Amy Cerny Vasterling

Commissions

2012-02-02T09:22:00.002-08:00

Here are three of the four paintings. I'm working on the last one to deliver tomorrow. Thanks to acrylics this is possible.

My studio is updated!

2012-01-19T17:44:00.000-08:00

More space, less clutter!!!!! I love it, I updated my studio and yay it looks and feels great!

I went to the Weissman with my mom last week. There is a collaborative exhibit called
"sympathies". Drop everything and go. Here's a link to take a peek....

http://weisman.umn.edu/event/sympathies

I'm headed to the MIA to see the Pop-up Park next week! Can't wait.

http://www.artsmia.org/index.php?section_id=2&exh_id=4370

Then the week after I've got plans for a semi-annual visit to the Northern Clay Center.
Love the work I see there, it is always a visuals candy store!!!

http://www.northernclaycenter.org/about_us/contact_us.php

Otherwise, I'm working on a commission for 4 paintings. Life is good
in the studio of Amy. My son was writing poetry, while his sister painted
a portrait of him as I worked on my commissioned art. Kinda artsy, kinda cute!

Whimsy

2011-12-16T13:13:00.001-08:00

A few weeks ago I met an artist at a coffee shop. We talked for over 2 hours. I got a tidbit of inspiration and coincidentally was headed out of town for a retreat (all alone). I made some of these drawings while gone and some when I returned. Enjoy!

"Showgirl" (I know, I know, a nuddie! ~I showed it to my kids. They asked why I showed it to them. That made me laugh!

Arti-cu-late

2011-08-18T14:33:00.001-07:00

So when you stay up late because you have sooo many great projects on your plate. Then you ask for some down time to regenerate, it can come. It can come! I'm flowing through this week relaxing from my power-packed late nights and early risings from the two weeks before. I'll share one of my great projects.....an article I wrote for the Robbin Gallery in Robbinsdale, MN. Maybe it didn't make the cut because I didn't see it in the newsletter, however, I'd like to share it here. Thanks for reading!

“Your Inner Art Career Search Engine”

This may sound a bit funny to you but I waited anxiously for my art career to come. I’m not sure, but I think many artists are no strangers to anxiety, which I define as the attachment to outcome.

I showed my art extensively, hoping to get a sale, hoping I’d be discovered! You know what? This all could have worked but my attitude stood in the way. I was positive but didn’t have the key to knowing how to let things really take hold. I didn’t know what I really wanted. I was lacking confidence. If you meet me, I’m a go-getter, dynamic and fun. The one key I lacked was BELIEF.

Unlike ‘faith’, belief is a personal rule. We set it for ourselves. Only we know our rules, which are formed by our desires. When we find excuses, blame and negativity seeping into our day, it’s time to shift gears and ask yourself what you want to experience in your life?

My advice? Live life expectant, responsive and know your belief to be true for you. Looking at everything as an opportunity creates excitement each day. I was at a conference in New York. My feet had blisters and I needed two band-aids. A few minutes later I walked out to the lobby and right there in front of me were two band-aids on the floor. Stunned I walked past them. Then as I got a little further I realized those two band-aids were for me. Now, you don’t need to think this through too hard to realize that I asked and I got what I needed. While I was busy judging this situation, a concept came to me and gave me a new way to look at things and at ‘mistakes’ too.

Somebody lost their band-aids. However, if we look at this from a different angle, maybe this person needed to ask for band-aids to learn how to ask for help or maybe they needed to learn about disappointment. They make the choice. They decide if they blame or get angry or choose to step beyond their fear and ask for help. I’ve seen my son learn about disappointment and what a gift for him to now be able to recognize disappointment without attachment, shift and ask for what he wants or needs. I wish this for my mystery band-aid person too. See, when we fill in our strengths with other’s weakness we are actually doing them a disservice. When we coach people through their weakness, now we are being responsive and expectant of their assured success.

Writing down what you want your life experience to be is powerful. Once you’ve done that, stick to your rule that “you get what you want and need.” When you find your thoughts to be negative, turn them to affirming what you DO want.

My personal shift was as simple as this: For 5 years I said to others, “My art career is coming”. April 2011 I started saying “My art career is here now.” I had nothing more than I did before but I kept believing it was here, feeling it inside, taking small actions each day to see it was true. Since then opportunity has come & the more I say “My art career is here now”, the more I notice my confidence soar and people stand up and take notice! What’s the difference? The first phrase, “My art career is coming” comes from a place of shame filled with “shoulds.” It should come soon, I should make money, I promise, I’ll sell something soon, etc. Unknowingly, I was draining myself of worth each time I said it!

Get noticed for your infectious, confident self! Starting today, write down what you want your life experiences to be and what you need to do to make your art be its fullest. Keep reminding yourself its here now, feel it and live it. You’ll see a change in how others receive you. You know what? This is what we want. We want to be connected to and inspire others, because all of us know, that brings everything else we want. Have fun setting your life up just the way you want it and don’t judge the how. Think of my band-aids!

Amy Cerny Vasterling
www.amycernyvasterling.com

Art is good

2011-08-03T11:56:00.000-07:00

Oh, the early Aug post! I submitted art to the fair but this year was not accepted. Each time I think about it I think to myself, this art has another place to be. I bet I'll see that place very soon!

I was asked by the Robbin Gallery to write an article for their newsletter about being a working artist. I felt very honored to do this and have found myself intrigued at the many approaches I can take with this fun project!

My Silpada business is building and that is feeling fabulous! I've put some work forward to really connect to people and it feels like it's fueling me with some of the energy I remember from working in HR many years back.

I've been making art almost everyday and I'm doing sketches preparing for a larger project. I feel good about my career, it is here and building daily!

New Art

2011-07-07T13:55:00.001-07:00

My Light Mag Illustration

2011-07-07T13:50:00.001-07:00

I've been working! Here's an illustration that I've done for Jen Gladen's Ezine, "My Light". I also am working on some commissions, just finished up some teaching and applying for some more :)

Doing a variety of art connecting, hoping my efforts connect to some great projects!

Illustrated for the story "A Ferry Ride" by Karin Cameron

A Grand Old Day

2011-06-06T13:01:00.001-07:00

My friend Rachel sent me a message and asked if I had a "Grand Old Day". I think that was pretty funny. It was a sunny, breezy perfect day to spend outside. I made some contacts, people had great things to say about my art. Sales were little but praise is payment! Tom spent the day with me and that was something also.

I have a show at Taste of Scandinavia (in the Northern Suburbs of St Paul) and this piece sold today. Thanks Taste of Scan. for hosting me at your location! Great exposure and I feel a right on match to my art. The purchasers said they wanted it because it reminds them of one of their grandchildren and also, it will daily remind them to stay young and take life lightly and with humor. What a wonderful thing for them to share with me. It makes me feel great to see my art find homes with people who can feel it inside!

Tell and Show June 5th Grand Old Days

2011-06-03T11:23:00.000-07:00

I'll be at Snelling and Grand on Sunday June 5th selling my art at GRAND OLD DAYS! Stop by to say hi or make a major purchase. :)
Hope to see some familiar faces. The event is 8am-5pm.

Amy

Art-a-whirl

2011-05-21T17:56:00.000-07:00

Here's my space. I've been here two days and I've met some great people. It is wonderful to share my art. People have been kind and fun to meet. I am so grateful for attending this show. I also had friends come help and what fun it was to catch up with people and my oh my the time flies when your chatting, knitting, kittens and art!

Upcoming shows

2011-05-11T09:57:00.000-07:00

Come see me at the CBC/Thorp building during art-a-whirl May 20-22

Or Join me June 4th at Grand Old Days on Grand Avenue in St Paul! (I’ll post more info about this one after art-a-whirl)

Events and info about Art-a-whirl at the CBC/Thorpe building:

Friday . May 20th . 5-10 pm | Saturday . May 21st . 12-8 pm Sunday . May 22nd . 12-5 pm
Birth Place Of Art-A-Whirl · 65+ Artists
Trolley Stop Location · Diamonds Coffee Shoppe
1618-1620 CENTRAL AVENUE NE . MINNEAPOLIS . MN 55413
www.thorpcbc.com

Art-A-Whirl is one of the largest open studio and gallery tours in the Midwest, with more than 700 participating artists drawing in more upwards to 50,000 visitors to Northeast Minneapolis each year. The Thorp Building and the Central Business Center are in the heart of the Northeast Minneapolis Arts District, and with over 65 artists and several group shows, it is a must for your Art-A-Whirl tour.

Art-A-Whirl is organized by the Northeast Minneapolis Arts Association (NEMAA) and each year it publishes an artist directory which is distributed through out the metro area in the weeks leading up to Art-A-Whirl.

