Magazine Files from Cereal Boxes

It's been quite some time since I've made a post it seems.

 How to make magazine files using cereal boxes. You can find all sorts of things to do on Youtube. I look for stuff and I may modify it to suit my needs or make the process easier.

I've chosen to take the cereal box and measure how low to cut the front depending on the size of the magazine and how much you would like to expose. If it's a large cereal box, you can measure the height of the magazine and cut to size. Once I decide which magazine will go into the file, I measure the sides. I draw lines from the top down to where I would like the height of the front to be for viewing the magazine spine.

 Using a box cutter or Xacto knife, I cut from the top down on each side of what will be the front. 3" to 6" depending on the size of thecereal box is a good height for the magazines. Fold back inside of the file to create added support to make the file sturdy. You can fold the sides inward at an angle or cut them with the box cutter or Xacto knife from back to front. If the back is too high, use the same technique as you did for the front. Cut on each side until you have reached the desired height and fold inward for added support.

Take two sheets of 12 x 12 scrapbook paper of your choosing. Keeping the same design makes for a more professional store bought look. Wrap the sheets around the box to measure. If the box is large you will want to make sure you cut the paper in large strips so you will have the access to fill in the gaps. I prefer to glue the box as well as the paper. Don't put to much because you don't want it to be wet and cause the paper to buckle. I prefer Elmer's Glue-All Multi Purpose Glue. Smooth out the paper so you have an exact fit. Now if you are using the large cereal box, you can use the scrap piece of paper first or you can lay it over after you have put the other two sheets in place. Depending on the ceral box and the color of paper you are using, you may choose to just leave it. It's your file, you can do whatever you feel like doing. I prefer to glue one section at a time. This way you can see if you need to make modifications.

Use clothes pins or clamps to keep paper in position. Smooth paper from bottom to top or from front to back or vice versa depending on which part you are working on. By doing a section at a time you can place the file on its side and put a heavy weight inside to make sure the glue is bonding. You can finish the project in a few hours or if you have a craft room you can take longer making sure it is absolutely perfect.

If you try this project let me know how it comes out.

The story behind the Art

                   Every photograph, drawing and painting has a story. Not just the story that it tells once it is complete, but the story that made the work of art what it is. One of my best non-fashion photo shoots was the image that is now known as Jose’ as Jesus.
It began with a conversation with someone I had photographed a few months earlier, Olav. Olav was putting putting together his portfolio to find work in the U.S. in the modeling and entertainment industry. When he found out I would be going to the Seattle International Film Festival, they suggested I contact someone if I needed a place to stay. I took the information down, but I already had accommodations set up. Still there was something that said contact the person to at least make a new friend. This was my second year attending SIFF so I was prepared for how the people known as Fool Serious, eat, drink and sleep film so to speak.

When one is really involved in the film festival, finding time in between films is difficult, but I managed to find time. My best friend at the time, Sly and I walked over to the apartment of Shane. It turned out that Shane was having a birthday party; he offered us some champagne and he invited us to come back. The concept of the party was that everyone knew him, but they did not know each other. I thought that was a great idea. This way I didn’t have to feel out of place.
My friend and I went to the next screening and we agreed to come back to the party. How could I resist a party that was serving champagne.

  When we arrived back there were quite a few people at the party. I got myself a glass of champagne and I mingled. Once I’ve been some place I don’t have a problem meeting people and I was already up one since I had met the host and my friend was tagging along. There were several interesting people at the party, but one person really stood out.
We began talking and some how we got on the conversation of the crucifix. I think I may have mentioned I had just returned from Italy and how it was an incredible experience. I felt born again. I told him this idea I had for the crucifix and he told me he had a similar idea, but he wanted to build a crucifix, lay it on the floor and have the photographer film from above.

I remember I kept staring at his wrists. There were these red markings as if it were dry blood. I didn’t want to ask and I made an assumption that he might be suicidal. We exchanged numbers and we had arranged to meet the following day.

