Nice to be noticed

Many thanks to TimeOut New York for featuring my Five Boroughs Art Blocks in their Best NYC Home Decor feature!

The blocks are available here.

New Year BOGO sale is ending tonight at Midnight!

The Holiday/New Year BOGO sale is winding down! Ends at 12 Midnight Eastern tonight. Hurry if you want to get twice the art!

Let's BOGO a little longer...

I have extended my BOGO Sale a bit longer to allow folks that are just now finding out about it to participate. Sale will end without notice.

http://johnwgolden.etsy.com

Found: Elevator Advertising

From the leave no space unsponsored file: Some interesting uses of elevators as advertising space. I suppose it makes sense to market anywhere you have a semi-captive audience.

http://www.sharenator.org/No_This_is_the_best_elevator_ever/http://www.sharenator.org/No_This_is_the_best_elevator_ever/

RYBLK - The Mini Robot Art Block

A new piece and series! Mini Robot Art Blocks. The first is called RYBLK, pronounced rib-lik.

I'm all lost in the Supermarket...

'Cept I'm not. I have been accepted to sell on Supermarket, a very cool, design-y online marketplace from Brooklyn-based Supercorp. I am excited to have my work included with such a great line of art, craft and design.

My Supermarket store will carry my non-wall art endeavors, while good ol' Etsy will still have everything I do.  I am still in the process of stocking the store at http://johnwgolden.supermarkethq.com, so check back frequently for updates.

Look for more new venues for the art blocks and jewelry soon.

New! My Heart Series on Mini - Triptych Blocks

And a film can collage about love for good measure! One of the things I like about these little pieces is they are small enough to fit in many places, and you don't need a wall to display them.

They are love-themed, so they are great for Valentine's Day, but diminutive enough to have out year round. These are available in my Etsy shop, and also some new online shops that I am opening on some new handmade markets. But more on those later.

Beats for You - Mini-Triptych

Belongs to You - Mini-Triptych

Skips a Beat - Mini-Triptych

Carrying a Torch - Mini-Triptych

Found: A parable. A very simplified, perhaps cheesy parable, but a parable.

Something to keep in mind. And after that?

http://tenna10.googlepages.com/newstoamuse

Can't seem to get anything done! Is this why?

Interesting article about how we might keep ourselves from getting things done.

I definitely agree that often times we need to just find what we enjoy about doing a task and concentrate on that. And if we can't do that we just have to accept that we need to do a task, and find joy in getting it done.

Found: welivenow.org

Some good ideas for this morning.

Image: weliveorg.org

It's Tuesday, what's new in music?

Every Tuesday, I hope I am gonna find some new music to excite me. Haven't seen a lot new stuff here at the end/beginning of the year, so I am holding it together for the upcoming release of a few albums.

Looks like next Tuesday, Jan. 12th will bring the release of Contra, by Vampire Weekend. VW is a band that sneaked up on me, as many bands seem to be doing these days. I would listen to a track here and there, without really getting hooked, then one day I find myself listening to them non-stop.

Here's a look at the first video/single, Cousins.

Also looking forward to the new Spoon album on Jan. 19th.

Whilst sitting in a heat-less darkened movie theater

Over the holidays my wife says, "Let's take the kids to a movie." Turns out we missed the Fantastic Mr. Fox run. And the Christmas Carol run. So Alvin and Chipmunks: the Squeakquel was chosen.

The heat wasn't working in many of the theaters that day, so we got in on the senior citizen discount. It wasn't so much that it was cold, as it was that the heater continued to blow cold air.

My younger kids loved the movie, and I kept telling myself I was doing it for the kids. I was struggling not to post some snarky facebook status when my wife gasped and grabbed my arm.

"What?!" I said, turning to her.

"Your picture," she said. I looked back at the screen but it was gone. Turns out my Lunar Lander poster that Land of Nod carries was on the wall of the chipmunks bedroom. And I missed it. Guess I know one person who will be buying that DVD. Hopefully moviegoers will be paying better attention than I did.

The lesson? You are always where you are supposed to be. Even if it seems you would be happier elsewhere.

See a gallery of additional images from the film at reelmovienews.com

Treasury Thanks!

Thanks to EWMcCall for including me in a fiery love treasury!

Found: Secret Fun Spot

Of course I love this. Why wouldn't I? Chock full of old graphic design, kitschy stuff and such.

http://www.secretfunspot.com/

I'm bringing waving back...

Close Hand in to Fist, © 2009 John W. Golden

I have always had a love/hate relationship with the handshake. I often get beat to the grasp. I get my fingers out there, just enough to have the other person clamp down on them and leave most of my palm free. I almost feel as if I should curtsy.