ART-A-WHIRL 2011 AT THE THORP BUILDING & CBC
OPENING RECEPTION EVENT:

FRIDAY 5PM TO 10PM >> LOCATED IN THE BIG SPACE

Live Fashion Photo Shoot >> 5:30PM
presented by Costume the Cities and Vicknair Photography

Live Music Performance >> 8PM
Julie Johnson & the No-Accounts

Unveiling of the Noon Whistle
Presented by Artshare

SPECIAL EVENTS:

Carrier Pigeon and Needle & Black Art-A-Whirl Studio Open House >> Friday 7PM to 10PM
Carrier Pigeon and Needle & Black Studio - Suite 223 in the Thorp

Live Dance Performances >> Saturday @6:15PM + @7:15PM
Presented by Twin Cities movement theater group Black Label Movement - in the Big Space

ALL WEEKEND EXHIBITS:

Thorp & CBC Open Studios
see below

Art Exhibit
Presented by the Bethel University Galleries - Suite 130 in the Thorp
10+ Art Students from Bethel University will exhibit and sell their Senior Thesis Artwork.

Art-A-Whirl Shanties
Presented by the Art Shanty Projects

Home is Where the Art is :: Special Performances + Exhibits
Presented by a 14 Person Artist Collective - in the Big Space

Individual Visiting Artists in the Big Space:
Designer Furniture . Joe Gergen | Artnujo | www.artnujo.com
Illustrator . Amy Cerny Vasterling | www.amycernyvasterling.com
Photography + Stained Glass . Ray Schoch
Pottery . Linda Morse

If it doesn't come, create it yourself, Spring!

2011-05-03T11:50:00.001-07:00

First came love.......

"Dad meet my new boyfriend!"

Then came nature......

I'm working on some large oil paintings, getting ready for Art-a-whirl and summer events. Yay!

Art and Teaching

2011-04-14T19:19:00.000-07:00

I am ready to create! I'll start off with some paintings and then share some inks. I'm teaching a community Education class and prepping for a show in April and one in May. Life is good!

The Amazing Annie Young!

2011-03-30T09:21:00.001-07:00

Hi all,

My friend Annie has the spirit of a visionary and in perfect contrast to this she is blind. She is a triathlete, artist and
marketeer for Costco in Brsvl. Tom might have the privilege of guiding Annie on the swim leg of a triathlon this
summer. She is highly competitive but seems like she will be well matched with Tom. It would be a great honor for Tom
and getting himself regularly into a pool would delight his personal training efforts and I suspect soul too.

Visit Annie's blog. She has a new painting called Big Heart~fabric of love. Her passion and execution compositionally is extraordinary. It appears that the heart is in motion based on her placement. The background speaks volumes about the
underpinnings and of love, sometimes including melancholy, bliss, desire, anger and many emotions that are encompassed
when love is applied to relationships as demonstrated with this heart is motion because, "Love" is a verb.

http://annieyoungarts.blogspot.com/

She also has a wonderfully layered image called "Life is a Journey". This piece clearly suggests we build a skin around
our journey, however if we peel behind that skin there are real feelings and experience which is the rich part of who we
truly are. That is something, very well done Annie!

BVAS Art Fete show Burnsville, MN

2011-03-14T09:44:00.000-07:00

I have a piece at the Burnsville Performing Arts Center for the show "Art Fete". I was able to attend the opening with my friends Nina Victor Crittenden and Sharon and Dean Wagner. Sharon has a piece in the show too! You can see her image at this link......

http://www.sharonrwagner.blogspot.com/

I'm happy to report my piece sold on the opening night.

Wendy and a book

2011-03-04T11:56:00.000-08:00

Wendy is a friend of mine. She likes books. She likes to read them, edit them and alter them.

She's talented at anything books! Check out these altered art pieces.
She's prolific cranking these out overnight! Who knows what's next.........maybe she'll write a book!

I worked with her yesterday and created my own book. I'll be sharing parts of it soon!

Teaching, showing and more!

2011-02-27T00:32:00.001-08:00

I am teaching an art class through Community Education in District 196 coming up at the end of March. I also just wrote a summer class for my annual class at the Commons on Marice in Eagan where I teach elderly and preschoolers together. It is a fun one and I chose some great projects this year!

I am currently showing at The Create Dining Studio in the Waterbury Building in NE Minneapolis. Wonderful location and setting for art. I'm hopeful for a successful show, seems to be a location in my art demographic.

I started selling Silpada Jewelry www.mysilpada.com/amy.cernyvasterling
I felt it would be a great social match to my solo art making.
Silpada is an ample muse!

I also will have a piece at the Burnsville Visual Art Society's Art Fete opening on 3/10
6-8pm at the Center for Performing arts in Burnsville.

Lastly, the proofs for my project came in for the entrepreneur with which I am working.
they look great! Can't wait to see the finals, gosh, what a haul its been. I am grateful and
proud of this entrepreneur, she's been wearing many hats and doing it pretty darn well.
Still finishing some web development for her too.

Commission for a theater

2011-02-08T15:49:00.000-08:00

Here is a commission I just completed for a theater production in Eagan. It is a take off on Jack and the Bean Stalk and adds many fairy tale characters and icons. It was fun making this painting!

Knit Wit!

2011-02-05T22:10:00.000-08:00

I needed something new and I wanted to learn something with my daughter. So we are taking a knitting class from Steven Be at the Yarn Garage in Rosemount. It is so nice, the textures and colors, WOW! I finished (as far as I can) my first project, maybe I will post it when it is completely done. Now I am knitting this highly textured accessory scarf. I have a lovely skirt pin made from Malachite bezel set into sterling that I will use to secure this scarf. I really like the knitting and hope to partner it with my new venture of selling Silpada jewelry. When I set displays I can use scarves like this one to help add depth, color and ideas to my table.

Ahhhh! Paper Mache People!

2011-02-05T22:06:00.001-08:00

I am marketing my paper mache people. Here are some shots strung with wire.

You can purchase them at:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/67199624/paper-mache-people?ref=sr_list_3&ga_search_query=paper%2Bmache%2Bpeople&ga_search_type=handmade

Time flies when you're having fun

2011-01-20T13:01:00.000-08:00

Nothing much is new. It's the height of winter so I am hunkered in making a lot of art. I have some commissioned work, I'm working on my new blog, Truth is stranger than......., building a platform to sell my paper mache men on Etsy and working on a personal project in the metaphysical realm. Lastly, I am thinking about dusting off my dummy (manuscript with Illustrations) and sending it to some publishers. Wow! That is a lot. I guess I just flow with it each day and forget how much I do. So life is good! I have two shows back to back in May and June so I am working to have enough art to support both events. That's all for now!

Number 100 is something special

2010-12-03T11:59:00.000-08:00

This is my 100th post. I've had my hand to the drawing board so no posts.
I've finished the art for my project with the entrepreneur. Now I am helping
her develop a website.

I have two new projects in the works and two upcoming shows. One is at
Time Out Studio in South Minneapolis on Dec 18th from 8am-4pm.
Location-
http://www.mytimeoutstudio.com/
Wow, when I went to look at the link these people are BUFF! Stuff your
biceps with toilet paper if you show up at this one!

The other show is at Salon Ori~still working on dates.....
(However it will be in Dec)
1166 Selby Ave
Saint Paul, MN 55104

Hope your holidays have been and are wonderful, relaxed and joy-filled!

Amy

That's using your Font-and-L

2010-10-24T19:48:00.000-07:00

Voila! My own font.....

Which Witch?

2010-10-13T13:24:00.000-07:00

This blog needs something fresh like witches flying across the sky! I've been making ink bats and ghosts. I even made a "teenage ghost" rolling their eyes-probably at its Zombie Father coming up from the grave? The teen Ghost thinking..."That's where you've been hiding all day! Why can't you hide in the garage and drink beer like other fathers?"

Uptown Market and Ring Mountain Show

2010-09-04T13:21:00.000-07:00

So I am trying for being at the Uptown Market in Minneapolis tomorrow, if not then I am thinking about 9/12. The market is located on Lyndale and 29th. It runs from 11am-5pm. Hope to see you!

I also have three pieces of art which will be shown starting October 21st through December 1st at

Ring Mountain Creamery and Cafe
1965 Cliff Lake Road
Eagan, MN 55122-2591

Stop by to see them if you can!

Amy

I got the good call today

2010-08-28T14:15:00.000-07:00

The State Fair called this Saturday Afternoon to share my art has sold and there is no need to pick it up at the end! Very nice on both accounts. I got some painting time in this week which is like getting oranges in the winter in the 1850's! Felt so great and I am working on color studies with my ink and oil style which is fun!

On another happy note, Jan and I were at Eagan's Market Fest on Wednesday and we got a lot of feedback! I also had a group of women look at the product and got even more feedback. She's taken the data and now we are shifting gears to focus for the next survey experience.

