Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Orchid ACEO by Erica Voges

Thank you for visiting!

I ALSO HAVE ANOTHER BLOG THAT I UPDATE SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK :)

I would love it if you would visit my primary blog: www.acrylicnandsteel.blogspot.com



This is from that older batch of ACEOs . It is an origional watercolor. I just LOVE Orchids! They are a fungus, you know :)

I also just received my screen printing kit! Unfortunately I do not get to try it out for a week!

Adam and I are headed off to Michigan (with the baby of course) to visit his family. BRRRR!




Have a great week! I loves you guys. :)

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Hi! If you want to see more from me, please be sure to look at my primary blog : www.acrylicandsteel.blogspot.com and I am giving away the hand warmers pictured below! You may enter to win them HERE .

I am working on some paper dolls. I am not sure why, I assume I just got one of those wild hairs. I don't have any pictures yet but I will post some when I DO have some. I think I will make them magnetic and I will probably sell them in my etsy store.

Here is a painting for you all :)





This is a fashion sketch ACEO. This one has already sold, but I really love it so I wanted to share :)

HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE. You know I love you.

Friday, December 18, 2009

My First GIVE AWAY






On acrylicandsteel.blogspot.com - my etsy blog- I am giving away an adorable pair of hand warmers, and have created a tutorial on how to make them. You may enter the giveaway and read the tutorial HERE






And this is one of my favorite paintings. "Bait" by me (Erica Voges) it is multimedia on stretched canvas.

Thursday, December 10, 2009

"Shattered" by Erica Voges



I donated this painting to an art show I did at an art walk while I was still living in portland- correction the ONLY art show I did in Portland. I think it is pretty.

ALSO I have started offering more prints. I can make prints of anything, and there are many that are not listed yet in my etsy store http://acrylicandsteel.etsy.com but all prints are Buy One Get One FREE until December 30th, 2009.

Thursday, December 03, 2009

I want to design my own fabric!





I prepared these two images to start designing fabric on spoonflower.com. They are from my painting "moonlight tryst" (click the link to see the origional painting, which is only $35)

Monday, November 16, 2009

PRODUCT REVIEW: New Prismacolor markers!

To start off I will say, I LOVE PRISMACOLOR.




A LOT. I always have a full set of pencils, and as you can tell, I have HUNDREDS of markers.

Prismacolor colored pencils are very waxy making them superior to any others because they color more evenly and are easier to blend. Prismacolor markers are amazing because they can be mixed and blended in a way that is unmatched by any other brand. A few years ago I purchased some new watercolors and I specifically remembering looking for prismacolor watercolor paint because I really trust prismacolor for fine art and illustration supplies. At the time, and to my disappointment I was unable to find them. I just searched online and learned that they DO sell them. (Note to self: add prismacolor watercolor set to my Christmas list) I also have looked for the chalk that the Savannah College of Art and Design uses for its annual sidewalk art fair in Forsyth park. When I lived out there I would participate by saying that I was interested in going to SCAD---which was true, but I could hardly afford to go there, especially after my time at FIDM. I have never seen such vivid colors in sidewalk chalk. They may be a really large version of a soft pastel. I am not sure.

SO, my love for prismacolor runs deep, and I was very excited when I was contacted to review their new line of markers. Prismacolor® Premier Fine, Brush & Chisel Tip Illustration Markers


At first glance these really looked like Michron pens, and ARE similar.

I decided to try them on two different types of paper. I started with a standard sketch paper, and I liked them. I was not in love, but they were nice. They sketch evenly, which is always important. The precision tip markers wrote well. The chisel tip, which is similar to a calligraphy pen allowed me to change the width of my line with a slight pivot of the tip. The brush tip really truly lovely even on sketch paper, which absorbs the ink faster than marker paper which I tried next. When I was working with them on sketch paper, I was not SURE that I would make the switch from Michron pens, as they were similar.

When I tried these pens on marker paper, it was very very clear that the people at prismacolor REALLY know what they are doing.

