CPSA Acceptance for the third time = Signature Status and Trademark information

                                               
                         "Harley's Davidson" 18 X 18 Colored Pencil on Ampersand Pastelboard

This has been a crazy year for me and I apologize for not having made more entries.  You see I have been nursing my left shoulder since forever it seems.  After rotator cuff surgery on March 4th I was finally able to finish the last details on my CPSA entry for this year the day before the deadline.  Having to work in my immobilizer sling was not easy.  With my submission complete, I began teaching my classes for the spring session.  Which brings me to the day I found out about my acceptance......

A friend and I had just returned home from a great museum trip to the National Gallery in DC, to view Albrecht Durer's pen and inks sketches for his paintings and for a jaunt around our favorite places to visit at the National.  Durer's work was amazing and I thoroughly enjoyed the exhibit.  I also had a chance to show my favorite Dutch master still life's to my friend, who had never seen them.

When I returned home, I checked my email from my phone and found a puzzling email from Paula Parks from the CPSA.  She was informing me of a possible hitch in showing my piece at the International show this summer.  Had I gotten in? Had they posted the entries early?  I quickly checked the website and found they had and I had!  After a very goofy happy dance, I returned to my senses and now re-read the email.  She was asking if I still planned on showing my piece at the convention and if I had permission from Harley Davidson Motorcycles to show the work.  She explained that they were very protective over their trademark and if I chanced showing it there might be fines or penalties.  Well, I have to tell you I never thought of this!  I thought the trademark logo was the wings image you see on leather jackets driving down the road very fast.  I spent the next 2.5 hours on Harley Davidson's website trying to find out how to reach them to get permission to show this work and gain my signature status.  You see this is my third acceptance within the prerequisite 10 year period of time, so it gives me my signature status in the CPSA and the right to place those letters after my name.  If I couldn't show it, I would not get the status!  I was a wreck and had to find a way to get a real person on the phone or by email.

You see I started this piece, not as my entry but as an example for one of my students, who had until this winter only worked on still life and botanical pieces.  He drove his motorcycle to class one day, and after I had razed him about being on a death machine, I told him he should do a piece with it as the subject.  Something for himself, not his wife.  We all know that when you work on something you love you do your best work.  This started my winter class for 2013 as "Shiny Subjects and Reflections".  I demonstrated and coached him thru his piece and I also worked on mine, in my free time.  I wanted to show in the class how to capture reflections in metal, glass, and other materials.  It was only when I realized I needed surgery that I came to the fact this Harley had to be my entry into the show.  It was from a photo reference I took on vacation on St. George's Island, FL.  I cropped it to be a square image, zeroing in on the workings of the bike.  I tried to finish it before surgery but this was one tricky and detailed piece.

Anyway I wrote emails, called and left messages at the Harley Davidson Motorcycle Co., in WI.  After two weeks of waiting and trying, I received an email stating I could show and sell my original.  They wanted to be clear that I was not to make reproductions of the work, no giclee's or digitals without a license to do so from them.  And I was to respond back that I understood their position.  And I did.  Now the above piece will be exhibited in the 21st International CPSA Exhibit in Brea, CA at the City of Brea Art Gallery July 31-Sept. 13, 2013.

I have to tell you I have seen many many pieces of motorcycle art in galleries, shows and competitions over time.  I never thought this might be a concern if you were not using the logo.  What I have learned from this:

1.  If your going to use a product in todays world that may have a trade name/trademark, do your homework.  Get permission before you put hundreds of hours into it.
2.  Plan out your piece so that the name/trademark is not on the image in it's full state.
3.  And count your luck stars when a big conglomerate gives you permission "Thank You Harley Davidson Motorcycles"!

I did ask about how to go about the licensing of prints and the cost, for curiosity's sake, and it's been 2 weeks and I haven't heard a word.  But at least I can go ahead and show my work.

