Sarah Ogren. Mixed Media Artist

More Rabbit Sculptures Are In!

2012-01-24T12:35:00.000-05:00

I will have more designs and different shapes soon. This piece has been posted in the Etsy shop.

New Artist Interview

2012-01-21T17:50:00.002-05:00

Head on over to "A Picturebook Life" blog and read my latest artist interview. There are also many other interesting and inspiring featured artists the Storytellers series.

The Rabbit Box

2012-01-19T11:37:00.000-05:00

This is a altered art, collage, wood box. The entire surface of the box has been altered with paint, collage and pen and ink. A cute little rabbit adorns the top.
You can find this piece in my Etsy shop.

New Nersury Art

2012-01-18T22:42:00.000-05:00

I have begun designing nursery art. Above are the first three of my designs which you can find on Etsy. All are available as 8x10" art prints. The last image can be personalized with your child's name in the bubble.

More Art With Folk Flowers

2012-01-16T11:33:00.000-05:00

Two new prints which feature my collage folk flowers. They can be found here and here .

Which then brings me to the two collage, cat sculptures that I just completed which also feature my folk flowers. This cat can be found here.

And these cats with the thistles can be found here.

Bunny Rabbit II

2012-01-15T12:01:00.000-05:00

The second bunny rabbit sculpture of the year has been posted. You can find it here.
This rabbit is a little different though. I usually use found images of flowers from antique paintings for these sculptures. This time, the flowers have been completely made by me.
Remember the post I did earlier about the folk flowers I was making? Well they have made an appearance on this rabbit. I am actually finding many uses for these little hand-made flowers. Stay tuned for cat sculptures and new prints featuring these.

Ornate Framing Option Now Available

2012-01-12T11:05:00.000-05:00

I now have in my Etsy shop the option to have your prints framed. The frames I have available at the moment are these black, ornate frames. This particular frame fits a 8x10" art print, but other sizes are available. You can find more info about this new framing option here.

Introducing the Folk Bunny Card

2012-01-11T21:23:00.000-05:00

These cards are blank on the inside. Larger prints of this design are coming soon. You can find these cards here.

A Project In Process

2012-01-08T21:55:00.001-05:00

Thought I would share with all of you a little of what I've been working on as of late. What you are looking at are little collage flowers and leaves. All made of individually cut pieces of paper. Not entirely sure how I will use these yet, but I have been enjoying the process.

Rabbit Sculptures Are In!

2012-01-02T14:16:00.001-05:00

I hope that everyone had a safe and happy holiday.

I have been asked many times when I will have more rabbit sculptures again. I had originally thought it would be as late as March, but since this is going to be such a great new year, they have happily arrived earlier than expected.
These are found rabbit sculptures that I have completely altered with paint, pen and ink, and collage work. Each is a unique one-of-a-kind piece. This guy here is the first of the available sculptures and he has already been posted on Etsy. I will be posting more of these with different surface designs and different rabbit shapes as they are completed. I also welcome custom requests, but please get your requests in early as these rabbits are usually only available through March.

Trying To Find My Place

2011-12-17T03:47:00.001-05:00

I don't usually go into much detail behind the imagery in my work. Sometimes it's not something I feel like sharing. Other times, I'm not entirely sure why I chose the image; you can say it just spoke to me.

Today is a little different. Today I will give a little peek into the meaning of this piece, "Trying to Find My Place".
For me my home as always been a place where I felt safe. Where I could fully be myself without fear of judgement. The image of the house in this piece is quite literally my heart.
Now I am quite the believer that each of us is the sole protector of our hearts. We must choose carefully who we share our hearts with; not everyone is ready for what we have to share or appreciative of it's gift.

Now usually I use a rabbit as my figures or the rabbit somehow makes an appearance in my work. Many times the rabbit is myself or a small part of my personality, but it is always the light-hearted version. The idea behind this piece required a tougher animal though.

In this piece I have used a crow as the figure. Crows are such loud birds; squawking at the slightest sign of danger. They are in many ways natures alarm system. What a great animal to help protect such a valuable piece of property. When the crow doesn't squawk, I will know I have found my place to rest.

You can find this image here.

Bear Folk

2011-12-15T16:53:00.000-05:00

Just finished a new piece, done with folky-style flowers.
This piece is now available in the Etsy shop.

The Little Folk House Necklace

2011-12-14T19:16:00.000-05:00

Introducing a new pendant design. It's my very own hand-drawn folk-style house. This is the first image in a series of new work that will have a very folk art feel to it. Check this blog and my Etsy shop in the next few days as I roll out my new designs.

Last Promo Week!!

2011-12-13T11:39:00.000-05:00

Yes, this is the last promotional week of the year in my Etsy shop. For the last week, I am offering free domestic shipping on all orders. Enter the code "freexmas" in the coupon code section when you check out. Free shipping is good now through 12/20. All the details of this promotion can be found in my shop announcement.

BOGO Sale

2011-12-05T21:48:00.000-05:00

Now through 12/13.
Print BOGO sale. Buy any 8x10 ($20) or 5x7 ($12.50) print and get the second of equal or lesser value free.
You can find all the details of this promotion in my Etsy shop.

Renegade Holiday Craft Fair This Weekend

2011-12-01T14:30:00.000-05:00

I will be exhibiting at the Renegade Holiday Craft Fair this weekend Dec 3-4. The show runs from 11-6pm both days and is held at the Pulaski Park Field House at 1419 W. Blackhawk St. in Chicago. You can find out more about the show and the exhibitors here.

Heartsy Deal!!

2011-11-28T19:42:00.005-05:00

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving.
I mentioned last week in my "promotion post" that this weeks promotion would be a Heartsy deal.
Here is how the deal works. If you buy a $10 voucher on Heartsy you will get a $22 credit in my Etsy shop to use on whatever you wish. The credit can even be used on shipping. The voucher is good for one month and you can purchase one for yourself and up to 3 as gifts.
Heartsy also has a VIP program. If you are a VIP, and you purchase a $10 voucher you will receive a $32 credit for anything in my shop.

