Sketching in Clay

I've been wanting to get back to my Haunted Clothing project for a while, not just on paper but working with 3D elements that are wearable.

During the "Great Studio Purge" of December 2014 (the HUGE remainder pile of which still sits blocking the studio door...) I was on the fence as to whether to keep my polymer clay.
So I compromised.
Last week, my friend Gwendolyn Evans invited me over for a day of working with polymer clay.  I went with the intention of finally making some items that could potentially be added to outfits, and Gwendolyn was happy to take all the super-bright colors of clay that I no longer needed.

Here's what I made.  For the most part I kept to white or natural colors (greys, beige, translucent) but I also mixed a weird red for the mouth and HAD to use some phosphorescent clay for the tentacles.  

Each piece is being stained with an acrylic paint glaze for a more natural look.
That white glob at the bottom is Golden Acrylics' Acrylic Glazing Medium, I cannot live without it!
Polymer clay & Acrylic ©Sweet Enemy Art 2015 

Rocky Horror, anyone?
Polymer clay & Acrylic ©Sweet Enemy Art 2015 

Antlers and Squash stems inspired most of these.
Polymer clay & Acrylic ©Sweet Enemy Art 2015 

Inspired by jawbones from a deer, this might be wearable as a pendant.
Polymer clay & Acrylic ©Sweet Enemy Art 2015  

It was a nice change of pace working directly with my hands, especially once these came out of the oven and were cool enough to handle.  The painting process really makes them come to life.

Much of it ended up being too delicate for actually wearing, but my goal is to use them for drawing references. Inspired by Beth Robinson (of Strange Dolls) I may find a way to recreate them in stronger materials.

Cards & Chariots

Happy New Year!  I posted a few cards on Etsy today, including the lovely Inktober postcard set featuring the first ten drawings from the challenge.

Taking advantage of some quiet time, I've been painting a series of women and their chariots.  These are all done in Acryla Gouache on cradled 5"x7" wood panels.
You can see my works-in-progress over on Instagram but here's a sneak peek of the three I'm currently working on.

Mid-way stage on three "Chariot" paintings. 

I love snow, but...can't it wait a little longer?

(Weather permitting...) I'll be at the Fresh Tracks Farm and Winery this Wednesday evening (Dec 10th) from 6 - 8pm, enjoying their Vermont wines ($4/glass from 1 - 8pm) and some great company (you!) as part of their featured artist series "A Toast to Creativity."  My little show is on display through the end of the month. If I manage to get down there (i.e. if the roads are clear) I'll also have cards, prints and some other goods available during the reception.   The Winery is located just on Route 12, just 5 minutes south of Montpelier, or 30 minutes from Stowe.  Directions / GPS coordinates are here:  http://www.freshtracksfarm.com/visit/directions/

Creature Classes are back!

Hard to believe, but it's time to let you know about the two classes I'm offering in 2015.
Every year at Artists' Mediums we get class requests in the cabin fever season, i.e. January, February and March.  This time we've packed every Saturday but Valentine's day with a class.  We hope you find them enticing!

My two classes are another offering of "Unlock Your Inner Creature" in January, followed by "Breathing Life Into Your Creature" in February.  Details for both below.  Pre-registration is required so please contact the shop by calling (800) 255-1290 or (802) 879-1236.

Unlock Your Inner Creature

Instructor: Kristin Richland

Class date: Saturday, January 24th 2015, Class time: 2:00pm-4:00pm

Skill level/age: Beginner, age 16+ 

(Sign up deadline: Saturday, January 17th)

Class fee: $45 per student,

Materials are provided, but feel free to bring a favorite pen or paintbrush.

This is a class aimed at those of you who wish to create whimsical, inventive creatures WITHOUT the pressure of making something realistic. No prior drawing experience is necessary. We will experiment with materials and ways of seeing. The goal is to loosen up, have fun, and go home with some new creature friends and the skills and knowledge to make more! Materials are provided, but feel free to bring a favorite pen or paintbrush. Come ready to get your hands dirty and you may want to wear “studio” clothes or an apron.  Artists' Mediums, 300 Cornerstone Drive, Williston, VT 05495

A sketchbook creature who appeared during my Holiday shows!

“Breathing Life Into Your Creature” Drawing Class

Instructor: Kristin Richland

Class date: Saturday, February 28th  Class time: 2:00pm-4:00pm

Skill level/age: Beginner, age 16+

(Sign up deadline: Saturday, February 21st)

Class fee: $45/person, most materials included but you’re encouraged to bring your own favorite colored pencils, markers, and/or watercolors to use in addition.  If you took the "Unlock" class and/or have creature ideas you'd like to further develop, bring your sketches!

