color palettes
October 14, 2010
June 09, 2010
finding balance
A recent discussion of late, among my art licensing friends has been about the quest of seeking balance in our efforts to run our businesses. With social networking an absolute must for building our brands, we are all struggling with finding (making) time to actual do what our business is all about- making art. I need to clarify here that making NEW art differs from the necessity of reformatting, updating and building onto OLDER art. Building a licensing portfolio is so much more than getting up each day and sitting down to the process of making art. It's about trend research, targeting specific clients, adapting to an ever changing marketplace by positioning ourselves as this or that. Building a (recognizable) brand requires consistency in style, in viewpoint and in technique. These days, almost any type of art can become marketable if it meets these brand requirements. There is a lot of junk out there. There, I said it out load - it needed saying.
Finding (or making) the time to stay inspired and fresh while still working withing the framework of a brand does require balance. I opted out of traveling to the licensing show this week in favor of spending quality time with my paints and brushes. I'm glad I did. I'm trusting my agents to get me some juicy deals which are based on my unique perspective. I'm waiting anxiously for a report back from the show!
I normally don't jump right out after completing a new piece and show it on line but am making an exception today in an effort to show the process I use to plan out color.
My neighbor gave me a beautiful bouquet of hydrangeas from her garden and I was inspired by the color to create a painting. My goal was to design a vibrant, colorful piece in response to the all too often (IMHO) expected approach to painting pretty blue flowers. The blue is intense and I wanted to celebrate that and expand upon it. I set up the bouquet in my studio and pulled in some colorful papers and a backdrop. I like the sharp, straight edges of the paper juxtaposed with the soft, round and fluffy flowers. It creates a nice variety and gives this piece a bit of an edge...just what I wanted. Above, I've shown the final piece cropped. I like tight crops on images and I will probably use this for a greeting card design or possibly a gift item...I have some ideas.
Below is the start. I set up the still life to my left and then photographed it. I printed off the photo and set it up beside my painting. I liked having both the real set up and the photo available to glance at.
Here it is, about half finished...I could have stopped here and called it done but chose to add in more detail instead.
And here is the finished painting. Limited edition, signed and numbered Giclee prints are available for purchase. Please contact me for pricing and sizes.
Have a good week, friends!
If you were inspired, please take a moment and leave me a comment...thanks!
April 24, 2010
Color Inspiration from my daily walks
What a beautiful week this has been for walking! My country road is filled with vignettes of bursting color, subtle dancing shadows and fleeting spots of sunshine. I love the early morning walks the best, the air is still cool, the damp grasses and pine straw make for perfect "hunting" for my little Paisley. She's a born hunter and I'm not sure which accounts more for her constant pouncing - her keen eyesight or active imagination. Really Paisley, that many chipmunks on the side of the road in 2 miles??? And I managed to see not even one ??? Maybe I was too busy looking at all the beautiful color.
The azaleas are in full bloom and they are spectacular!
And you're not really a true Southerner until you confess your love for Dogwoods, grits and fried green tomatoes.
As always, I'm on some crazy deadlines for work...good thing I love what I do! Recently, in a linked-in forum for art licensing, a friend referred to art licensing as a "bad boyfriend". I love that, it's so very true. Sometimes it's the best, like when a check finally comes in or a new contract finds it's way to you. But sometimes things aren't so pretty like when a deadline is unrealistic or impossible or expectations are beyond what makes the business model work. Anyway, we all have trials in our professional life and we deal with them as best we can...I may need to call in some help on this one, though. Catching big fish requires a big lure, right???
Here's what's coming up in my schedule that I would like you to mark your calendars for:
See you there!
Want to learn more about my BrendaPinnickColorU series of workshops? Visit my website at http://www.brendapinnick.com/color-u
I'm also going to be a speaker at Crafty Con in October, this is going to be an awesome event for crafters with some terrific presenters sharing all kinds of things related to professional crafting. I'm talking about color, of course!