VIP's can begin shopping tomorrow at 8am PST, Tuesday 11/29.
Everyone else can begin to purchase vouchers at 8 am PST, on Wednesday, 11/30- 12/01.

Heartsy also has a generous referral promotion as well. When you purchase a voucher, you will be given a special link. If other people purchase vouchers through your link you get a $10 credit. So please spread the word!

Free Wood Pins

2011-11-22T13:50:00.001-05:00

New promotion. Get a free wood pin ($12.50) with every purchase now through 11/28. Choose from; Bunny Twins, Bear, Cat, Horse or Owl and Bunny pins valued at $12.50 each. All the details can be found in my shop announcement on Etsy.

Also, a heads-up about next weeks promotion. I am offering a Heartsy voucher again (Heartsy is like Groupon for handmade) VIP's get to shop early on Tuesday 11/29. All others on 11/30-12/01. I will have a direct link to the deal posted here on this blog on 11/29 so make sure to check back next week! There are a limited number of vouchers available.

2012 Calendars Are Now Here!

2011-11-17T13:46:00.000-05:00

I have just listed a 2012 calendar in the Etsy shop. Perfect for those that love bunnies and dessert!

New Promotion Now Through 11/21.

2011-11-15T13:05:00.001-05:00

Yes, it is Tuesday and time for a new promotion. Now through 11/21 get a free 5x7" ($12.50) print with every order. All the details can be found in my shop announcement.

You Have To Come Down Sometime

2011-11-13T13:11:00.000-05:00

A new 8x10" print which has just been posted in the Etsy shop.

Special Promotion this Week

2011-11-08T12:39:00.000-04:00

I am launching a series of new promotions now through 12/19. Every week there will be a new promotional offering. This week I begin with a gift certificate promotion. Now through 11/14. Purchase a $100 gift card in my Etsy shop and I'll send you another $25 gift card for free. Just write "Free 25 For Me" in the notes to seller section when you check out.
Best of all, you can use this gift certificate on any of my upcoming promotions.

Getting Ready for Christmas

2011-11-01T15:12:00.000-04:00

I have been busy creating small gift items for the upcoming holiday season. Lots of jewelry pieces; including earrings and charm bracelets will be posted this week. Also posting this week are a variety of holiday ornaments.

A Foxy Necklace

2011-10-29T14:22:00.000-04:00

Introducing a new pendant image. Meet the foxy fox. The above piece has already been posted in the Etsy shop. More jewelry pieces featuring this image are coming soon. Including statement necklaces and brooches. So stay tuned.

Gift Certificates are Now Available

2011-10-27T16:15:00.000-04:00

Gift certificates have just been posted in my Etsy shop. Get one for yourself or as a gift. These can me physically mailed to you or sent by email.

Print Promotion Now through 10/30/11

2011-10-27T10:01:00.000-04:00

Hi everyone. I just thought I'd pop in and let you in on a special promotion I am doing in my Etsy shop.
Now through 10/30/11. Get a free 5x7" reproduction print of your choice with every order. Just simply choose any $12.50 print found here and let me know the title of the print you would like to receive in the "notes to seller" section when you check out. *Please do not add the free print to your shopping cart.
Contact me if you have any questions.

Also, I am currently collecting votes over on Heartsy to be a featured seller there. For those that don't know, Heartsy is basically a Groupon for handmade items. If you would like to see me featured, please vote for me. I applied a few weeks ago and was denied, so I do need your votes. You can vote here.
Have a great day everyone!

Statement Necklaces

2011-10-25T10:23:00.000-04:00

I have been busy creating new necklace designs. The four pieces above will be posted throughout the day today and stay tuned for more designs in the very near future.

You can find the above necklaces as well as other art jewelry pieces in my Etsy shop.

Artist Interview on Culture

2011-10-16T11:40:00.000-04:00

I recently did an artist interview for Culture?. You can view it here.

Sweet Bunny. The Book.

2011-09-29T16:26:00.004-04:00

I have been busy this summer on a secret project. I have been writing and illustrating my own cookbook. I am happy to say that the book is complete and ready for your reading and your tasting enjoyment. You can find the book over at Blurb.
Oh, and there is also a 15% off discount code you can use over at Blurb on this book. Just enter the code "NEXTBOOK" when you check-out.
The book is 32 pages and contains 12 illustrations and 12 corresponding dessert recipes. I am kind of a dessert snob, so you can bet the recipes are delicious!! Below is a recipe for one of my favorite cookie bars. It combines almond pie filling and heath chips for a decadent, uber-delicious treat. You can find the recipe on page 13 in my book.

"Heath. Sugar Daddy"

Cookie Bars.

2C flour

2C Oats (not quick cooking)

1 teaspoon baking powder.

1/4 teaspoon sea salt.

1 teaspoon baking soda.

1 C sugar.
1 C brown sugar

2 Sticks of butter at room temp.

1/4 C almond pie filling (not almond paste).

1 teaspoon vanilla extract.

1/2 teaspoon almond extract.

2- 11oz bags of Heath chips (I prefer the ones without chocolate).

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Beat your butter and sugars together.

3. Add the vanilla and almond extracts. Mix well.

4. Add remaining dry ingredients and mix well.

5. Add your Heath chips.

6. Grease a 9x12" cake pan. Pour batter evenly into pan.

7. Bake for 45-50 min or until nicely browned and firm in the middle.

*left over almond filling freezes nicely.

Hope you enjoy!

I Have So Much Fun With You

2011-09-29T08:02:00.000-04:00

Another 8x10" reproduction print. Posted on Etsy.

Shall We Have Butterfly Or Frog For Lunch?

2011-09-27T14:52:00.000-04:00

Yes, I have another new reproduction print. I have been quite busy and will have at least one more tomorrow or Thursday so stay tuned. These hungry cats can be found on Etsy.

That Cat Got Some Air

2011-09-26T19:48:00.000-04:00

New 8x10" reproduction print which you can find in my Etsy shop.

