Tito the Turkey - Banner for a Food Drive

Last year, the Communications Department asked me to design a banner of some sort for the food drive. We came up with Tito the Turkey. I made him of large pieces of Canson papersafter designing Tito with watercolor paints (as seen in this post). Seems he had an adventure this year before helping the food drive! Tito made it back and we are very happy he is back in action! 

From the email sent to the entire work population....Searching for Tito the Turkey!

I thought it was truly special that when Tito the Turkey was found, this is what the department sent:

Hey Point,
After a harrowing experience, no less, I've been returned safe and sound! I truly appreciate your thoughts and prayers, and now that I'm home, I plan to enjoy a hot plate of beef ribs before I take a much-needed nap! But before I go, I want to personally remind you to bring toiletries and some non-perishable food items to work for our annual Holiday food drive to benefit Community Partnership for Homeless. Large donation boxes are set up in the lobbies today through Nov. 22!


Thanks again!

From the email sent to the work place, Tito was Found! Thanks, Everyone!

Seems like the person who originally removed Tito the Turkey thought he was trash. Tito was just waiting to be placed into action! Next time, consider if what you think is trash may be treasure to someone else....

Have a great remainder of the week, everyone!

Smiles,

Angeline Marie of
Angeline Marie Fine Art

PS: At the time of this blog post, there are two 1st and 2nd generation paintings listed on eBay for clearance sale painted by me. Please share if you enjoy the listings. Thanks!

Click on the title of interest:


Cat in Sunlight Original Art Painting                             Apple, Bowl, Wine Original Art Painting


To keep up with what is posted in my eBay account, please search for seller artistangeline or just click on my user name in this sentence.

How to Care for Paintings on Paper

I subscribe to ARTtalk ArtPourri Tips, and they had a wonderful article about how to take care of paintings created on paper. As an artist, paper is one of my favorite painting surfaces because of the surprises and versatility of the fibers. It can be challenging to care for and frame a painting on paper, so here is how:

Artwork Preservation: Protecting Works on Paper
For original posting of this article, please click this sentence or search ARTtalk Art PourriTips.

It is a most unfortunate fact that the ultraviolet light produced by any light source can cause a slow, steady decline in the color, vibrancy, intensity and overall appeal of artworks created on paper. While oil and acrylic paints might change colors very slowly, works on paper done in watercolor, for instance, fade at a rate that is in direct relationship to the quantity and brightness of light exposure.

If you expose a watercolor painting done on any professional quality paper (acid-free, archival) to a bright, intense light source, you will see that the colors begin to change and fade very quickly. Since very few of us choose to display our artworks in a strong light, the damage created by the ultraviolet spectrum of the light is usually unnoticed. Because the fading and color changes occur over a long period of time, we tend to grow accustomed to the diminished colors and tones.


There are several ways you can work to protect your paper artworks. It is well known that art that is not on display should be stored properly. This usually means an acid-free, archival folder or print box. But, when it comes time to frame and display these artworks, consider selecting a type of glazing that offers protection.

At this time we are fortunate to have several types of glass that restrict the penetration of ultraviolet light. Common clear glass offers limited protection but is much better than forgoing the use of glass altogether.


Non-glare glass is the next step up the protection ladder and offers approximately 44% blockage of ultraviolet light. It is created by subjecting clear glass to an acid dip, causing a slight frost on the glass. Modern non-glare glass is etched on one side only. This one-side treatment eliminates most of the image and detail softening qualities of old fashioned non-glare glass (etched on both sides).


Conservation glass is very special in that it takes a product similar to either clear or non-glare glass to a new level. Conservation glass is coated on the artwork side of the glass and effectively blocks 98% of the ultraviolet penetration. It reflects back the UV with the coating and prevents nearly all UV damage to artworks on paper. Conservation comes in the same two qualities of glass: clear and non-glare. Cost is higher than traditional clear and non-glare, but the degree of protection is over doubled.


The last type of glass that is available is museum glass, which offers both a nearly reflection-free surface and a very high degree of UV protection. This choice would be best for original works or very costly, collectable items on paper.


Acrylic sheeting is a choice preferred by many photographers because it does not cause any tonal changes in the photographs. Because of the silica content, some glass products do have a “color.” Acrylic sheeting is unbreakable and comes in clear and non-glare. Some manufacturers offer a very high grade of material, which offers moderate protection from UV.


In summary, consider the ground upon which your artwork is created. Coat oil paintings with special products created to help block UV and to preserve the luminescence and shimmer of the paintings. But for paper art, use the glazing material that best suits your application and budget. And remember, art that is displayed can be enjoyed every day. It makes a house a home and shares your style with family and guests.


I hope this article helps those that own paintings and other art work on paper. If you have further questions, please leave a comment.

Smiles,
Angeline Marie of
Angeline Marie Fine Art

PS: At the time of this blog post, there are two 1st and 2nd generation paintings listed on eBay for clearance sale painted by me. Please share if you enjoy the listings. Thanks!

Click on the title of interest:
Cat in Sunlight Original Art Painting

Apple, Bowl, Wine Original Art Painting

To keep up with what is posted in my eBay account, please search for seller artistangeline or just click on my user name.