My sister Katie is working on an entrepreneurial venture as well and things are ramping up for her. I worked at bit Friday and this weekend on some graphics for her. I am proud of her and can see a bright future within this venture as things are taking off quickly for her already!

Best watercolor in the travel field journal goes to....

2010-08-24T20:53:00.000-07:00

I visited the State Fair preview night tonight. My mom celebrated with me and the throngs of people who came to see their shining art. There was even a guy that we kept seeing (he had a distinctive look) and when he met up with his art he was in love with it and when we turned to see it, there he was in the painting! Wow, in love with his art and himself. It was like performance art for the small group that unexpectedly walked the show together. My mom and I had a snicker, the others faked interest, bowed heads low and moved on. Very Minnesotan! Beautiful art some of it. Somehow my piece seems adolescent but I think it is just the beginning of a style and I honor myself for speaking in my true artistic voice.

Here is are some watercolor paintings from our recent trip to Santa Fe and Steamboat.

They draw they cook kids!

2010-08-11T13:53:00.001-07:00

Jane and Peter decided to join in the fun......

Here are there submissions on They Draw and Cook kids!

http://www.kidsdrawandcook.com/

Kids are so cool, they just do their art. It is a pleasure to watch them create.

Try those cookies and scones! They are realllllly good recipes.

Fair News

2010-08-11T09:10:00.000-07:00

If you are stopping by the MN State Fair this year, I am happy to announce "Sleepless Tonight" was accepted for the show!

Birdhouses, art and charity

2010-08-02T18:06:00.000-07:00

I just finished decorating two birdhouses for a Dakota Woodlands (a local homeless shelter who does great work!) Fundraiser held in October. One is a windmill and the other is representing Lynne Rosetto Casper from the Splendid Table. I made a glazed ham birdhouse, tied it with string and decorated it with shrinky dink pineapples. The back of the ham house has an area for Lynne to write something, that is what is going on back there! Here are some photos-

Farmers Market and more

2010-07-25T20:00:00.000-07:00

The show was great! There was a Lower town block party after the event that was great for business too. Here are some photos of my booth.

St Paul Farmer's Market A-Z Gallery July 23rd, 24th

2010-07-23T21:00:00.000-07:00

Hi, just a reminder to come visit me at the St Paul Farmer's Market tomorrow and Sunday. 9am-2pm!

I was away this week and did some watercolor paintings of my surroundings. Here is the best one and it is of Big Bay State Park on Madeline Island, WI.

Show Saturday July 24th and 25th

2010-07-15T06:20:00.000-07:00

Enjoy the new art!

I will be at the A-Z Gallery, 1/2 block over from the St Paul Farmer's Market on Saturday July 24th and Sunday July 25th. I will be on a veranda in front of the gallery with a green tent. The address is:

AZ Gallery
308 Prince Street, #130
St Paul, MN, 55101

Amy

Show in Cable, WI

2010-07-03T10:39:00.000-07:00

(Mary, Amy, Katie, Nancy-back row Michael and Linda-seated)

These are photos of Firefly Trading's First Friday Event. Located in Cable Wisconsin, Proprietor L.J Correll Menzel invites artist to come and sell their goods at her store store during the summer months on the first Friday's.

It was a fun time, I learned some new things and had a great space in which to display my art!

Finished recipe goes to the show!

2010-06-30T17:42:00.000-07:00

I am headed to Cable Wisconsin for an art sale Friday and Saturday. Here is one of the many pieces I am taking with me, as promised.....drum roll please......

The Danish Puff image with recipe hand stamped on the canvas. It was really fun stamping it and I hope it is a hit at the sale this weekend!

I have been busy making my paper mache men for the sale, also gathering supplies and art too!

They Draw and Cook!

2010-06-03T14:33:00.000-07:00

I draw and cook, a friend reminds me so here is what I submitted!

AND.....The real canvas is for sale! I will post it on the site soon. I am hand stamping the recipe in the white space in the middle. My friend Nina photoshop'd the type in for me for this one. Go see all of the recipes and wonderful art at:

www.theydrawandcook.com

Thanks!

2010-05-19T05:22:00.000-07:00

To all who were able to attend, comment and support my show, for this I am very grateful! I learned a lot and this was a great catalyst for me. I will show this summer and next year at art-a-whirl. I am currently entering a piece of art into a show with the Burnsville Art Society. It's juried so here's hoping I make it in! Here is a peek at what I am submitting. It is titled "Are we the sum of our news and rules".

If you like this work, I am selling any configuration of these people for $8 per paper mache person and I will wire or string them as you like. Email me at jattop6@yahoo.com if you're interested.

Amy

Painting, for the sake of painting, art sale....Friday May 14th 4-8pm

2010-04-21T11:39:00.000-07:00

I am having an art sale Friday May 14th 4-8pm (or later if you hang around to drink Tom's home brew.) Be enchanted at 3875 Denmark Avenue Eagan, MN 55123 by lots of art! All of the paintings posted are warm ups, color studies and fine art/illustration. They are mixed media and oil paintings.

Prices and dimensions are listed with each image. All paintings (Larger than 20x20) are signed and dated and have been photographed so there is a chance some of these images will go to market for licensing. Wouldn't it be cool if you held the original painting for something you later see at Target? You'd take all of your friends to your house and Target to show them! WOW!!!! Join in the fun and get some original art for a reasonable price AND helping me get more canvas!

As an added bonus, two frame shops offered 20% off to frame my art at their shop! I suspect if you bring in other art they will frame those at 20% off too! WOW. One is in Eagan and one in Minneapolis. I will have coupons to give to you upon purchase.

For questions or if you want to pre-purchase any painting please email me at www.jattop6@yahoo.com or call 612-791-3001.

I will be adding art so check back. I will add the art to this same post so watch for new arrivals up until the day of the sale!

Amy

4 Flowers 30x40" $125 *Sold*

Cliff Diving 24x20" $75

Woman with cat 8x10" $35

Girl with Graphics 48x24" $100

Red Dog 12x12" $40 *Sold*

Elephants 16x20" $60 *Sold*

Elephant and Emus 16x20" $60

Color Study 12x12" $35 (there are several of these)

Circus 36x24" $300

Circles 30x40" $150

Blue Dog 16x20" (There are many 16x20" for sale) $60

Bike Club 30x40" $250 *Sold*

Bears Bang Bongos 16x20" $60

Yellow Flowers 24x36 $65 *Sold*

Women's Toast 24x36" $100

Woman with hands on hips 24x48 $125

Wild Child 30 x 40 1/2" $225

Whale 8x10" (canvas board) $15

Squirrels in Hot Air Balloons 30x40" $125

Sleepless Tonight 30x40 $780 (Framed) Headed to the MN State Fair Fine Art Juried Show! And it was accepted to the show!

Shooting orange from blue 24x48 $100

Red 24x36" $50

Yellow ink House 24x48" $125

Pink Trees 24x36" $100 *SOLD*

Abstract with oil crayon 24x36" $75

Party of Jays 24x36" $125

White Faced Woman 12x48" $350

Moon 8x10" $25

Ladder Abstract 24x30" $75

Farm with Pink Trees 30x40" $150

Angel 24x30 $125

Mom and Daughter 24x48" $100

Blue Cottonwood 30x40" $150

Funny Guys 24x36" $200

Blue Trees 24x36" $100

Black Cat 24x36" $125 *Sold*

Adirondack Chairs 8x10 $25 *Sold*

Abstract 11x14 (on Canvas board) $50

Pigs in the Mud 30x40" $150

Sanibel

2010-04-07T09:16:00.000-07:00

Watercolor from Sanibel Island, Fl

Ink and Oil

2010-03-17T12:13:00.000-07:00

So I drew with India ink and then filled in with oil paint. Did these two in about an hour! Drying time is the thing here. Do one part, dry for four hours, do another part dry for a few days.

Happy home

2010-03-15T12:27:00.000-07:00

I made this art for a home inspector's website.

Plow forming Bonzai

2010-02-25T11:22:00.000-08:00

Bonzai!

Good day to the warm sun and to you. WOW! Where I live the plows were busy creating shapes in the deep, deep snow all winter and the sun has achieved the arrival of these hidden sculptures.

Plow pushing, sun melting shows the direction the plow moved the snow into and now this pattern is revealed in arcs and in mini arctic islands of snow, dirt, salt and grime revealed in these massive melting bergs.

There was one that melted before my camera shutter got a peek but my eyes saw a perfectly content frozen lion lying on the crossroads at Lexington and Diffley just some four days prior. There were other witnesses too.

wHo WeArS tHe PaNtS iN yOuR hOuSe?