I remember Jose, Shane and myself met for lunch. We then back to Shane’s apartment to look at photographs. It turned out that Shane was also a photographer and he wanted me to see some of his work. While going through his photo album I spotted a photograph of a cross. My brain immediately began working. There were questions spewing from my lips. Where was the cross located? Could we get there? We had to rearrange our schedules. That meant we’d have to miss a day of films, Sly agreed and we had scheduled a shoot.

I remember going with Jose to see his place, do some test shots and to pick out the costumes we’d use for the shoot.

At this point in time, in NOLA I Never would have been so bold as to try anything like this. This opened up my mind to a world of possibilities. I was no longer just a photographer, I was becoming an artist. It’s easy for me to say that now, but back then I didn’t know. I just liked taking pictures. I just knew I wanted to push the envelope and I was going with what I felt.

The one question I should have asked, but neglected to do so was, how big was the cross? When we arrived at the cemetery where some of Seattle’s celebrities are buried I was amazed at the size of the cross. It was a magnificent work of art in itself. The subject was dwarfed by it’s size, but a bizarre miracle was about to take place. My friend Sly was going to video tape the entire photo shoot. Another friend Tina, was going to do stills of Sly video taping. You have to look closely at the cross because there is no ledge. Jose, the subject appears to be stuck to the cross. This is not photo shop. Jose’ designed the crown from some flowers he found in the cemetery. He changed clothes while up on the cross. The first outfit was a long duster. At the end of the photos on the cross, when we played back the video there was a crow that had come out.

None of us knew how our lives would change after this shoot.

Sly, my friend who was video taping the entire thing was in a very bad car accident and lost his eye sight. Jose who I never saw again, appeared in a music video and was last thought to have moved to Japan. All I ever knew was that he was using the photos in his portfolio. The guy who gave the party, Shane, visited me once in NOLA and I photographed him. We stayed in touch for a while. He moved to Amsterdam and got married and has a kid.

Sly and I remained friends up until 1999. Till this day I don’t know what caused him to stop speaking to me. The footage we had shot we were planning to submit it as a short film in SIFF, but that never happened. I finally got my hand on the footage and it’s been transferred to DVD, but I’ve done nothing else. I’ve only watched the footage twice since. This is also the first time that I am sharing this part of the story in greater detail.

I tried to get the photograph into an art gallery, but the first place I went it was rejected because of the subject matter. I was really proud of this photograph that I enlarged it and had it framed in my home which caused controversy there as well. Who knew art could be such a touchy subject when it involved me.
A few years later I’d place it in a shop called Sirens on commission, but it never sold there either. Still, I consider it to be one of my best non fashion photographs. It is truly a work of art. It shows the potential of my creative mine especially when I have a subject that is as eager as I am to create something unique.

http://dlonzo-OpenYourMind.blogspot.com

Thanks for stopping by; and keep an open mind.

Artist Trading Cards (ATC)

I'm not sure if I've mentioned Artist Trading Cards here or on my other blog, but I've been working on them for quite sometime. I've decided that I will have 50 that will be available for anyone that would like one. Some are already created for specific people. If you'd like to receive a card, send me your email address.
Send emails to Photo1960@aol.com and in the subject put artist trading card. If you see one that you like, let me know and if it isn't already reserved, I'll send it to you.
If you are an artist and you have an ATC let me know how I can get one of your cards.

Thanks for stopping by and do come again.

The Art of Decluttering

There is an art to everything: Sex, cooking, leadership, relationships, etc. Not everyone understands how it works and then there are those that do things their way.

Getting rid of clutter is no different. There are some people who can just throw stuff away without even thinking about it. Then there are those who have an attachment to things.

For me it started at a young age. Someone gave me something and it meant a lot that they thought of me. Then there are those things that I started collecting on my own.
I held on to that Disneyland poster until the edges frayed and it was no longer holding up. Of course its possible I still have some of it in a file somewhere and I just haven’t run across it.

