Monsters!

Today’s Sharpie artist, Allie Kelley, is breaking the monster mold and proving there is more behind these fiendish looks than gnashing teeth. Prepare yourself for one frighteningly great interview, we are so glad you’re here…      

Featured Sharpie Artist: Allie Kelley

Tell me about yourself!  Is this the part where I try to sound brilliant and interesting?  Well, I’m not great at that. The truth is I am a 20-something, self-taught artist who loves to laugh and wants to create quirky things that make other people smile and think. I am currently a Massage Therapist, which I love, but I dream of one day having a career where I get paid to create.   

Ms. Allie Kelly, Monster momma

How did you get started as an artist? I think I’ve been creative since I could hold a crayon. When I was little my mother and I moved into a house where my bedroom had been painted yellow and my Mom hated it. She gave me some crayons and told me to draw all over the walls, when they were full- she was painting the room another color.    

Artistically? I’m still trying to figure that out, to be honest.   I try to make interesting, whimsical pieces that I’m going to want to look at 5 years from now… it’s like if Dr. Seuss and Tim Burton somehow had a child and that child was obsessed with vivid colors.   

Where do you draw inspiration from? A handy method is to stay up crazy late, chug a Red bull or two and sketch till I can’t keep my eyes open. I will take inspiration anyway I can get it. Spring trees in bloom, Discovery channel, city museums, and my trusted friends saying: “DRAW THIS!” are all ways that I’ve found a subject or a theme for my work. (Specific to this interview: my friend Amanda said: “you should draw monsters” and so I did.)   

How do you use Sharpie markers in your work? I use Sharpie markers at many levels. If I’m working on a painting, I use Sharpie markers for the pre-draw or I use Sharpie to doodle and try to gain inspiration. Other times (and more often lately) I just like to sit down with some great paper and a 24 pack of the Ultra Fine Point Sharpie markers and create from there. I love how the color combinations really mesh on the page and how the small tip allows for a lot of tiny wonderful details.   

Favorite Sharpie?  Why? I love using the Ultra Fine Point in pastel and light colors.  People don’t expect those tiny details in pink lemonade.  I think the one I gravitate to the most is the Blue Ice in the Ultra Fine Point.  I love the way it pops off my paper.   

What is it about monsters that you love so much? I love that monsters surprise you. People usually place anything very unfamiliar in their “monster” category.  Unfortunately it’s a natural response to feel that if it’s different, it’s scary. Once you get past your discomfort you can often be surprised that your “monster” is interesting, or funny, or kind.   My monsters look the part, but they say nice things to you. They remind you that you are loved and that you make others happy.   They tell you things your friends and neighbors should say to you every day.   

If you came face to face with one of your monster doodles in real life what would you say to him/her? Well, I would hope the Doodle monster would be my size and not teeny-tiny. I would also hope they would be down for going to have tea and a chat!!! Oh, I would have so many questions!! What do you eat? Do you have pets?  How old are you?! Do doodle monsters have jobs to work at? I guess I should be exploring all this with my art- and I will probably touch on some of it- but I would LOVE to just ask them!   

What is the strangest monster you’ve ever created? Prettiest? Ugliest? Funniest? This is the hardest question for me. I don’t think of my monsters in those terms.  So, I listed a few and told you what I think they would be like if one was behind you in a coffee shop:  

"To me, this is the supportive mom of the Doodle monster family"

"This guy might be the class clown"

"And this guy, He’s my favorite. If I look at him with the paper one way I see a proud water Buffalo thing, and if I flip the paper the other way I see a tiny terrier puppy with tentacles."

"I think of this one as my compassionate little sister of the monster doodle family"

Monster names?  How do I come up with them?  I only have one doodle named: BLOAT MONSTER.  I think it’s a name so easy to relate to and sympathize. He is the exception. 

Bloat Monster!

I think the neatest thing about my monsters is that different people see them as different things.  I think if I named them, it would influence what people saw- so I try to stay away from giving them names.   

Current work?  I am always trying to create and explore.  I doodle, sketch and collage a lot- but mostly I consider myself a painter.  Recently I have been obsessed with painting Dinos and Doodle Monsters and 2-headed creatures.   I’ve also started carrying around the largest sketch pad I can, trying to fill it with Sharpie drawings, paint, and hodgepodge, occasionally all 3 on one page! 