Renegade Chicago Pictures

2011-09-13T21:35:00.000-04:00

Time Out Chicago took these pictures of my booth at Renegade this weekend. You can view the rest of the images from the show on their site here.

New Originals

2011-09-13T10:06:00.000-04:00

Thanks to everyone who came out to see me at Renegade in Chicago this past weekend. It was great to meet all of you.
I created a ton of work for this show. Many were originals. I didn't even have enough room in my booth to display it all. I will be listing all of the work that I have left over from the show this week. So please check the shop daily as there will be something (and sometimes many things) new to see.

I now have Mounts for the 8x10 Prints.

2011-09-04T13:44:00.000-04:00

Yes, you can now have your 8x10" prints mounted on cradled board. Just simply purchase a 8x10" print and a 8x10" cradled board mount in my Etsy shop and I will mount it for you.

Renegade Craft Fair 2011

2011-08-31T16:05:00.000-04:00

I will be exhibiting at the Renegade Craft fair next weekend Sept 10-11 in Chicago. The show runs from 11 am-7pm both days. My booth number is 99 and I will located near the corner of Woods St and Division St. If you have the chance, come out and see the show and stop by to say, "hi".
You can find out more about the show here.

A Woodland Escape

2011-08-27T16:36:00.000-04:00

Another collaboration piece I did with my mom. This is available as a 8x10" reproduction print.

The Hairdresser and Getting Ready For Christmas

2011-08-17T16:29:00.000-04:00

The Hairdresser.
8x10" reproduction print. Available here.

Then I have begun stocking the shop with ornaments. The great thing about these is that they can be used as Christmas ornaments or you could also leave them up all year. You can find the selection of ornaments here, and make sure to check back often in the next few months as I add more designs.

The Bike Ride

2011-08-10T11:41:00.000-04:00

8x10" reproduction print.

Growing Apart

2011-08-08T21:18:00.000-04:00

New 8x10" Reproduction print. Now posted in the Etsy shop.

More More More

2011-08-04T13:24:00.000-04:00

All are brand new originals and all are now posted in the Etsy shop.

More Original New Work To Share.

2011-07-28T15:59:00.000-04:00

Air Lift

Collage on cradled board.

Wait, Now Who is Who?

Collage on cradled board.

Sailing
Collage on cradled board.

Lady Luck
Framed collage.

8x10 Prints

2011-07-27T19:39:00.000-04:00

How To Transport a Whale III
So I am happy to announce that I am now offering 8x10" reproduction prints of my work. Unfortunately, my older images still will not be available at the 8x10" size. The originals of those pieces were too small to make into 8x10" prints on my printer that also met my standards. The 5x7" prints of those earlier pieces are gorgeous though!
So I have begun creating larger originals that will be turned into 8x10" prints. So from now on you can expect any new images that I have available as prints will be in the 8x10" size.

Oh Boy Have I Been Busy!

2011-07-26T10:25:00.000-04:00

Afternoon Balloon.
Original frame collage on wood panel.

Panoramic Dog.
Original Altered Art Sculpture.

Bunny Leap Flower Brooch.
The above pieces have already been posted in the Etsy shop. I will be adding some more brooches and another original collage piece today. More original collage pieces will be posted later this week and into next.

New Original Framed Collage

2011-07-21T12:19:00.002-04:00

Crow Hill

New Just For You

2011-07-06T22:46:00.000-04:00

The Lazy Swimmer
Brand new 5x7" reproduction print. You can find it here.
Happy summer and happy swimming everyone!

I Got More Elephants

2011-06-28T10:04:00.000-04:00

First let me say sorry for the long absence. I have been quite ill with Bronchitis. First time I have ever had Bronchitis and once was more than enough for me. It kicked my butt.

Anyways, I am back and I have a new piece to share. It's titled, "Prickly Path". You can find it in my Etsy shop. I also have some new jewelry pieces that I will be listing today as well.

In addition, I have been accepted to Renegade Chicago this year. So if you are in Chicago September 10-11 of this year, stop by and say, "hi". I will post info as the date gets closer.

Some New Mini Landscape Collages

2011-06-09T11:06:00.000-04:00

Mushroom Hill

Butterfly Chasing
These are both created on wood blocks and are one-of-a-kind pieces. You can find them on Etsy.

How to Make Your Work More Whimsical

2011-06-08T14:24:00.000-04:00

I would like to share a couple of quick tips on how you can make your work have that fun,whimsical feel.

1. Play With Scale.

Any time you have a giant figure next to a small one, or a figure that is small in real life, but large in your created image will equal instant whimsy.

This also applies in reverse. A figure/item that is small in real life is made extra large in your image will give you that same whimsical feel. Children's stories are filled with these examples.

2. Make the Impossible Possible.

This is one of my favorite tricks. The elephant images above illustrate this well.

In the image on the left the elephant is spraying water from it's trunk and supporting a small ship while doing so. In the image on the right, a giant mushroom is supporting the weight of an elephant. Neither of these things of course, could ever happen in real life so they become whimsical.

What are some of your tricks for creating instant whimsy?

Another Elephant

2011-06-07T09:51:00.001-04:00

Elephant Walk
Altered art elephant sculpture. The elephant is a found piece that I have altered with paint, paper and pen and ink details.
You can find him in my Etsy shop.

New Print

2011-06-06T11:40:00.000-04:00

Trying to Fit In
5x7" open edition print which is now available in my Etsy shop. Or in a larger version over on Society6.
I will have more elephant themed work to share soon.

An Inetersting Read

2011-06-01T09:58:00.000-04:00

I have had this blog for several years now, and I must admit that up until recently I didn't really get blogging or social media in general. I mean why would anyone care what I had for lunch?

I started blogging because I thought it was something that I should do for my business. So I posted new work and some news as it happened, but there wasn't much else in the way of content.

I have recently been making more of an effort to post actual content that I think will be beneficial to my readers and I have been educating myself on what exactly this whole social media thing is all about.

