In Their Genes

Father and daughter duo create together

In honor of Father's Day, this week I'm featuring Sarah Klatt, an artist and photographer, who has teamed up with her dad Mark, a master journal and sketchbook-maker.  This amazingly creative duo run an online store together called Ordinary Artists and they're giving away this fantastic “The Sea is Calling” photography-meets-typography art print by Sarah AND a set of miniature journals made by Mark.  Just leave a comment below before midnight on Father's Day on Sunday, June 16, to enter the random drawing give-away for these three wonderful items.  Keep reading to learn more about Sarah and Mark's creative endeavors and their Tuesday art nights.   (I'm so jealous since my own dad lives far, far away in Idaho.)

http://www.etsy.com/listing/126557773/photography-art-print-inspirational-art

www.etsy.com/listing/116987800/2-tiny-journals-set-grey-and-white

Welcome, Sarah!  Please tell us about yourself, your dad and your Internet art and journal shop, Ordinary Artists, which can be found at  https://www.etsy.com/shop/ordinaryartists.

I think my dad and I would probably die if we couldn’t create. I’m recently married, and work as an intern at a church. My life is very full with people and so many projects! My dad was a pastor most of my life, but recently was forced to stop working because of chronic pain. Making beautiful things helps him as a distraction from his pain, and it’s one of the few ways he can currently make money. We started Ordinary Artists in January 2012, as an outlet for our overflowing creativity. Since then the shop has seen many creative endeavors, from tiny drawings to earrings made from salt & pepper shakers. We learned what sold and what didn’t (read: epic fail). Now we mostly stick to journals and paper goods (cards, photography, magnets). Dad makes journals of all sizes, from tiny adorable ones to large sketchbooks, and I do the rest. 

Sarah's stylish, ultra-strong magnets can transform so many surfaces, including boring refrigerator doors.  Hang up that grocery list in style!  

https://www.etsy.com/shop/ordinaryartists?section_id=12874808

I’ve been making art with my dad for a long time. He taught me art lessons as a kid, and creating 3-D paper frogs and lily pads are some of my fondest memories. He’s also one of my biggest inspirations for being an artist. No matter what his “job” is, my dad is always creating. I love that, and want to do that too! We get together nearly every Tuesday evening to “talk shop” and work on whatever we’re currently making, whether that’s picking out ribbons for journals, or showing off our latest creations – we always have a good time. 

Tuesday art night work zone

My dad has always loved journals. In 2004 he went to purchase a nice journal and decided it was way too much money, and he could probably make one himself. So he checked out 12 books from the local library on book-making, and with a little trial and error, started making amazing journals. Since then, he’s probably made over 5000 journals! 

Stacks of hand-made miniature journals

The journal making process starts at Jo-ann’s, feeling different fabrics. Then he drools over the paper and ribbon sections. Each hand-sewn journal takes about 3 ½ hours to make, and they have over 40 separate steps, including lots of gluing and pressing (and he never makes two the same!). It can take 3-6 weeks from start to finish. The paper covered journals are a little simpler with saddle stitching and no gluing – just a whole lot of folding and trimming! 

In addition to mini-journals, Mark makes full-sized journals and sketchbooks, like this hand-sewn and bound blue brocade journal complete with two ribbons and 192 acid-free pages.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/153377793/journal-blank-blue-bold-brocade-notebook?ref=shop_home_active

Sarah, could you tell us about your process of mixing photography and typography?

I’m about to tell you a secret. I actually do most of my photo editing and typography work on my iPhone! I’ve been taking pictures since I can remember. I love being outside in nature, and you’ll never see me without my camera or phone.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/126530777/photography-art-print-inspirational-art?ref=shop_home_active

I use several awesome apps for photo editing and typography (like Blender, Afterlight, and Over). I like to layer my photos with different textures and geometric designs. Then I think about what the photo says to me – sometimes it’s a lyric from a song, or just a few words that fit that moment and the edit. I put them all together then post my photos on Instagram (username: sklatt05). Then eventually my photos make it to Etsy! I love putting words and images together to create something powerful and inspiring.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/126530885/dream-time-photography-art-print?ref=shop_home_active

https://www.etsy.com/listing/127843104/journey-inspirational-art-photography?ref=shop_home_active

Sarah Klatt and her dad, Mark.  To see more of their amazing creations, visit their online shop at https://www.etsy.com/shop/ordinaryartists

To enter the random drawing give-away, just leave a comment below.  Please include your email address in your comment so that I can notify you if you are the winner.  For security reasons, most people like to write their email address like this when entering give-aways:  janesmith at gmail dot com

Contest ends at midnight on Father's Day, Sunday, June 16.

Thanks for reading this feature article.  To visit the rest of my blog, go to http://wingedworldetsy.blogspot.com.