Happy Holidays!

Here is a little animation I created for my family, wishing you a HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON AND NEW YEAR! It was fun to illustrate our Leonberger dog, Chihuahua-Pomeranian-Papillion-One-of-a-Kinder dog, and our 2 Bourke's Parrots for the holidays! I think I'll do more of these, it's FUN!

Happy Holidays!

Turning Trash into Treasure for Charity Auction

Often charities give me things to paint so that they can be auctioned off to support the charity. I've done all sorts of things - a violin, a mask, and now... an old beat up saddle!

In order to work on the saddle, I had to perch it on my barstools, see above.  See also my Leonberger dog contemplated the universe in the background.  I think he was relieved I resisted the impulse to try the saddle on him!

Because I was experimenting with different types of clays for my Creativity Central creativity therapy work, I decided to use clay as the basis for transforming this saddle into a piece of art. 



I began working the clay on a dinner plate - one of my favorite working surfaces!  What would Julia Childs or an Iron Chef say?

It's pretty lumpy and doesn't look to promising yet....but somehow it gets refined enough to place on the saddle, so I can see how I'm doing in the big picture of things.



Suddenly, inspiration hits.  I am reminded of the beautiful Della Robbia glazed pottery terra-cotta roundels, with their beautiful blues, greens and yellows.  I also am thinking a bit about Wedgewood blue relief work.  These inspirations bring me to add a vine element:

I am really liking where this is going at this point.  I try to get up the courage to paint the whole horse blue, but finally decide against it, and go for a soft sage green-blue main and detail work instead, with a little of blue individual detailing. 

I struggle with deciding whether or not to add pale yellows, and decide instead to rely on the glaze for the yellowing effect, which leads to a lovely final result, turning this discarded old saddle into a treasure for a charity auction, benefitting disabled children and adults!

BEFORE:

AFTER:

Turning Trash into Treasure for Charity Auction

We're Taking a Survey!

We would love to learn more about your artistic preferences and your thoughts about this blog. Please contact us and let us know your thoughts!

We're Taking a Survey!

"Tempo - The Rhythm and Rhyme of the Artist" Released!

"Tempo - The Rhythm and Rhyme of the Artist" is on Amazon now! This unique book blends the art and poetry of M. Nicole van Dam in a way that is sometimes humorous, sometimes serious, and always engaging. It's available in full color paperback and also for the Kindle.

"Tempo - The Rhythm and Rhyme of the Artist" Released!

"M. Nicole van Dam, a Retrospective 2010" Available in Print Now! Hurray!

How fun to be able to share that the "M. Nicole van Dam, a Retrospective 2010" is available in print now. This full color coffee-table type book includes virtually all of the major artworks of Nicole to date, plus sketches, biography, and interesting photos, as well as a few poems. It is interesting to see the progression of how the works changed throughout the years, yet still maintain a certain recognizable style. We hope you enjoy it!

"M. Nicole van Dam, a Retrospective 2010" Available in Print Now! Hurray!

Functional Art - a Beautiful Answer to Economizing!

The Creative Process:

I love to create, whether it is a subject that just occured to me, or a request from a client based on their specific needs.  Often what I create from my own thinking is later selected by a manufacturer for use in creating a new product for them.  Here is an example of how "Bench at Giverny," an image I painted as a traditional painting, inspired by the beloved Giverny gardens of Monet, was selected by an international company for their product line to be transfromed into a glass plate, sold around the world: 

Traditional Painting "Bench at Giverny":

 

Glass Plate version of "Bench at Giverny":

OTHER GLASS PLATES:

Here are some of the new glass plates just released.  There are now 18 different glass plates available!

THE SUN and THE MOON:

SWAN DUET (for the Romantic at Heart):

FOR SCRAPBOOKERS AND RUBBER STAMP MAVENS:

Another company has acquired the rights to some of my designs to create fun rubber stamps - I would LOVE to see the creations you make with them - please share your creativity with us!  mailto:nicole@artimagination.com

COLLECTIBLES:

Another company asked me to design 3-D carved collectible cache pot - here is one of my designs, called "Honey Bee Happy," in tribute to our hard-working, garden-making honey bees, and inspired by my vegetable gardening exploits. Inside the "Honey Bee Happy" piece, the words "Life is Beeautiful" are inscribed.

