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calderfer
About calderfer
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Small Business Saturday at Lowe Mill A&E
Saturday, November 26, 2022
11am – 7pm
Shop Small and show your support for local businesses! Every artist and maker at Lowe Mill A&E is a local small business. Each studio participating in Small Business Saturday will have something special, so be sure to make your way through ALL we have to offer. Be sure to checkout the Artist Demonstrations happening throughout the day, and don’t miss Cattyshack’s Small Business Caturday happening in the First Floor Connector. This is a great time to get a jump start on your Holiday shopping list and help your community at the same time!
RailRoad Rooms
Railroad Room 1– Guadalupe Pottery Studio
I will have pottery making and wheel throwing demonstrations plus cookies and cider.
Railroad Room 4– Pizzelle’s Confections
We will have samples of our drinking chocolate all day along with other complimentary treats. We will also have all of our holiday items available.
First Floor South
Studio 103 – SPARKLE Studio
SPECIAL: With the purchase of any inkle, tablet, or rigid heddle loom get a gift certificate for 2 FREE hours of weaving class. ($40 value)
MAKE AND TAKE: Choose your gemstone beads and make your own intention bracelets for just $10 each. From noon until 4 pm or until supplies run out.
Studio 115– PB Surrealism
I am a photographer and mixed media artist. I’m offering $15 straight photography photoshoots for 15 minutes and 15% off merchandise and artwork.
Studio 118 – Corinna Nicole Art, Swarm and Murmuration Art
Shop newly created ornaments, earrings, and pendant necklaces just in time for the holidays! Plus, receive 20% OFF all reproductions!
Studio 126 – Susie Garrett & Robert Perrella
Glass – Colored Pencils – Metals – & More
10% Off Select Items
Studio 127 – Studio 127
$15 off Gift Certificates for $30 and up
Second Floor South
Studio 267– Charismata Boutique
We will be starting our Christmas Season after Thanksgiving and will have 20% off purchases $10 or more.
Third Floor South
Studio 308– Artimaps, David Nuttall
Three ways to get a discount code for any Artimaps fictional map clothing item (print-on-demand, so you order online and it is delivered direct to you):
1. Buy any map print
2. Post an Artimaps tagged photo
3. Visit my studio wearing any map clothing
Studio 310– Mary Anna Brown Mixed Media
All $25 earrings will be 2 for $40.
First Floor North
Studio 1034– Rafael’s Table
Rafael’s Table will be offering 20% off on all Kitchenware, Kitchen Decor, and Cookware. It’s the perfect time to shop for Santa’s favorite chef!
Second Floor North
Studio 2000 – Aplin Artworks
Aplin Artworks will have stained glass art and gift ideas for the season. Will be featuring mosaic and fusion glass work. There will be a drawing for a $35.00 gift certificate.
Studio 2001 – Anyaberry, LLC and The Theatre of Fashion
From 3:00 – 5:00 you can create a fashion illustration collage for fun and for a chance to win the Theatre of Fashion T-shirt.
Studio 2027 – Art by Anjuli
Hats are for sale $20 a piece. Greeting cards special 4 cards for $10. Face painting for $5, $10 or $15
Studio 2038 – ChromAddict
The studio will be full of great gift ideas including original art, ornaments, cards, pendants, buttons, and more PLUS 20% off reproductions. While you’re here, join my email list or post a selfie from the studio to be entered into a drawing for a $35 gift certificate.
Studio 2042 – Sunshine Studio
I will have 20% off select items in my shop, and everyone who makes a purchase will get the chance to spin a prize wheel and they can win a free item from my shop! I’ll be open 11-7 on small business Saturday
Studio 2054 – Denise DeKemper
I’ll have handprinted Christmas ornaments as well as a wide variety of cards, prints and original art, including wearable art – great for gift-giving. Small Business Saturday Specials: Ornaments and hand painted bandana size silk scarves 4/$50 (reg. $15) and 54” hand painted habotai silk scarves $22 (reg. $32). while they last. Ornaments and bandanas may be combined for discount.
Studio 2069 – Ravenwood Meadery
Ravenwood Meadery will be fully decked out for the holidays, kicking off the return of the super popular hot mulled mead, and debuting the long awaited bottles of ‘Orange Spice’ limited edition holiday mead. Mead is the world’s oldest alcoholic beverage made by fermenting honey with water, yeast, and a variety of of other ingredients such as fruit, spices, and flowers. Ravenwood is the first and only meadery in North Alabama, and the only the second in the State.
Studio 2073 – Dragon’s Forge Cafe
We will run a limited time drink special that is a European style hot cocoa with marshmallows on top. We blend together espresso chocolate and milk chocolate with heavy cream for a decadent treat. Perfect for dipping and shopping!
