By Suzanne Urban (Suzanne.artist)
It didn't take long for EHAG artists to gather underneath a full moon - The Blessing Moon to be exact - to launch their second of three creative challenges on eBay. Although the first challenge proposed by founder Patty Benedict - who tossed her pointy black hat in the ring and challenged members to create a purse - didn't end on a full moon, it was clear creative juices were flowing by the outcome.
A diverse cross section of artists participated in the purse challenge. Figurative artist Jodi Creager (creagerart) who is also a member of the prestigious NIADA (National Institute of American Doll Artists) offered up an orange and black checked bag with a green witch's hand draped over the top, amulets and little pockets to hold potions hung from the sides and to complete the ensemble she tucked inside "Mahulda Mugwort's Flying Broom License" - the picture looking suspiciously like the artist Herself.
Painter Carolee Clark (kindofmicestudios) was stymied at first, until she literally dreamt up her purse theme. Waking from a deep sleep she approached her drawing board the next day to paint a formidable likeness of Edgar Allen Poe on a wooden purse, his image silhouetted in front of his eloquent piece "The Raven". The purse was dark even goth-like in flavor and was a favorite among eBay bidders. More fabulous purse fashions followed. Black Cat Parody talented painter Rebecca Federico (Federico-Fantasy-Art) entered a whimsical hand painted purse designed with black cats, and embellished with Swarovski rhinestones. Sculptor Patty Benedict's (woopitydooart) purse had a determined little witch popping from the belly of her purse sporting a miniature broom. Veteran Halloween artist Sheila Bentley (Primdolly) applied her considerable talent in character development by painting a smirking witch hugging a grinning Jack O Lantern. Collector Roberta Munson hesitantly joined in to produce a wonderfully delicate orange purse swathed in filigree black-lace with tiny characters circling the bottom half, and despite her trepidation the purse was a wonderful addition to the challenge.
The second challenge, to create a piece of wearable art, was launched July 10th under the auspices of the "Blessing Moon". According to Patty, in ancient folklore each moon had a significant meaning for early farmers. The Blessing Moon, also known as the "Hay Moon", "Wort Moon" or "Thunder Moon", reflects a relaxed energy; crops have been planted and farmers can relax a little until harvest time. But EHAG artists didn't relax much as they returned to their studios.
Since I didn't complete my first challenge - my purse is waiting for a black cat paper doll to inhabit it - I decided to create something smaller, a tiny pin. I've been experimenting with collage utilizing my own illustrations, so the challenge provided me the chance to grab a wooden Capital "D" (stands for Devil) and incorporate my own little painted character among the collage. Another brooch was created by EHAG newcomer Sue Margareci (sadiemoonbuttons). Sue's approach was simple yet unique, A sculpted polymer skull with wings superimposed on a ruffled grey-black ribbon and a sheer black ribbon trailing below, definitely a piece that could be marketed in a high-end boutique. Artist Lori Davis (vintage*palette) created a hand painted black cat pin. A grinning cat with painted on a wooden tag form with raffia bow, caught my eye but I got lost in the dust of the healthy bidding war that ensued. Lori's work has a vintage charm of it's own.
Three EHAG members created necklaces, Jodi Creager's Polymer Clay moon necklace was breathtaking, Becky Federico's polymer clay necklace with tiny characters painted on proved she could work in several mediums, and last but not least, artist's watched as bidders feverishly upped the ante on artist Carolee Clark's wooden bead necklace, the front bead of which she sculpted an exquisite moon face on. The gavel came down and Carolee's necklace was bid up to over $500!
The third challenge required artists to create an altered or found object piece to incorporate in their art. Everyone's art was due on August 9th or the Corn Moon. Some new EHAG members jumped aboard for this challenge including Lori Rudolph (retro-rudolphs). Lori seized upon some "reclaimed" toilet tissue tubes to create a charming Black Cat roly-poly vintage candy container. Artist Pamela Leah Humberstone
(leahstone art) rescued a tiny wooden closet. She rubbed an antique finish and layered the paint for more texture. Inside she sculpted a smiling moon and skeleton holding a Jack 0'Lantern from polymer clay she and a black cat to perch on the pumpkin. The outcome was quite impressive.
Artist Lori Davis specializes in painting on found objects with her art, she used a yard sale find she had on hand, an oak sconce and in keeping with the Corn Moon tradition painted a "corn moon man", the corn moon man was purchased by a repeat buyer. Becky Federico hand painted a whimsical veggie man and black cat on an antique wooden fur stretcher. Roberta Munson (seashells_santas) created a Veggie man sculpted from papier mache. The jolly pumpkin headed creature sported an old corn cob front while dangling a black cat candy container from one hand. Patty Benedict used a vintage teacup holder as a perch for her miniature witch tealeaf reader character. Adele Healey (fun-art) who is known for her miniature ghost characters used an old wooden window frame attached two sides and placed one of her ghost characters on the inside reaching through the window toward the viewer. The back- lit stage gave her whole piece a theatrical flair. Popular folk artist Christy Myers (ccwhimsies) who participated in both challenges resurrected two wooden salad bowls and gave them new life with her hand-painted whimsical pumpkin faces circling the bottom of the bowl. Both of her challenge pieces that deviated from her sculpted characters sold to two new art buyers.
Another Halloween artist who deviated from her usual sculpting and painting medium is artist Cali Lee. Cali wanted conceptualized a Vampire Extermination kit for this challenge based on the real ones created in Germany years ago, also known as "Vampry Ausrottung Kit". Cali was a little nervous that her concept would turn art buyers off so she polled the group for feedback. The response was overwhelmingly positive and Cali designed a kit based on one she'd seen on the History Channel. Before auction end, Cali's Vampire Killing Kit was on eBay's pulse!
Although some EHAG members haven't been able to budget the time for challenges, the artists who participated all experienced a serendipitous outcome as they applied their skills in a new direction. Carolee Clark's reflection easily spoke for all of us:
"I think my favorite aspect of the challenges is with so many talented artists in the EHAG group, the creative energy is infectious. It encourages me to think outside the box - or I should say FURTHER outside the box. It's pure inspiration!"
Challenging yes, but pure inspiration and the collectors who appreciate our outcome is why we create.
Suzanne Urban is a figurative doll sculptor, painter and
designer who resides Milford CT. Her work can be seen on
www.smirkinggoddess.com