Oak Creek Printworks

Cardmaking: Creating depth with cutoutsPosted by Stephanie Ferguson on August 31st, 2010

by Nancy Haberman

Recently I assisted a colleague who was learning the finer points of Adobe Illustrator’s pen tool. Our goal was to create images that would adorn products related to the sea. The resulting artwork of a seahorse was intricate and stunning, and a discussion followed about using it on a greeting card.

Commercial greeting card publishers have forever pushed the envelope when it comes to greeting card presentation techniques, relying heavily on high end print and print finishing processes. While holographic and lenticular printing are too pricey for the average working artist and crafter, other finishes like die cutting, embossing and engraving are now within reach of those willing to invest in new desktop equipment and take the time to learn how to use it.

The desktop publishing revolution turned artists and crafters into self-publishers. Fast forward 25 years later, and a trip to Border’s, Target or any greeting card store reveals that it takes more to excite the eye of a card buyer in 2010 than cheap two-dimensional Photoshop effects, long ago passé. Read the rest of this entry »

Body of Art Contest: Win up to $2500!Posted by Georgia Lange on August 24th, 2010

Aaron Brothers is currently having an art contest called Body of Art! Using pens, paint and markers, artists get to let their creativity loose on clothing including t-shirts, jeans, shoes, and hats. Get involved, get creative, and take a 4 x 6 or 5 x 7 photograph of your original, one-of-a-kind wearable art to your local Aaron Brothers for a chance to win a $2500 Gift Certificate! Entries are due by September 25, 2010. Click here for more details.

Bookmark Genius: Recipes for SuccessPosted by Stephanie Ferguson on July 29th, 2010

by Georgia Lange

Two of my favorite things to do this summer have been reading and cooking, which I rarely have time for during the rest of the year. Something about feeding both my body and my brain makes me feel at ease with everything, as though I am on vacation from life even when I am home. As I was sitting around the other day, munching on a delicious Moroccan salad that I had prepared and reading The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (a fabulous book that everyone in America seems to be reading this summer), my mind started to wander a bit. I remembered that I needed to write down the recipe of the savory dish Read the rest of this entry »

Personalized Calendars – Easy to make, perfect for giftsPosted by Stephanie Ferguson on July 20th, 2010

by Mackenzie Billing

Making a 16-month personalized calendar for friends and relatives is a really creative, fun way to say “thinking about you!”  They make such perfect gifts, and summer is really a great time to get started so that the calendars will be ready as the school year begins.

I recently wanted to make a calendar for my older brother, a photographer, with the wonderful pictures he had taken over the years.  First, I did a full-sized 16 month calendar, starting in September of this year and running through December of 2011. That way there was room for more of his pictures and he could start to use it sooner.

Later, I experimented with calendars in a variety of sizes and formats. During the calendar-making project, I discovered a way to use a special, clear plastic stand the size of a CD jewel case to create a fun little desk calendar. This can be done without using a commercial printer or binding of any kind. It stands upright and has a little slot to put all the pages in. A calendar this small is more for just checking off the days as they go by and doesn’t really leave much room to write.  I think it’s a handy little calendar just to sit on a desk with pictures of the family, nature, pets, animals, or whatever is meaningful to the recipient of the gift. It can be anything you want! It’s almost like a miniature photo frame that you change every month!  What a great gift. Read the rest of this entry »

Image of the WeekPosted by Stephanie Ferguson on June 10th, 2010

To download, click on the image below. When the high resolution copy appears right click on it to copy or save it.

Terms of Use: You can use this image for anything you wish (e.g. advertising, printed materials, product packaging, presentations, brochures, greeting cards, postcards, book covers, etc.) as long as you do not copyright it or resell it. Oak Creek Printworks and Oak Creek Marketplace, Inc. are not liable for any damages incurred by your use of the image. ©2010 Oak Creek Printworks

Image of the WeekPosted by Stephanie Ferguson on June 3rd, 2010

To download, click on the image below. When the high resolution copy appears right click on it to copy or save it.

