Life of Art SitRep #318 Acrylic Wall Art

This week, I shot 163 photographs and 6 videos. Ultimately culled 3 videos and 88 photos. Getting better at being ruthless now to save myself time later.

Also culled 5 photos from a shoot from last year. Alas I wasn't able to keep up well with editing my photographs down last year due to computer issues, but I'm gradually making headway on it.

Finished another week of 28 to Make. (Free to download and participate!)

After watching Zazzle Chat -- "New Products: Watches, Doormats & More", and seeing an example and learning more about the high quality Acrylic Wall Art, I decided to add more pieces to my shop:

Double Arch Photograph Acrylic Wall Art by RocklawnArts
Browse more Home Acrylic Wall Arts at Zazzle

Epimedium Flowers (Fairy Wings) Acrylic Wall Art by RocklawnArts
See more Home Acrylic Wall Arts at zazzle.com

Green Water Abstract Photo Acrylic Wall Art by RocklawnArts
Browse Home Acrylic Wall Arts

Ski Lift and Sky Photograph Acrylic Wall Art by RocklawnArts
Check out other Home Acrylic Wall Arts at zazzle.com

Downtown Kansas City Skyline Acrylic Wall Art by RocklawnArts
Find more Home Acrylic Wall Arts at Zazzle

Adobe Passageway Photograph Acrylic Wall Art by RocklawnArts
Find more Home Acrylic Wall Arts at Zazzle

Red Dianthus With Raindrops Acrylic Wall Art by RocklawnArts
View other Home Acrylic Wall Arts at Zazzle.com

Check out more Acrylic Panel Wall Art pieces.

Rocklawn Arts blogged New Acrylic Wall Art at Rocklawn Arts!

Watched "Sell More of What You Already Have" and "3 Back-to-Basics Ways to Stop Business Burnout" webinars with Tara Gentile.

What would you like to hear more about next week?


10 years ago on TTaT: Query

The Trickster's Hat: A Mischievous Apprenticeship in Creativity

11. The Trickster's Hat: A Mischievous Apprenticeship in Creativity by Nick Bantock

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


If you're interested in getting into collage making, I highly recommend this book.

Collage isn't my normal mode of working (probably all the more reason I should try it), but there are also drawing, writing, and other creative prompts that could be applied to all manner of disciplines. I got more into the book the more I read and have bookmarked a bunch of things I want to try.

It's also a fun look into how the author (who wrote and illustrated the Griffin & Sabine books) thinks and creates and solves his own creative blocks/stagnation.


10 years ago on TTaT: For my amusement

Life of Art SitRep #317 Duvet Covers

Did another week of 28 to Make drawing prompts. It's free, so join in if you want to kickstart your creativity. I'm using it to get over some perfectionist tendencies that have been keeping me from drawing and painting.

This week marked the addition of Duvet Covers to Zazzle. I made a variety of reversible covers and am thinking of new combinations to create. Click the images to see the different but complementary patterns on the back.

Reversible Red/Black/White Diamond Stripes Pattern Duvet Cover by RocklawnArts
Browse Reversible Duvet Covers online at Zazzle.com

Reversible Black/Red Gingham Patterns Duvet Cover by RocklawnArts
Check out more Reversible Duvet Covers at Zazzle

Reversible Red/Navy Gingham Patterns Duvet Cover by RocklawnArts
View more Reversible Duvet Covers

Reversible Deep Blue and White Diamond Patterns Duvet Cover by RocklawnArts
Browse other Reversible Duvet Covers

Reversible Purple and White Diamond Patterns Duvet Cover by RocklawnArts
See other Reversible Duvet Covers at zazzle

Reversible Black & White Angled Equal Sign Pattern Duvet Cover by RocklawnArts
Find other Reversible Duvet Covers at zazzle.com

Made Geometric Rainbow Squares T-shirt and updated my collection:

Geometric Rainbow Squares T-shirt by RocklawnArts
Design unique customized t shirts.

Geometric Rainbow Pattern LGBT Pride T-shirts
by Claire E. Skinner

Added a couple of photographs to the new Power Banks:

Faux Green Marble Power Bank by RocklawnArts
Browse Charger Power Banks online at Zazzle.com

Glitter Disco Balls Power Bank by RocklawnArts
Look at more Charger Power Banks at zazzle

Rearranged fabric collection a little:

Bold Custom Fabrics
by Claire E. Skinner

Updated links and LOA files for duvet covers.

