Back From The Realm

So very much missing my tribe today. What a lovely time was had at ‪FaerieCon‬ 2014. It very much rejuvenates my spirit and renews my faith in humanity. The community there is filled with people who radiate kindness and acceptance (with the rare exception, of course - whoever stole those Amy Brown Fantasy Art Inc. wing sets intended to début there deserves to be excommunicated from the realm).

It was such a joy to reconnect with friends (hugs to Lithia Knopp, Jenny Davies-Reazor, Michelle Heffner, Simone Tomodachi, Suzanne Dobbs Mayer, Jane Starr Weils, Ash Evans, Kimberley Coffman, Meredith Dillman, Shane and Leah Odom, Chrissy and Marc Hudgins, Joanne Schempp, Ken Crampton...), meet long-time internet/facebook friends in person (high-fives Kayti Welsh, James Browne, Nicole Pisaniello...) and make some new ones (waves at Mindy Safire Morea, Ezia Leach, Rebbeca Wertz, Candalynne, Viviene...), say hello to inspiring people I've admired for years (Amy Brown, Stephanie Law, Bruce Coville...)

A few high points to mention: So much fun texting taunts to friend Brigid with Jenny. There's nothing quite like having men sprouting leaves and branches tossing acorns into your cleavage for luck and prosperity as they march by singing and drumming and jangling jangly things. Lithia and Suzanne are the best show neighbours a person could wish for, and I love them both dearly. Ken kept the beat, and gives marvellous hugs. I loved spending some relaxing time before opening everyday getting drawn and painted on by the lovely ladies in Michelle Heffner - Maryland Body Painter's booth. Likewise getting my hair tinseled in Dancing Hands' booth. The Mythical Designs by Miscellaneous Oddiments LLC booth is a portal to all sorts of faery magic. I passed by on my way to line up for Bruce Coville's signing on Sunday to find the man himself holding court there. I got to not only get my book signed without having to queue up (a blessing when you've got a table to get back to), but also got to hear some neat anecdotes about the series the book I wanted signed was part of (Philip Jose Farmer's "The Dungeon"). And, of course, meeting everyone who stopped by my table and said lovely things about (and/or purchased) my art.

Special thanks to my husband for watching my table so I could take a break now and then, and for helping with setting up, breaking down, and getting me there and home again safely.

I am already looking forward to next year!

78 Tarot Deck is GO!

78 Tarot Pre-Order

After a highly successful KickStarter campaign, the 78 Tarot team is now preparing to publish our deck!  If you missed out on the KickStarter, it's not too late to reserve a deck.  For a limited time, you can pop along to the Etsy store (linked above) and pre-order a deck.  It is expected that the decks will be ready for shipping later this year in Autumn - and should be delivered well before Yule and Christmas!

I am so chuffed to have been part of this project!  This whole thing has gone over so well and garnered enough attention that the team have decided to do a 2nd deck!  The theme of the next deck will be voted on by the KickStarter supporters of the first deck, and there will be some new artists and some familiar artists involved.

If you are coming to FaerieCon, I hope to have a limited number of these 1st edition decks available (they will include the 1st edition extra wild cards - which won't be available in subsequent printings of the deck).  In the meantime, you can visit the 78 Tarot Official Site and Facebook Page to keep up with all the latest developments!

Latest Artwork, "Justice", and a Tutorial of One Artist's Process

"Justice" by Mary Layton

78 Tarot Project

Here is the final version of my latest finished artwork, "Justice", for the 78 Tarot Project, as it will appear in finalized-card form.

When I started, I kept iterative scans of my progress, since the artists organizing the project had asked that we do so as it was thought people might like to view our progress.  I'd thought maybe I'd do a tutorial blog about it when I finished, in case anyone was interested in how I work.  After posting one of my progress scans on my Facebook Page, one of the admins asked if I would be interested in doing a guest-blog on the 78 Tarot site about my process.  So, I said 'sure'!  The post went live last night, so if you are interested in how "Justice" came to be, clicky the linky, below, to have a look!  I show and describe the progression from the initial scribble-y thumbnail sketch, through digital colour tests, to the finished work.