2010-02-22T09:59:00.001-08:00

For the art house coop-

http://arthousecoop.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=35ce5c0c4ef364d3ea13db67c&id=65cbccd672&e=e357ccabf8

Watercolor and skiing

2010-01-19T12:25:00.001-08:00

I've been making a painting each time I'm up in Cable, WI. to visit our getaway place. I've attached two from January. With one more visit at the end of the month, I hope to branch out with color in the next one.

I've been skiing long distances this winter training for a race in the Twin Cities in Feb. Sadly, Sunday I skied half of the way I wanted and my boots overcame my feet. Went into the town I skied to and bought a new pair. Wish me luck next time I can ski the whole way! Even with the pain I still was able to keep a fairly good speed. Zoned out for about 5 of the kilometers-like you do when you drive. Pretty funny.

For all of you artists out there don't forget to add your art to the show at the Minneapolis Institute of Art-

http://www.artsmia.org/index.php?section_id=2&exh_id=3280

December!

2009-12-10T13:53:00.000-08:00

I have been making oil paintings, surface art on the computer and arranging to teach more classes. Kate's project is going really well. I have been doing research and face time for her company more than anything else. All of this is a good balance for me and to this I say my life is contentedly full!

2009-10-20T21:11:00.000-07:00

Compare and Contrast

2009-09-24T14:41:00.000-07:00

Prince, prince digital, cats on the run!

Art Crop Harvesting

2009-09-10T12:09:00.000-07:00

The monster one is called "STOP THROWING ORANGES AT ME!"

Any new art?

2009-09-02T09:35:00.001-07:00

I have a lot of new art but none of it scanned or loaded to the computer. A lot has been happening in my house so I have limited my work time.

I am close to finished with the art for the lamp project. I just made a beach scene for my entrepreneur project #2 (the Fair Trade Org.)and I have another entrepreneur! For her I've been busy creating a logo, getting a brochure made, writing a bio and proposal. I am hopeful things will move fast for her. She might be my fastest project as I have a hopeful connection we are pursuing. Cross your fingers and hey, if you know anyone looking for help doing accent modification let me know. For those who might not know what that is, accent modification is for people who are learning a second language. In this case, English. For those hard to learn sounds an accent modification teacher helps them to learn to form their mouth to create these sounds. It is for people who have no speaking obstacles in their own language, this is only a tool to help people better enunciate words in their second language.

I hope to post some art very soon!

Research and art

2009-08-06T11:11:00.000-07:00

Here is a photo of something I am working on for the lamp project.

Both of my other projects are taking me to the library for research. I have to kick it into gear to get the art done for my lamp project. My due date was loosely Aug 1st. I have many of the concepts firmed up but there are three styles in which I want to try them. Silly me! So I will do so and then submit the roughs for review. Cross your fingers that across the board one style best speaks for each of my concepts. I suspect it would not be the worst thing if it translates in several styles. I will have to think about this.

Back in the saddle

2009-07-22T13:19:00.000-07:00

I am back and I wow, I did a lot and learned a lot! I made it both ways with no jet lag. I didn't get frisked in Amsterdam like the young women behind me on the airplane. I feel I did what I went to do.

The photos I posted with no comments are as follow:

1 is a hotel room in Tamale owned by the Gariba's-some friends of Kate's.
2 Northern village. The houses which are round are owned by lower class people. The square ones are owned by people of higher status. They build them into a compound with a center "courtyard". The woman was headed to get some water from a well.
3 Nass's (Nash's) (a basket weaver who took us to his home) niece hanging out in their home while his sister was at work.
4 Inside Nass's home, basket weaving reeds.
5 At the Art Center in Bolega. Men were adding leather handles to the baskets making them into purses. This is one of my favorite photos that I took while in Ghana.

Leaving today

2009-07-20T09:19:00.001-07:00

I'll see you all soon!

Amy

City Guinea Fowl, country guinea fowl

2009-07-17T04:09:00.000-07:00

We went to Tamale. Said, "Tamily." It is a beautiful town, busy. Out of the food markets I've seen Tamale's looked like one my heart yearned to invade with my camera. Skulls of cows three wide sat on a table. At the other side sat two men perched on stools with HUGE hunks of meat and rustic knives. The meat was fresh and pink. As customers come they cut off a hunk for them. It was lovely.

Hundreds of storefronts much like the butcher's packed tightly along the streets edging pedestrians into the street. Cars slip by one another like a perfect musical composition. Among this appearance of chaos (as Kate says) there is great harmony and invention to make the chaos move things forward in its own way. I like this pace, I see it as artistic.

Kate keeps saying the hustlers. I laugh at her! She calls the sellers on the street hustlers and they are but not like Americans think of a hustler-well almost not. There is evidence of pushing goods in a directed (nearly unsavory) way, however, if you start asking the shopkeepers and street vendors questions they will go to any length to help you get what you want. They are sincere with you and really compassionate. It is worth having a problem in Ghana to see the depth of their hospitality! The best way I can say this is with a cheesy metaphor-Twi the local language is said in proverbs so I am just going with the flow.... If you scratch the surface, this is what you get, if you dig a little you plant something which quickly grows.

I want to share more about slavery. Something I could not articulate before has come forward so I will try here to explain. Culturally Ghanaians (I believe Nigerians, People from Togo-could be many other countries in Africa too) follow a practice of giving a child to a relative. They do this with the unspoken hope that this relative will send the child to school. However, they just believe this will happen and really have no clue where the child will go or what they will be asked to do (sell things in the market, etc). Because of this belief that this is the road to bettering your family at the same time they make their child vulnerable. I will explain that in a minute.

As an aside, there is a town North of Tamale where the people designed their homes with roofs that are shaped in a way that they will not burn. They did this because slave wranglers were going to towns, lighting homes on fire-thatched roofs....fire....trouble! The people would flee the house, be caught and sold. The artisans are quick to copy things. We all do this but if you say, "We want this to be exclusive" but somebody else says they like it and asks for it they give it, regardless of what they just said. Which takes me to the fact that these people are HIGHLY entrepreneurial. The factors of giving a child over and natural entrepreneurial nature gave way to slavery. Plus, port towns on the ocean made it possible for an export trade and it was the other countries who wanted these people. It is wrong, I am not trying to justify it but there is a fiber of understanding in me about how this didn't seem so foreign to the people here.

One of the opportunities Kate would like to venture into is helping children who are given to a relative for education and are instead sold into slavery. It is sex slavery. Kate told me of an article she read in the United States about how children as young as 6 would be sold. The American business men pay a lot to have sex with children this young. (ok, I feel sick-just trying to get you to understand there is real need here for income generating opportunities and educational resources.) In Tamale we are working with a group who makes batik, it is run by the Catholic Church. They find slaves and remove them, bringing them to Tamale, which is REALLY far from the coast (In Togo, Nigeria and perhaps Ghana) where they were found. It is cleaner and more organized there too(this is by my observations and from Dr. Gariba and his wife Neo's information they shared.) This group does not discriminate on religious belief, they take everybody.

There are more Muslims in the North. In the morning and the evening you can hear the loud speakers in the town announcing "A Call to Prayer." On the bus from Tamale somebody had a Muslim cell phone ringtone. It sounded similar to the call to prayer song I heard in the morning before boarding the bus.

It was a nice journey to Tamale and Boglatanga where we found a family who makes baskets. They took us to their house. It WAS AWESOME!!!! Nass-said Nash is the oldest boy at home in this house and he is working to keep his sisters in school.

We've met some wonderful people. Tamale is well known for Guinea fowl(like Cornish Game Hen). I ate a lions share while I was there. We stayed at the hotel of Dr and Mrs. Gariba. We also hitched a ride from them to Tamale. I took photos with their son Jeema and played Jeopardy on the ride up with their daughter Aiyasha. This joyful family was wonderful company-I really hope I see them again. I took pictures of their hotel which will hopefully make the cut for their website! -Opportunity is everywhere.

Weekend Edition

2009-07-13T09:33:00.000-07:00

The weekend was action packed. Photos from the Rain forest from the "Canopy walk"-you will see me on a rope bridge, Moree, The ocean.

We toured a slave holding castles prior to leaving Elmina. We did not have time for a tour so we started asking this gentleman about the castle and he said he would take us on an abbreviated tour, to me this translated to a private tour! We learned a lot and things there were dire. It makes me nearly ill to think of what we learned so I am not excited to share the info about it. The one fact I can share is out of this one castle came 12,000,000 slaves. The chances of them living through their first 6 months at the castle tells the story of the potential of millions of people who died prior to leaving the castle making the full potential at this one location well above 12,000,000.

The men carrying our luggage were headed to Kate's land. The roads were so muddy that we could not pass by taxi so we walked. The men were so kind to carry our things. We had our laptops, heavy beads we'd purchased and more than we needed scrunched in those bags-poor guys!

Taxi cab photo too. They are smelly little buggers! DIESEL, I tell you it is toxic here with this Diesel-no filters they drive cars until they beg for mercy and then they still drive them.