Advice for other young artists?  The best “arty” advice I ever received was:

 “Create every day.” 

 My attempt to follow that advice has made all the difference in my work and my artistic style.

What am I going to do with my monster doodles?  I’m going to start with creating more.  To me, each is unique and has a different feeling to them. Later this year, I have a few shows in Virginia coming up to feature them in.  Eventually though, I would like to create a children’s book with and for them. To teach kids about judging at first glance and why that’s not the best way to go through the world.  Maybe what seems like a weird blobby monster is a friend you’ve been looking for.

Thank you so much to Allie for uncapping her Monster gang with us! For more on Allie and her posse check her out on her blog, Facebook page, or, if you want a Monster friend all your own, on Etsy!

Posted on the Forbes Blog, ”Is Your Creativity Worth Millions?” points out that everyone has the ability to be creative, it’s just a matter of utilizing what you have. Read on and be inspired to unleash your creativity. You never know, the next million dollar work of art just might start with a Sharpie? Maybe it’s your Sharpie…

When will you uncap what's inside?

Is Your Creativity Worth Millions?

Ever wondered what a painting worth $106 million looks like? I’ve seen one. It’s pretty good. In fact, it’s the most expensive painting ever sold at auction. Someone really took a shine to it to pay all that money. (It was a Picasso portrait of one of his mistresses.)

What it tells you is that creativity can be worth millions. And in terms not just of dollars but of fans and followers. I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but there’s a new movement on the rise, and it’s purely devoted to the freshest sometimes fantastical things we can produce. I’m talking about creativity.

Creativity takes countless forms—music, art, sculpture, photography, illustration, and so on—whatever your mind can produce with the help of a few materials. Just Google and you’ll find loads of websites, forums, top tens and favorites devoted to all things creative.

Some of the things out there are downright wacky. But then that’s often the point. They you noticed. Creativity can spark such passion that people will even gather in large groups and go buck naked in public just to be part of a living artwork, crouching or lying nude for hours with complete strangers just to say they were there and they were part of something unique and great.

The truth is that we all have that creative spark inside of us. Why else would so many of us doodle while at work? But technology has really unleashed it. There are countless drawing and illustration apps for the iPad and games consoles, and people proudly show off their work online, inspiring others to follow suit and see what they can achieve with a few finger strokes.

Every day I tell this to the young talented creatives who ribbit in StrawberryFrog: In today’s world, when you have so little time of your own after your battles with work and the day’s stresses and strains, it’s easy to give up on enjoying your creative side. After all, you’ve got far more important things to do that sit sketching with a pencil.

But just think. Where would we be if the world’s most famous artists had felt that way? They had a passion, a seed of talent, and with nurturing and careful attention they became the masters of their craft.

As for the world’s most expensive painting, you can see it here. The fact that it’s a Picasso . . . well, that may just have added a few bucks to the price tag. Now, where did I put my pencil and sketch pad?

[article via Forbes Blog] [photo via Flickr] ]]> http://blog.sharpie.com/2011/03/creativity-worth-millions/feed/ 0 http://blog.sharpie.com/2011/01/sharpie-drawbot/ http://blog.sharpie.com/2011/01/sharpie-drawbot/#comments Thu, 13 Jan 2011 21:34:49 +0000 Whitney http://blog.sharpie.com/?p=5884 Continue reading →]]> Finally, a solution to those days when you really want to draw but lack the energy to actually hold a marker in your hand…

Presenting, THE DRAWBOT!

Thank you very much oh Mr. Drawbot-O

Rasterweb provides instructions and the tools you need to build your very own Drawbot.

Look out for the Drawbot in Transformers 4

It's not a Drawbot without Sharpie markers!

You spin me right round baby, right round...

You're running circles in my head.

What color will you choose?

I can only assume that if you build 5 or more of these, the Drawbot could very well take the place of going out on Friday nights (“Sorry honey, I’m playing with my Drawbot”). 

Get your hands on a pack of Sharpie markers, a 9 Volt battery and whatever an Arduino board is and build a Drawbot for endless hours of entertainment!

See more pics and get full directions to building your own Drawbot by clicking HERE

See more at SharpieUncapped.com

How would you describe your personal style?