I've waited to post this until I had word so you'll be seeing a few more completed pieces in the days to come.  Have a colorful day!
Gloria
 

  

2013 First New Piece

                  Backlit Teapot and Grapes 12 X 16 Colored Pencil on Ampersand Pastelboard SOLD

Another new piece finished and ready to be framed, but it seems to have me stumped as to which or how to frame it.  My normal go to frame (wide black with a strip of antique gold) just doesn't say wow!  So I'm looking at my options so the piece looks great and it still goes with my collection.  This seems to be an on going issue every several months.  My series of Backlit usually go with the above mentioned black framing but the warmth of this one just doesn't sing when given that option.  I usually am struck by the framing dilemma when my "go to" frame is no longer available, which usually happens when I have just settled on a great new one, reframing or framing a number of a new series that way.

Keeping your collection uniform looks great in your booth at the Art Center Gallery or your tent when showing outdoors, but sometimes it's just not the right frame for the piece.  I don't like to pigeon whole my design or color choices by the "norm" framing options, it stifles my evolving creative juices so to speak.   So if I settle on one this one may make it to Crossroads for tonight's opening, but don't count on it.

Pardon my being absent for a few weeks after a sprained ankle and shoulder problems seem to have gotten in the way with my art.  Attending PT for the should has me thankful that it's my left and not my right.  Realizing my art is so important to me that I'd be lost without it.  I hope your New Year has you thankful about something great in your life and your day is as colorful as my snow covered but sunny day here.

Gloria

Powhatan Inspirations - Osage Oranges Still Life

                                    Osage Oranges Still Life 14 X 11 Colored Pencil on Board SOLD

I created this still life for a local Show of Fine Arts of Powhatan, my local art group.  It was to be exhibited at the local library but alas was not finished until after the show hung.  Fall has a way of getting too busy and life has it's normal way of getting complicated so "things" can't get done.  So I'm now just posting this entry as the work has hung at Crossroads Art Center since it's Nov.  reception.

The reference for the work was taken at Belmead Plantation which used to be Blessed Sacrement Cathlolic School and before that a school for Black youths dating way way back before there were any decent schools for them to attend.  The old Gothic building is in a state of disrepair that the community is trying to save.  Still owned by the Catholic sisters who ran the school, Belmead deserves to be preserved.

The still life was from a tour the Powhatan Historical Society gave and was graciously adorned with flower arrangements from the garden club.  Not sure if this is a shoe shine box or a tool box, it was set out on the front tiled entry portico.  The wall behind shows the peeling paint of the white washed exterior wall that is grey blue with age.  But just as the lumpy osage orange fruit here it has a beauty of it's own.  The pink sedum buds, green hydrangea blossoms and mum daisies dress up the wooden box.

My latest more contemporary still lives were sleek and backlit, but this piece had a time worn softness and beauty I wanted to capture.  Much like the Powhatan County I know and love.  

Colored Pencil Class schedules are ready for sign ups, starting thursdays Jan. 17th - Feb. 21st 2013.  Mornings are beginners classes 9:30 - 12:30 and afternoons are for continuing students 1:00- 4:00.

  

Provence Windowsill a studio work from my 2012 summer trip to France

                         Provence Windowsill 12 X 16 Colored Pencil on Ampersand Pastelboard

The typical VA creeper we have in here seems to take on a much nicer appearance in France than in my our back yard.  Not sure if it's the ambiance of Provence or the variety they grow there.   The windowsill here from the beautiful town of  Lourmarin in Provence was a striking image and the photo of my piece appears to be a bit washed out here.  The original has much more depth of color, trust me.  I may have to redo the photo.  But needless to say the piece is finished and will be part of the UNOS Gallery show Nov. 2nd thru Dec. 29th (United Network of Organ Sharing) called A Splash of Provence. The group of 19 artists I traveled with to France this past summer will all be showing some of the work we produced as part of the exhibit.  A portion of the proceeds of each sale go to UNOS.

www.unos.org/

United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) is the private, non-profit organization that manages the U.S. organ transplant system under contract with the federal ...

700 North 4th Street  Richmond, VA 23219 (804) 782-4800

A very worthwhile cause to be sure and we are very proud to be showing there.  Some of the pieces are the very plein aire paintings produced in France and there will be some studio pieces also.  I will have both in my shown works at the gallery.  We have artists of all media showing and I hope it is a great success.

