The Brevard Art Museum in Melbourne, Florida presents “Take Out”, an exhibit featuring artwork created using the humble chinese food container. My submission, The Octopus’s Garden will be on display until July 2009.
Yes, there really is a paper take out box under all that coral. 
Good news!! I found my inspiration!
I’m working on a new Day of the Dead piece, a butterfly skeleton! The sketch is finished, the floater frame is ordered…now all I have to do is find a block of time to get started. I added some detail to the butterfly wing yesterday (boy, I forgot how long it takes to get anything substantial done while mosaicing) and hopefully I’ll be able to really get rolling this coming week. WIP photos coming soon.
Happy Memorial Day!
As the weekend hits I am thinking of one thing…where should my art take me?
I’ve experimented with just about everything that I set out to try. I’ve mosaiced several high heels, I’ve almost completed a guitar (snore!), I’ve done a skateboard…I think the mosaicing every day objects craze has worn off for me. I’d love to do something really cutting edge but I think I’d really need to spend about 3 weeks alone and locked up with nothing but nippers and glass. It is so hard to get inspired when you are interrupted by every day life!
One of my goals is to create a cohesive body of work. A collection that could hang on a solitary wall and scream “unified!” rather than “I’m filled with ideas!” (well, I am!) The only theme that stays with me consistently is the Dia de los Muertos motif. I have drawn unlimited inspiration from the holiday and its crazy, lovable calaveras and it seems to be my best seller.
I’m kicking around doing a bunch of mosaics that will do justice to my inspiration. I’d like to really create some larger pieces and experiment with the different styles of skeletons. Give them personality. I just discovered a wonderful Day of the Dead artist, Regalos Del Sol on Etsy. Her paintings are colorful and her Catrinas have an amazing presence. I love how she pairs a black background with all of that color! Hopefully I’ll get inspired to make some of my own soon.
Until then…
I’ve been meaning to get back to this topic and since I’ve had several requests for information on my suppliers, I thought a post would be relevant.
In Part 1, I discussed why artists are afraid to share information with their peers. I’m sure that all artists aren’t hoarding information, but some certainly are. I’m one of them. I guard knowledge with my life. It’s sort of a dirty little secret in the world of making a living (or trying to) from your art work. Everyone is trying to get ahead and knowledge is always the thing that puts you ahead of someone else. What you know and how much you know is important.
So, on to the meat of this post…
I can’t even count how many times I’ve been asked, “So, where do you get those ring blanks?” The question doesn’t annoy me when it comes from someone that I’ve “known” for a while… like another artist from one of the mosaic groups that I belong to. I expect it. Heck, I’ve asked other artists for their supply sources and many have been kind enough to answer. It aggravates me when I get random emails asking me to reveal my suppliers. I’ve had 3 over the last 2 weeks while I was in Orlando! Here’s a hint…try searching for “ring blanks”. Google is the crystal ball of the internet.
Everyone is looking for the same thing. The best prices, the low-down on where to get that trendy new product that everyone is using on Etsy. I think the thing that bothers me the most is that I know how hard it was to find the information that I have. It took me months to compile a good supplier list. I managed to luck out and discover some interesting things just by spending ALOT of time looking. I’m not too keen to supply information to anyone who is looking for the easy way out. Now I know why so many other artists weren’t ready to hand over anything to me!
I think it’s fair to say that the same holds true for techniques. Sure, there are alot of books out there that give you the blow by blow on how to do something. Alot of successful artists are publishing their techniques and there is no shortage of information on how to create a mosaic or how to install a kitchen backsplash. The real information is hidden in the individual artist’s unique style. How that artist puts all of their inspiration and talent into a piece of art. That can’t be taught.
While I wasn’t looking, my mosaic shoe hit the Front Page of Etsy. (Isn’t that always the way?) I missed the big event but several people convoed me and one even sent me a screen shot. (Thanks Kelly!) I received a bunch of “that shoe is awesome!” messages and one that said “Can you tell me what you seal your shoes with to keep everything from coming off?” Hmmm. I may need to hold back on the response to that one but the answer is pretty simple!
So, I guess I’m just really trying to say that techniques and suppliers are two more things that can be closely guarded in the art world. I don’t mind sharing information, sources and gallery contacts…with the right person…but for the most part I’ve learned that knowledge is power and you need power to be a success in this business. Some information is easier to give away and some will remain closely guarded.
I stumbled across this post about Manuel Manilla, a Mexican artist that created beautiful engravings…much like José Posada was known for.
I’ve been searching for books on the Day of the Dead for a while now and I had no idea so many interesting things existed! I was searching for the wrong topics!! There are a bunch of books featuring Mexican engravings on Amazon, and this is one of them: Manuel Manilla: Mexican Engraver (Spanish Edition)
I really need to get my hands on these. The inspiration factor is through the roof.
