Studio Process: The Tools I Make

As an extension of my painting practice, I make my own tools with bits and scraps from the studio, what others might consider garbage. Sometimes, I will carry trash into my studio from my city visits and utilize these scraps in my work. 

Wire tool hanger.

My Tools-Close Up.

More Tools-Close Up. This one is a favorite!

For me, the end of a used roll of tape and a bit of shelf liner becomes a tool with which to make ben-day type dot patterns. A scrap of wood with nails embedded into it becomes a paint tool or a scraper. Old erasers, plastic pieces of pipe, buttons, pennies, bike chains, and many other items that would normally end up in the bottom of a junk pile, are all fodder for possible use as tools or as a layer of texture within my work. 

Some well used tools and some newly created tools.

General Studio Shot.

Studio view.

The possibilities for turning odd materials into painting surfaces or patterns serve my purposes well. I explore territories of structure and disorder, what is noticed and what is ignored. My paintings allude to maps, communities, architecture, house plans, and neighborhoods. 

Fire extinguisher for safety and a red box full of scrap papers.

In progress work.

Suzanne Gibbs, 2012. Wax Paper Collage.

 Thanks for viewing. Have you aver made tools to work with that you could not buy at a store? I'd love to hear your story.

Top 4 non-art supplies suppliers

Non-art Supplies

Home Depot - while I prefer a neighborhood hardware store this big box store is more readily available these days, buckets, tools, rollers, tape, sand paper, picture wire, nails, screws, and more.

My bucket. Used to keep water, about half full. Why?
I use the water to dunk my hands in if I burn myself working with hot wax.
Alternately to put out a fire if I catch my art work on fire with my torch.
Yes, I also have a fire extinguisher in my studio!

ACE Hardware - while an old fashioned neighborhood hardware store would be my number one choice, when I live close to an ACE store I prefer it to Home Depot. In fact I would love for my readers to tell me about their favorite home-grown hardware store. Share pictures too!

150 Sand paper, sanding block for detail work. Sanding block for working with tile.

Tools of the trade. Making art is akin to construction in many ways.

When I do not use my torch I use a heat gun to fuse the encaustic paint. Thank, ACE!
PS I have two of these because they frequently overheat while I work!

Premier Packaging - to get ready for Open Studios, Art Fairs, or other selling venues this on-line store has bags and other display ready items.

Pexi-U Bracket for display and peg board.

Crystal Clear Bags - Bags for protecting cards and art work, some paper goods too.

Cards with matching envelopes.

Clear bags for larger art.

Package for 3-4 cards.

Cards inserted.

Clear Bag for one card.

After these there are the obvious other stores that a self-employed person would need to visit: Office Depot, Staples, or Office Max for office supplies.

Don't forget an A-Frame! This one uses chalk AND magnets!

Pay Attention To What You Pay Attention To.

Clearly, where we put our focus is what we will materialize in our life. I am finding that in grad-school everything is what we make of it each day. What we choose to pay attention to manifests the results. Post-grad work will be a plethora of opportunities–or at least I sure hope so! 

Suzanne Gibbs, 2012. Linear Collage. Gesso, acrylic, gouache, tape, paper, and canvas on canvas.

Myths that I hate, Artists are:

poor.
loners.
weird.
replaceable.
crazy.
odd.
unreliable.
 

A Can Do Focus

The steps, as I see it, that can be taken to bust the myths.
Work the Art.
The business of art.
Work ethic.
Resiliency.
100% supportive people.
Understand and leverage the power of ideas.


I took the time to look up the artists that I feel are best symbolizing the above mentioned myth busters. Following is what I came up with.

Work the Art

“I follow my instincts and work on the projects that interest me, whether writing, painting, blogging...or something else. No one can anticipate where each project will lead – you just have to embrace the not-knowing.” Sharon Butler, 
Author of:
Two Coats of Paint and other publications, Artist and University Professor.

Sharon Butler, Untitled (detail), 2012
pigment, binder, pencil on unstretched linen
48 x 60 inches

The Business of Art 

“All my work is about what we want from art, what collectors want, what artists want from collectors, what museum audiences want.” Andrea Fraser, Artist, Performance Art, Writter, University Instructor

Andrea Fraser.

Work Ethic 

“I am the head of a team, a coach, a producer, an organizer, a representative, a cheerleader, a host of the party, a captain of the boat, in short, an activist, an activator, an incubator.” Gabriel Orozco, Artist and business owner, lives in two countries.

Gabriel Orozco. Yielding Stone (Piedra Que Cede), 1992. Plasticine and dust.

Resiliency

“I was supporting myself, but nothing like the guy painters, as I refer to them. I always resented that actually.. we were all getting the same amount of press, but they were going gangbusters with sales.” Cindy Sherman, Artist, Performmance photographer.

