step.

Melanie and her Mixed Media inspired fox painting

Melanie and her Mixed Media inspired fox painting

Melanie and her Mixed Media inspired fox painting

The character we have created will most likely not have traditional coloring should you be creating an animal. The next step is to paint in some of the areas using your Caran d’ache water soluble pastels.  This step is also intuitive as you go along. Here I have chosen to fill in the tail, body and ears. I have painted in only parts of the nose and face.  Wet the tip of the pastel like you did with the graphite pencil, and apply pastel directly to canvas in desired shapes.  If you are unfamiliar of what the color will look like once wet, use a scrap paper to test before you apply to areas of your canvas. Most are true to color.

Melanie and her Mixed Media inspired fox painting

Once you have completed your animal/character the next step is to bring the painting together. Using a choice stencil we will randomly place the design around the canvas. Apply white paint using a makeup wedge or stencil brush. Pour a pea size amount of paint onto your palette. Place the stencil in the desired area of your canvas background, carefully avoiding your character. Use your hand to hold stencil still while you apply the paint over the stencil. Repeat this step using other desired stencils until you reach the look you like. This is another creative and intuitive process.

Melanie and her Mixed Media inspired fox painting

Melanie and her Mixed Media inspired fox painting

Your piece should look similar in process like the picture shown above. Now we’ll apply the cling mount/rubber stamps to the piece. This is similar in process to the way we did the stenciling. The canvas has a natural bow in the center. When you place your stamp inked in the desired spot you will need to place your free hand under the canvas were you about to stamp for support. This will ensure a more full images of the complete stamp. I prefer a more lose grunge look of a half stamp or just using the corner of your stamp. If this is our preference also, then proceed stamping around your character/animal.

Melanie and her Mixed Media inspired fox painting

This is your final piece. I encourage painting the sides of your canvas. This makes the appearance on the wall more pleasant. The black paint is suggested.

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Published Writer/Artist Melanie Statnick was raised in Ontario Canada. For over 12 years Melanie has called eastern North Carolina her home. Melanie continues as a self-taught artist and teacher of visual arts and an article writer for Mixed Media Art co Melanie’s work can be found extensively throughout North Carolina with private collections abroad.

Melanie’s successes include written publication of articles in Interactive Artists Magazine, Publication in Somerset Studio magazine, Altered Arts magazine, and 2013 edition of Wilson Woman Summer issue.  Melanie’s awards are 1st place in viewer’s choice in Washington NC and 2nd place magazine cover choice with Altered Arts magazine. In 2015 you can find her work in Dawn DeVries Sokol book “A World of Artists Journal Pages”.

You can follow Statnick on her website at: www.melaniestatnickart.com

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Evolution of a Mixed Media Artist

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This article was written by Anjuli Johnson

I remember clearly my first scrapbook. I was almost 12 years old, and my mother helped me cover a basic three ring binder with fabric and lace. I used plastic sleeves to hold all my paper treasures- school awards and church certificates, hand-outs with quotes, pictures of friends and all different kinds of ephemera from my middle school days and on into high school. When I was in college, I quickly became enamored of the scrapbooking craze, which seemed especially strong in the Northern Utah town where I ended up.  I spent a little too much on classes and supplies, but I justified myself by the reminder that it was all for preserving memories and having a way (a very fun, rather expensive way) of cataloging my life and being able to share it and pass it on. As years passed and my talent improved, I began to see the work of other artists whose work was not the result of cataloging memories, yet appealed very strongly to me.

The left side of a layout I created.                      The right side of a layout I created.

I began to have this strong desire to use my artistic talents in other ways, but I couldn’t get past my old justification. If I was spending money with a purpose, like preserving memories and photos, I was ok. I just didn’t see the purpose in the lovely, amazing creations I was seeing around me. And I was intimidated by the creative thinking, care, and time that was so obviously a huge part of the work that I was seeing. As long as I could tell myself that what I was creating had a purpose, I could make something that wasn’t quite up to standards and still find value in it. The pictures and memories were still meaningful, even if my layout didn’t turn out quite the way I wanted, and if I couldn’t get my layouts to turn out the way I wanted, even after years of scrapbooking, how could I possibly think I’d be able to make anything else well? It wasn’t until I moved out east, and left all of my art supplies in storage (unwilling) for two years that my thinking began to change. I missed my engagement in the creative process. I missed working with my hands. I missed the satisfaction I felt in finishing a piece and I missed most of all the clarity and balance that spending time at my craft table brought to me. At one point, I started learning an entirely new hobby- working with polymer clay- as a way to get back some of what I was missing so much.

The first mixed media canvas I created.

Then came the blessed day all of my long lost supplies and books were returned to me. I began to create again, and that time of fasting did for me what I couldn’t have done on my own- it gave me the courage and determination to finally jump into mixed media art- to create without a purpose. I began buying new supplies, but I also used so many of my old supplies I was surprised. Old paper I’d been collecting, old tools, old embellishments, and old ideas I recycled into new creations. I even used some polymer clay in my new pieces, and as I began to work every day, I realized that I was creating with a purpose. I was focusing my thoughts and learning more about my beliefs as I worked to incorporate meaning and symbolism in my pieces. My talents were developing and ideas were flowing more regularly.  I was learning discipline and patience as I struggled with new supplies and techniques. As I started a blog and began to share my pieces, I saw others find meaning and understanding in what they saw in my work, and I was likewise moved and inspired when I began to learn about the effort and meaning in the work of other artists. It’s been amazing to realize how important and sacred the act of creation is. As we create, we become. We become better artists, but even more than that, we can become better people, and we help others do the same. It’s become a defining lesson; understanding that the process of creating is just as important, if not more important, than the final result of each piece.

A commission collage I just finished.

I am still intimidated by the awesome art I see around me, but I no longer feel that my scrapbooks are the only valuable art I create.  I have grown in courage and my comfort zone is getting bigger and bigger. So whether you are a full-time artist making millions of dollars, or a beginner full of self doubt and fear, let’s get creating and let the process refine us.  It will- I guarantee it.

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Anjuli Johnson is a Mixed Media Artist from Raleigh, NC.  She began her art career as a scrapbooker, and it’s been an evolutionary process every since.  She loves all things mixed media- paper, glue, paint, canvas, pens, wire, gears… the list goes on and on.  She is constantly trying to push through her fears to discover and develop her talents, meet new people, and learn from those around her. You can see more of Anjuli’s work on her Facebook page or Website – the Far Pavilion

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