11.15.2012
10.29.2011
So, recently, I've gotten into needle felting.
I personally cannot sculpt, which is why I had to have someone else sculpt Binkus from my design when we were working on the resin toys. I'm somewhat clumsy and apply too much pressure and I have slight hand tremors when I try to apply gentle pressure, so needless to say, all my efforts with clay come out total messes. I'd seen pictures of people's felted sculptures on Etsy though, and it seemed like something I could try to pull off. Now, what it is, is you're taking wool and a barbed needle, and you are poking, poking, poking that wool and manipulating the fibers until you come up with a shape. It's essentially sculpting with wool. So here are a few things I did recently:
It's really kind of fun to zone out in front of the tv and just needle away at some wool and a few hours later, voila, you have a little soft creature in your hand. But, mind you don't zone out too much, or else you stab yourself with the needle. And those things hurt.
Here's my Etsy shop for my needle felted work: TerribleFantastic.etsy.com
Maybe check it out!
I personally cannot sculpt, which is why I had to have someone else sculpt Binkus from my design when we were working on the resin toys. I'm somewhat clumsy and apply too much pressure and I have slight hand tremors when I try to apply gentle pressure, so needless to say, all my efforts with clay come out total messes. I'd seen pictures of people's felted sculptures on Etsy though, and it seemed like something I could try to pull off. Now, what it is, is you're taking wool and a barbed needle, and you are poking, poking, poking that wool and manipulating the fibers until you come up with a shape. It's essentially sculpting with wool. So here are a few things I did recently:
It's really kind of fun to zone out in front of the tv and just needle away at some wool and a few hours later, voila, you have a little soft creature in your hand. But, mind you don't zone out too much, or else you stab yourself with the needle. And those things hurt.
Here's my Etsy shop for my needle felted work: TerribleFantastic.etsy.com
Maybe check it out!
3.08.2011
Robots and Foxes
A pretty winning combination, yeah? Maybe I ought to do a robot-fox next. Hm....
Snazzy Happening Robot on Etsy
Sly Fox on Etsy
I went to bed exceptionally late (for normal people anyway), 3am, and was unceremoniously awoken by a text message at 7:45. Who sends a text message at 7:45?? I'd think someone who knows me would know better, but... well, apparently not. I was pretty sulky about this for awhile, and lay around, trying to wake up, and eventually just got on out of bed, turning off the alarm I'd set for 10am. I had some tea and oatmeal, watched approximately 5 minutes of one of those underage mother shows on MTV, and then set to work painting. Productivity wins again.
Snazzy Happening Robot on Etsy
Sly Fox on EtsyI went to bed exceptionally late (for normal people anyway), 3am, and was unceremoniously awoken by a text message at 7:45. Who sends a text message at 7:45?? I'd think someone who knows me would know better, but... well, apparently not. I was pretty sulky about this for awhile, and lay around, trying to wake up, and eventually just got on out of bed, turning off the alarm I'd set for 10am. I had some tea and oatmeal, watched approximately 5 minutes of one of those underage mother shows on MTV, and then set to work painting. Productivity wins again.
Mixing it up
While I was away, I also happened to sell this watercolor mini I'd done of a Kitchenaid stand mixer. Because my kitchen is so darn small, I've had to relocate a number of things from there to my dining room's butcher block, like my stacks of cookbooks (that i don't use enough), and my own stand mixer. I couldn't think of what to draw one day and then realized it was right in front of me.
The Kitchenaid mixers are so iconic, and in such a variety of eye-catching colors, I sort of want to do a series of them. Perhaps I ought to get on that this week; I am telling myself after all, that I want to be ultra productive this week. Of course, in the end, it really just makes me want to bake.
The Brooklyn Flea
Well, I'm back. I spent 8 days in New York, and it was very much hard to leave. Since moving away, I've visited 3 times and each time this odd feeling of displacement comes over me. Nothing is any different, and I feel at home... it's just.... there's no home. It's weird.
