6/11/09
6/4/09
ATC part 3
I can't help myself, I am in love with this miniature art form. I probably wouldn't do much art if I wasn't involved in trading these with other artists. They're easy and fun and I have more to show!
"Stairway to Rapunzel"
This was for a Fairy Tale swap I just had. I always loved the idea of hair that ridiculously long! Done in gauche.
"City Girl"
This was for a swap called "Artistic ATC" which was meant as practice for whatever medium you like to use. I just decided to do some pen&ink since it has been a while, then colored it in with gauche and the sky in metallic gold paint marker. Also, the partner I made it for loves glitter, NYC, and Dia de los Muertos, so I incorporated them in there. You have to admit, City Girl is pretty damn hip. Ha!
"Cherry Girl"
Also made for the "Artistic ATC" swap, I decided to practice my Manga on this one. This partner liked cherries, cats (see poorly drawn pendant), floral prints and Anime, so I put all those elements in there. She turned out pretty cutesy! I need help with hands and using marker to color my stuff...but still fun to make. More soon!
XOXOlivia
"Stairway to Rapunzel"
This was for a Fairy Tale swap I just had. I always loved the idea of hair that ridiculously long! Done in gauche.
"City Girl"
This was for a swap called "Artistic ATC" which was meant as practice for whatever medium you like to use. I just decided to do some pen&ink since it has been a while, then colored it in with gauche and the sky in metallic gold paint marker. Also, the partner I made it for loves glitter, NYC, and Dia de los Muertos, so I incorporated them in there. You have to admit, City Girl is pretty damn hip. Ha!
"Cherry Girl"
Also made for the "Artistic ATC" swap, I decided to practice my Manga on this one. This partner liked cherries, cats (see poorly drawn pendant), floral prints and Anime, so I put all those elements in there. She turned out pretty cutesy! I need help with hands and using marker to color my stuff...but still fun to make. More soon!
XOXOlivia
4/11/09
My zines and other paper goods for sale
I know there's a link just to the right but here's another button to jump you over to my etsy shop:
Hope you check it out and find something you like!
XOXOlivia
Hope you check it out and find something you like!
XOXOlivia
3/28/09
More ATC fun times
"Pink tree"
"Tree skirts"
These were for a watercolor ATC swap I did. It's difficult to paint the forest, especially in watercolor on a 2.5 X 3.5 inch "canvas". The pictures are based on some photos I took in Florida recently.
"Cute skull girl"
"Cute skull boy"
These were for a "cute skull" ATC swap. Fun!
"Octopus" & "Mermaid"
These were for a mono-print ATC swap. I've never tried to do a mono-print before, although I used to do the process with toddlers when I worked in childcare. You paint a sleek surface (Like a mirror, glass or smooth table top) then scratch into it and lay paper on it to pic up the negative image. It's way harder than it seems to actually make it look like something! Plus you have to work real fast which I am not known for. It took me a lot of yucky practice runs, as you can see here:
Those were my first attempts. Good process for cool looking abstract art, but I think I'll stick to my usual processes.
The quality of these photos remind me that I need to set up a scanner round here, as photos aren't cutting it (too blurry, crooked, wonky or warped). Hopefully this won't be another plan that takes me 3 years to actually do. (It totally is already!)
XOXOlivia
Dome this, dome that
Basically, this is where I want to live.
The only thing is, I would space the little Smurf homes a lot further apart, you know, for privacy. And each dome would be occupied by a single individual, so the domes could be called by their dweller's names: "I'm stopping by the Oliviadome after work" or "I think I left my headphones at Momdome". That would be the life! Domefied society. At any rate, these seem like models rather than real places, but if I'm wrong, when can I sign up for mydome?
XOXOlivia
The only thing is, I would space the little Smurf homes a lot further apart, you know, for privacy. And each dome would be occupied by a single individual, so the domes could be called by their dweller's names: "I'm stopping by the Oliviadome after work" or "I think I left my headphones at Momdome". That would be the life! Domefied society. At any rate, these seem like models rather than real places, but if I'm wrong, when can I sign up for mydome?