Fickle!  It seems to change from day to day.   One day I’ll find myself on a Hollywood Regency kick, the next, I’m loving Swedish design, then it’s traditional, mid-century mod, French provincial, etc. 

Where/When did you come up with the idea to use Sharpie to create such tremendous wall art? Why not just wallpaper or paint?

I fell in love with some designer wallpaper, but with my fickle tendencies, I just couldn’t see spending hundreds of dollars on something that I might not love once installed.  Then I saw a similar project where someone had drawn a bold pattern on their walls with Sharpies, and I thought, why not create my own version of the designer paper that I had fallen for? 

What is your creation & design process like?

I don’t really have a process, per se.  I spend a lot of time scoping out blogs, magazines, and interior designers’ sites for inspiration.  Then I just figure out how to make things come together, using upcycled, reinvented, thrifted and handmade items whenever I can.  Each room & each project is different. 

Who is your favorite interior designer? What do you like about their work?

I’m a big fan of Ruthie Sommers.  Like me, she doesn’t seem to be able to stick to just one style, but she’s a master at blending several styles to create spaces with lots of personality. 

 Favorite Sharpie? Why?

It’s so hard to choose just one!  (See a pattern here?)  I love Sharpie pens for just about anything, but for special occasions or for a little extra sparkle, I love the metallics! 

Tell us about your blog, A Penny Saved. What is it about? How long have you been blogging? What inspired you to start?

It is a random collection of my favorite design ideas, DIY projects, and bargain finds, with a little about my life thrown in. I started blogging about a year and a half ago.  My husband and I had just moved half way across the country, into a brand new house, and I wanted to document the process of turning it into a home.  In the year and a half since, I started adding in posts about whatever was inspiring me at the time.   

We have something huge in common, I too love thrifting and going to yard sales. What do you love most about going to Yard Sales and Thrift Shops? 

I love getting great deals, of course, but I also love not knowing what to expect – you never know what you’ll find and how you’ll end up using it. 

What’s the best thing you’ve ever found? 

A free baby grand piano at an estate sale. 

What are you currently searching for? 

An antique lantern fixture, a chinoiserie dresser, and maybe another tole chandelier. 

Scrolling through your blog, you seem to have collected so many great pieces! Do you have any tips for finding those “diamonds in the rough”?

Don’t look just at the condition or the intended use.  Think about what a piece could become if you painted it, reupholstered it, repurposed it. 

 Are you working on any new projects that you can tell us about?

I’m hoping to freshen up my kitchen a little…..painted cabinets, subway tile backsplash.  Nothing too labor-intensive or expensive, but hopefully it will make a big impact. 

 What’s the best piece of advice someone has ever given you?

Be flexible! 

Earlier this year we were approached by festival-fanatic Katie P, who was sent a challenge by Trident gum of touring 30 of the world’s most exciting festivals over 30 weeks for the Trident’s Perpetual Festival.  And to help her set off on her travels, we stocked her with of plenty of Sharpie markers to collect autographs along the way!

So from Creamfields in Buenos Aires to Ibiza Closing Parties in Spain. Sonisphere in Europe, to Full Moon Parties in Thailand, Sharpie has been there for it all!  Here’s the evidence…

Katie P doing the ‘Sharpie moustache’!

British DJ duo, Chase and Status, signing a guitar with a Sharpie

Brit band The Futureheads signing autographs with Sharpie markers at Wakestock festival

Customising with Sharpie at Sonisphere!

Uncap What’s Inside!

The shiny new Sharpie Pen RT delivers that same quality writing experience, with a few new bells and whistles:

Blue, Red and Black ink

• Won’t bleed through paper!
• Quick drying ink to prevent smearing
• Just click! The first fine point retractable Sharpie Pen!
• Fine point tip size for everyday writing
• Soft grip along barrel for added writing comfort
• Permanent ink on paper
• Color indicator on plunger to help distinguish the three different ink colors
• Water resistant, acid free, and AP certified non-toxic ink formula designed for paper

New Colors!

New! Green, Purple and Orange ink

 Hop on over to Sharpie.com to find where to get your set of Fine Point Sharpie Pen Retractables.

Pick up yours today and Uncap What’s Inside! 

Sharpie Pens come in three styles and in six eye-catching colors...

