Surf City Links #164, Summer 2009

Art Unscripted™
http://pagesage.typepad.com
Here is the blogging side of PageSage, the company behind instructional DVDs related to rubber stamping, papercrafting and related art interests that feature MaryJo McGraw, Michael Jacobs, Sandra McCall, Tim Holtz, Judi Watanabe and others. Links to PageSage artists help you to understand the artists and their specialties. Behind-the-scenes online videos of people like Carol Duvall can be a hoot, and the linked archives augment the PageSage world.

Ranger Ink & Innovative Craft Projects
Known for their Adirondack, Nick Bantock, Tim Holtz™ Distress Ink Pads and other ink collections for stamp enthusiasts, Ranger offers online projects that are excellent and varied. Categories include Books & Journals, Embellishments, Fabric, Cards & Tags, Jewelry and Home Décor. The last one, for example, lists 40 projects, like Claudine & Paul Canvases-from collage expert Claudine Hellmuth-and the House of She altered house. For Cards & Tags, check out more than 50 delectable projects. Materials lists and numbered how-to steps ensure success, whatever your interests or skill level. Commentary on technique, such as Tim Holtz discussing use of his Distress inks, is richly detailed.

Art Interrupted
Kriss Cramer believes in the power of art. To underscore that, she features a seemingly endless array of galleries that are easy to navigate, with samples that'll have you clicking and re-clicking on links of discovery. Gallery albums include handmade books, recent work, cards, more than 30 classes, altered and dimensional projects, gothic arches (really compelling!), themed Skinny Saturday projects, and others. The artist's blogs go back to 2006, for more opportunity to indulge yourself, and dozens of additional interests and projects are linked, also, to pique almost anyone's interests.

Keith Lo Bue
High-level art with dimensional flair-that's in store for you with a visit to this artist's site. An American based in Sydney, Australia, Lo Bue has jewelry, neckpieces, brooches, digital art, optics and more. Much of the art suggests Joseph Cornell as muse, especially the digital art and collaged pieces. Better still, they're clickable to ultra-large size, for minute examination. May your own art be as inspired.

Rubber Stamp Shack
Noted as a "Family Friendly™" site, there is much to please stampers here, especially those looking for useful, well-made images for cardmaking. Plus, the site hosts images from Angel companies only, so no guesswork on whether or not you can use images for resale purposes. The three companies featured are All Creatures, Sweet Grass Stamps, and Heart & Soul. Both Sweet Grass and Heart & Soul have a significant number of Christian images and sayings. In fact, Sweet Grass features Bible verses in many languages-Korean, Hindi, Greek, Arabic, Hebrew, as well as French and Spanish. The gallery is well stocked with cards, tags and ATCs. Gallery offerings can be clicked on for viewing at a much larger size-quite helpful! The site is well organized, with a clear list of options on the left-hand side. Scrolling down a page gives you crisp views of images. Some mounting supplies are available, as well as a link to a company selling wood mounts. Here's a helpful hint for unmounted users from the site: "Once you have your rubber stuck into place [on the mounting cushion] cover the entire thing with a piece of Plastic Wrap (i.e. Saran-Wrap) and press it down between the rubber. This will keep your scissors from coming into contact with the sticky glue, yet still allow you see where you are cutting."

Teesha's Land of Odd
Maybe after attending Teesha Moore's Artfest retreat for the past six years, this site doesn't seem all that Odd. But, if you haven't come in contact with this prolific artist, hang on to your hats. You're in for an amazing ride. The site provides information on the various retreats Teesha and husband Tracy schedule during the year. These include Artfest, Artfiberfest, Journalfest and occasional workshops at stores and other spots. There are also products for sale at the site, including collage sheets, red cushion for mounting rubber stamps to wood, waxed polyester thread for a variety of mixed media uses and prints of Teesha's journal pages. A variety of rubber stamp options are there, as well, including Tracy's Zettiology collection (a Land of Odd all its own), Theo Ellsworth stamps and the Moore's daughter Tiphoni's stamp line. Theo and Tiphoni have very different drawing styles. You can check them out and see which fits your collection the best. Each has big pluses-Theo's designs are very detailed; Tiphoni's are simple and have a sense of spontaneity and charm.

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