ILLUSTRATED PHOTO MATS: Nativity

In November I was asked to vend at our local country club for their holiday arts and crafts event (a portion of sales goes toward the charity of the year).  The event was slated for the Saturday after Black Friday, so I was prepared to expect a massive onslaught of ladies going for the Christmas bargains.

I made this holiday-themed goodie for the occasion.  Better than a Christmas card, if you ask me!

Nativity.  8 x 10 mat (4 x 6 cut out), pen and ink.

And a detail:

I did my research on this one.  The animals you see there are documented work/farm and/or food animals of the middle East and northern Africa: the onager, the oryx, and some very sturdy sheep.  (Plus a mouse.) There was an ox and a few other barnyard miscreants, but they didn't make the final cut given the space.  

The timeline of documented events that match up with the stories in the Bible suggests the three kings might have arrived just in time to meet "baby" Jesus as a toddler or young child, which indicates to me the family would've been ensconced in their own home by then (Joseph's carpentry workshop is out back in my rendition, but no space on the mat, ha!), rather than still hanging out in the manger of an over-booked roadside inn, so I've drawn the entrance to their home, warmly lit in welcome while their small assortment of live stock are taking it easy in the yard.  

Sold these puppies like hot cakes!  Sure to be back next Christmas!

ILLUSTRATED PHOTO MATS: GermanFest

I was invited to sell my photo mats at a local German festival in October 2014 (the aptly named GermanFest), so a fellow artisan and I (Constance Keare Custom Jewelry) joined our Wonder Twin powers to really give them a shopping experience.

Sadly, however, the weather was less than cooperative, so sales weren't as awesome as we'd hoped.  But the pretzels and sausages were!  You just cannot beat a German festival for spectacular truck food.

Except maybe an Italian festival.  Mmmm.  I digress with my gustatory musings . . .

While we waited out the bouts of chill rain, Stephanie worked on her jewelry and I created a photo frame for the event based on their festival logo.

Here's the logo:

And here's my rendition of it:

GermanFest.  8 x 10 mat (4 x 6 cut out), pen and ink.

 And a detail:

ILLUSTRATED PHOTO MATS: Leaves

My illustrated photo mats were starting to garner some attention last fall, and I wanted to keep that momentum going while we were starting to slide into the fall and winter holiday seasons.  The art market peeps had issued a color-themed challenge (orange), so I came up with these little lovelies.  

(In my mind these were perfect for sepia toned or "vintage" filtered photos.  Still are!)

Leaves (Large).  Roughly 11 x 14 mat with 5 x 7 cut out.  Pen and ink over white mat board.

Leaves (Regular).  The usual 8 x 10 mat with 4 x 6 cut out.

Jazz at Du Monde (v. I)

Apparently only in my own mind have I been updating this blog.  I blame facebook (where you can see stuff I make as it's done.  So, you know, when in doubt . . . ).

Anywho.  Last summer I got an itch to try a little painting after my abstracts turned out so well, and I figured it was time to really start delving into the LOTR photos for all that art I said I would make.  And also, the art market folks issued a themed challenge for inspirations based on: "Orange."

(I was mostly embarrassed that was the best theme they could come up with since there were some really great abstract and/or visually suggestive ideas that were kicked around.  I digress.)

So I came up with this:

Garcon!  A plate of beignets while we groove!  Jazz at Du Monde, 16 x 20 acrylic on canvas.

Those of you who have experienced the Cafe in the NOLA French quarter know of which I paint.  

And now I'm craving the darn things, dang it!

This is version 1, actually.  I need to fix a few minor details and remove the chick in the hat (it really was a tiny hat, but she needs to go), so this is temporarily off market.  Stay tuned. . . I gotta go make some beignets, first, though.  Mmmm--greasy hot sugary goodness!