Sunday, March 6, 2016
Refrigerator Magnets
I was encouraged by a friend to put my rocks on magnets to make refrigerator magnets. She really likes them and a lot of people collect them. I'm a convert! Think I'll do some more...
LEAF Pendants
I'll be attending LEAF, the 2nd Llano Earth Art Fest March 11-13 as a vendor. I'll be displaying my painted rocks, dot-painted paintings and henna-painted glass ware.
I thought it would be a pretty cool thing to make commemorative pendants to celebrate the festival, so I've been working on it. It's quite a process. First I hand-select each rock for size and smoothness, they have to be small and fairly flat, wearing a rock around your neck could get a little old if it's too heavy. Then the rocks are washed and dried outdoors for a day. Then the base coat is applied to one side, allowed to dry and the other side is done and allowed to dry. The design (I decided on a leaf, isn't that unique?) is applied using henna-painting technique. The other side gets a LEAF 2016 designation. When thoroughly dry, they'll receive a polycrylic coating on each side.
I've purchased silver-plated bails to mount them and will make black leather cord necklaces. Hopefully the festival will be well attended and people will want a keepsake!
I must admit, at least this evening I'm pretty sick of rocks.
I thought it would be a pretty cool thing to make commemorative pendants to celebrate the festival, so I've been working on it. It's quite a process. First I hand-select each rock for size and smoothness, they have to be small and fairly flat, wearing a rock around your neck could get a little old if it's too heavy. Then the rocks are washed and dried outdoors for a day. Then the base coat is applied to one side, allowed to dry and the other side is done and allowed to dry. The design (I decided on a leaf, isn't that unique?) is applied using henna-painting technique. The other side gets a LEAF 2016 designation. When thoroughly dry, they'll receive a polycrylic coating on each side.
I've purchased silver-plated bails to mount them and will make black leather cord necklaces. Hopefully the festival will be well attended and people will want a keepsake!
I must admit, at least this evening I'm pretty sick of rocks.
The Work of Art
A lot of art is just doing the work. I wasn't confident that I could paint so I started out small, having some masonite panels cut up at Home Depot into 12"x12" panels, gessoing them and having a go at it. When I decided that indeed I did want to use the paintings, I had to retrofit and put frames on the backs to hang and display them. Don cut 1-inch strips, and I glued them to the backs, painted them and installed hangers.
For the rest of the 12"x12" panels, he cut the strips for me and we fitted each panel individually, gluing them on in realtime. Next came sanding, I love my little Ryobi Orbital Sander. Then I'll gesso each one front and back, paint and varnish. I'm estimating that each one will cost an average of $1, not including my time. I just priced Ampersand Cradled Gessobord in the same size in a price range of $15-$20 each.
Learning to do things yourself can be such fun and suits my frugal little heart.
For the rest of the 12"x12" panels, he cut the strips for me and we fitted each panel individually, gluing them on in realtime. Next came sanding, I love my little Ryobi Orbital Sander. Then I'll gesso each one front and back, paint and varnish. I'm estimating that each one will cost an average of $1, not including my time. I just priced Ampersand Cradled Gessobord in the same size in a price range of $15-$20 each.
Learning to do things yourself can be such fun and suits my frugal little heart.
Milestone
Well, the persistence and patience is paying off, I sold my first painting. Of course it was my very favorite and one of the first. It's my wallpaper on my laptop and phone so I still enjoy it every day. I miss it but know it has a loving home ;-)
Saturday, February 6, 2016
Starter Show
To show and perhaps sell my artwork, I bought a canopy with optional sides and signed on as a vendor at the Circle Your Wagons B&B's Annual Wine Tasting event. Don and I set up the canopy top late yesterday to save some setup time. It was a good thing we didn't set up sides, the famed Texas winds started up and blew all night. I had visions of my canopy lifting off and flying away, but since I was at home and 20 miles away, tried not to worry.
Thank goodness it was still up when I arrived today. I put on the sides and set up. The wind was still high and blew over the easels so I put 2 of the boards on the ground. Check out the lovely cases Don made for my painted rocks, glass-topped, easily transported and very attractive!
I feel very fortunate, I sold a painting and some rocks. Don came and helped me break down and our hosts, Phyllis and Jim Norfleet, sent us home with food!
Thank goodness it was still up when I arrived today. I put on the sides and set up. The wind was still high and blew over the easels so I put 2 of the boards on the ground. Check out the lovely cases Don made for my painted rocks, glass-topped, easily transported and very attractive!
I feel very fortunate, I sold a painting and some rocks. Don came and helped me break down and our hosts, Phyllis and Jim Norfleet, sent us home with food!
Oh, and the beret? Because life's too short not to wear a red beret if you feel like it ;-)
Starter Show
To show and perhaps sell my artwork, I bought a canopy with optional sides and signed on as a vendor at the Circle Your Wagons B&B's Annual Wine Tasting event. Don and I set up the canopy top late yesterday to save some setup time. It was a good thing we didn't set up sides, the famed Texas winds started up and blew all night. I had visions of my canopy lifting off and flying away, but since I was at home and 20 miles away, tried not to worry.
Thank goodness it was still up when I arrived today. I put on the sides and set up. The wind was still high and blew over the easels so I put 2 of the boards on the ground. Check out the lovely cases Don made for my painted rocks, glass-topped, easily transported and very attractive!
I feel very fortunate, I sold a painting and some rocks. Don came and helped me break down and our hosts, Phyllis and Jim Norfleet, sent us home with food!
Thank goodness it was still up when I arrived today. I put on the sides and set up. The wind was still high and blew over the easels so I put 2 of the boards on the ground. Check out the lovely cases Don made for my painted rocks, glass-topped, easily transported and very attractive!
I feel very fortunate, I sold a painting and some rocks. Don came and helped me break down and our hosts, Phyllis and Jim Norfleet, sent us home with food!
Monday, February 1, 2016
Featured Artist
The Llano Fine Art Guild and Gallery have a tradition called Featured Artist. A member of the Guild is selected on a regular basis and is featured in a display at 3 local banks and a dental office. The easels are large and since all my paintings so far are small, I decided on a display board to hold 2 paintings and some glued-on rocks. Don built the boards from weathered cedar and took advantage of the rustic look to enhance the paintings and rocks.
They look great on display and hopefully I'll get some exposure for myself and advertising for the Gallery!
Arrowhead Bank
Llano National Bank
First State Bank
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