Elmina Castle is the white building you see in the photo of the city. This is the slave trade port location.

The boats are in the harbor for fishing, mostly Tilapia. Smoked tilapia is everywhere for sale in Ghana.

Amy

More photos

2009-07-10T14:00:00.001-07:00

Photos School children, Rainy day photo, pot holes, House where we are staying most of the time, cat.

One more funny fact. These people are entrepreneurs! Kids were on a road filling pot holes and waiting with shovels to get money for doing so!

Small town living and large city life

2009-07-10T13:01:00.000-07:00

2nd photo...
We went to several towns this day but this village Abompe was very special. We met with two women pictured here. We are trying to find a way for them to make a lucrative business with the rock from the ground under their village. They are hopeful to find a way to make a business for themselves. We brought the kids suckers and they went wild! It was really cute. Kids came running from everywhere. Kids even went to get other kids and brought back their siblings, etc. Ursula, a friend of Kate's went with us. She teased the kids and made it very fun. I cannot speak their language which is called Twi said "Tree". They also speak English in Ghana but I can tell they are more comfortable speaking Twi.

I got up from our meeting with the women to take a photo. The kids figured out I was taking pictures and ran to get in front of the camera, waving their arms and jumping up and down. I told them to wait and I would photograph them. I took some photos and more kids would come. After I took a bunch I realized they might not know I can see the picture right away. I told them to come and I turned the camera around. They went wild. It was really fun and as I type this their untouched nature brings tears to my eyes. The are very beautiful children.

1st photo
This is Ursula to the right, Kate sits across from her. They are talking to the artisans.

So you can see, I am very little help in the communication process. My strength is choosing product. We've visited four shops/situations where the product has been well beyond my expectation and the people we have dealt with exceptional and they are working with the poor as artisans. Kate, Ursula and I make fun of each other for getting too into the buying. Actually, it is generally Kate and Ursula laughing at me because I get into this process. Trust me when I say I have served Kate well in the buying portion of this trip. Choosing quantities, saying no to akwardly chested female statue made from wood. They laugh and say, "Americans wouldn't buy that?" Then I tell them, "Not our target customer." Then they laugh harder.

What I've seen
I've encountered a shepherd herding his cows backward down the highway. I feel grateful Kate took me to the country yesterday because I had a constant diesel sore throat. WOW, pollution from cars is no joke here. 10 goats running single file on a path next to the highway. Chickens and their babies running around together.

Accra looks a bit like a constant State Fair. Cars parked tightly on grassy areas wherever they can. Booths everywhere with things for sale. People in the middle of the streets selling products, giant, heavy baskets, boxes, wooden pieces on their head. These people are strong and determined. I don't think Kate and I lack for finding ambition and talent from Ghana. I suspect Kate knew this.

Respect is regarded highly in this culture. Especially with elders. At Abompe when dealing with the kids they "Listened to me." At the market today the people mobbed me and pushed and poked at me to come and look at their booth. It was hard for me.

Ghana is a cash based society. This means they pre-pay for everything.

-Cell phone minutes
-Electricity, you run out it shuts off
-You cannot afford to buy a house outright so you start having one built and stop when you have no more money. It might take a family 20 years to build a house. So consequently there are raw house structures all over the place. If I didn't have someone to ask I might deduce this is a place that is growing rapidly because of the development all around. The only thing which is strange to me is these homes are very large, equal to an American suburban home-maybe 2,000 sq ft and why don't they go for a smaller floor plan so they can finish sooner. I am speculating that the cinder blocks are inexpensive but it is the finishing that is costly because this is where most homes are stuck in the process.

I will leave you with this...I was riding through a smaller city and there is a product called "Blue Band". It looks like the equivalent to peanut butter. Blue Band's add boasts "70% fat spread."

Me Dasse (Thank you) for reading!

Amy

Obama, Michael Jackson.....Big topics in Ghana

2009-07-10T11:45:00.000-07:00

I am in Ghana, I am having fun and also working hard. As is to be expected in a country such as this, things move slowly. However, I feel we’ve made a lot of contacts and also purchased a lot of product to sell. The purpose for my journey is to find good people who make ‘goods’ and want to change their life from good to better.

Cultural ditties- I will journal a bit about my experience and the inner workings of Ghana each time I blog.

The Cows Come Home…

Not the cows but the goats and chickens. Each day the chickens and goats go find food at the neighbor’s, at the park and out on the highways. Then at night each and every night they return to their owner’s house and sleep in their designated spot.

My Ghanaian alarm clock is a nervous dog apparently he has had too much time in his tiny, very hot kennel. Much like when Tom and I stayed in Italy and we would awaken courtesy of the neighbor’s rooster. His voice box had been ‘altered’ and now he sounded like a sick clanging bell. Like the rooster I’ve become used to my crowing dog and can sleep right through his cries and pleads.

My Arrival….
It was dark upon my arrival. A man named Prince, along with Kate picked me up from the airport. Customs is a four part process. An Italian on the plane said it is long and toilsome. I didn’t find this. It was quick and I saw him get through as quickly as me. The thing I noticed is to hang back a bit and watch what the person before me was doing. Then be prepared with your documents.

The house where we are staying is quite far from Accra. It is a gated community and I am sleeping in a bed exported from America. The air moves constantly here so opening a window to sleep is fine and the ceiling fan does the rest. It is very humid, as I type my palms sick to the computer a little. It is rainy and very damp today. I am surprised to find last night I needed a small sweater.

Today I would live the life of every class in Ghana. I was carried by a driver in a car which is brand new, whose owner is wealthy. I traveled in a car owned by a rare person of middle class and I rode the Tro-tro. This is public transit in the form of a VW bus styled vehicle. It seems much larger fitting 16 people and is made by Toyota. The side door slides and this is where the “money taker” sits with his arm out pointing as the van passes letting those waiting know where he is headed while at the same time using his arm to hold the door closed, the latch is broken. “Ashongman, Tema and Accra,” the people wait to see his signal from the roadside as the buses pass, hoping this one goes to their destination.

Waiting for the Tro-tro behind us by 20 feet was a table holding palm oil. Big, recycled jugs of great variety stand on the table. They hold red liquid which looks like tomato juice. People are behind this in a building, one stretched long on a table resting in the shade.

We board the bus squeezing into the very back. Kate says back to me, “be careful not to get cut even though you have your tetanus shot.” My eyes survey the many rough metal edges, trying to avoid them.

I move forward beyond a woman and plop next to Kate. The breeze through the van is ample. Two young men sit in front of us. The money taker calls on them to pay. The road we are traveling is lined with shops. Opportunity seeking booths line the streets in front of the shops. They sell everything from food fufu, whole cooked fish and chips, balls of sweet dough, to toilet paper.

Just before an underpass (above looks like a freeway) on the embankment there are animals, goats, cows and eating the long grass.

*President Obama will be in Ghana tomorrow. Thus, a topic of high interest in Ghana at the moment.

Five days prior

2009-06-30T04:39:00.000-07:00

I leave for Ghana in five days. I have put art making on hold in hopes that I can do some of this on the airplane. I am keeping my head above water in most aspects of my three projects but I have to honest, today I feel like I am swimming!

A desire to learn and do many things prior to leaving is causing some stress. So, once the door on the airplane closes, it will be nap time, work time and time to get excited!

I hope I can post photos and journal/blog my travel experience while I'm away.

Patterns aren't just for Math

2009-06-20T21:00:00.001-07:00

Sit a spell

2009-06-19T11:12:00.000-07:00

I am trying to create a potion so we don't require sleep. Word-post death is we don't require food or sleep so how about now? Human limitations!

As can be seen, I am working on my blog appearance. Still a work in progress but I feel I am coming close. I've been spreading my time among my three projects. I looking for time to make art, I suspect this weekend.

I am nearly ready for my travels. That's about it.

I'm going to Ghana!

2009-06-02T08:38:00.000-07:00

I have my ticket, I almost have my first set of shots. I will apply for my visa and voila I will be off! July 5th to be exact.

On the business side I will be meeting artisans, learning about resources for products and gaining perspective to create a design initiative for entrepreneur #2's project. I will take ample pictures and post some on my blog. We will travel Ghana seeking a variety of samples and head to areas known for their craft.

I am very grateful to be working on this project and going to Ghana is just a small part of how wonderful it is to work with this entrepreneur.

Installation #2 of Surtex info

2009-05-31T19:31:00.000-07:00

As promised Jeannette Smith emailed with some websites to use as a basis for establishing your own licensing website. By the way, Jeanette Smith, here is her website so you can learn more about her.

http://www.jnetsmith.com/

Ok, here are the sites she listed and one of them I already listed so I didn't include this one. You know who you are Tara Reed who rocks the licensing world!

www.libbywilkiedesigns.com

www.postmarkpress.com

There was a topic which came up several times during the Surtex classes. This is the importance of branding. From a whole host of resources, branding defines as "Making something identifiable." Lets get more in depth than this though.....