"Final Justice by Mary Layton - 78 Tarot"

It's an Oliphlump, because of course it is!

Cross-posted from my Facebook Page:

I found this whilst going through some image files today - this was from 2006 - I decided to be experimental, and see if I could create something out of a paint splatter. This was what I managed to come up with. The writing says "Note to self: Don't leave painting things out where the house Elves and their Oliphlumps can get to them."

Now I have the urge to create another Oliphlump. 

Another Occasional Blog Post...brought to you by the letter "P" (as in "procrastination")

Well, lookit that.  It's only a blog post from me - Queen of the occasional rambles.

While it has been a moderately busy time of late, that's really no excuse.  In any event, here I am, typing at ya.

I most recently was busy preparing for, and then attending, Parisian Promenade in Greensboro, NC.  It turned out to be a really nice day!  Not too hot, although it was a bit humid, and even though we were under threat of thunderstorms, the weather held out and we made it through the afternoon rain-free.  I think this might have been one of the biggest turnouts at Parisian Promenade - at least in the 3 years I've vended there.  It was a busy day, and I had a really good sales day, as well, for which I am very grateful.  It's hard being an artist and making a living at it, and we artists are so thankful for our patrons and fans.  Every print sold means we can pay a portion of a bill, buy a portion of groceries, and can PAINT MORE!

I'm doing more shows this year than ever - after FaerieCon in November, I will have done at least 5 appearances this year (there may be a couple of other opportunities for shows locally between now and the end of the year).  I actually submitted work to DragonCon this year, and was accepted - but, due to the amount of artists applying, and space limitations, I wound up wait-listed.  Still, it was a nice opportunity, and it was good to get feedback from the jurors about what works, and what needs improvement.

The next event is in just a couple of weeks - Greensboro Summer Solstice which is such good fun!  Kids and adults alike come dressed in their faerie finery, and the mood is so light and joyful!  I am really looking forward to it.  If you're in the Greensboro, NC area - you should come check it out - it's free to get in, and a wonderful way to spend an afternoon.  It's on Saturday 22nd June this year, from 3pm until 8pm for the bazaar, and there will be fire dancing and live music afterwards until 9 or 10.

Hope you are all having a lovely late spring!

FaerieCon 2012

I'm back from FaerieCon!  Thank you to all of you who came by my table and said hello and made me feel welcome in the Faerie Realm - and thanks especially to all who made a purchase! :)

I could attempt to wax poetic about how wonderful it was (because it WAS wonderful), but this post by C.S.E. Cooney best describes the magic that is FaerieCon:  FaerieCon: The Things They Don't Tell You.  I could never hope to top that - and it's all true!

It was my first time vending (and only second time attending) FaerieCon, and I was nervous!  I needn't have been.  My vendor neighbours were fantastically welcoming and helpful (shoutout to Herbal Turtle Teas, The Leather Lair, Lithia's Creations, and authors Patrick Thomas and John French!), and when the doors opened, there was so much bright energy from the crowds that my nervousness just melted away!

It was such a pleasure to see old friends and acquaintances: Ash Evans, Leah and Shane Odom, Chrissy and Marc Hudgins, Meredith Dillman, and Jenny Davies-Reazor, and a great honor to meet Jasmine Becket-Griffith and Rachel Anderson (both of whom I've had an online acquaintance with for years, but never met in person until this past weekend), and Terri Windling-Gayton who has been such an inspiration.  I also met another online acquaintance, Megan Congdon, although I didn't realize it at the time, as it was early on the Friday and I was a bit shell-shocked and dazed by the magical enormity of it all.

