This past Sunday I was delighted to spend a little time with some very special people, including a very special NEW(ish, fifteen or so months new) little person. The visit was LONG overdue, to say the least. We got to talking about my art, and what might be on the horizon in terms of the evolution of my work and moving toward a new era in commissions and sales. Because, real talk, I would love to be able to make a few bucks from doing what I love.

The notion of a coloring book of my work came up, and it's definitely something I've been mulling over for a while now. I need to do a ton more research, but it's a real possibility. I have some other ponders to ponder, as well, so here's my quiz!


What kind of theme for a coloring book?
Obvi, Dia de Los Muertos, if you know me at all, lol! But beyond that, based on what you know about my art interests and subject matter, what kinds of themes would appeal to people? In other words, what would YOU want to color?

What else would people like to see me do with my work? Prints are an option, as well as things like shirts, note cards, and other "merch."

What at kind of artwork would you want to buy? For your home? Gifts? In the past I have had some success with ornaments, decorative custom signs, and custom gifts for baby and teachers.

I'm sure I have other questions, but any insight you guys can provide would be much appreciated!

Well, due to the weather warnings last weekend, we chose to stay in Bend rather than come over the mountain for the Dia de los Muertos Opening Fiesta at Maude Kerns Art Center last week. Instead we busted over to Eugene today, and managed to make it with about thirty minutes before the center closed! Apologies to friends thinking of meeting us there. We suck at getting out of the house in a reasonable fashion. 😑

That said, what a great exhibit this year! Beautiful altars, and so many colorful and meaningful pieces on display. It gets better and more exciting every year. My three pieces are grouped together, and it looks fantastic. This year, in addition to my art submissions, I also got to create my own altar entry! The idea (which had been floating around in my head for nearly two years) was that I made the altar in tribute to my own loved ones who have passed, while also providing small cards for people who share a name, message, or memory of their own. Kind of a "community" altar, and folks are able to hang their cards directly on it. The holiday and its customs continue to inspire me, and I've found that the process of creating my own art, particularly work that honors the dead, is therapeutic and helps aid in my own grief process. I couldn't be happier to share that I needed to bring along more blank cards today, as the ones I brought originally had all been used! I am planning to use those cards in a Dia piece for next year's show. Stay tuned...

For anyone and everyone who hasn't seen this year's exhibit, (and even those who have, go see it again), the show runs until November 4! And finally, heartfelt thanks and congrats to Michael Fisher and MKAC staff for another amazing show.
​❤️

Second fun daily doodle...Noah looked at my prompts sheet and chose "eyeball."
​😄

Tuesday,  18 October 2016 Dooooooodle: Acorns!

I was looking on Pinterest for a fun list of daily doodle prompts, and I found one!  First entry had to be ZOMBIE acorns, lol!!

Well, it's fall, 2016, and it hardly seems possible!  I wasn't able to attend the opening of this year's Dia de los Muertos exhibit at Maude Kerns, due to weather hazards, but I will be going to see it this weekend.  I'll post photos of the pieces that made it into the show, as well as the altar I made this year.  

I'm working on some updates and changes to the site as well.  Looking forward to adding an online store, implementing some other "upgrades" to the site, and to committing to more posts and more art this year!  I'll keep y'all posted!

I finally got it together and have started uploading some of my work for prints, totes, cell phone cases, etc.  There will be more uploaded as time goes on, but to see the pieces I have up now, check out:

pixels.com/profiles/angela-zacharek/shop

I know it's not even summer yet, but for me this time of year starts to maniacally stage whisper "Dia de Los Muertos is coming..." But before I dive into some of this year's crazy ideas for Dia show entries, I'm having LOTS of fun with some commissions and special projects. Here's a sneak peek at what's going down in the BoneZmama workshop these days! Stay tuned, there's lots more to come!


Just a teaser of a special project in working on with one of my absolute most favorite people, Isaiah C. and a taste of Halloween, for our porch decoration theme!

Just some fun commissions and personal goodies.  A family friend and colleague of my husband's has a daughter who is excellently crazy about both Star Wars and The Walking Dead.  She's got a birthday coming up and her dad asked to make something for her...so I did!  Inspired by Princess Leia *and* Michonne...strong and independent women! 

I'm completely in love with illustration and fine art markers right now, and experimenting with them for fun.  Here are a couple examples...Again with The Walking Dead in reference to one of the numerous one-liners uttered by Daryl Dixon, and of course the Eleventh Doctor making deductions and being Sherlock Holmes-y. 

Lots to share and post and update!  

A few years ago, when my oldest was really little and still an only child, I was decorating for Halloween and had a thought.  I decided to make a primitive, super basic "memory" card game with a Halloween theme.  I made quick and simple marker drawings of all the Halloween-y things I could imagine, in pairs.  I called it "The Boo Game," and we got a lot of use and fun out of it for several years.  
During some down time recently, I decided it would be fun to redo The Boo Game, with new images and somewhat "evolved" art skills, with the idea to pontentially have it printed and made available for sale.  Here are some of the first illustrations.

This year, Maude Kerns Art Center celebrates its 21st annual Dia de los Muertos art exhibit.  I've been privileged to be a part of this show for the last few years, and this year was the best one YET!  I was absolutely thrilled to see that the center had chosen my piece, "Once A Year," to promote the exhibit on their Facebook page, the center's website, AND the postcards they use to invite folks to come to the exhibit!  And if that wasn't enough, the day before the show opened, my mom called and texted me to tell me my artwork was featured in the Eugene Register Guard, in an article about the exhibit.

Stunned!
Happily stunned!  
You can check out the article HERE .
Learn more about the center and activities and classes and exhibits at  http://www.mkartcenter.org/  .

So much fun! The opening fiesta for the exhibit was great. I had good friends and family come to see me and all the excellent goings-on that night, despite the Phish concert taking place at Matthew Knight Arena just down the street, and two other large functions on the UO campus that night!  The show remains open until November 7.  Here are my three submissions that were accepted for the show...