Lupine Door Panels

It's been a long time since I have posted -- life with a baby gets to be a bit crazy!

I did want to post a project I finished a long while back for my friend Martha -- fabric panels for her closet doors.

By the way, I do hope to make more art soon. I need to be drawing or watercoloring or something -- as much as I love my Violet time, I miss creating so much as well.

Hand Drawn Bird

I don't love this bird. I liked him alone, on paper, but not in this drawing.

Stepping back again. Need to look at again with fresh eyes.

Thinking Outside the Box...Literally

I think this might be the answer. Who knew?

Gotta go get another bird though.

In Progress...Taking a Step Back...

So I am kind of at this point I need to take a step back and look at this print. Something is missing I think, which is a struggle because I want to keep the simplicity of it as well.

Further, I want the clothes to be the focus of the print, and that's not happening.

And I don't like the navy blue in the pallette, but I am not sure what other color to use because clearly I need one more. Grey?

Not sure about the ground. Thought I might need it to offset the sky. I'd like it to be graphic as opposed to drawn, but at the same time, I want this to be a print, a drawing, not graphic design. Does this make sense?

Just kind of talking myself through the process...thanks for coming along for the ride.

Ok, I am going out to try and get some pictures of flying birds, because this one is not mine...I just borrowed it for the sketch...

Returning to the Laundry

So there are some projects I keep coming back to. Laundry is one of them. I have really been into combining my drawing with my screenprinting. Today was (finally) relatively nice out, so I took to the yard and drew laundry on the line.

I tested the drawings in photoshop with the palette I want to use -- ever since I saw these colors on a sheet of origami paper, I realized these are my colors (if one can actually have colors...)

I have included the scrap of paper, too.

Tomorrow is socks, boxers, a couple of tees, some underwear...ooooh! Tomorrow is supposed to be 76° and sunny. Don't forget the sunblock!

Keeping Busy

I have been a slacker of a poster but I have been keeping busy. One project I have been working on I have to keep under wraps for a while -- it's a present that has yet to be given.

Another mini project I have been working on today I saved until the last minute so it is in the mail to the show as we speak. I do have pictures from my phone, so I will try to see if they are postable later today.

Finally, I spent some of Monday and all day yesterday printing (an edition of about 200!) the joint artwork Melanie and I have been working on. I am really excited for it. I love the collaborative effort. It is a six color screen print that we have been working on solely via the internet (since she is in California and I am in Massachusetts). Enjoy.

Thirty-Eight Self Portraits (Because I Wish I Were Smaller)

I just entered this in a show...cross your fingers for me...

It's called Thirty-Eight Self Portraits (Because I Wish I Were Smaller), and it measures in at 8 inches by 7 inches. I had so much fun with it. Of course it wasn't so much fun when I was coloring in the third print because the first two didn't look as I wanted and I was racing the clock because the post office was closing in two hours!

Anyway, it's been an especially interesting project about body image, because knowing since about sixth or seventh grade that I wish I had smaller hips or smaller thighs or whatever, and then finding all the pictures, I realized that there were points I thought I should be "smaller" when really I looked pretty darn good.

Keep visiting, because I know I am going to work on more variations and now that I have these thirty-eight drawings of me, I see them being integrated into a lot of other works.

Building a Home...Part II

I wrote last week about the Home project I am working on. It is flat and needs something added to it. I am thinking of adding some more graphics to it...Not sure if this is the answer. I think I will need to sit on it for a while.

Testing Halftones

I have never done a color halftone screenprint before. I had old instructions from when I took screenprinting in 2001 or 2002, but those didn't even work with Photoshop anymore...so I needed to test it. I used a picture of Ernie to test it, and I think it is pretty fun. I am really loving the art of these color halftones...there is something magical about the process, putting one color down and then another until you get the whole image. Additionally, I think the look is really quite appealing and the quality is perfect for what I want to use it for...there is this fine art meets industry, handmade meets technology, and probably best of all, past meets present.

Cleaning

Here is a bad iPhone photo of a test print of the cleaning products. Not sure how I feel about it. I have some others that I want to play around with. I am not sure I need the outlines anymore, even though oddly, this is how it started...

You Make My Heart Swim

So. This is the last Valentine or fish post for a while. Since I had come up with a few ideas for mom, I decided I might as well use a couple of them. Flat pool colored cards were on sale at the paper source (what luck!) and so I printed up a pile of these fun cards.

I'll sell some at Magpie and some at my Etsy store or you can contact me directly as always. They are 5 1/4 inches square and come in white envelopes. Being square, they require extra postage -- an extra 20¢ to be exact.

Tomorrow is a snowy day, so I am going to stay at home to catch up on stuff. Hopefully I will have more for you about my actual project as well as Discard 2009 -- the fact that I am not getting any smaller sure is helping with this project!

Still fishy...

I finished the cards for my mom, but since she only needed nineteen, I printed a bunch more, so if anyone needs super cute valentines, let me know! You can contact me directly or purchase them on Etsy.

Specifically for her cards, my mom had me print a letter for each of her kids on the fish, so they could have fun finding the first letter of their name. Actually, she was going to hand write the letters with her amazing hand writing, but I offered to save her time and pull a quick screen before I cut them with the letters.