I don't want to rip anyone off so check out this link to a definition "Branding"
http://www.brickmarketing.com/define-branding.htm

I am going to call out Kate Harper's greeting card line.

http://www.kateharperdesigns.com/

I was sitting next to my husband and I showed him Kate's site. He said, "Yep, I know those cards, I just bought one for my mom." Her style is specific within her greeting card line. The other "CASH CAKE" for Kate is these cards are universal. It is like music. Haven't you heard a song that everybody likes and wondered why? They might not understand the words but the tune reels them in. Truly, humans love composition we just won't admit it! We seek order...things that are recognizable speak to this order.

However, there is an emotional situation to branding too. The difference between a shopper saying, "I like it!" vs. "I have to have that!" can mean a big difference for the product. Of course this is speculation because it depends on the product. High end, they might have to think about it, etc.

To this point. I've been tricked by Target before. I have come to see they only order a small grouping of girls dresses (like a high end retailer might do) at the store where I shop. If you don't buy it that day you will not get one unless you travel to a Super Target. So I fall for their trick. It is not high end so "thinking" about it is not an option. They are practically forcing me to buy cute, cheap dresses. Dang it!

The last thing after reviewing my notes from Surtex is be flexible and follow your gut. If it feels too good to be true it is. In working with a manufacturer be flexible with your art and feelings about how they see your art. The bottom line is the bottom line, you are looking to make money!

Good luck!

StUDio ANiMals

2009-05-25T09:26:00.000-07:00

The pets decided to join the sleepy studio! Pack 'em in!

More on the National Stationery Show and Surtex

2009-05-23T12:09:00.000-07:00

I am going to do this in two segments or maybe more. I am having a hard time getting all of the information revised and want to share, share, share!

So here is the scoop on Surtex 2009.

From the business of licensing perspective:
Like anything, good business sense is common sense. Here are some in depth things I wanted to share but after saying all of this and learning all of this, I came to the statement I said in my last sentence.

Some contacts to get started…..
If you think licensing is for you and you want help getting started here are some contacts

Tara Reed at : Tarareeddesigns.com

Tara is an artist who has been successful with licensing her art for the past six years. She feels being flexible is key, study your market well, be professional, solicit the companies you feel best suit your art, pursue them with a calculated plan.

Jeannette Smith
She said the artist looking to license should make their website easy to use for the agent and manufacturer. She told us to email her and she would give us some sites to look at for examples. I will post these once I hear back from Jeanette, I email her today (May 23rd)

She said it is really important to her that the site be free of personal information and only have two of the avenues you pursue as an artist. So if you are licensing and working toward-well let’s say Children’s books you could have both your art for children’s books and licensing art on your site but this is it. No stories about your dog, she said a professional blog is rare and she never has time to go read them. That one is a toss-up if you add it to your site.

Cheryl Phelps http://www.cherylphelps.com/ (click on workshops)

There is a group on Linked-In called “The art of licensing” I met the women who started the group, her name is Cherish Flieder and her website can be seen at:

somethingtocherish.com

The book Blink was brought up. Here is a clip from Wikipedia….

Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking is a 2005 book by Malcolm Gladwell, in which he explores the power of the trained mind to make split second decisions.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blink_(book) - Cached

The nuts and bolts of licensing
1) The artist generally gets between 3 and 5% of the wholesale price (lower for food packaging art-because volume is higher-or you hope it is.) in royalties from the manufacturer. Advances are rare. When negotiating your contract put in there that you will do one revision as part of the contract but beyond this they will pay you an hourly fee of $X amount. Remember you are working for yourself so about 35% of your income is taken out for taxes, plus other expenses.

2) You want you and your art to be a great fit for the manufacturer. You want a good working relationship as well as a product you know is a good match for you art. (design for the price point)

3) It might make sense to sit a minute and think of where your style could be used. Could you be on fine china, paper napkins, and stationery or bath items?

Research-narrow the companies you solicit.
a) Trade shows, Internet, shopping and looking for product that looks like your style are the best way to find the manufacturers for you.
Call them-for the submission guidelines.

Questions to ask the manufacturer…..
a) How much licensed art do you use a year?
b) How many products do they make (how many skus)?
c) Are there any current needs in the market? (They might be ok with this but some manufacturers are relying on the artist to bring them trend and design in a new way….)
d) Ask who accepts the submissions in your genre and area of product interest. Ask how they like to see the art. In this be sure to ask if it is helpful for you to use templates of their product so they can see it ‘complete’ or would they like to just see the art in a photo or digitally?
e) Ask if they have templates you can download from their website or how you could come upon this.
f) Ask how often and what times of year they like to see art. When and how often do they prefer you send new samples?
g) What is their process once they receive the art? (If they don’t have any work right now but like your work will they let you know they will keep it on file?)
h) CALL with a follow-up once your work has arrived. Maybe a week after it arrives. Ask when they will review the art?
i) Follow-up again after they’ve reviewed it to see if there is potential for sending more art in the future. Also, if they don’t like the art, stay professional, the manufacturing professionals I met said “Don’t walk away with your tail between your legs.” Ask why? Can you help me from your expert opinion? On the other side of this if they say “I would like it but this way.” You could change it and resubmit it but don’t keep changing this one piece-you could be ‘beating a dead horse.’ Try to make new art, following your gut and use the better sense of direction from your experience.

Words from the professionals…..
Many of the manufacturers said they are looking to artists to bring the design element and new ideas. The word was American products come from this…..it starts from Europe in the fashion circuit. Check out magazines, then this is translated into products for Europe’s gift and stationery and home market. From there it comes to us.
Many of the manufactures said they work 12-18 months ahead. This translates to you making the art now, they will decide what products your art will encompass. Their design dept will make adjustments to your work-refitting, cropping to fit product. The manufacturer’s design group could change some colors, etc. Then you may or may not get a chance to see a proof. (Nice) and it won’t be manufactured until about 9 months later. Then distribution happens. So be ready to wait to be paid because it isn’t until there are sales and then it is still at least a three month wait because you are paid quarterly by most companies.

Because of the market they are not buying art as much as they are licensing it. When they say buying art it is convoluted and I did not get the definitive answer. So this is what I heard. Buying art is not the same as work for hire. It is like licensing but they HEAVILY restrict it. So you would sell the rights to sell the same art to another company or use it yourself to make the same products. If the image is going on tabletop items then you cannot use it in another capacity to do the same.

The “Life” of a product is 3-5 years.

Contracts
a) Obviously hire a copyright, licensing lawyer with whom you jive.
b) Have it written in your contract that you can audit the net sales for your royalties. Companies might flinch at this and it might be a deal breaker so choose your path. If you miss out on some ca-ching because their process is sloppy, purposely or otherwise how will you feel?

The panel for one of my classes was asked does the manufacturer want an agented artist?
(Tara Reed(artist), Cyndi Hershey (Manufacturer-Red Rooster Fabrics), Julie Ueland(artist), Linda O’donnell (manufacturer), Edward Kaeding(Manufacturer-Certified ceramics and tabletop)

Collectively they said it doesn’t matter. However, an agent can hold you back so make sure they are doing their job. Julie Ueland said in three years she’s had three agents. She went many years un-agented and came to the point where she wanted one. She had clients with whom she regularly worked and they would call her and say her agent was holding back the product could she call them. So she fired them. Two of them and then she got a great agent.

There is the first portion, happy reading and learning!

My experience of Surtex and the National Stationery Show

2009-05-21T20:02:00.000-07:00

I met wonderful people. I cannot believe how open and receptive everybody was. I walked away from the show realizing how I would market myself if I am headed this route.

I was on this trip with Entrepreneur #1. She and I learned a lot and I am happy to see I can now better understand the scope of her project and I am really excited. We had a blast and the synchronicity for us was amazing. While at the same time it seemed like life could be this way everyday and it was our attitude while we were there which made everything come together so nicely. I felt directed to where I needed to go the entire time. What a gift.

I also learned a lot for entrepreneur #2. Fair trade is her gig and it looks like she is on time with her project. Excellent!

I met a few artists, shared information and the really lovely thing is all of the ones who really struck me will likely work on entrepreneur #1’s project and that is awesome. Lots of integrity in these artists!

I also connected with an artist named John. You can see his work at www.daylightwastingtime.com

I am excited to have been asked to join his project by creating art in my style (for kids) to try on his product. It is a fantastic opportunity for me and I am very grateful.

Overall, I got what I went for, a better understanding of art licensing, to meet other artists and ask questions, to get a better idea of what entrepreneur #1 is doing and to find possible models and support for entrepreneur #2. It was perfect, absolutely perfect.

