Sunday, June 23, 2013

Wedgwood Biscotti

Just finished this piece. It was inspired very spur-of-the-moment the other day. I had the biscotti already, but had no idea how I was going to draw them. I'm bored with doing things just sitting alone with a shadow. So I found a cup. Then a doily, and 'wahlah' (voila). I only took two reference photos, which were essentially the same. In other words - I just 'did it'.



Its Pablo and Polychromo colored pencils on Stonehenge paper. Centered on an 8.25" square.

I found the biscotti at Costco the last time I was there. They were another spur-of-the-moment decision - they definitely weren't on my shopping list, but I always have an eye out for possible drawing subjects, and they looked nice. (It helps that I also like biscotti).
The cup is part of my very eclectic china collection. I have odd bits of all sorts of patterns, but mostly collect white or cream colored pieces. This is Wedgwood, the Patrician pattern.
And the doily is a little cheap paper one from the dollar store. I kid you not. All the holes aren't even punched out properly. But it was the perfect thing to complete the picture.



Here's a little 'step-by-step' so you can see how it progressed ~






And a little detail ~


I've put the original as well as prints in the shop

I'm also tinkering with my shop prices a bit. Its like splitting hairs, decided which prints should be $15, which ones $20. 8 x 10s are $20. But I figured out that if a piece is 8 x 8, or 7 x 7, it still takes a whole 8.5 x 11 piece of paper to do the print, and usually the same amount (or close) of ink as a whole 8 x 10, and I also have to trim it - just like an 8 x 10. So am 'upping' the price on a few things. If I can get two prints out of one sheet of paper, the price is less. There are times when this logic doesn't quite work, for odd sizes, and I'm sure some people may wonder how I arrive at a price. Prints that were  $12.50 are now $15, and a few that were $15 are now $20. I think the cost is still low, and hopefully affordable to anyone who might want one, while still allowing me to actually make a bit of profit. This is the fiddly and not as much fun part of having a shop and trying to make it all work! 

I'm also working behind the scenes on re-doing my website. I really need a "Commissions" page for people who want to order a custom piece of art, with sizes, prices, etc. There are a few other things I'd like to add. I do have some new software that I'm going to use, but any of you who've done this know about the learning curve, and how much work it can all be! But I'm determined. Meanwhile, if you'd like me to do a drawing for you, please just email me, or 'convo' me through etsy and we'll sort out all the details.

1 comment:

Teresa Mallen said...

Well I might be having trouble getting a post onto your FB page but I can handle blogger so here goes...

Of course we all want to eat some biscotti now, thanks for that and I am feeling a serious need to find a lovely Wedgewood cup! Love the detail in the cup and the doily!!!!

And the pain of pricing, sigh...I sprout fresh grey hairs each time I do it. Not to mention what a website re-do does to a body - forget grey hair, full scale hives and other outbreaks come with that. Okay, just a tad dramatic, but just a tad! :-)