Part of this education has involved reading books. I recently finished UnMarketing by Scott Stratten. This is a business book, but surprisingly not boring at all. Scott has a good sense of humor, and best of all, I get the social media thing now. It's about connecting with other people and sharing what you know. I'd recommend giving this book a read.

$5 Off At Society 6

2011-05-26T14:59:00.000-04:00

Society 6 is having a $5 off everything until Sunday. My Society 6 account is here. I have many 8x10" or larger prints available there.

Angel of the Flower Garden. Large Mixed Media Sculpture.

2011-05-24T09:41:00.001-04:00

Brand new mixed media sculpture. This is a found angel that I have completely altered using paint, paper, and my own drawings.
She is now posted on my Etsy site.

Adding Those Finishing Touches to Your Collage

2011-05-23T10:45:00.000-04:00

I love adding a little hand-drawn or hand-painted something to my collage work. I think it adds an extra layer to the piece that makes the collage more visually interesting.
The Faber-Castell India Ink pens have worked best for me. They dry really fast and don't smear when I finally go to varnish my work.

I always varnish my work if it's something that probably won't be framed. Collages on canvas, cradled board, wood, and my sculptural pieces all get varnished.
Just make sure that your varnish is safe to use on paper. I use Mod Podge brand varnish, which is safe to use on paper, plastic and metal. You can find it at Walmart or craft stores.

Varnish comes in glossy and matte finishes. I personally like the gloss. I have found that one coat of varnish is all you need.
How do you add the finishing touches to your work?

Coaching and a New Web Site

2011-05-19T10:23:00.000-04:00

Yes, I am now all official or something. I have a web site. It's http://sarahogren.com
I hope to eventually move this blog over there, but for now, the website is a place where you can learn more about me and what I do.

I have a page with my artist statement, bio, and an artist interview I did not to long ago, as well as a spot for my press releases as they become available. This page is for those of you who blog or who would just like a little light reading. :) You can find all this information on the "About" page on my web site.

In addition, there is also a page where I will be listing upcoming workshops that I will be teaching as well as a page with links to all the places you can find my work.

The last, and I think best page, is my Coaching page. Yes, I have begun a Life Coaching practice! The page is full of the specifics, but the cliff notes version here is that I will coaching other artists, small business owners and other creative types on how to make their business and ideas even better.
I have a Master's degree in Counseling that has really just been going to waste all these years and I'm excited to now be able to put my skills into practice!

Please stop by and check the site out and let me know what you think.

More Mini Landscape Collages

2011-05-17T12:35:00.000-04:00

I have a new "Sand Dune" matted-mini-collage-landscape series now available. They are designed to hang-out by themselves, or group them together for a beach party.
Each has it's own unique, quirky personality and best of all each are a one-of-a-kind piece!

Fixing Mistakes On Your Collage

2011-05-16T16:37:00.001-04:00

Yeah, mistakes happen. To everyone. Mistakes in art; I call them surreptitious moments. Some of my better ideas and better work came about from what I learned from a mistake. So don't sweat it, embrace it!

One of the most common mistakes in collage are those dreaded lumps and bumps! There have been times when I have actually glued a bead or something small under my paper and didn't notice it until the glue dried. Most times though a bump comes from a piece of paper not having quite enough glue or different parts of the collage drying at different rates. This unfortunately tends to happen right in the middle of an image.

Where exactly this lump occurs and how severe will determine whether of not it's fixable.

In the collage piece that I demonstrated with last week there was a spot where the paper wrinkled.

This wrinkle occurred because I didn't quite lay the paper down flat enough.

A tip for helping to avoid wrinkles in the first place is to press your image down firmly and with a even layer of glue behind and on top of the image. I sturdy brush or your finger work great. But lumps can still happen so here's how to handle them.

Here my glue has dried and there is no going back, so I have to deal with the lump. I have on occasion drawn around the lump and made it a part of the piece. This lump occurred in the landscape portion of the collage so it is completely feasible. Ground is never completely flat and even right?

In this case though I decided to try my other trick in addition to the drawings; and that was to sand it down. Yup, sand it. With a fine grade sandpaper (I use this trick on the sides of my canvas as well). Just make sure to sand before you add your drawings!

I could have then covered the sanded down portion with a little paint or more paper, but I decided that the sanded look worked with this piece. I just added my hand-drawn details and I was done.

Now if the wrinkle had happened on the bird image itself then I would have had to decide if I wanted to completely remove the bird image, replace only the part of the bird image with the lump, or sand the lump down and paint over top.
The choice of action would depend on how sever the lump was and where exactly the lump occurred. A lump across the face of the bird would have warranted a new bird image (or at least head), but a lump in the birds body could be sanded and painted over.
If you have any tips on how you get rid of those lumps and bumps in your work, I would love to hear about them.

Guardians of the Crew

2011-05-14T09:20:00.000-04:00

New original collage on wood panel.
Inspired by sailing folklore and the belief that if you named your ship after a woman, she would protect your ship and crew.

Assembling a Collage

2011-05-11T11:50:00.001-04:00

Ok, so now you know how to choose a surface for your collage and choose the glue for your particular project. Now it's time to put the actual image together.

I usually begin with creating my backgrounds first. My backgrounds simply consist of torn decorative papers and vintage text with a layer of paint over top. I then paint in my clouds and add any additional painted areas to help complete my background.
Creating the backgrounds for my 2D pieces is the same process as creating the backgrounds for my sculptural pieces. For a little refresher on that process look here.

So now I have my background all ready to go and it's time to add my images.

I usually have somewhat of an idea of the kind of image that I want to create, but sometimes this is not the case. For these unsure days, I will often spend some time looking through my collection of images and choosing pieces that speak to me. It's funny how a simple image can spark an idea.

Here I have found a collection of characters to use in my collage.

I don't bother cutting the images out perfectly at this point. I want to lay my images out on my canvas first to see if I like the way they fit with my background.

If I like what I see, I progress to cutting my images out and gluing them onto my surface.

Here my images are cut and glued onto the surface. I have also altered the layout of my images a bit.

