Thursday, November 14, 2013
It's all Gouach-y and such that is..
Monday, November 11, 2013
Penny Fest Bidding Frenzy Good Will Gesture!
Penny Fest Bidding Frenzy Good Will Gesture!
Friday, November 8, 2013
Illustration Friday
Illustration Friday
Wednesday, November 6, 2013
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
Tuesday, August 13, 2013
(Re-) New Product (Re-) Release
I re-released a new product a couple of months ago and it has been doing very well at the open air Saturday market where I set up shop twice a month. These are fine art prints which I have mounted to wood panels. My first edition of prints like these was about 4 years ago when I mounted the prints to 6x6x2" deep cradles that appeared like blocks and sat on a shelf. This time around, I am using 3/4" panels and offering numerous sizes and shapes to accommodate the growing image collection in my studio. They are more wall friendly, and will also sit nicely on an easel.
When people visit me and flip through my print rack, I often hear, "Oh, so and so would love this, but I don't want to buy them a gift that they will have to pay to frame." AHA! I listened. Well, NOW, I have these ready to hang with no more fuss! Easy peasy and everyone's happy. You get a great looking inexpensive proud to give print and they get instant hanging appeal and hopefully, some joy.
My process is a lot of steps, but worth it. With a lot of love, I have sanded, painted or stained, mounted and, finally varnished by hand each and every little panel with my hands. On the back, a small paper label is mounted with information about the print and my studio, and then I add a wee hanging wire inside the cradle edge so it will sit flat on the wall or unobstructed on an easel.
There you have it; gorgeous ready-to-hang long lasting ink jet giclées, sealed and protected for display anywhere, even in humid environments (like a bathroom!)
Sizes offered are: 4x4", 6x6", 5x7", 8x10", 11x14", 12x16", 10x20" and 16x20".
These fun print panels are coming to my shops on Etsy and Artfire by September, but are currently only available at the Marietta Square Artists Market (http://www.artistsmarketmarietta.com/) and Dootique, the shop next to the DooGallery in Reynoldstown, Atlanta, off Memorial Dr. and Holtzclaw. (https://www.facebook.com/Dootique)
Have a great day,
Rebecca
(Re-) New Product (Re-) Release
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
Martha, an American Maker!
Here's the article (links below and in print, which I have copied from her email), via Martha Stewart...
http://www.marthastewart.com/americanmade?xsc=eml_american_made_2013
"Hi,
By sending in a nomination, you will join a chorus of people who have newfound appreciation for local craftsmanship. And with the launch of American Made, it's my sincere hope that more stories will be heard and shared.
I believe it's time to bring the focus back to the maker, to the tinker, to the crafter. It's time to connect dreamers and doers. It's time to showcase the next generation of game-changers. It's time to start a movement.
If you know of a creative entrepreneur worthy of the American Made Award, encourage him or her to send in a nomination:
http://connect.marthastewart.
Thank you for being part of American Made.
Martha, an American Maker!
Monday, June 10, 2013
Happy Birthday Maurice Sendak!
I love the way he thought...
“I’m trying very hard to concentrate on what is here, what I can see, what I can smell, what I can feel – making that the important business of life. Just looking out the window at the colors that I see, reading Charles Dickens at night for an hour, little rituals I have of listening to Mozart.”
Here's a nice little article in the Washington Post today just in case you haven't already read everything else!! Go to article.
Let the wild rumpus start!
Have a nice doodly day,
Rebecca
Happy Birthday Maurice Sendak!
Monday, June 3, 2013
Just do it.
A friend of mine posted this quote on his page the other day and I just love it. What a way to motivate on a Monday morning.
and if you think you're too old to follow your dreams...
Sister Madonna Buder, known as the Iron Nun, is living proof that age is no obstacle to discovering new talents. Buder, a 82-year-old Roman Catholic Religious Sister from Spokane, Washington, is the current world record holder for the oldest person to ever finish an Ironman Triathlon. Although she didn't begin training until age 48 and was 52 before she completed her first triathlon, Buder has now completed over 325 triathlons including 45 Ironman Distances. Throughout her sporting career, Sister Buder has also raised money for various charities and, as she has stated, strives to use her talent "for the greater good."
Have a great day,
Rebecca
Just do it.
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Catch and Release, (please?)
An ACEO is a 2.5" x 3.5" work of art (an original or a print edition) made for sale.
Originally traded between artists (called ATCs or art trading cards, because they are traded not sold), they have grown in popularity and have a huge following by the masses and so now anyone can own them!