I will post my notes from my classes in a few days. I worked hard to get it typed on the airplane but I was seated next to a Jehovah's witness.

What's going on

2009-05-21T19:17:00.000-07:00

Maybe I should say what I am doing so I have offered a starting spot. I am working with two different entrepreneurs. I call them entrepreneur #1 and #2. These projects flow together in a mysteriously wonderful way. I am amazed with such vastly different projects parallels seem to constantly intertwine allowing me to learn something from one and bring it to the other and vice versa. I am in awe of how I now see these projects as they come forward into a more clear light.

Attending the National Stationery Show I can now see the scope of entrepreneur #1's project and I am thrilled to work on such a forward concept and have the chance to showcase my art as a way to help the product sell. #2's project is also growing daily. I was fortunate to see a prototype today and what a catalyst it is for this project's beginnings. I will in one week be creating a design plan for products created in Thailand for entrepreneur #2. I am not kidding! I feel very fortunate to have both opportunities and I am bursting with excitement.

I hope this helps to establish a base for my posts going forward.

National Stationery Show and Surtex 2009

2009-05-18T15:42:00.000-07:00

I am having a great time at the show. Learning a lot! I started a post with all of the information from my classes. I will get it out there very soon. I know you are all on the edge of your seat waiting for information about licensing art!

I updated my website. Have a look!

www.amycernyvasterling.com

New Art

2009-05-11T13:06:00.000-07:00

Time to get a jump on May blogging

2009-05-01T08:22:00.001-07:00

Mountain Bike-o-Rama!

I hope to blog my experiences at the Surtex show. I will be taking classes and will of course share any hot tips I learn! I called the Waldorf and there is a charge for WiFi-come on! Well, my goal is to blog the event but we'll see how much time I have to seek an Internet cafe....

The Birkebeiner

2009-04-30T14:07:00.000-07:00

On a personal note I am excited about the Birkebeiner race in Hayward WI. It is a grueling 50+ Km race through hilly terrain. However, for all of you visual people I think this is too cool! Check it out, you can see the race course from a sky view. Very nice, especially if you are considering doing the race, then you can figure out where all of the food stops are, oh and big hills.

http://www.pointnorthland.com/birkiefly.html

Anyone interested?

I am squeezing in my April Blog!

2009-04-30T13:59:00.000-07:00

Here is a current project that I thought I would share. The final product will be a magnet. I am headed to the Surtex in a few weeks and I am preparing (website, business cards, portfolio, etc) for this as well as finishing some projects before I leave.

A good day if there are cookies

2009-03-18T19:25:00.000-07:00

This painting was accepted into a show hosted by the Minnesota Book Arts and Minnesota SCBWI. These two organizations held a contest for writers to submit poems. The five poems chosen were offered to illustrators to visually depict one or more poem. The one I chose has a melancholy theme but I feel a very strong message about perspective.

There is a reception on Friday which I will attend so I can hob nob with art directors or stand around and laugh with my fellow illustrators. You just never know what will happen!

More art!

2009-02-10T19:00:00.000-08:00

Boy with Balloons

2009-02-04T16:19:00.000-08:00

These are drawn with an eyedropper, dried and colored with watercolor.

Nuts?

2009-02-02T10:43:00.000-08:00

*I purposely misspelled Fischer. "Mr. Peanut hates the Fischer Nut Company.
Mrs. Peanut understands."

I am switching gears and I am only in first gear right now. I hope to crank it up to third gear by mid Feb! I am focusing my energy on the stationery market. I feel it calling me and I am ready to jump back in but this time a little differently. I am working on a portfolio to take to the National Stationery Show http://www.nationalstationeryshow.com/ and Surtex http://www.surtex.com/

Can't wait to network and see what this market is all about from a larger sense. Of course with my business Stick Together Designs (www.sticktogetherdesigns.com) I learned a bit about manufacturing and selling. This time I am interested in licensing. I am reading the Licensing Business Handbook by Karen Raugust. It is interesting to see who makes what and how it works. I hope to be a part of the who makes what and how it works, soon.

What a spin I'm in!

2009-01-26T14:33:00.000-08:00

Oh Deer!

2009-01-24T06:06:00.000-08:00

Dead or Alive

2009-01-19T07:11:00.000-08:00

I don't feel I have much to write this month. I am focused on some projects and I am happy. The art class I teach is going really well and growing too. I am writing a bit more than drawing these days but I think that will change soon as I have some projects on the horizon. On a totally personal note I bought some skis and I'm in heaven, except I'm not dead.

A tribute to Our Sacred Circle

2008-12-29T18:44:00.000-08:00

Lets ski, lets be free. Me knows how to see thee. I see it up, I see it down, I see a bog about a town. The flavor is sweet and snowy. Lets now meet there in this town. It is a wonder to behold, bog and all.

I can see. I can see something I would not have otherwise seen, if not for thanking 6 people. I told them how grateful I am for all of them. I then understood our link. It was a need for me. I fulfilled this simple need and look at what I got! They say you loose your friends when you stop growing with them. We stopped growing-this group. I never felt badly about this it was just what it was-I feel good that I knew that too.

For a moment I understand where I am. I cannot see everything like those plateaus we periodically stand upon where we can see everything clear as a bell, where it all makes sense. This is a mini enlightenment, however, it is big bliss.

Holiday bliss 2008-It's Riveting!

2008-12-22T13:07:00.000-08:00

I am ready to write another article. Finish coloring my poetry contest illustration entry. Get my dummy out to a new publisher and enjoy the holidays while my work dries and gets reviewed. If it were just that simple.

Let me tell you what I am really doing. I am flying around town buying gifts, forgetting somebody so I will have to go the next day to the same store and retrieve yet another item.

By default or my fault for being born into my family, I hosted an impromptu Christmas at my house. It was not hosting that is bringing this tone into my writing, it is the way it was presented. It was with gnashing, twisty-double standard anger that it was thrust upon me from a loved one. Sadly, I was happy to host, even wanted this for many years. However, sometimes it really is not the gift, it is the delivery. I would have taken it more easily from a cute UPS man. Or maybe, wrapped in a gift box marked, "Be Ready". So when I opened it there would be no surprise. I would have already been donning my welding gloves, full shield mask and suit of asbestos. No there was no warning and there was no getting into it with 'her'. I just left it that if 'she' called me at 9:45am on Saturday morning (15 minutes before the party) and said, you host it I would be fine with that. Instead she had to dig the spritz gun a little deeper, seeing if she could over throw my coolly and kindly iced gingerbread exterior. The red hot smile stayed and she was out of luck. We've missed all of our holiday traditions due to illness. We scrambled some of them in at the last minute but we were stuck contending with Mother Nature and Father-in-law. The second situation was harder.

Oh and onto us a child was born. A Nephew. It is a tradition in this family that each family (4) brings one weeks worth of prepared meals to the new parents. We took this week and made four meals in between grocery shopping, seeing Santa and getting to a dinner party by 6:30pm. We were only ten minutes late, 6:40pm.

Our babysitter got the kids each a book about cats. They love cats, there are stickers. Could this 16 year old be any kinder? However, I am a heel, I got her nothing and nothing for her sister who is always willing to step in to help as a back up. I ran to the store today. Grabbed two gift cards. Pulled the car into the garage, jumped out writing a card to each sitter as the mail person was just above us on the hill and headed our way. When I returned to the box with stamps stuck and envelope licked, there was no postal truck hovering with exhaust coming out making it look like a little house in the woods. It was not down the street. Was it speedy fast? I looked in our box and there was mail there. Then I stood back a bit in the street. I contemplated for a second, then opened my neighbors mailbox, alas! nothing there! Then as I walked to my house I said the "please get there by Christmas prayer." There is something very pathetic about this prayer. It is remedial at best.

To steal a quote from the look on my dog's face, "It is always something."

AND as I write this I combat a kitten's advances to have their imposed turn on my computer. The consequence is kitty jail because as most people who know me know, I believe you can train cats. He's howling, "I take it back, I take it back!!! Please!!!" I say back in a kind and gentle voice, I know, I know."

Too bad the request for hosting the displaced Christmas party didn't go the same way or maybe it did?

Cat-E-Wumpus

2008-12-09T13:37:00.000-08:00

This one is Smudge. He looks a bit pretentious but is nothing at all like that. He was just sleepy.

Sketching kittens and people with watercolor pastels. I sketched some people which you can see in the center and then I decided to go with color and silliness in my daily quick sketch. Nothing like a cat high five. Otherwise, I've been teaching and eating Christmas cookies. Oh, and raising kittens. They got fixed today and they are all boys. I've attached an updated picture of those babies.

Love Beast with nice shoes

2008-11-23T20:26:00.000-08:00

More sketches or sketchy sketches, that all depends.

