Johanna Parker Design

Monday, October 19, 2009

The Art of the Matter & GiveAway!...

FaaaLaaLa.........

I know it is still October, and we are ALL feeling that Halloween spirit in the air. But, I have been anxious to share with you some very exciting news! Turn to page 18 in the current November / December issue of Country Sampler Magazine. It has been out on the stands for almost a month now, and I urge you to pick up a copy for yourself as soon as you can because my mother's holiday folk art and colonial-style decorating are featured in a 10 page article! It is just fabulous! We are both so pleased as the editors included so many fun images of our Christmas folk art along with all sorts of wonderful decorating ideas from mom. To continue the excitement, both myself and my mom are contributing signed, holiday folk art in a special GiveAway Contest offered by Country Sampler! Keep scrolling to see the Kathy Parker original folk art snowman that will be awarded to a lucky winner! As for my contribution, I am offering a signed Santa candy container from my Bethany Lowe Designs line, and a signed belsnickel from my Primitives by Kathy line - both appearing in the magazine! Below, you will only find a tease of what is featured in this inspirational article. ENJOY, and please find yourself a copy, a cozy chair, some hot chocolate and a little time to just pour over all the delights! Many thanks to the very kind staff at Country Sampler for sharing this article with so many. And, another big thanks goes out to my friends “photographer/stylist/writer” duo Donna Pizzi and Philip Clayton-Thompson of Blackstone Edge Studios who did my mom's photo shoot! It looks wonderful and so very inviting..... ~ Johanna

* A primitive wooden washtub holds a live tree, decorated with all sorts of handmade ornaments...

* One of my original Santa candy containers marks this page showing my parents' living room filled with holiday folk art collectibles...

* An earlier Snowman original of mine adds a festive touch to this page featuring my mom's colonial mantel and hearth, beaming with holiday spirit...

* A trio of my papier mache belsnickels offered by Primitives by Kathy proudly stand at center between two inviting pineapples... To order my belsnickels, CLICK here!

* A fun grouping of snowmen that both my mom and I have created over the years... Some go way back!

* Page 25 features our trio of GiveAway items! Sign up today by visiting the image and links below ~ Good Luck! :)

* All entries must be received by November 30th, so hop on
over to Country Sampler's contest page and sign up to WIN!

Hope you enjoyed the tease! As this is a 10 page article, there are lots more photos for you to enjoy, so look for your copy today :)

PHOTOGRAPHS, © 2009 Emmis Publishing LP

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Meet Howling Harvey....

It's October 13th, and I am left with just one more very special one of a kind Halloween creation in search of a home. I thought about keeping him for myself, after all the various times we posed together for the camera!- heheh... But alas, I did promise (in print) that he would be auctioned off this Fall, and well, I believe Fall is here! For those of you who have not seen, "Howling Harvey" my original Halloween folk art cat and I are featured in the Fall issue of Celebrate365 Magazine. The article "Behind the Design" with Johanna Parker explains my step-by-step process in creating this one of kind collectible from start to finish. Now, Harvey is up for auction along with a signed copy of this fun Halloween collector's magazine. CLICK HERE to visit Harvey's auction page, and thank you for your generous bids! Best of luck......

~ Johanna

* A close-up of the finished Howling Harvey...

* Looking back at my steps along the way, here I paint the details and texture of his face....

* Winner takes ALL!...

Saturday, October 10, 2009

Halloween Goodies up for Grabs!...

Wow, what a day!...I hosted this year's Halloween web sale this morning and had a wonderful response! THANKS to all my collector friends who saved the date and time to join me and adopt a special original piece! I only wish I could have offered more one of a kind delights so everyone willing would have had something special to take home!
Luckily, I do have a few Signed Reproduction Collector's Sets still available, so those who may have left empty-handed can enjoy some Halloween collectibles of mine for this haunting season.... Click on the three images below for more details, and please let me know if you'd like to adopt any of these fun pieces that I have designed.

~ Johanna

* These two characters are a unique find! Both debuted in my Bethany Lowe Halloween product line this year!....

* Perfect for your Halloween candy stash, this Candycorn Jack-o'-lantern bowl is both functional and fun! He was featured in the September issue of Country Sampler and comes to us from Primitives by Kathy...

* And for the Jack-o'-lantern lover, this set is a must have! "Diamond Hat Jack" on the left also made an appearance in the September issue of Country Sampler and comes to us from Primitives by Kathy along with his ornament friend at center. The fun candy bucket fellow is one of my Bethany Lowe Halloween designs and was featured in Celebrate Halloween Magazine this year!...

Thursday, October 8, 2009

Behind the Design with ME!...

Earlier this year, Connie Porcher, founding Editor in Chief of Celebrate365 Magazine expressed an interest in my blog post, It Starts with Black & White. How fun she thought it would be to offer a peek at my design process in her fall issue. I fully agreed, and then dreamt up a fun folk art cat project for her to feature. Fortunately, my article made the cut! The lovely spread, titled "Behind the Design with Johanna Parker" was pieced together by the very talented EHAG artist David Everett, who juggles his talents between sculpting amusing characters and designing graphics for print and web. Another treat by yet another talented EHAG artist is the bold cover design by Lori Rudolph, who too balances her talents between the world of sculpture and graphics. In all, it's an eye-catching, colorful issue filled with Halloween delights including a fun Collector feature on Robert Brawley, self-acclaimed as the Halloween Fanatic who has a rather large collection of my one of kind originals! So, there's much to see, and I highly recommend ordering your copy today!!! Just visit Celebrate365's Website and subscribe for full holiday inspiration...

* My article begins with: "Art Institute of Colorado trained graphic artist, Emmy winner, art director for an NBC news affiliate - Johanna Parker has an impressive resume. Since she left the corporate world behind and launched Johanna Parker Design in 2003, this self-assured artist has never looked back......"
To read more, order your copy today!

* "Howling Harvey" my Halloween folk art cat is featured from start to finish. I hope to offer him along with a signed copy of this issue on eBay very soon, so please join my mailing list for details!

Saturday, October 3, 2009

A Peek at the Halloween & Vine!...

Gathering from the emails I have received, I know that many of you are anxious to see photos from the fabulous Halloween & Vine! Well, get ready :) I must admit, I have spent several hours just preparing these images, so I hope you enjoy them. This annual show is so unique, that it's my pleasure to share with you a glimpse into this year's festivities. As always, it flies by so fast that I never see everything I want to see nor do I have a chance to photograph everything that I want to capture. Or in some cases, the photos turn out like a big silly blur, so I'm featuring the best images I have to offer. Let's hope other artists do the same. Of course, I recommend attending the show if you really want to experience the sights and sounds for yourself! See you there next year, I hope!..... ENJOY!

~ Johanna ( PS: You can click on the majority of the photos to enlarge them! )

* One of two of my original standing owls that quickly flew out the door...

* That's me in my silly striped leggings standing in front of my table right before the doors opened!...

* A fun photo of JP and myself taken from the inside of our booth looking out! Thank You to the kind mystery man who took this happy pic!...

* There's my sweetie JP posing before the show started...

* A couple of my latest original vase designs. I call them "base chamber vases" as they have a secret compartment on the underside along with another place to stash goodies up top!... I hope their new owners enjoyed my little notes inside :)