31 December 2016

Rocklawn Arts 2016: the year in review

Happy New Year! I hope your 2017 is full of laughter, adventure, and excellent company.

For the past 359 Fridays, I've been tracking my efforts to create a life of art for myself. Here's a look at what I accomplished in 2016.


I created 19 new patterns and photographs for my shop including more hand-painted designs:
Motor Paraglider on Blue SkyPurple Quadrangle Stripes on Grey with MonogramBlack Stripes and Chevrons with Your NameSeafoam Green and Navy Stripes

Blue Mesa Badlands Desert MountainsRed Geometric Painted PatternPrussian Blue Watercolor CurvesRed Green Christmas Ogee Pattern

Red Green Gouache Scale PatternAbstract Blue Rays Watercolor PaintingBlue Watercolor Ogee PatternPrussian Blue Watercolor Scale Pattern

Red Lion Amaryllis FlowerMixed Red, Green, White Stripes#NotMyPresidentNasty Woman

Varied Red and White Stripes#ResistResistance Starts Here

I created 25 more Collections, curated groups of related products. For example:

See all of the Collections at Rocklawn Arts together and click on any you would like to see more of.

I added 937 products to my shop Rocklawn Arts, and

19 New Product Types:

•Natural Wood Posters

•Tank Tops

•Acrylic Wall Art

•Power Banks

•Duvet Covers

•All-Over-Print Tote Bags

•Samsung Galaxy S7 Cases

•OtterBox iPhone 6/6s Cases

•OtterBox iPhone 6/6s Plus Cases

•OtterBox iPhone SE/5/5S Cases

•OtterBox Samsung Galaxy S7 Cases

•Luggage

•iPhone 7 Cases

•iPhone 7 Plus Cases

•OtterBox iPhone 7 Cases

•OtterBox iPhone 7 Plus Cases

•Metal Art

•Wood iPhone 7 Cases

•Wood iPhone 7 Plus Cases

Though I added significantly less products to my shop this past year, their descriptions are more individually tailored which should make them more attractive to search engines. I also spent more time promoting each product I made. I'm still endeavoring to create the best experience for potential customers, making it easier for people to find what they want. There's always more work to do!

The more fun life of art experiences in 2016 were the numerous exhibits, museums, gardens, and houses I toured. Tallying them up, they amount to 12 days spread through the year, up from 10 the previous year. Pretty sure I could use more soul lifting days in 2017.

As usual, I watched some Creative Live workshops sprinkled through the year.

Gah, last year I wrote, "I imported most of my photographs into Lightroom and look forward to sharing more of them as I get the hang of the program and develop a workflow." Clearly I suck at the sharing front so far. I plan to be better in 2017, get some sort of system in place. I am making headway on learning Lightroom.

In 2016, I created over 3200 photographs and 220 videos (that I kept, I probably culled that many photographs as well). The scale is what bogs me down, I think. Just need to start small somehow when it comes to sharing.

How was your year? What would you like to do more of in 2017?


10 years ago on TTaT: 2007: Engage
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30 December 2016

Life of Art SitRep #359 Resistance Starts Here

It's tempting to throw up your hands and say, "We lost, so there's nothing I can do," but it's not true. You can resist. You can stand up and make your voice heard. You can hold your elected officials accountable for their actions and let them know what you want done.

This is what has lead me to create the collection of #Resist products and to start a new line featuring the words: Resistance Starts Here. Because it does. It starts with us as individuals speaking up.

I think it's important to let people know that you stand against hatred and discrimination and to be a beacon for others to do the same.

I created several more #Resist products which you can see in the #Resist Kit collection:

Also created several Resistance Starts Here items with more to come:

Check out the growing collection of Resistance Starts Here products.

Reorganized collections and categories a bit.

How was your week?


10 years ago on TTaT: I will
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29 December 2016

Today's Winter Sightings

Steady falling snow, fast, slow, diagonal; the accumulation from nice to pretty to gorgeous winter wonderland; the creek full to its banks, dark waters swiftly moving, a few dots of snow on the tallest rocks. Serene, quiet.


10 years ago on TTaT: The tree is still standing...
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24 December 2016

The Return of the Hoodie Holiday Rap

Wishing you all a marvelous winter interlude (or summer respite if you're below the equator)!

Please enjoy my original holiday song from a few years ago:

(Run time 1:02)

You can read more about its creation here.


10 years ago on TTaT: A Charlie Brown Christmas
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23 December 2016

Life of Art SitRep #358 iPhone 7 Plus wood cases, #Resist

Chugging along kind of slowly this week with poor sleep and holiday details to attend to. Nonetheless, I hope you all have a marvelous winter interlude whatever holidays you may or may not celebrate!

This week, I shot 51 photographs, culled 23.

Added select designs to iPhone 7 Plus wood cases and then created Distinctive iPhone 7 Wood Cases and Eye-catching Geometric iPhone 7 Plus Wood Cases collections:

Rocklawn Arts blogged New Distinctive iPhone 7 Wood Cases Collection and New Eye-catching Geometric iPhone 7 Plus Wood Cases collection.

Created some new #Resist shirts and stickers:

Made another Nasty Woman button and added it to the Nasty Woman Gear collection:

Finished lesson 3 in LR CC and PS CC for Photogs.

How was your week?


10 years ago on TTaT: I'm dreaming of a...
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18 December 2016

DC Comics: Bombshells, Vol. 1: Enlisted

DC Comics: Bombshells, Vol. 1: Enlisted55. DC Comics: Bombshells, Vol. 1: Enlisted by Marguerite Bennett, Marguerite Sauvage (Illustrator)

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I wasn't sure what to expect from this, a comic based on pinup art of women from the DC universe, you know? I really enjoyed it though. It's a re-imagining of WW2 set in 1940 where these women are getting in on the action.

And so many women! Such a treat to have so many varied female characters and to have quality time with several of them.


11 years ago on TTaT: Higher altitude
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16 December 2016

Life of Art SitRep #357 iPhone 7 Wood Cases, Nasty Woman, Peppermint Stripes

It's been really cold recently so I had a few chances to shoot some icicles. Shot 116 photographs, culled 50 on my first pass. Need to do another pass looking at shots across different days.

Added select designs to new custom Wood iPhone 7 Cases:

Check out more Carved iPhone 7 Cases.

Finished creating products for the new Varied Red and White Stripes or Peppermint Stripes design:

Check out the collection of Varied Red and White Stripes products.

Created a few more Nasty Woman items and added them to the collection:

Updated links and LOA files for iPhone 7 wood cases.

Finished lesson 2 in LR CC and PS CC for photog book.

How was your week?


11 years ago on TTaT: Yesterday's matinee
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