Backlit Cuties Added To Backlit Series

                             Backlit Cuties 6 X 12 Colored Pencil On Ampersand Pastelboard

Just before my final outdoor show this year and the one I co-chair for Bon Air Artists Association, I completed this addition to my series.  The 20th Anniversary of Art Affair Fine Art and Fine Craft Show is a labor of commitment for my local art group in Richmond.  I have chaired this show for 3 years and it truly is a show that not only benefits our local artist community but we give 2 VCU Art Dept. scholarships as a result and Art 180, a Nonprofit organization that provides art-related programs to young people living in challenging circumstances, encouraging personal and community change.  Located on Mary Munford Elementary School grounds on Westmoreland St. and Cary St.,  Sat. 10-5 and Sun. 11-5. 

Sorry for the brief advertisement, but this show is a nearly year round job, and has taken up much of my production time.  Although the show is a great event and we as the BAAA are the only Richmond based art group that produces such a show.  We provide an opportunity for local high school honors students a competitive exhibit opportunity where they can show with many local professional artists as well as those from out of state.

Continuing the series of backlit fruit in this format has been great fun for me and I have at least a few more up my sleeve.  Capturing the juicy water droplets on the surface of the orange skins and tray surface added to the fun.  And with the last outdoor show for this year coming up this weekend, I hope to get more work produced.  My students have enjoyed the series and as they are just now learning my techniques on sanded board I hope to pursue more kitchen art. 

I hope you like it and if your in my area you'll drop by Art Affair this weekend.  Have a colorful day!

Gloria

Car Show and Wine Festival - New Work

                     1954 MG TF Landscape  12 X 16 Colored Pencil on Ampersand Pastelboard

I finished this piece last Wednesday just in time to get it photographed, varnished and framed for our local British Car Club Car Show at New Kent Winery this past weekend.  We have and arts and craft area in which I show my art.  My husband and I are members of the club but currently our 1953 MG TD is in many parts and pieces as it undergoes a total renovation.  So until it's completely done and road worthy I draw other great cars from our club.  This one is our club president's car and it certainly is a beauty.  (our TD is much the same style)

Creating this work involved a few changes to the original photo so I thought I'd show you what I had to work from.  The day the photo was taken in Aug. 2011 was very sunny and a typical VA warm humid one.  The meeting was during the mid day when sun was not the best for photos.

I removed the large white tent behind the car on the right and added more of the vineyards like on the upper left.  I chose to create a more fall-ish coloring starting on the trees since our show is a fall show and also to add some warmth to all the greens in the reference.  The photo made the car look so much blacker of a green than it really is, due to the lighting on this day.  Working on the sanded surface helped me quickly create the gravel surface, by just skimming over the surface with Prismacolor sticks and using some stippling with CP's.  I went for a warmer gravel than in the photo to keep color harmony in my work.  Being a slave to the photo is not always a good thing, so remember to compose your piece to make a better painting than photo.   As you can see the sky was a complete wash out in the photo so I made this one up from all of my observations of skies and clouds.  Mental photographs are a great resource and you always have them in your head.  All you have to do is take the time to really see some of the great skies we take for granted.

The show was a great success with over 250 classic European cars.  And I made some great contacts for Car Portraits!  Which is really just a still life in a landscape.  Enjoy your colorful day and next on to a new piece from my Provence Trip.

   

Continuing the Backlit Series

                                                               Backlit Kiwi  6 X 12

Colored Pencil on Ampersand Pastelboard again, this is the same size as my Backlit Citrus piece and will be framed the same. (A black 2.5" frame with gold band on the inside)    The series will have one more this size in it, stay tuned for # 4 and one more in the 6 X 18 size #5.  The series will make their debut just in time for the fall art show season.   Although I have just finished 2 other works not in the series, and will post them soon, the sequels may get put on the back burner until I can get a few of my France trip pieces done in time for the group show.

So I'm off to finish spraying this with UV Varnish and then to frame.   
Enjoy your colorful day!