Such fun new discoveries, too - Wotan the Faerie Smasher, Bill and Sam Cass with Nymbol and friends, and so many purveyors of excellent faerie finery, scents, tastes, and beautiful art.  The Good and Bad Faeries Balls were enormous fun, with excellent performances from wonderful bands and solo artists.  And so many beautiful, strange, and/or mesmerizing costumes - an artist's inspiration fantasyland!

I've posted most of the photos I snapped in an album on my Facebook page, but here are a couple of me in all my silly glory, made up for the Balls!

Good Mary

Bad Mary

Click for my Facebook FaerieCon 2012 album - I don't think a Facebook account is needed to view the album, although you'd have to have one to 'like' or 'comment'!

Oh look - New post!

It's been far too long since I last blogged.  Sorry about that.  But, I have been busy, and there are 4 new artworks on the web site, so there's that!  I'll be sending a newsletter 'round in the next day or so, introducing the new art, and there may be a discount code involved, so if you're not already a subscriber......

I know I'm pants about blogging, but I do update the Facebook Page pretty regularly, and it often includes in-progress shots of what I'm working on, so if you've got a Facebook account, come join the fun!

Here's one of the new artworks:

"Rhiannon" (part of the new "Art Nouveau Goddesses" series)

Journals on sale 50% off!

I am going to be stocking new journals soon, but I need to make some room for them, first!  Therefore, this week, I have posted what remains of my current journal styles to my Etsy shop - on offer at 50% off the retail price!  These are really lovely journals: they are hand crafted in the US using imported petal and hand made papers and each features a print of one of my artworks with coordinating yarn and silk flower or acrylic gem embellishments.  The large and small journals, and pocket journals come with 'branch' pencils, and the memo pad box comes with a small standard pencil.  I've even listed the last available photo album, which comes in it's own matching box!  I'd put a notice announcing I was doing this on my journals page of the website the day I started listing them at Etsy, and before I even finished the draft listings, I sold out of the "Nouveau Bellydancer" pocket journals and sold a few of the others, so I'm down to about two each of everything else!  So some of the draft listings never even got published to Etsy!  Not that I'm complaining - the more of these journals I sell, the more of the new styles I can stock (I've only got a wee studio room in the house, after all)! :)  Below are some photos.  If you're interested in any of these, pop on over to the Etsy shop - and if you enter the code SPRINGFEVER2012 when you check out, I'll even 'spring' for posting them to you!

Close-up of the hand made paper

"Nouveau Bellydancer" Large Journal

"The Diminishing" Boxed Memo Pad

"Night Blooming Jasmine" Boxed Photo Album

"The Diminishing" Pocket Journal

 

 

 

 

New Art! New Give-away!

Hullo!

Just a fairly quick fly-by sort of post for now.  I've done a new arty thing!  This is called "Post Industrial #1" (as I'm planning to do more than one), and it's done in ink:

Prints are already available on the web site (HERE) or, you could win a print on Facebook (HERE) - there are two opportunities to win: if you've liked my page and entered the give-away there's a chance your name will be drawn, and if you share the link to the give-away on your own page/profile and someone clicks on it and enters and THEY win - you get a print, too!

As for how many drawings will be in the series - I don't know yet.  At least 3, as I've already got a couple more ideas percolating amongst the grey matter.

So, how's the weather where you are?  It's absolutely gorgeous here, although it's a bit early for it to be so gorgeous.  It's only just turned Spring here, but feels like it's been Spring since mid-February!

StellarCon this weekend!

Honestly, I am totally writing the FaerieCon post - it's in my drafts, just waiting for me to finish.  I've just been busy is all.  I'm getting ready for StellarCon this weekend (2-4 March), and although I won't be at a table, I will be hanging around during the weekend, in and out of the Art Show, so do pop in if you're in the area!  I'll be debuting some new art - a fan-art piece inspired by Patrick Rothfuss' The Name of The Wind, and another piece (check my twitter, facebook, and/or Google+ feeds for a teaser).