When I began traveling I began picking up little things because that seemed to be the thing that you did when you traveled. For me it started at the age of 12. I went to Houston Texas with my dad and some friends. We did Astroworld and attended a baseball game at the Astrodome. It was quite exciting and it was the first time my dad and I had ever taken a trip just the two of us.

There are a few items I have from that particular trip. My map of Astroworld and the miniature baseball bat that I picked up at the Astrodome. I had also collected a pendant, but I don’t know if its still hanging over a doorway in my home in NOLA or not. I’m still dealing with that situation as well.

I bring stuff back and then there isn’t a place for it so it gets put aside and before you know it you have created clutter. It’s easy to find a place for the small things, but the larger items are difficult to store.

Still there are the memories and I like running across things when I’m looking for something else and reliving that moment for a while.
I have thousands of photographs, but that adds another dimension to it all. They are tucked away in a binder and you don’t always look at them. I must admit that I do take time out to look at the stuff that I have collected.

I must admit there are some things in which I’ve gone overboard. My art supplies, there are so many I could open my own store. I’m trying to paint canvas and work on other things, but I know the minute I throw certain things away will be the minute I will be looking for it.

There are things that hold family history and its my story that I feel I must hold on too.
I am getting to the point where something must be done, but I hate to just throw something in the trash. I’d rather pass it along to someone who can make use of it.
One man’s trash…

Many experts have ways of getting rid of clutter. Certain items you can scan into your computer or take a picture to keep the memory alive. You can create a sort of recycling system. Stuff to keep, stuff to donate and stuff to sell, etc. Deciding what to keep is really easy, but we tend to let our emotions get in the way. We hold on to that item that we may never where or an invent that has long been gone and all that is remembered is that item that is hanging in the closet.
You know its bad when you look in the closet and there are still things with the price tag on it. If you can research the receipt its even worse to find out you’ve had the item for several years and never worn it.

If we create a sentimental pile and then move on to create a pile of not sure why we are keeping it and a pile of stuff we can actually sell and maybe even a pile of stuff to just give away we make some progress.

Usually when I look at certain items and I think of someone that might be able to use it or if someone gave it to me, I always call that person to see if they would like to have it back before I pass it along to someone else. I think its proper etiquette.

Sometimes we become oblivious to the things we’ve collected. Then one day we look around and we see we’ve got a museum of candles, vases, flowers, art, DVDs, video games, CDs, and the list goes on.
Sometimes I can go through and just toss it and then there are times when I stop with each item and reflect.
Working on one room at a time is the best way to do things because you won’t become too overwhelmed.

Sometimes just opening the door to that closet or room can be overwhelming if you have really let things get out of control.

It’s like a credit card with a high balance and you’re only paying the minimum. It doesn’t seem as if you’re doing anything, it keeps building and building.
You’ve got to try harder and don’t be afraid to throw it out if it serves no purpose at all. If its tucked away and you don’t know its there, you really won’t miss it when its gone.

Thanks for stopping by; do come again. Keep an open mind.

http://www.dlonzo-OpenYourMind.blogspot.com

Inspiration from...

In the mid 70's I adapted a fascination with the musical group LaBelle. It was mainly Nona Hendrix and then Patti Labelle, but the theatrics and costumes of the group grabbed my attention. This image is from one of their television appearances.

I get inspiration from everything around me. From a book, magazine and the people around me. Art comes in many forms. One word can be considered art depending on how it is displayed. I'm sure many of you have seen the Love, Hope and Faith, posters, paintings, etc. The biggest thing that keeps me going as an artist is that there are things that I like, but don't totally appeal to me. I created my own series of Chefs, but the thing is after you've hung up the art, does one still create?
Of course, you just have to decide to share the art with someone else. Pricing art can be the hardest thing for an artist. You don't always want to part with the piece, but you've put a lot into the work and sometimes it takes a couple of hours, weeks, months and years.
I've mentioned this before, but artists do think alike. They can be miles away from each other and yet have the same idea of an image, but create a different variation.
The thing about being an artist is letting a part of yourself be seen. You reveal things about yourself in your art after doing it for a long time.

