Aceo Notecards

Six prints of my original ACEO work presented in photo frame note cards.  This is the Fall Collection and the set is listed on ebay.

Listed!

I decided to set a fixed price rather than an auction.

I can't tell if its really finished or if I might just be tired of working on it, I think its true most artists are never really happy/satisfied with their work.  I'm going to start working on some sketches for a new one, take a break, list it, see what happens.

More changes!  I think I'm being affected by the fall weather we are finally having.  I'm trying to deal with a couple of issues with the mural so far, one I just didn't like all the green and wanted to bring in more color.  I also was bother by all the branches on the smaller tree having too little foliage, and I'm thinking with the new autumn look too little foliage makes more sense as trees lose there leaves in the fall.  I'm going to be adding 'dropped' leaves to the ground.  Still more to do :-)

Another Mural Update

I'm getting closer to finishing this and hope to list it on ebay soon!

 

I added a hummingbird feeder with one Ruby-Throated Hummingbird and a Rufus Hummingbird.  I think there are enough birds on the upper part, I'd like to add just a couple of small birds (sparrows or finches maybe) on the ground and I need to address the area around the tree trunk on the left.  My plan is to add some simple field type flowers with some tall grasses, then also add a bit more leaves, stones, sticks, acorns etc to the ground.  May be able to finish this up tomorrow or Thursday :-)

Bird Mural Update....

Making some progress, constantly making changes and additions and enjoying the process.

Its been several months since I've done any painting but I've finally started up again. This is a 5'x 8' canvas mural I painted a few years ago (on the left) and I decided to get it out and make some changes (still in progress). I got interested in birds over the past couple of years from watching Red Tailed Hawks on the Cornell Website's webcam and tuning into live stream tours done by Ferris Akel on YouTube most every Saturday afternoon.
My intention is to list the mural on ebay hoping to interest bird lovers and then I will start a new mural, subject undecided at this point but I'd like to do a mural a month to sell.  I'll post progress pictures as this one evolves.

Fall Collection Note Cards

 This is a collection of my aceo prints I think are appropriate for celebrating the arrival of fall.
There are six cards in a set and each aceo size print is easily removed from its blank photo frame card (3.5"x 4.75") if wanted. These are frame worthy prints which makes them not just a note you're sending to a friend but also a small gift :-) Cards are boxed with a clear plastic slip on cover.
Set of six cards/envelopes $15.00 plus $1.50 shpg/hdlg

Finished Wall

Sketch for next wall

I got a quick sketch done and accepted for the next (and final) wall in this room.

This bed will not necessarily be placed where it is now.

There are more flowers indicated in this sketch than will be in the final work, it'll be more tall grasses with fewer flowers.
Work will begin the weekend of September 9th.

Call Back

Remember the last mural job?

This was done last December, and in January another wall was done in the same room but with a completely different theme.  This is a favorite vacation spot of the woman of the house.....

This is her private room in the home and her idea was/is to surround herself with images that make her happy, that is their (the murals) connection.
I've been called back to finish off the room, there's still a corner of the room with blank walls.

This area because of the challenges created by the slanted walls and future positioning of furniture will be fairly simple design with the blue sky and a simple tall wild flower landscape.  I'll post sketches here as the process develops.
The homeowners have also asked me to do a bit of stenciling for them, a simple shell pattern on a living room wall and a more complex faux tile design on an exterior wall.  This is a wall of the garage....

and it looks as though the previous owners (and builders of the property) may have had in mind to do (for real) what the current owners are asking me to do (only with paint and obviously minus the fountain). Something like this..........

 or this......

What looks like a doorway was not built to be a doorway and there's an electrical outlet box half way up the framework which makes me wonder if it was going to originally be tiled and have a fountain.  Well, regardless, I will be doing a faux Moroccan tile design on the wall once the weather cools down a bit.

Rack Arrived.......

Now to get it filled up, its looking a bit sparse.  Well, its really just for me to see right now so no matter.

I still have more to box up and new images/prints on order.  I don't want to get too crazy here because this is still in the 'will this work' stage and costs are an issue.  When I know they will sell I'll be able to order things in larger and less expensive quantities.  I've gotten all the ones above up on etsy now but really need to learn about marketing and promoting and will study that over the next few days. I still want to add a shop page on my own website and will get to that next week.

Things Slowly Coming Together

I've gotten 16 images printed so far for the card collection and I haven't been disappointed with one yet, I'm so happy with how the prints have turned out.
Now I'm focusing on photographing all the cards to display/sell on Etsy (and other places).  I decided on using a desktop as the setting for the cards/photos.  I want a traditional and hopefully classy feel to the photos, so I went hunting on ebay for some props.  I found a vintage desk set from Germany and scooped it up for about $30 and change.

So with that and utilizing things I already had, I set the scene.....no I lie, I got the pen and ink at Michaels. I love that the glass cup for the ink was still with the set.

Now comes taking all the photos necessary for a good presentation and then getting all the listings up, this is the tedious and time consuming part and will take a few days.

As the card collection grows my space is getting taken over by supplies, I've got to get better organized, to help a little I decided to look for a card rack.  I like being able to see all the cards neatly packaged and displayed, it inspires me to keep going. 

I also want to be prepared in case I decide to do a craft fair in the future and a display rack would be a must have.
I started looking on ebay and then moved on to Amazon, found something I felt would work without breaking the bank and ordered it. 

For some reason I went back to a google search right after ordering and saw the same product being sold by the manufacturer, clicked on it and it was almost $20 less!  I got back to Amazon in time to cancel the order. I have to stop assuming Amazon is always cheaper.....its not.
So.......hopefully I will have a link to share of my etsy shop in about a week or so.
Oh.....and the ACEO birds listed below sold :-)

New ACEO's on ebay

I have two new bird paintings on ebay.

Old age? Senility? ADD? Or am I just becoming aware of a lifetime issue of not thinking things all the way through.  Sigh........
As I was ordering a couple more ACEO size cards from Printfirm.com, clicking on the item link several times, I suddenly noticed a link where you could order thank you cards, why I didn't see this before is beyond explanation, they were right next to each other.  Anyway I went to check it out and low and behold thank you cards in several sizes beginning at 3"x 3" and 50 to an order versus the 25 per order for the ACEO cards, and for just a couple of dollars more.  I immediately got excited and my brain automatically shut down again as I quickly placed an order for one set of 3"x 5" size cards.  If I can get printed cards without having to enlarge the images too much from their original size and at a great price and without having to order a minimum of 250 and up, it would be perfect. It was a few minutes later after submitting the order when I suddenly wondered.....are these flat cards or folded cards?  No where could I find a proper description and folded is what I wanted.  Luckily there is a chat link on their site and I was able to send a message (too early to chat live, they're on the west coast).  Hopefully they will get the message before they start printing, I've asked them to cancel that particular order if the cards are flat.  Still, its only a few dollars so not a huge problem, could use them as giveaways.

Meanwhile I did receive my second order from them, 5 bird cards.......

and the boxes with the clear slip on lids also arrived.......

so I'm able to start putting things together. Lots of packaging to do and photos to take.

UPDATE:  The thank you cards offered on Printfirm are just flat cards so I was able to cancel that :-)