One of the things that I love about collage is that I can put together my image and rearrange my images in order to get an idea of what the finished piece will look like before having to glue anything down. Collage is great for us commitment phobes. :)

This piece is almost complete. I still have to add my hand-drawn details and fix a few boo boos, all of which I will discuss in an upcoming post.

Heartsy Free Money

2011-05-11T10:48:00.001-04:00

I noticed on Heartsy today that they have a promo going that if you sign-up and make a purchase, you get a $5 bonus in your account. If you sign-up through me here, you can share the love and I get a $5 credit as well.
For those of you that don't know, Hearsty is basically like a Groupon for handmade items.

Anyways, I am currently working on another post about assembling a collage so stay tuned.

New Brooch Design

2011-05-09T12:27:00.000-04:00

I have turned my "Stand Off" image into s little piece of wearable art. The setting the image is in even looks a little like a antique gold frame.
This piece has just been posted here.

Alternative Collage Surface Inspiration

2011-05-06T13:17:00.000-04:00

I think part of what makes a piece of art great is; 1). The artwork itself and 2). The way that the work is matted, framed or displayed.

For me, a great image can be ruined by poor presentation and alternatively, a great presentation can make a great piece of art ever better! So as artists, our job isn't done once the image itself is created. We have to find ways to really showcase our work in the best possible way.

I recently completed the piece below titled, "She Insisted That They Bring the Mushroom Umbrella on Their Walks", and I thought I would show you how I found the plaque that the collage was created on. It's really quite simple actually!

I find the plaques and frames that I use in my work in thrift stores, craft stores and discount stores. Stores that are quite common and stores which you probably have in your neighborhood.

The big secret here is to look at an object for it's potential and not for what it actually is or in some cases, it's intended purpose (I will discuss using mirrors as potential frames and bases for collage work in a later post).

Here I have taken a picture of a plaque that I found, which has been untouched. Another plaque that has a base coat of paint and papers and then the third, which is the completed piece.

The original, untouched plaque as you can see, has an image already on it. But what is so great about collage is that I can cover just about any surface that I desire.

I loved the metal detail at the top of the plaque and I loved the rectangle shape, and I was sold.
I look for interesting shapes and details; the bones of the piece, and I create my work over top. This way, essentially every object becomes a potential base for a collage piece.

I encourage you to find interesting objects and ways to present your own work. Also, if you have a specific question about collage, or a issue or problem you are having with a piece, let me know and maybe I can help.

Adhesives Used in Collage

2011-05-04T10:30:00.000-04:00

Today I thought I would talk about adhesive choices when creating collage work.

Glue Sticks
Glue sticks work well for gluing paper onto other paper surfaces. The glue is lightweight, so it helps to prevent the paper underneath from curling and warping.
Glue sticks however, have a tendency to cause your paper images to become unglued from the surface. So it's really important that you completely and evenly cover the area to be glued and press the image firmly onto your base paper.
I like to use the handle part of my scissors or a bone folder to press my image firmly onto surface.

Bone Folder

Glue sticks in my opinion are really only good for gluing paper to paper and should be avoided when gluing paper to canvas, wood or objects.

There are other glues that are much more durable for those surfaces.

Moge Podge and Matte Medium

Mod Podge and Matte Medium are very similar. They both come in either matte or gloss finishes, they dry clear and they are both excellent for gluing images to canvas, wood or objects.

To use simply brush on a layer of the glue of your choice to the back of your image. Place your image on your canvas and then brush another layer of glue over the image to seal it in place. Make sure to press firmly to remove any air bubbles underneath your image.

Both glues dry pretty quickly, but you will have a few seconds to move your image around. Just note that your paper will become weak and more likely to tear if you move it around too much after gluing.

*Tip* For those of you who don't mind getting messy, try applying your glue with your fingers instead of a brush. I find that using my fingers to apply the glue gives me great control on the amount of glue applied to my paper and it allows for better control on removing air bubble under my images. I just simply press the glue covered images firmly down onto my canvas with my fingers (I press quite hard). Just make sure that your fingers are well coated in glue or you will tear your paper. Lubrication makes everything better! :)

Pros and Cons of Mod Podge and Matte Medium
Mod Podge is thicker than Matte Medium and can be thinned out slightly with a little water. It is also less expensive than Matte Medium. I tend to prefer Matte Medium over Mod Podge just because I find Mod Podge to be too thick for my taste and find using water to thin it out to be a pain. The use of water can also make my paper images too weak and cause them to tear. Mod Podge is definitely not for delicate papers!
You can find Mod Podge in the craft section at Walmart or in the adhesive section at the craft store.

Matte Medium is what I always use. Yes, it is a little more pricey, but the ease of use has me sold. I have not yet found a surface that I couldn't use Matte Medium on. It works great for papers (even some delicate papers) as well as for gluing objects to my canvas or board.

Matte Medium is basically liquid plastic so it works really well for protecting vintage text and images, which have acids in them and can destroy your collage over time.
Just simply add a layer of Matte Medium to the back side and front side of the vintage image to coat it and add to your collage. That's it. Your image has now is protected by a layer of plastic!

You can find Matte Medium in the painting section at the craft store.

This is by no means a definitive list of the glues available to use in collage, but they are what have worked best for me. Try out different glues and see which one you like best.

Introducing Mini Collage Landscapes

2011-05-02T09:17:00.000-04:00

These little guys are original collage pieces on wood blocks. They measure no more than 3.5" tall, but they make-up for it in personality.
You can find these on Etsy.

Choosing a Surface for Your Collage

2011-04-29T11:23:00.002-04:00

First I wanted to say, "thank you" to those who have taken the time to answer my short survey about my blog, your interests, and content that you would like to see here. Your feedback was very helpful and I will definitely take your suggestions and use them to improve the content here. I will keep the survey up for awhile so please feel free to take the survey if you haven't yet done so. You can find it here.

Several of the suggestions I received, wanted to know more about exactly how I make what I make; everything from inspiration to supplies and the actual process of putting a collage together.

