Raw Artists : Boston showcase

Piggy and These Ghosts They Know Me just hanging out at the Activate show!

I was lucky enough to be picked for Raw Boston's Activate show that took place on the 9th at the Estate Theater in Boston. Along with several other painters, photographers, fashion designers, performers, violin players, latex-clad models and hair models, I hung 10 of my proudest pieces (several of them unveiled for the first time) in what I referred to as the "Rainbow Corner" of The Estate.

Good thing I brought a ton of business cards.
And note to self : 100 stickers will move more quickly than you think!

I also participated in my first photoshoot ever! And I did a video interview for the first time as well. I was really nervous, but somehow I didn't word vomit at all during the interview. I feel like I represented myself well, and the photographer was happy to see I wasn't afraid to kick my feet up!

"Oh, I didn't see you there, come in."
Photography ©Greg Caparell

Artwork ©Bamcat Art
Photography ©Greg Caparell

In my life, I surround myself with many other talented people : some models, musicians, singers, DJ's, and many other fabulous people. As a visual artist, I'm accustomed to fading into the background and letting my work speak for itself, generally. I'm used to taking the pictures, not being in them, so to speak. So to have the spotlight for an evening made me feel like a rock star!! I felt beautiful and incredibly proud of my work and strong as an artist. Having so many of my friends and family at the event only made it even more special for me.

One of the musicians on stage. The crowd was HUGE - over 700 people on two floors!

friends and family : Rikard my fiancé, my Mum, Shteppé, Rik, and Britteny and Kris from Oilhead.

It was really a lovely time. I'll be sure to share my video interview once it's posted. :)

Peace out!!

Raw Artists : Boston featuring Bamcat!

Hey guys, fantastic news! I've been asked to participate in Raw Artist's Boston showcase this year! I'm one of a handful of artists picked for the event, and I'm sure it's going to be rad! There will be fashion, makeup, music, and my artwork will be on display throughout the night! It's at The Estate in Boston, which is BEAUTIFUL, so I'm getting really excited!

Click this banner to see my profile page
There's a link to buy discounted tickets here!

A couple of pieces I've been working on for the show, come see them in person!

Settle Down mini painting

New mini painting entitled "Settle Down" available in my Etsy shop. Inspired by my new most favoritest song by Kimbra.

My friend Veronica was also inspired by her - you should check out her amazing blog post here! One of the girls in the music video influenced her Frankenstein graphic novel. She's someone you wouldn't want to miss following!



Oh and also the entire background of this painting is covered in glitter. IDGAF.

Puppy painting!

I was asked by a friend's friend to make a painting of their parents' dog for Christmas. I used to do pet portraits all the time in high school (random, I know), so it was fun to do one after so long. I understand how important animals are as family members are, I've even painted one of my own kitty Gogo! (see : Gogo Fluff Deity)

His name is Beary! :)


Enjoy!

Pig on the Wing sneak peaks!

Palette disaster aftermath

Just a couple of preview pics of my new painting. 18" x 24" acryla gouache on cradled clayboard. I'm hoping to finish it before the weekend's over so I can start a couple more pieces!

Piranha Plant Siren

A painting I made for our annual Design Dept. Art Swap at Converse! One of my senior designers, Eric Swartz, got to take her home!

Painting © Allison Bamford
Piranha Plants © Nintendo


Prints available soon through My Etsy Shop!

Evolving

New pin sets!

As you might have noticed from my last few posts, I've really been making an effort lately to redesign myself as a business online and shine the best light on myself and my work. I'm looking more into connecting with my audience and working to please them while doing my artwork justice in the process. (Website in progress!)

New Holiday banner on Etsy!

I've been reading up a lot on social marketing and online success, soaking in all the information I can from as many resources I can find. There's so much knowledge online through so many different people - I'd be foolish not to seek help and advice!

Before I re-shot my pieces, colors were off, no detail, no context for my pieces. No sense of scale, lighting, or a feeling of actually "wanting" them.

I've been spending a lot of time on Etsy Success, and the Etsy Seller Handbook reading up on different ways to relate to customers and how to show my pieces in their best light. Getting things ready for the stage, so to speak. This video was a FANTASTIC inspiration for re-shooting my artwork. I'm really happy with the way things came out.

Neon is HARD to photograph, so it's best to show it a few different ways! You can see the lazer engraving SO much better in the new photos!

We bought a new camera as well, which really helped! Nikon Coolpix L105 - I'm in love! <3

Holiday Narwhal painting, Acryla gouache on bristol, 8" x 10"

Anyway, I'm hoping that everyone loves my new photos as much as I do, and I feel better knowing I'm presenting myself and my work in the best light possible. I'm creating new product all the time (every night when I come home, I dive back into a project), and I'm always looking for ways to improve. If you have any links you think I should check out, I'd be happy to do so!

Etsy Showcase

I'm showcased in the Etsy Illustration section today!

Click the image for a link to the page, and CLICK HERE for my Etsy Shop page! :)



Hope your Tuesday is a good one! I'm loving this beautiful weather, though I'm not loving the 5 'o' clock sunsets! (booooo)


Two new holiday paintings to show you tomorrow!!!