Cindy Sherman.

100% Supportive People

“I think about, the economics of collaboration.” Alexandra Grant, Painter, Collaborative Artist, Business Owner

Alexandra Grant. Studio Shot.

 Power of Ideas

“I just wanted to find out where the boundaries were. I've found out there aren't any. I wanted to be stopped but no one will stop me.” Damien Hirst, Artist, business owner, celebrity.

Damien Hirst.

 

Focus on a career in Art:

Work the Art.
The business of art.
Work ethic.
Resiliency.
100% supportive people.
Understand and leverage the power of ideas.
 
We all have the potential to be our own brand of artist.

My brand of artistic career contains the following:
Making Art
Teaching Art
Writing about Art


– And for some shameless self-promotion, if you are reading this blog thank you. If you really like the content consider subscribing (use the button to the top right). Alternately, if someone shared this post with you and you want to see more, go to my Blog at:
 
http://suzanneutaskigibbs.blogspot.com/
 
Most importantly, what did I leave out that any one of you might find highly relevant? Please share in the comments section below.

Top 9 Alternative Art Supplies (continued)

Last week I wrote about Alternative Art Supply stores but I forgot to add some of the work I have done on or with alternative supplies.

Here is a smattering:

Suzanne Gibbs, 2008. Boy Thinking, Acrylic painted on half a door.

Suzanne Gibbs, 2008. Face Studies, Acrylic painted on left-over pieces of crescent board from framing.

Suzanne Gibbs, 2008. Lego Out To Dry, Mixed Media including: oil pastels, water color, string, lego, tiny clothes pins, duct tape, the back sides of the covers of sketch books.

Suzanne Gibbs, 2009. Bike Man. Mixed Media. Cardboard, paper, oil pastels, chalk pastels, acrylic, a bike chain, magazine/catalog cut out, used plastic bags, pebbles.

Suzanne Gibbs, 2008. Matchbox Grid. Mixed media. Acrylic, match boxes, matches, glue, string, on plywood scrap.

Suzanne Gibbs, 2008. Study of Georges Braque work. Acrylic on press board scrap.

Suzanne Gibbs, 2008. Circles in Threes. Side 1. Salvaged 1950's windows with circular pattern, acrylic, paper, wood scraps, wire. Can be hung to be seen from from or back.

Suzanne Gibbs, 2008. Circles in Threes. Side 2. Salvaged 1950's windows with circular pattern, acrylic, paper, wood scraps, wire. Can be hung to be seen from from or back.

Suzanne Utaski Gibbs, 2012, A Smidgen of Pink, 
3 x 3, acrylic, hemp string, and paper on coaster.

The above piece will be in a show soon at  CSUF Grand Central Art Center in downtown Santa Ana. I wrote a bit more about it recently. The show is coming up soon.

Saturday, July 7, 7:00pm until 10:00pm

Top 9 Alternative Art Supplies

Alternative Stores for Supplies

Making art does not always mean a trip to an Art Store. Often I take Artists Dates to some of the following idea generating alternative supply stores:

Thrift Stores - ideas and cheap materials abound, pots, storage units, furniture, men's shirts

Goodwill Stores - same

Salvation Army - yep, good stuff for art

American Cancer Society Thrift Shops - a bit more upscale than Goodwill usually, but you never know what you can find

Salvage Yards - my favorite, but good ones are hard to find, sadly I do not live near my favorite salvage yard any longer, if you live in Northern California check out:  Heritage Salvage

Dollar Stores - I have known artists to buy canvases here on purpose (a cheap surface), also containers, tape, glue, random hardware, wire, or even strange made in China toys to re-appropriate

Fabric Stores - who says you have to stretch canvas bought at an art store, what can you do with alternative fabrics?

Local Consignment Shop - one of my favorite consignment shops sells buttons by the jar full, they actually hire special needs adults that cut the buttons off of unusable clothing and sell the buttons for about $7 - $9 a jar, sadly I moved away from this jem of a store in Napa, CA

Kristen Bradford, 2012, Installation at Claremont Graduate University

eBay - well, you never know what you might need, 100 porcelain kitties, eBay would be a good place to start

I would love for any local Los Angeles peeps to tell me of their favorite Alternative Art supplies stops - I am new here and need some direction. Please comment and share.

A Strange Little Corner

As I have mentioned in previous posts I see pattern, structure and urban decay in the most unusual of spaces and places. This little corner of someone's world in Santa Monica caught my eye. Out of respect and privacy for this individual I will not post the address - but it is real. Really strange too.

The images below are not a part of the shrine. They are nearby examples of urban decay and structure.