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CHA_winter_2008

  • Wedding header at the CHA Ellison booth
    Some shots from CHA winter show, 2008 Ellison booth, my wedding collection, signing and fabulous projects!

FREE POSTER...

STICKY***STICKY***STICKY***STICKY

I designed this poster so that you can download, print and use to help spread the word about "Orphan Works" legislation. Feel free to colorize it as you see fit! I'm delivering mine to Dick Blick art supply tomorrow. The size is 11x17", but can be resized to an 8.5x11" if you wish. Please share this with anyone you wish, send it on to friends, family, coworkers, etc. Download owoh_poster.jpg

Please put this badge on your website or blog to help spread the word about fighting the Orphan Works 2008 bills. If you use the following code, it will embed the the Orphan Works Opposition Headquarters URL in the badge.

Here’s how: Copy/paste the ugly code below into the html of your blog or website.

<div style=”margin: 10px auto; width: 119px;”>
<a href=”http://www.owoh.org” target=”_blank” 
style=”padding:0;”><imgsrc=”http://www.owoh.org/weblog/
wp-content/uploads/2008/06/orphan_widget.jpg” 
alt=”orphan_widget.jpg” width=”119″ 
height=”191″ /></a></div>

It’s as easy as 1-2-3!

Owoh poster _small

July 01, 2008

when inspiration strikes...



SOMETIMES, it just doesn't matter what NEEDS to be done. When inspiration hits, it's often with the blunt force of a whack on the head with a 2x4. Forget deadlines, forget obligations, and even forget food! Today, I'm working on my new website, bog and newsletter design. It's not like I HAVE DEADLINES!!! I've become obsessed with a particular font that I want (read NEED) to buy, one that is out of my budget, but that I feel certain I'm going to find a way to justify the purchase. I checked my budget last year and realized I spent $1500. On fonts. My husband/CFO just doesn't understand... "ANOTHER FONT??? What's wrong with Helvetica???" I reply, " I love Helvetica, it's a hard worker, 'little black dress' of fonts" but..."corn flakes for breakfast every morning just doesn't satisfy a creative soul". (This, to a man who eats PB&J every Tues, Sat. and Sun.)

You should see this font! Now, I do admit that an am a bit of a type snob and if it's free or even cheap, that means it's common and most likely not well designed. As a graphic designer, it's not just about the shape of the "g" but the extras such as ligatures, ampersands, and other elements. I tell my husband a font is an investment in your tools. If you use it over and over, it will pay for itself in no time. Trouble is, I always, ALWAYS want more. IT NEVER ENDS! I admire type designers so much, the artistry, the patience, and the attention to extreme detail!

 

One of the many wonderful things about being a creative is the same thing that is a curse. It's called obsession. So many artists I know are O.C.D. (obsessive compulsive disorder) to some extent. I am OCD when it comes to certain things, like color and design. If it's not right, I drive myself crazy tweaking, adjusting and tweaking some more. The hard part about developing product that gets made a gazillion miles away from where you live, in a country that has a very different color aesthetic, different inks, etc, is that you have to give up certain amounts control. It's like going to Vegas...it's a crapshoot. Mix that in with having to make product that fits in a certain sized box, is a specific price point, is in the color family that a certain buyer loves...well, it's an exercise in patience, no doubt! Overall, my newest kit came back fine. If I had been at the factory, well, I would have pumped up the reds a bit. But really, that's all, which is quite good. Ideally I get approvals BEFORE anything gets printed but sometimes production deadlines require certain parts move forward immediately. It's part of the drill, can't fight it, can't change it.

 

Now, back to THE FONT...

In my first semester of design school, a school that is EASY to get into, but HARD (very HARD) to graduate from, we were subjected to hand drawing type that was scrutinized almost under microscopic conditions (Thanks, Ron). The intricacies, the subtleties, the nuances, it all was examined as though it were the ultimate cure for mankind's misfortunes. I'm talking brutal. Each week we had to hand draw a font which took anywhere from 10-15 hours per font. I'm talking EXACT. This being one of 4 or 5 classes that required the same or more amount of study time each week. ummmph. At the age of 40 something, it was beyond grueling, especially with the "over 40”eyes that I brought with me. Anyway, this, combined with the early life's work of sign painting has contributed to me being a type NAZI, (I hope this term doesn't offend anyone, I mean it as a criticism).

