Wednesday, September 14, 2016

Vigilant Unicorn

Vigilant Unicorn
available HERE for sale
I tell how to customize below

This piece is from 2012, and I still have the original ACEO (without the border) for sale HERE.

Here is another version:

CUSTOMIZING IT:
Here is how to do it:
On the right, click on prints, and then find framed prints.
Alternatively, go HERE where the framed prints are
click the arrow where it says framed prints on the right hand side
Then you'll see a tab come up just underneath it
You'll see a bunch of tabs running underneath the "framed prints" 
(and underneath the tab, you'll see the framing possibilities --
note: the frame defaults to a black frame -- yuck, but you can change that)
Anyway, up where the tabs are, click on 1. for the size print you want.
Then click on 2. for the frame.
You'll notice right before all the little square pictures of frames, you can choose a frame color.
*The first one is in the gold section (click on VN7).
*The second one is in the gold section too (click on 4VS).  
Then click on 3. for a mat color
*The first one is "Mist matte" which is in the second row towards the end.
*The second one is "moss green matte" -- in the fourth row all the way to the end of the row
I usually go for the Somerset Velvet paper. It has the best picture quality for my taste,
but if you want to save money and it is going in an area where sun will hit it part of the day,
or in a bedroom, then the archival matte paper is fine.

Here are some pillow possibilities using the same kinds of sliders and swatches
(pillows here):

using the customization colors and sliders it is:
R (105) G (98) B (58)
or #69623a

Here are some other possibilities you can get by playing around with colors:

The reason for all of these possibilities? To go with your decor.

Here is a greeting card with a light green background:

This background color is:
R (215) G (220) B (193)
or #d7dcc1

Here is how it looks as a tote bag
(tote bags are $19.98 for the smallest, and 
$24.25 for the largest):


Here is how it looks as a shower curtain (cool, yes?):


More products are available in this design HERE.
My continually growing on-line shop is HERE (note as of this writing it is a new shop).
Again, the original, a very tiny drawing, as of this writing, is for sale HERE for $25.

Thanks for looking!

Wednesday, September 7, 2016

Millefleurs Triptych (with Unicorn) in a variety of prints and products

Millefleurs Triptych with Unicorn, Cranes, Rabbits and Dove
available HERE for sale
I tell how to customize below
(please note: the prints are in a limited edition and I will still be honoring the limited edition whether my real or digital signature is on the print. The limited edition is 1,020). 

This piece is from 2014 and you can read about it on my other post, but for the sake of this post, I am going to tell you how you can get various possibilities in my shop with some framing and home decor.

Here is another possibility:


CUSTOMIZING IT:
Here is how to do it:
On the right, click on prints, and then find framed prints.
Alternatively, go HERE where the framed prints are
click the arrow where it says framed prints on the right hand side
Then you'll see a tab come up just underneath it
You'll see a bunch of tabs running underneath the "framed prints" 
(and underneath the tab, you'll see the framing possibilities --
note: the frame defaults to a black frame -- yuck, but you can change that)
Anyway, up where the tabs are, click on 1. for the size print you want.
Then click on 2. for the frame.
You'll notice right before all the little square pictures of frames, you can choose a frame color.
*The first one is in the gold section (click on PAZ2 on the top row).
*The second one is in the gold section too (click on PAZ2 right next to it).  
Then click on 3. for a mat color
*The first one is "Chinese red matte" which is the near the last row.
(note there is also one called Chinese Matte" that doesn't look quite right, and they are next to each other, so be aware of that)
*The second one is "sandstone matte" -- kind of in the middle of the swatches 
After you are done with that, click on 4. 
I usually go for the Somerset Velvet. It has the best picture quality for my taste,
but if you want to save money and it is going in an area where sun will hit it part of the day,
or in a bedroom, then the archival matte paper is fine.

Here are some pillow possibilities using the same kinds of sliders and swatches
(pillows here):

This one is R(125), G(8), B(8)

This one is R(29) G(83) B(29)
or #1d531d

This one is R(217) G(94) B(106)
or #d95e6a

There are also cell phone covers and tote bags as part of the listing
again, all products available for this listing here 

Or go to my whole shop HERE

Sunday, September 4, 2016

Unicorn in a Pink Heart

Unicorn in a Pink Heart
© Lise Winne
for sale HERE

This piece is brand-spanking new. It is actually a "digitized piece" that I worked on for a long time. It originated from this piece. It has a different kind of heart around it, plus it has the deep red vine border design. The eye color of the unicorn is also green and the hummingbird has a bit more green in it than red.

