MAD Artist Roll Call!

[happyrobyn]

No time like the present to say hey! Just wonderin' who all is out there in MAD land?! And what are your thoughts on this category? What would you like to see? ... Tutorials? Challenges? Do you need to "borrow" heritage pictures? You name it ... I wanna know! Anything MAD related.

If you have no ideas at present, just say "HERE!" so I know you're out there!

I'll start us out ... I am Robyn England and I am MAD! I have thousands of old family pics and just as many ideas for them. Traditional scrapping was starting to bore me and over the last 6 months, I have really started to integrate heritage and altered and collage. Hard to explain but that's what I think the whole concept of the MAD section is all about. Heritage ... but not traditional browns and lace. Kind of a freestyle heritage.

[Fiddlette]

I'm Christine, Fiddlette user name, and I'm MAD!!

I love heritage scrapping, especially with the MAD twist...it is more about how a photo makes you FEEL and not so much about presenting the reality of a situation or the accurate history of a situation...it is a personal style of scrapping, scrapping your own perceptions of the past...or how you would have liked it to be, lol!!

Yippee for MAD artists!! Can't wait to get to know you all!! :)

[tlcjanna]

I'm Janna, tlcjanna user name, and I'm MAD!!
I have tons of new pictures from my husband's family and I cannot scrap them. No dates, some without names, and years between pictures.....
(In-laws were not the best at pitcure taking...)

[SteinwaysMom]

I'm in! My attitude to memory art is very non-traditional. I had kind of a bad childhood & my present life is pretty boring. So I 'scrap' not to commemorate the past but to create something new and beautiful from the fragments of what was...The process of doing this is tremendously rewarding...

What excites me about the MAD approach to memory art is that the past is so complex, fragmented and colored by emotion. This challenges the artist to develop methods of synthesizing all these visual and emotional 'scraps' into a work of art...We artists love to salvage 'stuff' and turn it into art and this includes images and memorabilia that may have been otherwise forgotten.

I am also excited about the possibilities of this artform to assist people in emotional healing. Not only for working through the emotions of the past on a personal level but also for helping others deal with grief and loss. And finally to minister to our elders who are entering the phase of their life where they begin to look back and assess the content of their life...I'll never forget the memory quilt that my friend Kim and I did for her grandfather and how the images represented all his favorite 'stories'.

Geez I didn't plan to wax poetic!

[happyrobyn]

Now we're getting somewhere! Would anyone be interested in a pre-opening challenge or something along those lines?

[mishou]

Hey, don't forget me! I'm here too! :)

Robyn, I'm totally up for a challenge!

As for what I'd like to see in MADland . . .hmm . . .definitely challenges. If weekly is too much than maybe bi-weekly or monthly? I've been thinking about this a bit, trying to come up with some genius creative type of challenge to make them different than the altered art/collage ones at Scrap Artist but alas . . . nothing yet. I bet Robyn and Christine have a genius idea, they're just holdin' out on us LOL

I really like the 'borrow an ancestor' idea. I haven't tried it yet but I think there's lots of potential for fun challenges. Like if we provided a photo and ask everyone to scrap what they feel is the story going on in that photo, or what is that person thinking, etc. it would be fun to see all the different interpretations people come up with.

Tutorials could be cool too. Maybe we could just have a special section of the MAD forum for this, kind of the way they do at Scrap Artist with the 'Digital Brew' or how they're doing their new "Designer's Workshop" thing where every month or so we introduce and discuss a new technique or something. I don't know? Just ideas . . .

All I know is I'm really excited about this whole MAD thing. Ever since Robyn and Christine helped me find my inner MADness with the SA challenges I just can't get enough. I still do "traditional" styled layouts once in a while. There's so many pretty kits out there sometimes I can't help myself from making 'pretty' layouts. But there's just so many 'rules' and limitations with that style and it gets tiring after a while, kwim? It's so much more fun to throw all that out the window and follow whatever your crazy creative instinct tells you to do.

As for heritage stuff ,well unfortunately I'm not as lucky as most. I don't have too many pictures. But I love bringing the photos I do have 'to life' in this style. I remember reading somewhere something that Robyn said (or at least I think it was you). Was it on your website? I can't remember. It was something about how just because our ancestor's photos are black and white it doesn't mean they didn't live their lives in full colour so why not scrap them that way? I love that. Truer words have never been spoken! By the way, is the MAD section only supposed to be for heritage? I had no idea, but that's kind of what I'm sensing now? Just want to make sure cuz I've been uploading all kinds of non-heritage stuff in there.

Alright, I *think* I'm done with my novel now. Sorry, I know I talk too much. It's a disease. I can't help it! :)

--Michelle a.k.a MG a.k.a mishou

[mishou]

Oh, one more silly little idea. I know you've all been coming up with cute plays on the word 'quirk' for the website. Could we come up with some for MAD? All I've been able to think of is the MAD hatter (anyone catch that reference in my avatar/fat book layout? :) ) but I just KNOW there has to be some really good ones we could use. I'm just not clever enough to think of them . . .