 

Working in the scrap booking industry, I have seen HORRIFIC typography, (I refer to it as ANTI-TYPOGRAPHY, like the ANTI-CHRIST). I've also seen spectacular...Brenda Walton for example. She has studied typography at very high levels and has her own font with Adobe. FABULOUS!!!

 

For some amazingly designed fonts worth paying money for:

http://www.houseind.com/

http://www.adobe.com/

http://www.fontshop.com/

http://www.veer.com/products/type/

http://www.fontdiner.com/

http://www.letterheadfonts.com/

http://www.emigre.com/fonts.php

http://www.garagefonts.com/

to name a few.

 

 

 

 

 

June 29, 2008

HAVE SOME FUN, WILL YA?

While trying to get some work done today, I ran across the super fun widget on the left. Try it out! Just pick a color and start drawing! You can save it and it shows up on the website that pops up after you hit "save" and when you go there, you can see other people's art and create a new masterpiece with an extended palette which is how I made the little picture!(Look below the widget/canvas)...wooo hooo! You'll recognize my "grand-pug" Zoe here. Gheeeesh, there are just way toooooo many distractions to get anything done, right?

back to work, designing a presentation for a new concept kit. I hope it flies! It's pretty cool. IMHO! : )


June 26, 2008

Craft Gossip blog...

CRAFTGOSSIP

has just published an interview with me so be sure to check it out. You'll want to bookmark this site, lots of interesting content geared towards many different types of crafting. Sarah Hodsdon is the scrap booking editor and she has been working in the crafting industry for a very long time. She even hangs out with big names like Carol Duvall!

I'm also posting on the Orphan Works Opposition Website blog, along with various other artists who went to Washington D.C. Each of us will be telling how the bills would affect our business. This issue is far from over and we ARE gaining ground. Read the blog article here. Scroll down to the bottom area where you will see the poster I designed and you can download a widget for your blog. Please take the time to do this, it will help spread the word, the widget links back to the OWOH website. 

Lots of my friends are busy getting ready for summer CHA, geesh, where does the time go? It seems like two nano seconds ago we were leaving for winter CHA! The summer show is a smaller, more relaxed show and I'm just mainly walking the show this trip. I'm going to sign up for a couple of classes and really enjoy myself! 

And finally, here's my big boy, Nugget. He's so sweet! (he has a shoe fetish).
Nugget

June 24, 2008

Brooke in full black fly defense

Brooke in net hat My daughter Brooke and her hubby Robert just returned home from a trip up north. And I do mean UP NORTH. As in NOVA SCOTIA. Robert's family lives up there, God love 'em, and B&R go up yearly. This year they managed to show up during the worst of the monster black fly season, hence the lovely head gear Brooke is modeling here. Of course, I would so much rather hear about the black flies from hell than BEARS, which I'm certain are plentiful on their 20 wooded acres overlooking the ocean. She claims they're going to build a house up there...we'll see. I'll have to be long gone. Anyway, I had to snag this picture off her FACEBOOK site which is where I often have to resort to for the purpose of keeping up with her busy life!

Brooke and Robert will be launching a new blog soon which promises to be very unique and exciting, especially if you like to EAT! So stay tuned, I'll announce it here first. Robert is Exec Chef at the Four Seasons here in Atlanta and Brooke has formally studied culinary arts, worked as a baker, is a cheese expert and is married to a super star Chef...so it'll be a blog to bookmark! 

June 23, 2008

aaah...Sunday evening on the porch

Closeup Detail- "Magnolia" by Brenda Pinnick 6/22/08 pastel on board

I just love sitting on my front porch, just as the sun is lowering into the sky ahead of me. And if it's a Sunday evening, all the better. The dishes are done, the gang is fed, laundry folded and it's just so relaxing. I've decided that I'm going to take over the "dining room", which is a misnomer because we have never used it for such. It's too small and boxy to work for dining unless it's dining for two, which at our house, usually happens on t.v. trays in the living room, watching reruns of "Everybody loves Raymond". Geeesh, we're so predictable.

