Guest blogger, Stephanie!

It’s time again! Check out our latest Sharpie Featured Artist, Warren Beinart, and hear what he has to say to guest blogger this week, Stephanie Markadonatos, a fellow employee and Sharpie fanatic.

I’m sure we’ve all done a little doodle-ing at some point in our lives and thought nothing more of it; Warren Beinart, the creator of “The Doodle Daily” blog, is the exception.

The doodle Doctor, himself.

He has taken this creative pastime to a new level; it has become his passion, “I started my Daily Doodle Blog as a challenge to myself to see if I could create something new every day for at least a year using social networking as the only means to spread the word.

Since the start of Warren’s challenge 2 years ago he has posted a new doodle every day for the past 750+ days.

Originally from Cape Town, South Africa, Warren now resides in the Washington, DC area working as a Business Analyst by day (with numerous meetings giving him plenty of time to doodle.) Warren chose Sharpie products as his primary implement, “because I loved the diversity of the products, the fine point and “no-bleed through” features of the Sharpie pen, and the markers are perfect for the think lines and preciseness of my work. I have never looked back. As you say, ‘It starts with Sharpie.’”

Warren’s dream is to encourage the doodlers of the world by challenging them to a “World Doodle Challenge.” He hopes to receive 1,000,000 doodles from around the world and connect with other passionate sketch artists and doodlers, therefore “uniting the world 1 doodle at a time.”

Sharpie is proud to be Warren’s product of choice, “[Sharpie] products have been invaluable to me…I cannot tell you how many Sharpie Pens and Permanent markers I have been through during this journey.”

Accept Warren’s challenge and submit your own doodle or scribble to his blog, scroll through some of his master doodle pieces, and check in with his progress by following him on Twitter and Facebook.

On Saturday, August 27th Sharpie will stage a one-day takeover of YouTube’s home page and showcase the countless unique items that fans, just like you,  have started with Sharpie. 

Just imagine- for one day only, thousands of Sharpie images will come together to create,  not only one epic, and interactive, mosaic featuring all consumer submitted work, but a statement where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.  And don’t worry about being lost in the crowd– you will be able to find your individual submission through a simple search field, or scroll the full image landscape for a truly unique Sharpie experience.

Grab a Sharpie marker, pen,  liquid pencil or highlighter and be a part of the takeover, visit www.sharpie.com for more details and to submit what you started.

Check more out : http://www.phlatforum.com

[via Reddit]

Black and white mural by JESS3 made w/ Sharpie!

At SXSW, I discovered a new designer, JESS3. I kept finding different creative designs posted all over Austin which made me want to find out more about the person behind such detail. I was able to track down the culprit via twitter and found that he too has a love for Sharpie! Above is a picture of a mural that @JESS3 tweeted me, which was made with black Sharpie markers.

JESS3 is a creative agency, specializing in visual data, founded by Jesse Thomas. See more of JESS3 at http://jess3.com/.

You should follow his tweets too: @JESS3 . While you’re at it, check ‘em out on your favorite book of faces.

*apologies for the photo quality, camera phone was acting up.

You can do this by purchasing blank notecards and having friends, family, coworkers, etc.. write down their favorite quotes and sayings with Sharpie markers. Clip the cards onto a weighted wire and hang on your wall.

This would be a fun activity for a host/hostess to offer party-goers at the next soiree.

What quotes would you write down?

The event had an all-star lineup of five guest speakers, local Chicago DJs kept the dance floor moving and art auctions were held through out the night with proceeds going to Reason to Give. The walls of the venue were covered with white paper and blank posters with more Sharpie markers far and wide, luring the creative minds to draw, write, scribble and sketch. Even our friends from The Hello Project were present with a dedicated area for creating those favorite 3×3 ‘Hellos’. Find out exactly who was in attendance, speakers, DJ’s, sponsors and more at LetsMerge.

