Party Time

Don't forget, our Holiday Party is this week, Decembe 30, 2012. Check your email for details, and be there!

A Call for Entries from Wildlife Experience

A unique, outstanding and rare exhibit opportunity at one of the best venues in town is available to RMSBA members in good standing. The Wildlife Experience will hang the works of members for the month of June, 2013. Present your images of our local flora for this exciting exhibition. The call is listed below, and also appears in the Calls for Entries button to the right. Please note specifications for size. All images will be framed in RMSBA standard framing, so please note early drop-off date for unframed images.

RMSBA has been featured at the Museum before, and they produce a beautiful exhibition. You don't want to miss this one.

Alpine Forget-me-not, colored pencil, Libby Kyer

 Wildlife Experience Call for Entry

Theme: Wildflowers of Colorado.
Eligibility: RMSBA member in good standing
Entry fee: $20.- (make check out to RMSBA)
Show dates:June 1-30, 2013
Hang dates, take down dates: TBA
Submission due date: March 1, 2013. (money and art info need to be in; more specs re. info later)
Notification recipient: Heidi Snyder, preciselynature@comcast.net
Art drop off: May 1, 2013. We need a month to properly frame the art pieces.
Art drop off location: TBA
Art specifications: 2 pieces (dependent upon number of participants may be more) framed to 16x20”. RMSBA will provide the frames, participants deliver originals only, matted in a neutral mat, in protective cover (sleeve), ready to be framed. (More specs later).
This exhibition will really showcase your artistic talents to a diverse and enthusiastic viewing public, and in the process show off the wonderful flora of Colorado. Plan now to participate.

 

Dues are Due by January!

Don't miss a single great meeting or activity! Dues are due by January 15, 2013. Check out the application under Membership to the right. Can't wait to see you all in 2013! Happy New Year!

Some worthwhile exhibits you might have missed...

As the year comes close to its end, there are some good exhibits which have hung since October that will close the first few weeks of January. Two that open up two entirely different worlds of art are:

The Fine Arts Center, Colorado Springs, is located at 30 West Dale Street, Colorado Springs, CO. PH: 719.634.5581

The FAC hosts two exhibits of note:
Floyd D. Tunson: Son of Pop
This is a challenging exhibition with Tunson's political and ethics defining works of arts. It opened Oct. 27  and runs through Jan. 20, 2013.

 

A Mural in the Making:
Eric Bransby and Trevor Thomas
To celebrate it's 75th year, the FAC commissioned a mural. The mural is mounted and on display, but the accompanying exhibit of maquettes, planning drawings and compositional considerations is as good as the final piece. On display until Jan. 6, 2013.

These exhibits make the quick trip to the Springs well worth the effort.

The Changing Gallery - Littleton Museum, 6028 South Gallup Street, Littleton, CO  PH: 303.795.3950
Closer to home for some, there is a temporary exhibit at the Littleton Museum, which will hang until January 13, 2013. The Changing Gallery plays host to Mapuche - The People of the Land. A display of astounding vibrant textiles from the 19th century anchors this display, which presents the cultural artifacts of the Mapuche people of Peru. Jewelry, home artifacts and spiritual findings present the complex and varied life of these people, who were the only indigenous group in South America never to have been conquered by the Spanish. They continue into modern days over a million strong, blending their culture with that of modern day Peru and Argentina.

 

 

Seen any good exhibitions lately? Share them with our members. Send your comments to rmsbartists@gmail.com. 

Holiday Botanical Art

The Winter Holidays and botanical art are pretty much a match made in heaven! Perfect time for perfect lush images. Here are a couple to inspire you.

Found thi son the web, and loved the subject. Check out this artist online!

Highbush Cranberry © Margit Sampogna. All rights reserved

http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/margit-sampogna.html

 

 

 

Winter Wreath, Colored Pencil on Paper, Libby Kyer

 

Send us your Holiday images for this very spot! Just email to rmsbartists@gmail.com. Hope to see your work here soon.

