Hand Painted Sacred Hearts are BACK!

Hi everyone!  I went looking through a supply shelf the other day and found several of these awesome 10" high Hydrostone sacred hearts, so they're officially available in the online shop again!

Cesco's Muertos since 2009. Cesco pours each Hydrostone heart, using his own handmade molds (created from his original sculpture, of course!). Hydrostone is a mix of cement and plaster, so it is much stronger and harder than plain casting plaster.

I have several of these hearts in stock now, and if you order your custom heart by Monday, November 4th, I can even finish it in time for Christmas delivery.

Any color scheme is available - you think it up, and I'll paint it.
click photo for link

Thanks to everyone for your continued support!  If there are other items you'd like to see return to the shop, please let me know.

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I've Been Livin' In A Box (Lots Of 'Em, Actually)

Holy mackerel, I've been MIA from my blog for too long!!!  Why, you ask?  Well, I've actually been creating new things in the studio, which is always a good thing.

Last November, I officially reintroduced the Krissi's Art Studio trinket boxes for the Dia de los Muertos show I did at Little Relics in Sacramento.  Since then, I've introduced multiple sizes and new designs, and people have responded by requesting plenty of commissioned boxes.  Here are a few of the new pieces I've been working on since February or so:

Geeky Boxes

Crown Royal bag inspired "Critical Hit" trinket box
(custom/sold - other designs available)

Adipose Industries trinket box

"Timey Wimey, Double Heart" trinket box
(yellow, more colors available)

"Sleeping Dragon" D&D themed trinket box
(custom/sold)

Tentacles mini trinket box (sold)

Just the TARDIS!

large "TARDIS" trinket box

mini/x-small "TARDIS" trinket box

"TARDIS" ring box

Not Just for Geeks

large Cherry Blossom trinket box
(sold, custom reproductions available)

Custom upgraded Bat Box (additional charge for detailed painting)
jewelry with this image is also available

nouveau bee trinket box

Monarch Skullerfly trinket box

Cupcake o' Guadalupe is BACK!  And it's a BOX!

Custom "Paris Metro" box

Wow!  No wonder I feel like I've been hip-deep in wooden boxes!  I kinda have.  And nope, I'm totally not complaining about it, because there are more coming down the pike!

That's the wraparound sketch on the "Golden Bought" Pawn cash box for my pal Aaron, creator of La Brujeria comic.  This one will be loaded with lots of inside references for readers of the comic.  And yes, that IS the Geek In The City Radio podcast playing in the background.

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Behind The Scenes and Inspiration: Courage

One of the questions I hear most is "where do you find inspiration," followed closely by "what's the story behind that image?"  The answer to the first is "pop culture, life, music and my 'black comedy' sense of humor." While that is definitely true, it is also pretty vague, so I thought I'd start occasional posts that tell the stories behind and beyond some of my pieces.  Of course, sometimes, a painting is just a painting, so not all of my images will show up in this series.

COURAGE (2008)

pyrography, acrylics and mixed-media on wood

This panel was 1/9th of a collaborative piece gifted to a friend in early 2009

In late 2008, a friend and fellow Sacramento artist, Kathy Blackburn and her musician hubby Byron, learned that his cancer had returned the day before his 1-year remission anniversary. Out of love and concern, nine Sacramento artists collaborated on a piece to wish Kathy & Byron "Love, Happiness, Strength, Courage, Positivity, Hope, Friendship, Support and Peace."

I agreed to be part of the collaborative gift before I knew what we were actually doing.  I'm a sucker like that.  So when I received the huge panel, I sat staring at it wondering what the heck I was going to do with the either "courage" or "happiness," which were the remaining words from which I could choose.  I wasn't feeling much inspiration; mostly, I was just feeling stress.  I set the piece against the wall and went to work on other things.

Meanwhile, I was taking several online courses (I switched from art quilts to painting/mixed media late in 2007).  About the same time I'd agreed to take part in the Blackburn piece, I was taking part in an 'oracle card' art challenge even though I had absolutely NO idea what the heck and oracle card was. We were supposed to make something that represented a positive force in our lives - something that was representative of what was going on. I turned to my friend and resource for all things occult/pagan, Temple Terkildsen, for a primer.  She pretty much told me to chill and just see what kept coming up in my life and that would decide what my "oracle card" should be.  Whatever.  I went back to the collaborative painting and stared.

