ART (TEXAS BLOG)

OPEN! OPEN! OPEN!

2011-11-01T12:06:00.000-05:00

As most of you may know, I have been acting as curator and part-time marketer for Farm to Fork (Farm 2 Fork on Facebook) for the past month. I have written press releases, radio copy, hung art and prayed hard. Well, it’s finally here...the opening of F2F!

Friday, Nov. 4, 2011
11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Chamber of Commerce Ribbon Cutting at 11 a.m.
1637 Alameda
361-500-4095

Please come and join us for the grand opening. We’ll have food, crafts and art and musical guests, Johnson Grass will perform!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpkPjHMgBbM
Johnson Grass "Think of what You've Done" (Is It True)
http://www.youtube.com/
Our regular operating hours are every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.

25% Off Canvas Prints!!!! Coupon Code NEWWAYS2GIVE

2011-10-25T13:16:00.000-05:00

Well Pumpkin Head Dog (PHD) and Hedshots have been sweatin' overthe keyboard today. We've been arranging canvas prints just for you. We've selected the best of our art work on 10 16 x 20" canvases! It's been a long hard day. Time for a nap. Enjoy the 25% off and don't forget the coupon code NEWWAYS2GIVE.

http://www.zazzle.com/pumpkinheaddog?rf=238946985861720688

http://www.zazzle.com/hedshots?rf=238946985861720688

25% of the case, speaker, wrapped canvas, photography and necklace product net sale price will be deducted when one or more qualifying products are purchased and the coupon code NEWWAYS2GIVE is applied at checkout. Offer is valid until October 31, 2011 at 11:59pm PT. This offer does not apply to past purchases and may not be combined with any other Zazzle promotional or volume discount offers. If a volume discount applies to your order, you will receive either the discount set forth in this offer or the standard volume discount, whichever is greater. Offer valid on Zazzle.com only.

Zazzle, the Zazzle logo, Zazzle Custom Stamps, and Zazzle Profile Cards are registered trademarks or trademarks of Zazzle Inc. in the United States and other countries.

History and Rubble by Pumpkin Head Dog

Bright Happy Fun Time! by Pumpkin Head Dog

Hermana Muy Curiosa by Pumpkin Head Dog

Tree Island by Pumpkin Head Dog

Lily Bell by Pumpkin Head Dog

Coffee? by Hedshots

Family Portrait by Hedshots

Hyper Pastels by Hedshots

Hill Country Sunset by Hedshots

Moon Flower by Hedshots

Also, don't forget, This Week - Get 50% Off Cards + 10% Off Custom Postage!

Use Code: FALLMAILINGS (details)
Offer is valid until October 26, 2011 at 11:59pm PT.

I Kain't Quit YOU!

2011-07-11T11:59:00.000-05:00

So this was the plan. Stay out of ArtWalk for the Summer and concentrate on my work, my two jobs and my home life......yeah, it didn't actually work that way. But I can explain!

OK, so the first ArtWalk I was going to miss was the July 1st show. I had a meeting with a man we'll call Scary Guy, I was looking for yet a third job. I know, a third job....stupid, I'm stretched thin as it is and I'm looking for a third job? Oy.... anywho, the Scary Guy gave me bad vibes so I chose, after much deliberation, not to do business with him. I deliberated because I wanted to earn the extra money sooooo badly but in the end I figured he would be the kind of guy that could dismember a body and not think twice about it.

I was at Agua Java with Scary Guy and then after our meeting I went to Vernon's, where Scary Guy actually ended up as well...a little weird. I asked him how knew about V's and he said a friend of his went there. And then I said, "Well I'm fairly regular here, who's your friend, maybe I know of him." He said oh it's not my friend its a friend of a friend. My sister thinks he followed me there.

Well there I am at V's and so I have a beer and leave and I think, "Well I'm close to House of Rock, I should go and stop by and see how the kids are doing." Yeah, "stop by"....famous last words.

