CONTACT & FAQ's
Personal email:
anahatart@mac.com
For Available Works for Purchase please email me regarding shipping and payment options unless otherwise noted in the purchase gallery. You can use the form to the right to be in contact if you like.
Please Note:
Some items seen on this website may be found as affordable reproductions through our arts company PAPAYA in the form of various goods & wall decor. Please visit www.papayaart.comto explore our gift and lifestyle offerings.
For commercial inquiries please contact:
PAPAYA
1-888-488-0638
FX: 541-488-0638
email: info@papayaart.com
Snail Mail:
2305 Ashland St. #452
Ashland, Oregon 97520
MAILING LIST:
I appologize but I currently do not have a proper mailing list system to keep you notified. But I am working on it. Once I get the software in place I'll be able to send you notifications and updates. Hooray! Hang in there with me though for now.
FAQ:
WHEN IS YOUR NEXT WORKSHOP?
I am currently taking an extended break from teaching. I'm going to be using this time to work on new ideas and studio time. I am ready to experiment and create new class concepts and offerings to keep things fresh for both myself and participants.
I may however be hosting gust teachers this year and will keep this page and the blog updated when the time comes.
RECENT EVENTS:
JOURNALFEST 2009
Port Townsend, WA
Single Day Impulse Collage Workshops
60 Participants
BALI ART RETREAT 2009
One week solo instruction in Amed, Bali via Arcangelo Productions.
22 participants
ART IN ASHLAND 2008
Three instructor event at the Historic Ashland Springs Hotel.
Hosted by Anahata & PAPAYA!
Three class days and three evening events.
35 participants
ARTFEST 2005, 2006, 2007:
Classes Have Been:
Journaling the Journey
Creative Instincts
Funky Wallpaper People
Mixed Media Mandala's
Port Townsend, WA: via Alternative Arts Productions / Teesha Moore
Three day events with 30-35 different participants on each day.
Other solo classes:
Weekend retreat- Ashland, Oregon
Weekend Retreat- Encinitas, California
Weekend Retreat- Pheonix, Arizona
The workshops are sparse because I primarily focus on the creative and business aspects of PaPaYa! I do enjoy giving workshops but only feel between one and three a year is what I ideally want (and can) offer. That keeps me really fresh when the mood strikes and also makes for good times! Also I teach as a hobby more than anything else and I never want to pressure myself to make it a career. That would take all the fun out of it for me.
DO YOU OFFER CUSTOM DESIGN?
Unfortunately I no longer have enough available time to accept custom design work or collaborations. And honestly custom design work isn't really my cup of tea anyways. I like the freedom of doing it for myself and for PAPAYA! To me that freedom is priceless. Plus I'm kinda bossy and like things my way. Not so great when you want it yours.
But hey! I do have a fabulous designer to send you to and hope you will check her out. if you like my work you will love hers. Dorit Ely has 20 plus years of professional design, fine art and illustration experience. Her style is festive and solid. She is one of a kind!
Her website is : www.DoritElydesign.com
Or contact her at:
Dorit Ely
(206) 352-9011
dorit@doritely.com
2582 Westview Drive W.
Seattle, WA 98119
HOW CAN I PURCHASE ORIGINAL ARTWORK?
You can check the "Available for Purchase" page here on my site to see what original works are currently offered for sale. The best thing is to contact me directly for shipping questions or more information about a particular piece.
You can also find many of my designs and original works woven into the products we offer through PAPAYA!. Affordable prints, giclee's, journals and even hand bags etc can be found there. As for original works for sale I rarely offer them up. Primarily because I get attached to having artwork together. I like the idea of collecting my own pieces. Especially since they feel personal and represent a timeline of events.
What kind of products do you use in your artwork?
Here's a basic list of items that I keep on hand most of the time:
I apply them in no particlar order and in many different applications. I like to do things by trial and error. SO far this is my aresenal.
White Gesso
Black Ink
Golden soft gel gloss medium
Lots of Quinacridone Acrylic paint (specialty deep pigments in the red and magenta family) colors!
Danielle Smith Acrylics & Watercolors
Dr. Phil Martins Magenta & Red Bombay Inks
Uniball Black Pens
The white Japanese Signo from Uniball (in my online store)
A set of varied pencils
Black Charcoal
Spray Varnish (to seal in inks and pens so they don't smear)
Bins and Bins of paper clutter goodness
Stickles pinlining glitter
Fabric Paints (for pinlining and designs)
Canvas boards
Fabriano Paper or good thick watercolor paper
Water soluble crayons
Rubber Cement
Pale copic markers
Gold leaf
Gold acrylic paints
I am learning to collage & work like you. HOW CAN I GET STARTED?
