Art going out!

Last week, I ordered some really nice pieces from Giclee Print Net, and while I have a hard time with their layout process (really hard to come up with specific sizes...I guess next time I'll send a CD and instructions), I did get the layout set up and pieces ordered.

They came yesterday, are GORGEOUS, mounted on 3/16 inch gatorfoam, and make the work look marvelous! And, after signing and sealing them, I wanted to share them with you.

Couch Cats and Heron Moon are for my Ripped Off partners. I'll be mailing the cats off today, and the birds whenever I get confirmation from that artist. I still have a shirt for my 3rd partner.


Cherry Bee 1 and Cherry Bee 3 are the 17th birthday presents (along with a really fun novel) for Pablo's cousin Melissa.


Sugar Skull With Roses will be dragged to So Cal for my Godmother. :)


Also, I've entered pieces in three shows this month, Ripped Off (four pieces), Parades (3 pieces) and Liberty (2 pieces).

Thank you for stopping by!

Carissa Martos, Award Winning Artist

Kind of has a nice ring to it, doesn't it?

I entered a few pieces in the June EBSQ art shows, in the Macro Bug Photography and Flower of The Month categories.

The Macro bug pieces were good, I thought:





They weren't up to the beauty and detail of the winning pieces, however, and I was just glad that they got judged and seen.

The Flower of the Month chooses different flowers or plants for each month as their theme. For June it was Foxgloves, big pink bell-shaped flowers from the digitalis family. Gorgeous, but poisonous. Here was my entry:

And look here! A patron's choice award! According to the EBSQ.com FAQs, "Patron's choice winners are based on the net number of votes from non-artist registered users for an individual work of art, and is validated by the piece being within the top 10% of the peer voted selection."

I'm honored, let me tell you! I've never before won an award, especially for my art, and I'm pleased as I can be! I've entered a few pieces in July's shows as well, so come back and visit to here how those go.

Also, I'll be mailing out my first Giclee prints later this month, so you know I'll have photos of the signing of those.

First judged pieces!

I've been creating for nearly a decade, and hosting it at EBSQ for five years. I've sold a few pieces on my own during that time as well, but (other than an event in high school) I'd never entered pieces into a show to be judged.
This month, however, I entered two EBSQ shows, and judging ended for them last night.

For the Bridges show, I entered two photographs:

and


and for the Scintillating show I entered a digital collage:


I didn't win any awards, and, especially in the Scintillating show, I'm glad, as I'd have felt it wasn't earned. It did however prompt me to enter three shows for June, Macro-Bug Photography, Tatoos and Foxglove. I'll let you know how that goes.

Commissions

I have done a few commissioned pieces.

My media are usually mixed media/collage or digital art/photography, dealing mostly with fantasy or religious themes, though I have dabbled in some Japanese style still life and landscape, thanks to a foreign exchange student's influence, as well as photo retouching and restoration. I also do wedding/romance themed works, and my WEDDING RINGS work was just used for wedding invitations for a client. I will gladly discuss any subject matter, however.

For specific pieces, I give estimates about time of completion and cost, and ask for 10% of that fee upfront, mainly for materials. This is not refundable. When the work is completed, I will mail a proof, electronically or through USPS. If the work is adequate to the patron's standards, the rest of the funds may be sent through paypal or money order, and the piece will be mailed. If the patron does not want the piece, no hard feelings, and I will list it elsewhere. Prices differ for collage and digital art, and depending on whether the patron wants the only printing, or whether I am free to do a limited edition series.

I am also willing to discuss notecards and other items with my images on them. Please email me or visit my cafepress store to see the kind of items I have available. Names or phrases can be added to most items.

Introduction

I'm Carissa Martos, a wife/mother/student/caretaker/artist/blogger in the SF Bay. I started doing collages when I was a high school senior as a way to deal with some frustrating and traumatic emotional issues, and my teacher liked my work. I continued with mixed media assemblages until 2003, when access to a computer allowed me to create digital collages, retouch some old photographs and move to a media more conducive to being easily packed up and put away.

I have a long-held EBSQ account where I can showcase my pieces, get some inspiration (wouldn't normally choose "foxgloves" as a theme for a piece) and forge relationships with other artists. It is truly a wonderful community.

So, head on over to My Portfolio and take a look at the pieces I've got up, and then over to the Cafepress store and see what items all the art are available on.