I think ACEOs are little treasures, the same size as baseball cards, so they are really fun to collect and display in baseball card sleeves or frame to go anywhere! It's been 7 years since my 'little' obsession began, and I still buy them like crazy, because I adore seeing other artists' work! This is an affordable way to collect art, and when you really like an artist, you can feel comfortable with a tiny commitment and go from there! I hope you enjoy looking as much as I do painting!
It's fun! Have fun collecting!!
Have a nice day,
Rebecca
Catch and Release, (please?)
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
You have my permission to have something lovely!
"Souvenirs de ma jeunesse "5x7" mixed media Available, click here for purchase information |
Why not just buy it and enjoy it? You deserve it! It probably wont even cost that much! I routinely have people in my booth at the Saturday market LOVING a $15 print but don't want to "blow" the money on something frivolous, yet, they may be holding a $5.00 latte. Lattes are wicked great, I know, but ART is a lasting treat that you can really savor!
Support Artists and support handmade in the USA. Buy Art today!
You will cherish it for years, and it might help an artist continue to create. Your purchase will also help pay those tent fees so you can come and browse in the first place! Without sales, eventually artists will stop coming to the festivals that you enjoy and the festivals can't continue without us. We are paying to provide your fun, literally. Plus, where will you get funnel cakes and strawberry shortcake then?
It's not just a beautiful treasure you receiving, but we get to eat too! Just think, double bonus, you get something awesome and the artist gets to thrive and make more awesome art!
You have my permission to have something lovely!
Thursday, April 18, 2013
The mad mad mad mad mad mad mad world...and me.
Happy Thursday, and here's to an unremarkable day!
PLEASE oh please!
So, it's been rough the past couple of weeks, dealing with my family emergencies, but I'm happy to report that after some crazy sleepless nights and hours upon hours (which added to entire days on occasion) of waiting in hospitals and doctor's offices, the road to recovery is looking optimistic, really good even!
During this period, I have had very little sleep, to the point of exhaustion and you know how you can make yourself sick that way! I'm feeling upbeat today though, filling a few orders and feeling like things might return to a good clip by tomorrow. It's a good thing too, because I have been invited to be a featured artist in an upcoming art walk downtown in June! yay me! (and thanks Doog Becker, you are such a great supporter of the arts! xo)
This collage is another piece from my new (Insomnia) series inspired by waking and dreaming thoughts. Each component of the artwork is also hand made and embellished by me. This piece is called "Mirror Mirror", completely original collage art made from components that I also made; including hand made and painted and embellished papers (though not all the paper is made by me), Venetian plaster, polymer clay, jute, paint, glaze, and pencil. 100% art. and affordable!
This collage series will be available online in my Etsy shop and locally in Atlanta, Georgia at the Saturday Market in Marietta Square, 2nd and 4th Saturdays beginning April 13th and the Farmartket (Atlanta Belt line Saturday Market) 1st Saturday all Summer. This series may also end up in a couple of boutiques and galleries and I'll let you know where they spring up if they do.
So, gotta go do a bunch of stuff now to play catch up, so enjoy the art and I'll see you soon,
Rebecca
(oh yea, don't forget to have a nice semi-normal inconsequential day!)
The mad mad mad mad mad mad mad world...and me.
Monday, April 15, 2013
Love. It's for everyone!
Available on Etsy
Celebrate love. Honor equality!
This is another from my Insomniac's File, a collage series inspired by my moments of restlessness. If you're lying in bed tossing and turning, you might as well just get up and do something, you may be surprised what comes of it!
I took some of these to hang in my Saturday Market booth this weekend and this one sold right away. Well, now they have decided to get a tiny personal tweak in there, so this one is actually available. It's just a sweet sentiment and a personal tribute to marriage equality. There will be more with similar ramblings and the little hangers (I have a few more) and the lighter colors with white, natural and red frames.
Have a nice day,
Rebecca
Love. It's for everyone!
Friday, April 12, 2013
Entries from the Insomniac File
Entries from the Insomniac File
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Wordless Wednesday
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Monday, March 11, 2013
Monday, rainy Monday, cloudy Monday...Get over it!
It's raining, it's cloudy, it's a little cold. People are down. That SAD thing is just awful. This dreading Monday thing is awful-er.
But hey, Google featured a cool logo today to honor Douglas Adams, so all you Monday can't say it was a total waste to get up today!
I will leave you with some of Douglas Adams' thoughtful words!
“A learning experience is one of those things that says, 'You know that thing you just did? Don't do that.”
― Douglas Adams, The Salmon of Doubt
“I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I needed to be.”
― Douglas Adams, The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul
So, get over your Monday blahs and end the day with the sweet thought of a funny, talented author with a huge giving heart, whose birthday we are celebrating posthumously because he died way before his time and couldn't write any more silly stuff to keep us laughing. Stupid heart attacks.
