Have you guys been hearing about Quinn McDonald's new book, Raw Art Journaling?
I wanted to help support this hot new publication so I've put together a film while creating an Imagined Landscape using several of the techniques in the book. Then I transformed the landscape into ATCs to give-away here! To top it off, Quinn has generously offered a signed copy of the book as grand prize!! (Find out about your chance to win below).
Most of you already know that I'm a big Quinn fan. Am I biased? Probably. But you can't take my Quinn love away. She was my creative coach, and the person who introduced me to the concept of "Making Meaning".
Raw Art is about making and discovering your own meaning. This book is for people who need help learning to create from their minds and their imaginations. This book made me think about all the pages in my moleskin that I don't share because they're "not good enough." Raw Art is exactly about that kind of artwork. Meaning is different for all of us. And meaning isn't always the prettiest or "best" artwork. Meaning comes from your own discoveries through experimentation.
Although Quinn was born in the United States, she grew up in a German and French speaking home. So I asked her if she had any special "German-ness" she'd like to share with us and out came the most amazing Sauerkraut story. I couldn't make something this good up if I tried...
In Quinn's own words,
My mom didn't like the idea of store-bought, preserved food. When I was growing up, we had a garden, and my mom baked bread, made all our meals from scratch, canned fruit, etc. One year she decided to make sauerkraut. There was a big stoneware vat on the back porch, with a fitted stoneware lid. I was too young to get the concept of "ferment" but I was scared of the vat because the lid rocked and "burped" as the sauerkraut developed. In my mind the vat was at least 3 feet tall, but I was a toddler, and my mom wouldn't have made 5 gallons of sauerkraut, so it was probably a one-gallon pot, but in my memory it was huge. One day the fermentation got out of hand, and the lid blew off the container. I didn't see it happen, but I was absolutely sure that sauerkraut was an animal and not a vegetable. For years, I was convinced sauerkraut was alive. How weird is that??
Awesomely weird Quinn! Excellent. (I actually rubbed my hands together reading it). This is exactly the kind of journalistic discovery I'm proud to bring to the mixed media community, so KUDOS for sharing something fun and crazy with Studio Mailbox readers!! I'm never going to look at sauerkraut the same way...
The landscape I demonstrate in the film has been cut up into ATCs - for you! Studio Mailbox would like to support Quinn's book release by giving away 9 goody packs (ATCs, cancelled German postage, old book pages, and little treats like mini-butterfly cards and tags)! In addition Quinn is offering a signed copy of Raw Art Journaling!
Winners will be drawn randomly from those who take a moment to comment on what's meaningful to you. Those who want to help make some noise and post the video on their sites or facebook walls get to leave bonus comments, along with those who do that tweeting thing! You know how it works, so feel free to help spread the love. When I put these goody packs together I came across old postcards that might be from Poland, Czechoslovakia or Russia. I'm not a "cat person" but man, those feline expressions are priceless. So come on folks, there's nothing like angry kitties as an incentive!
Frankly, I think this video might be a first step in launching my TV career. (Yes I'm kidding. I'm so freaked to be in front of the camera that I came down with crazy-voice! Be sure to pay close attention at around 3:29 when I start channelling my inner Canadian. Although I really like making the videos in my computer, I'm still not super confident recording myself. Go easy on me!)
Most importantly, congratulations to Quinn on an awesome publication. JA WOHL!
Don't forget to leave a meaningful comment:
Goodie Packs complete with mad cats, for 9 lucky winners!
Why 9? Because that's better than "nein" winners! (ok that was lame)
Grand Prize is a signed copy of Raw Art Journaling!!
Drawing takes place Monday, 1st of August (German time!) Be sure to check back to see if you're a lucky winner...
Hi TJ! I discovered you through Quinn's posting of your video earlier and I've just posted it on my blog. Literally a minute or two after I hit the publish button, UPS arrived at the door with my unsigned copy of the book from Amazon Canada.
I'd still love to win (who doesn't want to be a winner?) if I do, I will keep the ATCs and crazed kitties and run a giveaway for the unsigned copy through my blog, textisle.wordpress.com
Meaning for me is connections and patterns. And my family of course. Trying to think of a good example of connections, I'm reminded that it was Quinn who urged me to move my blog onto Wordpress, which definitely led to an improvement, more traffic, and the second blog about homeschooling.
Posted by: Ruth | July 27, 2011 at 06:48 PM
Fantastic video. Cats are always meaningful to me so I'm really hoping to win. I loved the way the art came about and had meaning because of the journaling.
Posted by: sharon saurini | July 27, 2011 at 08:10 PM
I agree with you. Quinn and her work are fab!! I'm grateful I've been introduced to your work, as well. How's this for an affirmation...I am a winner,
Posted by: Bonnie barnard | July 27, 2011 at 08:50 PM
So excited to read this book! Thanks for the chance to win.
Posted by: Biacna Mandity | July 27, 2011 at 08:58 PM
I would love love love to win, especially one of the goodie packs! Thanks for hosting, and I'm now following your blog!
edie
Posted by: edie | July 27, 2011 at 09:21 PM
I would like to enter the giveaway. What is meaningful in my life is family and friends. Sometimes friends are more family than family is. No friends and family is loneliness and that is not good for the soul.