In desperation, I looked up the definition for happiness and courage, and that's when I saw that the word comes from the Latin "cor" meaning "heart."  

Courage: c. 1300, from Old French corage, from Vulgar Latin Coraticum from Latin cor, "heart," which remains a common metaphor for inner strength.

By this time in my art career, I was pretty well known by that point for creating hearts, so it was painfully obvious which of the panels I'd be doing (and that it would also be the oracle card project).

So, the heart image is for courage, the thorny branches for the difficult things in life and the flowers are for hope.  The text on the lower, left corner is the definition (above) and the quotation in the top, right corner is a quotation from Osho, someone whose work Temple suggested I look into while trying to work on my oracle card challenge (more crossover between the projects).  The quotation reads,

Don't cling to any certainty. Life is uncertain - its very nature is uncertain. And an intelligent man always remains uncertain. This very readiness to remain in uncertainty is courage. 

The finished collaborative piece:
Row 1: Nicole Fox (love), Jennifer Keller (happiness), Evie Turner (strength)
Row 2: me (courage), Mark Fox (positivity), Jill Allyn Stafford (hope)
Row 3: Jared Konopitski (friendship), Miss Cy Wylie (support) and Char Hall (peace)

Although Byron passed away months after this work was presented to him, Kathy still treasures the piece we made for them both.

Accessories and magnets featuring Courage are available at skelekitty.com.

See all Behind the Scenes/Inspiration posts.  

Is there an image you're curious about?  Drop me a line and ask me to talk about it in a future Behind the Scenes and Inspiration post.

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Behind the Scenes and Inspiration: Red Kitty with a Pink Tail

One of the questions I hear most is "where do you find inspiration," followed closely by "what's the story behind that image?"  The answer to the first is "pop culture, life, music and my 'black comedy' sense of humor." While that is definitely true, it is also pretty vague, so I thought I'd start occasional posts that tell the stories behind and beyond some of my pieces.  Of course, sometimes, a painting is just a painting, so not all of my images will show up in this series.

RED KITTY WITH A PINK TAIL (2012)
mixed-media (soft pastels, charcoal, ink, molding paste) on canvas panel

people sometimes refer to this painting as "Joyce's Alzheimer's kitty"

In the summer of 2012, my mother-in-law, Joyce, was officially diagnosed with advanced Alzheimer's Dementia. It had been coming on for almost a decade of forgetting, arguing and battling until she was diagnosed in late 2011.  Things finally got so bad that she was hospitalized in the summer of 2012. While in the hospital, she insisted she saw a "red kitty with a pink tail."  She said the kitty had been coming in and out of her hospital room and asked my husband where she had gone.  He was educated enough about the disease to know telling her there was no kitty wouldn't help, so instead he asked her about it.  Joyce said that she was a "nice kitty" and when asked what the kitty was doing, Joyce replied, "Oh, you know. Kitty things."

My husband is convinced, because of my hair color at the time (crayola red, which had previously been magenta) that her brain turned "Krissi," into "kitty" and she was really talking about me. After all, I had been in and out of the room for several hours. 

The facility where she now lives promotes the idea of "going on the journey" with the Alzheimer's patients, so we continue to ask her about whatever she experiences on any given day.  The conversations have been interesting, and other "kitties" have come to visit her, but the jewel-toned Red Kitty never returned.

Prints and jewelry of Red Kitty with a Pink Tail are available at skelekitty.com.

See all Behind the Scenes/Inspiration posts.  

Is there an image you're curious about?  Drop me a line and ask me to talk about it in a future Behind the Scenes and Inspiration post.

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Holiday Orders (deadlines and incentives)

We're closing in on those winter gift-giving holidays and my guess is that, having just survived Halloween, many of you are beginning to panic.  Sure, there's plenty of time left to shop, even from handmade shops, but time is quickly running out to order custom work that will be delivered by Christmas.  My shop is no exception, so here is a rundown of the what, when and how for Christmas presents (since Hanukkah is early this year, custom deadlines have passed already).