Oh - and the buy one get one free print sale ends on Wednesday - I'll be shipping on Thursday, any orders placed after that will ship starting Monday, after the convention!

Magick 4 Terri

Hellay, hellay!  I'll have a FaerieCon report up when I get a bit of time, but I wanted to post about this as it's an important thing, and something worthy of our attention:

Most fans of fantasy and mythic tales and art will have heard of Terri Windling.  A writer, artist, and editor, she has been an inspiration to a generation of mythic artists and writers, and many of us are coming together to try to help her in a time of need.  I have donated my Rackham-inspired watercolour "The Apple Faery" (pictured below), and artists and writers like Charles Vess, Brian Froud, Wendy Froud, Neil Gaiman, Charles de Lint, Ellen Kushner, and George RR Martin (to name but a handful) are donating original works, limited editions, and signed items for an auction at Magick 4 Terri on LiveJournal.  In addition, fans are offering their own works, crafts, services, and treasured collectibles.  Please stop by and check it out.  Many items have low starting bids, and there is also a 'donate' button  for whatever your budget might allow.  Help us make some Magick 4 Terri!

New Art and FaerieCon!

I have some new art to share - both of these beauties are available on the web site.  

"Companions" is an homage to pet lovers everywhere, and features representations of 3 pets I have known and loved - my childhood companion "Kitty", my recently deceased (well, 2006) cockatiel 'Mo', and "Bronte" a gorgeous Chocolate Lab who was part of the family of my in-laws in Yarm, UK.

"The Witching Hour" is a Samhain-themed painting in the Art Nouveau style with a bit of a Steampunk flavour.

In other news, I'm going to FaerieCon this weekend!!  I'm very excited, packed and ready to go (although I can't stop double-checking to make sure I haven't missed anything).  I am not exhibiting or vending, I'm only going for the fun of it and to meet up with friends who are vending.  I'm looking forward to meeting the Frouds, Charles Vess, and Amy Brown as I'm just a big ol' fangrrl!

My friend Brigid Ashwood, who is a featured artist at FaerieCon, has written a post about the event- if you need some encouragement to come on out ;) GeekMom: FaerieCon - The Sparkly Side of GeekCons

Another embloggening? I'm on a roll!

2 bloggings in one week. Now...do I have anything to say?

Well, yes, actually. I've just this morning had an email from Indigo Art Services with the preview images of the mousepads that are in production. They are gorgeous, and I can't wait to get my hands (or...mouse) on them. I showed the image of the one with my Hummingbirds on Lantana art to himself (my husband) and he's planning to purchase one as soon as it's on sale. Jen at IAS tells me mousepads will be featured on the website and on offer at $9 each (regularly $10.95) til the end of August. I'll post again when they're available.

Also this morning, I finished "Mockingjay" by Suzanne Collins; the third book in the Hunger Games trilogy. What a great series that was. Now, I'm looking forward to the film treatment and hoping they do the story justice. Now, what shall I read next? Any suggestions?

I've just rented "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1" from Netflix. I did see it in the cinema when it was released, but I wanted to watch it again so the story would be fresh in my mind when I go see Part 2. I'm a bit sad that it's all ending, but looking forward to it anyway. I know JK's got Pottermore in the works, but I really am keen to see what she does next writing-wise. Surely she's got some more stories to tell, other characters to pull us into their lives....

I've been asked when I'll be painting live again. I'm not sure, really. Maybe next week? I'll post at twitter and facebook when I do, and if I can organize myself enough, maybe schedule a time and give you a day's notice or so. Ha - an organized artist?! That'd be a first! ;)

O Hai!

Good grief! Has it really been over a year since I've posted anything?! That just goes to show that I am really pants at updating this blog. To be fair, since I've gone over to the dark side that is Facebook, I find it just so easy to do quick updates there. So, I'd love for anyone interested in what I'm up to to join me there: www.facebook.com/MaryLaytonArt. I'll try to do better about keeping a regular blog, too - but, at least you'll be able to keep up with me a bit better there. I'm also on twitter (www.twitter.com/Rhiamon), so feel free to follow.

