Sold! Burst of Energy...

A square version of Burst of Energy just sold this morning at Indigo Coffee and Tea, a local coffee/teahouse that also contains gallery and gift shop items, and the owner of the shop called me to let me know that it sold--gotta love good communication! Now I have to decide which of my square items to put up there as a replacement...

Side note: information about the first Etsy WIST (Wisconsin Street Team) meet-up has been posted

Trade central here

I've been working at distributing the artist's trading cards that came into my home over the course of the last several weeks. There's been a total of 21 people involved in the trade, each offering 10 cards in exchange for 10 cards in return. So today was the day to arbitrarily select 21 sets of cards and make sure that no one got their own cards back. I'm glad that organization is one of my strengths!

(Okay, anyone who really knows me well enough to visit my home might question my organizational abilities, but that's a separate topic!)

It's an intersting set of cards ranging from original paintings, collages, limited edition photo and art prints; made on canvas, paper, cardstock, matboard; embellished with stitching, drawing, painting, origami, glitter, glass; and packaged in card collector sleeves, little zippered plastic bags, handmade envelopes, patriotic bags with twist-ties. Each card is being sent out in its original card packaging, or in a nice new card sleeve.

Tomorrow is the day to complete all of the postage calculations and prepare all the mailing packages, and then they'll be on their way back across the US and a few locations in Canada. This was a fun adventure, and I will do it again.

My links and images at Etsy are not working...

Please accept my apologies for missing images on this blog (April 21 and April 22, 2007). The website where I've been posting my saleable items (Etsy) has been suffering from extended down time, and, at the moment, there is no resolution to this issue. I am sorry for any inconvenience to your viewing pleasure!

UPDATE: April 24. Most of the recent Etsy site issues have been remedied, but image loading remains exceptionally slow.

UPDATE: April 28. The image loading issues at Etsy were remedied yesterday (4.27.2007).

Friday, the one after the thirteenth

It's been a wacky week for me--flipping back and forth between right and left brain activities. I continue to organize my studio (an entropic endeavor) and make more Artist Cards--whether they wind up as saleables (ACEOs) or trades (ATC) has yet to be determined. As is typical in the last 2 months, much time and energy has been spent promoting Etsy.

I finally got around to picking up the promotional materials for the upcoming Mount Horeb Spring Art Tour, an open studio event that will take place in my home (and those of other participants) on June 8, 9, and 10. I'm very excited about this event and the people who are the organizers have done a fabulous job. I also need to pull together an information package to drop off at the Mount Horeb Chamber of Commerce as a goodwill gesture, and a way to entice the folks in town there to come on out to Verona.

Making an Ad...

When you need to resolve who you are and what you do to 35 words, have you thought about the words you would use? I've gone back and forth with a couple of versions, and here is the most succinct rendition I decided upon to accompany the above image for an ad coming out in Madison Magazine:

Eclectic digital and mixed media art objects
www.electrikolor.com
608.845.9091

ElectriKolor blends traditional and digital techniques in photographic prints, abstract coasters, boxes, and much more. Shop online or arrange a studio visit.

Memories of Pittsburgh...

Back from 1978 through 1983, I lived in the city of Pittsburgh, and loved it. The bridge above represents one of the many bridges in the city. It may not be absolutely structurally sound but it is aesthetically pleasing. My first version was in black and white, this is in shades of blue.

Also available on Etsy.

The Full Dozen

Here is the full set of 12 Artist Trading Cards:

Card 1

Card 2

Card 3

Card 4

Card 5

Card 6

Card 7

Card 8

Card 9

Card 10

Card 11

Card 12

Been workin' on my ATCs

Artist's trading cards: each card features my digital photography on one side and a coordinating piece of an abstract alcohol ink assemblage on the other side. I still have to decide on some kind of name for each combination.

Card 1

Card 2

Card 3

Diversions - Blue Man Group

I'm pleased to say that this is the second time I've seen the Blue Man Group, and was thoroughly entertained. So much going on, and how about them pipes? Learn more about Blue Man Group or try to win a free trip to the Briar Street Theater in Chicago.
I've been trying to think of a good way to describe the Blue Man Group experience here all day, and it becomes increasingly difficult with each passing moment. It really is a combination concert and multimedia experience without having to worry about operating a mouse. From the onset, this How To Be a Megastar tour is witty, charming, revives some of the classic Blue Man activities, and keeps the audience actively involved.

The introductory work by "DJ, turntablist & video scratcher" Mike Relm is clever, and is especially engaging for movie buffs and Jack Black fans.

Curator for a day...

Or, technically speaking 2 days. That's the length of time you get on Etsy to publish a set of items in one of their Treasuries. I named my treasury "esoterica" and it's filled with an esoteric collection of goodies to pique your interest!

Will post a thumbnail image gallery here tomorrow, but in the interim, when was the last time you thought about buying a corset for pure artistic merit?

Here are the items in my treasury:

Textured Faux Copper Light Switch Plate by mosaico

Le Divorce by manictrout

Art Corset Collaboration with Stiletto Heights by Gilfling

Apgar 10 - 10 Set Head and Feet by AscenderRisesAbove

Kiki Earrings by thepebblecollection

Guilt - The Reaper, Limited Edition Print by WBEckertStudio

LOVE ITSELF by ambrosiaarts

WORLD PEACE by funkyluke

Garden Fairy Doll by dublinroots

Lunar Eclipse by opaque

The Piano by Emmalynne

Dana Wristlet Wallet in Caramel Ostrich Leather by sewlutionsbyamo

Artist Trading Cards (ATCs)

I've volunteered to host an Artist Trading Card Swap (my first ever) with a group of 20 participants (really 21 with me) who need to mail the cards to me by April 20. I'll have a few days to coordinate and randomize distribution of what will be 210 cards among the participants and send 10 each back to them (I get to keep 10). Not unlike baseball card collectors, we artists (and non-artists) delight in Artist Trading Cards (which in theory are only traded and NEVER sold) or ACEOs (art card, editions and originals; these cards can be traded or sold). I've completed the first layers for my cards, and need to continue working on this side of the card (my mixed media side) and on what I'll be putting on my digital side.

Each 2.5 x 3.5 inch (64 x 89 mm) card is either an original, digital original, or a limited (or open) edition print of the contributing artist's work. For the safest postal delivery, I've asked that the cards included in this swap be sturdy--the consistency of a playing card, watercolor paper, or a baseball card--but thinner than 5 mm. Designs can be created in any medium. Each card should include your signature, a date, and edition number (if part of a limited edition). Card can also include contact information.

I'm certainly not an expert on this topic. There are plenty of places to learn more:
http://acetsy.blogspot.com/
http://www.atcards.com
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artist_trading_cards

Sale-E-Brate Good Times, Come-on...do do do do do do do do!

Yeah! I had my first sale today at Etsy of these whimsical "Check These Glutes" blank cards. I think my favorite starter would be Why have you been such an ___ lately? but I know we've both been real ___es lately, butttt... and I'm bending over backwards to see your point of view...would all work, don't you think?

See these cards and learn how you can get a set for yourself!