Some people think skeletons are scary, but what's really scary
is finding out you missed an order deadline for Christmas!
mixed media on canvas panels, Red Catrina [left] and Flamenco Dancer [right]

CUSTOM ART

Deadline for Christmas Delivery:  I will accept Christmas orders for mixed-media/canvas panel pet portraits (or any other subject you like) through the end of next week.  Orders must be completed* on or before Sunday, November 18.  

Just head on over to skelekitty.com and check out the "custom art" section of my shop.  If you want a size that is not listed, or if you would like a non-pet portrait or multiple animals in your painting, please contact me at krissi@skelekitty.com to arrange for a personalized listing (deadlines apply for delivery guarantee).

Incentive! Many of my customers like to have the painting at home and a print at work, so here's something to sweeten the pot:  I will include one of my 8x10" prints of your custom piece with 11x14" and larger canvas panel paintings, when your order is completed* by the end of the day on Friday, November 16.

*Some fine print:  A "completed" order means that I have received payment and all commission requirements including desired colors, style and any photographs I may need to work from.  Payment alone does not guarantee delivery before Christmas - I must have all information required to begin work. 

JEWELRY

1" and 2" glass and resin art pendants
available from skelekitty.com and
Side Show Studios in Sacramento, CA

There is a great selection of pendants ready to go out on my next shipping day (within 7 days) at skelekitty.com. and in my Etsy shop, which has been re-opened with limited inventory.

If you are in Sacramento, you can purchase some of my most popular images on art jewelry from Side Show Studios (and I always recommend shopping locally when you can!).

I will continue to accept custom orders for pendants, but the turn-around-time is dependent upon the weather conditions, so I recommend you order early.  Christmas delivery may not be an option if the temperature drops or it begins raining.


PRINTS, CARDS and ART

select art and art boxes
available at Little Relics
in Midtown Sacramento

Sacramento locals can purchase most of my prints, my 5x7" Lotería cards, original art and art boxes at Little Relics in Midtown.

Prints and cards are available online at skelekitty.com and ship out within 7 days.  If you are interested in a particular piece of original art that is not listed on my website, please contact me at krissi@skelekitty.com for price and availability.


BLACK FRIDAY NOTE

My husband and I are going away for Thanksgiving this year!  We're taking sweaters and warm footwear up to Oregon for several days on the coastal beaches with friends, geek-speak, beer, food, dogs and board games.  Because we're running away, there will be no Black Friday sale or promotion at Krissi's Art Studio this year.  With that said, there's no incentive to hold off on your order for that weekend.



I hope you all enjoyed your Halloween and Día de los Muertos celebrations, and that you have something as wonderful as we do for our Thanksgiving weekend!


And remember, you don't have to buy here, but when you give, please

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First Solo Show: Día de los Muertos at Little Relics

Spirits' Journey & Soul Searching
16x12" mixed media on canvas panels

Howdy everyone!

I realize I've been noticeably missing in action here on 'teh interwebz' for the last few months as I prepared for my very first solo show.  My nose-to-the-grindstone attitude has definitely paid off, as I was able to build a collection of  both new and "classic" Day of the Dead themed paintings and gift items for everyone.


I am thrilled to be showing at Little Relics Gallery & Boutique, located in the heart of Midtown Sacramento, and to be working again with that gallery's owner, a talented jeweler and artist in her own right, Susan Rabinovitz.

Celebrate Día de los Muertos

with

Krissi's Art Studio, home of Skelekitty & Friends

 at

Little Relics Boutique & Gallería

908 21st St. (between I & J)

Sacramento, CA 

2 Sides of Skelekitty & Siren Song
11x14" acrylic/mixed media on cradled hardwood panels

Skelekitty and I are in excellent company with Susan's masterfully crafted jewelry, original artwork by cartoonist Eric Decetis, an amazing collection of gifts and cards and a special Día de los Muertos shrine by the amazing Margaret Griffin Arnold.  (Wow, I'm feeling a little star-struck here!)

