This week I was the lucky artist to submit calendar thumbnails over at the new site that everybody's talking about: Create Mixed Media!
I decided to make a little video in celebration of the occasion. For those of you who are regular readers, you already know this is a hard step for me in spite of my Flickr Phobia.
Yet I thought it was important to illustrate just how much crap I made until I got some good results. I didn't cut one linoleum plate with my beloved flower, I carved several. And then I printed them every which way on everything I put my hands on until I got something I was happy with.
My low point was when my Count Pretzula artwork was one in a series of rejections last year. Oh well, despite the fact that my orange Edelweiss were a flop, I stand firm that it's genius to submit Oktoberfest artwork as an alternative to the typical Halloween stuff that saturates our life every autumn. This is what Twist Defiance is all about - doing your own thing!
My edelweiss phase lasted an intense 6 months, and now I'm sort of riding the tail of the comet. I'm not exactly "over" them, but I haven't really moved on either. I hope you enjoy these few minutes of my journey and that you'll take a moment to go see the calendar I made over on Create Mixed Media. *In the video you get to see the last slides with the German days of the week, but over on their site you get to see the magic of what happens when you view them horizontally! Thanks in advance for taking a look and here's to an inspiring week ahead of us...
I love Edelweiss. Here's one vote to never, ever give up on them.
You need to send the orange ones to the orange crazed lady at
howaboutorange.blogspot.com
Posted by: German Gems | June 05, 2011 at 06:24 PM
Fantastic prints TJ!!! Your always an inspiration for me :o)
PS> Love the crowd cheers...lol
Lily
Posted by: Lily | June 05, 2011 at 10:03 PM
Very cool, cozy! I'd like to get my paws on some of those for my house! Maybe its time to quit trying to sell your soul?
Posted by: Allison | June 06, 2011 at 03:25 AM
loved the video , loved the stamps you created, favourite black, i liked the gray as well, they look fabulous
Posted by: lee | June 06, 2011 at 05:02 AM
Wow TJ, so much work went into this and it was definitely worth it, I love the final design. And that video is great, please make them more often :)
Posted by: Veronika | June 06, 2011 at 11:08 AM
Great video! It is fun to hear and see the story behind something like an edelweiss stamp. (Shows everyone that art is real work.... :-) )
I am planning to make videoos from my artwork as well, what kind of software do you use?
Posted by: Jacqueline | June 06, 2011 at 11:20 AM
FABULOUS video! Love the evolution. Love that you wouldn't let it go and kept at it just for the discovery. Love that each is so different. Love your humor. I'm impressed with your video skills. *high five*
Posted by: michelle ward | June 06, 2011 at 03:24 PM
I can't WAIT to see your work on Create Mixed Media TJ! In the meantime, I'll watch your videos during my lunch break at the office =-)
Posted by: Monica | June 06, 2011 at 07:39 PM
Great video! I love seeing into the evolution of your design, and I love your honesty at demonstrating the effort that went into it.
Posted by: Andria | June 07, 2011 at 02:38 AM
Congrats on the feature TJ! Thanks for the intro to that site too. :)
Posted by: Kat | June 07, 2011 at 11:58 AM
You guys are amazing -- thank you for all the lovely comments. *sniffs*
Ali, I didn't know what you were talking about until I remembered I put something about selling my soul on my "For Sale" page. Hmm. Hadn't realized anybody even ever looked at that. Funny!
Posted by: TJ | June 07, 2011 at 10:42 PM
Okay, I haven't watched the vid yet, but I couldn't wait to come here and yell, Are You Kidding?! Your Count Pretzula was a triumph!! People... Locos in los cabeza!
now, off to see the vid...
Posted by: Chris | June 07, 2011 at 11:34 PM
Okay now, I've seen the vid. Are you loca en la cabeza? The oranges and blues are COOL! Even the undetailed are nice! And then, when you pop in the black and details... that works great!
I have found that, in my journaling, I am learning to not be afraid to add more detail. I have often thought that something was groovy, and then... because I can do whatever I want in my journal, discovered that even more detail will rock my world.
But this isn't about you. Am I still talking?
C
p.s. I love this video. I'm sending it to my friend Emily. Without asking first.
Posted by: Chris | June 07, 2011 at 11:37 PM
Loved your Week as Art feature on Create Mixed Media. And this video was wonderful!!
Posted by: Seth | June 12, 2011 at 04:05 AM