Any books I want to alter, empty notebooks, and the enticing in-between

Used Sketchbook

Image Descriptions 

First, a closed green Nature Sketch sketchbook that’s spiral bound and 6 x 12 inches. There’s silver printed title and details on the right side and a silver window panes of an illustration of a bare tree.

Second, the same sketchbook open to a spread with a verso of a figure drawing sitting with legs across the floor and their right hand on top of their head. The recto is a drawing of a windmill and a big wave in the ocean with handwritten text that says “Energy Diversity is Essential” above and beneath the waves is handwritten in caps “ALL OUR ENERGY”, dated November 18th.

Background

I bought this used sketchbook at the Chelsea flea market in NYC, as I never seen a sketchbook that looked like this. The previous owner used it for an art class and there were other drawings including charcoal. 

Ideas

use it as my own sketchbook and play with the previous drawings

a fictional protagonist wants to be an artist but is scared of the blank page. They start with this.

mmm…skyscraper I love you art book

Image descriptions

First, a closed book whose front cover is white and is titled “mmm…skyscraper I love you” with two line drawings of skyscrapers, and at the bottom it says “A TOMATO/UNDERWORLD PROJECT”

Second, a two page black and white spread of typography with the lower right corner saying “30,000 feet above” in white then multiple rows in black, all on its side. In the upper left corner, “invisible” repeated for rows, also on its side. A jumble of black letters near the spine. On the recto, white lines on black that look like blinds, on its side, and the words “i dreamed” in script at the bottom of it. The right side has cut off big black letters, and in the lower right corner it says “12:04 cubans” on its side, and a big “c” on its side by the spine.

Toys that would make good daydreams

Mini and Massive Capsules

Image Description

Two vending machine round capsules, the left is small and “normal size” transparent with a tinted green lid that’s still see through. Right is a massive one that’s opaque, top has a neon green lid. Both are empty.

Background

I bought the tiny at a gachopan store where they host Japanese toy capsule vending machines. The larger is from Party City and meant to hold candy which it will not do in this incarnation hehe.

Ideas

big holds a town and the little one holds figurines

massive one holds a build yourself diorama of a cool scene, the lil buddy will hold the tiny figurine

maybe mini one can hold a tiny book, and the bigger holds an artwork inspired by the former

small holds a key object that goes in the bigger one's set. Like a canvas painting for an art studio

tiny holds treasures collected from the day to be placed in the larger one's pedestals and altars.

Paper Dolls 1920s fashion books from 

Objects I need to build before I can use its utmost potential hehe

Snowglobe

Image Description

An empty plastic snowglobe with instructions and a small bottle of blue green glitter

Background

I bought the snowglobe at MyUnique for like 99 cents, the glitter I luckily already had.

Ideas

create my ideal daydream I want to come true. Put me in it as a figurine hehe. Maybe write a little sign saying what that is concisely

write a story with a snowglobe at its center, transform this one exactly. leave a printout and the globe somewhere for someone to find

Movie Machine flipbookit maker

Image Description

Brown package of the flipbookit maker which shows an illustration of it with a handcrank attached to a box that shows a rotation of papers that read “YOUR VIDEO OR” “ANIMATION HERE!” Surrounding it, it says “Made in the USA” “Easy assembly in minutes Includes DIY kit, printer-ready sheets and blank flip-cards Ages 7 and up” “Convert your videos (or JPEGs) into a custom flipbook show!” “FREE ‘Maker Tool” at www.Flipbookit.com”

Background

Yup, I bought it at MyUnique hehe. Again, really cheap haha. You can buy one too here, and there is a maker tool too if you look in the menu.

Ideas

make a fun animation through Canva as that feels beginner friendly. Maybe stop motion?

shoot a video I want to cherish, or record a memory I know I’ll want to replay over and over. Perhaps give it as a gift

Anything postcard or postcard sized that could lead to something bigger

Build Your Own

Image Descriptions

First, DIY NYC subway with various printed parts to make it with an inset of it’s real life counter part

Second, DIY Washington Memorial Arch with all the components to create, and inset of the arch in meat space

Third, DIY Flatiron Building with every part printed to build, and inset of the real life version

Background

Yes this could’ve been in DIY, but I like placing them in Postcards more. I bought these three through Poster House and you can find them all here along with the rest of the gang hehe.

Ideas

make one, write a story with that setting, leave the object and the narrative at that location

or write the story and leave the postcard as is for the reader to build

Empty receptacles that will lead to more

Staples Binderclips Box

Image Description

White box with a photo of a medium sized binder clip

Background

I empty these out and the paperclips ones fairly often at work and it feels like a waste to just toss them

Ideas

repurpose to store something else, maybe tiny photos or slides, like components of a story the viewer puts together

turn it into a room/scene for a character

write a poem or flash fiction whose width would fit inside the box, accordion fold it with its bottom glued to the floor of the box so the reader can pull it up and read it down

Small Metal Box

Image Description

First, closed green gray metal box labeled as “STOCK”

Second, opened box to reveal yellow tabbed alphabetical dividers with green index cards sandwiched in

Background

Large or medium size posters, prints, used canvasses, etc.

Dandelions Poster Board

Image Description

On poster board, a photo of a close up at grass level of dandelions on wish mode, all puffy and white

Background

I got this from Sunnyside Thrift Shop in Queens, couldn’t have been more than $2. 

