Rebecca Nipper

I have been asked on numerous occasions if I do commissions and customwork.  This is a subject that I have been very wary about.  I paintto my own vision and what is in my heart, my mind and my imagination.  Iam not certain how to get my vision and the vision of the customer on the samepage.  But then I thought about it, those who are inquiring aboutcommissions must appreciate my vision and my artwork enough to ask in the firstplace. Right? 

So after much hesitation, I have finally decided to start takingsome commissions, custom work, and special collaborative projects with othercreative people out there.  This includes but is not limited to fantasyportrait work, cover art for books and cd’s, promotional illustration.  At this time I am only offering these inwatercolor.  Although I am beginning towork some in oils, I am still rather partial to watercolor.

I find it mildly amusing that the same time I announce that I will be doingcommission work is the same time I have to say this.  I am currently nottaking commissions at this time.  I have several exciting projects that Iam working on at the moment.  One of which is doing some characterillustrations for the book Dante's Diary by author and friend Andrea Dean VanScoyoc.  The others right now are a secret so you will have to wait tofind out about those. 

I will be creating a page on this site that outlines the basic terms forcommission work.  Once it is up I willmake an announcement on my facebook page.

There was an article in the Tampa Bay Edition of the Examiner, by Sarah Dees, that featured all of the artists who participated in last month's Art on the Bay live painting event in St Pete.   They have pictures and contact information on all of the attending and participating artists. Check out this two part article here.

Part One

Part Two

I am listed in the slideshow for part two.

Here is the pic that they included in the write up.

All of us artist folks are a little bit gypsy.  Especially if you do the Ren Faires and such. I have been thinking of getting a little pop up camper to make doing fairs that are a little further away possible.  But now I am coming up with a plan to embrace my inner Gypsy.  I want to build a Vardo.  One that could double as my merchant booth while vending at festivals if the theme is appropriate. 

Will I even really finish this project who knows.  Right now it is just and thought.   I am in the initial planning stages.  Trying to come up with a design and floor plan that meets my needs.  And trying to do so in a way that is tow-able by my car.  I have lots of ideas but there will be a lot more research involved before I commit to any kind of major undertaking. 

My biggest question at this point is how do you register such a vessel with the DMV.  "Um excuse me sir I would like a tag for my Gypsy Wagon"  I can see that going over as well as the time I went to the post office ship a bunch of packages from my Etsy sales wearing a shirt that says "HAZARDOUS MATERIALS" right across the front.

Items from my Etsy store have been included in so many wonderful Etsy Treasuries lately.  Take some time and check them out. Leave a comment and thank the wonderful curators who have created these collections.

Red Hat Momma on May 22. Featuring my hand dyed silk scarf

From Etsy Working Students on May 18 Featuring my Midnight Masquerade print

Celebrating Summer on May 24 Featured my collection of buttons.

Dare To Dream May 27 Featuring my print Dreaming on Aquamarine Tides

Natural Beauties May 27 Featuring my necklace Flowers and Pearls.

Make Yourself Beautiful May 27 Featuring my Earth Goddess Pendant.

Also to share the love I created these two Etsy Treasuries this week. 

Artist Resource Treasury.  This special treasury is for services and products that are helpful to artists and crafters.

Treasury Team Collection  All sorts of items that caught my eye.

Also Sarah Dees wrote this lovely article that was posted in the Tampa Bay edition of the Examiner about Art on the Bay.  There is a listing of all the artists that participated in the event, with links to their website.  Including yours truly!!

OK lets try this again.  I tried to post this entry a few nights ago but in my weary state after having been up since 4:30 to take my mom to the airport I hit cancel instead of post.  Thus deleting everything including all of the links, photos and fancy stuff I had put in the entry.

Life has been very busy lately so I have not had as much time to keep up with a lot of the things that I normally do.  I have not had a chance to do Sketchfest or Enchanted Visions, both of which I miss dearly. But I have been busy.  I have gotten my applications in to a few events which I am waiting patiently to hear back from.  Once I do I will be sure to post that information for all.  I have recently licensed my art with Kat’s Magical Patches.  You can now purchase a selection of my artwork along with some of my photography as Iron-on Transfers, Fabric Blocks, and Canvas Collectible ACEOs.

This weekend I will be participating in another live painting event in St Petersburg.  Art on the Bay will be held at the Museum of History.  Here is an article that the Tampa Bay edition of the Examiner.  I have really started to enjoy painting live at these events and I always look forward to doing more. 

Over the past 6 weeks I have been taking an art class each weekend.  The class was believe it or not an oil painting class.  Oil paints are some thing that I have up until now not had any experience oils.  The class taught a specific technique to achieve photo realistic portraits.  I am not yet photo realistic with oils but I do feel that this will be a wonderful tool to add to my artistic world.  The class was taught by Matt Ellrod.  You can view his website Here.

I leave you know with a few pictures.  One is a group photo of our class at the end of the 6 weeks. All holding our paintings, and one of my painting at the end of class.  Enjoy.

