What a ride! Yes, I remain a finalist in the Shorty Awards, and I am trying to find a way to get to New York City on March 3 so that I can attend the ceremony. More about that later.
As fun and gratifying as it was to have my Twitter following support me so enthusiastically in the Shorties, I am glad to get back to the business of painting and creating things. I never stopped, but I am glad to have it as my primary focus again.
What have I been working on? Well…
I have recently completed two canine pet portraits, which I will detail in future posts here. I am working on another pet portrait of three West Highland Terriers (Westies) and I am about to begin a cat portrait as well.
And I have begun work on the ultimate grand pet portrait, the “Downtown Cats” mural. The mural depicts the most famous downtown cats in Canton, OH—my own Brewskie Butt, Who, Slick and Noah—and will eventually be mounted on the building currently occupied by HEAP in Downtown Canton, OH.
The mock up design that is seen above is what the mural will look like when it is finished.
Currently, it doesn’t look like much, but it has entailed quite bit of work. here are some photos of the beginning stages. Please excuse the photo quality, as the studio lighting is set for painting, not for photography.
Medium Density Overlay (MDO) board is a wood panel that is often used in the sign painting industry. It is recommended for use for outdoor murals. I purchased the boards at a local lumber and hardware store.
I am not particularly handy with power tools, but my friend Kevin Anderson of Anderson Creative is a wiz with them. He cut the boards for me into the shape of windows, simulating the windows on the building across from the place where the mural will be hung.
Each panel was primed with white gesso and then painted with a dark blue background. All of my paintings begin with a dark layer of color. I follow a process of layering subsequent layers of colors over a dark background, allowing the initial layers to define shapes as later colors are applied.
I masked off the window pane shape with painter’s tape and drew a sketch of the background design for my painting reference.
I then began blocking in the shapes of the cityscape design with paint.
At this stage there are 3-5 layers of color applied. many more layers will be applied before it is finished to create rich vibrant color and visual texture.
All of the materials used in this mural are those that are recommended for exterior use. The paint, board and gesso are all materials designed for exterior use and weather resistance. The final work will be coated with a weather and UV protecting sealant to ensure the longevity of the piece.
The “Downtown Cats” mural is obviously a very large project that will take a long time to complete. Completion and hanging of the piece is slated for July of this year. I will periodically update my progress on the piece as it develops in various stages.
Thanks for following along with me on this adventure!
Life is an Adventure!
BZTAT
Thought for the Day-The Power of Love
We look forward to the time when the Power of Love will replace the Love of Power. Then will our world know the blessings of peace.
~William Ewart Gladstone
Last week, I felt the power of love. Twitter followers from all over the world came out in a big way to nominate me for the Shorty Awards. Today, I am in the finals in third place!
Voting for the winners in each category begins today at noon EST and lasts until Friday, February 5 at noon. I would sure appreciate your vote in the #art category if you are on Twitter!
I also ask that you vote for my good friend @FrugalDougal, who is nominated in the #nonprofit category. @FrugalDougal is the mastermind behind the monthly Pawpawty that raises money for animal charities around the world.
Thanks to all for showing your love. I love YOU so much!!!
Life is an Adventure!
BZTAT
Changes…Bizness Schtuff
BZTAT Studios has been very active lately! I have been working on several pet portraits and other commissions, and I also have started on the big “Downtown Cats” mural.
Even so, the cost of keeping the studio open are not being fully covered by the income from sales. I am compelled, therefore to raise my prices.
New prices for paintings can be found by clicking on the artwork in my galleries. Prices for custom pet portraits can be found here.
Although there has been an increase, I still am trying to keep my portraits affordable. I on occasion offer special discounts to social media followers.
Artwork pricing is a very strange thing. Each artist and their style are unique, so there is no clear way to standardize prices. My research tells me that artwork value is driven by the cost of materials and time put into the artwork; reputation and skill level of the artist; and general market factors in the economy.
At this juncture, I am primarily self-promoting my work and avoiding the gallery-driven market, so I can set my own prices. That may change as I become more established. I guess I am trying to be honest and open about the fact that I anticipate further increases as my work becomes more popular.
If you are interested in purchasing an artwork or commissioning a pet portrait, please contact me through the contact tab above, and we can discuss the pricing. I look forward to hearing from you!
Life is and Adventure!
BZTAT