Red Catrina & Flamenco Dancer
12x16" pastel on canvas panels

As usual, Susan has some wonderful events planned throughout the month!  You can drop in any time during gallery/boutique hours, but we would love to see you at one of these free gatherings:

Fri, Nov 2: Día de los Muertos celebration and show opening reception 6pm - 9pm

Thur, Nov 8: Artwalk preview 6-9pm

Sat, Nov 10: 2nd Saturday Artwalk noon-10pm

Skullerfly mini trinket boxes - acrylic on wood
(other sizes and images available)

If you aren't local (and I know many of you are not), or if you cannot make it to the show, you can still snap up some of these goodies by contacting Susan via e-mail or calling her during gallery hours at 916.716.2319.

Love & Death 12x16"
acrylic on cradled hardwood panel

Little Relics is located at 908 21st Street in Midtown Sacramento between J & I (just a few doors down from Body Tribe!)  Store hours:
Monday:  12 to 6

Tuesday: 9 to 6

Wednesday: 12 to 6

Thursday: 9 to 7

Friday: 12 to 5 (by appt 5-7)

Saturday:  11 to 7

Open late for 2nd Saturday Artwalk until 10

Special Events 6pm to 9pm

Sugar Silly Skullies
7x7" mixed media on wood plaques

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Critters Make Me Smile!

It has been a busy summer full of "surprises," so I decided to do a few relatively quick paintings to cheer myself up.  It worked like a charm!

These first two portraits were "payment" for my end of a couple of trades.

Gracie, the Australian Shepherd

Mustard Danger, International Lhasa Apso of Mystery!

I was on a roll, so I also did one of my husband's cat, Mouse.

Mouse, the cat who was raised by a dog.  

And while I was awaiting photographs for new portrait orders, I did this for some fun.

For the story behind the Red Kitty with a Pink Tail, see the
"Happiness Happens If You Make It" post on the Corporate Rejects blog

For those interested in a custom portrait, they are available through my online shop at http://skelekitty.artfire.com.

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Most Requested List: Image Transfer Tutorial (inkjet transparency version)

Without a doubt, my packing tape image transfer tutorial is the most popular post on this blog. Now, after more than two years, I bring you the inkjet transfer version!

This is a fun, relatively clean and VERY quick way to transfer digital images onto your canvas/wood/paper surface - or any flat surface really, assuming you prep and seal it appropriately.  It's pretty easy to do with just a little bit of practice too.

What you will need:

• inkjet overhead transparency film
• an inkjet printer I swear by Epsons, but this technique can be done with any brand
• paintbrush (firm/for acrylics)
• gloss or matte fluid medium  I use Golden Artist Acrylics Polymer Medium (gloss) and Matte Fluid Mediums interchangeably.  
• scissors (to trim image)
• baby wipes (optional easy cleanup)

Choose an image.  Be sure you are using an image without copyright restrictions - even if you aren't selling your work, it doesn't mean you can use a copyrighted image.  Likewise, just because you purchased a printed image, it doesn't necessarily give you the right to reproduce it.  Look for very old graphics or images with a creative commons license that matches your purpose.  If you aren't sure, ask; if you can't ask, find another image.  NEVER use another artist's work without permission (especially if it's mine, heh).   

Prepare your image.  I am using this black and white of a balance scale for my current painting.  Print your image onto the inkjet transparency film's rough side.  The rough side is coated with a substance that grabs onto and holds the ink and which will be transferred onto your artwork.  If you print on the slick, uncoated side, you're going to end up with a smeary mess.  Trim out the image you want to transfer.

If you look closely, you can see the coating on the plastic film
(it looks and feels a little like etched glass)

VERY IMPORTANT NOTE:  you will be "flipping" or reversing the transparency onto the surface, so it will appear mirrored.  If the image you have chosen has text or anything directional in it, you will need to set your printer to mirror print, or edit your image before printing.  As it is, this balance scale is ... well ... "balanced," so I don't need to do that here.

I always do a quick dry-fitting before sticking anything down!

Apply the liquid acrylic medium.  Paint some of the fluid medium onto your canvas.  How much acrylic medium you apply will depend on the porosity of your substrate.  You want to use as little medium as possible, which still making sure that all of the image is completely moistened.  