Based on feedback from my first “Unlock” class, this session will focus on how to imbue your creatures with personality and unique characteristics.

Using body language and facial expressions we’ll give our creations the spark they need to leap off the page. In addition, we’ll be trying out a variety of fur, feathers, fins and other visual textures to bring them to life. Come ready to get your hands dirty, “studio” clothes or an apron encouraged.  Artists' Mediums, 300 Cornerstone Drive, Williston, VT 05495

Parking for classes will be around the corner of our building.

Refund Policy :

Please sign up early for classes. This gives us time to order the correct amount of supplies and prevents us from canceling the class if there doesn’t seem to be any interest. Full refunds will not be given for student cancellations. If you need to cancel, 50% will be returned in the form of store credit and 50% will go to the teacher. If Artists’ Mediums needs to cancel for any reason, you will receive a full refund.

Get ahold of some Sweet Enemy Art for the Holidays: A how-to guide.

Hey!  I'm doing two shows this month, and the first one is this Friday and Saturday.  These are high-quality shows, the first one is small & intimate in a semi-rural historical building, the second is more sizable and high-energy in downtown Burlington.  Both are filled to the seams with art & hand made goods, and they give you the chance to do good with your dollars.  Shop local (the best gifts are found that way!)

JERICHO ARTISAN MARKET
Holiday Gift Sale at the Community Center, Jericho VT
Friday November 14th 5 - 8 pm 
Saturday November 15th 10 - 5 pm

Visit our reception for some early-bird shopping, live music and local refreshments, or stop in on Saturday to take advantage of the Library's soup sale while you shop.  The artisans here are mainly from Jericho and Underhill, I have some very creative neighbors!  Come see what we have to offer.  Previews also at our Facebook Page:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jericho-Artisan-Market/225328744197094

Women's Festival of Crafts
Memorial Auditorium, Burlington VT
Saturday November 29th 10 - 6 pm
Sunday November 30th 10 - 5 pm 

This is the 25th annual festival, and my very first time vending here.  Last year I was bowled over by how many amazing vendors they fit under one roof.  There's going to be some great shopping, so come prepared.
My new advent calendar design will be debuting at this show!  Here's a sneak peek so far:

Advent Calendar design, 14"x11" pencil on paper, ©2014 Sweet Enemy Art

AND THEN!  I'll also be the featured artist at Fresh Tracks Farm and Winery for the month of December.  Opening reception/wine event at 6 pm Wednesday December 10th!  More details on that soon.

See you at the shows!

Inktober and a SALE!

From left to right:  October 5th, 4th, and 6th.  I liked this arrangement, so it's available as a print.

I can hardly believe it:  I finished Inktober 2014 and only had to do two catchup days.  I did my best to work on other projects at the same time, but ultimately the small scale of these drawings (4"x6") made them very entrancing.  And portable, too!

So now that I have 31 drawings, all the same size, all the same theme: HAUNTED CLOTHING, I'm hoping to do something with them.  A book is one possibility, and since they're the perfect size, I'm also looking into printing sets of high-quality-artsy-deluxe postcards.  These should arrive in time for holiday shows, which are coming up very quickly!

For the moment, I'm uploading a small selection onto my print site and having fun making them available as T-shirts and mugs in addition to the usual print on paper.  And here's a good reason to check them out right now:  Society6 is having an Artist promotion sale through November 9th, so to get $5 off any of my printed art there AND free shipping, just follow this link:
http://society6.com/kristinrichland?promo=VG3GX4X7MQYG

Sale ends November 9th, 2014 at midnight Pacific time!

And the same group is printed on a mug!
(I like these mugs)

I let the images flow one into the other here

This mug needs some tea...

Ink it up

Two more days until 24 Hour Comics begins.  Before that, there's a "Buckaroo Banzai" 30th anniversary showing to attend, followed by a night of murderous mayhem (artistically speaking) at the annual Art of Horror opening.

And because my plate was simply not full enough, I am trying to squeak in the Inktober challenge to boot!  Read about the challenge here on his site, and browse through his artwork.  Wow, he can handle the ink.

Last year, for my first attempt at the challenge, I went with photos of people I found online (a mix of friends & celebrities.)  I didn't quite complete the challenge, sort of fizzled at about 14 or 15 (and only posted up to #12.)
This year my goal is to draw a different "Mode de Monstre" piece each day.  Size will be 4" x 6" and they'll remain black & white for now.

So without further ado, I present my Inktober #1 for 2014:

#Inktober day 1, Ink on paper, 4" x 6" ©2014 Kristin Richland

Just about destroyed that old 005 Micron with this drawing!