The Venture of the Chameleon

Jackson's Chameleon 36" x 48" acrylic and india ink

Sometimes and most often a painting can take a while to evolve. I don't just focus on one piece and wait for it. I continue to paint other pieces. This painting is one of those pieces where seven months of contemplation brought just the right image to the story. It began with quite a simple scene somewhat like emerging from a cave as seen in this sneak peek last April.

I tried to keep a simple uncluttered scene, yet something kept nagging at me to finish the piece more, despite my resistance to try to keep it simple. I even exhibited the painting in a solo show as "Venture" as seen completed below.

I "thought" it was finished. Shown here in the place where I photograph my large originals, on my fence. Six months later in my process the story continued to build within the painting. Much of my inspiration comes from being in the woods where often it's just magical. So I continued, adding the staircase, my mind thought of  homeless and displaced people, and sometimes how even those with homes feel displaced and alone. I thought of steps to nowhere and steps to a heavenly place. I thought about how people change in their environments and learn to adapt somewhat like chameleons and if there was any breed to select to paint, it would be my favorite Jackson's Chameleons. I implemented design and color as I placed botanical subjects randomly chosen and not of any common place. The chameleon is layered in dots of colors, and for something that tries to blend in , it stands out simply by it's nature. I make up stories of how the chameleon got there and I think we can all identify with it at some point in our lives, regarding fitting in, displacement, homelessness or adaptation.

The original is available for purchase and prints are available in my etsy shop http://www.etsy.com/shop/RobinMariaPedrero

Another reason to love social network media

 

UGH. I've got laryngitis! I had to cancel my video shoot. That's for the video where I will teach how to paint in my style and use a resist. I was trying to get it out so those who want it for gifts for the holidays would be able to purchase one. Not sure that's going to happen. What's great is I can still work and I can respond to emails, tweets, and facebook despite having a raspy cackle of a voice.

 

AND I went to church online I go to Northland and there's a little chat that you can do when you sign in. Well today someone who had a fire in their home asked for a fridge and I just so happen to have one. They'll be here today to get it. How cool is that. I needed it removed and they needed one, and all via social network media.

 

I found something cool today Etsy now has coupon codes! So in addition to the November 20 - December 6, 2010 buy 2 get 1 complimentary print or item of equal value in my etsy shop there's now a coupon code for 10% off in my shop!! 10PERCENTOFF 

 http://www.etsy.com/shop/RobinMariaPedrero

AND I have been adding new prints!! There's close ups of some of the details in "Poppies in Paradise" (above) in the etsy listing. See what you can find..there's lots of images in this one!

Going Gray

You know I love color. Did you know I have a real love for black white and red together. I also like gray. Not in my hair though, I 'll keep that red for now. I decided it's time to change my palette a bit and make a series in some cozy neutral tones. Above is a 24" x 24" painting in progress. The left side shows a branch with leaves where I have removed the resist. The right side is white on gray paint. Below are more canvases in the stage after having been gessoed (as shown in the previous post) and are now painted a solid color. Don't they look like big paint chips.

I haven't shown you yet but there's ferns, and other flora and fauna growing in these pieces now. I look forward to showing you how these develop.

AND for the Holidays I have stocking stuffers, hostess gifts, art, prints and more..

 in galleries and museum gift shops.

pssst....from November 20, 2010 - December 6, 2010 buy 2 get one complimentary print or item of equal value in my etsy shop http://www.etsy.com/shop/RobinMariaPedrero
How does it work? You purchase the 2, then send me a message as to which 3rd item you would like. I can ship to multiple locations and I offer complimentary gift wrapping by request just to make your holiday season a little simpler and sweeter for your gift giving.

The Process: Gesso and Painting in Series

This post is in response to artist and published author Marilyn Sholin's questions

You always seem to produce a lot of work quickly and are very organized to get them online quickly. I know you told me you are photographing them yourself on a table I think. Can you help me with a little workflow questions?

Do you always paint the original the same size to make it easier to resize and have continuity? I find myself painting all kinds of sizes and then I have to resize to odd sizes sometimes. Seems like a time waster.

If you have any other organizational tips for me, it would really help.

