Aug 2008
GROWING ACTIVITIES
31/08/08 08:50 Filed in: Work
This week has been crowed with compiling designs to
use for various stores (my on-line store fronts).
Christmas is upon us as far as design goes. In the
past Christmas was designed a year to two years in
advance of its exposure to the manufacturers market.
My activities today are different but still have many
components of the methods I learned in previous
years.
I have a portfolio of Christmas designs which I licensed under the pseudonym ‘Mary Parker’. This rather large portfolio of work is divided into various categories. I plan on taking those categories and opening an on-line store for each of them. This is a massive learning experience for me and the deeper I go into the use of the computer and the adapting of the existing work the more I find myself hooked on the process. Those categories are as follows: Snowmen, Santa, Let It Snow, Rustic, Religious.
It remains to be seen how much of this I will be able to configure and adapt, especially with my lack of knowledge, and placing of the designs in the various on-line stores. The gamble is ALL OR NOTHING. Apparently, it is part of my being. I have lived this way for many years successfully; however, this is going to be the test of all tests. I have accomplished opening the WILD store which contains images from my portfolio of designs influenced by fashion trend and its connection to nature particularly wild animals. Skins exotic and different animals from different countries and the primitive or tribal designs which confirm the like country. I have accomplished opening HALLOWEEN NIGHT, OCTOBER 31, a la mode (which reflect the images used in WILD and other fashion oriented designs) and SNOWMAN PASTICHE.
Opening these stores is one thing, filling each of them consistently is very hard for me. It is similar to learning how to juggle. I believe that from all I have read that these stores need to be driven by blogs. I, therefore, have created, aside from this site blog embracing the entire concept, a blog for all of Christmas, CHRISTMAS PIZZAZZ (this blog will cover all of this area), and OCTOBER 31 (this blog for all of Halloween carries the same name as the on line store OCTOBER 31). The idea is that with enough designs to fill and maintain a changing content in on-line stores, blogging about the images and how they were created and what and what I was doing to the designs as I progress through this wilderness of the web that I could with a lot of work and persistence generate interest. That is the premise. I might add, I want to start my objective of painting, again, everyday. (High hopes----ooooops there goes another rubber tree plant.)
At the same time, in building this site to blog about all of my activities, wheres, whys, and hows of the construction, this blog will embrace the whole and while opening and building the store fronts to accommodate my work, I will be able to build the albums of the portfolio which I introduce in this site introduction. That is actually by default as I compile the designs for other usages.
These are the headers I build yesterday and plan to create the stores for them:
This Snowman Pastiche is now in progress and I am filling it.
I have a portfolio of Christmas designs which I licensed under the pseudonym ‘Mary Parker’. This rather large portfolio of work is divided into various categories. I plan on taking those categories and opening an on-line store for each of them. This is a massive learning experience for me and the deeper I go into the use of the computer and the adapting of the existing work the more I find myself hooked on the process. Those categories are as follows: Snowmen, Santa, Let It Snow, Rustic, Religious.
It remains to be seen how much of this I will be able to configure and adapt, especially with my lack of knowledge, and placing of the designs in the various on-line stores. The gamble is ALL OR NOTHING. Apparently, it is part of my being. I have lived this way for many years successfully; however, this is going to be the test of all tests. I have accomplished opening the WILD store which contains images from my portfolio of designs influenced by fashion trend and its connection to nature particularly wild animals. Skins exotic and different animals from different countries and the primitive or tribal designs which confirm the like country. I have accomplished opening HALLOWEEN NIGHT, OCTOBER 31, a la mode (which reflect the images used in WILD and other fashion oriented designs) and SNOWMAN PASTICHE.
Opening these stores is one thing, filling each of them consistently is very hard for me. It is similar to learning how to juggle. I believe that from all I have read that these stores need to be driven by blogs. I, therefore, have created, aside from this site blog embracing the entire concept, a blog for all of Christmas, CHRISTMAS PIZZAZZ (this blog will cover all of this area), and OCTOBER 31 (this blog for all of Halloween carries the same name as the on line store OCTOBER 31). The idea is that with enough designs to fill and maintain a changing content in on-line stores, blogging about the images and how they were created and what and what I was doing to the designs as I progress through this wilderness of the web that I could with a lot of work and persistence generate interest. That is the premise. I might add, I want to start my objective of painting, again, everyday. (High hopes----ooooops there goes another rubber tree plant.)
At the same time, in building this site to blog about all of my activities, wheres, whys, and hows of the construction, this blog will embrace the whole and while opening and building the store fronts to accommodate my work, I will be able to build the albums of the portfolio which I introduce in this site introduction. That is actually by default as I compile the designs for other usages.
These are the headers I build yesterday and plan to create the stores for them:
This Snowman Pastiche is now in progress and I am filling it.
|
MEXICAN POTTERY inspired design
28/08/08 08:02 Filed in: Work
Well, you live and learn. And last evening I learned
that I hit the wrong key and deleted all of what I
worked on for an hour to present -- the way in which
elements and color in designs, even of different
cultures and from different points in time, touch and
excite artists such as myself and what happens as the
result.
