Sell-It September- September 1

Over the course of the last year, I have participated in a number of daily art challenges. They have all been really fun experiences, but the truth is that’s as far as it’s gone and this year I want to do something more. I want to make more than just art. I want to make real, marketable products. So here’s the goal. I want to create a marketable product each day and post it for sale. I have a feeling a lot of these will go to my Zazzle stores, but I hope to publish a few of the ideas I have been working on as well. Maybe I’ll make a few marketable craft items, really the skies the limit, it just has to be available for sale when it’s done. What is my reason for doing this? Well there’s nothing wrong with doing art for art’s sake, but sooner or later if we are going to keep doing this, we ought to at least be able to cover the expenses from sales of our work. I’m not sure where this is going to lead, or if I will be able to keep up the pace. (I even came up with this idea a day late.) but you never know if you don’t try.
The thing is sooner or later we artists have to put ourselves out there and find our tribe. So here we go.

So as not to interfere with the flow of this page, please follow the project over at Beware of Artists.

Your Best

I see so many artists on-line who complain that their work isn’t up to par. They compare themselves to others and feel like something less. It’s easy to do and it happens to us all… and it’s POINTLESS. Look, your work today is not your best work. You might think, “He hasn’t seen my work, how can he know?” I know, or a lest I hope. You see if we artists are faithful, our best work is forever before us, because we keep bringing our best to the table every day. If we continue to do that, our work will continue to improve. Keep at it, and in the mean time do the best you can today, hold your head high and enjoy the journey.

Check It Out…

Okay I’ll admit it, I’m a little behind. I’ve been trying to do a piece of art every day over at Beware of Artists. I’ve got a couple drawings done but no time to get them into the computer to finish the paintings and post them. I will catch it up, but in the mean time I would love to get your opinion on my gallery over at deviantart.com I’ve been putting work over there for years, and I’m really pretty proud of some of those pieces but few people get over there. If you get a chance, I’d love to you to go over and check it out. The work there is sort of a combination cartooning/pop art/low brow art with some other influences thrown in for good measure. I’d love to see which pieces you like best. You can see the gallery here.

Also I have been posting teeshirt art over at my Zazzle store for quite some time and I’d love to hear what you think of those designs as well. See them here. 

For the record, I’m not advertising for sales here, just wanting to have some people check out my work and let me know what you think.

Creating

I want to do more than just talk about creating here. I also need to be creating. That’s what I did today. I created a couple new graphics for a one I’m working on, influenced by some of my favorite art, the car artists like Big Daddy Roth. It’s not particularly spiritual, I’m not expecting to sell millions of them or anything, it just keeps my skills sharp and satisfies my need to create. Basically what happens is when my family is sitting before the TV, sort of mindlessly watching, I get out the sketchbook and have some fun. It stretches my imagination, I try to figure out how to make the image look the way I picture it in my head, and when I have something I like, I ink it, put it into the mighty MacBook and paint it. When it’s done I upload it to my Zazzle shop and my Deviant Art gallery, in case anyone sees it and wants it, but again it’s mainly just for fun, as well as some artistic growth.

What do you think? How do you keep your skills sharp?

Just Make Art

It was a busy day today, but I took some time out to create a new piece of pop art. I call it GoldBot. It was created just for fun and to stretch my creativity a little. I hope you like it.

Happy Easter

Wishing you a very blessed Easter Sunday. He is Risen and with Him comes HOPE!

Another Easter Piece

I’ve been working on some art to represent my thoughts on Easter, God and everything. Inspired by Teresa Dedmon’s Born to Create and her challenge to create work and give it to people to bless them. The first piece was done and given away digitally since I was away from my studio. This inspired me to keep going with these digital pop art pieces and I have done five pieces so far.

This one is really simple—a cross reminding us of the ultimate gift of love. Jesus humbling Himself, laying aside the majesty of heaven to come to earth and be our Savior. My hope and prayer is that it’s simple message will touch and bless someone who sees it.

In case you haven’t been following, here are the other pieces. Creating art born out of prayer is fun and fulfilling. Ask the Lord how He would have you express Him and put your gifts to work to His glory. Then share it however He leads you to do it.

Create and be a blessing!

Expressing Easter

I’ve had this piece in my mind for a while. It’s a little on the nose interpretation of John 3:16. God loves the world so much that He gave His One and only Son. His love for the world causing His blood to flow to rescue us all. I was pretty pleased with this piece, but the question is, what do you think? Does this express God’s love in a way that might touch someone who might be looking for God?

Need Refreshing?

Have you ever felt dry? I mean really dry, spiritually. I think we all go through those times, but in my time of prayer today, I started to see three drops coming up like a fountain, representing the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. I began to think of all the passages that refer to the living water found in Christ. Faith in Him will refresh us in the dry times and bring us healing. So today if you’re struggling and “dry” the one’s for you.

John 7:38 “Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”

A Valentines Gift for You from AMOKArts

With Adult Coloring being all the rage these days, I thought I would create a little something special for the holiday. Download it, print it, color it and give it to someone you love.

Happy Valentines Day from AMOKArts.com