Anyway, the little boxy room at the front of the house will now be my painting studio, seperate and distinct from the office/papercrafting/whatever room downstairs in the basement. I've found that if/when I try to make art/paintings downstairs, I get caught up in all the other stuff that "needs" doing; project samples, email responses, etc. and then before I know it, I've spent way too much time tending to stuff that prevents me from making art. And, after spending too much time in the basement, I begin to feel isolated and very claustrophobic. 
Here's a little painting I did last evening while sitting out on the porch. All the magnolia trees are blooming now and I just felt the urge to pay a little homage to the Southern flower. I didn't use a reference, just drew from memory for the purposes of creative expression, not factual accuracy. I just love pastels, they are so immediate. Here, I've used a pastel board made by Ampersand. It's actually a wet/dry board allowing you to paint first and then top it with pastel. DSC00640

June 18, 2008

One of the nice things about....

having fun, interesting friends is this - on days like today, when all I did was clean house (ONLY because guests are on the way), and I have nothing interesting to say or talk about unless you WANT to hear about the dust bunnies and cobwebs I conquered, and I'm guessing you DON'T – well, I can "phone it in" so to speak by referring you, my dear readers, to interesting things my friends are up to. hmmm, makes me feel kinda like a talk show host if you know what I mean! So, my first "guest" is "Madge", one of her many stage names, I'm certain. She is also known as "The impatient crafter™" and here is a link to her new video...enjoy!

Next up is my good buddy Phyllis Dobbs who has just debuted a new line of fabric called, "Meow, Meow". She has a free pattern so go visit her and tell her I said hello. She and I will be sharing a room at summer CHA in Chicago and after a brief conversation about our plans to talk trash and drink cheap wine, she informed me that she NEVER drinks cheap wine, it has to cost more than $4.99 a bottle. (wine snob).

And finally, although she and I have not yet met in person, I feel a certain kinship with her. I mean, this chick is absolutely devoted to making crowns. How can you NOT love someone who loves paper, glitter, rhinestones, ribbons and CROWNS? Go visit Gabriella and give her some love, will ya?  Tell her I sent you!

up next, tackling the long overdue for a cleaning refrigerator. yuk. Maybe I'll wear a crown while I work. Oh, Gabriella...?

June 17, 2008

from the ILLUSTRATOR'S PARTNERSHIP

FROM THE ILLUSTRATORSí PARTNERSHIP

A Million People Against the Orphan Works Bill

We support this petition. We urge you to sign it. Please forward the link and urge others to sign.
You can help increase the power of the petition by signing your real name and listing your artistic specialties.
If you are not a US citizen, we suggest that you note your country, and state if it is a member of theBerne Convention.

This petition is sponsored by A Million People Against the Orphan Works Bill, a new grassroots group founded by multimedia journalist Steve Lehman on Facebook and Flickr. All people are welcome to participate; it is not exclusive to these websites


In 1987, Lehman broke the story of Tibetan unrest, later profiled in his award winning book "The Tibetans Struggle to Survive." As a visual artist intimately acquainted withthe power of free speech, the protection afforded by the right to privacy, and the critical need for independent voices, Lehman, like the rest of us, is deeply troubled by any national policy that affects artists' control over their works.†

Please forward this message to every artist you know.

For additional information about Orphan Works developments, go to theIPA Orphan Works Resource Page for Artistsat: †http://www.illustratorspartnership.org/01_topics/article.php?searchterm=00185

If you received our mail as a forwarded message, and wish to be added to our mailing list, email us at:ipa@twcny.rr.com††Place "Add Name" in the subject line, and provide your name and the email address you want used in the message area.†

June 16, 2008

card keeper album

Being featured today on the QVC website is my Card Keeper album which includes both solid and designed cards and all kinds of trimmings to create your own designs with. The album is designed to hold your finished cards, keeping them organized until you're ready to send them. I love the ribbon binding on this album!

Picture 3

June 14, 2008

another close up

Vase of flowers






















Another close-up from a larger painting. 

I hope you have a fun-filled weekend!

June 12, 2008

fishes and table on beach

I promised a close-up, here are the birds and fishes. I think I need to do a series on just marine life, 

especially after visiting the Museum of natural History in NY CIty. What a great museum! I would just love to spend a week there, drawing and painting. I think I'd start with realism and then keep pushing it back to total abstraction.

What many people who don't draw don't realize is that many, if not most artists who work abstractly actually come from a formal training background, having spent years drawing from life, working in realism, myself included.
I got bored with it. My creative satisfaction comes from using my imagination and adding decoration and exaggeration to what exists in reality. This series relies on this concept and was a complete departure for me after working in realism for many years. Somehow, I guess I felt I had to do that to prove I could, and then on one sunny "breakthrough" day, I began breaking all the "rules" by working in a more imaginative way.
©close up bird
©BrendaPInnick fish closeup ©2008 Brenda PInnick_2