So I get there and Michaela and Rene are there and so I get to gabbing with them and next thing you know I'm brokering a deal between a buyer and Michaela. So she finally sold a piece at a show. She's really an excellent artist. She's a Brit, you know and crazy talented. Next thing I know its 10:30 and I'm finally going home after "stopping by".

So I couldn't do it. I couldn't stay away from ArtWalk. Although I did like not having to hang anything or take anything down. Yes, I'm lazy. So I worked up this poster (you'll see them in the downtown area starting the end of this week at the House of Rock).

I want to talk a little bit about digital art. I'm in no way a pro at digital art, as a matter of fact, I'm jsut learning my way around digi-land. But I want to share with you the steps I made and you can share ideas or whatever.

So this is the photo I started with:

Zelda

Now what I did was get rid of the background. Oh wait, where are my manners? This is Zelda, my youngest nephew's dog. I did the digital piece from this photo my sister took. I have a piece I did of the final digital on Fine Art America titled Hermana Muy Curiosa.

So I got rid of the background by just erasing and filling in large areas with white using the bucket tool. I kept the shadow and the whiskers and of course Zelda. Then I selected color as I went along and dumped color using the bucket tool on different parts of Zelda. So wherever the color would stick is where I left it. Here is the piece after I finished using the bucket tool.

Now you can see where the colors stuck and you can see the "dirt". Now when I was working on this piece, and I've learned to do this with all my digi pieces, I work on it in a bmp file and then the I put the finished product into a PNG. It just comes out better than a JPG. I don't know all the technical aspects of it but yeah, I can see the difference.

The "dirt" you see in the colors are just little areas that didn't pick up the color. So you can go back and do what I did which was take the paint brush tool and flip back and forth between different sizes of the brush to get rid of the dirt. After the piece was clean (I zoomed in and out of the piece to make sure I got every color mass nice and clean) I uploaded it to Fine Art America.

Hermana Muy Curiosa
http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/laurette-escobar.html

I took this image and placed all the text necessary for the poster and sent it off to Vista Print where I got 20 11 x 16" posters for $50. All digital work was done in Pixlr (http://pixlr.com/editor/), which I highly recommend for the beginner. The help tutorials are excellent and its free, so that way you're not paying a lot of money for something you're not sure you're going to use regularly. But once you get started, you'll find its hard to stop.

Back to the first topic, ArtWalk. Y'all need to come on down. Hit downtown the first weekend of every month and you will not be disappointed. On Friday nights there is art for every taste all throughout downtown and at the marina on Saturday there's a great Market Place with everything from produce to crafty things. Then Sunday you can walk across the bridge.

Join me at House of Rock on August 5th. House is on 511 Starr St. at the corner of Mesquite and Starr (a block down from KSpace). We'll start the party at 5:30 and continue on through the night with musical guests, Bar Nuts!

The Possibilities of Wearable Art

2011-06-27T13:10:00.001-05:00

The wonderful thing about art in this era is that it is more accessable to the general public. Better accessability means greater acceptance and desire of product that is unusual, artful. Art, original art, can be used as an embellishment on more than just T-shirts and tote bags. I have found designing footwear with my and my sister's original art is not only a fun process but it's becoming successful as well.

Our works are available on Zazzle's web site, the address is http://www.zazzle.com/pumpkinheaddog

Please come and peruse our works, tell us what you think.

Lily Bell by Laurette (Pumpkin Head Dog)

Rock Star by Laurette (Pumpkin Head Dog)

Walk on the Wild Side by Laurette (Pumpkin Head Dog)

Chocolate and Cherries by Anissia (Hed Shots)

Espresso Anyone? by Anissia (Hed Shots)

Naked Trees by Anissia (Hed Shots)

Postage Sale - $5 Off Custom Postage!

2011-06-15T12:43:00.001-05:00

Zazzle is at it again! This time they are taking $5 off custom postage! My sister and I are happy to share our designs with y'all. Please take a look, I'm sure there is something you just absolutely need!

