Archive for Artist Inspiration
Our dotGrid is good for…
The other day when I asked what you thought about our dotPads and dotWebbies, we heard you loud and clear that you loved using them! Many of you shared with us your reasons for liking this format by way of how you use it. One suggestion was to use the dots as a guide for pasting things onto the pages. As in Halstead’s image above, “no more crooked tape!”
I keep a special blank book (glue book?) for pasting images which I use for art inspiration – colors, textures and the like. I’m not too particular with how I paste them in, but I can imagine that it would look even better and become more of a work of art in itself if I were using dot paper.
Do you tape/paste things into your journals?
This video shows an inspiration book similar to what I make:
Take a Community Art Walk
Since participating in the Lehigh Valley Art Wars last year, (a local live art competition) I’ve met and have become inspired by dozens of amazing local artists including Joey Gourniak, shown here in his Easton, PA art studio.
I had the opportunity to visit Joey in studio last weekend when he opened it to the public as part of the 14th annual Easton Open Studio Arts Tour Continue Readering »
Try Something New: Colored Pencils
Have you ever tried writing, drawing or doodling with a colored pencil? There are several different kinds with the non-erasable wax based ones being the most common. Erasable ones do exist, though I’ve never had reason to want to try them. Watercolor pencils are probably my favorite because they can be used in many different ways. Continue Readering »
Follow our Rhodia Journal Swap on Tumblr
We’ve got 12 people from all over the US writing, drawing, and creating collages dedicated to their “Favorite Things” in our first ever Rhodia Journal Swap. The dozen members of this project are all working in large Rhodia dotWebbies and are documenting their creations on the group Tumblr blog that we set up for the swappers. Each person is working on several pages in each book before sending it on to the next person. Continue Readering »
Objects of My Affection in a Carnet de Voyage Travel Album by Clairefontaine
Playing around in one of the new Clairefontaine Carnet de Voyage Travel Albums – not yet for sale in the US. (Soon….) It’s noted as 180g (83lb) “drawing paper” but that wouldn’t stop me nor Sandra from trying a multitude of art supplies on its medium textured surface. Continue Readering »
A different kind of Rodia
Sabato “Simon” Rodia (April 15, 1875 – July 16, 1965) was an outsider artist who built the Watts Towers – an infamous Los Angeles landmark. Simon began construction of the Watts Towers in 1921, but did not finish them until 1954. Continue Readering »
Meet a new dotPad artist: Bonnie Jean
Bonnie Jean Woogler is using the dot grid of a dotPad to create this amazing art. Continue Readering »
Pinteresting?
Okay yes. I’ll admit it. I am slightly addicted to Pinterest. What is Pinterest? It’s a virtual pinboard that allows you to organize and share all the beautiful things we find on the web. You can browse pinboards created by other people to discover new things and get inspiration from people who share your interests.
I love browsing to find new ideas for patterns color combinations to use in my art. I find so much inspiration there…
Are you using Pinterest? How do you like it? Pin any Rhodia lately?
Time is running out! Call for Entries for the 2012 Rhodia Journal Swap: “Favorite Things”
Last call! Interested in participating? Read on, then fill out the form below by tomorrow Jan 18th. We’d love if you would share this opportunity with your friends! Questions? Please submit via comments. Continue Readering »
Official Call for Entries for the 2012 Rhodia Journal Swap: “Favorite Things”
It’s here! Time to roll our our first ever Rhodia Journal Swap: “Favorite Things.” Interested in participating? Read on, then please fill out the form below by Jan 18th. We’d love if you would share this opportunity with your friends! Questions? Please submit via comments. Continue Readering »
I bet you’ll want one…
Perhaps you remember my friend Alex. He’s the one that’s been stashing Rhodia in various geocaches around central Pennsylvania. Same Alex whose cajon I painted. He’s been making and selling a ton of these paracord bracelets and when I saw him start to add these various colored “ribbons” in the center, I asked if he could make an orange with two black ones which would make it look like the Rhodia logo. Viola!
Interested? He’s charging $8 + shipping. Message me at stephanie@rhodiadrive.com with “Paracord Bracelet” in the subject line and I will forward to Alex.
Interested in a 2012 Rhodia Journal Swap?
I am currently participating in two different sketchbook exchange projects and it got me to thinking about starting a similar “journal swap” project. 12 people, each provided a large dotWebbie, would fill a specified amount of pages in the journal then mail it to the next person on the list. A theme would be chosen for the project and the participants could fill their pages however they choose – random thoughts, poems, art, collage… Along the way, the participants will scan/snap/upload project photos to a group Tumblr blog for all to see. After each book has cycled through the hands of all the participants, the book you started is returned to you – now filled with all kind of interesting stuff!
Is this something you might be interested in participating in?
I will post the specifics for participation after the new year.
Road Art
I met artist Don Colley at NAMTA’s 2011 Art Materials World conference and trade show. He was demoing at the Faber-Castell booth and happened to walk by ours during a break. His work with colored pencils was so life-like it could practically walk off the page. 
Don had used some of our larger datebooks for sketches because they lay flat. I promised to send him a Webnotebook to sample, and asked him to let me know if he liked it.
I got this email from Don the other day: “Hi Karen, I recently finished drawing in the sweet little orange leatherette covered Rhodia web notebook you sent me. I took it on tour with me this Fall and got some fun pages. Thanks again for the little book, it was well suited to cross country travel in planes and on buses. Happy Holidays.”
Please visit Don’s website – Buttnekkiddoodles-Drawing from Life in Chicago and Beyond.
Thanks, Don! Hope to see you at NAMTA 2012 in Orlando! 
My New Space to Create!
After making the decision to leave my “day job” 3 years ago to lead a creative life, I worked at home amongst many distractions. My snoring husband, hollering bird, the lady across the street that (screams) sings Donna Summer’s greatest hits over & over…
I helped to write a book sitting at a computer in my kitchen (we eat in the living room) and then later graduated to working in the bird’s (tiny) room on a desk that belonged to my husband when he was in grade school. Continue Readering »
Etsy Find: Gecko Cover for Rhodia #12
From Anne’s Etsy listing: “A bright green gecko slithers down this great little notepad cover. It’s designed to fit a Bloc Rhodia Pad No. 12 and also has a pocket in the back for loose little papers. When the notepad included is full (or empty, depending on how you use it), simply slip it out and replace it with a new one — the durable cover will keep on going!”
Anne B. designs and makes pocket protectors, book covers, wallets, trays, and more using vinyl fabrics, especially oilcloth and sparkle vinyl. Sturdy construction, meticulously stitched appliques, and awesome extra details make her stuff unique, durable, and very vinylicious.
The Rhodia No. 12 is a long-standing favorite of Anne’s. She’s been toting one around for over four years now, but only recently thought about making a swanky cover for it. While she totally digs the look of the classic naked orange Rhodia Pad, she thinks having a unique reusable cover is even more fun.
Check out all of Anne’s cool vinyl products in her Etsy Shop: annebvinyl
