Marketplace: Handpainted Trinket Dishes and Picture Frames
I seem to have gone on a hand-painting rampage in the days before the pet expo last weekend, but no one was hurt in the process! Actually, I’ve been waiting to see these ideas through for a while. In part, the work I’ve recently done to rearrange my studio made this possible because materials and work space are arranged better and it’s easier to set up for handpainting designs, even though the work isn’t quite finished.
~~~
Hearts and Cats Photo Frames
I’ve had this idea for months, from when I bought the frames just to have on hand, and then later when I bought the paints in little sets of four with those incredible spring and summer colors. I had the frames and the paints sitting out for me to “get to it” for a couple of weeks and at first I couldn’t find the right silhouette from my selection of daily sketches, then I just couldn’t put things aside and paint. So one night I did, and tried out the new setup in my studio. It worked great!
I purchase unfinished frames and add color and black cat silhouettes in acrylic paint. Your photo fits in the heart-shaped opening. Frames are 5.5 x 8.5 and are displayed using dowel pegs in the back of the frame. I add a hanging hook as well just in case you’d like to hang it on the wall.
The silhouette I used for these frames was adapted from a marker sketch of three cats called “Three Cat Shapes”, modeled by Giuseppe. I switched the tail to an angle that worked better with the layout of the frame. I also added the pawprints near the heart because it just needed a little something over there, just purrfect for a few little kitty paws.
In the future I’ll be varying the silhouette on these frames as well as the color, pattern and posture of the feline shape. I look forward to playing around with another idea of mine! You can find them in this post on Portraits of Animals and in my Handmade Gift Gallery.
~~~
Colorful Handmade, Handpainted Trinket Dishes
When I first made polymer clay trinket dishes last year they were kind of lumpy until I worked out how to make the shape for “Curving Silhouette”, but I kept those lumpy beginner dishes knowing I’d do something with them. With one of the pet expos coming up I decided it was time to explore the idea of a little decorative painting on these, and especially those rays in a circle around the central figure. And those colors!
These little trinket dishes are 3.5″ in diameter and approximately 1/4″ to 1/2″ deep, made from natural white polymer clay. Each dish is formed and painted individually.The design is painted in matte soy-based paint. In the future I’ll be varying the silhouette on these frames as well as the color, pattern and posture of the feline shape. I look forward to playing around with another idea of mine! You can find them in this post on Portraits of Animals and in my Handmade Gift Gallery.
~~~
Curving Silhouette Trinket Dish
Mimi wants to know the nature of the royalty she will receive for my use of her image on the trinket dishes. Of course, I pulled out the rest of the dishes I’d made but not painted last year and finished them. I couldn’t have all Mimi’s children without Mimi!
This little trinket dish is 4″ in diameter and made from natural white polymer clay. The black design is adapted from a daily sketch that is actually made from cut paper, in black of course, and Mimi was the model, “Curving Silhouette”. You can read more about the art and my daily sketches on The Creative Cat. Price includes shipping.
Each dish is formed and painted individually, and I only made eight of them, so just a few are left.
I rolled the clay fairly thin, cut it with a 4″ cookie cutter, and placed it in the bottom of an old cereal bowl and rolled a smaller bowl around the inside to thin the sides but leave the bottom a little thicker, then ran my finger around the edge to thin it out just a slight rounded edge.
The design is painted in matte black soy-based acrylic paint. I did not add a finish to protect it because I wanted the original look and feel of the clay and paint.
I’ve long wanted to experiment with polymer clay and fixated on this design when I first began thinking about my Sampler Box program, so this little dish was part of my first box.
~~~
My Assistants
Of course, I couldn’t do it without their supurrvision! Here is a gallery of several of my fine felines supurrvising the creation of the items above.
And then when they’re done, they need Mimi’s approval process before you even get to see them. She inspects things thoroughly front and back, face rubs them, then if they pass inspection she sits down and has a bath. You do know the legend that a cat having a bath in a new home is good luck? I guess that works for new products too.
Then they have to be modeled.