The precision tip pens write so smoothly without bleeding... and I was amazed when I was sketching these flats (those are the technical illustrations in the sketch above) that they dried quickly enough that I did not have to worry about smudging them when I moved on to the next line. EVERY TIME I go over my flats with a michron pen I smudge at least one line. If you can not buy an entire set I definitely think the 08 03 005 and the brush tips are MUST haves.

When I touched that brush tip pen to the paper it was LOVE. They are so free and fun to use, they actually made my heart jump the first time I used them. I loved being able to change the width of the line by simply applying more pressure to the pen. They are a great way to add a little whimsy to your illustrations!

The chisel tip is not really my thing. I will probably replace the black when the one I have is used dry, but I do not enjoy drawing in this way. I think many people will find themselves loving either the brush tip or the chisel tip, depending on how they like to draw. I do not dislike this pen by any fault of the pen- it does exactly as it says it does by making it easy to change the thickness of your line with a slight twist of the tip, but I draw in a looser manner, and do not have the discipline or skill to properly work with this pen. I think people who draw in a tight controlled manner, or with a lighter hand than I do will really enjoy this pen.

ALL of these markers have amazingly vibrant colors that seem to pop off the page and come to life! I highly recommend these pens, as well as every other Prismacolor product I have used as an artist and fashion designer.



Below you can read more information about these markers. The below information was provided by Prismacolor.



Prismacolor® Premier Fine, Brush & Chisel Tip Illustration Markers Bring Art to Life

Prismacolor gives artists more tools to help bring their creativity to life. Art students and professors, fashion and interior designers, graphic designers and sequential art illustrators will celebrate Prismacolor’s Premier Illustration markers’ exceptional quality and vibrant colors.
  • Fine – Premier Fine tip marker is ideal for creating crisp lines and detail work, such as quick sketching, outlining and adding texture
  • Brush - Premier Brush tip marker combines the control, flexibility and signature detail of a paint brush with the unique qualities of vibrant ink to create thick, thin or varied lines
  • Chisel - Premier Chisel features a tip style that allows for varying line and stroke widths
  • Color - All tip styles of the Premier Illustration markers are available in black, red, blue, green, orange, purple, brown and sepia
  • Nontoxic, Lightfast, Acid Free, Archival Quality - Maintain vibrant color over time and prevent artwork from deteriorating over time due to the effects of aging
  • No Bleed Through - Results may vary based on paper characteristics
  • Buy – Prismacolor Premier markers are available at most art stores and national retailers including Michaels, Hobby Lobby, Dick Blick, Office Depot and A.C. Moore
  • Price - Suggested retail price ranges from under $3 for a single marker to about $20 for an 8-count set
Go to www.prismacolor.com or contact Niky Roberts for more information:nrroberts@webershandwick.com, 314-552-6721

Monday, November 09, 2009


This is why I love ACEOS. THis is so not my styls, but since it is just an ACEO I was more experimental.

Wednesday, November 04, 2009

"Sleeping Beauty" ACEO by erica voges


The vines growing around this woman make me think of the tale of sleeping beauty! This is an origional watercolor ACEO. Fun. :)

Friday, October 30, 2009

Little Cutie Owly Owl ACEO




AND this is my new etsy avitar... at least for now :)

I also realized that that last post was super lame because I posted that green painting here a few months ago. Sorry guys.

Monday, October 26, 2009


This pretty little bird reminds me of my trip to Michigan a few years ago. I was pregnant with my daughter autumn and it was FREEZING. It was cold and gray for most of the visit, but it was a lot of fun. I also was fortunate enough to see several cardinals out the back window of my in-laws house. They were beautiful.

Thursday, October 22, 2009

ACEO preview



"hi! I'm Erica Voges(Ringia) and I paint, make stuff, play roller derby, and take care of my new baby. Just thought I would put a face to the art :) "


A few days ago I started some ACEOs. I will be listing them in my store over the next several days and giving you all closer looks at them as well...


I may even decide to do a giveaway, my first one ever :)

But I thought you may want to preview the finished pieces.