Cattyshack inc. presents Small BUsiness Caturday
In the First Floor Connector from Noon – 4:00
Cattyshack will have an adoption table with kitties in kennels for the public to meet! We will also be having a bake sale, a donation drop-off box for our Secret Sam-ta fundraiser, as well as craft and small business vendors!
Demonstrations
Noon – 1:00 PM
Studio 2054 – Denise DeKemper Art
Silk painting
Studio 106 – The Cigar Box Guitar Store
Free cigar box guitar lessons for teens & adults. No experience is required. Drop in for a few minutes or stay for the entire lesson and learn about 10 songs. Loaner guitars available. No obligation–just come learn how easy it is to make a joyful noise!
Noon – 4:00 PM
Studio 103 – SPARKLE Studio
Come check out traditional forms of fiber arts as we spin fiber into yarn on a spinning wheel. We will also have inkle, tapestry, and rigid heddle looms set up for you to play on.
12:30 – 1:00 PM
Studio 326 – Pyewacket Press
I will be demonstating printmaking 1st and making a journal 2nd.
1:00 – 1:30 PM
Railroad Room 1 – Guadalupe Pottery Studio
Pottery making / wheel throwing
1:00 – 2:00 PM
Studio 106 – The Cigar Box Guitar Store
Free cigar box guitar lessons designed just for kids and their parents. Lasting about 15 minutes, you’ll hear a little bit about the history of these instruments, learn how they are made, the science behind the sound (including why they all sound different) and then you’ll get to play on one of our loaner guitars. No obligation–just come learn how easy it is to make a joyful noise!
1:30 – 12:00 PM
Studio 326 – Pyewacket Press
I will be demonstating printmaking 1st and making a journal 2nd.
2:00 – 3:00 PM
Studio 107 – Melty Space Case
Encaustic painting history and demo
2:30 – 3:00 PM
Railroad Room 1 – Guadalupe Pottery Studio
Pottery making / wheel throwing
Studio 326 – Pyewacket Press
I will be demonstating printmaking 1st and making a journal 2nd.
3:00 – 4:00 PM
Studio 2038 – ChromAddict
Fur and eyes with colored pencils
3:30 – 4:00 PM
Studio 326 – Pyewacket Press
I will be demonstating printmaking 1st and making a journal 2nd.
4:00 – 4:30 PM
Railroad Room 1 – Guadalupe Pottery Studio
Pottery making / wheel throwing
28 February Flowers
This is my second year participating in 28 February Flowers, and I just love this challenge. I’ve been wanting to dive into mixed media, so my goal with these pieces was to explore mixed media possibilities and have fun. Everyday there’s a prompt, and some people create a daily piece of art. I ended up working on these in the studio, so I was always trying to “catch up” since I’m not in the studio everyday. I learned a lot through the process and have begun to incorporate some of what I learned into my next collection of pieces.
The Best of Drawing includes “Goodbye”
I realized I posted this on social, but never added it to my blog. I am so honored to have “Goodbye” included in “The Best of Drawing: Strokes of Genius 13 Competition” produced by Artists Magazine! It includes 112 works by 96 different artists from around the world.
You can purchase a digital edition of the publication online.
Happi Pappi Website
I split my time between art projects and design projects. If you’re local to Huntsville, AL, you’ve probably seen the Happi Pappi Beignets food truck at various events, including one of my favorites, the Monte Sano Art Festival. I had the honor of creating the logo for Happi Pappi. The logo is actually based on photos from the owner’s Grandfather!
Recently I worked with Happi Pappi and My Size Marketing to create a website for Happi Pappi. The look needed to be clean and professional. Most importantly it needed an easy-to-use calendar feature to showcase all of the food truck’s upcoming events. I came up with a simple design with lots of white space, an angled header element to showcase the logo, and a soft background element with a touch of powdered sugar. The photos feature great shots of the beignets and people enjoying the tasty treat at different venues.
The home page features a little about Happi Pappi, a quick look at the upcoming events, how to book the truck, information about Fundraising opportunities, and of course links to social media. There’s more detailed information on the site including a full calendar, booking form, menu information, galley, frequently asked question, and the Happi Pappi story. There’s also a page dedicated to Fundraising since they offer a fantastic program for schools, church groups, and nonprofits that make it easy for them to earn money at their event or function.
So checkout this sweet site. And be sure to check out Happi Pappi’s sweet treat when you have a chance. Just look at the calendar!
February Flowers Challenge
If you haunt Instagram, you’ve probably noticed different “art challenges” that pop up from time to time. Inktober in October is a popular one, for example. Well, I ran across one started by artist Amanda Evanston called February Flowers. She even includes prompts. Since flowers are on my to-do list to get ready for Panoply this year, I decided to jump in….even though I am a bit behind. I didn’t start until Day 8. I am gonna try and go back and catch up, but we shall see!