Thanks for stopping by; do come back again.

How Many Times?

How many times have you walked into a store and saw something that was really interesting, but the price seemed really high. Then you might think to yourself, I wish I could make that myself. As an artist depending on your medium, you might be able to do it. You can even take a course. There are many things I have thought about doing. One is glass blowing, but I can't take being around too much heat. I used to create my own ceramic jewelry and other objects. I have a few pieces I am still working on, but they won't get a final firing. I'm just painting the bisque to give it a natural look. The items range from really small images to large scuptures to hang on the wall or drap over a mantle.

It seems to cost a lot to create art, but usually you can make several projects for the price of just one item.

The next time your out and about, keep a small note pad with you. When you see an item you like. Make notes of what you would need to make the item and compare the price to the materials. If its a sale you can't pass up then go ahead and buy the item if you are going to use it and its not just going to take up space.

Thanks for stopping by and come back again.

Candy Arrangements

If you like candy, but you keep it on hand for guests, why not make decorative arrangements. There are many things that can be done. One can get great candy dishes or one can take jars and make their own. Find a jar with an unusual shape, decorate with ribbons or scrapbook paper and then fill with candy. Another thing that you can do is to make a candy floral arrangement using tootsie pops. Wrap pops individually or a few in colorful tissue paper and then arrange in the jar. They make great gifts for anytime of the year. People love getting gifts that aren't planned and those that are handmade add that personal touch.

Thanks for stopping by, do come back again.

Take care
Open Your Mind
Dlonzo

More with scrapbook paper

The latest in scrapbook paper art. I have several sketches of dancers and I took another drawing and created a silhouette using the colorful scrapbook paper. You can make your own work of art with the right frame and matting. Be creative, cut out butterflies or dragonflies. Create an entire scene cutting out intricate detailed silhouettes using various scrapbook papers and colors. You are only limited by your imagination.

http://www.dlonzo-OpenYourMind.blogspot.com

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=58144381
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=54325957
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=54365247

Scrap Book Paper

ART

Scrap booking is all the rave these days. I feel like those people that say things like, everyone is doing, blah, blah, blah. Of course there are some people that have no clue about this phenomenon.
Scrap books are nothing new, but the concept has changed slightly by creating colorful sheets and books that people don’t have to do as much work. Scrap books can be very simple or very original and artistic.
The possibilities of what you can do with scrap book paper is endless. Here is one project that I created which can be framed and hung on the wall as instant art.



I drew on the opposite side and then cut out the image reverse it and then you can glue it onto another piece of scrapbook paper or anything to create art.

Thanks for stopping by; keep an open mind and do come back often. Remember things happen when you believe.

Creative Art Project

In the world of art there really aren’t any rules as to what you can do to create something interesting. Art like beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Not everyone gets it, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t art.
I wonder how many people throw away their wall clocks when they are no longer working? I came up with an idea to keep the clock if I couldn’t get it to work anymore. If you buy a clock for under $3.00 you don’t want to buy parts that will cost more than it is worth. I’ve turned those wall clocks into frames for photographs and art. You start by pulling the clock apart. The you can cut out a piece of scrapbook paper in the shape of the clocks face. You can then print out a photo from your computer or take a regular photo and center it on the scrapbook paper. Once the photo is in place you can cut a piece of matting or use a piece of cardstock to create matting for the photo. In most cases the photo won’t touch the glass or plastic facing of the clock so you can decorate around the photo as you please. You can do collages or get really creative and frame a flower or a memento that you love.
Once everything is in place, put everything back together and hang up your new creation.

Thanks for stopping by; keep an open mind and do come back again. Become a follower and know when I make a post.