Over the next few weeks I will take you through the basics of creating a collage. I will discuss surface choices, adhesives, paints, hand-drawn details and finishing tricks just to name a few.

So lets begin with surface choice.

Surfaces

I have yet to find a surface that I can't collage over. Which is awesome (I did an earlier post here about choosing actual objects/sculptural pieces to collage over). The only real catch with surface selection for collage is that it must be smooth! A collage over a surface with lots of texture just doesn't look good. It looks bumpy and messy. So make sure the surface is free of raised texture.

Texture from canvas or speciality papers works fine. Because the texture is not raised enough to show through any of the papers you collage on top of it.

Below is an example of a canvas paper that I used. You can see that the collage paper I added to the piece remains smooth, yet the painting done over the uncovered canvas shows the texture of the canvas paper.

Paper

The most important part of paper selection is that it is acid free. No one wants to spend hours of time on a collage piece only to have it brown and break away a few months later.

I use a lot of vintage papers in my work which do contain acids, but I have a trick that I will discuss in a later post on "adhesives" to help prevent the acids in these papers from destroying your work.

So start with a base paper that is acid-free for your collage.

In collage, the heavier the base paper the better. You will be gluing and adding weight to your base paper so you want it to be able to stay flat.

As a general rule, you choose paper as the base for your collage only when the items that you are creating with are light weight. Think paper and glue stick type collaging.

Heavier adhesives like Matte Medium and Modge Podge are not ideal here nor is the addition of fabrics, metal or other embellishments.

Canvas or Wood Board

I personally prefer wood over a stretch canvas. I find the wood to be a far sturdier surface to work on, while the canvas has a tendency to get stretched out and warp as I am working.

Stretched canvas, like paper, works great for light-weight objects.

There is the option of canvas board, which is just canvas stretched over a piece of thick cardboard, but just like working with paper, I find that it doesn't hold-up to adhesives like Matte Medium and Modge Podge.

Canvas board has almost always warped on me when I use them, so I would use canvas board just like I would paper; for light weight projects.

Sometimes I am in the mood for a canvas. My favorite canvas to use is a linen canvas paper by Strathmore. It is a cross between canvas and paper. I use it in the same way as I would paper, but it's quite sturdy and has the texture of canvas which I enjoy.

As I mentioned earlier, my favorite surface to create on is wood. Wood panel in my opinion can't be beat. I can pretty much add whatever embellishments I want, I can add and take away images, I can sand and even carve it.

I have not had much luck with the wood plaques that you find in craft stores. They usually have a beveled edge and look pretty, but the wood is also quite soft and I have found that the wood can warp over time.

My wood surface of choice is cradled board. Cradled board looks just like a canvas but are completely made of wood.

I have yet to have a cradled board warp on me. It has a smooth surface and it makes for a very pretty finished piece. You also don't have to frame it and it is super easy to hang. You can find cradled board at places like Dick Blick or other online art supply retailers.

Additional Surface Possibilities

Mirrors. Yes the mirror itself. If you love the frame around it why not?

Vases

Tile

Furniture

Frames

Mattes for matting art work

Glass

Garage sales, thrift stores and clearance racks are all great places to find any of the above surfaces for a collage.

I would love to hear what sort of surfaces you have worked with. What has worked for you or what hasn't.

The Stand Off. A 2 Print Set

2011-04-26T17:36:00.000-04:00

I decided that today would be my "play" day. I didn't have a set collage in my mind that I wanted to create, instead I thought that I would play around with some images and see what happened.

I found these sheep in my pile of images and thought that they looked like they embodied playfulness (my theme for the day) and decided to work them into a collage.

This is the result. My very first 2-set reproduction print. I think they are quite fun and I'm even happier that my play day produced something that I liked and hopefully you will too!

I'm Hooked!

2011-04-25T10:36:00.001-04:00

Just in time for Spring cleaning and getting organized. I am now offering wall hooks with my images on them in my Etsy shop. These pieces are wood with hook part being metal.

I'm a fan of these hooks; I can keep all of my items all neat and organized.
I am kind of an organization geek actually. I was at Target this weekend and found this multiple folder organizer that both hangs on the wall and folds to be stored on a shelf. I thought I had died and gone to heaven. :)

New Wholesale Prints

2011-04-17T19:24:00.001-04:00

First I would like to say, "thank you" to everyone who participated in my Heartsy promotion this weekend. I still have a few vouchers left, but only until 8 a.m. PST tomorrow, so if you want to get in on this deal get there soon!

On to other news. I now am offering my 5x7" reproduction prints for you wholesalers out there. You can order these and other items in my Etsy shop. I am also making ordering wholesale from me even easier by handing out wholesale discount codes for those of you looking to stock your galleries or boutiques. Just contact me for all the details.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend everyone!

Heartsy Update

2011-04-15T18:34:00.001-04:00

***Update*** I will be featured on Heartsy a day earlier than originally planned. My feature and deal will be available tomorrow morning. April 16.

Vouchers will be available until sold out. So if you want one, get there early!! They will still be redeemable 3 months after purchase date. Check it out here.

Heartsy Feature

2011-04-14T10:35:00.005-04:00

***Update*** I will be featured on Heartsy a day earlier than originally planned. My feature and deal will be available tomorrow morning. April 16.

Vouchers will be available until sold out. So if you want one, get there early!! They will still be redeemable 3 months after purchase date.

I will be the featured artist on Heartsy.me.

For those of you that are unfamiliar with Heartsy, it's a site much like Groupon but for handmade items. So please check it out.

Some New Jewelry and A New Rabbit Sculpture

2011-04-05T09:59:00.002-04:00

The Lesser Known Bermuda Circle

Not Your Ordinary Field Mouse

A Pleasant Conversation On A Pleasant Day.

All of these pieces are now posted on Etsy.

Building Your Artist Resume

2011-04-04T11:46:00.003-04:00

The topic of developing an artist resume has been coming up quite often in my conversations lately, so I thought it would share some of what I have learned.

Finding templates for the format of your artist resume can be found all over the Internet just by doing a simple "artist resume format" search, so I am going to focus on building-up your art related experience for your resume.

