Ye Done

The photo is a quick cell phone camera snap capturing some (but not all) of the piece I am working on. I’m thinking about entering it into a local juried show which means it will have to be properly photographed (not an easy task) and then matted and framed. I also have to name it and figure out an asking price. I’m thinking ye so much, plus frame costs and entry fee, with consideration of commission.

I haven’t the foggiest idea how much ye so much should be. If too high, people will think that I am asking rediculous. If too low, the price will under value not only my own work, but the work of other artists and that kind of pisses people off.

It’s 11 x 14 inches (for a 16 x 20 mat and frame) done in Faber-Castell Polychromos (oil based colored pencils) over a water colour under painting using Faber-Castell Aquarelles (water color pencils) so it is all pencil work on Canson “Montval” 140 lb paper.

I consider myself a complete unknown on the local art scene because I haven’t shown anything, except for making a couple flags for a community art project displayed at the YSU Festival of the Arts last summer and oh yeah… made a leather and copper bra that took first place mixed media in an art bra event (fund raiser for breast cancer) a few years back but otherwise, I haven’t shown anything since the 90s. Some people may recognize the symbol in which I sign my work, but back then I was still using my ex-husband’s last name. Fade away, easily forgotten… and I was living in the general area but not in this town. Honestly, I was relatively unknown then, too. And I wasn’t doing anything in colored pencil.

If I listen to my neighbors (they’re a trip at times), my art is “da bomb” yadda yadda fabulous and no one colors like I do, and I hear things like, “the guys were jocking on you” which, by explanation, means “you got it going on, man” so I take it as they like my art as that’s like the only thing I got going on.

I’m kind of curious to see how this drawing style goes over outside the neighborhood, see if practice pays off. I’ve done over 300 practice pieces in ATC size, maybe it is time to start showing again?

Of course, I have to finish it and get a good photograph, go enter it into this juried show and wait and see… never know what will be accepted or rejected in juried shows, what factors go into the decision. They are putting together a show, usually want a diversity yet everything must fit together.

A lot of artists hate juried shows because the entry fee is non-refundable. On one hand, you pay money to be rejected and on the other, you have to pay to show your art. If the show is for a good cause, then it doesn’t matter. Rejections are easier if you think of it as a donation.

Well, here is a sneak peek, some but not all of the piece I’m working on. Thanks for reading my blog!

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Paper, Pencils, & Faux Bling

Three favorite things… though not so thrilled with the pretend crystals accenting the legs of my new glasses. They are like cut glass, shine kind of white… no lead content means no true sparkle. I’ve got to wait a year before I can pop those babies out and replace them with genuine Swarvoski crystals as remodeling them sooner would void the warranty. The color is “Merlot” so in normal light, it is a wine hue, not quite as purple as they looked under lights bright enough to make plain ol’ glass or acrylic pretend to sparkle. OH WELL… guess the important thing is that I can see again.

Added ten new colors to my Faber-Castell Aquarelles today and, once again, suggested stocking the Faber-Castell Polychromos.

I have written emails pleading for and praising my favorite pencils, but alas… not one damn store that I know of in the entire city & suburbs of Youngstown, Ohio, will sell my pencils.

Okay, so I am a wee limited to stores located on the WRTA bus routes, so if you live around here and know of any store that sells Faber-Castell Polychromos, sets or open stock, please let me know.

I think Prismacolor has purposely cornered the market by fooling buyers for store stuff into thinking that artist grade colored pencils are ye about all the same… why stock two brands of the exact same thing? Prismacolors are slightly cheaper than Polychromos, so they stock Prismacolors and a General or maybe Crayola, couple really cheap brands, call it a day… that is enough variety.

BUT… those are all WAX based colored pencils, so it is like stocking a variety of apples and NO oranges! Polychromos are OIL based colored pencils… major, major difference. Apples and orange are both fruit, but oh so not the same. They can stock grapes (watercolour pencils) but not Polychromos.

Don’t even let me get started on paper… Strathmore is in cahoots with Prismacolor, imo, dominating the local market with some monopoly strategy to squeeze out some very fine papers. Yes, it would be very nice to buy Stonehenge 100% cotton papers locally.

I did buy three sheets today – but not Strathmore. I am boycotting Strathmore. I’d boycott Prismacolor but that would by slightly hypocritical as I already have the entire set… they are “okay” pencils and I suppose Strathmore makes “okay” papers… just galls me that MY favorites are not available locally.

Is this just Youngstown? Or are certain brands dominating your local market, too?