So I will try to re-enter my post and expand the connection.
I was asked by a company to create some designs using Mexico as a point of departure. I researched the idea and fell in love with the wonderful designs found on the ‘ceramica’ of Mexico. I love strong dramatic color, color which vibrates the emotions in my body. I found in the designs of yesterday, the tourist ware, and the elegant designs of the ‘Talavera ceramica’ titillated that emotion.
Samples of the majolica designs I found on the TALAVERA SHOP and elsewhere. The designs reflect the Spanish influence and can be likened to decorative design of Spain, Portugal and Italy.
This is a design which I did for products inspired by the tile designs of Mexico. This is a card available at ‘a la mode’.
The same design is applied to Keds shoes and available at ‘a la mode’.
The tourist ware is quite different but I fell in love with the earthy reality and the bold renditions of everyday life. The joy, the sorrow, the celebrations, the beliefs and the COLOR touched my own creativity.
This example is was located at ‘early california antiques’ and it shows a peasant sitting with his back to the viewer and the cactus on the right. These designs can be found with grounds of deep blue, terra cotta, black or a green wash or even on a neutral base but always illustrated with everyday reflections.
I purchased a book, ceramica mexican pottery of the 20th century by Amanda Thompson in cooperation with the California Heritage Museum, Santa Monica, California, which opened the door to a beautiful history and photos of many different kinds of Mexican ceramic.
Below are my own configurations and combinations of color and design; all of which were inspired by the look and feel of tourist pottery from Mexico during the 1930s and 40s.
SHOES in ‘a la mode’
MOUSEPAD in ‘a la mode’
Further information on Mexican tourist ware:
mexicofilenewsletter200609
So I will try to re-enter my post and expand the connection.
I was asked by a company to create some designs using Mexico as a point of departure. I researched the idea and fell in love with the wonderful designs found on the ‘ceramica’ of Mexico. I love strong dramatic color, color which vibrates the emotions in my body. I found in the designs of yesterday, the tourist ware, and the elegant designs of the ‘Talavera ceramica’ titillated that emotion.
Samples of the majolica designs I found on the TALAVERA SHOP and elsewhere. The designs reflect the Spanish influence and can be likened to decorative design of Spain, Portugal and Italy.
This is a design which I did for products inspired by the tile designs of Mexico. This is a card available at ‘a la mode’.
The same design is applied to Keds shoes and available at ‘a la mode’.
The tourist ware is quite different but I fell in love with the earthy reality and the bold renditions of everyday life. The joy, the sorrow, the celebrations, the beliefs and the COLOR touched my own creativity.
This example is was located at ‘early california antiques’ and it shows a peasant sitting with his back to the viewer and the cactus on the right. These designs can be found with grounds of deep blue, terra cotta, black or a green wash or even on a neutral base but always illustrated with everyday reflections.
I purchased a book, ceramica mexican pottery of the 20th century by Amanda Thompson in cooperation with the California Heritage Museum, Santa Monica, California, which opened the door to a beautiful history and photos of many different kinds of Mexican ceramic.
Below are my own configurations and combinations of color and design; all of which were inspired by the look and feel of tourist pottery from Mexico during the 1930s and 40s.
SHOES in ‘a la mode’
MOUSEPAD in ‘a la mode’
Further information on Mexican tourist ware:
mexicofilenewsletter200609
AFRICAN DESIGNS to PRODUCT
26/08/08 17:47 Filed in: Work
I have taken a number of wild animal skin designs and
added the tribal motifs of Africa. Those designs were
rendered in gouache on Arches Aquarelle/Watercolor,
hot press, 90lb paper. The tribal motifs were gleaned
from the reference, AFRICAN DESIGNS From Traditional
Sources, by Geoffrey Williams. This is a great book
and is the obvious reference for many of the leading
designs which have in recent years been on every
thing from sheets to clothes.
This is what I did with my designs:
The Congo motifs are on the sides, heel and across the upper part of the toe on this shoe. These shoes are available in my shop, ‘a la mode’.
The store is growing and also contains designs inspired from Mexican Pottery which I will be developing tomorrow.
This is what I did with my designs:
The Congo motifs are on the sides, heel and across the upper part of the toe on this shoe. These shoes are available in my shop, ‘a la mode’.
The store is growing and also contains designs inspired from Mexican Pottery which I will be developing tomorrow.
AFRICAN ANIMAL SKIN product
24/08/08 09:56 Filed in: Work
And this is an example of a card composed of the animal skins of an Indian Tiger, an African leopard and the African plains zebra. This design was rendered with gouache and was licensed as a gift bag to a manufacturer previously and now, I edit it, place a line of type on it and use it as a card. The card can be customized in the shop to say on the inside anything the buyer might like to say. It will be available in WILD and in ‘a la mode’.