1. Sharpie Pen - Sharpie’s first-ever pen for everyday writing that won’t bleed through paper.

2. Sharpie Pen Grip - The no-bleed technology with a soft grip for added writing comfort.

3.  Sharpie Pen Retractable – That same no-bleed through promise with a one-hand click convenience.

   Check out the Sharpie Pen family at www.sharpie.com and buy a set of Sharpie Pens for yourself today to experience how to Uncap What’s Inside in an entirely new way. 

I’m not going to give you Webster’s version, instead, here’s my own… To Uncap What’s Inside means to let your true colors show; to express yourself, to let your personality and creativity out and embrace what makes you, YOU!  At Sharpie, we believe that these markers and pens can help people express themselves creatively, turning the everyday into one-of-a-kind works of art – something uniquely your own! 

Here is a perfect example of a 12 year old girl who has taken this phrase to heart and has done just that – she Uncapped What’s Inside of her!

12 year old Maddie Chaffer of Grand Rapids, Michigan is an avid Beatles fan and wanted to stand out from the crowd when entering 7th grade.  With an assortment of Sharpies, she “Yellow Submarined” her trombone and will certainly stand out from the crowd with her MaddieC. Original musical instrument! 

Thanks for sharing your idea with us Maddie! Way to Uncap!

Get out your Sharpie and see what you can do!  

Upload your pics to the Gallery at SharpieUncapped.com

When it comes to people passionate about Sharpie, we didn’t have to look far. They’re everywhere, just Google! What was hard was deciding who to invite to “represent” and become members of our first-ever fan club, of sorts. The Sharpie Squad is made up of people who talk and teach and tantalize us with their amazing Sharpie ideas and creations. From thrifty Sharpie decorating tips to Sharpie-designed skateboards, art, illustrations and more, these are the people who breathe life into our product and make it shine.  

And for their efforts, we want to show them some Sharpie love. As inaugural members, they’ll be among the first to see and try our new products. We’re also going to showcase their Sharpie ideas and creations on our new community site, sharpieuncapped.com.  And it wouldn’t be official without a personalized Sharpie Squad marker, arriving to members soon! Visit mysharpie.com and you can get one too, personalized your way.

Please be sure to visit their sites as they continue to show us what’s possible with Sharpie. 

THE SHARPIE SQUAD LINEUP

Laura Rowley understands just how far a Sharpie marker (or two!) can go to help families save.  With a little help from Sharpie, it’s easy to create “designer” versions of favorites like backpacks, folders, sneakers, jeans, t-shirts and more  — so you spend less on the pricier versions and end with a one-of-a-kind little something you’ve personalized yourself.  It’s a win-win with Sharpie!  Laura is a journalist specializing in personal finance and values, and author of Money & Happiness: A Guide to Living the Good Life. Along with her Yahoo! Finance column, she blogs at www.moneyandhappiness.com/blog.  Rowley is an ardent consumer advocate who is passionate about helping people identify their deepest values, set goals and manage the complex decisions and risks involved in achieving them. Married with three daughters, she lives what she preaches, showing readers how to get the best deals, avoid debt, invest wisely and strive for work-life balance. Rowley has been tapped as a value expert on The Today Show, Good Morning America, CNBC, the Fox Network, NPR and dozens of other broadcast programs and print and online media. She is a former reporter and producer for CNN in New York, reporting on-air for “Your Money” and “Business Unusual,” and the former money columnist for Self magazine. Her freelance writing has appeared in The New York Times, Parents and other publications.

Laura Kelly is an official Sharpie Guru and proud member of the Sharpie Squad.  Her art is created with Sharpie markers to create bright, bold and simple designs that uplift the human spirit.  Laura says she lives in a world as whimsical as her art. Surrounded by people who share her aspirations to generate joy, happiness and empowerment in a vibrant, organized environment, she fills notebook after notebook with playful Sharpie drawings inspired by everyday images: a child chasing a butterfly, a bouquet of flowers, a pair of cowboy boots, a swirl here and a curl there. Suddenly, a new collection is born.   Laura currently licenses her work to companies in a variety of industries including gift, stationery, gourmet food and home décor as well as bank products.  She also owns her wholesale company, Laura Kelly Designs, which manufactures stationery products for stores around the country. When she isn’t working on her licensable portfolio, you will find her painting, baking, gardening, playing with clay or making stuff out of recycled stuff.  She is also a active member of the Greeting Card Association, Craft and Hobby Association where she serves of the Trend Team and a delegate to the National Stationery Show.