February 11, 2010
Brenda Pinnick Color U v.19
Here's this week's color palette, done in the spirit of self preservation. I'm freezing here, people! I need warmth and if that means I need to repaint every room in my house to feel warm, then that's just what I may do! I'm starting with the kitchen this weekend and then will continue into the other areas of the house as time permits. I love having a two story great room, except when it comes time to paint...I see scaffolding in my future. Anyway, this week's color palette is based on what my plans are for my decorating projects. Even though these are pretty traditional colors, I will be using them in some untraditional ways. I'll keep you updated with some pics along the way. I have to fit projects like this into my work schedule so it's going to be an ongoing process. I'm excited!
I hope you're keeping warm! I'm spending a little too much time researching sunny beach vacation spots and need to get back to work. Have a good weekend!
February 06, 2010
November 25, 2009
More Scoreboard fun with Sizzix and Eileen Hull's dies
I'm participating in a blog hop to show off the many ways of using my friend Eileen Hull's new product line with Sizzix! It's called SCOREBOARDS ™ and they are a ton of fun to use because of their versatility. This week's projects are created around her pocket notebook die. (Shown here, as the base piece.)This came in handy when designing my purse sized color reference minibook.
Take a look-
View this photo click here to download a full sized, printable jpeg file
I used the Sizzix/Eileen Hull's Scoreboard dies:
Box with Flap die
Notebook Pocket die
Sizzix/Brenda Pinnick Album Cover and Page die
Brenda Pinnick Scrapper Keeper album (QVC.com) (now available only in the UK) papers and elements
I glued the smaller sized, Box with Flap onto the bigger Notebook die to create a place for stickynotes or other color reference. Here, I used a tag from my Scrapper Keeper kit and added some pretty ribbons.
I use these minibooks for color reference as I work. I build a color palette for each new collection of art and keep it filed with my print-offs, mock-ups, etc. You could use this for shopping, wardrobe building, crafting, designing...whatever you wish!
I purchase paint fan books from different paint companies and cut them up to create my library of color swatches. I keep them sorted by color family, chroma and tints. It's so handy for experimenting with color and helps you get out of your color rut! (you know who you are...)
Of course, I know you've already thought of a million more uses! So...get busy!
Learn more about Brenda PInnick Color U here.
Download November Color Palette series here.
Continue with the blog hop by following these fantastic people:
ennifer Ellefson
Candice Windham
Denise Clason
Ann Butler
Fabrizio Martellucci
Korie B
Barbara Matthiessen
Brenda Pinnick
Karen Burniston
Bonnie Bruns
November 23, 2009
November's color palettes
How has November come and almost gone so quickly??? Holy smokes!
From now on, I'll be posting my ongoing color palette series once per month, or, you can get them delivered into your email box each week by signing up for When Creativity Knocks, here.
Please visit my website to learn about how your group can schedule a ColorU workshop tailored to your needs.
I'm crazy busy right now, getting ready for the biggest time of year in art licensing. Making art is only a fraction of what takes place in a professional studio. There's scanning, mock-ups, photos, marketing materials and press releases to be done. Trying to juggle everything at once has once again, gotten me frazzled! Of course, there's the holidays, too!!
I hope you're taking some time for relaxing during this busy time of year. Remember to feed your creative soul!
October 25, 2009
Sizzix Project!
I've been playing around with Eileen Hull's new Scoreboard Sizzix Dies and found a great combo project!
I've been making these little mini-books using my own Sizzix product, Die Number 656042-Album cover and page. The mini-books are perfect for creating portable color palettes to stick in your purse or bag for quick and easy reference. Shopping for new items can be stressful, so having a small reference book can make matching or coordinating your projects or wardrobe easier.
Here is what I used:
Sizzix #656137 Eileen Hull Box with Flap
Sizzix #656235 Eileen Hull Notebook Pocket
Sizzix #656042 Brenda Pinnick Album Cover and Page ON SALE!!! WOW!!!