So how exactly do you find opportunities?

There are many different opportunities to build your artist resume, but below is a list of the things that I have personal experience with;

Teaching,
Shows at Galleries
Competitions and Juried Shows
Publications and Artist Interviews.

This is a very short list of possibilities, but I think it's a good starting point. What you choose will depend on your goals.

Teaching
I started building my teaching experience by offering classes through my local craft store. It was free for me to use their space and I was completely in charge of the content and fees that I charged my students. I never had more than five students ever enroll at a time, but I was more interested in gaining the experience rather than making money at this point.

Community Colleges and local park districts are also other great places to offer classes.

I found that once I had a little experience teaching, I not only became more comfortable teaching, but finding other more lucrative or more "prestigious" teaching gigs through galleries became easier to come by.

Shows and Galleries
Approaching galleries is scary. It's still not one of my favorite things to do. I started out doing craft fairs, mostly because that was what I was familiar with. My mom did craft fairs throughout my childhood years so I grew-up a craft fair brat of sorts.

Craft fairs can be hit or miss. Some shows are awesome and far more are not. Generally speaking, in my experience, the more expensive the show and the more urban the show the higher the attendance and the more money you are likely to make. I have used Festival Network Online to find shows in my area. They have free lsitings, but you can also purchase the full list if it is something that you want to get into.

My advice would be to check out the show before you even apply. Or do a small inexpensive show just to see if you enjoy showing at them or just to build-up your resume a bit. Be fore warned that even the small shows are a TON of work.

I didn't start showing at galleries until I had a few craft shows under my belt and felt more confident about my work. This was due more my own insecurities than anything else, so if I could do it over again, I would start applying to galleries right away.

When applying to galleries you do need to be realistic. Don't expect to get into a high-end gallery right away. Most, if not all of the artists that these galleries represent have a impressive gallery record to begin with. So start with the smaller, less known galleries and approach them.

Check out the galleries in your area and get to know the owners, or find a online list. Here in the Chicago area, I use the Chicago Artist Resource web page to find opportunities to show my work including teaching, publications and gallery shows.

Another option is showing through The Sketchbook Project. There is usually a small fee, but there also is not usually a jury process.

Competitions and Juried Shows
I don't do too many competitions mostly because they cost money to apply and I am not guaranteed a show; I have to be juried in. I do set aside a few dollars every year to do a couple of these types of shows in case I find one I am really interested in or if I haven't shown my work anywhere new in awhile.

I have found that local art centers and other art organizations are great places to begin. I started with the Beverly Arts Center here in the Chicago area. They were inexpensive to apply to and the competition was perfect for a beginner.

Publications and Artist Interviews
Craigslist has been where I have found a vast majority of these opportunities. I have found that many bloggers as well as University run publications and independent magazine writers will often advertise wanting art work for their publications or content such as artist interviews for their blog. Most often you don't get paid for these gigs, but they are a nice way to add to your artist resume and get your art seen by people you may not have otherwise reached. Make sure to check out the postings in the major urban areas for the best opportunities.

If you want to go a little more mainstream and your work fits the genre, I would suggest the Somerset Studio publications. Again, you don't get paid unless you write an article for them , but you can submit your art work for publication. Being published by a major magazine is a very nice and impressive addition to your resume.

Again, all of these suggestions are just starting points. I have not been paid by any of these companies that I linked to, they are just places that I have had success with. You may have other venues that have worked well for you and I would love to hear about them. Also, if you are interested in knowing when I find opportunities for showing work, let me know. I may start posting opportunities here on my blog as I find them if there is interest in this sort of thing.

I Have New Rabbit Sculptures

2011-03-24T16:45:00.003-04:00

This one and one other have been posted in the Etsy shop. http://sarahogren.etsy.com

Interested In Larger Prints?

2011-03-22T22:30:00.002-04:00

I often get asked for larger prints of my open edition work, but the printer that I currently have can't handle anything more than a 5x7" in most cases. They are a fabulous 5x7" but I've been trying to find another route that not only keeps my print costs down for myself but also for you. I like my art to be affordable. I think I may have found the solution. I am now on a site called Society 6. There you can purchase my work in larger formats and even printed on canvas. My official web address there is http://society6.com/sarahogren

Where Do You Find Your Objects?

2011-03-21T10:28:00.005-04:00

I get asked all the time where I find the objects that I use in my art work. The truth is that there really is no secret place. I find my objects in thrift stores, antique shops, and most often through craft stores and other mass merchandisers. These are all stores that you can most likely find in your neighborhood.

My secret is that I look at an object for it's shape and potential. You can cover just about any object or surface in paint and paper, so essentialy everything becomes a potential canvas. For me, I look for objects that are interesting and have a smooth texture. It doesn't matter if there is a image already printed onto the piece; just cover it.

Above is an example of a urn that I found at my local craft store. It's a little beat-up, but that is no problem since I will be covering the piece with paper and paint.

I usually begin with applying my paper. Here I have begun to cover my object with decorative papers and vintage text.

I then cover my image with white paint, but making sure that some of the paper design beneath comes through.

I add my painted-on clouds and a little metallic paint on the edges near the parts of the urn that were not painted in order to provide a little transition between the untouched portion of the urn and the image I am creating.

I next add my cut-out collage images all around the surface of the urn and add my hand-drawn details in pen and ink.

A layer of varnish is all that is needed and the piece is complete!

I Have Exciting News!

2011-03-12T18:34:00.003-05:00

I just wanted to let everyone know that you can now buy the following three prints above at Urban Outfitters.

Each piece is framed and measures 10x14". So if you are looking for a larger print of my work, here is your chance!

Spring Studio Cleaning

2011-03-02T10:47:00.004-05:00

I am cleaning out my studio and am having a clearance sale in my Etsy shop. These items need loving homes and I will be adding new items all week. Please check it out!