Sunday, the second day I was there, I went to the Williamsburg Bank, which is the wintertime site of the Brooklyn Flea. I busted out my new Canon Rebel to take photos. I don't like to take direct photos of artists' tables. There's something that sort of irks me when I'm selling at an event, and instead of buying anything, people take photos of individual art. I also hate getting caught unawares in the middle of a wide shot. I have found myself on Flickr in other people's photos, which were most unflattering of me. I turned my camera on the extraordinary interior of the building instead, which I'd never been inside before.
^I couldn't resist taking a photo of the above 3D image, though my writing up above is whistling a different tune. I am actually kicking myself now though, for not purchasing this thing. I mean... it's.... it's just amazing. What on earth is going on?? Who is that kid? Who are those pervy rabbits??
Sunday, the second day I was there, I went to the Williamsburg Bank, which is the wintertime site of the Brooklyn Flea. I busted out my new Canon Rebel to take photos. I don't like to take direct photos of artists' tables. There's something that sort of irks me when I'm selling at an event, and instead of buying anything, people take photos of individual art. I also hate getting caught unawares in the middle of a wide shot. I have found myself on Flickr in other people's photos, which were most unflattering of me. I turned my camera on the extraordinary interior of the building instead, which I'd never been inside before.
^I couldn't resist taking a photo of the above 3D image, though my writing up above is whistling a different tune. I am actually kicking myself now though, for not purchasing this thing. I mean... it's.... it's just amazing. What on earth is going on?? Who is that kid? Who are those pervy rabbits??
2.17.2011
Impending Vacation!
It's not really a secret: I miss New York. That's why this weekend I'm going back for a third time since moving to NW Louisiana. I'm super psyched.... even if it's wintertime. I survived winters up there! I can make it! And as long as there's no gross, brown slush on the ground, my shoes will make it too.
I'm quickly unloading a few things into my etsy shop that I've been meaning to get to, before I got busy with commissions. I'm only taking the time just now to type this up because my head is covered in red dye and I'm trying to be as still as possible.
Oh! Right, and speaking of New York-- I'm going to go to the Brooklyn Flea! Twice, if I can help it, as I'm going to be there two weekends. I'd kill to have a table there. In a figurative sense, at least. Prior to leaving the city, I never could, because I had a day job that would interfere with weekends. It also prevented me from visiting. But I'm gonna hit it hard on this trip! I'm psyched.
I'm a fan of Claudia Pearson's blog, so it'd be neat to see if she happens to be there any of the days I go.
I quite like her tea towels.
I'm quickly unloading a few things into my etsy shop that I've been meaning to get to, before I got busy with commissions. I'm only taking the time just now to type this up because my head is covered in red dye and I'm trying to be as still as possible.
Oh! Right, and speaking of New York-- I'm going to go to the Brooklyn Flea! Twice, if I can help it, as I'm going to be there two weekends. I'd kill to have a table there. In a figurative sense, at least. Prior to leaving the city, I never could, because I had a day job that would interfere with weekends. It also prevented me from visiting. But I'm gonna hit it hard on this trip! I'm psyched.
I'm a fan of Claudia Pearson's blog, so it'd be neat to see if she happens to be there any of the days I go.
I quite like her tea towels.
2.16.2011
random photo
About 3 years ago, I was in an off-off-Broadway play (envision any old female prisoner exploitation movie. now replace the women with witches.), and we had signed up to march in the Mermaid Parade on Coney Island. Absolutely none of us had any idea of what to wear. We had no theme. Hence my origami cranes.
2.10.2011
Another Treasury
So this is neat; I ended up in a second treasury... this time with two pieces. They included my current favorite watercolor mini I have, my little barn owl in a fez...
I really like the rest of the items they picked too. My owl and chipmunk are in great company... I freaking love this plate:
I really like the rest of the items they picked too. My owl and chipmunk are in great company... I freaking love this plate:
2.08.2011
2.04.2011
SUPER
So, depending on your sensibilities, you may or may not share my excitement over the upcoming film release 'SUPER', by the amazing James Gunn. Do you cover your eyes when something icky is on the screen? Do you plug your ears, screaming "la la la" when somebody drops an F-bomb? You may not want to watch the following clip.
