However, do not fret, because I am creating a new, more expansive blog that will include more art and artists to examine.

I want to thank every single one of you who took the time to read — or even just glance at — this blog and those who commented on it. I did not receive one negative criticism and I find that amazing, especially since people, knowing they will most likely not be “caught” being cruel or inappropriate on the Internet, are willing to be more open and, let’s face it, mean online. So thank you all, again, for sharing your insightful, thoughtful and inspiring opinions. It’s you guys who are the muses of the world.

So, I will keep scumbling on, and I hope you all will do the same with whatever art, craft or hobby you love and can share with others.

Now to stop being all melodramatic, acting like I’m dying when I’m just switching blogs.

Check out my new blog at Writing Out Loud (& Feeding the Dream), which will be up and running soon. Follow me on Twitter for updates. My first post will be “Ten Things You May Not Know About Saturday Night Live,” and the second will be a bare-knuckle comparison of poetry and songs. I should note I’m testing and expanding my versatility on this new blog.

So, as Frank Sinatra said, “The best is yet to come.”

Thanks. Scumble on. Love you all. Peace out.

1. Is all Art Concept Art?

2. Art Exposes the Paradox of Control and Structure

3. The Real Deviant Artists, Art as Deviance

4. Foamy and the Sixth Estate

5. Body Works: Shock Effects or a Gray Matter?

6. Social-Political Blog (Pick of the Litter)

*Also check out a new feature, supplementing my Pick of the Litter, Scumbling into Contemplation (tentative title)

7. “Pop” Music. How can insightful, intelligent and substantial sounds be mixed with Bubblegum?

8. Poetry and the Pretentious-Imaginative Spectrum

9. Poetry v. Music: A Thorough Comparison

10. The Thin Line between Art and Propaganda and How Artists  Draw outside the Lines

Until I return, here’s a picture of Van Gogh’s I fell in love with, “Crows over a Cornfield.” Enjoy, and scumble on.

Crows over a Cornfield, Van Gogh

I’ve seen that my blog has made a ripple in the ever-growing lake of art criticism (forgive the bad analogy, I’m on break from school). Hence, I’m inspired to continue my ranting insights about the myriad of creative endeavors that sprout up by the 100s on a daily basis.

I already have three topics in the works, so check back here soon for furture posts and Picks of the Litter.

As always, keep scumbling on, my friends.

–Katie

Here’s the rule of thumb when creating something: it’s never bad, it just isn’t finished.

"You Know as Much as I Do," Katie Gill (Me), mixed media, 2009

I write, I report, I paint, I draw, I take pictures and I sculpt. I know what I’m talking about.

I’m about to toss advice at you. Be ready with your implement of choice.

Art criticism: before you attack your work with a sledgehammer and flame thrower, consider why you are frustrated or displeased with your work.

First off — and I say this as a temperamental artist who has had MANY issues with her works throughout the years — back away from the piece-in-progress. The last thing you want to do is destroy what you’ve worked so hard on because you’re having a bad day or you have artist’s block.

Then again, maybe destroying the piece could give you an idea. Art is intuitive, improvised and serendipitous like that.

Check out this link about how to assess artwork from a semi-objective stance: http://mati.eas.asu.edu/ChicanArte/html_pages/ArtCriticismQues.html

Close-up

Also, don’t lock your work up in the attic. Art is self-expression: let other people enjoy it! Furthermore, it helps a thousand-fold to have another pair of eyes critique your work. Others can spot something you’ve missed and can make brilliant suggestions.

Loosen up. Let your imagination take over. Play. Experiment and make mistakes. Constantly question and challenge your designs and style. Don’t think, just do it. The right side of your brain needs to be fed with artwork, so neurosis starves it.

Enjoy the sunshine and SCUMBLE ON!!!!! Just make sure you take a break and let yourself off the hook every once in a while.

Here’s a cautionary tale about an artist with exquisite talent and endless potential.

This is a true story.

He was a charismatic man.

But he would only allow HIS voice to be heard, HIS story to be history. According to him and his brain-dead, immoral followers, only HE was right, only HIS perspective was accurate.

A person cannot be an artist if he is so closed-minded and domineering.

Except, perhaps a con artist, which this man kind of was:  he could brain wash the best of them with his quick-thinking and fast talking, no matter how absurd or evil his ideas were.

The sad part is, even Disney has incorporated this man’s persona into some of its work. Watch the marching hyenas in “Be Prepared” if you don’t believe me.

 Being famous is not being infamous; light is not dark. 

Adolf Hitler was a talented young artist.

Adolf Hitler was charismatic.

Adolf Hitler was the catalyst behind the slaughter of more than 6 million people.

Art is,  first and foremost,  a mode of expression. It is emotion-based.

Hate is not art. Hate is a form of propaganda that perpetuates ignorance and misery. “Be Prepared” to deal with the Hell you have created for yourself if you’re going to be the next Scar.