I know it doesn't feel this way but you actually have an advantage when you learn all by yourself. You will develop techniques and skills that you wouldn't learn if you follow someone elses advice. You will actually progress quickly as well. Working alone keeps your artwork fresh and current. There are loads of books on Amazon but the best thing is to just get out some glue and scissors and paints and just experiment. I have never to this day read a mixed media book and I have only taken two mixed media art workshops in my life. And there is a lot I need to learn. But little by little it will all come together...
I want to start an Art Journal - But HOW do I begin?
There is an excellent article by TEESHA MOORE where she generously offers her approach to Art Journaling. I love this article and it is a great resource.
Every artist has a very different way of art journaling. So don't worry about going the wrong way with it. You simply can't. Have your supplies on hand and play with them often.
There are also countless Books on the market and hundreds of workshops and retreats throughout the country. I will add a links page soon for more information.
I am unable to answer detailed emails about my creative process at this time. I very much enjoy the process of sharing but explaining this via email is difficult and time consuming. I will do my best to offer a supportive links page soon.
Where do you get your images? How do I find some?
I do use a lot of magazine clipping sin my journals. But I cannot reproduce them in any form. I only use them for personal use and some online show and tell. You cannot reproduce anything with images from magazines or current material. For reproduction purposes I use primarily Public Domain Images. (Search Google for definition) And images that are classical in nature or date pre- 1923. Also as a general rule I try to alter everything I do use even when it's public domain. Sometimes it looks seemless as if it's a simple cut and paste but often it is a lengthy composite image through photoshop. Other times it is what it is.
I also do my hand work and integrate it into the designs. The balance between found imagery and original work can be a precarious design balance for me. Be careful that you always find the original image and not an altered representation. For then you are into copyrighted territory and you may not use it in your own work.
I find inspiration and imagery in many places. A few examples are : Antique stores, junk stores, estate sales, online vendors, flea markets, vintage bookstores, international & local street markets. Finding material is half the battle and takes time and effort. I keep a huge collection of old and new scraps in my studio. Just get a bin and keep your eyes peeled. There really aren't very many shortcuts.
Some things I look for:
Old photos
Advertisments
fabric
wallpaper
documents
albums
sketchbooks
patterns
maps
old magazines -be careful with © though
lithographs
studies
diagrams
classical artwork
historical pieces
There is inspiration in all the nooks and crannies of the world. Your interpretation is your value. It's what makes your artwork you. Look closely and you will see yourself in unexpected metaphors.
What Kind of Programs or equipment do you use for your Digital artwork?
I primarily use the latest version of Photoshop. Nothin too fancy over here. I use Photoshop, high quality scanners (but cheap ones are great too). If you want to get started learning to manipulate yoru artwork digitally I would suggest a community college or independant course. It usually only takes a couple weeks of a few night classes and then you are on yoru way. That worked best for me because I didn't understand computers when I learned. I would also suggest Illustrator and InDesign for other important programs. But Photoshop is really all you need to get started.
I work on all Mac equipment and prefer the largest monitors they have. You will get accurate colors and see all your mistakes- unlike working on laptops where you can easily miss the little visual details. But when you get started just work with what you have.
Can you help me with my creative business?
I completely understand how intense getting started can be and how simple things can suddenly mystify us all. (I never knew an envelope could be such a process of discovery!) I have tried to respond to many emails about how I got started with PaPaYa!. Unfortunately I can no longer take the time to answer your heartfelt emails. But please know that I respect and UNDERSTAND what it's like to go through the fist stages. Besides...the best way to grow your business is to follow your instincts, stay focused (really!), and don't follow anyone elses formula. Inspire people to understand what you do and why - regardless of if you are the first!
Can I post a picture from your site or post a link on my blog?
Goodness yes! Feel free to just do what you like on your blogs. You don't need my permission for post or link related items. If you have a project however that involves something commercial, for print, or for any other non-Blog or web-link related needs please contact me before using any artwork from either of the websites as they are under copyright.
anahataart@mac.com or
PAPAYA!
1-888-488-0638
info@papayaart.com