In my store, you'll notice that you can customize, and that there are other products than just prints. Following are just a few customization options, and how to do it. 

Here are some framing possibilities:

This one is with the art work size set at 20" x 24"
(the 20" x 24" is a large size, so go smaller if you'd like):
This is a copper frame with a "manor white" matte

Here is how to do it:
On the right, click on prints, and then find framed prints.
Alternatively, go HERE where the framed prints are
click the arrow where it says framed prints on the right hand side
Then you'll see a tab come up just underneath it
You'll see a bunch of tabs running underneath the "framed prints" 
(and underneath the tab, you'll see the framing possibilities --
note: the frame defaults to a black frame -- yuck, but you can change that)
Anyway, up where the tabs are, click on 1. for the size print you want.
Then click on 2. for the frame.
You'll notice right before all the little square pictures of frames, you can choose a frame color.
This one is in the copper section (click on VN4 on the top row).
Then click on 3. for a mat color
This one is "manor white" which is the fourth one in at the top.
Then click on 4. 
I usually go for the Somerset Velvet. It has the best picture quality for my taste,
but if you want to save money and it is going in an area where sun will hit it part of the day,
or in a bedroom, then the archival matte paper is fine.

Here is another possibility:
size: 12" x 14"
mat: Williamsburg Red Matte
frame: Silver (RWB13)
note: some of the frames have a mixture; 
this one has silver and gold even though it is in the silver category.

Here is how a pillow looks ...  
(you can also customize these with different colors and making the picture bigger or smaller on the pillow)
another possibility:
If that isn't enough, what about a duvet cover ...
Maybe a teenage girl might like this.
(these are also customizable in terms of colors, by the way)

Then there are totes
(also customizable)
These square totes are on this page in a variety of sizes 
There are also more here and here

Here are some phone cases (i-phone case and galaxy phone case -- all in a number of sizes)
Phone cases are here
There are also greeting cards in this design, but I don't think I need to show them. They run $5 for an individual card or $45 for 25 cards ($1.80 each). 
$1.80 each is definitely a good price if you have a store you are selling out of, or if you are an individual doing bulk mailing.

Sometimes I like to ask myself, with each new design that I put out, would I buy this design? The answer is yes. In fact, the duvet cover would look great in our new place and it will probably go there. Not every design looks good on a duvet cover, but that one does: it is the right kind of dimensions to fit the kind of space the duvet cover allows. My second choice would be the pillow in the dark red version.

It has been exciting opening a new on-line store. There are many more designs to come, but the process of listing is laborious, as you can imagine.

another link to my entire on-line store with so much more to come

Thursday, September 1, 2016

the uncensored Valley Artisans Market interview with Debra Ann Salat

EMBROIDERED HAND
by DebraAnn Salat

I did an interview of DebraAnn Salat, but my questions, and some of the answers were rewritten by someone else (without conferring with me). This is the unadulterated version, which I think better reflects "a co-operative gallery interview" from member to member than the dry version that was published.

(A special thank you to DebraAnn Salat for the experience of interviewing her and her beautiful work)

L: I noticed when looking around the gallery, you have a theme going with hands. What do hands represent to you? 

DebraAnn: Hands represent life to me. They are pretty much at the center of every interaction, every connection. We use them to comfort, nurture, nourish, create, in love, even in anger. I like to use them in my art because they are simple but all life comes from them.


L: To me, when I look at your pieces, there is a message of healing and hope. That is the predominant message I receive. Then there are a lot of heart symbols: little sewn hearts with embroidery on them, and even framed work with hearts. Is there a message in this for us? Do you want a more compassionate world where people put healing one another, loving one another, and being thoughtful of one another ahead of other concerns? 

DebraAnn: I learned how to embroider during a very traumatic time period of my childhood. I have always used the needle arts as a soothing presence, as a meditation to bring peace and tranquility to my life. I like to translate that peace into my work so I am glad that you see them that way. Like most artists I use my art to express my emotions, be they peaceful or chaotic. I almost always end up in peace if I let myself go there. I would love a more compassionate world and think it would be if more people picked up an embroidery needle or a paintbrush.



