My daughter-in-law, Heather, is a professional photographer and videographer. Back in September of 2011, she offered to create a light box for me. It’s made out of inexpensive materials, but it works great. Ever since then, I’ve been very pleased with how much better my photos come out. I shared this experience on my blog, Fimo Fanatic, but I also wanted to summarize it here on the IPCA website.

The light box is made from a clear plastic box approximately the same size as a cardboard file box. The inside of the box is lined with white cotton muslin, and the box sits on a small portable decorator table that has removable legs. Two clamp-on gooseneck lamps sit on either side of the box, and a spotlight shines down from the top. I use a slanted piece of white poster board as the backdrop, or an assortment of silky fabrics, depending on what I’m photographing. This light box is portable – everything packs up in less than 5 minutes and will fit easily into a seat in my car. Cost: less than $50.00.

IPCA Members Share Their Photos and Ideas about Sketching

There are as many ways of approaching art as there are artists. Last year we asked members to share photos of their preliminary sketches and finished work as well as any thoughts they have about how sketching is important to their process. The responses were surprisingly varied! Some artists sketch each step in their process, including cane-making. Some sketches are just jottings of shapes and proportions; others include amazing detail, text, and color. These quotations and photos may inspire you to be more methodical in planning your work.