[happyrobyn]

Michelle - just a quick answer for you - NO! ... MAD is not only for heritage. It is for ALL memory art. In my interpretation, this simply means real people as opposed to just pictures you find and art.

What is anyone else's definition of Memory Art Digital? Perhaps this should be in the FAQ section!

Great ideas Michelle. I do have a few ideas floating around in my head about challenges but I want to make this a group effort - not just a happyrobyn one! Yo ... Christine ... this is your cue to chime in ... LOL!

[mishou]

Thanks Robyn, I just wanted to make sure. I think we should definitely work on a defintion of MAD for an FAQ, and that what you said sounds perfect: something that includes real people and real memories, as opposed to random photos or art. That sounds good to me anyway.

As for your ideas, don't be shy! I've never done anything like this before so I don't really have a good grasp on what could actually work, what would be fun, etc. At least if some ideas are thrown out there then we have something to work with, you know?

[akissling]

I am Alison and I am late posting and very MAD about MAD! I love using old photos that my parents have and anything vintage to change and create something new and different. My favorite thing at the moment is to turn them in to fairies. I noticed when I was posting these things on another board and they just didn't fit in. I decided that I didn't belong in that place and then by sheer luck found another place that is much more my style. Thanks to Fiddlette I am here and I think it will be great! I especially love trying to create things in digital form (elements, stamps etc). Like SteinwaysMom (Debra) I think that art is therapy! It can not only make you feel better but get you interested in life. When you are creating you look at things differently, even something as simple as flipping through a magazine. You can appreciate an ad as a work of art or try and find a font that you had never seen before. Finally and most importantly, I think it creates passion! I started out in a career in art and dropped it for about 20 years. I have tried every craft you can think of except sewing (it ruined my almost career!) but never really stuck to anything. I have found it again and am so eager to learn more and more!
Alison...is that TMI??? Can you tell I am excited??!!

[happyrobyn]

YAY Alison! So glad to have you on board!

[Fiddlette]

I have really enjoyed reading everyone's posts in this forum! I agree with what so many of you have said about MAD and love that we have so much in common....which is the reason for all of our being here, eh?

Now on to some business!

I'm going to send a yahoo message out in just a bit to all you original MAD quirks, and see what y'all think about one of my ideas...keep a look out for it!! :)

[happyrobyn]

Can't wait to hear your idea Christine!!!

[KarenS]

I'm a little late checking in, but wanted to add my name to the MAD list :) I haven't had time to do many finished projects lately, but do have lots of old family photos. I think the share an ancestor idea is great and would be happy to share some photos of mine ;)

Karen

[happyrobyn]

Glad you're here KAren! Funny you should mention the share an ancestor. I was just working on a page for my personal web site this morning. It's going to be a place to adopt one of my ancestors' friends. I'll give the link here when I'm done.

[Fiddlette]

That is so cool, Robyn....love that idea! We will start seeing your photos all over the place, now, in different settings! What a super idea!!

Glad to have you join us, karen!! :)

[SteinwaysMom]

Don't forget the FlickR collage group (http://www.flickr.com/groups/collageimages/) also has lots of old photos/ephemera people are sharing so those of us short on ancestor photos can borrow and those who have old images to share can add to the pool. I just checked the site and they have jumped from around 200 to 800 images already!

[Belles]

and I didn't know you where already running challenges here :)
Not sure I have a huge lot of time but I definitly will keep an eye out on whats happening.

[happyrobyn]

Helen - we're just getting the challenges all in place for when the site officially opens on May 1st. But don't feel like you are EVER behind. We have simply numbered them for easy reference but you don't need to do them in any order. They are just there for inspiration.

[PacificBlue]

Wow, how quirky. I'm sure I posted on this one yonks ago, and it's not here. Feeling all funny now, like I've turned up late to an AA meeting and have to introduce myself over again when no one is really interested.

Hi.

My name is Michelle, and I'm reasonably MAD.

[happyrobyn]

LOL Michelle! We're so glad to "meet" you!

[mishou]

LOL Michelle! There's no such thing as late in QuirkLand.
Come one, Come all, Come at any time at all! That's our motto.
Well, not really. I just made that up. But you get the point :)

[happyrobyn]

Great motto MG!

[AmyK]

I'm here and I *want* to be MAD! Does that count? Traditional scrapping hasn't given me that satisfying feeling as of late, so I am really anxious to try something new and different. I feel like a newbie all over again. :D

Thanks for the interesting challenges. Hopefully after my brain settles down from the excitement of finding this site, I'll be able to join in.

Amy

[mishou]

Well you're certainly in the right place Amy! We are pretty much a club for disgruntled scrappers looking for something different! Well okay, maybe 'disgruntled' is a little bit exaggerated! LOL But you know what I mean. We can all relate to no longer being satisfied with traditional scrapping.
Glad you're on board! I think you will find MAD is a fun thing to be!

[happyrobyn]

Amy the first step to becoming MAD is to want to be MAD! So you're on the right track! If you ever have any MAD questions feel free to contact me personally or add a new thread in this forum.