You just never know, so, make every day the most, and stop wasting 1/7th of your life lamenting that it happens to be the first day of the fracking work week. Geesus, don't you have better things to do?
Monday, rainy Monday, cloudy Monday...Get over it!
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Friday, February 22, 2013
Illustration Friday
The Doubtful Guest |
Alphabet Book |
Gorey with his cats |
Illustration Friday
Monday, February 18, 2013
#4; 29 Faces, Nervous Laughter
Nervous Laughter Aceo, watercolor and ink Go to auction |
Nervous LaughterAceo, watercolor and inkGo to auction |
#4; 29 Faces, Nervous Laughter
Thursday, February 7, 2013
She Loves me, she loves me not..#3; 29 faces
"Nervous Nuts and Bolts" ACEO; watercolor and inkGo To Listing |
Well, what the heck is it anyway? Does she love me or not?
Do I have to leave it up to the number of petals on this daisy?
AUGH!
Here's #3 of 29 faces. Hope you like it.
This is my first ACEO listing on ebay in almost 3 years! I've decided to start these sweet little nuggets of fun illustration art at $1.00 for the fun of bidding and collecting! I hope you enjoy the bargain at any price. ;)
Have a nice night,
Rebecca
She Loves me, she loves me not..#3; 29 faces
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
#2; 29 faces
Cassie in progress To order your own, visit my Etsy shop |
This one isn't quite done, but she's getting close enough I can post her and go memorize my lines for my acting class tomorrow.
While I'm on a roll, I'm on another challenge worth mentioning. No wheat! (hahahah, on a ROLL! get it? flour?! ok, never mind.) To top that off, for giggles, I've also "mostly" eliminated the other white starches: sugar, potatoes and rice are relegated to just one day per week. I'm on Day 6 today and feeling rather fantastic! Can I get a woot woot? Eric just handed me a sugar free cocoa with marshmallows. (I didn't say I'm perfect, pretty sure I made that very clear!)
Have a good night,
“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.”
― Anne Frank
#2; 29 faces
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
#1; 29 Faces
Maxmillion
Custom Pet Portrait on an ornament
Order a custom ornament |
It's time for repetition! Go! Do the same exercise for a month straight to get you into the groove, thereby creating a good habit! In this case, it's double habit forming bonus month!
#1; 29 Faces
Monday, February 4, 2013
They Paid What?! Top 10 Absurd Paintings that Sold for Millions (from ArtSumo.com)
Here's the link to today's funny and interesting blog on the big bucks business of selling psychology in art to rich people.
They Paid What?! Top 10 Absurd Paintings that Sold for Millions
posted by Naysawn Naderi | filed under The Art World is Ridiculous |
enjoy. (lqtm)
Have a nice week,
Rebecca
They Paid What?! Top 10 Absurd Paintings that Sold for Millions (from ArtSumo.com)
Saturday, February 2, 2013
The Pen-ultimate Declutter List You'll Ever Need
1. 6 Month Rule. If I haven't needed it, worn it, looked for it, read it or replaced it in 6 months, out it goes. One exception I make is for the few good outfits I still have, still fit into, but seldom wear. They are my "just in case" wardrobe. All my clothes fit in the one closet in my house (yep, just one), one dresser, and my cedar chest (seasonal stuff).
2. Keep a picture, not the object. I think that tip came from Jeff Campbell. Just because Great Great Aunt Griselda knit it from string while crossing the Plains in a wagon, doesn't mean I have to hang onto it.
3. Forbidden Words and Phrases: "Maybe I could...." "I might need ..." "What if .....?" "But Great Great Aunt .... [see 2 above]" and "I can sell it." That last one leads to ...
4. How much is my time worth compared to what I might get for the item? I tend to put a greater value on my time. One yard sale was enough. I check similar items on e-bay and decide if the time involved is worth the sold price. Donation with a tax deduction is my favorite. Quick and easy.
5. Craft items. Keep repeating "I have enough for two lifetimes."
6. No regrets. Once something is gone, it's gone [see 2, again].
FlyBaby P"
The Pen-ultimate Declutter List You'll Ever Need
Friday, February 1, 2013
Bombings, Obituaries and Shootings Oh My! (not really)
I am a happy girl this morning because I have a new dishwasher! It was installed at 7:00 am and it's so quiet that I have to be next to it to hear it running. This sound alone (or lack of sound) was reason enough to get up that early for the installation. That is poetry in motion. ahhh...Serenity now!
