Today was the Lake St. Louis Artist Guild opening reception. I hadn’t previously met the judge, Jerry Thomas, but he did a demonstration at an Oak Leaf meeting a while back. Ever since I’ve been trying to figure out a way to attend one of his Art Clinics, but they are on Friday afternoons and I always have to work. I did get to meet and speak with him today, and it was a real pleasure. I didn’t even know he was the judge until the announcements began.
“Armadillo” won First prize in the acrylic category! Then just when I thought it couldn’t get any better “The Look of Love” won Best of Show!
Show this Sunday, 1-3pm at the Lake St. Louis Clubhouse!
This week I submitted some pieces to the Lake St. Louis Artist Associate Spring Show. This is the first time I’ve submitted work in one of their shows; and I managed to take a peek at some of the other work submitted. It was all top notch, so I’m really excited to see it all at the reception this weekend.
In other news, I got a call from Amy at Framations yesterday asking if I’d thought anymore about making prints of the pieces in the PAB Show because she has two potential buyers. She asked me if I could have some by next Tuesday so she could send them at the Kansas City Art Expo. Apparently, some of the people from MAAL will be there, and are willing to help sell them for us!
I have everything ready to make prints of the “Skeleton Puppy Series” and “Scenic Puppy Mill” already, and today I’m going to try and get a better capture of “St. Bernard Rescue Dog” before his new owner comes to claim him, so I can make at least 8×10 prints of him. Wish me luck, he doesn’t photograph well. If everything goes well, prints should be ready to purchase at Framations by next week.
The show on Saturday went better than I could’ve ever expected, I felt like Cinderella at the Ball! When I got there it was already packed; and not just with other artists like usual, but with buyers and people there to help further the cause. I’ve never seen it so gloriously over crowded! Amy, one of the gallery owners did a magnificent job of promoting not just the show, but the cause as well. There were posters with pictures of some of the works in the show; and little stuffed Dogs for sale (I’ll post images soon). There was lots of information and literature available, and even a petition to sign. The volunteers and people from MAAL were very informative and were willing to spread the word, and answer questions.
When I made my way through to Amy she told me that the Puppy Skeleton series had already sold! I was shocked, and I couldn’t believe it. Then shortly after that she introduced me to some people that were interested in buying prints of the Puppy Skeletons; and I was absolutely speechless! I’m afraid I was pretty stunned awkward with all the attention throughout the night; I really hope I didn’t look too retarded.
The crowd didn’t diminish all night, as people continued to swarm in I did my best to work my way around the room. About an hour later Amy summoned me over to meet another couple, who as it turns out were purchasing “St. Bernard Rescue Dog.” Amy predicted that by the end of the night all my pieces would sell; and they did! The third one, “Scenic Puppy Mill” sold later in the evening to a jovial lady; who seemed positively thrilled to buy it.
I couldn’t be happier that the night was such a success, but at the same time I’m a little sad that I have to part with my babies. I never really expected them to sell, but my husband took me to see them on Sunday to say goodbye.
“Beagle” made it on Channel 5 News on Friday afternoon! They were doing an interview with the director of Missouri Alliance for Animal Legislation regarding puppy mills and the art exhibit/benefit tonight; and they aired three pieces from the show.
I received word that all of my pieces for the Puppies are Biodegradable Show have been chosen to go and be shown at Humane Day in Jefferson City next week!
As promised below are some of the designs I’ve been working on for Oak Leaf Artist Guild website header. I wanted to go with bold colors in a Fall color scheme to reflect the colorfulness of the artwork while still keeping the namesake ‘oak leaf’ in mind.
Please keep in mind that these are working examples meant to show direction rather than finished product. The square symbol to the right of each design is the placeholder I mentioned in a previous post for a logo. I have been working on a real logo for the guild as well.
Puppies are Biodegradable Artist Statement
I started working on pieces for this show to help raise awareness about the horrors that go on in Puppy Mills. In the beginning I knew bad things were happening, I’d heard rumors, but I wasn’t really prepared to see for myself. The research for this show was the most gruesome and difficult thing I’ve ever done for my art. There were many times when I had to force myself to keep going, and several of the images will haunt me forever. It has made such an impression on me that I feel it is important to share my newfound knowledge through my art.
I had several concepts for the pieces in this show, many of which didn’t make it to fruition. Below are some comments about each piece.
Many of the puppy mill puppy images that I found were emaciated and pathetic. With the “Puppy Skeletons” I wanted to take that a step further. The colors, looseness of the drawing, and background were intended to create an eerie atmosphere, almost like the subjects had just been excavated. It was important to me that people see the ultimate results of puppy mills.
“St. Bernard Rescue Dog” was originally created to promote hope, but the mood in the painting suggests otherwise. It was created with the idea in mind that there is already a lot being done to help the cause, but more help is needed. There is only so much that a St. Bernard with a keg full of medical supplies can do.
This last piece was the most challenging to pull off. “Scenic Puppy Mill” depicts this Utopian place where puppies are raised and loved before being adopted out. It’s only once you notice something isn’t quite right with the image, that you really see the full picture. This piece depicts the face that puppy mills put on to the public, when in reality only horrors lie within.
I finished “St. Bernard Rescue Dog” a few nights ago and I’m focusing my attention on “Scenic Puppy Mill” now. Once I finish both, I’ll post images.
Oak Leaf Artist Guild Update: I have the layout and overall design of the website figured out, in most part; I’m just waiting for the domain to be transfered to get started.
In the designs I showed the guild for the website I had a place holder for a logo or image to be used. They liked my place holder enough to ask me to finish it up and make into the new logo for the guild. I think that’s great because I really want to do what I can to help the guild; but I can’t say I’m not worried that some of the members of the guild might take this the wrong way or feel I’m overstepping my bounds. I’m really trying to keep as many people involved in the process as possible to prevent that from happening though. And of course, I’ll keep this blog updated to my progress.
As I’ve mentioned in previous posts I’ve been working on an extra project for the “Puppies are Biodegradable Show,” and I finished the last one today! Each of the below pieces are 5″x7″ Pen & Color Pencil on paper. I have to say that I’m really happy with how they turned out. I kept the rendering loose and used unnatural colors to emphasis the eerie subject, hopefully the shock value will lend itself to the cause.
“What I think is lacking is a sense of believable light. Everything feels too evenly rendered – and your perspective has to be perfect with this kind of realism. However, areas are exquisite especially the card – shadow, reflected light, lettering all perfect.” Eric Shultis – judge from Look of Love Show.
I really appreciated his comments; they were straight forward, to the point, and helpful. It’s been a long time since someone has taken the time and effort to be honest and open with me in regards to my work. Oh how I’ve missed it! A good critique is hard to find, and worth it’s weight in gold to an artist open to it.
The Locks of Love Event/Look of Love Art Show went really well! We had a great turnout, and lots of people came to donate their hair; including my husband! My piece won an honorable mention, and I won a raffle for a gift card to a local book store!
The judge, Eric Shultis, wasn’t able to attend the reception, but he did write up notes for each artist. It’s very rare to get feedback/criticism from a judge, so I’m doubly excited about it. I’ll post the note he left for me when I get a chance.
The Puppies are Biodegradable Show is in less than three weeks! Below is an update of where each piece for that show stands.
New Surprise Project: (images coming soon!) should be done in a couple days.
St. Bernard Rescue Dog: is pretty much where I left it when I last posted.
Scenic Puppy Mill: I’ve been working on a layout for the under image. Not an easy task, since I want to maximize the impact of the images to show through.
Nursing Mother: Still working on the painting surface, haven’t even begun painting. I might not have enough time for this one and that makes me very sad.