And Hamlet did watch over most of what I did, but he’s not really sure how to do this yet, so he just photobombed.
Upcoming Events
Sunday, May 21, 2017
Homeless Cat Management Team & Pittsburgh C.A.T. Spaghetti Dinner
3:00 to 7:00 PM
J. Verno Studios, South Side
3030 Jane Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15203
TICKETS FOR DINNER: Adults – $10 • Children 5 and under – $5
All proceeds help our mission of providing low-cost spay and neuter services to Pittsburgh area cats and socializing and finding adoptive homes for rescued cats!
Read more and order your tickets.
~~~
Sunday, May 28, 2017
Pet Day at Slippery Rock Campground Association
1150 W Park Rd, Slippery Rock, PA 16057
SRCA Ball Field … 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Also a Pet Parade Contest and Rabies Clinic
Pet Food & Supply drive to benefit the non-profit rescues in attendance.
Visit Slippery Rock Campground Association website for more information and directions.
~~~
I have a couple of events lined up for June too. I’m looking forward to seeing anyone who’s in the area!
Marketplace
Mimi wants to know the nature of the royalty she will receive for my use of her image on the trinket dishes.
Take a look at other new merchandise and featured artwork.
Marketplace is a feature on The Creative Cat to share the latest coming out of my studio with my readers. Once a week on Thursday I feature something new in my “shop”.
Read about creating custom items
Find out more about creating custom items for your own home using the images you see here. Visit the “Ordering Custom Art” page to see samples and read bout how to order.
Find out about events and festivals where you can find me and my work.
Sign up for my e-newsletter (below), check the widget on the sidebar on my home page, or sign up to receive posts on Portraits of Animals Marketplace. I plan on plenty of events this coming summer in the Pittsburgh area.
It’s all done under the close and careful supervision of my studio cats!
Subscribe to my e-newsletter
Subscribe to The Creative Cat Preview E-newsletter.
Browse some rescued cats and kittens!
Gifts Featuring Cats You Know!
Handmade and made from my designs, gifts from Portraits of Animals!
Visit my gallery of handmade and gifts to see what’s available on Portraits of Animals.
Copyright
All images and text used on this site are copyrighted to Bernadette E. Kazmarski unless otherwise noted and may not be used without my written permission, although links to your site are more than welcome and are shared. Please ask if you are interested in using and image or story in a print or internet publication. If you are interested in purchasing a print of an image or a product including it, check my animal and nature website Portraits of Animals to see if I have it available already. If you don’t find it there, visit Ordering Custom Artwork for more information on a custom greeting card, print or other item.
Subscribe to my e-newsletter
Subscribe to The Creative Cat Preview E-newsletter.
© 2022 | www.TheCreativeCat.net | Published by Bernadette E. Kazmarski
Weekly schedule of features:
Sunday: Essays, Pet Loss, Poetry, The Artist’s Life
Monday: Adoptable Cats, TNR & Shelters
Tuesday: Rescue Stories
Wednesday: Commissioned Portrait or Featured Artwork
Thursday: New Merchandise
Friday: Book Review, Health and Welfare, Advocacy
Saturday: Your Backyard Wildlife Habitat, Living Green With Pets, Creating With Cats
And sometimes, I just throw my hands in the air and have fun!
PORTRAITS OF ANIMALS WEBSITE
FACEBOOK | TWITTER | LINKEDIN | PINTEREST | TUMBLR | INSTAGRAM | YOUTUBE| EMAIL | PATREON
© 2017 | www.TheCreativeCat.net | Published by Bernadette E. Kazmarski
—
Weekly schedule of features:
Sunday: Essays, Pet Loss, Poetry, The Artist’s Life
Monday: Adoptable Cats, TNR & Shelters
Tuesday: Rescue Stories
Wednesday: Commissioned Portrait or Featured Artwork
Thursday: New Merchandise
Friday: Book Review, Health and Welfare, Advocacy
Saturday: Your Backyard Wildlife Habitat, Living Green With Pets, Creating With Cats
And sometimes, I just throw my hands in the air and have fun!
—