Ok, get to the special interest section, babe! Winter is upon us, but fear not, there's lots to do out there as galleries, theaters and music venues are hopping with activity to keep us from hiding in our cocoons until March. What to do if you live in Marietta? Hey! It's First Friday art walk!
Tonight's neighborhood to visit: Marietta Square!
2 Rules Fine Art Gallery in Marietta Square should be on your list. (They have been very gracious friends to me this past year and included me twice for exhibitions in 2012 and this past month as well!)
Their opening show tonight, featuring the very fancy chain maille jewelry work of artist Helen Rule is really worth the stop. Helen puts in the time, let me tell you I've seen her in action! She makes each jump ring from wire and then one tiny link at a time meticulously forms the chain maille which provides the foundation for her gorgeous jewelry. Many hundreds of hours have been lovingly spent creating this collection. It's really a sight to behold the meticulous fine crafting of this very talented artist. 2rulesfineart
The spotlight artist at 2 Rules is Pedro Gonzalez, a mixed media artist and print maker who enjoys using typography, shapes and symbols in his work. His works are on various substrates, including handmade papers. His striking abstractions with fun bold and beautiful complementary color schemes sure to please.
It's going to be a fun show that runs the month of February, so you can come out tonight for the opening reception and still have plenty time to come back and choose a nice piece for your Valentine!
Show runs through Feb. 23rd.
2RulesFineArt
The show this month features Poetic Abstractions by Jennifer Rivera and The Atlanta Poetry Community.
Then on Sunday, February 3rd, 3:00-5:00pm, DK will also have a live poetry reading in the gallery. Come for lunch and shopping and stay the whole afternoon!
Also on display are the nude and figural work by Cameron Hampton, Kris Meadows and Catie Radney.
Lot of reasons to pop in for a peek! dkgallery.us
One more stop: Jenny King Studio & Gallery
It's always fun to walk up the stairs and view the working studios of Jenny King and acquaintances. The gallery is located upstairs on the square above the Australian Bakery and you will see and open door leading to her studio. The stairs, which are covered with fantastic available small works by the resident artists lead you to the gallery space upstairs where you will find the artists and an assortment of larger works and a custom portrait gallery as well! 48 South Park Square.
The neighborhood has numerous cuisine choices for dinner, including Thai, Japanese, Chinese, French, American bar food, cajun and even asian fusion tacos! So, make a night of it.
See you there!
Bombings, Obituaries and Shootings Oh My! (not really)
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Geez Louise, what's 'cost of doing business'? (...art business)
4x4" panels from my "Ethereal" collection. Available on Etsy |
I have noticed that the average person's (out loud) thought about art is that it only costs the price of a canvas and maybe a little paint. In fact, potential customers generally seem to think most art is overpriced. I know this because I have ears. So, how does that stigma label art in terms of the average buyer? "Pretentious and unnecessary." sad. "Art is for rich collectors." very sad thought indeed. The truth is, Art is for everyone and it doesn't have to cost a lot, but it should at the very least pay for the fair wage of the artist.
Being a professional artist has all the same business costs as any other business; overhead = lighting, electricity, heat, office space, computers, printers, cameras, office supplies, art supplies (which range in the thousands each year), festival fees (also ranging in the thousands), commissions to galleries and online retailers, credit card fees, website hosting fees, subscriptions, advertising, travel, taxes, yada yada yada.
I'm telling you all of this because I want you to know what it means to be a professional artist. So hopefully the next time you see a painting, you may remember that although the cost of doing business is high, art is worth the price! Unfortunately, many artists haven't quite learned to pay themselves properly, or can't because they want to sell paintings and succeed, for cryin' out loud! But, we can't prostitute ourselves to achieve this desired result and call it success, can we?
6x6" panels from my "Ethereal" collection. Available on Etsy |
Yes, I chose this career, and yes I know it's a tough one to survive in, but what would be my alternative?
What if I didn't do it?
What if no other artist did either? (Heck, the New Yorker wouldn't even exist without its cartoonists!)
|
Where is a Gertrude Stein when you need one?
Imagine nothing creative in the world, just think about it. Photographers, painters, illustrators, designers, gone. And writers, our sisters of the underpaid? Musicians? oh boy, don't get me started! My art education is just as important as your engineering degree. It's just different. Luckily, there are many artists who are compensated well, graphic designers, for example, because they are hired for their commercial art by corporations or small businesses. The simple difference is that fine artists are self-employed. We have to find a way in the world on our own.
Collage of 10x10" and 4x4" panels from my "Ethereal" collection. Available on Etsy |
10x10" panel from my "Ethereal" collection. Available on Etsy |
Geez Louise, what's 'cost of doing business'? (...art business)