New Frontier

What's been on my mind the past couple of weeks (at least in the marketing section of my brain)? Among other things, QR codes. I've been hearing about them and seeing them pop up everywhere, but until recently, have kept the idea of getting one for lil' ol' moi on the back burner. What is a QR code, you ask? It is a series of pixels arranged in a design, which, when scanned with a smart phone or tablet, takes you to a specific website.

scan me!

Odds are, you're seeing them pop up everywhere as well. Anyway, just like every other new social media/ networking/ marketing           "you need to do this today" thing that I come across everyday, when I first heard about regular folks like myself getting them, I said, yeah, that sounds good, but it'll just have to go on the bottom of the pages long to-do list. Well, in the same spirit that has moved me to finally find time to update my website, get the mobile version functional, and make other progress, I, Renée Parker, am finally going to generate a QR code for myself! Humor me, I'm taking baby steps to bigger things :o).

Just by googling "QR code generator", you'll find a slew of websites where you can plug in a website and instantly download a custom QR code to use as a direct link. I plan to create one to use on stickers, which I will then slap on my business cards, my packaging, my forehead, etc.

This is the back of my business card with a sample QR code sticker

 These are the days where one must make their work easy access, and cater to the world of plugged-in folks with short attention spans, lol. Edited to add: Scan applications used on smartphones, tablets, and other devices can easily be downloaded free of charge. There are numerous different scan apps available, and they can be found on itunes, the android marketplace, or by googling "scanner application". Many of these applications are primarily used by consumers for comparison shopping by scanning traditional barcodes in stores, but also work for QR codes!

So that's my latest scheme. Stay tuned-- who can say what else is brewing, lol.

Wordless Wednesday

One Tip Tuesday

Today I would like to tout the benefits of the humble spray bottle for studio use and beyond...

This simple, dollar store denizen (or free, if you recycle an empty cleaning bottle) can serve a multitude of purposes. In the studio, with just plain water in it, I use it for various tasks, such as: light spill cleanup, rewetting papier mache so I can continue to sculpt it, reviving acrylic and watercolor paint (I sometimes spray it directly into the little watercolor cups!), and for helping me achieve interesting paint effects and textures (just by spraying lightly at different stages of the drying process). It's also nice for clearing glue and paint off my hands until I'm ready to stop and wash up, and for wetting fabric for stretching over shapes and forms. As a bonus, if I ever have kids, I think this would make a handy "monster spray". A couple of squirts under the bed or in the closet, and no more monsters! Do you use a spray bottle in your work? What are your best uses? Do you use plain water, or a special mixture?

On Color

Submitted for your inspiration...

We only have to look closely at the easily accessible world around us to find the color and form that has inspired artists and designers since the beginning of time. Live with your eyes open!

Finale Friday

No, Finale Friday is not gonna be a "thing" now on my blog, lol. I just wanted to take a sec to share the finished spin on the mini painting I posted on Wednesday. After I posted the sketch, I was supposed to go to bed, but I just looked at that thing and I couldn't stand it. And since my studio is connected to my bedroom by my bathroom, I came up with every excuse to run through the bathroom like a hamster in one of those tubes just to "start" painting a "little". So I finished the painting before I hit the shower. And here it is:

"au lait au lait" 2.5in x2.5in acrylic on canvas

The first in a series of themed minis, I was inspired by how much I enjoy moments with all my favorite cups, with my favorite things to put in them, while I'm working, relaxing, spending time with my favorite peoples... I can't make it sound as fun as it's going to be when there are a number of these finished to look at. But I have been trying to get myself in the habit of doing regular small paintings for practice and for studies for larger pieces. And when I thought of the cups for subject matter, well, that = motivation to get rolling. Funny, if you find something that gets you interested and excited, you can use that to reach a goal. Like getting motivated to exercise.