L: Why did you choose embroidery as your medium? Like: why not painting, or drawing or another art form to express yourself? What is it about embroidery that holds a sway for you? 

DebraAnn: I have been embroidering since I was a 6 year old. Being an artist came much later in life. I can do more with an embroidery needle than I ever could with a paint brush, it's something I've been in love with since childhood. My embroidery is very organic, it starts out with a simple design that I hand draw but all the details come from a needle. It is why if you pick up two of my heart ornaments they may have the same subject but they are never identical. I also look at it as a meditation, a soothing of my soul.

L: How does embroidery make you the person that you are? How does embroidery and the imagery inform, or transform, your life? 

DebraAnn: Well it keeps me peaceful and even keeled. If I am embroidering all is right with the world. When I'm not embroidering I am an anxious kind of person and quite talkative, when I am embroidering I am at peace, quiet, contemplative. It transforms my life as it helps me to banish my demons. I process my feelings and create peace within myself. As I mentioned earlier I have always been embroidering something but it has taken on more importance since I have begun to self express this way. Since it has become an art rather than a craft.

L: Which brings me to my next question: how do you want your images to effect others? When they put up a framed piece on their wall, what kind of feeling would you like to transfer to them when they look at your work? 

Debra Ann: I would like them to feel peace and see the chaos of every moment. We live in a tangled twisty time period filled with emotions of all sorts, I'd like them to see the twisty turns of chaos come together to find peace. The hearts mean a lot to me because I tend to do them when I need them. If I need a little joy i embroider a little joy. If I need peace i embroider a little peace. They relate to people that way too. I had a piece accepted into a group show and while I was standing there a woman came up to me and said she loved my work which she had seen at VAM and had given one of my joy hearts to her sister who was quite ill so she could bring a little joy into her life. It was a huge light bulb moment that what I was hoping to accomplish I accomplished. It's one of the nicest compliments art related I have ever received.

L: I have been with you in this co-operative gallery for 5 years. To me, you represent the perfect example of a co-operative artist who is out for the group. You always have something sweet to say when a member is sick and needs a work replacement. You always inquire how people are feeling, and there is a general sense of warmness and concern for others in your personal make-up. Part of being in a co-operative is "talking other members' work up" with customers which you do with ease. I assume that these qualities come naturally to you, that you didn't have to "work at it" when you joined. I'd love to hear why you joined, and how you feel about the co-operative gallery experience as opposed to common galleries where you put your work on consignment? 

Debra Ann: I have a very good friend who is an artist here at VAM. I had a not so wonderful experience in another coop and she convinced me to jury and 5 years later I'm still here. I feel so honored to be part of Valley Artisan Market. The camaraderie and pure talent of everyone here has meant so much to me especially in the years following my divorce. It was quite painful and my fellow coop members were just so wonderful during that time. I feel blessed.

L: I notice that in the other part of your working life, you enjoy working with people, in a team. Who is the real Debra-Ann Salat? The hermit artist or the outgoing team player? Obviously you are both, but who predominates in your mind, do you think? 


Debra Ann: The real DebraAnn Salat is a contradiction. I'm a waitress in my other job which requires me to be outgoing, smiling and kind all the time. I'm a relatively happy person most of the time but I am also an empath which means I pick up other people's energy. I try to keep myself outgoing and smiling to counter others negative feelings. My art allows me to be a hermit and process my feelings and just be. I tried to just be an artist and found the isolation and lack of human interaction wasn't a very good thing for me so I'd have to say I'd like a healthy balance of both. Without my art I probably couldn't be a very good waitress and without human interaction I'd probably not be as good an artist.

L: Where would you like to see yourself in 2020 in terms of your work? What kinds of themes and concerns would you like express? Do you see yourself still making hearts and hands? 

Debra Ann: I'm hoping to still be able to make beautiful hands along with other things and still be making my hearts. Everybody needs a little heart to hang on their doorknob to remind them of what they love.

L: Are there any other things you would like to say about your work? 

Debra Ann: I am so thankful to my grandmother who taught me to embroider as a child. I make custom pieces and do bereavement work where I will finish an unfinished piece of hand embroidery or teach someone how to finish it themselves. I can be reached at VAM, or by telephone or email.



links for DebraAnn Salat: