Art Break Wednes…- um, Thursday: Hashtag Classic Authors!

 

(Sorry for the day’s delay – summertime, you know….)

What if classic authors had used social media?  I’ve had some fun with this idea creating the start to a series of new works using vintage “Authors” playing cards.

For instance, perhaps the Bard, while penning Romeo and Juliet, would have dubbed himself @mymindmisgives and sent a little message to @dearestjuliet – “Stony limits cannot hold love out” – with the hashtag #hanginginthestars.

hashtag authors shakespeare 1 w

hashtag authors shakespeare 1 close up

Okay, I’ve been having fun playing with vintage metal letterpress type, too.

I’m making 8 X 8 shadow box frame versions like the one above, and, in a smaller image at a smaller price point, a matted 8 X 8 option with mini-versions of these vintage cards.  Like this:

hashtag authors dickens 1 two w

hashtag authors dickens 1 closeup

Here we have Charles Dickens, in the midst of David Copperfield. Hence the reference to himself as @trueastaxes, the quote, “Trifles make the sum of life,” and the hashtag #umblepie.  (That’s bona fide “umble,” not “humble.”)

You get the idea.  In my Etsy shop I’ve got a couple of the framed versions and three of the matted pieces.  I’ll add more as I make them and want to have a nice selection of these (and lots of literary art) for my booth the 2013 Decatur Book Festival coming up Labor Day Weekend.

For these “hashtag classic authors,” I’m only using phrases lifted from their direct quotations and works.  I hope they would get a kick out of them if they time-travelled to our fast-paced, social-media-driven lives.  To see this section in my Etsy shop, click here.  Enjoy, and thanks for visiting!

 

 

Art Break Wednesday: Trademark!

certif fancy background with trademark letter

Nice surprise in the mail this week: I’m the proud owner of a new trademark!

A business name does not have to be registered as a trademark, of course. But I wanted to give it a try. My experience was fairly fast and painless as these things go.

When contemplating starting an art business and Etsy shop last spring, I came up with lots of brilliant business names.  Only to find online that other folks had come up with said brilliant names long before I.  When “artsyletters” meandered into my mind, I was happy to discover I couldn’t find it online.  First stop:  website domain.  Then I opened an Etsy shop with the name, though I wouldn’t add any items to it for a few more months. I got a Facebook page, Twitter account and Pinterest account using it.  (Plus a few other social media outlets that I haven’t really set up yet.)

It’s somewhat easier/cheaper to get a trademark if the name is already in use by you in commerce.  So I made some sales starting in late summer last year, stocking my Etsy shop and hitting some art shows in the fall. I put my name/logo on all my products and had a banner made for my show tent. Now I was ready to apply for a trademark.  Watching the budget, I opted for LegalZoom.

My eyes tend to glaze over with legal-ese, but I was (pretty much) able to figure out the forms.  When I had questions, the LegalZoom folks responded in emails or when I called. I decided to apply in an already existing category (International Class 16) that most closely matched what I’m producing, even though I don’t make all of the items in that class (um, pressed flowers?).

They conducted an initial search.   This search brings up names of businesses which might cause confusion for consumers, and therefore might keep you from being able to trademark your chosen name.  After these results, I opted to upgrade my membership so I could speak with an attorney by phone for 30 minutes before sallying forth.  (You can upgrade without any kind of lengthy contract – in my case I did for the first couple-few months of the process so I’d have access to an attorney appointment at a very reduced rate.)

The person I spoke with was very clear, professional, and friendly.  He pointed out one other existing business name which might give the USPTO pause when considering mine, because the category of products was similar.  He said he thought I had at least a 50/50 chance of getting through the first time, though.  With those precarious odds and crossed fingers, I decided to proceed. I filed in October, I believe.

To my delight, my business name was published in the USPTO Trademark Official Gazette in March after its initial review.  This means it was “published for opposition.” Well, let me let the USPTO explain it:

If the examining attorney raises no objections to registration, or if the
applicant overcomes all objections, the examining attorney will approve the mark
for publication in the Official Gazette, a weekly publication of the
USPTO.  The USPTO will send a notice of publication to the applicant stating the
date of publication.  After the mark is published in the Official
Gazette, any party who believes it may be damaged by registration of the

mark has thirty (30) days from the publication date to file either an opposition
to registration or a request to extend the time to oppose.

I never discovered any objections, and I got the lovely certificate above in the mail this week.  The entire process can take from six months to a year, and in some cases, longer.  I was happy to enjoy pretty smooth sailing for mine.  The whole process cost me somewhere in the neighborhood of $500, with the very modestly priced phone consultation tacked onto the registration fees.

If you decide to pursue it for your business, be prepared for some other interesting mail to come your way.  I’ve had several letters from entities whose return addresses are countries in Eastern Europe, claiming to offer international “filing” or “registration” of my US trademark, all for say, a few thousand dollars.  I love the fine-print disclaimer that came in one yesterday:  “...please notice that this registration has not any connection with the publication of official registrations, and is not a registration by a government organization….” –  yet the “fee” was $2327.00.  (!)

Please also note that this little ramble in absolutely no way whatsoever constitutes any sort of legal advice, which I am unabashedly unqualified to dole out.  (Also, no animals were harmed in the composition of this blog post.) But I wanted to share this little piece of my journey for other indie artists/interested folks out there.  Thanks for coming along!

Art Break Wednesday: Ann Goble’s Fine Art

 

Today I have a special treat – for me and for you!

First, I get to meet my friend Ann Goble for lunch.  We try to do this every once in a while – not nearly enough!  Ann has been a dear friend for many years, as we’ve both raised our kids and pursued creative careers as well.  Our sons just graduated, but I know our friendship will long continue.

Now the treat for you – I thought I’d share a bit of Ann’s work here to brighten your day.  I’ll have her back for a real interview soon, but I wanted to whet your appetite.21096_805145ss ann b w head shot

Ann began seriously painting in1999.  She has studied under renowned painters including Roseta Santiago, David Leffel, Gregg Kreutz and Marc Chatov.  Her work has garnered numerous awards and hangs in galleries and private collections.

Her paintings are breathtaking.  Here are some of my favorites:

the-boss goble

The Boss – ©Ann Goble. All rights reserved.

camelia-on-white goble

Camellia on White – – ©Ann Goble. All rights reserved.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

amber goble

Amber – – ©Ann Goble. All rights reserved.

 

 

 

 

Ann begins her artist’s statement, “Painting is for me a search for beauty.”  I think you’ll agree she’s found it! You can learn more about Ann and see additional paintings here.

 

SAMSUNG

Horses of Los Cob – © Ann Goble. All rights reserved.

But wait – there’s more!  Ann’s mother,  Ruth I. Money, is also an accomplished painter.  (You know, the apple doesn’t fall…)  Ruth and Ann have exhibited their paintings in the same shows before, and if you happen to live in north Georgia, you can see an exhibit celebrating both their careers.  “Mothers and Daughters” runs until July 19 at The Bowen Center for the Arts.  Click here for more info, directions, and images of paintings –  and feel free to leave some love in the comments below.

Art Break Wednesday: Blown Away by a Book Cover

 

It’s my privilege to write a monthly poetry column over at my friend Janice Hardy’s terrific blog for fiction writers, THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STORY.  My offering over there today harkens back to Notan (positive/negative shapes and such) as a simple way to think about characters in a story.  As an example, I borrowed characters from Margarita Engle’s wonderful book, Hurricane Dancers (Henry Holt and Company, 2011).

hurricane dancers cover

jacket illustration ©Cathie Bleck

I think its cover is, like the writing, just exquisite.  The jacket illustration was done by Cathie Bleck.  (The Artist’s Statement on her website sings to me!)  The jacket designers were Rich Deas and Elizabeth Tardiff.

The book has six parts, each comprised of individual poems told in five voices. I love the visual opening each of these as well:

Wild Sea interior hurricane dancers

I don’t know what the lettering/font is called, but I’m also in love with the letters.  Looks to me like blackletter with curlicues and a Western twang (with the “points” peeking out along the stems of the letters.)  Very dynamic.

For a treat, click here to see a video of cover artist Cathie Bleck’s artistic process using kaolin clay.  Many of her incredible paintings as well as some studies and sketchbooks are posted on her site as well.  Enjoy!