I've most recently been playing around with my web site design, updating the look a bit. And, fixing some formatting issues that I'd let go for too long. This meant a 4 day fight with coding to suit the demands of IE. If you want something done simply, and you want it to show up properly on IE...fuggedaboutit. Simple coding commands that work on nearly every other browser will look hideous in IE, I've found. In any event, I seem to have managed to work around the issues, and my site now look presentable in IE, while still looking nice in other browsers. To celebrate, I decided to have a bit of a sale, and if you subscribe to my newsletter, you'll already be aware of it. The sale lasts until the end of the month and gets you 25% off your order at www.marylayton.net - including clearance items. Use code SUMMER25 at checkout. Speaking of clearance items....

Acrylic-cab cameos are on offer, as I am discontinuing them. The reason I am doing this is that I have recently signed a licensing contract with Indigo Art Services for gorgeous porcelain cameos. I've received my artists samples and they are really lovely! They are larger than the acrylic cameos and therefore show off the artwork much better. IAS are also doing mugs with wrap-around designs - these are generously sized at 15 oz. Both the cameos and mugs are available on the site, and if you are a retailer, you can order them wholesale to carry in your shops from IAS. Also, if you enter code 110502 at checkout at IAS, you get a free gift with an opening order of $75.

I have been doing some art shows lately, which is a bit new for me. I am often asked when I'll be at Faeriecon or other big shows, but I haven't done many shows at all so far, and am a bit terrified of the big ones! I need some experience, you see. So, in March I entered the art show at Stellarcon and had a great time! Met some neat people, made some sales, and lost a bit of my fear. Since then, I've done 2 other local events, Parisian Promenade and Greensboro Summer Solstice Celebration, and I am really enjoying it. I will be appearing in August at the August Art Oasis on Davie Street in Greensboro NC and am looking forward to it. I still don't know if I'm ready for Faeriecon yet, but maybe next year.

I'll leave you with some eye-candy - one of the porcelain cameos, one of the mugs, and my current work-in-progress:

Raven's Key - Original Art Auction - 100% of proceeds to NFINC

 

"Raven's Key" Detail

Hello everyone!  The newest artwork is an original watercolour that I am auctioning via eBay called "Raven's Key"  100% of the proceeds of the sale of this artwork will benefit NF, Inc. an organization dedicated to providing support to individuals and families affected by Neurofibromatasis.  This auction is inspired by NF Inc.'s Doodle Day.

The painting is 6" x 4" on Arches Hot Press Watercolour Paper and is signed on the back (initialed on front) and the Raven was inspired by the character "Matthew" in Neil Gaiman's Sandman.

Prints and cards will be available once the auction is completed and my web site updated! 

Auction Link: "Raven's Key" Charity auction on eBay

Blue Moon Atelier December News

Newsletter

15 December 2009

Greetings!

Here's the latest news from Blue Moon Atelier:

Holiday Shipping:
This Friday, 18 December, is the last day to order to ensure shipping in time to arrive before Christmas (continental US only - we cannot guarantee Christmas delivery outside the US)!

New Artwork:
      
New art is now available in the Fantasy Gallery - new Yule-themed paintings entitled "Yule Masque" and "Bringing Yuletide Magic", and the highly anticipated "Mistress of the Key". This is one of Mary's most popular artworks to date, and heeding feedback received after the earlier releases at DeviantArt and the Blue Moon Atelier Facebook page, "Mistress of the Key" is available in the original graphite version, as well as the enhanced sepia-toned version.

Also available is "Christmas Cardinals", which can be found in the Miscellaneous Gallery. The Yule-themed paintings, and the sepia-toned "Mistress of the Key" are also available as Single Cards and Card Sets.