Brenda Pinnick Scrapper Keeper Album elements / QVC.com ON SALE!!!! WOW!!! - read the reviews on this!
Download a jpeg of this project showing different views here-View this photo
Be sure to tune in tonight for Inspired at Home Blog Talk Radio with Tiffany Windsor! I'll be giving a short talk about color in nature!
And tomorrow morning, 10:00 a.m est., Tiffany is hosting a very special LIVE program via FACEBOOK LIVE and I will also be guest on this very special show along with Eileen Hull!!! I'll be talking about color in nature again and will be showing some beautiful photographs from my walk down the road.
Please join us!!!
And before I forget, here is this week's color palette from BrendaPinnickColorU- October week 4Download BP color U.v4
AND, if all that isn't enough to keep you off the streets and out of the pool halls -Be sure to check out WHEN CREATIVITY KNOCKS for this weeks Creative Journal and the latest episode! Fun stuff!!! I love Jenn Mason's suggestions for using up little bits and pieces of stuff! Very inspired, Jenn! Go here to see the very retro and oh so cool crochet project that Ana made by crocheting- it's halloween fun!
October 15, 2009
BPCU - week two!
Has a week gone by already??? Gheesh! Well, I was on a trip this last weekend, Houston to be exact. QUILT MARKET!!! What a wonderful show, so much energy, excitement, color, design and most of all,passion! I had the opportunity to catch up with some friends over long lunches and dinners and to meet and make some new ones along the way. It's hard to work by yourself, at home with no one to talk to except the cats! So when it's trade show time, it's always fun to meet up with people and talk in person.
Here's this week's color palette, still centered on Autumn hues. I've shown an example of using studio materials, in this case, embroidery skeins, to develop a palette. You don't need to have expensive color chips. Next week I'll show another source for gathering color inspiration and be tying it in with a project you can make using Sizzix dies.
If you missed last week's segment of Inspired at Home Radio, you can listen to my recorded podcast by visiting http://www.blogtalkradio.com/search/brenda-pinnick-color-u/This coming Sunday, my good friend and talented Designer, Lorine Mason will be the guest so be sure to tune in!And, be sure to make your weekly visit to the When Creativity Knocks website where you'll find all kinds of crafty projects and inspiration from the fabulous Jenn Mason, Ana Arujo and Megan Arujo who is now reporting live from Hollywood.
Two more inspirational links for you- my good friend Fabrizio is up to his crafty goodness again, making Holiday cards using my big kit from QVC-UK. My goodness, the pieces and parts from this kit just go on and on! Fabrizio is a talented card crafter who actively shares his creations on a number of blogs, blog hops and more. Go visit him and say hello.
My friend Eileen Hull is having a blog hop to show off her new Sizzix collection of structural dies and I'll be joining in the fun this next week. I love her new dies- can't wait to show you what I'm working on.
hugs,
Brenda
October 08, 2009
Brenda Pinnick Color U v.01
Download Bp_color_u_100609-1
Also available from When Creativity Knocks website each Friday, where you'll also find some great new entries from the fabulous team of creative experts including a new feature by Jenn Mason. Jenn shows some fun ways to use your dies for home decor and more. Of course, you'll want to use my Brenda Pinnick dies from Sizzix, right?!
Speaking of Sizzix, my friend Eileen has a new collection of dies coming out and I'm busy working on a few projects using them along with my halloween dies, so be on the lookout for that, coming soon.
Now I'm off to get my hair in shape and find some new shoes to go to Quilt Market this weekend where I'll be enjoying the company of many of my Designer friends and talking to some people about art licensing. I'll also be talking live from Houston on the Inspired at Home Radio webcast on Sunday evening, at 7:00 p.m. eastern. I hope you'll join me as I talk about color and how a trip to the Farmer's market can change how you look at color!
By the way-I would LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it if you would send me pictures of what you create using my color palettes! Share your creativity so you can inspire others!
Brenda Pinnick
Brenda Pinnick Designs, Inc. Artist, Designer, Teacher, Speaker and Color Guru
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