We've Got a Winner, Folks

The winner of "Hey, It's a Contest is...

Congratulations, Katherine! You've won a complimentary issue of Portals Zine - Issue #7: Home!! Please email us your mailing address. :)

Artist Spotlight: Kara Haupt

My name is Kara Haupt, I'm 16 years old(17 in June! Yay). I live in the Northwest USA and like wearing plaid tights and eating cheese. I laugh and listen to music too much. I started art journalling and scrapbooking about two years ago. I love my camera and hope to someday pursue a career in photography. I keep busy with avoiding homework, hanging out with friends, and spending too much time on the computer.


*What one word motivates you?

Fresh.

It's sorta my word for 2009. I love the idea of being constantly refreshed, renewed and ready to go, change, and evolve. I love new toothbrushes, freshly painted fingernails, and a recently cleaned bedroom. This year, I want to freshed up a lot of ideas of art and my environment constantly. Keep things new. Take old things and freshen them up so I can learn from them and evolve.

I'm all about evolving and changing, I think somewhat because of my age. I have this entire expanse of beautiful life ahead of me and I know that I can make it be how I dream it to be. And the things I don't have control over? More the better. I take them and I learn from them. Keep things fresh. Evolve. :D

*List 5 things you're inspired by.

Watercolors.- Big time. My grandmother is an accomplished watercolorist and I really want to get into these and learn. It's such an expansive medium and I want to learn to take it to the next step in all areas of my life.

Blogs- I have about 110 blogs in my reader. I don't watch TV, I read blogs. I love that I'm kinda "keeping up" on other people's creative lives often(hehe. dude. that sounds creepy.... blogs are kinda creepy when you think about 'em anyways). They are inspiring and fulfilling.

Friends- Internetty friends and real friends. I've been blessed by some really amazing people in my life. I have friends that push me to be a better me and more risk taking "artist". They know when to step back and tell me to stop. They know what I'm capable of and they push me to do it. Love them.

God- Being Christian, trust in God is what keeps me going on. I see this stunning world that He created and it makes me want to make the ugly things pretty. And to find the beauty in the ugly. My relationship with Him has really crafted me into who I am and who I hope to become.

Film- Always, always, always makes me want to go take more pictures. I love getting a roll back from the developers. It's the film grain, the surprise, the natural vignetting. Totally inspiring!

*I really shouldn't, but I...

Drink too much coffee. At least, recently. I'm blaming it on gross creamer(how is gross creamer so amazingly delicous, I ask?) and finals coming up. Finals are lamesauce, yo.

*What do you dream?

I dream of a little old house, with mismatched colors and hardwood floors. I dream of an amazing man for me, one that'll love God more than me and laugh at my ridiculous jokes.

I dream of getting over my selfishness. I dream of having beautiful moments and trusting God.

I dream of being fresh and ready for whatever life'll throw at me.

*How does your art fit into your life?

I'm trying to get into the groove of taking photos more often, especially film. I use to art journal a lot more, but have been feeling slightly uninspired. I like taking this phases as they come and embracing them. I work for Hambly, which I love. Makes me sit down every month and actually create something.

*What allows you to be most creative?

Freedom.

From parameters and ideas that people put on me and silly "boxes". I love finding strange clothes at thrift stores and pairing them with weird things. I like knowing that I don't care what people think of my physical appearance.

I like new environments and fresh ideas and different mediums.

Learn more about Kara on her blog: Old Lady in a Teenager.

One World, One Heart

Hello and thank you for visiting Portals Zine blog. We are delighted to be part of this year's One World, One Heart Giveaway. To enter, please leave a comment below. We will draw a name from random to win the CURRENT Art Journaling issue of Portals Zine along with a packet of creative goodies that may be used in your own art journal or in other mixed media projects.

We are offering another give away on our blog but you'll have to read down a few posts to find out how to enter! Good luck and have fun visiting.
Comments will be closed at 11 pm PST on Wed. the 11th.
-Comments are now closed- check back tomorrow for the WINNER

It's Call Time

We are excited to begin working on Issue #7 - our Home issue, coming this Spring! For this issue we're looking for the following:

♥ "Home" themed artwork and art for the home (like artwork for walls, pillows, decor, textiles, plush, etc). Please refer to these submission guidelines.
♥ Photo "stories".. one idea would be a polaroid series of old homes. We'd like to feature more photography in coming issues so we encourage you to share your work and ideas!
♥ Poetry/Creative Writing; Articles; Tutorials - please refer to these submission guidelines.
♥ We are looking for occasional "staff" writers so please email if you might be interested. This would include but is not limited to product + book reviews, articles, and tutorials. Please let us know what your interest is.

Please don't let this limit you. You may have a fabulous idea that we've not thought of and we'd love to hear it! As always, please feel free to send any themed artwork, articles, etc. you think we might be able to use in a future issue.

Home submissions DUE FEBRUARY 15!!

Hey, It's a Contest

We've got big plans for this blog in 2009 and what better way to start than with a face lift! :) We're celebrating with a little contest, the first of many to come! Add our link or thumbnail image (found here) to your blog (and tell us about it), or follow our blog, by clicking "follow this blog" on the bottom right sidebar to be entered. A winner will be selected to win Issue #7: HOME in the coming months. Stay tuned for details! xo

Artist Spotlight: Jennifer Mercede

Jennifer Mercede was born in Long Beach, CA and grew up in Connecticut. She currently lives and works in Portland.

At a young age Jennifer began making art, inspired by her grandmother, a free-spirited watercolorist. She would spend hours making hundreds of handmade floral greeting cards and loved when she had the house to herself to turn the music up and work on a creative project.

Her primarily abstract paintings consist of free flowing text, bright color fields, and crazy energetic doodling. Internally guided they involve letting go, taking big risks and trusting that there is no such thing as a mistake. They are meant to enjoy and motivate. She is inspired by color, children’s art, old school hip hop flavor, graffiti, abstract expressionism, inner spirituality and her creative friends.

After receiving a B.A. in painting and illustration at Western Washington University, she took time to travel the country and harvest some of life’s wisdom through experience. Now, with curiosities satiated, she has settled into making art as a living. She intends to continue sharing her soul through colors on the wall, as well as through music and performance on stage.


*************************************************************************************
We Asked, She Answered
What one word motivates you? Life

List 5 things you're inspired by.
Graffiti
Fruit Markets
Klimt
Basquiat
People who are free

I really shouldn't, but I...
What I do, I do. Should or shouldn't is irrelevant. I play a different game :)

How do you define creativity?
The process of letting go of thought to connect with the moment and bring to life something fresh.

What do you dream?
Of being so confident I love everyone and am free from anyone's opinion of me!

How does your art fit into your life?
My art is a place to let energy out. it assists my evolution and provides for me a sense of purpose and pride.

What allows you to be most creative?
Giving myself time to follow my passions. Being free.

*************************************************************************************
See more of Jennifer's work at www.jennifermercede.com.

Portals 6 update...

Hi all,
WOW the orders have really been pouring in this week and we ran out of issues so I have a reorder in with the printer. I just want everyone to know and not to worry if it takes a little bit of extra time to get to you. Joleen and I are so excited about this publication and it makes us very happy to hear that you are too. Every time I look at the issue I get butterflies because I am so excited about the print quality and the color!! If you have not ordered yet, we still have some available in our Etsy shop.

Later this week we should have the website updated with new calls for the next issue which will be the "HOME" issue. Also, I am hoping to get the free alphabet download up, but Joleen had a computer glitch and is trying to recover the files. We are planning so many fun things for the upcoming year and are hoping you will be part of it all. Please check back here for news and updates. Happy New Year!!