No, seriously, it's NSFW:
FUN FACT: that girl standing behind Rainn Wilson at :09? That's ME!
Okay, so anyway, that's a clip of 'SUPER'. It's the tale of Frank D'Arbo, a sadsack short order cook whose wife leaves him for a drug dealer. In Frank's warped, skewed sense of reality, a Christian comic book hero appears to him and convinces him to become a superhero himself, in order to win her back. And a LOT of violence ensues. And NO. It is NOTHING like 'Kick-Ass'.
In late 2009, James Gunn and his crew came to town to film this. And I sort of fell in with them, getting my artwork into the film. Frank likes to busy himself doodling important events in his life, and I managed to pick up a gig creating these drawings. I had to force myself to draw badly, which was sort of inexplicably exhausting. But the pay-off is going to be huge, when I can go sit down in a theater and watch the film. There's at least one scene where most of my drawings are on display, and I had the privilege of going to set and watching them film that day. Before settling in to draw over 200 or so of these pictures, I read the script. I said at the end, that I would preemptively just call 'SUPER' my favorite film of "whatever year this comes out". The script is F'ed up. But it has heart-- it's moving. And I can attest to watching Rainn Wilson act in a certain scene that he's really just great.
The movie isn't for everyone. I'm not gonna let my mom see it. Hell, even the clip above is almost too risque for some, but this is something I'm eager to see, and proud of. I didn't get a lot accomplished in 2009, or even 2010, but this kind of is my crowning achievement for that time. Even if it is a little bloody.
No, seriously, it's NSFW:
FUN FACT: that girl standing behind Rainn Wilson at :09? That's ME!
Okay, so anyway, that's a clip of 'SUPER'. It's the tale of Frank D'Arbo, a sadsack short order cook whose wife leaves him for a drug dealer. In Frank's warped, skewed sense of reality, a Christian comic book hero appears to him and convinces him to become a superhero himself, in order to win her back. And a LOT of violence ensues. And NO. It is NOTHING like 'Kick-Ass'.
In late 2009, James Gunn and his crew came to town to film this. And I sort of fell in with them, getting my artwork into the film. Frank likes to busy himself doodling important events in his life, and I managed to pick up a gig creating these drawings. I had to force myself to draw badly, which was sort of inexplicably exhausting. But the pay-off is going to be huge, when I can go sit down in a theater and watch the film. There's at least one scene where most of my drawings are on display, and I had the privilege of going to set and watching them film that day. Before settling in to draw over 200 or so of these pictures, I read the script. I said at the end, that I would preemptively just call 'SUPER' my favorite film of "whatever year this comes out". The script is F'ed up. But it has heart-- it's moving. And I can attest to watching Rainn Wilson act in a certain scene that he's really just great.
The movie isn't for everyone. I'm not gonna let my mom see it. Hell, even the clip above is almost too risque for some, but this is something I'm eager to see, and proud of. I didn't get a lot accomplished in 2009, or even 2010, but this kind of is my crowning achievement for that time. Even if it is a little bloody.
2.01.2011
Etsy Treasury Time
It turns out I've been featured in a cute little watercolor treasury.... My 'Taco = Love' mini was included.
My thanks to Etsian moonstr!
My thanks to Etsian moonstr!
11.11.2010
The Maker's Fair
I couldn't believe it approached without my knowing, but Halloween Weekend was the first weekend of the first annual 'Maker's Fair' here in Shreveport! I'd been lamenting the lack of a crafty community and events since moving here, and this just snuck up on me. I found out after reading some tweets by a friend who would be selling gumbo. It was too late to participate that weekend but the lovely Ms Dahm found space for me at the last minute for the second weekend. I borrowed a tiny table from my boyfriend's studio, and set up. I didn't even have time to get any prints; I just had originals! I literally had about 48 minutes to get things together by the time I heard back that there was availability. That sort of last minute panic is.... well, kind of fun. In a sick way.