Erin of Things Moms Like, a popular review and giveaway blog, is the mother of two (6 and 13).  She has worked as an event planner and promoter.  She is frequently speaks at parenting conferences all over the country and enjoys traveling.  Erin enjoys offering fabulous contests and honest reviews to parents all over the world with her blog.  She uses Sharpies daily!

Kristin is the mother to Kai and Brooklin, a newborn and four year old spunky girl. She’s a busy full time college student living in Oregon.  She chronicles the daily life of just another Ordinary Mom. Kristin and Del love to share their journey as a family. Together they spend time learning and growing as a family. Kristin is the owner of Our Ordinary Life; a blog in which she talks about her journey through life as a Mom, and college student. She enjoys keeping it real and always has an opinion about something. Since her second daughter was just born Kristin has been busy with her ever changing family.   Kristin has been featured and works along side many wonderful companies. She’s always sharing what her family finds useful and is involved in many projects around the blogpshere. She is one of Frito Lay’s Fab 15 moms and is also one of the lucky Frigidare Test Drive Moms. You can also find her tweeting away on Twitter with her fellow moms who blog.

Linsey Knerl is the mom behind Lille’ Punkin Reviews and is always on the lookout for the next best thing when it comes to making her life easier. As a free resource for parents and friends of parents, Knerl offers regular, unbiased opinions of a variety of family-friendly items.

Lauri Harrison is founder of MomToBeDepot.com and is a blogger for several media sites including Working Mother magazine and Examiner.com. She’s the mom of a tot and a teenager and informs parents about great new products. 

Travis Todd creates sharpie art on everyday objects from lunch boxes to automobiles.  He even carries a sharpie on his key chain where ever he goes in case he wants to create “instant art”.  He has become renowned on the online automotive forum community for his creations on the hood of his “Sharpie Artcar”.  He has developed his own style that is a blend of elegant scroll work and graffiti style art.  He says that people tend to see what they want to see in his artwork.  You can find some of his works on his Flickr page @ www.flickr.com/spdu4ia.

Lunchbagart.com is where Derek Benson shares the designs he creates on his kids’ lunch bags every day with intricate drawings of cartoons, super heroes and a variety of other artwork. During his own lunch breaks in San Diego, California, where he creates art for video games, Benson uses Sharpies to create his unique designs. His drawings have been featured in Parents magazine and can be seen on his blog or via his twitter account.

Mark Rivard is known for his skateboard art covering a wide variety of genres and designs. Based out of Breckenridge, Colorado, Rivard’s work has been seen in exhibitions around the world, including shows in Belgium, Denver, Detroit, Seattle and New York City. Rivard takes his Sharpies with him while traveling to teach and inspire with art.  

Jon E. Nimetz and his website, superfineart.com, are both based out of Venice, California, where Jon is a producer, marketer and advertising producer. He is known for his loud personality and passionate style that he emphasizes in his art. He uses a combination of acrylic paint and Sharpie paint markers to create nature-inspired paintings that are both unique and self-expressive.

Jeffrey Fulvimari began his illustration career in 1993 with commissions for Barney’s New York and Interview magazine. He went on to work in all aspect of printed media, and his illustrations have been animated on Nickelodeon, MTV and VH-1, The Food Network, and in numerous television commercials in Japan. He has also produced a broad range of licensed goods in Japan, with popular product lines launched in the United States, the UK, France, Italy, Mexico, and other territories.

In 2009, Hanna Agar graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Photography and a minor in Spanish from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.  For the past few years, she has been creating a lot of artwork involving the use of recycled paper to create sets, costumes, and props that then get photographed.  Often, Hanna writes all over the paper and has the camera on an interval timer so she can photograph the whole process.  She considers her work “documented performance art.”  In addition to her love of Sharpie markers, Hanna currently works as a photographer doing studio work assignments for Volume One Magazine (an arts and culture magazine in Eau Claire, Wis.) and also freelances. In the spring of 2010, she will be returning to southern India to work as a product designer for a women’s organization called “Blue Mango.”