I responded to her

I photograph outside. I always have pieces in progress. I work in a system of series.

I used to paint all kinds of sizes. I do have a variety. I have found continuity works best for a show.
 

 and told her I would elaborate more of  my process here as I am asked these types of questions often.

 I share  IN Progress shots here in my blog and often on facebook.
Here's a variety to scroll through to get a concept of how I work in this link to blog posts http://pocketfullofcolors.blogspot.com/search/label/IN%20Progress

My starting process effects the end results.

I begin with a set of prestretched canvas or linen and I gesso them. I use the gesso to create movement and texture as well. Here above are 3 of 16 canvases, these are 24" x 24" which have just been gessoed. I usually begin to paint with 12 to 20 canvases in similar sizes. Sometimes it is 8" x8"'s 6" x 6"'s and 5" x 5". Another set is 10" x 10"'s and 12" x 12". Another is 16" x 20" and 18" x 24". I usually have 3 sets of series going or some stragglers in the series that are unfinshed going on in my studio.

  

Begin the series, paint the series, finish the series, photograph the series, database the series,
market the series originals and prints, create products, and sell all.

Crow's Invitation toTea with Lemon Artswap

 

Last year I participated in David Pringle's Twitter Artswap, receiving a beautiful piece from Shoshanna Bauer and I jumped in with both feet to participate again this year! The November 2010 ARTSwap is Dedicated to the Memory of Kristen Ettensohn.

Artist. Athlete. Lover. Daughter. Friend. Sister. Reader. Student-for-Life. User-of-color.

I decided to combine my cup series with my crow series hence "Crow's Invitation to Tea with Lemon".
I already know who it's going to...but it's a secret..one of the very cool aspects of being a part of this artswap. I will be shipping it out this week!

Funky Cool New Hello Crow Mini Pouch Key Ring

 

Say that title three times fast! I am silly crazy over these! They just arrived!!

The mini pouches are made just like the fine art bags and they are adorable! I make the art and Suzanne makes the items, each one is hand made! Here's a link to the mini pouch key ring in my shop If it sold click the shop button to see if it has been relisted, I have a few in stock and can ship asap! Great Stocking stuffer,office gift, or for your BFF!

 

AND check out that Hello Crow BAG!!! This was a commission order and I thought the idea was so cool I ordered 2 !! One is on the way to California and I have one available for purchase.

 

Pricing Art

"Sunny Day" 8x8" acrylic by Robin Maria Pedrerooriginal and prints available

 

I regularly receive requests on the business of art.

Today I will address a recent question from @mindvend  on twitter

do u know of any sites that assist with valuation of art for pricing?

I do not know of a site that calculates that for you as a contemporary artist, yet there are many resources regarding pricing to assist you.

 how do artists decide their works value & how do their approaches change through career?

After @ClaudiaSmalley saw the tweet she asked to be in on the convo saying " valuation 4 art interests me as I'm trying 2 understand dependencies eg prolific, fame, collaborative?"

 

I will jump right in and say many answers can be found  via The ART BIZ COACH which is my most favorite art business resource! I highly recommend Alyson Stanfield's book "I'd Rather be in the Studio" and other fabulous tools available on her site. I am an affiliate. I searched and found Pricing Your Art:10 Rules

 

Sharing personally....Early in my career, before I discovered Alyson on the net, I had referenced the book Art Marketing 101, and sought many sources and artist mentors to help guide me. My mentors may change yet I rely on them. I learned one method was to price by size. Pricing work by a set amount per size or even per square inch while taking account into the cost of materials, framing, fees, etc. As I acquired more sales and commissions  I would track hours spent on each piece of art by tally marks, until I came up with an average and attributed a monetary value of what I wanted to get paid per hour, factoring in the costs of materials. I did some comparison pricing based on my colleagues and found it varied dramatically, yet I arrived at my own conclusions and developed a price list and personal system. Factors like skill level, size,medium, market cost, investment value,name recognition, location and subject matter influence the way we price our works as artists. As I continue to build my career, with awards, honors, and juried in as a Pastel Society of America Signature Member, (with one of the coolest tribes of art collectors and fans) my portrait and pastel prices gradually raised. Around 2008 I began working with acrylics and I price them accordingly, with less overhead on extensive framing, presently less than the pastels.  