Space 242 : Revenege of Freeky Fright Nights Review

Me in my silly Halloween costume getting interviewed for the first time ever!
And I sound like a nervous valley girl, haha

My friend Christina Lacoste from the Boston Weekly Dig wrote up a great review of this weekend's event. SO much AMAZING work, it was truly a Halloween feast for the eyes. This is my favorite time of year!

One of my professors from MassArt, Bob Maloney
with his "Cow Simmons" piece

Thanks so much for the mention, you guys!

Click here for the rest of the article!

Loooots of new swag!

Updated my etsy with TONS of new stuff :
*new paintings
*new HOLIDAY paintings
*new keychains, old keychains
*jewelry

Really stoked that I finally have everything up. Looking forward to Mass Market and getting my table and my crafting on!





Thanks for looking!

Happy Snowy Almost Halloween!

I bought this little dude at a craft fair a few weeks ago, and, while I commend the valiant attempt to capture the spirit of Halloween in the original, I had to make my own improvements.



BOO!

Some quick mini-paintings.

Cupcake Kitten, Cosmic Eyeballs, Heartsongs, and Are You Forgetting Me? preview

Looking to showcase these at the Mass Market holiday fair! I found out today that I was accepted. How exciting! It's December 11th at MassArt, you should come out!

New painting and header!

Mr. Cupcake, 16" x 20" acryla gouache on canvas


Close-up

Finished this guy up last night! I'm really digging him! I started this painting a couple of months ago and became frustrated painting on canvas. I'm used to working on super-smooth surfaces with my paints, so it was difficult to use all these fine-tipped 00 brushes on such a toothy surface.

But I fell in love with again this week and vowed to finish it in between work and kickboxing and shipping and printing and working on all my other projects. I'm really happy with it - it was worth it to give it the time it deserved. :)


Also, new header! New products to come! And I'm looking forward to a marketing/branding seminar next week to learn more about my audience and the skills I need to create my own brand. Very excited!

New items in my etsy shop!

Come check it out! I've got new work, new prints, and tons of new stuff coming! Pin sets, shirts, bags, stickers, keychains, and more! I'll be sure to keep you updated. ;)

Thanks for looking, guys!!

Collectives Show, 10/5 - 10/29

New piece for this show!! Come out and check out some amazing art this month!

"These Ghosts They Know Me," 11" x 15", acryla gouache on antique wooden panel

So stoked!! I can't wait! It's a costume reception so be sure to dress up as your favorite ghouls and ghosts!

New paintings!

But you only get to see one right now!

Demonicorn, 13" x 12" acryla gouache on antique panel

For a Collectives show in Boston coming up at the LAP gallery, hosted by the ever-cool Fish McGill.


Also, my friend Tofusquirrel was recognized on Little Chimp Society for her National Portfolio Day poster! I had Fish's NPD poster hanging up in my high school locker for two years - I'm sure her piece will inspire tons of aspiring artists looking to make it into art school. Check it out!

©Elizabeth Siegel 2011

Busy Busy!!

Getting so many projects underway!

I recently had my work at the Hourglass Tattoo Shop in a group show with Paint Pens in Purses. We're a group of all-female illustrators, and PPIP was premiering their book! I had so much fun making pieces for that show! (Shown above : new piece for show, "The Gogo Fluff Deity," Acryla Gouache on antique panel, 9" x 12")

My VERY talented friend Corey Norman is going to help me build my portfolio website! I've really been needing one! He and his wife are allowing me to compensate them in paintings of cupcakes. :)

I recently switched teams at work, so I've moved from Kids-exclusive products to all across the board now. I'll be focusing on our in-store customization graphics as well as accounts such as Journey's and Nordstrom. I'll also be working very closely with DC Comics for our collaborations, and I had a great time at their offices in L.A. a couple months ago.

Online shop coming soon! Custom toys available around the holidays! Looking forward to great things!

Cat Deity Painting

Cat Deity, 4" x 12" Acryla Gouache on antique panel

I've been sick beyond reason, so to stay productive I've been painting.

Bad photo - I'll get a better one soon!


Thanks for following!

Sick Day/Painting Day

So I pretty much have some form of the plague. This calls for a lot of resting, and painting is very relaxing for me. In fact, I get anxious when I haven't painted something in a while.

So here's one of the paintings I made whilst sick. (I made another, but neon colors don't scan so I'll have to wait for a camera.) It's a Fortune/Lucky Bunny. It just now dawns on me how funny it would be if he was missing a foot. Oh well.

Sketch

Final

Painted in acryla gouache on a small wooden plaque, 4" x 6". I painted a few layers of paint onto the plaque and then sanded down the edges to expose the underlying colors. (Another neon color in there that you can't make out, grr.)


Thanks for following!

Converse Design Dept. Art Swap

Girl with Mask, 14" x 17", Acryla Gouache

Back during Christmas time at Converse, our design department decided to do an Art Swap, like a Yankee Swap. I was incredibly sick and couldn't make it, but I spent 10 hours on my piece. It's the first piece of artwork I'd made in my new apartment, so it was hard to part with it. But here it is!


My coworker Jess's boyfriend picked it, and they reframed it for their apartment! I think it looks absolutely beautiful! Thanks for taking care of it, Jess!