Duck not stuck in the muck

2008-11-21T09:10:00.000-08:00

I've been drawing. I think it is funny how parents say "use your words." I know I'm with a few copyright lawyers who would have a hard time with this. Different reasons though. The title of my drawing is "Get control of your words." Too bad for this character, she's still in the early stages of learning how to do it. She has to grab them as they come out or grab them as they come in. Who knows.

I've been sick but I think I'm getting to the bottom of it. Happy for that.

Networking

2008-11-21T08:46:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, I met with Pam Boyd. Pam has started a business called the Reading Goddess. Her idea came from finding a way to start a business doing something she loves, reading. Her passion for reading carries over to her company's whimsical logo, wonderful array of gift products and Pam's spirit behind them.

She recently hosted a launch party to get feedback on her brand and product. This is a business woman to watch! The turnout for this event was mind boggling. Woman filled the space, buzzing about what was the hottest item and what they HAD to buy tonight.

As a part of Pam's concept she's included a foundation. A percentage of the proceeds from all of her sales will go to helping reading programs in Minnesota-for now! I suspect it is only a matter of time before she is serving literacy programs nation-wide and perhaps globally.

Visit the Reading Goddess website at www.readinggoddess.com

Drawing a blank

2008-11-11T15:26:00.000-08:00

Seems when you have a good title you must blog. I was out of town this past weekend. It was supposed to be for an exorcism. Yes, you know, to raise the demons, to allow them to float out of the afflicted like a shoulder spasm might happen to a person of considerable age.

Yes, I know this is my professional writing/illustrator blog and I should be serious and only show the side of me which proves I am competent to work in this field, accurately and prolifically. Who says publishing houses aren't regularly doing exorcisms? I think we all might be better served if we knew what happened behind closed doors in publishing.

Well, see my demon is ever present. It wants to be seen and run the show. It wants to control my career. However, if you can't calm the demon, you will get demon work. This might not be so bad. I might be cast for the roll of drawing the evil twin or the nemesis in the story. Is it more fun to draw from the mind of the bad-guy? Someone once told me, "Maybe making art and being who you truly are artistically scares you." Maybe I am beginning to think they are on to something.

Thanks for reading......

Three coins in the fountain

2008-10-23T13:59:00.000-07:00

I feel guilt about being a cat heavy blog. Here's a side view, yes, she's a biggin!

I've been lacking creativity. Let's be honest, not sketching, not painting is not going to get you anywhere. At the suggestion of a friend, the past two days I've painted on cheap large roll paper. Yesterday and today are on here, enjoy, or laugh, make fun but always remember Santa is watching.

Cats galore

2008-10-09T20:37:00.000-07:00

So we had a decoy pregnant cat. Scroll back and see her mug shot.

Then we added one cat and now we have seven. Really.

We were given an additional cat to foster and wow, she was pregnant. Looked like a little goat. One week ago she had five babies. So here is a picture of the litter.

A conference a day keeps the grumpies away!

2008-10-06T15:22:00.000-07:00

Deb Malesevich can organize a great conference! I think perhaps she might consider arranging the Olympics? Her dedication to this event and love for encouraging librarians, teachers and writers to convene for the good of children's growth in reading is outstanding!

This past weekend I attended the Northwest Wisconsin Children's Book Conference. One of the things which struck me is how inclusive the conference was. It was the first conference I've been to where the people speaking were seated right with you. Connecting over a nice meal, what could be better? It was fabulous! An unexpected bonus of fun and energy was meeting Katie McKy. If you want a dynamic presentation for your school check out Katie at:

http://www.katiemcky.com/

Her ideas for teaching also follow this theme of inclusivity. Not a real word? It is now. I will be lobbying my school for Katie to visit. I think her presence might change the life of many children. Better than church, it livens the soul.

The conference in its entirety was fantastic. Great speakers! Great vendors and wonderful connections for all. I highly recommend this, so watch for it next fall in Cable, WI. Even if you are just tossing around the idea of writing for children, you will likely be pleasantly surprised.

Plus, if you get nothing else from the conference, the trees are at their peak. So you can go and peek at them, step outside, breathe deeply and viola, you are getting something to be grateful for. Oh, ending in a preposition is so, hmmmm.

A fine, fine day

2008-09-18T14:42:00.001-07:00

I will add my current project to the blog in early October. I've been busy making images for My Light Magazine. The Editor, our very own Jennifer Gladen! The critique and internet networking guru! Thanks to Jen I have had the opportunity to work on illustration for a magazine and gain publishing credit as well as have the proud feeling of working in my field! Check out My Light:

http://mylightmagazine.com/

Also look for illustrations by Mical Hutson and Rosemarie Gillen. These two talented individuals are critique members of the Our Sacred Circle (past and present).

Boys, boys, boys

2008-09-18T14:42:00.000-07:00

This is something I worked on for a magazine. Cheeky! The top one is a boy wearing a new shirt. The lower image......those are stains on his shirt and the lower one to the left is a hole. I guess I still have some work to do if I have to explain what is happening in my illustration.

I have a brochure out for a children's art class I am teaching. I made a stick figure for the front cover and wrote this slogan: "Help your children say they CAN draw stick people." I wrote it because it made me laugh. Let's hope some parents laugh too.

Hang on because here we go

2008-09-07T20:57:00.001-07:00

I've changed the title of this post three times now. Perhaps I am feeling a bit indecisive. I think this speaks for my all around condition. I've had a halt on the career for a moment with school going back into session.

The good thing about this is it helped me to realize I had very little personal time this summer. This past weekend I focused on refueling. I got out of the house twice with other adults. Gathered the neighborhood kids and played at our local park-we played for three hours!

I sense when I try to think of what I really want to say I am falling short. I have many things floating about in my head. Let's hope these floaties make it to shore and become the seeds of ideas, passion and concepts that take root.

Walking on Egg Shells

2008-08-25T12:12:00.001-07:00

This art is called "Gnomes." There are two gnomes in the image, find them and feel proud! The medium is dyed egg shells on masonite.

Lots of lines!

2008-08-11T12:44:00.000-07:00

This painting is called "Adoption of the ordinary cat". Of course, it is inspired from Jinx. I have yet to color it but I loved the idea of a woman on her front porch with the cat hugging her as if to say, "I'm home!" I've been into texture on houses, brick, siding, etc.. With the rug and railing it is a tad busy! I like how graphic it turned out. The other thing I can say is I've always struggled drawing people and this is the first person I've ever had turn out, so hooray for that! I'll post it once its colored.

2008-08-11T12:37:00.000-07:00

Here is our pregnant girl, Jinx. Some irony in her name? We will see once the babies are born! She is a very loving and nice cat. Jinx is spunky and finding herself right at home. I've left the window open so she can have some fresh air. Last night I was working and she kept running across the room and jumping against the screen. Nope, she is not trying to escape but instead hunting bugs which taunt her by fluttering on the other side of the screen.

This week

2008-08-05T14:52:00.000-07:00

I am working so hard I forgot to blog! Oh, it is just the opposite, shoot. I have been busy catching mice if that is any consolation?

I'm currently working on a painting titled "adoption" as we are fostering a pregnant cat and we will adopt some of her kittens, her, both? I am excited to have babies climbing the walls, our legs and whatever they can get their tiny claws into. Every time I tell the kids what kittens are like they giggle like crazy. Maybe I am embellishing? Poor kids when they learn the terror of having cats try to pounce on your every moving part.

I will post a picture of the painting as well as a pic of the cat pre-babies.

I just joined a local illustrator critique group. I am happy about having that connection and support. I am also working on an abstract oil painting. I will post it when it is complete.

ROAR!

2008-07-14T14:13:00.000-07:00

This is the bear, the bear who caught a salmon who jumped right into his mouth. This bear was surprised, the fish too but perhaps the fish was surprised and alarmed all at once. Needs some cleaning up, better get to it so it can travel to its destination next weekend.

2008-07-14T13:55:00.000-07:00

This drawing is from the summer MNSCBWI get together at the Como Zoo. My other drawing was of a zebra with his hands on his hips asking me to get coffee. I was a little foggy that day. I am branching out, it has always been tough for me to draw in public.

Image of Mount Rainier June 24th, 2008

2008-06-29T14:36:00.001-07:00

Home again, home again

2008-06-29T14:24:00.000-07:00

We are home! The dog licked us, the washing machine wants to kick us. We had a great time in Seattle and check out this picture. This is at Mount Rainier. (from left to right Jane, Me, Peter) Had to show the sensational amount of snow for late June.

Now, back to work. I got home to a pile of mail which included some reply cards from my last sample art card mailing. Great feedback and one press said "They will keep me in mind!" I'm happy to say it is one of my top pick publishing houses too!

2008-06-21T10:03:00.000-07:00