Sale!

The skelefied goddess mixed-media painting on wood is home from the October Scary Art Collective show and has been relisted in my online shop.

Pieces of this size (8x10") with such a large time investment usually sell at $100, but because of the economy, I had priced this one at just under $80.  BUT WAIT!  THERE'S MORE!  To celebrate Halloween and Day of the Dead, I will reduce the price by a further 25% when you enter the code SKELEGODDESS at checkout.  The coupon is only good for this one of a kind piece, however, if she sells before All Saints Day, I'll create another special coupon for one of my original pieces.  Deal?

Here's a picture with the piece at an angle so you can see the texture effects. 

 This painting is approximately 8x10" (1/4" thick) and was created using papers, pencils, acrylic paints & mediums, and inks on wood. The entire work is sealed with a low-sheen UV protectant to keep your painting's colors vivid for years to come.

If you are interested, please visit the listing in my Artfire shop, where it is always free to shop and where you are not required to sign up for an account (like that 'other' handmade online site).

Did I mention this would make a pretty danged awesome Christmas present?

Read more ...

New Project - kitties (with fur, even!)

Howdy there gang!  While I constantly insist that I blog without obligation, I thought I'd apologize for being AWOL recently just the same.

Along with the usual flurry of activity that comes with the month of October -my wedding anniversary, frenzied outings before the weather turns, not to mention Halloween & Day of the Dead- I've been down and out with an ear infection that was more persistent that my Jack Russell Terrier after a ground squirrel.

The last couple of weeks have been spent sleeping, reading trashy novels and sketching for practice, so I don't have a lot to show you, but yesterday I got back to work on a commissioned piece for fellow artist Jen X of her kitties, Neptune (who has gone to The Great Kitty Beyond) and Stardust.


I had done a sketch of Stardust back at the end of August, then got focused on other projects.



Finally, yesterday I got inspired on the colors and layout of the piece for Jen, and started sketching the second kitty, Neppie.




And now, to the actual canvas I go to start the layout and sketching of the actual piece!

Oh, and by the way, Skelekitty is annoyed that I'm drawing cats with fur - as you might suspect, she prefers a little more bone showing.

Read more ...

Twisted Minds Think Alike

The story of "Gwen" the new American Girl doll who, as it turns out at the end of the accompanying book, is homeless, finally hit NPR last week.  After hearing people voice their opinions on what I see as a complete and total non-controversy (well, except for the $95 price-tag on the doll alone), I inevitably started thinking: you know, what images we expose our children to, what we should hide from them, what constitutes "promoting" something, blah, blah, blah...

As usual, my thoughts followed a tangential path and I came up with what I THOUGHT was a terrific idea for a painting: Teen Pregnancy Barbie. I spent quite a bit time brainstorming and sketching ideas for her clothing (hot pink half shirt with "Porn Star" in crystals). I also thought up all kinds of extras and accessories: "Baby Daddy Ken" (not included, of course), maternity prom gowns and several other things that Ron and I thought struck the perfect balance between offensively funny and socially significant.

So today, while searching the internet for pictures of Barbie's face (I don't own an actual Mattel Barbie doll - why would I?), the funny all came crashing down.

I discovered that an artist by the name of Nina Westerberg created a multimedia art project called, yep, you guessed it, "Teen Pregnancy Barbie."

Here's a link to Nina's PowerPoint presentation.

At first, I felt terribly chagrined and, for lack of a better word, "uncool" for not having known about this piece earlier.  On the other hand, I did come up with the idea independently (albeit 3+ years late), and it turned out to be one that got people pretty worked up.

This lack of knowledge about what has and hasn't been done before makes me want to take a series of art history classes - starting with the Dutch Masters and going right through to current performance, Pop Art and Low Brow stuff.  Not that such information would prevent me from making another time-consuming near mis-step, but at least I wouldn't come across as Little Miss Smugly Defensive like Kenley "but I don't look at other designers" Collins from season 5 of Project Runway.

Well, I guess that's it for today.  Back to the idea pool, I guess.

Read more ...

LIVE on "Live Wire" Sacramento TONIGHT

Skelekitty and I will be appearing on Live Wire (Sacramento Comcast Channel 17 or streaming online) at 5pm tonight, Wednesday, October 21st with some of the chicas from the Scary-Art Collective!

We hope you'll tune in!

Read more ...