Anyway, a habit takes 21 days to form, right? So if I commit to doing a minimum of 3 non-anal, non fussy small or mini paintings a week for 3 weeks, then I'll be on my way to bigger, better things. Crossing my fingers, toes, and paintbrushes...

Wordless Wednesday

Ideas Galore



a batch of papier mache pulp
waiting to become something amazing

Okay, if you're just stumbling onto this blog, my work, or me, for that matter, you probably don't know that one of my all time favorite mediums (as an artist with a short attention span) is papier mache. My name is Renée, and I am a papier mache addict. There I said it.

Anyway, I was online doing some research for some new techniques. I had stumbled onto an old book with a different type of paper art that I wanted to try. In my searching, I happened onto a new design blog, which I instantly followed and wanted to share. So here we are. Dornob: Design Ideas Daily is a rabbit hole of things to look at in every type of design. They just happened to have a post that included examples of beautiful forms made of papier mache that sucked me in: http://dornob.com/pulp-projects-recycled-paper-pots-planks-shelves-more/. I will warn you, this blog is packed to the brim with ads, but if you can look past them to the meat of the content, you might find some gems yourself. Enjoy!

Wordless *Leap* Wednesday

Leap Day History: http://goo.gl/e2sUD

One Tip Tuesday

New feature! Since one of my objectives with this blog is to share creative techniques and practical things I've learned in working to get organized and grow my business, I am going to get myself rolling with a baby step. This will be easy to commit to, since it will be short and sweet. I hope it will be a collection of tips and ideas that will help and inspire you, and things I can read back through for my own benefit. Sort of like notes, ideas, simple steps for making being creative easier. I'd love to hear from you in comments with your own approaches or better ideas! While I don't expect to post every Tuesday, One Tip Tuesdays will hopefully become a regular feature that will help some of us get it in gear :o)

So, without further adieu, the first, super simple One Tip Tuesday tip:

Plastic resealable bags are a great way to protect photos and other small objects when you're using them for reference in painting.

Drop the photo/item in the bag and seal it, and never worry about paint ruining them again. I figured this one out after I accidently got oil paint on a special photo I was using for reference. :o(

Thanks for reading- here's to lots more tips!

Friday on Fire

Today I kinda feel artistically invincible, ha. It is amazing what a little rest and reflection can do (that caffeine can't) for the creative spirit. So I've been like a little Tazmanian devil, whizzing around fixing one thing, finishing another, confirming some things, starting others. And feeling like my to-do list is a constantly refreshing feed in my brain (in a good way) as I get things done. I am working on some things behind the scenes that will hopefully be revealed very soon, and am excited for what the next few months hold for my work (think new series, technique sharing, new venues, demonstrational videos). I can't wait to share, but I'll just have to wait a little while longer. :o)

And now, back to the fray.

Oh, and here's to the weekend- enjoy!

Atlanta skyline from the top of Stone Mountain

Wordless Wednesday

The Clock Strikes February

So it's Jan. 31, 2012, roughly 10 minutes away from February, and I'm looking back on the month, feeling, for the most part, satisfied with what I've accomplished with the first month of my new year. Have to be- no turning back! I can say I'm thankful for everything that I've enjoyed this month, from new friends and fun, to progress in my work, challenges that forced me to "up" my game, and plans for new projects. A major accomplishment for me personally, especially looking to the next 11 months, has been greater organization and time management. I know it sounds hum drum to some folks, but everything I can do to make it easier, happier, more efficient and more fulfilling to do my creative work and make a living at it, is a good thing. Heck, a great thing.

I am a dreamer with a realist streak, and while I have big dreams about all the projects I'm anxious to complete, and all the ideas I'm itching to share with the world, I have to also be a doer. For this reason I am so thankful for a God-given passion for creating. It's one thing that I could have never learned. It had to be there from the start to whisk me off on the road to these dreams. And now it's midnight, and February is here. I'm looking forward to all the opportunities and inspiration that await. Are you?