[webchyck]

I think "disgruntled" works...after all we have the GOING POSTAL challenge! LOL!

[Vania16]

Count me in :) Okay, so I'm still kind of learning the whole MAD approach, but it sure is fun!

[karenmc6]

my name is karen and i'm getting MAD! i teach paper scrapping and other papercrafts at an lss, but i have been put off by traditional scrapping for a while now. i can't say that i've embraced the whole MAD concept, but i have been playing with some of the elements and having so much more fun!

[happyrobyn]

Oh don't worry - we'll give you all something to be seriously MAD about after we're finished with you! Welcome all of you new friends!

[jessica b]

Well, I don't know if I've ever really been truly MAD, but I am so intrigued by everyones MADness that it makes me want to do it, too. I've been looking through my stuff trying to find something that qualifies as MAD (wouldn't it be cool to be MAD and not even know it?) that I could share in the gallery, but I can't find anything that fits.

Guess that means I need to create some new stuff! Like Amy, I'm feeling like a total newbie in this department!! The postal challenge seems like a pretty easy place to start...

[happyrobyn]

Start wherever you want. Just get MAD! Any picture can become MAD I tell you! And just to clarify ... it does NOT need to be heritage. As long as it is a memory picture!

[Chinook]

Well if it doesn't have to be HERITAGE, I just finished a collage for our holiday scrapbook. Woo Hoo ... I'm going to upload!!

[Chinook]

How is this ... it's so NOT MAD ... it's MAD!!! Or does that make it Quirky. LOL I doubt it, but ...

http://www.digitalartquirks.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=379&cat=501&limit=recent

[happyrobyn]

It's MAD to me. Basically MAD is and picture that represents a memory to you. Come to think of it ... I was supposed to write a description and keep it as a sticky in this forum. Must put that on my to do list!

Love your layout!

[mishou]

Yes Robyn, I think a sticky would be helpful! Especially to anyone new around here who might not "speak Robyn" LOL

[happyrobyn]

No I speak the universal language of MAD. It is understood for galaxies. Really!

[kellyshults]

Just checking in! Happy to be here and ready to get MAD! :)

[happyrobyn]

Howdy Kelly! So glad you're here!!!

[Vania16]

Hey by the way, can I swipe a blinkie off of one of you guys? Someday if I actually update my blog, I'd like to add one for here :)

[happyrobyn]

Lisa, I made 2 versions of the blinkie. Send me an email and I'll email them both to you. Robyn@ScrapArtist.com

[DeniseD]

Hi there!

I'm MAD!! I have been holding in my frustrations with digital scrapping. Too many, "It's busy, but it all works together" comments. I look forward to getting to know everyone & hope I can create along with everyone. :)

Denise

[happyrobyn]

LOL Denise!! Well stated!

[mishou]

LOL Denise! I promise you won't get any comments like that around here!

[kygirl]

I guess I'm MAD and didn't even know it. Anything that combines journaling, art and history is right up my alley. Looking forward to trying my hand at the challenges.

[happyrobyn]

I know you Donna and you are definitely MAD!

[SteinwaysMom]

Is the "it's busy but it all works together" an inside joke? I'm actually worried because I have probably said that to someone at some point. Sometimes when people ask for CC I give them this big essay and never hear back! Guess that qualifies me for the Tacky Feedback Hall of Shame...

[DeniseD]

(Is the "it's busy but it all works together" an inside joke?)

LOL! I got turned down for a CT, and this was one comment that stuck. I think it's meant to be positive, but is it? Whatever :)

[happyrobyn]

No inside joke Debra! Just the frustration some of us feel when we post those "different" type layouts at traditional sites. I think some people just don't know what to make of it but they want to leave a nice comment.

[Vania16]

I think sometimes it really is a compliment - at least I know i've been impressed with people's ability to work a bunch of stuff into a layout that still makes sense LOL But, I agree with Robyn - a lot of traditional scrappers just don't know what to make of the whole collage-type thing :)

[Ursula]

Hi, I'm Ursula and I'm mad. I'm in morph mode. I don't like to put parameters around what I create. It may look old, it may look new, maybe grungy (alot of the time)maybe clean, maybe full of blends and maybe a straight paper scrap. Each moment has a different feel and I like to convey the feel of that moment or thought, or idea and give it it's own treatment. So, I just cannot place myself in one group or another. Can't cage this girl. So I suppose some of what I do would not neccessarily fit with the art that's displayed on this site, but I think I'll post it anyway, just to remind everyone that art comes in all kinds of forms.

[Cre8tvlyYrs]

I've always been MAD...even in my traditional scrapbook style ~ I just would get carried away! Even certain areas of my home have gone mad! lol! I too felt my 'Art' was always ignored because it was not clean lined enough...I tried I really did to be a bit simpler but those layouts ALWAYS bored me to sleep!! As for contests and CT's...I tried for a few but wouldn't even hear anything from some and I just said forget it...:mad: that's all I got to say about that!:p Anyways, here I am! Ready reveal the MADness within!!:D