Hedshots Designs

Pumpkinheaddog Designs

Hedshots Designs

Pumpkinheaddog Designs

* $5.00 of the Zazzle Custom Postage Sheet net sale price will be deducted when one or more qualifying Zazzle Custom Postage Sheets are purchased. The coupon code PHOTOPOSTAGE must be entered during checkout to receive the offer. The net sale of Zazzle Custom Postage Sheet price is the difference between the price of the Zazzle Custom Postage Sheet (excluding shipping and taxes) and the face value of the postage. Offer is valid through June 19, 2011 at 11:59 PM PT. This promotional offer may not be combined with any other Zazzle promotional or volume discount offers. If a volume discount applies to your order, you will receive either the discount set forth in this offer or the standard volume discount, whichever is greater. Offer valid on Zazzle.com only

Thank you for your time and effort,
Laurette Escobar
http://www.laurette-escobar.artistwebsites.com/
http://www.zazzle.com/pumpkinheaddog
artisalie1@yahoo.com

Original Art -- Digital File Sale

2011-05-25T13:27:00.000-05:00

I just opened my newest e-gallery called Digital Werx. I'm going to sell files from that gallery for $25 each. I will email them to you once you've paid for them. Just email me at artisalie1@yahoo.com with the name of the file(s) you'd like. Once the payment has hit the paypal, I'll email you the file. This is an unusual sale, I know, but I like trying different things.

Below is the link to the new e-gallery and I've put the sizes of the files in pixels below.

Thanks!

Digital Werx

Feel free to browse the gallery and give me your thoughts on the pieces.

EDIT: Viva Tequila is not available. I lost the original file.

EDIT AGAIN: The sale will end on June 3, 2011

Blown

2425 x 3465 pixels

Look At Me

2604 x 3472 pixels

Drag Queen Wedding

2604 x 3472 pixels

In The Thick Heat

2604 x 3472 pixels

Like Minded Thieves

2604 x 3472 pixels

Lilly Bell

3472 x 2604 pixels

Who's A Good Dog?!

3472 x 2604 pix

I Smell Coffee

3160 x 3160

Sk8tr Luv

800 x 600

Pumpkin Head Dog

2011-05-20T13:24:00.000-05:00

http://www.zazzle.com/pumpkinheaddog
http://www.zazzle.com/hedshots

Well I've been crazy busy coming up with ways to share my art with the world in new and interesting ways. I think wearable art is the most fun way to do something like that but another great thing is using the iPhone, iPad and Doodle Speakers. I mean imagine finding the right design to suit your lifestyle! With about a million or so designs on Zazzle the possibilities are endless. But I really think you ought to consider Pumpkin Head Dog and Hed Shots before all others....not that I'm biased or anything.

Pumpkin Head Dog is a little outside the box art and is my newest baby. I love PHD! It's so much fun to work on. I can't even really consider it work because I have too much fun with it. Hed Shots is my sister, Anissia Hedrick's store. She's a photographer and she is available for portraits, weddings and whatever other freelance gig you can think of.

Today only, the Doodle Speakers are 50% off until 4 p.m. P.S.T.

It's here: The world's first customizable speaker is now on Zazzle! Perfect for travel, parties, or just a day at the beach, our customizable Doodle speaker is ultra-portable and ultra-fun for everyone. In this exclusive offer for email subscribers, you now have exactly 4 hours to save 50% on any custom speaker! So, shop for yourself, or shop for a Father's Day gift (hint, hint), and you'll be sure to end up with an awesome gadget that makes your music look as good as it sounds! This special deal will be over very soon, so get your custom speakers today!

If you can't shop now, don't worry! After 4 hours have passed, you'll still have the rest of the weekend to save 20% on Doodle speakers. Just be sure to place your order soon!

