Allison Stein, Artist & Author

My Etsy Shop updates....

2009-04-01T22:12:00.002-05:00

I've updated my Etsy site with four items:

Making glass gem pins...

2008-09-07T11:32:00.005-05:00

Ah, there's nothing quite like the smell of E-6000* in the morning!

This morning I've been making glass pins to wear, to donate to the NFPW Education Fund auction next week, and to sell at Archon next month.

I start with a small image of one of my paintings, apply a glob of glue, then squish the gem into the glob and slide it around until the glue is evenly distributed and the image is centered. The photo shows what it looks like at this stage.

After the glue has had time to cure, I'll trim the edges, glue on the pin back, and then seal the back and edges with a mat varnish.

Alternatively, I could glue a magnet on the back, in which case I'd skip the varnish.

*silcone-based industrial-strength adhesive

Kitten With Garlic, Watercolor ACEO

2008-07-10T15:57:00.001-05:00

Cat With Garlic
Originally uploaded by AllisonStein

I posted this little cutie in my ETSY shop last night. I also have notecards available with this little guy.

What I've been working on...

2008-07-08T23:19:00.001-05:00

What I've been working on...
Originally uploaded by AllisonStein

A sneak peek at the watercolor mini paintings (ACEO size) I've been working on. I started the sketches while at ConQuest on Memorial Day weekend. I painted on it a little here, a little there, and reached this point during July 4th weekend. I still have a few details to add, and they'll be finished. My two favorites? Middle row left and bottom row center.

Trunk Show June 20

2008-06-16T22:30:00.003-05:00

KC-area Etsy Artists and Crafters Host Trunk Show
At ElJay's River Market Coffeehouse, June 20, 2008, 7-10:30 p.m.

WHAT: KCEtsy Artist Trunk Show
WHO: KCEtsy, a group of local artists and crafters
WHEN: Friday, June 20, 2008, 7 p.m. – 10:30 pm
WHERE: Eljay's River Market Coffeehouse, 412 B Delaware, Kansas City, MO. 64105

Does It Work?

2008-05-29T21:39:00.003-05:00

I've added a mailing list link over there on the upper right side of the page. If you want to be notified of my upcoming art shows, promotions, or cool new stuff in my ETSY shop, sign up! I don't intend to spam anyone. It will be a low-volume thing and I will protect my subscribers' privacy.

Time Flies

2008-05-29T15:48:00.002-05:00

Time flies! Wow!

The good news about my last post is that the paints finally dried out enough to use, but they still moisten quickly and stay moist longer. Yay!

Meanwhile, I've just finished my first big science fiction artshow of the year - ConQuesT, held Memorial Day weekend here in Kansas City. I hung about 40 pieces, mostly originals, with a stack of prints, notecards, and bookmarks in the print shop. I sold enough pieces to pay my display fees, so I consider it a good show. My little robots were popular -- I'll try to post scans of them soon.

Next up: SoonerCon, in Oklahoma City, June 6-8. This will be my first showing at SoonerCon, and I'm looking forward to it!

I've also been busy with the Kansas City Street Team for Etsy, the KCestyteam. We had a planning session last night, and it was all good. I'm signed up for the June 20 Trunk Show at ElJay's Cafe in the RiverMarket area here in KC. More about that later, too.

One small drop -- possibly a big mistake....

2008-03-18T16:10:00.001-05:00

I have several DaVinci colors on my pallet. After I squeezed them out of the tube, they never "settled in", but stayed in little piles in the corner. When they dry, they pop out of the wells and rattle around when I move the pallet. When I spritz them, they take a long time to "melt".

On the other hand, I have two Van Gogh colors on the same pallet that settled in nicely, stay where I put them, and moisten up very nicely when I spritz them.

So, I solicited some advice on an artists forum, and the answer came back with half of the replies recommending a drop of gum arabic, and the other half recommending a drop of glycerin. I chose the glycerin.

That may not have been my best choice.... 48 hours later, the paints are still liquid and gooey in the pallet wells. I'm worried that they may never actually dry again.... because that would be messy. I'm not terribly worried about cost. I got these tubes on clearance, and I don't like them nearly as much as Daniel Smith pigments.

I didn't do it! ACEO

2008-03-17T17:16:00.003-05:00

"I didn't do it!" by Allison Stein.
ACEO 2.5 inches x 3.5 inches, watercolor on Arches 140# cold pressed paper.

I posted this little darling to my ETSY shop last week. I used a combination of watercolor and watercolor pencil. The texture was created with salt. I love the expressiveness of the eyes and the color, but I do believe I've reached the limit of how big I should make them.

Joining With Kindred Artistic Souls....

2008-03-06T14:15:00.001-06:00

I've just joined Etsy's ACEO Street Team. Come visit the group blog: http://acetsy.blogspot.com/

What's For Dinner? ACEO

2008-02-21T23:14:00.000-06:00

What's For Dinner? ACEO original watercolor

Secret Smile - ACEO

2008-02-21T23:12:00.001-06:00

Secret Smile, ACEO watercolor original on Arches 140# paper

Where's My Peeps? ACEO

2008-02-21T23:10:00.000-06:00

Where's My Peeps? ACEO watercolor on Arches 140#

All I Survey.... ACEO

2008-02-21T23:08:00.001-06:00

New ACEO, posted to my etsy store tonight. Watercolor on Arches 140# paper.