I arrived home last week to discover that my shipment of two high value mosaics was stuck in England’s Customs Office. Much to my chagrin, my parcel was assessed with a very indecent VAT charge and was being held for ransom to the tune of almost $100. I had a few nail biter days there, when I was waking up at the ass crack of dawn to call the UK before the postal workers all went to lunch. I spent way too much time envisioning my artwork being used as a football before I gave in to hysterical Googling. After a miracle of coincidence, I ran across a website that allowed me to pay the VAT and release the package to its intended destination. No thanks to Parcel Force. The website wasn’t mentioned in one single email that they sent to me. You would think the information might be helpful!
Even though I am now out a cool £62.00, it feels good to know that my art is safely in the hands of a gallery curator. It seems that the mistake may have been all my own but since I’m in a rotten state of mind about this little SNAFU, I’m choosing to blame the USPS. I used the so convenient “print your own label” feature on the USPS’s website to ship the parcel and in doing so I opened myself up to the error of declaring a value of $500 for the shipment. The items were really worth much more (retailing at over $2000) but I was so nervous about the shipment arriving safely that I naively purchased insurance for the same amount. The label wouldn’t print unless I declared a value to match the insurance…makes sense in hindsight but it ended up costing me alot more than I expected.
So, is there a lesson being this bitchfest? Of course!
(In all seriousness, I’ve been advised that I should have noted somewhere on the customs form that the items were being loaned to an art gallery and would be returned to me after the exhibit was over. The Customs Office has no way to know that the artwork wasn’t purchased for resale by the gallery. Makes sense right?)
I’ve decided to utilize my powers of literary persuasion to attempt a refund of my VAT charges. I’m hoping with a little luck the Customs Office will see my pathetic plight and they’ll release a refund check in my direction. We’ll see what happens.
I recently discovered this quirky little blog (thank you Google Analytics) and came across this Art vs. Craft post while reading last week. It’s really just another response to the same old Etsy argument except this time it struck a chord with me and I’m still kinda pissed when I read the garbage responses. Here’s a small synopsis…
An Etsy seller posted a comment in the forums about how his glass art (and art in general) is hard to find on Etsy. He has a legitimate gripe but rubbed the Etsy forum cronies the wrong way with his post. Almost everyone jumped all over him and the thread was closed. No surprise there.
I really wonder why I give a crap about stuff like this but then I remind myself that Etsy is merely the vehicle by which the actual artists and craftspeople make money and find some level of success. Etsy isn’t doing anything magical here folks. They’ve reformed the eBay format. Polished it up and made it look cooler but all in all it’s the sellers that make Etsy a success. And then there is this little matter…
Apparently anyone with an opinion or a gripe is anti-Etsy. I beg to differ. I happen to be one of those people that has a love/hate relationship with Etsy. I also have a gripe about the load of crap that is marketed on Etsy. Everyone whines how Etsy isn’t a juried site but yet it wants to portray itself as one. The front page is one big juried exhibit. I’m thinking that concept may have been borrowed from the art world.
So. I’m not hating on COOE or Etsy. I’m just saying that everyone selling on Etsy has the same gripe. Everyone. The mob mentality of calling people out and then commenting en masse is pretty lame. Etsy isn’t going to like you any better because of it and this “do not buy from list” thing is old hat. Blacklisting is a veiled threat.
For EtsyBloggers May 22 Carnival:
The EtsyBloggers team is asking what sellers will be stocking our Etsy shop shelves with this summer. My answer is a quick one. Not much.
It seems that my time is in short supply and I’m going to try to concentrate on creating art work rather than “products” to stock my Etsy shop with. I’m moving away from my jewelry line, at least for the time being. The small format was great while it lasted but I have a list of ideas I would like to try and I need to focus on the ideas that are most important to me. One thing that will result from the switch is that I have a bunch of ring and bracelet blanks that will be going up for sale in my supply shop, Baleen.
I will be working on a trade with my 5 year old mosaic fan (he’s trading me a small skull for an alien) and I have a request to do a Margaritaville sign for a family member (not a Jimmy Buffet fan so I’ll have to get inspired for that one). I’m going to dust off the tattoo inspired design ideas that I put on the back burner a few months ago and I’m hoping to have a set of 4 completed by the end of June. There is a new tattoo/art gallery in town and I’m hoping to convince them that they need my art.
I’m also trying to get 2 submissions completed for the June Art Walk in Downtown Fort Myers. Arts for ACT is hosting 3 shows, one of which has an Art of Music theme. I’ve had a space guitar in the works for a year plus. I’m thinking I should be able to finish it. And daas Gallery is calling for pop art inspired pieces. I’m still working through idea for that. (I was hoping to try out a paper mosaic.) Both need to be completed and ready by the first weekend in June. Time is ticking!