Thank you for your time and effort,
Laurette Escobar
http://www.laurette-escobar.artistwebsites.com/
http://www.zazzle.com/pumpkinheaddog

For The Love Of It

2010-06-17T10:54:00.000-05:00

We do art because we love it. But it's difficult when you see what passes for art these days. What's worse is that not only that it passes for art but it ACTUALLY sells. In fact it may well sell more than what someone may consider "real" art. True I don't always understand what passes for art even when it's considered by true critics and well-educated people as REAL art. We had an exhibit where someone painted pallets different colors. One would be yellow, another blue, etc...and really, I didn't get it. Perhaps I'm not educated enough. I didn't see the meaning in it other than a strictly utilitarian object was spruced up and painted a pretty color. The utilitarian becomes art? Maybe that was the idea. But really, who does this speak to? That niche is rather narrow, Im sure.

In cases like that I think I'm either not educated enough or I thank God my head isn't shoved so far up my own butt that I've become the ultimate snob. I'm somewhat on the fence of what "real" art is because I think everyone is certainly entitled to their own opinion and taste but I also think they'd want to elevate themselves. Low brow or high brow sometimes something can be labeled art and it's just crap on a canvas really. I am aware some people may feel that way about my art and that's OK, because I don't aim to please everyone.

I do art because I love it. I have a real job where I make my living and I do my art because I'd die without it and it would be nice to make some money at it but I know I'm not going to get rich doing this. I may pay off a bar tab with a couple of pieces or donate a piece or two to a worthy cause. It's mine to give, sell or keep as I choose. It's my sanity, so I'll do with it as I please.

As far as self-promotion, I'll try anything once maybe even twice. I'm not afraid of the work and it is frustrating when you see craptacular work selling and you're sitting there left twiddling your thumbs. I know the frustration like the back of my hand. Trust me on this. But I also know I cannot rely on selling. I have to be happy and thankful for what does come my way. I have to be secure in the knowledge that my work is good and that I am making an honest effort to sell my works.

So what works? All of it and none of it. The only thing you can really do is have loads of determination and faith.

Live Painting

2010-05-25T11:19:00.000-05:00

When I lived in San Antonio, I was a member of an art group there and we did shows wherein we would have to paint live. At first I thought I could never do that. I mean people watching me paint? No, this is what I do in the privacy of my apartment with music going and me "singing" and dancing along. So this is not a spectacle for the masses. Well of course no one needs to see that action but I just had to deal. It had to be done if I was going to be a part of this group.

So, finally, I sucked it up and I threw myself into it. The great thing, I later found, was the curiosity of children was not only entertaining but they made me really think about what I was doing. It's like tying your shoes. You know how to do it. You do it a million times a year but until you try to teach someone to tie their shoes, you really just don't think about the steps you need to take to get from A to B and so forth. The children got me to thinking about what I was really doing. They kind of gave me a kick in the butt and one that I sorely needed. I was getting stagnant.

I remember two little girls who wanted to paint with me but as they were nicely dressed, their mother felt it was not a good idea. But one of them kept asking questions. "Why you doin' that?" and I'd answer her. She'd digest the information...I could see the little wheels turning in her head. Then she'd ask why I was using a certain color and why was my tree shaped like that or whatever. It was a little trying but it truly made the wheels in my head turn too.

Well I've grown since then. I'm not timid painting in front of people any more. As a matter of fact when I moved to Corpus Christi I started my own art group. We're a tiny band of artists and we don't have a 501-C designation or anything just yet, but we work hard at our skills. It's not even work really. I enjoy it too much to call it work. Yeah, it can be tiring, frustrating and drive one to drink but I'd rather be doing this than almost anything else. So I got my little band of artists together and painting live. We painted out at the bay front, which I do NOT recommend because the wind is fierce. We paint at our shows. But where we've been painting mostly is at a bar called The Texan.

Yes The Texan has a generous backyard and the staff is very welcoming. Every artist can find their own space out in the backyard and work until their heart is content, or their work is done. It's not as difficult working in an environment where liquor is being served as one might think. Every once in a while someone who's had maybe a little too much to drink has some critique of your work that may not be too flattering but you just laugh it off.

I love painting out there. I just feel at home there because most of the people know me now and they want to know what I'm working on. I'll go and work there without my posse. It's that comfortable for me. Even one of the regulars there has offered to make me some special order stretched canvases no charge (well except for supplies) but still! They'll be a hell of a lot less cheaper this way than going through a supply house. It may cost me a couple of beers....maybe a shot....I still come out cheap.

