New Year Updates from Quirky Dame Designs!
Hello everyone! I hope that your new year is off to a good start. I’ve got several projects in the works right now and there is excitement about each of them. Plus the ideas are bombarding me constantly. I’m making plans, writing notes and taking steps towards turning these ideas into actual pieces of art!
Early last year I came up with a sketch of a woman with flowing hair and a bird perched on her hand. I loved the sketch and immediately started to paint it. Right from the start, things went wrong. Horribly wrong. I ended up putting the painting aside after keeping it out for a month. I just kept staring at it and every time I saw it, I felt worse.
Last month, something sparked in my brain and I came up with an idea that used that very sketch. I made a few changes, added a background and a foreground, and voila! I love this sketch even more. I’ve transferred the sketch over to an 18×24 gessobord and the painting has begun.
Here is a look at the sketch for the painting. The first layer of the background has been applied and my next step is to fill in the foreground and the woman and bird. I used photos from my recent trip to Hawaii as reference material for the jungle. I visited the Hawaiian Tropical Botanical Gardens in Hilo and was blown away by it. The beauty and diversity of plants and trees was overwhelming. The path through the gardens ends at a spectacular view of the ocean and I was in tears. I snapped hundreds of pictures and am so happy I did, as I can use them to inspire new artwork in the future. I’ll be talking more about this (among other things) in the first newsletter for Quirky Dame Designs that will be sent out later this month. If you are interested in receiving it, you can sign up at http://eepurl.com/o4tP.
Another project is the next series of 30 Art-o-mat blocks! They’ve already sold over half of the first batch and are running low, so I’m continuing work on the remaining 30 that I have left.
A preview of four blocks that are completed so far. I have a total of seven done. Once I finish them all, I’ll be ordering 80 more blocks and the work will continue! I’m thoroughly enjoying my experience with this project and am so happy to continue participating. I also found out that my blocks have been available in Winston-Salem, NC at the Reynolda House Museum of American Art. Not sure if they are still available there, as I know that some have sold.
I’ll be back again soon with more news from Quirky Dame Designs. Thanks for taking the time to read my blog!
Now Available in Art-o-mats!
- The Smithsonian in Washington D.C.
- The Studios of Key West in Florida
- The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas (Opening on December 15, 2010)
It feels great to know that my paintings are now out and about and available for purchase. I have started painting backgrounds on a few of the remaining 30 blocks that I have left to paint. Ideas are brimming in my brain and I’m excited to start creating some more pieces soon! If you have found this page after purchasing one of my pieces, please comment or email me. I’d love to hear from you and find out which painting you received!While I was in Seattle at the beginning of last month, I had the pleasure of visiting a delightful shop called Venue Ballard. It was full of wonderful jewelry and art. I found a charming owl print that I just couldn’t resist.
And how did I discover this business?
Art-o-mat! Yes, they have one there and I was lucky enough to pick out six wonderful pieces, though I’m wishing that I had gotten a few more!
I took the pieces back to my Aunt’s home where we were staying and had a great time checking out the pieces I had purchased. Here’s what I got:
The little robot dude makes a great pendant.
My aunt was kind enough to give me a silver chain and I ended up wearing him to the Art Walk the next day. I’m looking forward to the day when I have another chance to visit one of these machines!
Done! Well, mostly...
That’s right, the first 50 Art-0-mat blocks are done! Okay, mostly. I still have to paint the sides, sign them, print and attach labels, then package them along with the inserts. Oh, and I want some photos. LOL! So a bit more to do, but the hardest part is done. I will be ready to ship them out by or before next Monday. Which is awesome, because I leave state on Tuesday. I’ll get to attack the next thirty blocks when I get back.
Woo hoo! Feeling very happy and productive today. Now to celebrate by making dinner. :)
Update on the Art-o-mat blocks!
The last time I updated, I had just received the blocks. It’s been a crazy few weeks and I’ve been fighting to balance my time, making room in my schedule for everything that needs to get done. I’ve had to curtail some art time until recently. I’ll be going on a glorious three-week vacation to Seattle and Kona as of November 2nd, so it’s been a little nuts around here, trying to finish various tasks at the day job and home, wrapping things up all while doing three house-sitting jobs. By the time I leave, I’ll be needing that vacation!
Well, despite the harried schedule, I just finished my 45th block and wanted to share a little peak at the blocks. It’s been fun trying out new colors and ideas. My goal is to finish at least 50 blocks before I go. No problem, I’ll be over 50 by tomorrow night. (I’d love to finish all 80, but that may be a little ambitious!) Then I’ll send that batch out and finish the rest when I get home (and bring a few along on the trip to work on at night when I need an art fix!)
For now, it’s time to head back to the pets. It’s getting near their dinner time and I’ll have this sweet little guy begging for his meal. Remember this face, one day next year, he’s going to be the subject of an oil painting. I’ve been house-sitting him for a few years now and I’ve known for a while that he was going to be the subject of a painting. I’m still working it out in my brain and can hardly wait to dive into it. I plan on playing around with it and integrating the quirky style of the acrylic paintings I do into the oil painting. It’s going to be fun!