Terms of Use: You can use this image for anything you wish (e.g. advertising, printed materials, product packaging, presentations, brochures, greeting cards, postcards, book covers, etc.) as long as you do not copyright it or resell it. Oak Creek Printworks and Oak Creek Marketplace, Inc. are not liable for any damages incurred by your use of the image. ©Oak Creek Printworks

Image of the WeekPosted by Stephanie Ferguson on May 20th, 2010

Graphic artists are always looking for images that can be screened back to provide texture for backgrounds or to fill in fonts or other images. Free high-resolution, royalty free images can be hard to come by. Oak Creek Printworks is pleased to announce our new “Image of the Week” feature. To start with, we are posting not one but three images for the first week. Whether you are a customer or just browsing our site, feel free to double-click on the images below, and then right click on the full-sized image to download a high-resolution copy of the photograph. Be sure to check back each week for a new offering. We hope you like this new feature, and would appreciate hearing from you if you have any comments.

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Terms of Use: You can use these images for anything you wish (e.g. advertising, printed materials, product packaging, presentations, brochures, greeting cards, postcards, book covers, etc.) as long as you do not copyright them or resell them. Oak Creek Printworks and Oak Creek Marketplace, Inc. are not liable for any damages incurred by your use of the images. ©2010 Oak Creek Printworks

Summer Projects: keeping the creative juices flowingPosted by Georgia Lange on May 18th, 2010

by Georgia Lange

Summer is upon us, and many of us are excited about taking a little vacation time. This is particularly true for those of us who have been in school for these past several months. Just because school is out doesn’t mean you should quit working; art is a constant process, and long periods of “time off” can be a waste of creative potential. For a true artist, the work is never finished. There are dozens of ways to keep busy while still having fun. Remember, experience itself can be a work of art (see our previous article on this topic for some more food-for-thought). Here are a couple of ideas to keep your creative juices flowing over the summer.

• Wherever you go, always be armed and ready with a camera and a sketchbook. Better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.

• Getting a second job, an internship, or some volunteer work helps to build experience. Although the job market is still problematic in this economy, volunteer work is always welcome and has a big payoff when it comes to building up the resume.

• Start a new series, or work on one that you have already started. Galleries love to see a consistent body of work where all the pieces relate to one another (or at least look good together on the same wall).

• Social networking is crucial these days. It never hurts to get yourself out there and build up your audience. Do this online and in person; use sites like Flickr, Facebook, Etsy, and Twitter and go to as many social gatherings as possible. Remember that the goal is to meet new people.

• Get feedback from as many people as you can. When you meet someone new, direct them to your website or show them your sketchbook (which you should carry with you at all times). Getting feedback outside of the classroom gives you a better understanding of what market your work falls into, helping you to navigate your career accordingly.

If you would like to comment on this article, or share with us your ideas on how to stay actively creative while enjoyng the freedom of summer, please double click on the title of this article and let us know your thoughts. Let’s get a conversation going!

Artist’s Block: 10 Techniques To Get You ThroughPosted by Georgia Lange on April 15th, 2010

You thought it was just the writers? Not true! Artists get “blocked” too. If you, like many others, find a blank canvas rather daunting to stare at while trying to think up your next subject, here are a couple of techniques to help get your creative juices flowing.

Intuitive Approaches

1. Research: Start looking for images that you like, or ones that consist of certain elements that you would like to incorporate into your own work. Look up artists that you like and analyze what it is that you find appealing in their works.
2. Take Pictures: This is another means research, one that comes directly from you. Taking pictures helps us generate ideas and allows us to experiment without too much effort.
3. Sketches: Sketches are also a means of research. Sketch what is in front of you; doodle any ideas that are floating around in your head. The important thing is Read the rest of this entry »

Research Studio: Art as experience / experience as ArtPosted by Georgia Lange on April 6th, 2010

by Georgia Lange

At the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, all students in the first year program are required to take a research studio class. These days, it has developed into multiple research studio classes. As a first year student, I chose the research studio entitled “Art as experience / experience as Art.” I will say now that it was a wise choice, as it turned out to be one of the most interesting classes I ever took.

The idea itself is almost philosophical. Art is an experience in itself. To look at a work of art is to take your mind places where you would never have thought to go, and the journey Read the rest of this entry »