Big shout outs go to the list of sponsors and artists who helped make the event possible and of course two incredibly talented photographers, Kyle LaMere of IshootRockstars and Colin Beckett who captured Reply All in all its glory (…and here are some of them!)

photo by Colin Beckett

photo by Colin Beckett

photo by Colin Beckett

photo by Colin Beckett

by Kyle LaMere of IshootRockstars (you might recognize a few familiar faces in the top row)

Laura Kelly, Coffeesmiths, & Sharpie awarded prizes to the winners in four categories:

1. Professional Artist
   $100 in Sharpie Product. $100 Laura Kelly Stationery. $20 Coffeesmiths Gift Certificate
2. Big People (Ages 13 and up)
   $100 in Sharpie Product. $100 Laura Kelly Stationery. $20 Coffeesmiths Gift Certificate
3. Little People (Ages 0-12)
   $100 in Sharpie Product. $100 Laura Kelly Stationery. $10 Coffeesmiths Gift Certificate
4. School
   $250 in Sharpie Product, 100 memo pads designed by Laura Kelly (Value $600)
   and Coffee of Cocoa for Staff meeting (160 oz Box)

The results…

Artist Winner

Big Kid Winner

Little Kid Winner

School Winner

Other entries…

Aritist Entries

Big Kid Entries

Little Kid entries

School Entries

From the Baristas!

Want to see more coffee cup entries? There are TONS more to check out on Coffeesmiths’ Facebook album.

Our friends at Urbane Apartments coordinated an area of R&R for attendees of Michigan’s Arts Beats & Eats fest over Labor Day Weekend.  Sharpie hopped on board with the great people over at vitaminwater to put this event into action.  Transforming one of Urbane Apartments’ into, what was known as a ”Hydration Gallery,” fest-goers were invited into a “chic lounge atmosphere” to cool off, rehydrate with delicious vitaminwater and create works of art with Sharpie Markers on easels that were set up around the lounge, all the while enjoying tunes provided by  Livio Radio. 

Here are some pictures from the Hydration Gallery.  If you missed out, not to worry, it looks like the event was such a success that these Hydration Galleries may just pop up at a fest near you!

One more thing! 

A HUGE thanks to Josh Bartlett and Stephen Roginson from Glaceau for the generous supply of vitaminwater!  You would not believe how quickly these disappeared.  I guess doodling all day can really make one quite thirsty!

Thank you!

The Sharpie Squad’s own Tali Buchler, creative genius behind Growing Up Creative, adds her own twist to the powerhouse of all publications- the collection of text containing every piece of information one could want/need to know.  Clearly though, Tali has found something that the editors have left out and she intends to correct them… 

A new reason to open an encyclopedia…

Used objects and discarded items (or what some may call -trash), always spark my imagination. Transforming an object – giving it a new life and purpose is something I like to do. In the past, I have used discarded magazines in designing a temporary space for a fashion show in an installation called – Read. 

My new “thing” is collecting encyclopedia books that people have been throwing away.  I started folding the books and turning them into sculptural objects.  I’m not sure where this will end, still a work in progress…

In my blogs I have started a series of tutorials called “Eco kids craft” where I use design ideas and craft techniques to encourage recycling creativity and creating with “whatever you have”.

Recently, I had my family over (my brother calls it/ us “the tribe”); a total of 8 kids – enough to start a preschool!  It was so hot that day, we couldn’t go outside. After a while, I started hearing the “I am bored” song coming from all different directions… Quick thinking made me pull out some of the many encyclopedia books I have been accumulating, one per child, and our big box of Sharpie Markers.

My instructions where very clear: DO AS YOU LIKE!

Before I knew it and without any planning, something magnificent happened:  the kids were absorbed, looking through the pages of an encyclopedia, reading and admiring the black and white images.

I gave them the OK to cut and draw as much as they wanted. So they did. And so did I.

We used all kinds of Sharpie Markers! Sometimes we drew together, and sometimes each one on his own.  My favorite thing to do was using the Fine Point Sharpie Marker to layer different colors in across hatch pattern.  These Sharpie markers were perfect for that because of their translucent yet brilliant quality.

To do this at home, you will need:

• An old encyclopedia (you can find it at your parents house or at a second hand store)
• Sharpie Markers
• Scissors
• Glue stick

How to:

1. Flip through the pages
2. Find an image you like
3. Start to color the image
4. Work in layers, it helps create depth and richness to the drawing (try and think like an impressionist)
5. Add details to transform the image into something new. Even add notes!

Ready, set, go!!!

It’s time for another guest blogger! 

*Chelsea Fun Fact: She can’t resist a good rap song found on YouTube, particularly ones that mention Sharpie.

Lost in Creation: Sharpie Artist, Corey Barksdale

The Atlanta artist, Corey Barksdale, pours his emotions into every stroke–taking his audience with him on a powerfully, passionate story on canvas.