Ideas

stick a clear post-it note on each puff, individual wishes. Remove them once you’ve granted your own desire

Cellular Canvas

Image Description

A medium sized painting that reminded me of a cellular web, like living cells. Unsigned. Mix of yellow, green, brown, and red, interlaced and dots scattered

Background

I bought it at GoodWill, there were four that were of a similar style but this was the cheapest and honestly what I liked best. 

Ideas

collage or paint over it, but not too completely, leave some spaces to be seen

write a piece or story about someone who would create like this. Did they donate it themselves? Is this technically done or given up on? What are they trying to show?

Anything that invites unconventional narratives

Bates Rolodex

Image Description

A Bates Rolodex which has a black flat tray that holds many blank cards sandwiched between alphabetical dividers. There are cards with area codes for various countries and their regions/states.

Background

On my birthday I was in Little Manila Queens, and I saw there was a thriftshop nearby called Hermes. I got this for like $2.

Ideas

fill it out as a fictional character, not just people but hopes and pains

act like your ideal self and fill it out accordingly. do your best to meet them

idea depository. that’s it haha

write flash fiction that maybe interconnects, or falls under a singular theme

Tempo Telephone Index

Image Descriptions

First, Tempo Telephone Index which is a plastic rectangular device, with the name of “General Trading Co., Inc.” and its contact information on fake wood grain. On the right is a beige part which lists every letter, the slider is on Z.

Second, the device now open, revealing two pages, one on the roof, and the other on the bottom, showing “W” and “X”. At top, there’s an icon of a letter and another of a telephone, each on its own column, separated by a black line going down into the bottom page.

Calls for Submissions where I have that object…just don’t know what to do with it yet lol

Finding Treasures in the Discarded

Open Call Description

A call for mail art where you use a circular tin can of tuna or cat food or whatever. Create a collage inside (only) of the tin. If you want to go outside of the tin please leave the back blank for the hanging process they can add. Make a background in the bottom of the tin. Use an other collage elements and 3D encouraged. Sign your collage with name, date, title, country you reside and Instagram handle

Post on IG #MailArtCollageKanyerArtCollection2024

Mail to:

Kanyer Art

316 North 3rd Street

Yakima, Washington 98901

USA

Deadline: August 22, 2024

Make as many as you wish! Here’s the Kanyer Art Instagram.

Image Description

my hand holding a Brunswick White Albacore Tuna tin

Ideas

no clue, I do have white dots that can elevate collage elements. Maybe something sweet. I’m sure once I eat the tuna I’ll just know haha.

Anywhere specific I can get additional intriguing substrates, either for free or for sale.

Yesterday's News Vintage Shop in Brooklyn

Image Description

Screenshot of freeze frame of their reel showing a group of people making collages at a table overflowing with images and ephemera. There are yellow christmas lights hanging above and drawers of antiques. You can see boxes of pizza with a cartoon baby chef sitting on an open box in the foreground on the table and a vine hanging above.

Background

Not only is it a super cool vintage shop whose outside is laid out like a flea market, you can get a ton of great goodies for $10 and less. PLUS, they host craft nights, like vintage collages and journaling while also providing dinner! Check out their reel here and explore their IG here. For $5 and under finds come hither, and here's another for $1! Honestly the best vintage store Instagram I've seen. I can't wait to visit.

Wishlist

postcards

photos

stickers

patches

trading cards

buttons

spools of thread

greeting cards

Any books/zines I wanna (re)read to make new creations

The Guerilla Art Kit by Keri Smith

Image Description

Brown Kraft colored book with silver binding, the text reads:

"The Guerilla Art Kit

Everything you need to put your message out into the World

For Fun, Non-Profit and World Domination

By Keri Smith"

There are black and white doodles of a paintbrush, a bucket labeled as wheat paste, two pieces of white chalk, and an open pair of scissors, with a talking bubble surrounding the "For Fun..." line and four white arrows pointing at it.

Background

I believe I first bought this years ago at McNally Jackson bookshop in New York City, where they had a stair landing with discounted craft books. I think it was half off and was my wonderful introduction to Guerilla Art. It’s “leaving art and ideas in public places, [which] can affect someone's day—change their mood or their mind—and maybe even change the world in the process”. You can buy it from the publisher Princeton Architectural Press here. I’m also a huge fan of Keri Smith who is behind Wreck this Journal and sharing The Wander Society.

First Project I’d Like to Try

Found Photos - take some polaroids of things I’m drawn to, write and decorate them, leave it close to where I found them. Maybe some I’m in. Write a lyric essay or a flash fiction and leave it with the photo.

Art in a Box: 30 Creative Projects in Mixed-Media Assemblage by Marlis Maehrle

Image Description

Blue book whose background is of a wood grain, and at its center is a not fully black painted box with wood showing. Inside it’s painted black and framed in white drawn crosses shaped like a box are the words “ART in a BOX” that simulates chalk and typewriter font. Under that in white font it reads “30 Creative Projects in Mixed-Media Assemblage”. And finally under that is a open metal tin whose verso has a page of a foreign language in Old English font which could be German on its side and three eggs in varying sizes, one completely white, white speckled, and beige. The recto is dark brown with white hairs as a nest and a foreign language phrase on ripped paper in Old English font. There is a wooden black and yellow bird perched on a stand atop of a black speckled white egg. At the bottom is the author’s name “Marlis Maehrle”

Background