Gini's Magic: Photoshop Art, Graphic Design and Tutorials

Every once in a while, I run across something that immediately makes me think, "What a great idea! Why didn't I think of that?" Today was one of those days. I was doing a Google search trying to find information on drawing in public places (something I've been experimenting with lately) and I stumbled upon a website called SketchCrawl. After spending a couple of minutes reading what the website was about and visiting the attached forum, I knew that I wanted to take part. And I am so excited about it!

The concept, created by Enrico Casarosa, is to get people to step away from their usually hectic schedules and spend a day exploring and drawing everything they can. Spending some time enjoying and really paying attention to your surroundings can be a truly wonderful and eye-opening experience.

What began as a one-man, one-day field trip has turned into a world-wide drawing marathon that takes place every 2-3 months. People from around globe are setting up their own SketchCrawls in their cities and counties, meeting in groups great and small to form an eclectic throng of creativity. Then, after each event, everyone can meet online in the forum to share their experiences and the artistic delights that they’ve come up with.

Sometimes these events also serve as fundraisers for various causes. On April 16, there will be one such SketchCrawl, which will be a world-wide fundraiser for disaster relief in Japan. After the northeast coast of Japan was hit by a 9.0 earthquake on March 11, the colossal tremors caused a domino effect which included a 30-foot tsunami, fires, loss of electricity, water, and transportation, and mass evacuations from much of the area. Many have died, thousands are still missing, and survivors are struggling to get through this tragic event. As with many other wonderful organizations, SketchCrawl is doing its part in trying to help with disaster relief.

I will be participating in the Los Angeles SketchCrawl event with a goal of raising at least $300 for disaster relief in Japan. This particular event will be held at the Los Angeles Zoo on April 16 at 11AM-5PM, and as I said earlier there are more SketchCrawls scheduled the same day in various parts of the world. No matter where you might be located, or what you judge your artistic talent to be, I strongly encourage you to participate in or even to start your own SketchCrawl. ANYONE can be a part of this event! It requires no particular talent or experience, and is completely open to people of all ages.

Based on the forum, it looks like about 30 events have been planned so far in different areas of the world. If each of these events has just 20 people participating and each of those people raise just $100, that will equal a total of $60,000 for relief efforts. Together, we can make a difference.

Visit sketchcrawl.com and join us in our artistic pursuits! Join one of the events or start another one in your area. It will be a great learning experience, you could meet some wonderful people, and raise money for these vitally important relief efforts all at the same time.

I find myself totally in love with metal art, so I thought I’d share some great finds with you guys. A really amazing artist is the French painter Edgar Degas with his vivid portraits of dancers, ballerinas and utilizing vivid, bright colors which paved way for the Impressionism movement. Not only did he draw and paint, but he also sculpted and I wonder if he possibility considered creating the idea of creating metal décor. It’s uncertain, but artists throughout the centuries have utilized different objects such as appliances, grass, dirt, parts - almost anything that they could get their hands on and metal wall art is one unique form of exhibiting what the creative mind is capable of. If Edgar Degas could have sculpted ballerinas out of metal, would he be comparable to these contemporary artists who are quirky enough to apply their skills and random parts into pieces of art?

1. Richard Walker - Georgia Metal Art features Richard Walker who is a contemporary metal artist who develops abstract and metal wall décor out of stainless steel. His sculptures are rather unique and he applies different finishes to his technique such as gloss, textures, and even lighted and silver! His three-dimensional pieces which he allows light to transverse through are fit for admiration on the wall of a New York City loft while sipping mimosa or even part of a functioning Steampunk airship that works in combination with gears and cogs, especially in regards to “H3” and “H1” in the metallic silver finish section of his site. Most of his sculptures come as is, or in larger and smaller pieces and all that is required is a hammer and nail to hang these uncommon pieces up on your wall or in your “steam-powered airship” as I like to fantasize.

2. Moran Brown - Anne Moran and Robert Brown are a husband-wife team who also specialize in contemporary, abstract wall décor and sculptures who accentuate my penchant of vibrant colors and beautiful, uncommon designs in their works. They achieve their colors through heating copper sheet, oxidizing the metal’s pigment quality with torches to create what their work is known for - radiance. Reviewing their past work, you might be reminded of Southwestern culture blended with Classical Greek or Roman mosaic wall art with a personal flair. It’s not surprising since one of their previous pieces features “Dream of Icarus” that details the famous Greek tale of the boy who wanted to fly. They accept commissions and are currently working on a 8.5 x 19’ piece in New York City and their extraordinary work has will be featured Architectural Digest Home Design Show in 2011.

3. NOVICA - Novica features the iron metal artist, Marco Polo Serrano who originates from a small artisan and handicraft town and while growing up he worked with iron which he created into pieces of art that helped with his schooling and studies. His pieces are very reminiscent of his Native Mexico and are definitely imbued with a spirit of Southwestern desert and possibly just a hint of what Aztec culture has produced in contemporary art - rustic, yet modern. He and his wife approach their designs in a unique manner, utilizing a tool called a plasma to slice into metal. When he cuts into the iron, he creates silhouettes and cuts them freehand, then uses a hammer to create texture and form. The finishing touch is an oxidized finish with a lacquered coat which gives the piece its proverbial life. His iron and glass candleholder dubbed “Solar Wind” might remind you of a summer twilight and spending simple times with friends.

4. Shelby Vision - Steve Shelby’s personal website includes his hand-crafted, bronze, and silver items and going to his personal blog, he details how he makes a remarkable looking hammer-formed bronze urn. Bronze according to him is essentially a harder metal to work with than brass or copper but the finished result is astounding. He formed the urn by welding the metal with an oxy-acetylene torch and a hammer to apply the rest of the shaping. He has begun a series of “funerary arts” which would bring the viewer back to the Bronze Age of man and how tools were made. Steve first learned to use a hammer at the age of three and wasn’t able to work with metal until his early twenties. He claims his art has no particular message or cause, only that he simply loves what he does as working with metal seems to put him in a relaxed mood.

5. John T. Unger Studio - John T. Unger is one artist who utilizes recycled or re-used materials and transforms them into astonishing works of art that would make an art lover reconsider what they throw away. John’s works would certainly make an environmentalist proud as he aims for both “permanence” and “functionality”. He believes everyone should appreciate art as well use on a regulatory, daily basis. One unique and intriguing item I found was the “Mixed Up Blues: Bottle Cap Fish Mosaic” which was made with plywood, primer, recycled roofing paper, and of course, varying blue bottle caps to create a funky, conversationalist piece for the home. One very practical item and which might be a favorite for evenings in the backyard is the “Big Bowl O’ Zen” which is a fire pit fashioned from rustic metal and meant to harmonize with a garden. Indeed, John has proven that saving the planet and going Green can be exquisite and fun.