Posted by: Barbara Roberts | July 27, 2011 at 11:09 PM
Hi and thank you! This is a very generous giveaway and so sweet of you to think of all of us "anonymous" artists out here. Thanks again!
Posted by: Lisa H | July 27, 2011 at 11:31 PM
Meaningful? Hmmmmmm....that's such a tough, all encompassing question. Health, family (I recently lost my Mom and realize just how meaningful she was to me. Perhaps I should journal about *that*...) I can think of a LOT of things that are meaningful to me....but....translating them into art, and specifically *journaling* is where the problem starts. Would love to win a copy of Quinn's book! Thanks for the chance.
Doreen aka LuniLadi
Posted by: Doreen Cosenza | July 28, 2011 at 01:10 AM
Watching you create was so much fun! Having an attitude of adventure is what helps me find meaning in all the little moments that make up my life.
Posted by: Pat | July 28, 2011 at 02:43 AM
I know I posted here earlier today- ;oP. Meaningful...family, friends and the time we make to do our hearts desire. I love seeing you in action- no German accent??? ha!
Posted by: rebecca | July 28, 2011 at 03:14 AM
The most meaningful thing to me is my family. I am fortunate to have two parents in their late 80s and early 90s and I have two children, 6 grandchildren, and 2 great granddaughters.
Posted by: Jane T | July 28, 2011 at 06:03 AM
WOW, I hope I win the book, it looks amazing! It is meaningful to me to be able to connect with such generous and artistic folks online, since I haven't found like-minded folks in my area. Thanks for the chance to win.
Linda B.
Posted by: Linda Born | July 28, 2011 at 03:16 PM
OMG! How cool is that? You got all that from Quinn's book? Fantastic! I have a book on the way to me (soon I hope!), but please could I go in the draw for a goody-bag? That would be so cool. And, if I win (or maybe even if I don't...), I have a good German Mama story about stewing apples for you! I can so relate to Quinn's sauerkraut - All my family on Muttis side were German!
Posted by: Rosie | July 28, 2011 at 04:35 PM
love the chance to win. thanks
living an artful life
or
a life full of art is meaningful to me
Lillian
http://www.canadianscraptramp.blogspot.com/
Posted by: Lillian Mederak | July 28, 2011 at 05:00 PM
I just found Quinn's website and book by tracking back from Create Write Now on Mari McCarthy's website and I LOVE what I've seen of her book (from the preview pages on Amazon) and just ordered it--which led me to your site and video. I 'm so excited and inspired--this is exactly what I've needed to get me back on track. I've been going through a period of feeling like why bother--it's too late, I'm just not good enough--and the video and Quinn's blog make me realize creating what I need to create is good and I need to let go of worries about where things will lead.
Posted by: lilli | July 28, 2011 at 06:25 PM
What a wonderful video, I'm new to art journaling so yes I can surley use this book. Please pick me and let me show off my raw art :)
Posted by: becky sakovitch | July 28, 2011 at 06:29 PM
i love your video, TJ!
meaning to me right now: nature, art, and love and connections in many different forms. <3
Posted by: s. | July 28, 2011 at 06:40 PM
Just being alive, working at a job that I love (most days), and having my dog's diabetes under control is meaninful to me.
Posted by: Lori | July 28, 2011 at 06:51 PM
Great video! Meaningful is something that matters enough to remember. Anything can be meaningful, even just the smile of a stranger.
Tee
Posted by: Tee Thompson | July 28, 2011 at 07:12 PM
I'm excited by your very generous giveaway, TJ. I found you through Quinn and will be following with interest.
My copy of Quinn's book arrived via Amazon Canada right after I posted on my blog yesterday at http://textisle.wordpress.com. If I were to win, I would keep Quinn's signed copy and do a giveaway of my own copy through my blog.
Meaningful to me is family, first of all, as I think it is for most people when you get down to brass tacks. Secondly, making connections, sometimes quite obscure but to me they mean something.
Posted by: Ruth | July 29, 2011 at 03:12 AM
Love the giveaway- how generous of you!
Now what is meaningful to me.....the simplest answer is my family, also my appreciation for the gift of health, this is precious and one is reminded when I see someone close to me struggle with serious illness.
Posted by: W. Dean | July 30, 2011 at 04:46 AM
This book is so wonderful. I would LOVE to win a copy. Thanks for the chance and thanks for the video.
Posted by: jill redding | July 30, 2011 at 02:55 PM
Oh and what is meaningful to me in the creative process is to enjoy the process and let go of the product!
Posted by: jill redding | July 30, 2011 at 02:59 PM
I love your video, it made me really curious for that book and your ATCs. What is meaningful for me? - To live my life truly and authentic, not pretending to be someone else, just being me, with all my good sides and not so good sides. Believing in and folowing my dreams. Teaching exactly that to my daughter.
Posted by: Carola Bartz | August 01, 2011 at 08:01 AM
Oh, I wish I hadn't been too late for this, but it is such a sweet thing you did!
Did you get my cards and bookmark? I sent them awhile ago, and I don't know how long it takes to get there.
I started watching this video, but at work I can't hear it well, so I'm going to check it out at home.
Posted by: Chris | August 02, 2011 at 11:06 PM