Talkin' about Art

The image is called At Gun Point

Art can be found in just about everything. Just the way we set up a room is considered art. There is an art to interior design which in the entertainment industry is called set design. Think of your home as a set for the movie or play of your life. What is it you want the audience to know about you.

If you like art then you want to show that on the walls. If you like open spaces you want to present that as well. Perhaps family is important then you would want to let a wall to be a dedication to family and friends.

A few techniques to use to make sure your pictures are displayed at the same height or that they look well together. Take some newpaper and trace the frames and then cut the paper to that size. Fine where the hook is and mark it on the paper. Do this for all of the frames that you are planning to hang. Then tape the paper to the wall so that you can see if the layout is appealing to you. If the frames are all the same size then which pictures goes where won’t be an issue.

If your pictures are of various sizes then you want to make sure the pictures can be seen and you’ll put the larger pictures on top and smaller pictures at eye level. The layout depends on the area and the color scheme of your walls. Some walls look great with just a few pictures and I’ve seen walls where there are dozens of pictures. It’s all about presentation and the color of the frames as well as the image inside of the frame.

The easiest way would be to get all of the same type of frame not necessarily the same size. Make sure you buy matting for your pictures so that they don’t touch the glass in the event you decide to change the image or if you ever encounter moisture in the home. This will make it easier to transfer the image to a new frame.

Thanks for stopping by, Open Your Mind. Relax, enjoy and believe.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=1482690&l=a6c1abc89d&id=763163743

Let's Talk Art

Art in itself is totally misunderstood. Its one of those things where you look at it, but for some it means nothing. For others it makes us smile, laugh, cry and think. We are amazed at some ancient art and wonder how time consuming and the genius that went behind such incredible works. The fact that pieces are still around that we can even have a look at the past is remarkable.
Recently I watched a program where a neurologist tried to figure out what makes someone create art the way that they do. It got me to thinking, but I just do stuff. I doodle and sometimes I see something in that doodle that later becomes and larger drawing. It then has a different life with broader detail. The doctor was studying more on body proportions and why certain areas are embellished than others. It’s all quite interesting when you think about it, but the bottom line is that we draw and create from what we know. We all see things differently and that’s what makes art so unique. When a group of people from the same community work on similar art they tend to look the same, but painters and sculptures work in different mediums and the results are different even if the painter paints the sculpture.

We all have different thought patterns and sometimes we are conditioned to like certain things, but every once in a while someone breaks that conditioning with no explanation and they create something that no one understands.

For me if it doesn’t raise a question, if it doesn’t make you feel something, if you don’t react then maybe it isn’t art, but then again, to quote myself, “Not everyone gets it.”



www.artbydlonzo.blogspot.com

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=58144381
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=54325957
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=54365247
www.filmloverpg.blogspot.com
www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRkCP8LJJlc
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=38275088
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASklV3ZOPVw
www.n4cersworld.com
http://www.whitehouse.gov/agenda/civil_rights/

Check out the above links if you haven’t already. Watch for new links.

Time to get back to reality. Rebuilding my life, one step at a time.
Thanks for stopping by; keep an open mind. What is meant to be…

Dryer Sheets

In this age of recycling and finding uses for items and saving money. Dryer sheets can have a new life. They can be used more than once in the dryer. You can use them to make stuffing for animals for children or if you save enough you can stuff pillows. They can be used to dust furniture and they can be used as small pieces of canvas. You can also use them to wrap small gifts that might break. Everything that we use can have a second or third life. Get in touch with your inner artist.

http://dlonzo-OpenYourMind.blogspot.com

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=382758088

http://filmlover4pg.blogspot.com

Addicted 2 Art

The drawing to the far right is a drawing from my archives of something I did back in the early 80’s.

That’s when my art started to take off. This was before I became a professional photographer.

I had begun doing designs for business cards and letter heads. I was designing posters and had even done a few shows. It’s just one of the many doors I have opened in my life and walked through to see what adventure was waiting. Now I wait for a door or window to open for a new adventure.