I have been busy work on on a logo for my high school and assisting with the auction they are holding in March which should be a lot of fun and should have some wonderful art there. I'll keep you updated, but if anyone wants to donate art for the auction or do a 4"x6" piece for the blind art sale (all pieces are the same flat price, but you don't know who made it until you have bought the piece), let me know. It could be some great exposure and a chance to side by side with some well known artists.

Umbrellas and Raindrops

I guess this massive snowstorm in New England (and other parts of the country) has inspired me to do a piece with precipitation.

Here is the design for the cover of a checkbook sized datebook I am working on.

I had a lot of fun working on it. Tomorrow I am going to the studio with Ernie and I am going to figure out what material and color it looks best on.

I think in the new year I will also play around with this as a fine art print.

Funny, I think that working on something that I don't intend to be fine art -- at least not something I expect to be framed -- puts less stress on me and in the end I really enjoy the outcome and in turn have ideas I want to make into fine art prints. Hmmm, guess it all comes back to Art and Fear, huh?

I was also thinking about how much I loved to send out my holiday cards this year. The thing is, what I love most about screenprinting (or printmaking in general) is that it makes fine art accessible to all. By sending mini prints through the mail, I am sharing my art with those I love and those who appreciate it. If you want to get a handmade Bethany print next year, please sign up with your mailing address on my mailing list. Would love to have you! And believe me, my mailing list isn't overwhelming -- I think I sent out one email this year and my only snail mail was actually the holiday card.

Coming soon, notes on my discard project. Stay tuned!

Oh Deer.

The deer cards are finally done! I am actually pretty excited about them!

For sale by contacting me or by visiting my Etsy Shop! All holiday card packs can be shipped priority at no extra charge. Please just let me know you found my cards on my blog...

Holiday Cards for Sale

I have been quite busy this fall in the studio and as a result, I now have hand screenprinted holiday cards for sale. They are either available by emailing me directly by visiting my Etsy Shop (buzzbuzzbee.etsy.com).

Card prices are as follows:

• 1 card: $4.00
• 10 cards: $25.00
• 50 cards: $100.00
• 100 cards: $175.00

Interested in other quantities? Please don't hesitate to contact me!

See below for designs available:

A couple of notes:

• All cards are flat cards
• Each card is signed on the bottom right corner. If you prefer this left off, please let me know.
• Each card is stamped on the back on the bottom right corner with "Bethany Schlegel Art + Design | www.bethanyschlegel.com. Again, if you don't want this on the back of your card please let me know

L I G H T S

These lights are printed on heavy white cover stock. The cards are flat, measuring 8 1/2" x 3 1/2". Please indicate color of envelope when ordering:

• red (this will be default if not specified)
• white
• translucent

O R N A M E N T S

These ornaments are printed on recycled chipboard, along with the words "Best wishes for a warm and wonderful holiday season." The cards are flat, measuring 8 1/2" x 3 1/2".

Please indicate color of envelope when ordering:

• white (this will be default if not specified)
• translucent
  

H O T C H O C O L A T E

These steaming mugs of hot chocolate (with whipped cream, of course!) are printed on recycled chipboard, along with the words "warmest holiday wishes." The cards are flat, measuring 3 1/2" x 4 7/8".

Please indicate color of envelope when ordering:

• white (this will be default if not specified)
• yellow
• translucent

Some of you voted for the deer image. Unfortunately, this has been giving me trouble and is not yet available. I will be happy to let you know when this is available -- just drop me a line telling me you are interested.

In the Press: My Work on Cakespy's Blog

So, I have long been a huge fan of Cakespy, as an artist, a blogger, a food experimenter, a person...So what could be better than when someone I admire so much gives a shout-out to me? The most fabulous Cakespy posted about my cupcake cards yesterday.

Thanks Cakespy!

(You can purchase these cards at my Etsy shop along with new holiday cards...)

Bulbs are done (well, kinda...)

So the bulb holiday card is done, but it looks like I am back to the drawing board, er, um, printing table, since I had technical difficulties with about 75% of them. I am going to try and salvage some of them and see what I can come up with, but in the meantime...I do like how the ones that actually worked look! I am hoping to be done with the new batch by this Friday.

Another Holiday Card Finished

I just finished another holiday card which is available for sale at my etsy shop.

I am really enjoying the look of ink on chipboard, and in this case, especially loving the retro look.

Holiday Cards: Input and Enter!

The holidays are quickly upon us. Ok, wait, no, I am not normally a person who thinks about the holidays well before Thanksgiving, but since this year I want to print and sell holiday cards, I thought it would probably be good to get started. But I must admit, it's been pretty hard to get into that mode while it's still seventy degrees outside.

So, here is the deal. I need help deciding which to print. So here is how you come in. Vote for your favorite (or favorites!) using the poll on the right hand side of the blog and then comment below with your email address or email me your contact information, and you can be entered to win a set of 10 hand printed holiday cards. (In addition to voting, comments are also welcome).

Please also contact me if you would be interested in preordering at a discount.

These cards will be flat and sized at 8.5 x 3.67 inches and silkscreen printed and come with envelopes.

Ornaments printed on brown chipboard.

Bulbs printed on white cardstock.

Deer printed on brown chipboard.

Please also pass this link along to your friends. Thank you so much for your input! Please enter by this Sunday, October 5. Thank you!

P.S. While voting for the cards, make sure you are registered to vote by clicking the link directly below my poll!

Orange Tree Notecard

Orange Tree notecard is now available for sale on Etsy! Sorry for the delay in posting!