International Postal Art Project - Bristol UK

Just a few days before I left on vacation to San Diego, CA and Las Vegas, NV, I received my postcard from artist Helen Allsebrook’s International Postal Art Project begun in the United Kingdom (or England). The letter’s paper size was centimeters and a little larger than our standard 8 by 11 inch paper, which even after all my travels is still very interesting to me. The postcards are about the size of which we are accustomed. The next two artists that are receiving the link of three postcards are located in the Netherlands and West Midlands (UK). How cool is that!?

I love Miami and have traveled enough to enjoy living here.  Unless stuck in a traffic jam, I truly love the climate, the people, and the activities that are found here. I browsed my photo reference library and choose a view that is often taken for granted by most Miamians: palm trees against the sky.

That same day of completion, my postcard section was mailed off to the next artist in the Netherlands. I cross my fingers that my section arrived to me in less than two weeks from Helen’s mailing in the U.K. I am also hoping that the artist in the Netherlands has received it by now (two weeks after sending).

According to Helen, the postcards are going into an exhibit in April, 2010 at the University of the West of England and later in Rochester, New York. There are over 240 people participating from over 11 different countries. Since Helen has lost count on the countries, who knows how many! Thanks, Helen, for organizing such a grand project! She is working hard to post the items as received on her blog. 

Here are some photos of my postcard!

The first is what came inside of the envelope to me: letter of instructions, three envelopes, my postcard (the two more are folded under mine).  

My postcard:

Title: Car View

Medium: acrylics on paper

Size: about 5 by 6 inches

Smiles!

Angeline-Marie of

Angeline Marie Fine Art

Study without desire spoils the memory, and it retains nothing that it takes in."

--Leonardo Da Vinci, artist, scientist, inventor and author

Loosening Up for an Art Session

Sometimes, there is fear to overcome: how'd I do that? what am I doing? I can't do that! That was a one time wonder!...and I can list all of the fears forever. Few things scare a writer more than a blank page, and it is the same fear an artist fears.

One thing I truly dislike doing is wasting materials. So, I found some unexpected recycle, reuse, reduce paper at work! Those of you who work with me may recognize the graph paper, its patterns, and its use. Work was ready to pitch the rolls of paper into the recycle, but with permission saved them. Free practice paper to ruin any time, any where!

Got some ink out, my CD of figures, and painted away part of the afternoon. They are posted here in order of creation. The first, at least to me, feels stiff and unsure. The fourth is my favorite. None are perfect, but the style is strong and pleasing. Between the third & fourth, did some work on a commission and started a 2x3 ft landscape.

Latest Sketches...but by Request Only

It's been a while since I have posted some of the work art done recently. I do have at least one finished painting to share. Then, I start to think of most of what I have done lately.

Lately, I want to draw figures. We have an incredible model at Ismael's studio. She knows how to hold a pose, has a beautiful and exotic face, and she's quite attractive body-wise. She's fun to draw, especially when Ismael directs. The poses are of her leaning back with her legs crossed, her standing with one foot on a short stool, etc. There is little "gross" or "disagreeable" about the poses.

I would love to post them at work and on my website, but the drawings are nudes. Sadly, no matter how tasteful, the drawings might get the attention they do not deserve, so I won't post most of them.

Like I've said, I like my job because it keeps me in paint. With that said, look out for a few pictures (no, they are safe for viewing, or at least what I will post) or drop me an email if you would like to see a sample.

Hasta luego!

Angeline-Marie

www.angelinemarie.net

ammtz2008@gmail.com

DRAWING MATERIALS - BASICS

Sometimes, someone asks me what supplies should they get for an aspiring artist. Well, here goes!

Office Depot, Staples, Office Max have basic supplies. Michael's also has some. I'm sure up north Hobby Lobby will have. Art sites such as www.jerrysartarama.com and www.utrecht.com have better loose supplies (meaning you can buy as many of one type of pencil your heart desires, etc.) that the office supply stores may not have.

The list:

- #4B pencils run about $1 each (don't waste time w/kits full of different pencil types),

- pack of "smudgers" (they look like sharpened lollipop sticks for blending the pencil ($3/pack),

- a sketch pad that has a book binding not spiral (Borders, Barnes & Noble, look in discount sections, $10-20) about 8x11 size are nice b/c pages stay in,

- pencil sharpener (Dollar Tree!), get a few because somehow they always get lost & scattered,

- small pencil pouch to carry pencils, etc.,

- gray eraser that you have to pull & stretch (Michael's) & perhaps one pink eraser.

I think that's it. It'll run you about $30 for all - paper being most expensive @ ~$8/pad if you don't want the book bound type.

For lessons, I did a quick YouTube search:

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_type=&search_query=drawing+lessons&aq=2&oq=drawing

Although I didn't have a chance to watch any of the videos, seems like there are some high quality lessons!

Check your local library for art videos and/or lessons. Check www.wetcanvas.com for the BEST artist forum in the world (you will get lost).

Thanks to Daimisy for the idea of this blog topic!