Since I am working on pre-painted wood with a layer of dry gel medium on it, the substrate will not absorb much, if any of the acrylic medium.  If I were working on unfinished wood or watercolor paper, both of which are more absorbent, I would need more medium.

If you use too much medium, the inkjet coating will break down and your transfer will blur (see below).  If you use too little, you will not have contact between the coating/printed image and your substrate.  Getting it right takes practice.

Apply the image.  Place the image, printed side (rough side) down onto surface coated with a thin layer of acrylic medium and press quickly and gently to remove any air bubbles from under the printed areas.

Work quickly and don't press too hard of "burnish" the image.

This transfer had a little too much medium on the left and was overworked on the right.
Once the inkjet coating is fully wet, it breaks down under the slightest pressure.

Unless you're like me and like the "distressed" look, it's better to go with too little fluid medium and miss transferring some of your image, than to go with too much and blur.  If some of your image doesn't transfer the first time, you can always go back a second time to transfer any missed bits later (kind of like a rub-on).

Remove the plastic sheet.  After you have let the product set for about 5 minutes (more or less, depending on your substrate and amount of medium you used), carefully begin peeling up one corner of the plastic film.  

Allow the image to dry completely before you touch it or attempt to seal it.
If you apply another product at this point, you will smear your transfer very badly.

Even with the extra medium, the transfer came out a little sharper than I
wanted, so I removed some of the ink with a baby wipe before it was perfectly dry.

After the polymer medium is completely dry (clear and dry to the touch), it is ready for the next layer of paint, product or sealant!

Work in progress with packing tape transfers, direct (paper to substrate) transfers, stamping
stenciling and, of course, inkjet printer transparency transfers.
BTW, I think the piggy banks with funny glasses lend a touch of class to the studio.

This technique isn't limited to black and white images, either!  You can do full color transfers onto watercolor paper or canvas, which turn out really well.  Experiment!  Have some fun!  Don't worry about being perfect.  

With love until next time,

Krissi - your image transfer whore.

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Wish Granted: KVIE Art Auction!

I have wanted to participate in the KVIE Art Auction for years (an on-air and online fundraiser for our PBS television station in Sacramento and the Central California valley).  Every year, I missed the deadline, but this year I heard about the call for art early and didn't let the grass grow under my feet!  Yep, I finally submitted a piece for consideration.

Wishing Tree 18x24x.75" acrylic & pyrography on wood

Then today: 

Click for a readable version
submission information and details removed 'cause it's not exciting.  :)

I am over the moon happy about this for a couple of reasons.  Not only am I thrilled to have my art seen by local galleries and collectors, but the money this piece raises will help my local public television station, which is something I strongly support.  And the art auction is straight up FUN:  A few years back (2007 or 2008, I think), Ron and I answered telephones during the on-air art auction for KVIE and we had a blast - especially when the bidding got a little crazy for some paintings by our friends! I also think that it will be an education to be exposed to new art and meet more local artists at the Preview Gala.

So I should probably be playing this cool like it's no big deal, but I'm not very good at covering up my emotions.  I will know whether this piece will be in the on-air or online auction by August 1 - and while I am crossing my fingers for the on-air auction, I'm just thrilled that my piece was accepted.

I'm grinning like a Cheshire Cat.

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Out There - stuff not indoors (an art show)

I haven't done much in the way of gallery shows for about two years.  I submitted a piece here and there, but for the most part, exhibits took a back seat while I focused on honing my skills and finding my style.  After a year of selling online, I started to lose interest in getting back into the galleries, so I stopped bothering to follow calls for art.

In December, an opportunity presented itself that I could not pass up.  I am not certain precisely how long I have wanted to do an art show with Sacramento artists Allyson Seconds and Nicole Roberts, but I'd guess it was around three to five years.  Now, this Spring, that desire is about to be fulfilled!

Not only am I rejoining the land of real-life exhibits to show with Al and Nicole, but there are two new-to-the-second-saturday-scene photographers joining us AND we are showing in one of my favorite venues!  Body Tribe has offered up their walls to all of us after a two year hiatus!  By the way, if you haven't visited Body Tribe Fitness before, you should.  It is Midtown Sacramento's answer to an indoor dog park, gym, art gallery, meetup space and the best place to hear good music & corny jokes.