Checked autopost blog post and found several new blogs to post to, huzzah!

How was your week?


10 years ago on TTaT: Shake it off

BearWatch is Go!

BearWatch is early this year because it's been so warm. Except for rare bits of snow, it's all melted.

It had crossed my mind a few times and Sunday night, I declared BearWatch 2016 on.

Some people might hold fire and disaster drills, but I went over bear sighting protocols:

BEAR! + location + bear's heading
It's been a few years since I've seen one in my yard. There's been a lot of logging at the top of the street and I don't think anyone has bird feeders out anymore (which attracted them). Still, there's always trash days and a creek nearby, so you never know. Gotta keep an eye out.

Sunday night, I had a dream that I was on a small tour somewhere. I felt something touching my leg and thought it was a herding dog leaning against me. I looked down and it was a black bear. Not trying to herd me anywhere, just leaning into me as if to say, "Hey, I'm here."

A couple of small cubs ran ahead of us to a playground. The bear next to me was larger, well up my thigh, but I decided not big enough to be their mama.

There was some concern about how I was going to step away from the bear, but I was calm. I didn't want to do anything to upset the bear, so I was content to wait and walk with it by my side.

Though it was a dream, it felt like a wonderful start for BearWatch this year.

Here are some bear sightings from previous BearWatch years:

•Biggest Bear Yet
•Claire's Bears
•I'll take a bear in my Easter basket any day
•The moment I've been waiting for
•To sum up

10 years ago on TTaT: Cleaning up

Today's Sightings (in more detail)

Today's sightings:
2 cows, 1 with a black head and rump and really wide white band around the middle
2 pygmy goats
a cluster of ponies having a powwow in the trees
some dogs including The Black and The Blonde
2 llamas
the horse without his blanket
sheep
and at least 19 tiny lambs, a few quite frolicsome, hopping and jumping around. Hilarious to watch!


10 years ago on TTaT: I miss my basketball court

Life of Art SitRep #317 Power Banks

A mix of practical, educational, and a small creative side pursuit this week.

Created some new templates and started adding some select designs to new portable Power Banks which allow you to charge up to three electronic devices at once:

Black Stripes Chevrons with Monogram on Blue Power Bank by RocklawnArts
More Charger Power Banks

White Scrolling Curves on Black Background Power Bank by RocklawnArts
Check out Charger Power Banks online at zazzle

Geometric Purple and White Chevrons Power Bank by RocklawnArts
Browse more Charger Power Banks

Black Equal Sign Geometric Pattern Power Bank by RocklawnArts
See more Charger Power Banks at zazzle.com

Light Blue and White Gingham Pattern Power Bank by RocklawnArts
Look at Charger Power Banks online at Zazzle.com

Shot 64 photographs and 4 videos.

Created a Classic Black and White Gingham Pattern Home Decor collection:

Classic Black and White Gingham Pattern Home Decor
by Claire E. Skinner

Rocklawn Arts blogged New Classic Black and White Gingham Pattern Home Decor Collection.

Watched some short classes on Creative Live:
Advanced Photoshop Compositing with Jason Hoppe
Advanced Automation in Photoshop with Dave Cross
Understanding Color Space for Print and Web with Jared Platt
and the final day of 28 to Make.

Though it was the wrap-up for the daily creativity prompts, 28 to Make remains free to watch and download. I had done a couple of the prompts last month, but I started anew on Monday creating a physical drawing each day, following along with the videos.

Updated descriptions for about 12 designs.

Updated LOA file for end of month.

Made monthly backups. Have you backed up lately?


10 years ago on TTaT: Enter the lion

Operation - S.I.N.: Agent Carter

9. Operation - S.I.N.: Agent Carter by Kathryn Immonen

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


It's a little misleading because Hayley Atwell aka Peggy Carter from the movies and tv show is on the cover, yet the comic Peggy is blonde and clearly has a different backstory when you get to the Captain America issue at the back. (Presumably following the character's original comic appearance more.)

Nonetheless I thoroughly enjoyed the Operation: S.I.N. story. Her voice sounds very close to the Peggy I'm so fond of.

As I prefer Steve and Peggy's movie storyline, I didn't like The Captain America and the First Thirteen issue as well. Peggy seems more like a different character in that one.


10 years ago on TTaT: On to Egypt