XOXOlivia
3/5/09
ATCs = My New Favorite Passtime
I had been hearing about ATCs for a while, but I didn't get it...Artist Trading Cards? I thought, "What the heck is that about?" Turns out, once I made one, I was hooked. An ATC is a small piece of original art that is not sold but traded (although I hear some people like to sell them - boo!), and are the size of a baseball card (2.5x3.5"). Sometimes they have a specific theme and you roll from there. The first two I made were for a postage stamp theme:
(I can't remember the title I gave it)
("In good hands, with friends")
The second pair were primary color themed, so I made some fairies.
(Left: "Sunmoth", Right: "Firewasp")
The most recent was a self portrait.
("Get the signal")
I've not only enjoyed making them but also receiving tiny art of various styles from all over the place. It's been extremely fun. I've even hung a few on my walls that are especially cool.
What makes me love this art form is a combination of factors. For one, I am not so sure about making a profit from my art at this point, so it is really cool that you don't have to think about money. I love that it's done through trades only, because everybody wins. Another reason is that I have a difficult time making art any larger than the size of a standard piece of paper. Tiny art and me have a very comfortable relationship. I love that the small size means it can be done in one sitting. Lastly, it gets me motivated to practice my skills and actually produce something. Because I know someone else is waiting for their end of the bargain I am less likely to flake. All in all? ATCs rule and I hope this is the beginning of a fabulous hobby.
XOXOlivia
p.s.1 For more on ATCs check this out: More on ATCs
p.s.2 If you want to trade an ATC, contact me 'bout that and we can hook it up!
(I can't remember the title I gave it)
("In good hands, with friends")
The second pair were primary color themed, so I made some fairies.
(Left: "Sunmoth", Right: "Firewasp")
The most recent was a self portrait.
("Get the signal")
I've not only enjoyed making them but also receiving tiny art of various styles from all over the place. It's been extremely fun. I've even hung a few on my walls that are especially cool.
What makes me love this art form is a combination of factors. For one, I am not so sure about making a profit from my art at this point, so it is really cool that you don't have to think about money. I love that it's done through trades only, because everybody wins. Another reason is that I have a difficult time making art any larger than the size of a standard piece of paper. Tiny art and me have a very comfortable relationship. I love that the small size means it can be done in one sitting. Lastly, it gets me motivated to practice my skills and actually produce something. Because I know someone else is waiting for their end of the bargain I am less likely to flake. All in all? ATCs rule and I hope this is the beginning of a fabulous hobby.
XOXOlivia
p.s.1 For more on ATCs check this out: More on ATCs
p.s.2 If you want to trade an ATC, contact me 'bout that and we can hook it up!
2/28/09
Architecture II : the Beach House Dome
As I browsed the internet searching for domes a while back, I happened upon this wonderment. Very cool, for a beach house. My only issue is...glass block? Really? If there is one building material I would like to eliminate, it would be the glass block. It is only suitable for industrial or commercial spaces, and then it still should be used sparingly. It's atrocious! Any other kind of railing would have done for the balcony.
What I love is how the front stairs are ridiculously dramatic, and the garages are pretty cute, too. Mostly, I just love how organic and Dr. Seuss-ish this place is.
I have no idea where it is located or who designed it, sadly. Details, details. Just enjoy the image and dream of what it would be like to live in a tropical glob!
2/14/09
Olympia the Fearless
I haven't exactly done much art lately, as school is in progress and hogging up all my creative brain space. So, not too much new art to show, except for this. It's a few months old now, inspired by lovely Shawn Johnson and other flying gymnastic girls of the '08 Olympics. If I had to pick a favorite sport (to watch, only to watch!)it would be gymnastics. I named it "Olympia the Fearless" just recently. I think it sounded about right.
At any rate, this is cover art for The Original Universe number 7. TOU is a newsletter-style zine made by Jeff Boman and its contents include an editor's corner, articles and commentaries on comic-related subject matter (in this issue it was about the Montreal Comiccon), movie reviews and letters (my fav). There are also interviews and other items of interest that differ from issue to issue.
