something a little different...

"Erica's Bouquet" by erica voges.

"The Log Cabin" by erica voges

Remembering Spring original acrylic painting by Erica Voges

Handmade Wedding:Repost from my other blog (www.acrylicandsteel.blogspot.com)

This was originally posted on my other blog: www.acrylicandsteel.blogspot.com

Handmade Wedding: Custom Wedding Dress FINAL PICTURES.
So, For those who have been watching the progression of this custom wedding dress, here are the Final pictures (which also means that if you are tired of looking at it you will be glad to know that it is finished! ) You can see the original sketch for this dress here:https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTLtYahFLIqLJ3RLYLjs_z2onm9G_97e9PyQ7RKAjF3rlfWTqCVGzpynQdrwqqN_0fP8WRgU4fiBJGWfMLuUX0WkJDkhAMP8cCAvTkbgAoaxk3hORAbEeKo-q2Yji_GpGr99kK/s1600-h/TarasDress1.jpgbslqFmDhaI/SzBTt6KYdOI/AAAAAAAAAvk/Sy5CXewNwLg/s1600-h/TarasDress1.jpgThis project ran so smoothly I can hardly believe it is over... I keep thinking I MUST HAVE MISSED SOMETHING- but at this point it really just needs to fit, and most minor changes I would expect the customer to have done locally by a tailor, and we used a muslin fitting garment so I expect the fit to be pretty good.This dress is Designed By me, the patterns are made by me and it is entirely sewn by me as well, including some beautiful hand sewn details. This is a finished project that I am very proud of. I knew I could do it of course, but sometimes you have to DO something to convince your knowledge of your capabilities to overcome your insecurities.I was also commissioned by the same person to make this birdcage veil and facinator:

The facinator which can be worn without the veil

The veil, which can be worn without the facinator too, of course.
The dress is very versatile and has four pieces, a bolero, a top which is fully boned, an underskirt with alencon lace details, and an over skirt with an inner tie up system that adjusts the length of the skirt (and then several pin on flowers)
That means it can be worn like this:

(this is the alencon lace underskirt)
Or like this:

(this is the over skirt when it is all the way down)

(This is the back, it has a very small train)
A few detail shots:

(The bottom of the dress worn as it is intended)

(this is to show the detail of the pleating on the bolero)
And this is how it is meant to be worn:

I took these pictures in old town in Albuquerque, New Mexico

We got a lot of comments about how beautiful the dress is, which means a lot to me, because they see a LOT of dresses as it is a very popular place to get married and get wedding pictures taken, so the shop owners there see a LOT of dresses.

I should have taken some business cards :)

For future reference... (you know, like market research...but less organized and targeted)
I have a question for YOU...
How much would you pay for this handmade custom designed wedding dress?
What about the veil and Facinator?

Consider it a guessing game. I will tell you in a few days how much I charged for this dress, as long as it is known that I will never ever make a dress like this for that price again ;)
that is...unless, I just feel like designing, or you are my good friend, or....
I really loved making this dress because the customer had some ideas but she really let me design it myself, and that is important to me, but I know I underpaid myself by a pretty long shot.

Thanks!
Xoxo,
Erica

PS- if anyone is interested in a custom wedding dress, veil or facinator, feel free to contact me either by email: ericahvoges@yahoo.com or by convo in etsy http://acrylicandsteel.etsy.com/

New Posts At The ther blog!

An old picture of Autumn (8months?)at work after getting into some grease!

Hi! I have written Several new posts at http://www.acrylicandsteel.blogspot.com/ so please go check it out!





Topics include:





-Movies


-surgery and recovery


-Fashion awesomeness


-science?.. surplus?.. funny item descriptions?








Thanks So much!





Erica Voges

" Windblown" By Erica Voges

This is very whimsical and not my usual style. It is available in my etsy store http://acrylicandsteel.etsy.com for only $35 ( which is a great deal for origional art!)

I also had a surprise operation yesterday. If you would like to read about it please visit my primary blog, www.acrylicandsteel.blogspot.com

I am doing well, but I am sore and tired. Hope everyone else is well!

Xoxo

-Erica

Giveaway!

http://www.christiecottage.blogspot.com/ is hosting a giveaway for one of our roller skate bearing necklaces! You can enter the giveaway here: Win it Wednesday

I am giving away this reversible bones red skate bearing necklace that would sell for $25 in my shop. It was once in my roller derby skates. I have two of my own and I wear one of the two almost every day. They are simple and elegant and can easily be dressed up or down.

Please visit www.christiecottage.blogspot.com to enter to win this awesome necklace!

Baby, it's cold outside!

Hi, I'm back from Ann Arbor Michigan!

It was cold there but it only took a day for me to adjust and now I am cold here in Albuquerque too!

I would REALLY APPRECIATE IT if you took a look at my other blog, as I put a lot more work in to it :) www.acrylicandsteel.blogspot.com Last time I put the wrong link :( soo sad.


and a painting :)





"Carnage" by Erica Voges, a personal favorite that is not currently for sale, but IS hanging in my art room. I often get comments like "Uugh... I have had those days" when people see it, but I was actually in a great mood when I painted it!

"

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. :)

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.

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.

"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.

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)

"Complications" by Erica Voges

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

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

"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. :)

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.

Accessorize by Erica Voges

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.

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 :)