Art-o-mat Update
I came home from work today to find 80 Art-o-mat blocks waiting for me.
I carted them downstairs to my work area and lined them all up. Then I got out my gesso and got to work.
I went through and did two coats of gesso on each block.
And now I’m ready to start painting! I’m going through my sketches and deciding which one to do first. Mapping out my strategy. Looking forward to beginning this process.
So many projects, so little time!
First, the cat portrait. I’ve made slow progress on this. I’m posting a picture of mainly the cat, as that is what I’ve focused on. I’m thrilled to say that I’m almost done filling in her fur. She’s got pupils, so she’s looking a little less creepy.
I was over at my friend’s house this weekend and spent a little time with Penny. I took a closer look and realized that her eyes are actually much greener than the picture I’ve worked from. So I will be correcting that as I complete work on her. Once I’m done with her, I need to turn my attention to the bird and the feeder. My goal is to finish this by the middle of the month, so that she’ll have a little over a month to dry before the auction.
I started this piece as a way to get used to painting in oils again after an eight month break from them. Plus I have a bigger mermaid painting forming in my mind and this was a good way to work some things out. About all I have left to do on this painting is to add some detail to her tail and touch up a spot or two on the water. Then I’ll be listing her in my ArtFire shop.
I’ve also been sketching away, coming up with some fun new ideas for the Art-o-mat paintings. I’m having such a good time indulging myself with all sorts of fun ideas. I’m looking forward to getting the wood blocks so I can finally get it going.
Some (especially ones that don’t make the cut for the Art-o-mat pieces) I’m even contemplating expanding and painting in a bigger format. Many thanks to my best friend Alicia who came up with many ideas for titles during our lunch this weekend. I’m awful with titles and she’s such a fantastic writer. I’m so blessed to have her input!
Another fun thing about these tiny sketches? Seeing the delightful drawings that my six-year-old niece comes up with when she sits down to copy them! She’s been adding her own art to the pages and I love seeing her put her own twist on things. Here she’s decided to copy one of my pictures, but to do it with a real bunny instead. Love it!
So that’s the latest on things. My main objective over the next week or two is to get the cat done and set aside to dry and then to get the mermaid done and listed. That way I’ll be free and clear when the blocks arrive. Plus I have many other unfinished paintings to create and a Christmas project to continue doing. Just wishing there was more time in the day to do all of it!
Awesome news to share!
What are Art-o-mats? I learned that they are old cigarette vending machines that have been repurposed to vend miniature works of art instead. (They have a website at http://www.artomat.org, check it out!) How cool is that??? There are over 90 machines and for $5 at most locations, you can buy a small piece of art, jewelry, or even a little sculpture, for example. I was enchanted by the idea, absolutely smitten. What a creative way to recycle and put these old machines back in use. And I love how it makes art friendly, accessible and affordable for people.
I spent some time browsing Art-o-mart’s website, Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Art-o-matR-Dont-Go-Round-Artless/234778157983) and even a group on Flickr where artists submit photos of their work and people who have bought some can post their pictures, too. I studied the artwork and realized that my art might be a good fit for this. Feeling energized and inspired, I went for it.
I ordered a sample of the wooden block (pre-cut to the exact specifications they need) that they have available. I love painting on wood, so that was the perfect choice for me. While waiting for it to arrive, I started working on possible designs. The painting must measure exactly 2 1/8″ x 3 1/4″ so I created a template in Word with 8 squares that size on a page, then printed out multiples copies and started sketching my ideas in the squares. I also developed and created the designs for the promotional card to be included with the work and the placard that they would use to advertise my art on the machine itself.
Once the block arrived, I decided on the design to use, then transferred it and painted. Then I covered the sides and back of the block with black gesso and then, after letting it dry, I sprayed it. Then it was time to put it all together. Your submission must be complete and vend-ready. For the back of the block, I printed out a label with the title of the painting, my name and my email address. Then I wrapped the block and the promotional leaflet I had designed with the strip of acetate. I packaged that up with my application and placard and sent it off around the first of the month.
Then I waited. That was the hard part! It was only three weeks, but it felt like three months.
But while I waited, I continued to sketch out more ideas in case I was accepted. I’m unbelievably thankful now that I did that.This morning I arrived at work before it was time to punch in. So I decided to finish checking my email. And there it was… the email saying that they had accepted me! I was giddy all day.
Made it very hard to concentrate on the day job! But now the fun part of gathering the supplies and finishing up the designs commences while I wait for my package of 50 blocks to arrive. (Plus I have to finish the pet portrait!) I’m going to be a very busy painter, but I’m so excited to have this chance.I’ve not yet had the opportunity to visit an Art-o-mat in person yet, but I’m visiting relatives in Seattle come November and there is one there! I will be visiting it and starting up my own Art-o-mat art collection. I’ll also be in Hawaii, but Kailua Kona. The Art-o-mat there is in Honolulu. Oh well, one day.
They have a list of locations on their website. Check it out… maybe you’ll discover one in your hometown!
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