ARTsy VOCABulary

As I begin my path into the artsy world, I've come across a lot of unfamiliar vocabulary terms. While I am researching their deffinitions, I thought I'd make my findings available as a reference file. My vocab list will be on my right side bar. The words will link to a post where I've stored what I've learned about the topics.


Here are the first set of vocabulary words I've learned about.


Ephemera - [i (long e) -fem-er-uh] transitory written and printed matter not intended to be retained or preserved. Some collectible ephemera are advertising trade cards, bookmarks, catalogues greeting cards, letters, pamphlets, postcards, posters, stock certificates, tickets and magazines. Greek and New Latin for epi = one and hemera = day


Tangles [tang (long a) uls] - To mix together or intertwine in a confused mass. With regards to art, it has been described as an intuitive art form and meditation.


Zentangles is a company that offers products to aid in creating tangles. Visit their site to learn more about tangles and see beautiful examples.


Watch a video of a tangle / mandala being made.


Copic - [Co (long o) -pic] Brand name of markers, pens, inks, airbrushes. Environmentally friendly, you never throw markers away, you refill the ink as needed and change the tip as desired. The ink is alcohol based, which is better when you are layering and blending because the ink does not harm the surface of the paper. When the alcohol evaporates or drys, the ink is acid free.


Great video of how to use Copic markers, suggestions, on papers to use, how to shade.

My FIRST!

Honestly, I'm pretty proud of my very first attempt at an altered page.

I decided to keep it simple - as far as techniques go, I stuck with mostly Bic fine point permanent pens. I did use some Wite-Out (Bic) correction tape and some faux embossing liquid I had in my scrapbooking supplies.

What I did:

I used the original title page of the book, The Sidetracked Sisters Happiness File.

With white correction tape I manipulated the type to read The Sidetracked Artist's Happiness File.

Authors were noted as Pam Young and Peggy Jones.

Again with the correction tape and markers I transposed it to read "I am Young, an edgey one."

Yes I know that edgy is spelled wrong in this case, but what is 'right' when creating art? I like the irony of edgy spell wrong.

The rainbow lines were part of the original title page, I spelled out numbers repetitively in corresponding colors of the spectrum.

The rest I just filled up space with doodling. Throughout my life, my doodles have been writings. Not the typical mindless wanderings of a pen. I would write the alphabet, list all the states and numbers over and over again, maybe the predictable pattern gave me comfort. So, that's why the set of alphabet and numerals are a part of this first try. Subconsciously adding a familiar pattern to my 'new' exploration.

After all was inked, I thought it 'needed' just a touch of something. So I remembered the liquid I had that dries to form a raised shiny look in my stash of neglected and overwhelming scrapbook supplies. The product is Royal Coat by Plaid "Dimensional Magic" it also advertises.

Of course my markings bleed through several pages so I glued them together, (Tombo Aqua liquid glue) creating a nice sturdy title page for my first ever altered book!