This is an example of product in stores which are currently using the animal skin motifs. This wonderful tote bag comes from POTTERY BARN.
House hold products sold there which also use the motifs are found in their plush jacquard-woven bath towels.
Jacquard meaning woven on a loom with an intricate and variegated pattern.
GATHERING IMAGES for new stores
24/08/08 09:30 Filed in: Work
I have now compiled images and edited them for the
following stores: OCTOBER 31, HALLOWEEN NIGHT, WILD from Edith, and ‘a la mode’. Currently, I am
adding images to the ‘a la mode’ shop. This shop
is largely based on fashion trend and there is
and has been a trend for animal skin designs for
household product and for linens and textile. So
pulling these designs from my portfolio has been
fun. There is also a heavy trend and has been
for several years to add the feminine form to
product. Say, interesting faces, women busy with
packages, women or girls doing things they enjoy
and I have some looks which were painted with an
impressionist style which I am adding to the
products I will be placing in ‘a la mode’.
Products with women’s faces or form are everywhere and on every thing from greeting cards and wrapping paper to fabric and household products. One interesting use of women’s faces is on shoes. The ED HARDY line by Christian Audigier from NOTHING TO WEAR has created a most interesting rendering by using needle point and placing the face of beautiful women on high top sneakers.
The animal skin designs are flexible and I can quickly change them into product of various kinds. They are dramatic and they touch a place which causes one to think about where these animals come from and about their place in the world. This vary interest and focus on the design whether as a painting or a product brings the animal’s welfare to the front . Fashion no longer support the use of real animal skins and real fur but the use of the patterns in textile and surface design keeps the animal and his habit in an awareness.
Products with women’s faces or form are everywhere and on every thing from greeting cards and wrapping paper to fabric and household products. One interesting use of women’s faces is on shoes. The ED HARDY line by Christian Audigier from NOTHING TO WEAR has created a most interesting rendering by using needle point and placing the face of beautiful women on high top sneakers.
The animal skin designs are flexible and I can quickly change them into product of various kinds. They are dramatic and they touch a place which causes one to think about where these animals come from and about their place in the world. This vary interest and focus on the design whether as a painting or a product brings the animal’s welfare to the front . Fashion no longer support the use of real animal skins and real fur but the use of the patterns in textile and surface design keeps the animal and his habit in an awareness.
EDITING IMAGES for products
22/08/08 16:51 Filed in: Work
This is an example of one of the
kid’s t-shirts which I have created in OCTOBER 31. I took the
original digital file and removed the center and
main element, cleaned it and added a few stars
and a line of type (Photoshop CS3), up-loaded to
the store and applied it to a product. Here is
the original. I moved this image around to make
cards, t-shirts, and I will put the design on
Ked’s shoes.
Learning how to do all of this sometimes results in a tangle of unexpected results! I have lost my entries. Sorry about that but it’s what happens when you are learning how to do new things.
OCTOBER 31 Halloween Shop
21/08/08 12:25 Filed in: Work
This is one of my Halloween shops. Take a look and
check it out.
create & buy custom products at Zazzle
create & buy custom products at Zazzle
HALLOWEEN SHOES
21/08/08 11:40 Filed in: Work
It’s time to
bring the fun and anticipation of Halloween to design
table. All the trade magazines and the mail order
catalogs are featuring the products for Halloween. I
have a large collection of Halloween images which I
have licensed to manufacturers under the pseudonym
‘Mary Parker’. Well, those fun illustrations are
going to find themselves all opened up and available
on products of apparel and gifts this year in my
shops, OCTOBER 31 and HALLOWEEN NIGHT.
I am excited about the Keds shoes which I have designed and have in my OCTOBER 31 shop. So far I have created 15 pairs of Halloween shoes. They are a wonderful way to enjoy the season and I have them in women’s and kid’s sizes. There are lace ups and slip ons. Cool!
I am filling these shops and two others, ‘a la mode’ and ‘WILD’ while planning to open the Christmas shops. Having a very large portfolio of designs with many different collections is an exciting asset. It’s like opening a chest of images all set and ready for new products, gifts and those cool shoes. I love it.
HALLOWEEN SHOES!!! They are in OCTOBER 31. Check them out.
I am excited about the Keds shoes which I have designed and have in my OCTOBER 31 shop. So far I have created 15 pairs of Halloween shoes. They are a wonderful way to enjoy the season and I have them in women’s and kid’s sizes. There are lace ups and slip ons. Cool!
I am filling these shops and two others, ‘a la mode’ and ‘WILD’ while planning to open the Christmas shops. Having a very large portfolio of designs with many different collections is an exciting asset. It’s like opening a chest of images all set and ready for new products, gifts and those cool shoes. I love it.
HALLOWEEN SHOES!!! They are in OCTOBER 31. Check them out.