 

Seems the winter brings out a bit of the fauna in us all. Two lovely examples below.

 

 

 

Woodpecker on Winter White Birch, Colored Pencil, Heidi Snyder

 

 

 

 



 

Artic Fox, Colored Pencil, Dorothy DePaulo

 

 

 

 

 

November Meeting Full of Hot Tips

 

Check out Documents on the right to get the full minutes of the activities at this meeting. Susan Fisher had amazing words of wisdom for us, with many strong tips to consider when you plan to exhibit. 

 

Not sure of the topic, but it's intense!

Susan Fisher discusses an artwork

Shared artwork

 

 

Don't forget, our next meeting on 30 December 2012, and it's the Holiday Party, so be there! We'll look forward to seeing you!

Next time, we'll have the full member meeting schedule for you!

Putting your art to work!

I have often said, if you can't experiment using your family and friends as guinea pigs, you need to expand your circle! As the serious gift-giving holidays approach, have you thought about using the amazing artwork you produce through the year for gifts? I'm not talking about giving away a $1,000 worth of art originals. However, I am talking about reproducing your art in novel ways.

Greeting cards, tags and other paper-mounted reproductions immediately come to mind and I know most of us have tried that. Very satisfying, and much appreciated by the recipient. My favorite is making custom wrapping paper. I found out that no one would actually use it, deeming it "too special." It's a not uncommon reaction.

What are the things people will use and enjoy? Here's a list, with a link to resources to create these items:

Coffee mugs: Select an artwork that can be reduced and still maintain some presence. Scan and size. Try this site:
http://bargainmugs.com/11-oz-personalized-coffee-mugs-c-1_30/11-oz-personalized-coffee-mug-white-p-67?gclid=CLuXxZf3-bMCFelDMgodLCAA9A
Most print services require a minimum order, so figure out how many you want in advance. Leftovers make great gifts any time of year, or work well for point-of-purchase items during exhibitions.

Travel mugs are always welcome, whether for hot or cold drinks. Artwork can be fully reproduced as an insert in full color between an outer clear wall and the inner thermal wall. You can also stylize some of your artwork, so it works well in print, or create works just for this purpose. Try this site for inspiration and print services:
http://www.discountmugs.com/nc/category/travel-mugs/?s_kwcid=TC|22682|personalize%20travel%20mug||S|p|15639760101&gclid=CMCc_f_3-bMCFYYWMgodBH0Avg



It takes a bit more money up front, but the resultant product is lovely and will be lovingly used. Scarves. Everyone is wearing them, and you can have a scarf designed with your artwork. These make great gifts, and great sales items for exhibitions. Try this site:
http://www.apparelstuffrus.com/customScarves.html?gclid=CPPuyeD4-bMCFck7MgodzjAArQ

 

 



Another way to display your art in power circles is custom ties! Try the site listed below for more info and help thinking about design. They also make scarves:
http://www.adverties.com/printed-ties/

And now, a one-stop, oh-so-many-ideas site - Walgreen's. Seriously. I was completely surprised by this resource, and the prices are...well... Walgreenian. Meaning, of course, very affordable. You are in Anything Can Happen Land. There are totes, and crystals (yep!) and mugs and water bottles. And scarves and ties and pajama bottoms and t-shirts and camisoles and performance shirts, whatever that means. A one-stop shopping opportunity, and the good part is, you can order just one item! That makes it possible to truly experiment, find what you want to do, and decide if more than one anything is a good thing. Check this out:
http://photo.walgreens.com/walgreens/storepage/storePageId=SEM7?ext=gooPhoto_Brand_Sitelinks_Photo_Gifts_Sitelinks_SEM_35_percent_off_gifts&sst=71ea3c24-1c37-d6c9-6a7f-000026ce9e7d

Best of all, Walgreen's offers really fast turn arounds!

So, there you are. Food for thought, and possibly action.