New Digital Stickers:
5 New Winter Holiday Tubes are available at FantasyScraps.com

Photographic Art:
Thanks to all who came out for Mary's nature-themed photo art debut at Wild Birds Unlimited in High Point on the 21st of November! Photographic art prints are now available on the web site in the Photo Art Gallery

SPECIAL OFFER:
Newsletter subscribers got a special discount code! Want to subscribe? Go here: http://www.marylayton.net/newsletter.php.

"Bask in the moonlight,
commune with the animals,
and dance with the faeries!"

Blue Moon Atelier - The artwork of Mary Layton
http://www.marylayton.net

Steampunk Goodness!

Great Steampunky things are to be had this week. I shall tell you of some of them.

Firstly, Daniel Proulx, maker of outstanding jewellery, has created a video to tell the story of his work. It's lovely, and spooky, much like his jewellery (which can be purchased on Etsy)



Nextly, friend Brigid has updated her progress on the Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde Diptych - do swing by and have a look!

Lastly - if you are a fan of Steampunk, why haven't you ordered your I <3 Steampunk shirt yet?! Whatever are you waiting for?

Pardon? Oh, me? What am I up to? Well, I'm currently working on a Samhain/Hallowe'en painting (preview below), and have ideas for another (which I hope to find time to actually create before next month). Yes, the full colour Mistress of the Key is coming soon, and since you asked so nicely, yes, I will be offering the sepia-toned version as prints, too. There is an inked version available to license for tattoos at Enchanted Tattoo, and if you have it inked on you - I wanna see! :)

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I haz a tattoo

Yesterday was the Solstice and since my friend Wendy was appearing at the Greensboro Solstice Celebration I toddled along and got myself a tattoo. A henna one, that is. Wendy made me a lovely fae creature to wear for a couple of weeks and glittered it up for me:


When I scraped the paste off, it was a very light pumpkin orange, almost too light to make out, but henna darkens over time. Here is how it looked this morning:


I have been working on the Mistress of the Key some more - how about another progress shot? The blobs at the top are my palette for her hair colour:


I have since begun working on the flowers in her hair, so will hopefully finish her this week. Yes, I know a web site update is due - I'm on it! :P

Tiling and Art!

Just a quickie (oo-er!)

I got a screenshot of 'Mistress of the Key', currently in painting progress in Painter X:



And we've been working at tiling the en suite:



Yes, that is a bog roll in the upper left corner - we've been using it to wipe up mortar spillage. Hubby says I should have a new toilet by Labour Day! W00t, innit! :P

Finished drawing and other rambles

In case you hadn't noticed, Neil Gaiman and Amanda Palmer are dating. I first went 'hmmmmmmmmm' when I noticed them sharing a glass of wine during last autumn's Party on the Internet at Neil's place, but was in no doubt after seeing this photo by Kyle Freaking Cassidy last week on Neil's blog:



I mean, really. LOOK at that face - it's all right there! One of my favourite authors dating one of my favourite singer/songwriters. Good things will (and some have already) come of this.

I finished the pencil art I was working on. This is "Mistress of the Key", unless someone suggests a better name for her:

I am currently playing around painting her in Painter, so there will be this original graphite version as well as a colour version. Another sketch is in progress and will probably be rendered in watercolour:

No name for her yet, although I have some ideas.

I currently have no toilet. In my en suite, that is. Luckily, our house has 2 1/2 baths, so I'm not completely without recourse to toilet facilities. We discovered, a few days before going on holiday (photos of that event will be forthcoming), that we had a leak. About 6" of drywall above the floor had to be removed and replaced, and the linoleum was pretty shot as well. So, my husband removed the bog, tore up the lino, sanded the floor, and we are about to re-do that bathroom. I kinda wanted real tile anyway, so now's our chance.

I had to catch up all my season-ender shows online since we were in the UK when they aired, and watching very little telly. Of Lost, I have this to say: Dude! WTF?!!!!1111oneoneoneone!!!eleventyaarkvark