So scumble on to spread the love.

Take care, all.

You might see some scars, missing paws  or even — God forbid — a snaggletooth in the bunch, but this box of pups is a superb group.

In fact, it’s today’s Pick of the Litter.

DeviantART: no doubt the name sounds redundant to avant-gardes or expressionists, but the Web site is, nonetheless, extraordinary.

Don’t believe me? Click the link: http://www.deviantart.com/#.

So, A) What does this site contain? and B) who makes the works displayed on it?

According to the site, DeviantART is “where art meets application.” I’ve noticed several digital images and Anime-like sketches, so that may help define the slogan.

I’m going to be honest here, people (which is SUCH A STRAY from my usual conduct ): I’m not sure what the purpose of this site is.

Nevertheless, the art on it is amazing and the artists are talented beyond words (do you SEE the pics I’ve incorporated into this post?!).

Fans can apparently show off their work, as well and you can follow deviantART on Twitter.

So, at the very least, check out the site to spark your imagination and appreciate the pieces on exhibit in the virtual gallery.

I’m sold. I was a deviant anyways, so it’s fitting there is an artist’s association with that name.

Scumble on and, for crying out loud, go outside and enjoy the sunshine (if there is any)!

Computers can’t give you hugs, folks, so meet up with some friends.

Take care, everybody!

(Sniff) I’m so proud of the little tykes.

I typed in “fresh artists” on Google and up pops a site with that exact name.

According to the organization’s Web site, Fresh Artists has:

• Creative kids give images of their artwork to raise funds to help other kids in their community.

• Corporations give directly to keep art making alive for under-resourced kids in Philadelphia.

• Kids give highly desirable artwork back to corporate donors to display in corporate spaces.

The collages from some of these youngsters is inspirational.

Yeah, yeah about the corporate donations. Yay, wealthy benefactors for the arts — that’s not news. The people who matter are the ones bettering their communities: the kids!

Next time Joey draws on the wall or Linda makes a mess with leaves and mud, don’t scold the kid, join in! Free-flowing creative juices are doing phenomenal things for our society!

 As the site states, this is “student-centric philanthropy.” They should be teaching THAT in school (sadly, especially in secondary and tertiary schools).

“Empowering young lives through art” is one of the noblest causes there is. Everyone needs a way to express him or herself, especially future starving artists .

They’re scumbling on. I’m rolling on the floor with glee. Sorry, give me a moment.

Until next time: take care, all.

Sometimes you see them on Jeopardy: They know  Aristotle’s Rhetoric better than a kindergartner knows the ABCs, yet you trump them on questions regarding pop culture, literature and video games.

Aren’t you proud when you beat a 12-year-old?

But this kid’s different.

Akiane Kramarik is today’s Pick of the Litter, though she’s not yet old enough to drive a car.

But she can paint better than most of us could ever wish.

Born on July 9, 1994, Kramarik is a virtuoso in both the artist and literary circuits.

You might be jealous about that if you’re been struggling for years to break into either community of Creatives, but look at these works and feel the bitterness drip away as you simmer in awe.

Though I’d not a big fan of religious art, Kramarik’s works prove the exception.  Her pieces are magnificent and majestic.

Until next time: scumble on.

 But, seriously, The Pick of the Litter for today is not merely someone who draws. It’s not even

an artist: it’s a community of them.

 Considering how many Web sites exist — I don’t even what to think about it — choosing one site from the lot is much more arduous than choosing a prize pooch from a box of newly-born artist-pups, as I have been.

 First off, make sure to visit http://artlog.com/. It’s a Web site that is “connecting people through art & design.” Art unites us like that.

I’m going to try something different here, since experimentation IS part of the creative process. Instead of writing about the pieces I post, I’m just going to let them speak for themselves.

What’s the worse that could happen? I scumble? You scumble? WE scumble?

So here are some works from various artists on Artlog. Go to the site for more details about these pieces.

Do it, I dare ya: scumble on. You know you want to.             

I should be smart here: for those of you who aren’t obsessed with the arts like I am, scumbling is a form of shading which is, as best as I can describe it, random scribbling.

Other forms of shading include hatching, cross-hatching, stippling and pure shading or blending.

Hatching is putting parallel lines next to each other. The closer the lines, the darker the shadow and the nearer to the actual object. The same goes with any drawing: the shadow becomes lighter as it gets farther away from the subject.

Cross-hatching is using perpendicular lines for the same ends, so the result looks like a grid.

Stippling is using dots to create shadow. It is a GREAT method to use when you are frustrated or angry with your piece .

Finally, pure shading is flat-out blackening of the area where the shadow goes. And blending is self-explanatory.

A scumble a day keeps blandness away.

*All the visuals used in this blog were made by me, Katie. (I have to make sure I cover my butt so I don’t sue myself for copyright infringement .