More Ghoulish Goodies

The Artfire Ghouls Guild TRICK OR TREAT 2009 continues today with coupon codes and sales from 13 of our members (how lucky is THAT for you?), a scavenger hunt and two more featured artists, Huckleberry Arts and one of my new favorite crazy girls, Christine St. Onge of 2 of Mind and Spirit.

HUCKLEBERRY ARTS

Annette Gambrel

I don't recall a time in my life where something was not being created. I don't ever see not having time in the day where something isn’t made.


Being an artist has been a gift I couldn't be more proud of, the people I have met each one touches me in their own little way, some more than they know. I enjoy the process of meeting new collectors that enjoy my lil creations. It’s a wonderful gift to be given and to be able to share with others, and hopefully bring a smile into another’s life along the way.

Find HUCKLEBERRYARTS:

huckleberryarts.artfire.com

huckleberryarts.com

huckleberryarts.blogspot.com

flickr.com/huckleberryarts

twitter.com/huckleberryarts

and a very creative (and all around fun) person,

2 OF MIND AND SPIRIT

Christine St.Onge

I love to create all kinds of things. I've tried so many crafts at least once just to see how they're made. I make one of a kind items because we are all one of a kind.


Just remember.. You are unique! Just like everyone else! Revel in your individuality!

Find 2 OF MIND AND SPIRIT:
2ofmindandspirit.artfire.com

facebook.com/pages/2-of-Mind-and-Spirit/49612386274

twitter.com/2ofMind_nSpirit

The lucky winner of yesterday's prize giveaway was Drucilla!  She won this awesome set of handmade mini Halloween cards by She's Batty Designs.


Stay tuned for another prize giveaway tomorrow - this time it will be a free digital Halloween party invitation custom created by Rouxbee Design Studio.


Oh, and have I mentioned that yours truly will be giving away a hand embellished 8x10" print of "Goin' Batty" soon.  When?  Well, that would be telling....

Bugs & Hisses,

SK

Read more ...

13 Days of Treats (it's no trick).

TRICK or TREAT 2009

Presented by the Ghouls Guild
October 1 - 13

13 lucky days of deals, prizes, and spooky fun

from Artfire's creative creatures of the night!

SALES
codes valid 10/1 - 10/13/09 

(unless otherwise stated)

Shop: Morgaine-du-Mer
Coupon Code: 10HALLOWEENIE10
Details:10% off all shop categories except original ACEOs

Shop: House Morbid
Coupon Code: ANABEL LEE
Details: 20% off your total order. One use per customer.

Shop: Rsisland Crafts
Coupon Code: Ghoul's Guild TrickorTreat2009
Details: 20% off (this coupon code is valid for the whole month of October)

Shop: Kaotic Ekkos Curiosities
Coupon Code: TRICKORTREAT2009
Details: 13% off

Shop: She's Batty Designs
Coupon Code: GHOULS
Details: Free Shipping on all Canadian and US orders.

Shop: JenniferLynn Productions
Coupon Code: halloween13
Details: Free shipping

Shop: Simply Smiss
Coupon Code: n/a
Details: Buy 2 get items and get free US shipping or 1/2 off international shipping. Will refund the difference or post a custom listing (no coupon code required). Simply Smiss is closed until Oct 5th.

Shop: Debvandet Designs
Coupon Code: debvandet15
Details: 15% off

Shop: A and M Boutique
Coupon Code: AANDMBOUTIQUE13
Details: Free shipping on Halloween and Wiccan Items

Shop: Mad Science Creations
Coupon Code: GHOULS09MSC
Details: Free Shipping on US and Canadian orders (coupon code is valid for the entire month of October)

Shop: Rouxbee Design Boutique
Coupon Code: n/a
Details: Rouxbee will be having "sneaky sales," and randomly putting everything in her shop on sale by either 5%, 10%, or 15% sporadically for a total of 30 minutes-2 hours on a DAILY basis.

and, last but not least, yours truly

Shop: Skelekitty & Friends
Coupon Code: GHOULSGUILD13
Details: 13% off original art

     AND

Coupon Code: GHOULSGUILD666
Details: 66.6% off prints (Dude, that's almost free!)

PRIZES

Here are a few of the prizes you could win during Trick or Treat 2009!

Info, updates and giveaways are on the Ghouls Guild blog! 

Read more ...