Giant Drawing Update - Belated Rewards Fulfillment

I wanted to share with all the final final process in the fulfillment of my Kickstarter rewards - the fulfillment of the giant postcard drawing!

As I had mentioned earlier, I have intended to send postcards to all the project friends in a certain donation category. I decided to create an original drawing, of a certain size and duration - then I would cut it up and mail each part to everyone involved.

Possibly the folks involved had forgotten all about this already and for that I owe to my tardiness. I sincerely apologize for this delay. One reason for it is a late start in the project itself - after finishing the project, I have dedicated most of my time to creating product for & attending various craft fairs and flea markets, or otherwise seeking income opportunities.

Another reason, however, is simply that I am having too much fun drawing, and am not ready to cut it up yet! I work on this every time I have a free moment, and ever since mid July or something. It's fun taking it to art fairs and noticing the curiosity regarding a large drawing that seems to change in many directions.

More regarding the imagery (based in part on a questionnaire I sent eons ago), as well as updated images will come up soon.

Also wanted to announce that I keep other blogs and things related to other things I do artistically - these are art.aliciaraya.com and marshallcommunityarts.com. As can be seen, these blogs have been very active.

Also wanted to take the time to announce my new online store!! It's at Zibbet and here is the link: http://www.zibbet.com/MarshallCommunityArts

New Painting and Rewards Video

Only a few stragglers yet to respond to the rewards questionnaire I sent out a few ago, but we have begun fulfilling already. Here is a brief video - along with some gratuitous video effects - showing some of this in action & some explanatory notes.

As an aside, I know I need to upload more photos. I've obviously made loads since 2nd time I posted a massive upload, but it can be tricky to take the time. Part of the problem lies in coordinating technology, part of the problem in also working on a website, translation & other inescapable tasks that clash & contribute to the painting process in a way. I will share a recent one though with a question:



lose the words, or not?

I was fairly tired upon finishing this one at c. 7am (hint - I did not rise early) and what kept me going was the great ska/cumbia sounds of Vicentico + Celia Cruz singing Vasos Vacios - to all who are not yet introduced to the spectacular sounds of los Fabulosos Cadillacs, please, wait no more and quickly visit this link.

Then, even after finishing the piece, I realized I still had a chunk to finish to the right of the image seeing as the composition really ended on the right hand edge, 2/3 in or whatnot, and I still had, basically, that much to finish. I had done that intentionally. But I promptly decided "F### it" and quoted bits of the song instead.

I kind of like it - I think it gives the thing sort of a children's storybook feel - esp. since the painting itself (though bad webcam photo leaves much to be desired) has that illustration quality

The subject matter might be appropriate to the song which seems to be talking about parties and love and dissappointments and all that stuff - and the people in this "Visions of Medea", though it should be a ghoulish subject matter, for all who recall the story of Medea, they all look like a little crew of nymphs or ladies or whatnot, cavorting with bubbles and plants and stuff. In any event, it could be a party, it could be all sorts of things.

If enough people write me to say I really should edit the words out and place something more substantive, I'll do it. In general am open to any recommendation regarding this missing 1/3 of the painting.

I will follow up with a more deserving photo, but meanwhile, here's what the Tate has to say about it:

Joseph Mallord William Turner (1775‑1851)
Title Vision of Medea
Date 1828
Medium Oil on canvas
Dimension ssupport: 1737 x 2489 mm
Collection Tate
Acquisition Accepted by the nation as part of the Turner Bequest 1856
Reference N00513

Display caption

The sorceress Medea was jilted by Jason, and slew their children to spite him. Here she performs an incantation. Ingredients for her spell are scattered on the ground to the left. She appears again above, fleeing Corinth in a chariot, and hurling her murdered children behind her.

Turner painted, and first exhibited, this picture in Rome. The coloured rope frame is a replica of the one he originally used.

Rewards: Photo Prints Choices

1) Battle of Trafalgar











2) Shipping off East Cowes Headland

















3) The Chain Pier, Brighton





4) A Ship Aground






5) The Shipwreck







6) Spithead: Boat's Crew Recovering an Anchor










7) Fishing Upon the Blythe Sand












8) The Fishermen

















Soon (hopefully today but probably more like SUnday) a Survey will be sent out via the Kickstarter system requesting all eligible for the 5x7 or 8x10 mounted photo prize to choose which of these 8 images each would like to receive.

As usual, welcoming all feedback and comments. More later!

Rewards Post

I am enjoying this great article from Artist Daily titled "If This Sounds Harsh, Forgive Me" relating different approaches to landscape and Plein Air painting.

"So perhaps we can break this bad habit by looking back to landscape master John Constable (1776 - 1837), the creator of some of the most beautiful landscapes in history. In his day, neither paint tubes nor the camera had been invented, so Constable's method was to sketch (drawing and painting) on location, and then use that information for composing and creating his paintings back in the studio. He took his time in crafting his designs before he committed to one for a final work."

Constable was a contemporary of Turner's, and I can well see how this excellent technique described here would have served both Turner & Costable. I also take some of the advise myself.

Aside from that, I have come to talk about the rewards process, part of which is explained in the following video.

I have already sent out a rewards survey for one set of folks, and am soon to send out another. Thanks to all who have already responded! If others still have yet to do so, I am encouraging you to do so still.

What I have opted to do (and what the video relates) is a Giant Drawing, or Forever Drawing, the sort of which I have enjoyed doing before. I have sent questionnaires asking sundry questions to inform said Forever Drawing, so as to hopefully build a theme. At the conclusion of finishing this drawing, I will cut it up into postcard sized pieces, and mail one off to each person fitting in that category. First, I will take a photo of said drawing and make digital prints available in my Etsy store.

The second group of rewards receivers get professionally mounted photos of my output, in some range or other of size & specifications. A soon-upcoming post will present these noble rewards receivers the basis for responding to a survey so as to finally make this a reality.

thanks all, stay tuned and, as usual, I welcome all feedback.