Everything Recycled Art Market!

We are exhibiting in a new Denver-area Show, and it's just 3 weeks away! So, next month, please join us at the . . .

* DETAILS *

Anyone who has been in our house knows how much I love to decorate with old vintage elements. And, the folk art sculptures that I create are fellow companions to this eclectic style that is often inspired by cast-offs from the past. So, when I heard that the Everything Recycled Art Market was coming to our neighborhood, in the emerging 40 West Arts District, I was certainly intrigued! After much consideration, I am up for the challenge and have decided to exhibit! With less than 3 weeks to prepare, I will be one busy artist, crafting away in my workshop! The art created and offered at this new show must include recycled elements, so I will be sifting through my stash of old buttons, rusty bits and fabric scraps to create a fresh collection of originals from recycled parts and papier mache. On the list to make and bring are button covered standing birds, owls, character busts and pressed illustration art magnets. We'll see what else I come up with between now and then! I will also bring my new collection of whimsitive summer notepads. So, swing by, say hi and marvel at the imaginative designs that myself and other artistans will be offering. We will be located in the big A&E Fine Woodworking warehouse, just north of Colfax Avenue & off of Teller Street in North Lakewood. And, the fun doesn't end there.....

On display, just steps away in the 40 West Gallery will be the annual INSPIRE Art Exhibition. This time, the theme is RECYCLED ART & VIVID COLOR! With any luck, I will have a dimensional owl Artscape piece hanging and available for purchase at this exhibit too. And if you time it just right, you will catch 40 West's Trash Fashion Show!  Here's the rundown for a weekend full of creative inspiration:

* Everything Recycled Art Market *

{ We'll be HERE! )

Saturday, June 8th: 10am - 6pm

Sunday, June 9th: 10am - 4pm

7175 W. 16th Place, Lakewood, Colorado 80214

Stay for Lunch or Dinner as Food Vendor/s will be offering their eats!

Trash Fashion Show

Saturday, June 8th: 1pm ($5 donation admission)

On the EDGE Theater Stage @

1560 Teller Street, Lakewood, Colorado 80214

40 West INSPIRE Art Exhibition: 

RECYCLED ART & VIVID COLOR

Saturday, June 8th: 12pm - 4pm

Sunday, June 9th: 12pm - 4pm

40 West Gallery @

1560 Teller Street, Lakewood, Colorado 80214

For more information, please visit 40 West Art's INSPIRE page!

We look forward to seeing you soon!

~ Johanna & JP ~

Flower Power Web Sale!

I don't know about you, but this year, Spring has been so very slow here in Colorado! Temps are finally warming up after several bouts of late season snow and chilly cold snaps! We ALL have had severe spring fever, but thankfully, the grass is greening, the clover is emerging and some perennials are starting to bloom! During our weather woes, I had the idea to create a flower themed collection of originals to celebrate the commencement of May. As the thought evolved, a new concept blossomed so to speak, and I designed a handful of ball character "Flower Keepers" that double as small vases for delicate floral bouquets. Each is inserted with a polymer vial that can hold water and keep your cut flowers fresh! And, each Flower Keeper includes a decorated cork topper! Fortunately, my experiment was a success, and these pieces came to life in my studio while the flowers began to bloom outdoors. I spent the weekend picking little posies, arranging them and snapping photo vignettes of these sweeties. As dear as they are in our cottage home, I will be offering them this Wednesday evening on my website. In addition to the Flower Keepers, an original trio of my butterfly egg cup characters are back by popular demand! In all, I will have a small collection of 7 originals to offer, so please visit my Folk Art Originals page on Wednesday evening! You are welcome to Join my Mailing List for more specifics regarding the sale.  Thank you for your interest!

Happy Spring!

~ Johanna

* Save the Date!

* A peek at 2 of the 4 Flower Keepers, each displaying their floral panache atop my kitchen shelf...

* Hearts are a'flutter! This trio of butterfly egg cup characters just landed...

* See you on Wednesday for more delightful flower empowering creations!

Happy Mother's Day!

Here's wishing my dear Mother and all the moms out there, a very lovely Mother's Day! When May rolls in, our hearts draw closer to those that are so dear, those that have nurtured us and inspired us to look within and find ourselves. I want to express my gratitude and appreciation for the creative spirit that my mother ignited in me! It is a pleasure to create such whimsical folk art on a daily basis, and I know that my mom's artistic touch and encouragement ushered me along this creative path that I do so enjoy.
As always, Thank You!