I've been working on a new and very different-for-me series of paintings for about 5 months, and they will be exhibited for the first time at this show.  They are all nature-inspired and there is hardly a skull to be found (unless you look really hard). Admission is free and all of us welcome folks to just come on by and say howdy, meet some folks and take a look around.

Saturday, April 14th; 6-10pm

920 21st Street, 

Midtown, Sacramento 

Body Tribe presents:

Out There - stuff not indoors

a nature-themed event showcasing the creative works of five Sacramento artists, each with a love of the natural world and who express it with their own individual sense of fun

ALLYSON SECONDS

retro-inspired, macro and urban landscape iPhonography prints

NICOLE WEBBER ROBERTS

large and colorful canvasses utilizing graphic shapes and flowing lines

KRISSI SANDVIK

bright, bold and translucent layers of acrylic glazes and mixed media on wood 

and introducing the photography of

RUBEN REVELES

story telling photographs with a dream-like quality

and

ALEXANDRA F. WILLIAMS

the elements in abstract

It's going to be a fun night!

PLEASE HELP US PROMOTE BY DOWNLOADING THE OFFICIAL FLYERS HERE

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Combinable (is that a word?) Shop Discounts and New Listings!

Howdy kids!

I'm taking a break from frantic preparations for next month's show to tell you that ArtFire, the online marketplace that hosts Krissi's Art Studio, home of Skelekitty & Friends has some new features to make shopping easier and, to be blunt, CHEAPER for our customers!

NEW "ArtFire Patron" discount.  Now when you sign into ArtFire with a free buyer (they call it a "Patron") account, you will see prices marked down in many of the shops - in mine, all ArtFire Patrons receive an automatic 10% off.

The number in teal is the ArtFire Patron price (10% off shown);
the small number below is the regular price that non-members pay.
Sign up for a Patron account here.

You can even sign in using your Facebook account, after which you will be assigned a patron number.  Just go into your account settings and fill out your profile for an easier shopping experience - no need to complete your shipping profile every time you shop at an ArtFire store, you can give feedback on purchases and communicate more easily with sellers.



NEW Comment discount.  You can now leave comments on ArtFire items (subject to approval by shop owner, of course).  Some shops even give discounts for commenting on their items.  Just look in the right side bar for the blue button to comment and share for a discount.  After you comment, you will see a discounted price for that item only.  Each seller controls which items receive a comment discount and how much that discount will be.

Brooke Van Gory did a helpful
step-by-step photo tutorial
on this feature - check it out.

If the shop doesn't offer a comment discount, you can still leave a comment on that item.  Just scroll all the way to the very bottom of the screen and look for the text box.

I rarely offer comment discounts, but if you have one of my prints, pendants or paintings,
my future customers and I would appreciate any information you'd like to share!

IMPORTANT TIPS! Please don't disappoint the sellers and leave a one-word comment like "awesome."  Be helpful and leave a decent, well thought out comment in return for the discount.  Pretend you're doing it for free - what would you say then?  Why do you want to buy it?  What have you heard?  It's also very helpful to sign in and fill out your screen name before posting - a comment from "DaisyGirl" is so much better than one from "Patron125094."




Combining discounts with Coupons and sale items.  Now this is where it gets good.  Discounts can be "stacked" with each other and with coupon codes. Pretty cool, huh?   So if you have a Skelekitty scratch-off card from a previous order, you can use that coupon code from in combination with your new Patron discount.  Here is an example using an old listing of mine:

To clarify, the discounts are calculated in this order:

Patron discount (from full price)
Comment discount, if any (from Patron price)
Coupon code (from full price)

Happy shopping!  A lot of shops are giving these new features a run this weekend - why not shop around?  I suggest starting with my fellow Corporate Rejects team members.  I know Ant Farm Studio, Madd Style Cosmetics, Kit Cameo and Brooke Van Gory are all offering some sales, and/or discounts too! Of course, don't forget to drop by and visit little ol' Skelekitty too.


Oh yeah, I promised you new listings too, didn't I.  Well, MOST of the new flower & nature paintings are up in the shop as prints and pendants - let me know if there's something you want that you can't find in there and we'll work something out.  ;)

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