My advice is to paint out in unusual environments where the general public wouldn't expect there to be a working artist. I'm actually thinking of getting with the local mall and asking them if my crew can go there and paint as part of a live art show. You know something different for their clientele. It's a good thing to involve businesses that may not necessarily be involved in art in the first place. It will get them to know the possibilities of art, the draw of art and the fun that it can be.

*The image attached to this blog is ArtWalk and was created in The Texans' backyard in May 2010.

Agora – Contemporary fine art gallery – Chelsea art galleries district – New York City

2010-04-27T14:03:00.000-05:00

Agora – Contemporary fine art gallery – Chelsea art galleries district – New York City

ART WEBSITE!!!

2010-04-27T13:21:00.000-05:00

Finally I got a website for my artwork! It's small right now but I'll be growing it soon. I'll buy more space and get it going. I think this is the best way to go.

I'm going to continue to work with Coastal Bend Artists but I'm not going to be showing my paintings any more. If I show anything I'll be doing photos.

I'm pretty good at composition and I've gotten some really great shots but I'm not a PHOTOGRAPHER. I don't have fancy equipment or software but I know what I like and I do a good job. Besides, my feelings aren't nearly as hurt if no one buys my photos as opposed to my paintings....when no one buys my paintings I do get kind of hurt.

I put a lot of thought and emotion into my work. I'm not just slapping shit together. But I suppose people prefer something they can see something real in....does that make sense?

I'm not that big on reality, so yeah.....I'll snap a photo for realism but if I'm painting rare is the realism.

[url="http://artbylaurette.webs.com/"]ART BY LAURETTE[/url]

Aurora Arts Theater

2010-04-23T10:18:00.000-05:00

The Aurora Arts Theater is a great place to catch good live theater and good art! Myself and many other of my fellow artists have works displayed at the theater. Here are the three I have on display and for sale at Aurora.

Also please check out the Aurora's production Godspell! It's playing now until May 15th!

This is "Temper, Temper", it's a 30 x 40" acrylic on canvas piece.

It is actually a darker, moodier painting than I captured it here but I couldn't make it come out right. That's why I'm a painter and not a photographer.

This is "Preconceived Notions" it's a multi-medium piece in that it has plaster, glass, sumi ink, and acrylic paints.

This is "Vintage" and its an odd piece. A friend of mine gave me this canvas board and it already had the bird and branch painted on it. It's an old painting and who did it? God only knows. But what I did was put a wash of yellow and added the color patches that surround the subject. I feel that I did take something that was vintage and a little mundane and made it more contemporary. I enjoyed this process and I may do it again.

Godspell
April 9 - May 15, 2010
Book by John Michael Tebelak Music and Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz

Based on The Gospel According to St. Matthew Conceived and originally directed by John-Michael Tebelak, with music and new lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, "Godspell" is one of the biggest off-Broadway and Broadway successes of all time.Based on the Gospel According to St. Matthew, and featuring a sparkling score by Stephen Schwartz, "Godspell" boasts a string of well-loved songs, led by the international hit, "Day By Day." As the cast performs "Prepare Ye The Way Of The Lord," "Learn Your Lessons Well," "All For The Best," "All Good Gifts," "Turn Back, O Man" and "By My Side," the parables of Jesus Christ come humanly and hearteningly to life.Drawing from various theatrical traditions, such as clowning, pantomime, charades, acrobatics and vaudeville, "Godspell" is a groundbreaking and unique reflection on the life of Jesus, with a message of kindness, tolerance and love.(Synopsis obtained from http://www.mtishows.com/show_detail.asp?showid=000217.)