Come on now. This made it to Front Page?!
This proves my theory that any trend that is deemed “popular” on Etsy spawns dozens of dozens of listings that are in the same vein. Having this grace the front page just reinforces the point. Look for 100 more listings tagged with “mustache” tomorrow.
The tale of the Cosmic Collar was featured on 1000Markets COOL BLOG POSTS! Many thanks to Sand Fibers for promoting, promoting, promoting! It was her blog post that landed it there.
Raphael and his work, originally uploaded by Picachouette.
My friend Christine from CBMosaics alerted me to this adorable customer appreciation photo that she found on Flickr.
Apparently, a 5 year old from Cyprus was so inspired by my weird mosaics that he had to create one of his own! How cool is that?
His photo now resides on my customer appreciation page. Way to go Raphael.
x 100.
I think a trade might be in order. What do you think?
For EtsyBloggers May 8 Carnival:
I could wax poetic ALL DAY LONG about the art vs. craft debate. I find myself jumping from side to side on this issue. Sometimes I think that art is more highbrow than craft and sometimes I think that the whole debate is pointless. Why does it matter which form is “better”? Then I find myself back at square one defending art with a vicious foam around my mouth. Will I ever pick a side?
Read my 2 part debate here and here. What are your opinions? Comment here or blog about them and link back to this post. Debate is healthy. Stake yor claim.
File this under:
Searching through the mysterious logs of my Google Analytics account, I stumbled upon some interesting traffic sources that are “supposedly” tied into my Etsy shop. There were a few blogs that seem to be in the same vein as Etsy Bitch, most notably Etsy Puppeteers and Etsy Call Out. Talk about scathing journalism! Woooo Doggies!! I’m not sure what my relationship is with these blogs…or if there is any at all but discovering them sure was an eye opener.
And if selling on Etsy wasn’t hard enough, it is my greatest hope to never show up here. ((shudder))
A couple of days ago I posted about sharing information with other artists. I’ve had some interesting experiences with sharing knowledge. Some good, some bad. I’d like to think that I am the kind of person who wants other people to succeed (in the art world), especially when I find someone with extraordinary talent. When I’m inspired by someone’s artwork, it causes me to want to spread the joy. I’d like to think that there are others who feel this way too.
There are several mosaic art groups around. A few on Yahoo groups, Indiepublic, a ton on Flickr and then there is Contemporary Mosaic Art on Ning. Most of the members of CMA belong to one or more of the groups elsewhere so the people are familiar. I’ve never been afraid to share information there. The members are supportive and willing to help out newcomers. It is a very creative and constructive environment. I’m thankful it exists. (Thanks to Pam Givens for starting it!)
With all that said, I started to think more about my sharing information post. Even though Etsy is a communal space where artists and craftspeople congregate to talk about their art form, their processes and their experiences, the marketplace kinda feeds that survival of the fittest mentality. It spawns that feeling of being on the school yard again. Being picked last, having the mean girls biting at your heels. Etsy can build you up but their members will tear you down.
I don’t mean to make Etsy shoulder the whole burden here. Long before Etsy was stirring up controversy in the crafting world, eBay was out there dishing out its fair share of discontent. There are scores of forums, message boards and email lists. All of them are responsible for hosting bitchfests that foster a sense of NOT belonging. I’m not even sure if it is the marketplace that causes the problem. I think it’s the people. I think it’s human nature for people to struggle to be the top dog and unfortunately being top dog sometimes means stepping on a few toes along the way. So…is it only me that is slowly building a protective wall?
My art gallery recently removed links to their represented artists’ web pages from the gallery website. Apparently potential customers were trying to remove the middle man and go directly to the artist. Just another challenge of selling art from a brick and mortar.
My friend Coco commented that “My wall has grown to where I just dont go anywhere anymore around other artists. I can no longer share or inquire…” She’s been getting nasty mail for years from people who think that she shouldn’t be breaking plates (she sells mosaic tiles from broken china). Who are they to tell her what to do?
Another commenter uninvoked says, “How many top writers receive letters from wannabes whining to them about how hard it is and asking for the name of that particular writer’s literary agent?
I think it’s better if you just go your own way, carve your own niche, and if you see someone with genuine talent? Do what you can. In the end, its up to the individual whether s/he succeeds or not.”
Obviously there are alot of artists, writers and craftspeople who experience the “wall building effect” on some level. All of us have a few trusted friends on the web that we readily share information with and all of us are cautious with how much information we give out…and to whom.
What are your experiences or opinions? Am I just being a sourpuss?
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My dia de los muertos mosaic, La Catrina! won 1st Place in daas Gallery's Pequeno Formato exhibit in December 2008.
Two pieces of my mosaic art are featured in the 2008 Mosaic Yearbook CD, an international portfolio of mosaic art.
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