I had a blast at the Florida Faerie Festival.  I made a lot of new friends and some valuable contacts.  I brought my art supplies with me and painted the days away outside in nature.  I am finding that painting at events is a lot of fun.  People kept coming back throughout the day to see how the painting was developing and one man even told me that he has a better appreciation for art now that he see what goes into a painting and how long they take.  That made my day. 

Here is the painting that I finished.  I have another that I will hopefully finish in time for MegaCon.  Also a few other photos from the festival. 

I stayed up late last night so that I could finish a painting that I started last month.  I have kind of been sitting on it for a while.  Not really knowing what direction to take it.  Once I figured out what I wanted to do with it things came together rather quickly.

I used a photo of my self as reference.  I also used photos of the morning glories that grow in my yard every year.  So I guess that you could say this painting is one that shows my flower faerie side. 

Enjoy.

I had forgotten how much was involved in getting ready for an Art show.  The last fair I did that included getting the tent all dressed up was the Ft Myers Ren Fest about 3 years ago.  Then I was partnering up in a booth and only selling my jewelry.  So I guess you can say that I am coming back from an artistic sabbatical and am ready to rejoin the circus.  I have a little less than two weeks until Florida Faerie Festival and it just dawned on me tonight that I might need to make a few price list signs, and I still have a list of other things that need to be made in order for my display to work right.  Mainly the drapery that goes on my grid walls.  Oh and the top of my costume, unless I want to go topless.  I think not.  This is a family event and I have already proven that I sunburn easily.   The weekend after FFF I will be in Orlando for Megacon.  I am wondering if I should even bother to unpack the car?

After February's Art of Central and the sun burn I got, yes folks you can get a really bad sunburn in February if you live in Florida, I went and got SPF 50 and a big sun hat.  Thank you Target for adding sunscreen to this weeks mobile coupon.  I wouldn't have remembered otherwise. 

I have been having a lot of fun painting little 5x7 flower creature paintings.  These cute little guys are available in my Etsy shop.  I will not be making prints of the flower creatures. These little paintings are one of a kind and come matted in an 8x10 mat so they are ready to be popped into a frame.  So far I have three that are available for $35 each so check them out. 

I had a lot of fun painting live at Art on Central last month, despite the sun burn.  I have decided that I will be bringing one or two paintings that I will work on at Florida Faerie Festival.  I also recently found out that due to the success of last months event the coordinators of the live painting event have decided to make it a monthly event.  I am making plans to attend in April as well.  

I hope to see you all at one or more of the events I have scheduled.  Stop by and say hello!!

I leave you with one of my favorite new Flower Creatures "Bird of Paradise II"

I now have my two paintings ready to go for this weekends Art On Central Live painting event.  One is a Steampunk Faerie, and the other is a flower faerie or garden pixie.  I can't wait to start painting them.  The last week or so I have had very little if any time to paint and am greatly missing it.  I hope to do a few small 5x7 or 8x10 paintings before Saturday just to get the rust out. 

But I have spent quite a bit of time working on new products for everyone.  My pocket mirrors and buttons have came in and they look fabulous.  I am almost worried that I did not order enough mirrors.  I ordered 50 to start with and took some samples into the office which were quickly snagged.  I honestly did not anticipate the popularity.  I have also been hard at work getting necklaces together.  I have opted for a 2x1 inch microscope slide style pendant that allows me to place the cropped images with in the pendant such that it is double sided.  After all the cropping, cutting and careful placing of the miniature prints I must say that these pendants are some of my favorites out of all the jewelry that I have made. 

There is an article in today's Tampa Bay edition of the Examiner.com about Art On Central's live painting event.  You can check it out here.  They listed the names of all of the participating artists.  Including mine as well as several friends who will be there.  This event is not just limited to painting there will also be artists doing sculpture demonstrations and creating other forms of art.  I can't wait!!!

Also I have finally decided to give twitter a try as it pertains to my art.  I am not one for really posting random stuff about what I had for breakfast.  But am always looking for ways to keep better connected to the art community. You can follow me on Twitter here. Next up will hopefully be updates to my Zazzle store and Etsy.  I will share that information with you as it becomes available.

This weekend is Sketchfest and sadly I do not think I will have time to participate in it this go around to all of my Sketchfest buddies I am with you in spirit.  As far as this month's EVP theme "Star Dancer"  I am way behind.  I have only gotten as far as a few notes and scribbles.  I guess the muse is taking her time on that one. 

As I get closer to the Florida Faerie Festival and MegaCon this March I have been doing a lot of planning and preparation.  Sadly I feel not enough painting.  I have been assembling my packaging materials and my prints.  But I have also been working on other products which I can offer my artwork.  As of right now I will have available for everyone a limited number of necklaces, bookmarks, buttons and pocket mirrors.  I have also been working of a few other neat projects but at this time I do not anticipate that they will be ready for the up and coming events. 

This month I have one event that I am looking forward to. February 19 I will be painting live at ArtOn Central.  Please see my events page for more details.  This is an exciting opportunity for my to step out of my studio and meet other artists.  I can't wait.  I just hope that they day is not to cold, windy or rainy.  

Now back to work.