Showtimes:April 9 - May 15, 2010
Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 pm
Sunday matinees at 2:30 pm
Tickets:$14 - Adults$12 - Seniors, Military, and Students with I.D.$ 7 - Children under 10

Cast Members:
Ryan Bennett
Molly Pierce
Laura Noyola
Autumn Caro
Jerry Treviño
Amanda White
Alex Chapa
RaMina Mirotazavi
Matt Willoughby
Ray Garza
Laura Noyola

Director: Corey Ranson

Choreographer: Carolyn Arwood

Music Director: Phil Valdez

Stage Manager: Wendy Sauer

http://www.auroraartstheatre.com/index.html

Rockport Photos

2010-04-05T14:18:00.000-05:00

http://www1.snapfish.com/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=2533271015/a=6727035_6727035/otsc=SHR/otsi=SALBlink/COBRAND_NAME=snapfish/

KSPACE CONTEMPORARY PARTY 4/16/10

2010-03-22T15:45:00.000-05:00

Wine is to sushi as beer is to chocolate. Confused? You won't be after attending the Art of Music a benefit for K Space Contemporary sponsored by Glacial Energy (a fairly new retail energy provider). This party is an unusual benefit in that there will be a sushi and wine pairing, live art, art on display and art for sale, then a beer and chocolate pairing and music. Providing the sushi is Ophraka's Asian Bistro located at 429 Schatzel in dowtown Corpus Christi.

Ophraka's is new to the restaurant scene and has a busy lunch, lamentably business is a little slow at night. Well maybe not so lamentably...you can snag a great table while the lull lasts. Owner/chef, Paul Sananikone, is dedicated to great food and the arts. His dedication to great food is evident in the dishes he serves. He also holds his doors open to local artists who want to get a little more exposure for their works.

This piece currently hangs at Ophraka's 429 Asian Bistro.

Chef Paul executes a flawless California Roll for the camera. Experience this and many other forms of sushi at the Art of Music.

The wine for this portion of the evening will be provided by Republic Beverage. Vintage posters from the collection of Casey Lain, owner/operator of the House of Rock, will be on display. There are some that will take you way back to the way back and then some. They are a great trip down memory lane for some and a new experience in printed art for others. These pieces will not be for sale. Also art on canvas will be provided for show and sale by Al Molina assistant director of the Coastal Bend Artists (coastalbendartists@yahoo.com). Molina is one of the best representational artists there is in Corpus Christi. He can take a picture and paint it on a canvas as exact as exact can be.

Stevie Ray Vaughn by Al Molina

Fred and Melissa Cook will be producing a limited number of posters during the event. "The design is really cool," Lain said. "One design will be available during the wine/sushi pairing and another will be avaialbe for the beer/chocolate pairing but you can put them together to make one poster." Twenty is the limit! Only 20 posters per event will be printed, the cost is $30 each. The beer and chocolate portion of the eveing should be very interesting. Larry Roberts of Andrews Distributing will be supplying the beers (Samuel Adams Boston Lager, Coastal Wheat, Light and Leffe Blonde and Stella Artois) and Bourbon St. Candy Company (located in La Palmera Mall by Dillard's second floor) is supplying DE-lictable choclates.

These chocolates are hand made in Texas at Sweet Shop USA. Sweet Shop USA was established in 1972, in Fort Worth. Today, the company is located in Mount Pleasant.

Here is the event itninery: 5:30 doors open at the Venue next door to the House of Rock/poster printing begins 6:30 - 8:30 Sushi and wine pairing begin. 8:30 - 9:00 KSpace open house 9:00 doors open and second round of poster printing begins 9:55 - 11:00 beer and chocolate pairings

Tickets are $20 for each event of the evening (each pairing is a seperate event) and can be bought at http://www.texashouseofrock.com/ or by calling 361-882-7625

KSpace Contemporary is located at 415 D Starr Street, Corpus Christi and can be found at http://www.kspacecontemporary.org/

The Venue at the House of Rock is located at 511 Starr Street and can be found on the web at www.texashouseofrock.com Glacial Energy can be found on the web at http://www.glacialenergy.com/

KSpace Contemporary and House of Rock would like to extend thank you's to Glacial Energy, Republic Beverage, Andrews Distributing, Ophraka's, Bourbon St. Candy Company, Leadership Class XXXVIII and Coastal Bend Artists.