If you are interested TOU is $3 (Canadian) or else free if you make a contribution (this could be as simple as a letter). Contact me if you would like to get the zine and I will direct you to sir Boman. Thank you and good day.
Zine Communities in Cyberspace
Oh zine peoples, my fellow creators of small, handmade reading material...where do you go to find each other? How do you connect?
I do myspace and facebook, like all respectable members of society (please note sarcasm), and despite their reputation for being flippant and glib, I have actually made some fabulous connections on those sites. I'm talking about zine collaborations, trades and friends - not booty calls! Ha ha.
Anydork, although those sites are what you make of them, it might be easier to connect on some other sites especially geared toward zine lovers. You wouldn't have to weed out so many spammy friend requests just to network.
The one I've frequented longest is called Photocopy Heart and it's actually a message board dedicated to all the subjects on a zine maker's mind. The topics are catagorized into 4 groups. One is on the site itself where you make introductions and read any posts by the modirators, like FAQ. The second is the "The Zine World" where you can review, trade, present and promote zine festivals or distros. Third is "Making Zines", which I most frequent because these are the threads on the creative process. You can talk about materials, a work in progess, get or give tips or ask for submissions. The last catagory is "Off Topic" so you can talk about blogs or music or whatever floats your boat.
Photocopied Heart
Another site, which is new for me and fairly new itself, is "We Make Zines". Actually, I have no clue when it was started, but it seems new? At any rate, it has attracted zine lovers (it is for people who make and read/collect zines) from Wales to New Zealand to...ok, all around the world. It is more like facebook in that you can upload pictures to your profile, join groups and start blogs. I like the groups because you can join one specific to your goal, such as meeting local zine people ("UK & Ireland Zinesters") or those interested in a specific subject ("Mental Health Zines"). My favorite group is "Let's Trade Zines!"- I've made a few trades already and I'm sold.
We Make Zines
There is another site I have been into for zine trading, but it needs to have its own post. I'll get to it when I get to it.
For now...enjoy these ones! Happy St. Valentine's Day, may cupid's pointy arrow stab your heart thru and thru.
XOXOlivia
I do myspace and facebook, like all respectable members of society (please note sarcasm), and despite their reputation for being flippant and glib, I have actually made some fabulous connections on those sites. I'm talking about zine collaborations, trades and friends - not booty calls! Ha ha.
Anydork, although those sites are what you make of them, it might be easier to connect on some other sites especially geared toward zine lovers. You wouldn't have to weed out so many spammy friend requests just to network.
The one I've frequented longest is called Photocopy Heart and it's actually a message board dedicated to all the subjects on a zine maker's mind. The topics are catagorized into 4 groups. One is on the site itself where you make introductions and read any posts by the modirators, like FAQ. The second is the "The Zine World" where you can review, trade, present and promote zine festivals or distros. Third is "Making Zines", which I most frequent because these are the threads on the creative process. You can talk about materials, a work in progess, get or give tips or ask for submissions. The last catagory is "Off Topic" so you can talk about blogs or music or whatever floats your boat.
Photocopied Heart
Another site, which is new for me and fairly new itself, is "We Make Zines". Actually, I have no clue when it was started, but it seems new? At any rate, it has attracted zine lovers (it is for people who make and read/collect zines) from Wales to New Zealand to...ok, all around the world. It is more like facebook in that you can upload pictures to your profile, join groups and start blogs. I like the groups because you can join one specific to your goal, such as meeting local zine people ("UK & Ireland Zinesters") or those interested in a specific subject ("Mental Health Zines"). My favorite group is "Let's Trade Zines!"- I've made a few trades already and I'm sold.
We Make Zines
There is another site I have been into for zine trading, but it needs to have its own post. I'll get to it when I get to it.
For now...enjoy these ones! Happy St. Valentine's Day, may cupid's pointy arrow stab your heart thru and thru.
XOXOlivia
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