Short Post - Free Fonts!

Did you know that I have made some fonts? They are free! Check them out here! 

Artist Signature

Signatures are an interesting part of the creative process. It has a finality to it, once it is applied to a piece it usually is declared complete. At some point when I was first exploring art, I was told at some point not to sign the front of my artwork. Now that I think about it, I think was for anonymity when taking the AP Studio Art test back in high school. Or it could throw off the composition or something. Anyway I got into the habit of never signing my work on the front, all throughout college and into the beginning of my career.

K A

More recently I have started always signing the back of my artwork but also having my initials on the front. I have never really felt that I needed my whole signature on the front as it is not too readable anyway. I feel that my initials do not detract from the work, look clean, and are individualistic to me, as I write the K and A in a small triangles.

Hopefully this “signing” of the front is becoming more recognizable and can be associated with me. Although many think this isn’t enough in the long run to only use initials I think it works with the combination of the signature and date on the back.

What do you think about using initials as a signature on the front? Is it enough? Down the road people wont be able to know just from initials, but maybe with the invent of google image search it could be? 

April 6x6 Pet Portraits

Here are  all of the pet portraits from April. 

March 6x6 Pet Portraits

Here are  all of the pet portraits from March. 

How I Stay Focused on a Project

Somehow I missed my post last week! Oops! Well this post is about staying focused and hopefully not missing a week like I did! Generally I tend to get detracted quite easily. However,  over the years I have found a way to stay focused on the project that I am doing. Here are three of the things that keep me working on a painting, design project or other task! 

Listening to a Story

I work maybe a little different than most artists. Many have music blasting to inspire their work and keep them moving. I always seem to need a storyline to follow. This is why I tend to either listen to audio books or watch TV shows. Looking back to when I used a shared studio space in college, most people did not work this way and opted to use music only.

Generally I don’t follow the visual aspect, but I do follow the story. So streaming services are great! With a combination of Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Hulu I can “watch” many shows. Audible and Libby (library audio books) are fantastic for listening to books.

I tend to get absorbed in the story and it actually allows for a looser more natural painting. I have worked this way for years, both when working in design and in painting.

Not Have Other Tasks

I find that I will get distracted if I have other chores or tasks to do. Generally I try to get the dogs walked or emails written before I sit down to work on a painting. Getting these daily tasks completed allows me the freedom to work on my paintings longer.

A sleepy dog! 

Have a Planned and Organized Workspace

Having all the supplies needed for a project ahead of time, such as clean water, all the paint needed, and clean brushes, all help in keeping me working. This obviously makes it so I do not have to get up to get these things once I have started already. This does not translate to a clean workspace for me however! I do try to clean and organize and it does help, but for some reason it does not seem essential!

February 6x6 Pet Portraits

Here are  all of the pet portiats from February. 

January 6x6 Pet Portraits

It has been awhile since I uploaded the pet portraits I do each week. These are all of the ones from January. 

The time I spend on each varies, as does the quality of the photos I am working from, so they all look a bit different! 

Pet Profile: Rainier

Rainier is 10 years old today and that just seems crazy to me! These past 10 years have gone by crazy fast. 

I can't believe how little she was! About 9.2 years ago.

Rainier today, 10 years old

Rainier, or the grumpy corgi, is actually one of the sweetest corgis ever. She just does not like to have her butt touched so she will growl. (ALSO if you let her sleep in your bed you are NOT allowed to move, and will get growled at for doing so.) 

Rainier is named after Mount Rainier in WA or if you ask my college friends she is named after Rainier Beer. I got her when I was in college and we have been through a lot together the past 10 years. She has flown to Alaska, driven across some states to Utah. She has had to deal with getting 2 little (one large) brothers, Theo and Atlas. 

Majestically Floofy!

Rainier loves people and will do almost anything for pets or food. Other dogs are usually okay by her if they mostly leave her alone. She does love food, and the vet had her go on a diet this past year and it is actually working! She to normal weight and is as spry as ever! 

Doing her thing.

Painting of Rainier in Acrylic

Happy Birthday Rainier! I hope we have many more years together. 

Common Art Scam

I’m going to write about something a bit different this week. Art Scams!

Scammers suck, especially ones that target artists who are just starting out. Hopefully most people are honest and don’t do this, but there has been one in particular that I get quite often. Like once every two months often. Generally it will look like a legit email, from a real email address. Sometimes they even fill out my submission form. However I have gotten it before where I am CCed in the middle of a list.

I am not even going to sensor this because scammers blow but generally the scam looks like this:

Or this:

Normally they have something to do with getting their wife a present. Or they want to purchase a piece on your site immediately. They base their email on something you probably would customarily would respond and be receptive to. They include personal details and make you believe that they are actually interested in your work.

What is the scam?

Their intention is usually money and perhaps personal information. They state that their “wife” handles their credit cards or PayPal accounts, so they have an elaborate explanation about how they will get you the money for the painting (or art). Something common they do is they say they are traveling or overseas, and they overpay and ask you to send the extra amount to their shipping company who is transporting it for them. Once you do pay with your own bank account – you discover the cashier check they sent you is not legit. So essentially you paid them and they didn’t actually pay you, note this is what I have gathered from searching the scam. Sometimes they will ask you to ship before they make payment, obviously don’t do this.

Here is another, this one I did reply to:

My reply just included the price of the painting in question.

This second email immediately sent up the alarm bells, I kindly told them to shove it.

So generally keep an eye out for these “Wife” emails or other complex stories. Other things to look out for is anyone that wants to arrange the shipping themselves or purchase immediately. If all else looks okay but you are still suspicious, google their email address, scammers send so many emails that it may already be on a list online.

Golden Lion Tamarin

Since yesterday was Earth Day, I decided to do a quick animal painting in hopes to shed some light on conversation. This is a Golden Lion Tamarin painted in oil on panel.  8x10

Golden Lion Tamarins are endangered due to losing their natural habitiat due to logging, mining, and urbanization. Zoos and conservation programs are working to reintroduce them in areas of the wild. Support conservation programs and help efforts to save amazing species!