This is the first time I’ve tried an “art challenge.” So why now? Well, as I said, flowers are on my to-do list. I used to draw and paint lots of flowers, but I’ve been really focused on animals the last couple of years. I’m ready to switch things up. But I feel like I am out of practice when it comes to the blooming beauties! An art challenge seemed like the perfect way to get back into my botanical groove. The prompts help spark creativity. And since the idea is to make this a daily practice, it helps take the anxiety out of starting on a new piece. It feels more like practice. This gives me an opportunity to experiment with ideas. If I create something I love, bonus! But if I’m not crazy about it, I’m out a piece of paper and some art supplies. Time creating is never wasted. I always learn something during the process.
There’s also a social aspect to a challenge. The hashtags for this challenge are #28februaryflowers and #28februaryflowers2021. You can search on those tags and find SO many awesome and inspiring works. Sharing my piece and declaring my participation on social media makes me feel more accountable. And that helps me stay on track and do the work.
Pet Portrait Questions Answered
I get a lot of questions about how I create pet portraits, especially at art festivals. Here’s a handy dandy Q&A to help you decide if I’m the right artist for your pet portrait, how my process works, and some things to keep in mind when searching for a pet portrait artist.
Do I bring my pet to your studio or do you work from photos?
I get this question ALL the time. I work primarily in colored pencils, so my process is SLOW. No pet is gonna sit still long enough for me to do what I do, so I work from your photos. Usually I have one photo I am mainly working from, but I may use additional photos to get better views of the eyes, fur, etc. The photos don’t have to be of fantastic quality. You just need to like the pose of your pet in the photo.
Other artists can and do work from live models, so if this is something that’s important to you, be sure to check with them.
My pet’s fur is black, and I can never get a good photo! Can you help?
This is a very common problem. If you have photos, I can usually get what I need to draw you pet. Between years of experience of drawing animals and the ability to adjust photos in Photoshop, I can add in all those details that you see with your eyes but never seem to capture with a photo.
What does a pet portrait cost?
It depends on what style of portrait you want. I offer mixed media portraits in several styles starting at $95 for a 5″ x 7″ portrait. I offer colored pencil portraits starting at $185 for a 5″ x 7″. You can see the different styles on my website. I do offer payment plans.
How do I protect my pet portrait?
I use artist quality materials for my portraits. If you have chosen to frame you portrait, be sure to use an acid-free mat and UV filtering glass or acrylic. This will help protect your portrait from light damage. If your portrait is mounted to a wood panel and ready-to-hang, I have coated it with several layers of a UV filtering varnish. No matter how the portrait is finished, try to keep your portrait out of direct sunlight. This is true of most artwork and art prints.
How long does it take for you to create my pet portrait?
This will vary based on the number of projects I have going at the time, but in general, expect it to take around 4 weeks. If you have a tighter timeline, let me know when you contact me, and I will try and work with you.
How do we get started?
Email is the best way to contact me. Please include your photos, and if you know what size and style you’re thinking, that helps me too.
ADDITIONAL THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND
When choosing an artist to work with, be sure to choose someone who’s style you like.
Most artists will require a non-refundable deposit for a commissioned work. That way if at some point through the process you are not happy with the piece, the artist still gets paid for the time he/she put into the piece.
Make sure the artist plans to send you progress shots.
Burger King got it right
Burger King has unveiled a new logo design and overall rebrand, the first since 1999 when they added that blue swoosh. You know, the same swoosh everyone had back in the late 90s/early 00s. The new logo looks a lot like the logo before the swoosh, and I am totally into it. It takes me right back to my childhood, when I couldn’t wait to be big enough to eat a whole Whopper.
The new look is what’s called “flat design”, and it’s a design trend that has staying power because of its simplicity and versatility. What I really love about the rebrand is that BK went all in. The colors are vivid, but at the same time feel natural. They make you feel cozy. The font is funky and retro, but still pretty easy to read. And the illustrations are fun! I love that they incorporated them into the uniforms.
And I love that they had all this ready to go for their roll-out so you can really see how the rebrand is gonna work in real-life situations.
My favorite little detail is the app icon. The buns with the K burger and the overall B shape is just darn good design. It fits with the overall look and stands out in an overly complicated digital landscape. The whole look makes me hungry for a burger.
Now…about the King in those commercials. I can only hope he goes the way of the blue swoosh.
Paper, boards, and more!
Last week I talked about the different mediums I use. You can find all that information here. This week I am going to continue with what supports I work on and a bit about my varnish process.
Colored Pencil Works
When I going to create a 100% colored pencil piece, my subject helps determine what paper I am going to use.