 

Also check out The Ten Commandments of Art Pricing
Tips on pricing your art work when you start selling From Robert Genn The Painter's Keys

What's your story? Please post via comment your references and ideas here and pop on twitter to share in this topic of #PRICINGART

Good Vibes for Cherie

"Good Vibes" by Robin Maria Pedrero 12" x 12" acrylic

 

Last week I contacted my sponsors in regard to refunding the money they had given intended for the Orlando/Berlin exhibit which I have declined to participate in. I am very pleased to share that all of the sponsors have decided to receive artwork instead of a refund. My friend and sponsor Elizabeth had a special request.  "Good Vibes" was created specifically for  Elizabeth St. Hilaire Nelson's hospitalized friend Cherie.  I began the painting intending for it to be uplifting and healing. The yellow and light blue were the first colors I placed on the canvas. Elizabeth asked for an autumn scene, so I went in with lots of reds and oranges which I later toned down with washes of siennas and blues. The leaves are falling and foliage colors begin to soften. The white bird flies above the ascending flowers and plants, representing our spirit rising above all things. I wish this to be a piece for Cherie to gaze upon and feel a sense of being uplifted as she learns to deal with her adapted limitations. 

"Good Vibes" is available to purchase as a print in any size,  on a mug, or set of notecards.

 

Art for the Moss Norway Public Library

Artist David Sandum asked me in a tweet if I'd like to join his charity project to help the Moss Public Library in Norway. I'd become a fan of David's artwork, attracted to the emotive lines moving throughout his landscapes. He'd already gained my trust as an artist friend via social networking so I checked the timeline, size requirements and materials and didn't hesitate to join his worthy cause in fundraising to buy books for the library. The title "140 Characters" is representative of the amount of characters in a tweet and the amount of artists in the exhibit. More details on how the event came about are here in this post  http://davidsandumart.posterous.com/call-for-artists-twitter-art-exhibit-in-moss Above is the piece I created for "140 Characters" which opens December 1, 2010 in Moss Norway. You know how I love maps!

 

The Berlin Event

As Artist and Business Owners, sometimes we have difficult decisions to make as to which events and venues to participate in.  As business owners evaluating the best fit for long term growth is always a challenge.  As artists evaluating which venues best fit our character and voice is also important.  I have made the decision to not participate in the Orlando/Berlin exhibit at this time. I am a bit melancholy over not traveling to Berlin and Venice for the event this May, yet I have peace about my decision. I am excited about other plans and events moving forward.  However for this specific event, I have contacted my sponsors and thanked them for their support and I am reimbursing funds.

Art Attack at Museum of Florida Art

                                                                           "Morning Awakening" by Robin Maria Pedrero

 

What a deal! Raise money for the Museum and get some great steals on art! Like my pastel above.

This piece is framed too  http://www.museumoffloridaart.org/auction/ 

 

What's up in my world

I am painting artworks like the 36" x 48" Fish piece for next years exhibits in America and Berlin Germany. Upcoming this month is the Celebrations Gallery "Small Works" Exhibition Sale, November 6- January 7
 Reception Saturday, November 6th from 2-5PM Pomfret, CT
and I will be delivering my work to the Lake Eustis Museum of Art PaperWorks 4 Me II
Dec 10 - Jan. 9, 2011
Reception Dec 10, 2010 6-9 PM Eustis, FL

My work can be seen in person at these Museum Gift Shops and Galleries

Celebrations Gallery, Pomfret, CT

Gallery 17.92, Winter Park,FL

Galeria Tonatazin, San Juan Bautista, CA

Orlando Museum of Art Gift Shop, Orlando, FL

Maitland Art Center Gift Shop, Maitland, FL

Juxtapose, Westfield, NJ

Wolfe Gallery, Deland, FL

Florida Museum for Women Artists Gift Shop, DeLand, FL

Coffee Shop
Heritage House, Northport, AL

Permanent Collection
Lake Eustis Museum of Art, Eustis, FL

I list exhibits and events on my site http://www.gallery523.com/exhibits.html