On the other hand, I am quick to extend my hand to strangers and introduce myself with a handshake. I can't bear the awkwardness when meeting someone new in a group setting, and your friend, who knows this new person, doesn't introduce you. So, I usually pre-empt that with an introduction. Then I read to beware of people like that. Can't remember why, but you are supposed to be wary of a person who extends his hand first. So, no more handshakes, I guess. Since neither of us can extend a hand first. Whether or not to extend your hand is the new 4-way stop. You go, no you go. Did you see that guy? It wasn't his turn. He just went.

By the same token, I'm not cool enough to Fist Bump. I just cannot pull it off. And I have bony knuckles. And I don't run with a fist-bumping crowd, whoever that is.

So, when I was adding some new pieces to my film can collage series, I pulled up my original film can illustration I did for The 3 Aspects of a Good Handshake (done years ago). I was reminded of how much I felt like that particular image and title was the most education film-like. When I start the can illustration, I know a film title, but I don't have any idea what the text over it will say, much less what it will refer to. That part comes to me as I create the textured version. Sometimes I have to think about it a while before an idea comes to mind.

When I created this particular film can illo, the fist bump did not exist. But now it seems tailor-made to contrast with modern day the era in which films were made to educate and refine us. This is, in it's own way, the essence of the film can series. Contrasting now with then.

I'm neither celebrating the handshake (See aforementioned personal issues with handshakes), nor dismissing the fist bump. I think I may be asking for a third option.

Treasury Shout Out - Jan. 4, 2010

Thanks to the following folks who have included me in their treasuries:

Itsalljustmenagerie included my No Monsters Allowed Print in a Bright New Start treasury.

Nauli included my Vespa No. 1 in a Warm Reds treasury.

Happy New Year! Now let's make with the Valentine's stuff...

Sweetie Pie Conversation Heart Mini-Triptych ©2009 John W. Golden

Time for another year of this making a living from my art! I know I am very fortunate to be deriving any income from my art right now, much less all of it. It has been a new experience doing this during a down economy. Fortunately for me, people have continued to support my efforts, and I am extremely thankful for that.

I researched quite a bit this year. Mostly about the business of being a business by reading books that on the surface seemed to be very pop-culture, but actually contained a lot of business theory. One book was about holidays, and how the retail calendar is driven by holidays. To some extent, all retail businesses adhere to this calendar.

For some of us, it is merely a big push during the Christmas / Hanukkah / Kwanzaa season. I do a couple holiday pushes a year, mostly Valentine's and the December holidays, and it helps to even out the ups and downs of the retail calendar. Others take every opportunity to use holidays to drive sales. Once you are a business, you don't always have the luxury of not making the most of every opportunity to sustain your business. In some cases, if you don't promote to a holiday, it's like closing up shop for a while, as other businesses that do follow the holiday marketing calendar attract consumers, and your business just catches the occasional passer-by. Keeping this in mind makes it easier for me to not be so offended by the rapid transition to the next holiday retail displays.

The sales of the last quarter of the year can generate a lot of momentum for a merchant, and I often hear of proprietors who make most of their income on the days leading up to Christmas. Then the tumbleweeds start to blow by in January. As a business owner, it seems a shame to let any steam you have gathered just dissipate.

Now, I'm not talking about the big retailers like Target and Wal-mart. They always seem to have something that people need. But they also have to compete for holiday dollars. In this economy especially, they have to get those Christmas decorations down quickly and get the hearts and cupids up right away. It's about maximizing the opportunity for sales during a given period of time. It may look like greed, but they are businesses that have to stay afloat just like the rest of us. Not promoting when your competitors are promoting is not going to help one stay afloat.

People say it starts around Thanksgiving, but really it happens all year long. "It's disgusting!", we say. "Every year they start earlier and earlier." Christmas Creep, it's called, but it could just as easily be Cupid Creep, St. Patrick's Sneak, or Mother's Day... well, I can't think of one for Mother's Day. Maybe just being Mother's Day, a holiday created to generate commerce is enough. (Mom's do deserve their own day).

Point is, many businesses base their promotions on our buying patterns, and we tend to spend a lot of money during holidays. I think most people's complaints about Christmas Creep is directed more toward big retailers, the largest adherents to the holiday retail calendar. Who can blame the little guys for using whatever accepted reasons are available to encourage people to help keep their businesses alive? Especially these days? Who can blame the big guys? It would be nice to have a break from be sold to all the time. It would be nice not to have to sell all the time. Boon or bust, the competitive market is gonna creep all over you.

