I've been working working working. Or at least, it feels like it. Mainly I've been working on documenting everything from my last show and putting it online. I've yet to update my website, but you can view everything on my Flickr page. I've also applied to be in the Indieana Handicraft Exchange in Indianapolis. I'll be honest, I don't really expect to get in because its more geared toward functional art and crafts, as opposed to fine art. However, in preparation for the application, I made my first pendants and also drawings on ceramics. I plan to continue to make these, regardless of whether or not I get into the craft fair. I'm finding them to be a nice break from making paintings, and also a way to sell my work at a less expensive level.
Coming up: a poster for a night of plays in Bloomington, a commissioned piece of elephants in peril, and a group show at the Art Hospital, which will be March 27th.

Custom Animal Portraits!

Custom Animal Portraits!
$25!
$3 shipping

Now is your chance!
This listing is for one 4x6 ink and watercolor animal portrait that will be displayed in a quality vintage frame.

These portraits are a great, inexpensive way to own or give away an original piece of art.

These are done on archival, acid free watercolor paper, with archival paints and ink. The background will be an acid-free paper that will have a pattern of your choice or a solid color.

Upon receiving your order, I will email you with a few questions about what you want in your portrait. I can draw any animal you like, and adorn him with whatever you see fit!

*Please note that this is not a listing for custom pet portraits, but rather a portrait of your favorite non-pet animal.

Email me at sally AT sadlyharmless DOT com if you are interested!

If you live in Bloomington, please go see my show at Boxcar Books! Titled "The Winter Year," it features 15 new works of Arctic animals and giant beards. I was lucky to get some press for it, which you can read here. The work will be up until March 3rd.
The opening reception was great. So many people came out, and I even sold a few things. Making a show can be so stressful, but it always ends up being worth it.
Work from the show will be added to my website as well as Etsy within the next month. In the meantime, free calendars will be given out with every order or commission!

Valentine prints!

I've had a print Gocco for a couple of years now, but rarely use it because the screens and the bulbs are expensive and have to be ordered. But I decided it was time to make some Valentine prints, so here it is! I also did some in red, but I think the pink looks better. They're 4x6 on acid-free cardstock and are available for $5 in my Etsy shop. Signed and dated on the back. The perfect way to show someone you love them all year round. I posted this on Craftster, and most people that replied said they would love it as a card. But my thoughts are that cards often get thrown away. Whereas a print is more considered a work of art. Though cards can be considered art too! So I don't know. I'm not making these into cards. These are meant to be given as small, affordable gifts that can be framed and hung on a wall.
In other news, my show in Lafayette went pretty well. I sold 3 pieces, which is great. I will put most of that work into my solo show at Boxcar Books, which opens February 6th.

I have a write-up in the Lafayette newspaper about my show.
You can read it here!

Please, please excuse my lack of updates! I was working on my biggest show ever! The show is called, "The Winter Year," and has 16 new pieces. It is up now through January 3rd at LaLa Gallery in Lafayette, Indiana. This is one of the pieces in the show. It's called "The Haunting," and is ink and watercolor.

I have an interview posted on the Indiana Etsy Street Team's website, which you can read here.

I stil have lots of 2009 calendars for sale! You can purchase them on my Etsy shop for only $8. They also make great Christmas gifts!

2009 calendars are here!

Welcome to The Ocean World of Sallee Cousteau.
Sallee has lovingly drawn various sea creatures for this calendar so that not only will you know what day it is, you can also enjoy a different underwater drawing each month.

These calendars measure 81/2 by 14 inches when unfolded. The covers are ivory cardstock and the inside pages are a thinner green paper. These make really great Christmas gifts for children or adults!
$7 plus $1 shipping

*Btown kids get free shipping or hand delivery.

How do you get one of these?
Pick one of these 3 methods:
1. You send a check, money order, or well-concealed cash to me. Email me for my address.
2. You send money via paypal to sally at sadlyharmless dot com.
3. You see me in person and we go in the alley and seedily make the exchange.

These are also available on my Etsy shop!

adventures in rolling pin printing

Whale Song
Linocut
14x8 inches
$18

This took FOREVER to get a good print from, mainly because the press I have does not like blocks that are more than 1/4 of an inch thick. I spent so many hours trying everything I could possibly think of, and almost gave up. As a last resort, I asked one of my roommates if she had a rolling pin, and she did! I've been spoiled in the past and never really printed anything by hand, but it was this or nothing. Surprisingly, it worked really well, with the help of a little wooden spoon action. Sadly, I used a lot of paper trying to get it to work, so I only got a few printed before I ran out. I'm hoping a second edition of it will happen soon.

new work!

"Joshua Beardsly"
Commissioned piece
ink and watercolor


















"Used Up"
Ink and watercolor
This piece is available in my Etsy shop.

I don't really know what to call this piece, so for now it is called "Sad Songs." Its about listening to music you probably shouldn't be listening to because it reminds you of someone or a certain time in your life. I don't really know why I decided to use a wolf for this. I just kind of felt like it. Plus I like the idea of a wolf that only listens to sad music. Or maybe just this particular day he was feeling nostalgic. I guess we'll never know. Anyways, it is ink and watercolor in a vintage frame. Its about 5x7 inches and is available either through my Etsy shop, personal check, or PayPal.

In other news, I will have a booth at the Fountain Square Art Fair on September 27 in Indianapolis. I will be sharing a booth with my amazing friend, Candice Hartsough McDonald. My goal for the fair is to have a bunch of screen prints and woodcuts for sale. And I've been toying with the idea of somehow incorporating my drawings into jewelry. Like resin-casted or something. I don't know. I need to do more research on it.

Hullo!

I decided to use blogger now instead of livejournal to update you on what's going on with my artwork. That being said, here's what's going on!
The most recent piece I've completed is the one below. Its based on a dream, or rather nightmare, that I had about being chased by wolves. This, among other things, are for sale in my Etsy shop. Alternately, if you want to buy something but don't want to sign up for Etsy, send me an email and we can arrange payment through mail or paypal.

I just got asked to participate in an art festival in Zurich! Its called Illustrative, and from what I've seen on their website, it looks pretty amazing. Its also amazing that I am a little-known artist in Bloomington, Indiana and somehow my work reached someone in Berlin (which is where the organizers live, I think) and my work will travel across the pond in October.

I'm going to be accepting commissions for the next couple of months, but after that I'm not so sure. I'll have a solo show at LaLa Gallery in Lafayette, Indiana, and will also probably be applying to grad schools, so if you want something commissioned, be sure to get it by the end of September!

Thats about it for now. Thank you for reading. The end.