Thanks to everyone who came out to my first Summer 2013 Open House. Got busy after the first group so didn’t get to take any more photos, but hopefully someone will send some 🙂
Open House – June 2013
Category: Production
Open House – June 22, 2013 11am-7pm
You are invited to attend my first summer ‘Open House’ this Saturday in North-Central Austin.
In addition to browsing my work you can see demonstrations of how we create the work in the studio while snacking on healthy items.
Studio & Gallery Space!
I am opening a new Studio/Gallery Space in the Violet Crown Shopping Center at Lamar & Brentwood in Midtown Austin.
The space is ~1200 sqft with ample parking & visibility, high ceilings & acid-stained floors, large front windows with storage and private office. Less than a mile from where we live. Will have a opening party soon, so stay tuned 😉
Also purchasing more equipment to support additional production capacity, so you artists that have been asking – check with me 2nd half of the month 😉 Parking area can accommodate larger weekend events should the need arise.
Sublimation Equipment has Arrived! :D
Just got everything off the truck and will spend the day making space in my studio for the heat press and converting my old Epson 4800 printer to the sublimation inks. This will allow me to do my own in-house printing of the ceramic tile coasters, mouse-pads, cutting boards and some t-shirts*. So I hope to get caught up on outstanding orders of these items in the next few days 🙂
* My current t-shirt designs (Brushy Truck, vw Bug, Old International Pickup, Mean Green Ford, and Salida Chevy are screen-printed on 100% ring-spun garment-dyed cotton and I intend to continue to having most of my tees screen printed. However, I will have the ability to do ‘one-offs’ and small quantities on a microfiber blend white t-shirts until I’m ready for the larger orders for each new design.
In contrast to printing with archival inks directly to my limited-edition canvas and fine art paper prints, the sublimation inks are printed on a roll of transfer medium then heat pressed directly into the target material (coated ceramic tile, rubber mouse pad, glass cutting board, t-shirt, etc.). The inks go directly from a solid to gas – staining the material for a durable image for use: wear, water and so on.
Tile Coaster Gallery – Up for Viewing….
Now have 64 images available for ceramic tile coasters. 42 of them are old vehicles and the gallery is the best place to see ‘most’ of my old trucks.
Keep in mind these images are derived from the print files so may not look quite right on the screen. Plus there is some bleed for cropping around the sides. I will try to get photos of the actual coasters in the coming weeks, but if you’d like to order based on these images, just let me know. Show pricing applies: $10 each or 4 for $35 (& $8.75 each additional).
Also have several mouse pad designs, but basically any of the coaster designs can go to a mouse pad 😉
Getting ready for Boulder….
Studio Mac still in repair, but was able to get most of my printing done thanks to recent back-up of all my print files from the external drive to DVR (Digital Video Recorder) computer. Now I have Photoshop and all that Jazz on this computer, may come in handy. Few more new and Colorado works to work on beginning of next week, but at least restocked.
Look forward to the trip and seeing some of my CO friends! 😀
Salida Chevy Edges Out Ford – Caught @ Rushour…
Once in the #2 spot, Ford – Caught @ Rushour has been edged out by Salida Chevy in my ‘popularity index’* for matted prints. There are now 6 ‘trucks’ in the top 20 with Brushy Truck possibly moving up from #22 to make 7.
Top 5 matted prints currently:
Aspen to the Sky
Steps to the Light
Salida Chevy
Ford – CARH
Church & Wildflowers
Rails into the Snowy distance is the overall best seller & although there are less numbers to be scientific on large canvases, Gorilla Falls – Contemplating the Journey, Driller, Buoys on Dock, Rails into the Snowy Distance, Wheels & Gears, Bus Garden, Chicago Time & Dandelion are pretty popular…
Just for fun guys… 🙂
* popularity index is my calculation of the odds a given print will sell at a show. Factors include total sales, age etc. Of course show locale and other factors have to be considered when I restock 😉
Mac dead in the water…
My mac (studio computer) went out yesterday and my neighbor and resident Mac expert confirmed the drive is DOA. One minute really slow – next notta. So while he’s replacing the hard drive and reinstalling OSX & Apps, I setup Photoshop on my Windows DVR computer and printing from my backup drive. After he’s done setting up will start restoring from Carbonite (online) which should have all but my latest projects on it. So that will mean redoing my newer projects and may not have any new Colorado works ready for Boulder next weekend ;(
Photos & print files were on all on local backup, just my projects (to create new pieces or sizes of existing) rely on the Carbonite so we’ll see how big a production hit I take.
Artist or Wall Decorator?
One question I pondered for the new year is:
“How can I share my work with & allow people without large amounts of wall space to collect my art work?”
As an artists am I not expected to think outside the box – or frame? Of course one needs to be careful not to ‘cheapen’ their work especially when doing limited editions. Often I receive ‘Wow!s’ & ‘I love your work’ only to followed by – ‘if I only had wall space’. Occasionally I’m honored when someone tells me they use one of my images as wallpaper/background on their computer screen 🙂
So, really, ‘is my artwork only to be displayed on walls?’
– am I an ‘Artist or Wall Decorator?’
For 2010, I look forward to not only bringing you intriguing images, but interesting & accessible ways to enjoy and collect my artwork. Although not groundbreaking by any means, here are a some ‘products’ I am looking into:
* Pendants – small versions of selected works embedded into metal pendant frames for wine glass charms, hung together on leather string, even wearable, etc.
* Themed Coffee Table Books & screen-savers – (like old trucks), series
* Licensing – have had authors & such inquire about using some of my images.
If you are an enterprising fan of my work, let me know. I will address these request a little better this year.
* Puzzles? several request for these as well.
Please remember my fine art prints, especially larger limited edition canvases, are my primary product focus.
Networking with fans & collectors is also priority – so, as always, if you have thoughts or requests please comment. One note though, please limit ‘suggestions’ to things you would seriously be interested in 😉
Thanks! 🙂
Christmas Orders are Done!
Wow – I actually have all my orders completed and still a couple days before Christmas! 😉 Glad I took the time and went down to talk to people at my Keep Austin Bizarre consignment booth and spent time with artist friends 😀 Leaving Friday to be with family in Abilene then Gardendale Texas. Time to relax, and plan for 2010.
If you have a last minute xmas gift need, please let me know! 🙂