Barksdale’s artistic passion derives from a family of artists. His mother and grandmother both exposed him to color and form at an early age and it was destined he, too, would join the family ranks.

The Nashville-bred, Atlanta-native graduated from the Atlanta College of Art in 2004 where abstract expressionists and mainstream artists like Jasper Johns, Clifford Still, and William deKooning influenced his creations. Barksdale also developed an admiration for the African American heritage and this theme can be seen throughout much of his work, depicting the love and strength within the community.

This experimental artist started using Sharpie markers in an efficient attempt to speed up the beginning stages of his pieces, but he quickly “uncapped” the unlimited possibilities of Sharpie markers as they effortlessly added definition to his acrylic paintings. His bold pieces have been showcased all over Georgia and he’s even done live performance art at Park Tavern and Atlanta’s Dogwood Festival (just to name a few). Imagine having art being created before you at your next event—he’ll do it!

After coming across his YouTube videos and colorful artwork, I jumped at the chance to interview Barksdale about using Sharpie Permanent Markers as an art medium and the passion behind his creations!

Read on for the complete interview with an imaginative, southern artist and his felt tip friend!

How did you get started as an artist?

As a child I drew non-stop. My mother would bring home hundreds of sheets of paper from her job and she use to ask my sister and I to fill up the pages with drawings and stories. So at a young age I developed a determination and passion for the creative process and artistic expression. I use to draw countless drawings, especially when school was out for the summer. 

Tell us a little about your genre. How would you describe your style? What makes your work stand out from the rest?

I incorporate a collage or assemblage effect in many of my art creations. Utilizing pasted images of city buildings, and abstract shapes are important elements in my art. The majority of my paintings have an apparent medium of acrylic paint and Sharpie markers, which are usually applied in bold colorful painterly strokes onto the canvas. Many people are attracted to the texture created by these mediums.

 Sharpie does not enocurage the use of Sharpie marker on skin.

What is one of your favorite exhibitions or events you have been involved in? What made this particular one stand out to you? Was it the specific pieces you showcased, the reactions received from attendees, or something else?

The Art Papers Art Auction is one of Atlanta’s signature visual art events that I have been fortunate to participate in. The event features many of the southeastern United States’ cutting-edge, established and emerging, fine artists.

What goes through your mind when you see people looking at your art? Is there a certain reaction you want to elicit?

I would like viewers of my artwork to experience what ever emotion or feeling I had at the time of producing the work of art. The facial expressions and gestures of characters in my paintings usually tell a story and let the viewer understand my emotion during the creative process. Usually I want to elicit a feeling of powerfulness positivity and endless possibilities

How did you come to use Sharpie markers in your work? Do you prefer using a certain type of Sharpie marker?

Approximately ten years ago I was trying to think of a way to speed up my art process. That’s where Sharpie markers came in. In stead of developing my sketch and first layer with paint I used Sharpie markers to create the basic outline and general form of whatever piece I created. As I continued to use Sharpie over a period of years I found out that the possibilities of the markers are limitless. Besides using the markers for the general form I also discovered that they could be used to define and refine my painting in the final stages of the process. I was able to incorporate the markers with acrylic paint effortlessly.

What about Sharpie markers made you incorporate them as a medium in your art process? Is it the variety of tip sizes, colors, other? Please describe how you use Sharpie as an art tool.

I enjoy the ease of using the markers. They go onto the canvas or wood surface with no problem. Once applied to the surface the markers give an opaque mark that is solid and bold, not watered-down or weak. The medium also resists fading over a period of time.

What other mediums, if any, do you wish to create with in the future? Do you have any comical experiences while trying a new medium?

Other mediums that I create with are acrylic paint, charcoal, and encaustic paint. Various forms of art and various mediums suit my style of art considering I like the challenge of mastering new mediums annually.

Tell us, what excites you about creating art?

Creating art is the ultimate form of expression available. Having the ability to create a picture of beauty where there was previously nothing at all gives me the ultimate satisfaction. When creating art all of my worries and anxieties are nonexistent. The hustle, bustle, and drama of city life become a distant thought. Creating can take you to a place that you previously thought impossible.

Take a look at all the ways Corey Barksdale Uncaps What’s Inside: www.coreybarksdale.com