Love,
~ Johanna




*  Pictured above is an original "Flower Keeper" - a new concept debuting in May! These collectible ball characters can be filled with water to keep your delicate bouquets fresh. Stay tuned for my "Flower Power" Web Sale, debuting this coming week on my Folk Art Originals page. Join my Mailing List for more details.

 

Flower Power Works in Progress....

April showers bring May flowers, and lots of color too! Visions of vivid blossoms and vintage green hues have me in a floral forward mood. As a result, a small collection of originals are blooming in my workshop! I have designed a new series of cork topped "Flower Keepers." Playing off of my classic ball character, these special sculpts have an inner vial that can hold fresh water. Simply pop the chapeau-style cork, fill with water and add a delicate bouquet of garden grown delights. I am anxious to paint these pretties and see them come to life! And back by popular demand, I have also made a handful of butterfly egg cup characters that too will be splashed with a painterly floral theme. The full collection will be offered via a Flower Power Web Sale this May! Stay tuned for their release date, and join my Newsletter for all the details!

Ta-Ta for now! I'm off to smell the flowers.......

See you in the garden,
~ Johanna :)



* This little girl anxiously awaits a final sanding and then many coats of pretty paint!



* A view overhead reveals the polymer vial that tunnels down into each piece....



* And this nature-inspired collection would not be complete without a whimsical wide-eyed bird!



* It looks like it's time for paint!



* Butterfly egg cups in the nude are surrounded by their wiry wings...



* The wire wings are such a special and tedious detail. From start to finish, one set takes over an hour to create.... I rarely time myself, but this is what I discovered today! Darn, I wish I could speed up that process a bit.

Stay tuned for my Flower Power Web Sale in May!

Vanished like a Ghost!

Goooooood Evening friends! I know it's about time that I reappear from my vanishing act. The days just fly by, and all of the sudden 4 months of a new year have practically flashed before my eyes! I feel like my art has been fading in and out of existence ~ a sort of push and pull between my creative bliss and a steady involvement in several community volunteer efforts. The tables are soon to turn however, and that means that my workshop table should soon be alive with more papier mache and paints! I really miss it, and look forward to getting papier mache under my nails again ~ I can't believe I just said that :)

This is also the time of year that I design prototypes for my licensees, and the majority of my submissions for 2014 have been created from my illustrations. Hence, my creative time as of late has been at my drafting table and in front of computer screen vs. that messy old workshop of mine. And, so you know that I have not completely faded away, I want to share one of my latest illustrated renderings with you! Speaking of Ghosts, this is my Ghost Genie to be fabricated into a standing figurine and offered through Bethany Lowe Designs next year...



* So many of you have inquired about my ghosts, so finally I will have a collectible reproduction to offer to you!



* Inspired by the movement and flowing curves of this character, I created a composition to frame him. The hope is to apply this fanciful image to various products, such as art in frames, pillows, napkins, plaques, etc... Please leave me a comment if you have more ideas for me!



* And, here is a sneak peek of this ghost's posterior! Rendering his backside is fairly simple: Reverse the image, blend out the faces and front accessories, and voila! It's the profile views that are a bit more challenging to imagine and interpret on paper and screen..... ALSO, those of you that follow me on FACEBOOK were recently asked the silly question: "How you prefer your SPIDERS?" If you missed it, GO take a peek to see the other flat art illustration that I have in the works to add to my collection of 2014 Halloween figures!

I look forward to sharing this final Ghostly character piece with you when it releases next summer! In the meantime, keep an eye out for my latest Halloween figurine coming out this year! For those of you who howl for Owls, you will adore this sweet collectible piece. I just received my samples last week, and they are ever so fun! Look for "Perched Owl on Pumpkin" (not the most exciting name - LOL) coming to a gift shop near you. Or, you can visit my list of online vendors that carry my licensed designs and inquire about this Fall 2013 piece!






* And, as I did with the illustrated ghost rendering above, so I did with this fun owl! He started out as a flat illustration, and after they spun their Halloween magic, the talented manufacturers that work with Bethany Lowe Designs brought him to life!

Hope you enjoyed the sneak peek into my creative character process....

Best Wishes,
~ Johanna