I didn't get any good shots of the table, because my battery managed to die the moment I whipped it out to take a photo of my handiwork. But I did take a single photo of one of the paintings the day before. Yeah. Seriously, just the one.
what can i say? llamas are the next big animal. move over, owl.
I did pretty well, and from the looks of it, so did most of the other sellers. Shreveport and its outlying areas have more crafters than I would've expected; there were knitters, weavers, screenprinters, toy makers, sculptors... no one did exactly the same thing as anyone else, and that was fun. Now to get this thing to happen on a more regular basis than annually.
I didn't get any good shots of the table, because my battery managed to die the moment I whipped it out to take a photo of my handiwork. But I did take a single photo of one of the paintings the day before. Yeah. Seriously, just the one.
what can i say? llamas are the next big animal. move over, owl.
I did pretty well, and from the looks of it, so did most of the other sellers. Shreveport and its outlying areas have more crafters than I would've expected; there were knitters, weavers, screenprinters, toy makers, sculptors... no one did exactly the same thing as anyone else, and that was fun. Now to get this thing to happen on a more regular basis than annually.
9.14.2010
Pinklight Revisited
Old news, but I like this random photo from the Pinklight Bazaar in June-- I think I was contemplating the neon sign overhead crashing down on top of me and the next vendor.
OH. And hey, check out this video that was produced about Round 5... Super cute. Unless you hate Cyndi Lauper.
Pinklight Bazaar from Matt Morris on Vimeo.
6.14.2010
Oh, Pinklight!
Last Sunday was Round 5 of the Pinklight Bazaar in Orlando, and the third one I've participated in.
I quite enjoyed the first two, but was not at all sure how things would go last week. My first stint at the Pinklight, on its inaugural run, was a wild success. I virtually sold out of everything. But, the second one, ehhh. Not so successful. I had a great time at each, and really, what wasn't sold then was sold at conventions or online. Truth is, you may know your audience, but you don't know if they will feel like spending money.
I am happy (and relieved) to report, however, that this third foray was a success! I did quite well, and had some super excellent cupcakes as well. All the vendors were interesting and talented; jewelry, handmade soaps, charms (that looked like cupcakes!), vintage clothing, ceramics, and so on. It was a great variety of stuff. I'm very appreciative to the ladies who run the event for having me.
me and my half-sold-out table
I was chagrined to realize after the fact that my business cards directed people either to my website, which has no splashpage or index at the moment, or to this blog... My real, new business cards are in limbo thanks to a magnificent screw-up by Overnight Prints, and so I had to just grab whatever I had left over from last year's cons. I felt quite annoyed when it dawned on me that people weren't going to the right location on the internet for me or anymore of my artwork. For right this instant, however, I'm updating the etsy, which you can see to your right... and if you've found me here from Pinklight, hey! Hi! Hello! There will be more here, and more on etsy, quite soon. Stay tuned!
I quite enjoyed the first two, but was not at all sure how things would go last week. My first stint at the Pinklight, on its inaugural run, was a wild success. I virtually sold out of everything. But, the second one, ehhh. Not so successful. I had a great time at each, and really, what wasn't sold then was sold at conventions or online. Truth is, you may know your audience, but you don't know if they will feel like spending money.
I am happy (and relieved) to report, however, that this third foray was a success! I did quite well, and had some super excellent cupcakes as well. All the vendors were interesting and talented; jewelry, handmade soaps, charms (that looked like cupcakes!), vintage clothing, ceramics, and so on. It was a great variety of stuff. I'm very appreciative to the ladies who run the event for having me.
me and my half-sold-out table
I was chagrined to realize after the fact that my business cards directed people either to my website, which has no splashpage or index at the moment, or to this blog... My real, new business cards are in limbo thanks to a magnificent screw-up by Overnight Prints, and so I had to just grab whatever I had left over from last year's cons. I felt quite annoyed when it dawned on me that people weren't going to the right location on the internet for me or anymore of my artwork. For right this instant, however, I'm updating the etsy, which you can see to your right... and if you've found me here from Pinklight, hey! Hi! Hello! There will be more here, and more on etsy, quite soon. Stay tuned!