***PS if you want a SUPER close-up of the aceo's click on the pictures :)

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

All work and no Painting...







I have been spending MOST of my time working, taking care of my pretty baby girl, trying to figure out how to be the new travel team captain with KillerQueen, making arm warmers and making a muslin mock up of the wedding dress that I am making.

I really love doing all of these things but if I don't get some painting in from time to time I am NOT a happy camper, so I treated myself to some aceo-making this am.

Monday, October 12, 2009

"A Womans Touch" by Erica Voges SOLD



This is one of my all time favorite paintings, it is acrylic/multimedia on canvas. The texture is lovely and compelling and the complimentary colors are bold.

I also saw an interesting painting this weekend with a fabric background. That sounds like fun so I plan on trying something along those lines soon.

Tuesday, October 06, 2009

"Not a Morning Person" by Erica Voges




I am having another of many mornings where I just can't seem to wake up and this painting seems like a good one to represent that.

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

My art room is finally unpacked!

If you read both of my blogs, I am sorry, but this is a re-post. I thought it was pertinent to both, and I love seeing peoples working spaces.

Sooo... you may have seen my Before pictures. If you didn't then this probably doesn't seem like a great accomplishment. It is not as nice as some beautiful craft rooms I have seen, but I really love it- and I am so grateful to have a whole room... especially since I kinda need it...


This is my dress form with a work in progress on it. I got the form at the last thursday market in portland and it didn't have a base so adam made this one for me. It is great but I really need to be able to turn it. I am trying to decide what to do to make the bottom cohesive. Behind it I have a metal shelving unit filled with supplies. I have block printing
supplies, lots of watercolor and acrylic painting stuff, jewelry findings, a whole tub of sweaters I have already felted but not decided what to do with yet, a tub of lace and sewing findings, a tub of needle felting supplies, and a tub of clothing that I plan to upcycle... someday.


Then I have my sewing/drawing table, file cabinet, and a little metal rack with the billions of prismacolor markers I got when I was at FIDM and the few that I acquired since (really HOW many shades of each color do you REALLY need when you have been taught to blend colors... I DO need some new blending markers though.) , a few reference books, and my FAVORITE several past issues of Vouge Collections. I have an easel in the other corner, but I am not ready to share that painting (sorry).


And then there are the closets... They look messy but I know what is going on. Adam, my dear husband made me the shelves for the fabric.

I am glad my art room is actually usable (and a little more baby friendly) now that it is unpacked... I just wish there was enough time for everything I love to do!

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

It's so Nice...I want to color the same picture twice.

I
Ink Drawing...


Blue Octopus print

Purple Octopus

These are available as prints in my etsy store for $12.50 each. You may notice that they are VERY similar. The way I made these prints was by doning the origional drawing and printing copy's out on marker paper. Then I colored them. I really like how they turned out. (the prints are NOT done on my home printer.)

I also did this heart, becuase I was not sure If I wanted it left black and white or if I wanted to color it.


I am wanting to make appliques with Iron on transfers out of this, and put them on arm warmers, shirts and things.

Thursday, September 24, 2009

"Artists Block" by Erica Voges







When I started this painting I had NO idea what to paint, as the title suggests, but I made myself sit down to the canvas without a plan, and this is the result. It has been a favorite of many ever since.

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Hi there!

For more frequent updates (about life, skating, and making stuff) be sure to check out my other blog!

www.acrylicandsteel.etsy.com

Thanks!

Erica

Thursday, September 17, 2009



"Moonlight Tryst" by Erica Voges

This painting is a great deal because it is on flat canvas. You can check it out in my etsy store!

Tuesday, August 04, 2009

"Blackbird?" By Erica Voges



This is on display right now at a Duke City Derby fundraiser show.

Monday, August 03, 2009


"Netted" by Erica Voges $175

This is one of the Pieces I donated to the Duke City Derby art show.

Monday, June 08, 2009

A few new ACEO's












































































These ACEO's or artist trading cards are all original watercolor paintings and can be found in my etsy store. http://AcrylicAndSteel.etsy.com