Big Things Come in Small Packages

How Can I get There From Here?

Art Prize was EVERYWHERE in Grand Rapids

Last year I exhibited my work in Grand Rapids, MI as part of Art Prize. This was something I had in my sights for a few years and last year I finally did it. If you are not familiar with Art Prize you must check it out online. Last year 1717 Artists from all over the world created 1517 entries and connected with 161 venues. There is $560,000 in prizes, the largest total purse for any art prize, chosen by both public vote and professional jurors. Read More.

the underpainting, by panel

I exhibited at the MVP Metro Club in downtown Grand Rapids along with good friend and fellow artist Kimberly Kelly Santini. Kim did a series of wonderful pet portraits entitled Cherised. Santini is already planning and prepping for this year's competition, it's a bit easier for her as she's a Michigan native. Me, I have to find a way to get there from here.

Blick shipped me over 15 12x12's in two relatively small packages

I started thinking about Art Prize 2013 in the last couple of weeks, as the registration for artists is now open through June 6th (better get crack-a-lackin'). I really would LOVE to be included again this year, and I really would love to have one rather significant piece, large in format. But how can you ship something 3x5 feet without incurring huge freight costs? 

In addition to freight cost limitations, I got to thinking about the fact that I'm looking at a significant amount of travel in the next few months. My Dancing Daughter has at least two out of town dance competition and convention trips, I am teaching in Atlanta and North Carolina, and the Extended Nelson Family Annual Summer Vacation at the beach is in place for the week July 4th. (When I pack to go to the beach house, all I can manage is a stick easel made for holding up poster boards at best). 

How in the world can I work on a 3x5 foot Art Prize piece being out of the studio for that long?

One small step at a time. 

3x5 feet made up of 12x12 squares

12x12 fits on the back of my seat back tray table. 12x12 fits in the travel bag, 12x12 fits in a suitcase. 12x12 can be worked on in a hotel room, a kitchen table, a dance convention dressing room... are you following me yet?

I've decided to nail together all these smaller boards, sketch and paint them and then separate them. I'll work on them completely separately, putting them away as I create them. Why? I want the reveal of them coming back together to be interesting and surprising and to take on a life of its own!

here they are, nailed together and numbered for the initial stages of sketching and underpainting

And the Fun Begins...

Are you interested in claiming a small piece of my big picture? I'm going to offer PRINTS of the 12x12's on a first come, first served basis in order to sponsor my expenses of not only applying to Art Prize and shipping it in a small box to Michigan, but also to help me fly there to see it installed and to take in the whole experience! (With any luck, Santini will put me up and maybe feed me. If we have any money left over, I'll buy some groceries and the gas for the 3-hour road trip to Grand Rapids)

Sponsor Me

Sponsor my Art Prize Project by pre-purchasing your print of a small piece (or two or three). The prints will be signed 12x12 gallery wrapped canvas giclée on extra deep stretcher bars. You will be able to choose your panel (I will show numbered sections along every step of the process). I will limit the prints to 10 of any one panel, so these will be limited edition, numbered prints.

Signed sponsorship giclée prints will be priced at $60 each, including shipping to anywhere in the continental US. (contact me for international shipping rates). Remember, prints will be limited to 10 of each panel. You may reserve yours at ANY time during the process. Will you commit to your panel at the sketch phase? Will you want to wait for the underpainting? Or will you wait to see exactly what you are getting? It could be a gamble, the longer you wait, once I sell 10, that panel is no longer available!

I'll have purchasing information available in the next few days. I'll accept payments via PayPal with a credit card of PayPal account. I've already worked out my composition and nailed the boards together, so stay close! And here are the sections of the sketch!

the sketch, by panel

The Big Picture

The completed piece will hang with about one inch of space between the 15 original 12x12 panels and will be priced as one. I think that the end result is going to have a very patchwork feeling to it and will be unpredictable, which is kind of exciting. Don't you agree?

Let's see where this takes us. Thank you, as always, for being a part of my art journey.

Elizabeth