Strathmore Bristol Vellum
This is my go-to paper in general for colored pencil. And I am equally happy with any of the series Strathmore offers including 300, 400, and 500.
Canson Mi-Teintes
If I am working on a furry animal, I love using Canson Mi-Teintes. This paper is aimed at pastel artists and has a rough and smooth side. I use the smooth side for colored pencils.
Stonehenge
People are not really my thing, but Stonehenge paper is fantastic for people portraits.
Wood Panels
I have drawn directly on wood panels with colored pencils as well. My favorite panels are Blick Studio or Blick Premier wood panels.
Mixed Media
My subject and overall plans for what I want to do with a piece again help determine what surface I am going to work on.
Wood Panels
Working directly on wood panels is one of my favorite options. Again, my favorite panels are Blick Studio or Blick Premier wood panels.
Strathmore Mixed Media Paper Series 400
I love Strathmore’s mixed media paper if I know I want to use colored pencil and washes of watercolor or acrylics. It is a sturdy paper that takes a lot of abuse.
Strathmore Watercolor Paper Series 400
Sometimes I used watercolor paper if I know the main parts of the piece will be paint instead of colored pencil. I like the texture the watercolor paper adds to the piece.
Sticky Stuff
Gel Medium
For mixed media pieces I use a gem mediums as my glue. Liquitex and Golden both offer gel mediums that dry clear and work well. You can also use this to seal your piece.
Grafix Double Tack Mounting Film
If I’ve created a piece on paper and want to adhere it to a wood panel, I use double tack mounting film. It is a giant, acid-free, double-sided sticker. It takes practice, so don’t try this for this first time on a finished piece. When I started using this method, I would actually adhere the paper to the board before I ever drew on it. I adhere the film to the wood first. I peel back one edge a few inches, and then I use a brayer to help make sure it is flat and smooth as I slowly peel back the backing. For the art side, I peel back the backing a few inches, line up the art, press it from one corner to the other, and then follow the same process…slowly peeling the backing as I press and use the brayer to smoothly adhere the art.
Varnish Process
I only varnish pieces that are on wooden panels or have been adhered to wooden panels. I do not varnish colored pencil pieces I am going to frame. I use the gel medium to seal mixed media pieces I plan to frame.
I start with three layers of Golden Archival Spray Gloss Varnish. If I don’t want a gloss varnish, I then do three layers of whatever finish I do want. For some pieces, especially 100% colored pencil pieces, the spray varnish is my final step to protect the piece.
For mixed media pieces, I usually do an additional varnish step with three layers of Golden Polymer Varnish with UVLS. This is a paint-on product that I thin with water. It also comes in various finishes. Whatever finish I finished with for the spray is what I use for this type as well, so gloss over gloss, satin over satin, etc.
What mediums do I use?
My art is always evolving. I love trying new materials and techniques, but I have some mediums and brands that usually use. I am going to start with the various mediums that are my favorites. I’ll cover surfaces and varnishes in another post.
Colored Pencils
For a time I was creating only with Colored Pencils. You can really layer them and create amazingly realistic pieces. My favorite brand is PrismaColor Premier colored pencils. They have a buttery feel that is hard to beat and the price is reasonable. Admittedly I am having more trouble with my Prismas breaking, so I am experimenting with other brands. I am slowly adding in Caran d’Ache Luminance Colored Pencils.
Acrylic Paint
As I’ve started creating more mixed media pieces, I have added in Acrylic Paint. I prefer the fluid, soft body style of acrylics. My favorite brands are Golden and Liquitex. Golden Fluid acrylics seems a little more “fluid” than Liquitex Soft Body, and the two brands work together well. I love Liquitex’s paint bottles. The tapered tip makes it so much easier to control how much paint comes out of the bottle.
NeoColor II Artist's Crayons
Neocolor II is a Caran d’Ache that I often use as a base under colored pencils and mixed media pieces. They are water soluble, so you can use them like watercolor pencils. However, they don’t “set” after they dry, so you can come back in and rework them, which can be a blessing and a curse. I love the color range. You can easily cover large areas of a piece and then work on top with colored pencils. You can use them as a wax resist if working with acrylics.
POSCA Paint Pens
POSCA paint pens by Uni are some of the few paint pens I’ve found that don’t clog up after you use them one time. They come in various thicknesses and colors, even metallics. They’re a handy way to add little details to pieces. They come in various sizes too, but my two favorites are .7mm and the .9 ~ 1.3mm
Pigment ink pens
I have several different brands that I use and have yet to find a favorite. Micron and PrismaColor make lovely fine line pens with archival pigment ink. Zig Writer is nice if I need a little thicker line, and it seems to be a little more forgiving when working with colored pencils.
Questions?
Contact me below!
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