Playing Catch-Up....

2008-01-20T18:10:00.000-06:00

Posting several ACEOs created over the past month or so. All were created using watercolor on 140# paper. I've posted all of them to My Etsy shop (see right column for link).

(above) "Valentine? What Valentine?"
ACEO 2.5x3.5 inches, watercolor on 140# paper

(above) "Gift From The Heart",
ACEO 2.5x3.5 inches, watercolor on 140# paper

(above) "I Will Find It!",
ACEO 2.5x3.5 inches, watercolor on 140# paper

(above) "Just One Sniff",
ACEO 2.5x3.5 inches, watercolor on 140# paper
(above) "Hello in There!",
ACEO 2.5x3.5 inches, watercolor on 140# paper

(above) "Heart, I Haz It!"
ACEO 2.5x3.5 inches, watercolor on 140# paper

Three ACEOs

2007-12-26T18:05:00.000-06:00

Three ACEOs to ponder. All of which should be posted soon in my Etsy store.

Pretty Cleo, 2.5"x3.5" ACEO, watercolor on 140# Arches

"Pretty Cleo" is another attempt at an image I posted a few months ago. She's a cutie, isn't she?

The Twilight Castle, 2.5"x3.5" ACEO, watercolor and watercolor pencil on 140# Canson

This ACEO started as I contemplated castles and landscapes. I need to start adding more environments to my work. My imagination apparently inhabits a barren, rocky world that has specatular sunsets.

Smokey Joe, 2.5"x3.5" ACEO on 3"x4" paper, watercolor on 140# Canson

"Smokey Joe" started as a practice piece, experimenting with wet-in-wet on Canson paper. He's such a well-mannered kitty.

Two Purple Princesses, 5x7

2007-12-11T23:37:00.000-06:00

(top) Purple Princess With Orb, 5x7, watercolor on 140# Arches

(bottom) Purple Princess With Wand, 5x7, watercolor on 140# Arches

I started these two paintings several months ago, but abandoned them. They seemed weak, washed out, and a little cartoon-y. Last weekend I gave them a fresh look. I decided they needed some depth of color, some contrast in tone, and some detail. So, I darkened the darks, built up some depth in the shadows, and added some detail to the face and dress.

They are still in search of a name. She's still in search of a name. For now, she's known as the Purple Princess, even though the one with the wand is a little misshapen, like a fairy godmother who has seen better days.

Pile of Pumpkins, 8x10

2007-11-19T14:31:00.001-06:00

Pile of Pumpkins, 8"x10" watercolor on Arches 140#

Another pile of pumpkins, for the season.

Pile Of Jack Wannabee's, 8x10

2007-11-19T14:13:00.001-06:00

Pile of Jack Wannabee's, 8"x10" watercolor on Arches 140#

A pile of pumpkins, for the season.

Offering, 8x10

2007-11-19T14:02:00.000-06:00

Offering, 8"x10" watercolor on Arches 140#

Another figure, exhibited at the Contra Art Show earlier this month. I'm not happy with this one -- I don't like her eyes.

Temptation, 8x10

2007-11-19T13:59:00.000-06:00

Temptation, 8"x10" watercolor on Arches 140#

One of my first successful attempts at a figure in watercolor. Exhibited at Contra Art Show earlier this month.

Dragons, Dragons

2007-09-16T22:26:00.000-05:00

Archon Orange Dragons 1 and 2, approximately 3x4, watercolor on Arches 140#

Here are two more dragons, doodled while at my artist alley table at Archon/Nasfic in August. If I do this again next year, I really need to bring a lamp. The hallway was dark, and I had trouble seeing what I was doing. Thus, these little guys are a bit gnarly and awkward.

Two dragons

2007-09-16T22:20:00.000-05:00

Archon Green Dragons 1 and 2, approximately 3x4, watercolor on Arches 140#

Two of my dragon doodles, done while at my artist alley table at Archon/Nasific in August. The size got away from me. They were intended to be ACEOs, but they got too big for their britches.

Penciled Peppers, 3 views

2007-09-16T22:07:00.000-05:00

Penciled Peppers 1, 4x6, watercolor pencil on Canson 140#

Penciled Peppers 2 and 3, 2.5 x 3.5 (ACEO), watercolor pencil on Canson 140#

I stumbled on a great deal at the outlet store -- a set of 24 Derwent watercolor pencils for a pittance. Here is a 4x6 pencil painting of three peppers, drawn from life. (And they were tasty, too.) I also did two small ACEO-sized pencil paintings of the peppers, from different angles.

Lessons learned:

1. Painting from life is easier than painting from the imagination.

2. Painting with pencils is a layering process and takes a long time.

More Contemplations on Fruit, ACEO

2007-09-07T21:56:00.000-05:00

Contemplations on Fruit, 5 & 6, 2.5" x 3.5" watercolor on Arches 140#

Here are two more Contemplations on Fruit, doodled while sitting at my artist alley table at Archon last month. Serine felines. And fruit.