4.17.2010
11.30.2009
The Forgotten Brush Giveaway!
Laura over at the lovely Forgotten Brush is currently running a pretty swell little giveaway on her blog, and one of my mini paintings has been included!
A Little Windy is a 2.5x3 framed watercolor. Laura was looking for donors to her giveaway and I contacted her over the holiday. Definitely go check it--and her blog-- out!
Clicky here!
A Little Windy is a 2.5x3 framed watercolor. Laura was looking for donors to her giveaway and I contacted her over the holiday. Definitely go check it--and her blog-- out!
Clicky here!
11.11.2009
StudioHaus Blog
Aha! The lovely StudioHaus has featured my little moth in a "vote for your favorites" entry. As usual, jewelry has the edge over art (it's all very nice jewelry though!) so I won't mind if you vote for me... but regardless I'm pleased to have the mention! Tis an honor to be nominated. ;)
StudioHaus' blog
StudioHaus' blog
NaNoDrawMo ?
So, I'm going to assume you've heard of NaNoWriMo. Wait... you haven't? Oh, okay. So, NaNoWriMo is an annual "event" held every November. The idea is you write a novel in a single month. The goal is 50,000 words in 30 days. Every year I intend on doing it and every year I neglect to do so. I was all set to do it this year and.... pfffft! My computer died (more like is in a coma). I've just gotten access to a computer for the first time in over a week and instead of writing furiously, I've found myself distracted by something else--
NaNoDrawMo.
This is a new little endeavor by a group of people on flickr, to try to inspire people to create 50 individual drawings in 30 days. To some people, that's cake. To some, eh, not so much. But I'm intrigued and am aiming to participate. Here's what I've done so far, although in the future I'm going to (a. get more rendered and (b. incorporate some figural stuff and portraiture. The latter two I've not done so much of recently, and it's time to really draw my ass off.
This one, I've actually put on etsy...
NaNoDrawMo.
This is a new little endeavor by a group of people on flickr, to try to inspire people to create 50 individual drawings in 30 days. To some people, that's cake. To some, eh, not so much. But I'm intrigued and am aiming to participate. Here's what I've done so far, although in the future I'm going to (a. get more rendered and (b. incorporate some figural stuff and portraiture. The latter two I've not done so much of recently, and it's time to really draw my ass off.
This one, I've actually put on etsy...
11.09.2009
Craftastic
Arg! I just realized I'm missing the Bust Craftacular Holiday show in NYC this year. Last year I missed it due to Day Job but figured, "Oh, it's okay; I'll go next year..."
Ugh.
Ugh.
10.27.2009
In time for Halloween, this blog is back from the dead.
First of all, if you still remember this blog at all, my thanks. I dropped it like a bad habit back in August, mainly due to a 1500 mile move. That was a bit of a pain in the ol' ass.
But, I'm back, as of today. I've got some stuff I'm adding to 7seventeengallery.etsy.com; check it out!
Like I mentioned in my last posting way back when, the tiny food paintings were a hit, and so I've put a few up for sale.
Who doesn't like cupcakes?
Annnddd a tiny cheeseburger. With radioactive beams of light!
Most of the pieces I'm uploading this week are 2x3 or 2.5x3, and all original... though, not all food. :)
I've got the Cintiq, printer AND a phat scanner hooked up and so there should be some prints available either this weekend or next, after a few tweaks on some stuff. So I'm looking forward to that.
But, I'm back, as of today. I've got some stuff I'm adding to 7seventeengallery.etsy.com; check it out!
Like I mentioned in my last posting way back when, the tiny food paintings were a hit, and so I've put a few up for sale.
Who doesn't like cupcakes?
Annnddd a tiny cheeseburger. With radioactive beams of light!
Most of the pieces I'm uploading this week are 2x3 or 2.5x3, and all original... though, not all food. :)
I've got the Cintiq, printer AND a phat scanner hooked up and so there should be some prints available either this weekend or next, after a few tweaks on some stuff. So I'm looking forward to that.
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