I question my abilities and whether or not I am good at what I do. As an artist I’m always pushing that button and trying something new. Many times I’ll go into a store and I’ll see art and I’ll think about purchasing it and then I get a wake up call. That little voice says, “You’re an artist and you can create that yourself.” I just have to push myself every now and then. Of course anything I create these days I have to sell or give away because I don’t want to clutter up the walls. I do have an area set up for work that is for sale, but most of the pieces are not finished. I want to work on a catalog and price the items. One of the hardest things for an artist is to put a price on the work. If your selling your work yourself it’s a little easier than if you have an agent. You have to include the cut for the agent and you want to make sure the price you’re asking includes your time. Sometimes works can take months even years and you just have to ask yourself what is your time worth?

My latest project is butterflies. I created my own stencil and I made the butterflies out of foam sheets and cut them out. Then I scanned them and used the hues to create colors. Now I can print them on canvas sheets, put them in a frame and voile its ready for sale. I can also take the original foam butter flies and frame them in a box style frame individually or together.

http://dlonzo-openyourmind.blogspot.com/

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=382758088

http://filmlover4pg.blogspot.com/

Thanks for stopping by; keep an open mind.

Stimulate Art

I have three dollars left on my Borders gift card. I was going to go to the movies and then head over to Borders, but I got delayed. I like going to the first showing of a movie for several reasons. Usually there aren’t a lot of people in the theater so its like watching a movie at home. Usually the first showing is a discounted showing so you don’t have to pay full price, just in case the film is a bomb. Rarely do I go to see a film that I don’t come away from enjoying some part of it.

I’ve been reading and looking at a lot of books and magazines to get inspiration for the various forms of art that I create. Video, photography and scrap booking are now taking top priority and I’m trying to incorporate them all into one project.

The digital art form is unique, but what I don’t like about it is that it really isn’t the same as creating with your hands. When I took pictures with my 35mm camera, I took my time because film costs and I didn’t want to take a lot of unnecessary shots. I got to know my subjects quite well and knew what worked. With digital, you can just shoot forever and if you don’t like something you can manipulate it on the computer or just hit delete. Colors can be enhanced so much that the image is unreal. You can also drop an image in a place where it never existed. Of course its still an art form, but it would be great if photographers shared their secrets and stop making people believe it’s the original shot. Last year I was reading one of my artists magazines and there were some techniques in a previous issue that blew me away. I was dumbfounded because I couldn’t recreate the images. A few weeks ago I was reading the last issue and found out the secret to creating those images was not all original. What the artist had done was created a drawing and scanned it into the computer and then printed it out. The artist then colored on top of the image which created some intense imagery and colors. I tried it and guess what, it worked. It pisses me off, that they could have told me that to begin with and then I wouldn’t feel like I was missing out on something. I don’t have a problem sharing my techniques with others. There are many easy ways to create something even if you get a little help in the beginning. I create my own master drawings which allow me to use the same characters over and over as I see fit. I also make my own stencils. As an artist, one is only limited by ones imagination.

www.artbydlonzo.blogspot.com
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=54325957 www.dcinemafile.blogspot.com
www.filmloverpg.blogspot.com
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=38275088
www.n4cersworld.com
http://www.whitehouse.gov/agenda/civil_rights/

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=54365247

Check out the above links if you haven’t already. Watch for new links.

Time to get back to reality. Rebuilding my life, one step at a time.
Thanks for stopping by; keep an open mind. What is meant to be…

Art from High School

In my senior year of High School my art began to be seen by the public. I had always drawn for my own enjoyment and other than my family, no one else, but a few close friends knew I even had that talent.

The drawing to the right consists of ink dots to form the picture entitled disasters. I had a fascination with the disaster films of the 70's and it was the inspiration for this picture.

In case you don't remember the films: Tidal Wave, Earthquake, The Towering Inferno, The Hindenberg, Airport and The Poseidon Adventure. Some of the other images were just added for effect.