Quails Have Invaded My Art

2011-03-02T09:03:00.004-05:00

My newest interest in the animal kingdom and inclusion in my art work seems to be that of quails. You may have already noticed them sneaking into some of my previous creations already. Now no need to worry my rabbit lovers out there, the rabbit is here to stay, but the quail will be making an appearance every now and again.

Silly Quail Necklace

Quails, aside from being beautiful are also kind of a silly creature and not really known for their intelligence. I like them anyways. They almost say to me, "So what if I'm not the smartest, I'm cute and I don't care what you think; ignorance is indeed bliss". It may be my new mantra...

Silly Quail (reproduction print)Both of these quail themed works have been posted in the shop, but be careful as they may infect your mind as well!

The Earth Is Actually In The Shape of A Rabbit

2011-02-25T18:30:00.002-05:00

A little bunny told me so.

This is the newest collage sculpture which has just been posted in the shop.

The rabbit is covered in antique papers, vintage images, my own drawings and paint and stands approx 8" tall.

Things Have Gotten Complicated and Even More Complicated

2011-02-20T10:09:00.003-05:00

Things Have Gotten Complicated

Things Have Gotten Even More Complicated

Poor fellas. They were just trying to woo the ladies when things just got a little out of hand.

Both of these pieces are original, one-of-a-kind collage work on panel. They both measure approx. 12 x 18.5 x 1" and have now been posted on the Etsy.

That Quail Went Behind My Back

2011-02-12T18:10:00.002-05:00

You can never trust those Quails. They look cute and innocent, but they are really up to no good...it's always the quiet ones you have to watch out for!

This is a mixed media /collage, resin rabbit sculpture which can now be found on Etsy.

Sweet Entanglement

2011-02-11T14:07:00.003-05:00

This lass has found herself in a little bit of a pickle. Maybe the rabbit can be of some help?

Collage on paper which is now available as a 5x7" print on Etsy.

You Look Delicious

2011-02-10T12:29:00.002-05:00

New mini altered art sculpture. This little guy measures just 5" but makes up for it in personality!

I will have some additional, slightly larger, rabbit sculptures in the very near future. Meanwhile you can find this one in my Etsy shop.

Mermaids Love to Read

2011-02-08T17:31:00.003-05:00

New item!

I'm a lover of reading and love mermaids that read as well. So to all my fellow readers there is a new bookmark that features a quite cute and sassy mermaid with my "nautical" image. Oh, and she's a tough gal so she will last you a lifetime. You can check her out on Etsy.

It All Goes Down in the Sea

2011-01-31T10:38:00.003-05:00

This is a new series of original work that I just completed. Each is a mixed media/collage piece created on cradled board. Each piece has an opening in the center which houses various sea creatures (real).

All are now posted in my Etsy shop.

Shell Inspired Items

2011-01-27T14:53:00.002-05:00

Two new shell inspired pieces. The top is the original collage framed and attached to a cradled board. The bottom brooch was created from the original collage above.

Both have been posted on Etsy.

Dew Drops

2011-01-22T12:50:00.001-05:00

Statement necklace.

Nature Vessel

2011-01-19T10:14:00.003-05:00

This is a two-sided, one-of-a-kind, collage vase.

The vase has just been posted on Etsy.

More New Prints

2011-01-11T16:50:00.001-05:00

Pear Tree
This print is available in both 5x7 and 8x10".

Lift

A Good Day

2011-01-10T14:28:00.002-05:00

New! 8x10" reproduction print. Now available in my Etsy shop.

Wonders of Being

2011-01-08T16:01:00.005-05:00

Please check out my show, Wonders of Being at Quirk Gallery in Richmond, VA. Hurry though since the show ends January 29th!

Introducing Designs By Joyce

2011-01-02T12:54:00.005-05:00

Happy New Year!! I hope every one's year is starting off wonderfully.

I have a new project to introduce. You will now notice in my Etsy a shop a section titled, "Designs by Joyce". Well Joyce is my talented mother and this section will feature our collaboration projects. All items will feature my pendant or art print designs. I provide the images, we work together on the concepts, and she does the designing.

We are starting off with jewelry designs and hope to add home decor items in the near future.

Whimsical Wanderings of the Every Day

2010-12-26T11:07:00.007-05:00

Come see me and my work at the Monkey Mind Art Studio and Gallery in Frankfort, IL. The reception for the show will be January 7, 2011 from 6-8 p.m. There will be snacks and lots of art and I will also be in attendance for chit chatting, gossip and talking about art. The work will be available for perusing and for purchasing from December 27 through February 4.

I will also be holding a one day workshop on February 5, 2011 at Monkey Mind. We will be making and altering furniture pieces and found sculptural pieces. It will be a day of fun and creativity! Contact Patty at Monkey Mind or myself to sign-up or for more information.

Happy Holidays

2010-12-25T12:24:00.001-05:00

Just wanted to wish everyone a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and a healthy and happy New Year!

New Flower Brooches

2010-12-15T15:18:00.002-05:00

New brooches have now been posted in the etsy shop.

This are both original pieces and feature my art work hanging from a fabric flower. These would really look great on a jacket or even as an alternative to the typical flowers or a boutonnieres in a wedding perhaps?

A Garden Variety Rabbit

2010-12-02T14:08:00.003-05:00

This is a collage sculpture which measures 13 x 6". The rabbit itself is ceramic which I added all of the surface details on. This was quite a fun project, so don't be surprised if you see more of these.

This piece is now listed in my etsy shop.

Brothers

2010-11-29T11:11:00.002-05:00

New, original collage which has now been posted in my Etsy shop.

New Stuff!!

2010-11-27T17:46:00.003-05:00

Cardinal Necklace
Assemblage necklace.

A Hummingbird Relocation Project

This is a multi-dimensional framed art piece. Features a reproduction print of mine as well as some original collage work.

Both this piece and the Cardinal necklace are now available on Etsy.

I am also working a couple of new holiday ornaments so stay tuned for those.

The Perfect Man

2010-11-09T12:17:00.003-05:00

Yes he is! He's strong, he brings you flowers and he's kind to animals!

Reproduction print.