Found: A visual history of the credit card

This is a pretty interesting look at how the appearance of credit cards has changed over the years and the history of the credit card.

I totally forgot to add the link yesterday! http://www.thebigmoney.com/slideshow/plastic-flashback

And, did you know that there is an American Credit Card Collector's Society?

Article by Caitlin McDevitt. Image credit: creditcollectibles.com

No blogging... must sleep!

The old familiar push at the end of the year. Little sleep, lots of things to keep straight, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

It hasn't been a banner year for online art sales, but it has been good considering the state of the economy. I still get to this every day instead of digging ditches. Holiday sales are slower than years past, but to be making a living selling my art now? I count this blessing every day.

A slow economy spurred me to final get rolling on new projects, like my art blocks. I've long wanted to make my art in a format other than wall art. In the coming year, I'll get to branch out a bit into new venues with the blocks.

It took a long time for the blocks to really form into an idea. I had trouble sourcing blocks like I wanted, for one thing. Then one day, boom! There they were, in an unlikely place. I thought I was looking for single blocks that I could put my art on, but I saw these smaller, narrow blocks, and  I thought: Triptychs!

Course now that I have amassed the largest collection of small blocks on the east coast, and now that I have gotten used to the idea of probably looking strange purchasing blocks in that quantity (they are re-purposed, and for what they were originally intended, no one would buy more than a few), I see a lot of triptychs in my future.

Of course, now that I have more triptych block pieces than I know what to do with, I have stumbled on local sources for single art wall blocks in 6", 8", 10" and 12", as well as a variety of shapes for mini art blocks that sit on a shelf. Those are what I originally envisioned using, but could not find them (and I don't really have time to cut them myself).

So here I go, for more than a few years, thinking this is the idea I want to do. This is how I will do it. If only this one thing (finding a source) will happen. Then I can do it. Then life says: Interesting idea, but how 'bout you do it this way? You asked for a source, so you got a source. It may not be a source for what you wanted to do, but it's a source just the same.

Once I pursued the idea that life threw in my path, ways to do the ideas I had been lugging around for a while appeared.

Now I just need a way to explain to cashiers why I am buying so many blocks.

To the 5 Boroughs...

A few years back, I started a series called City Monikers, based on the nicknames of cities. For some reason, I included Brooklyn in that series. Being neither a nickname nor a "city" the way the other cities in the series were, it may have seemed out of place.

But, it was pretty much just the way I work. The idea was to do all 5 boroughs, and make that a subset of the Moniker series.

I have finally done that with my newest wooden block piece. I also have a version with almost no color that will be available later.

Holiday BOGO Sale time!

Time for my Annual Holiday BOGO Sale in the johnwgolden Etsy shop!

Details: But one print get one print of equal or lesser value for free. Limit 2 free prints per purchase.

Triptych Blocks, Gift Certificates, Jewelry and Mats are not eligible as free choices. However, you can purchase one of those items and get a free print of equal or lesser value.

Purchase only the print(s) you want to pay for, and then tell me your free choice in the message to seller.

Sale will end without notice.

The Holiday Madness Begins!

My Etsy shop is filling up with new items for the holidays. I have lots of new jewelry to list, and I expect to have new Mini Triptych Blocks in both johnwgolden and rovinato by the weekend.

Debating whether to do a Black Friday/Cyber Monday promotion... Have to decide soon :)

Some of the new batch of jewelry...

I spent this last week and maybe the last of our warm days here locally making a new batch of resin jewelry. I have over 300 pieces, and following this weekend's Art for the Masses show here, I will start the process of adding these to the Etsy shop.

Glass Tile Graphic Pendant & Ring Tutorial

Here's my latest how-to! For those of you looking for a jewelry making process that is more durable, but relatively non-toxic, I present my Glass Tile Graphic Jewelry. Glass tile over graphics is nothing new, but I have paired that method with a silver plated pendant tray and a silver plated flat ring. The flat ring covers the entire back of the glass tile, making it less susceptible to snapping off, and limiting exposure to moisture. Same goes for the pendant tray.

Judikins DG3 Art Gel is the adhesive that is used, and while it is water soluble, these pieces handle incidental moisture contact very well. When one of these comes out less than perfect, I have to soak the rings for about 15 minutes in water to get them to come apart. I have a pendant that has been soaking for over 24 hours, and while some of the adhesive on the side of the pendants is softened, the glass tile is still stuck fast, with no water seepage into the paper.

Enjoy!

Ringy-Dingy y'all!

After a long absence, I once again have some rings in the shop. These are a little different than the last design (more of those are in the works). They use a glass tile instead of resin, and are open on the sides.

Only 6 available, so check them out now!