HONEY BEE HAPPY:

SEASON'S SPARROW

Another collectible cache pot created for that company was "Season's Sparrow."  As you rotate the piece, you will see a visual story about our friend the cheery sparrow journeying through each of the four seasons.  Inside "Season's Sparrow," the words "Beauty in All Things" are inscribed.  Follwing the picture of "Season's Sparrow" is one of my poem's that the manufacturer published in its worldwide Collector's Newsletter to accompany the release of this fun collectible:

Season’s Sparrow

Sparrow of Winter

Where did you go

Almost disappearing

Behind drifts of snow

You live in a world of crystal

Glittering ice lining each branch and thistle

Sparkling as you flit your quiet dance

Before you take flight

Sparrow of Spring

In the dogwoods I hear your sweet song

You will be well hidden amidst the leaves

Before long

I see you flying, seeking your mate

Soaring through pastel skies on nature’s date

Building your nest amidst blossoms, buds and green

Your nursery soon full and not easily seen

Sparrow of Summer

Awash in a sea of leaves

Happily singing in the lazy breeze

Your job is done, an empty nest

Testifying that you’ve earned your rest

But ‘tis not all chirp and play

As you busily store Summer’s abundance

For another day

Sparrow of Autumn

Luminous fluttering falling leaves barely distract your eye

As you curiously watch plain me pass by

Raking leaves

You should know me by now, I think you do

I am the one, rain or shine, to fill your feeder for you

Framed by this world jeweled gold and red

The table is well set for my Sparrow to be fed

My Sparrow of Winter, Spring, Summer and Autumn

My dear, dear friend

I looking forward to spending the seasons with you again.

-AND MORE GOODIES

Other companies have selected my work to make a myriad of other things, such as scarves, coasters, trays, even tile wall murals for kitchen backsplashes and bathrooms, which they manufacturer to fit the physical size of your space.   It is an honor for me to think of so many people living with and using my art every day.  If you have any photos of how you have created a living space using my art, I would love to see it!  mailto:nicole@artimagination.com

If you are interested in seeing a portfolio of my work, please visit my our M. Nicole van Dam Official Website and if you are interested in purusing our store please visit http://www.myartshop.us.  The store is programmed in a way that takes awhile to load, so please be patient and even if it looks like it is finished loading, give it a few extra moments to download all the photo images!!!! 

Functional Art - a Beautiful Answer to Economizing!

Inca Dink, The Great Houndini Available for iPhone iPad iPod Touch!

You can now enjoy "Inca Dink, The Great Houndini, Magician in Training," Nicole's children's book, on your iPhone, iPodTouch and iPad, narrated by both British voiceover superstar Dominic Byrne and by the author/illustrator M. Nicole van Dam. Inca Dink can be purchased at Inca Dink for the iPhone/iPad/iPodTouch

If you love Inca Dink (TM) then you can also purchase all sorts of Inca Dink merchandise, from clothing to mugs to totes to doggie t-shirts, at our Official Inca Dink shop and learn more about the inspiration for Inca Dink at our "Inca Dink, The Great Houndini" blog

How fun!!!  What a treat this project was!

Inca Dink, The Great Houndini Available for iPhone iPad iPod Touch!

M. Nicole van Dam Products Available on Amazon

M. Nicole van Dam Products Available on Amazon

Nicole's Children's Book, "Inca Dink, The Great Houndini" Released

You can now enjoy "Inca Dink, The Great Houndini, Magician in Training," Nicole's children's book, on your iPhone, iPodTouch and iPad, narrated by both British voiceover superstar Dominic Byrne and by the author/illustrator M. Nicole van Dam. Inca Dink can be purchased at Inca Dink for the iPhone/iPad/iPodTouch

If you love Inca Dink (TM) then you can also purchase all sorts of Inca Dink merchandise, from clothing to mugs to totes to doggie t-shirts, at our Official Inca Dink shop and learn more about the inspiration for Inca Dink at our "Inca Dink, The Great Houndini" blog

How fun!!!  What a treat this project was!

Nicole's Children's Book, "Inca Dink, The Great Houndini" Released

Nicole's Art and Poetry now available on the Kindle!

Nicole's Art and Poetry now available on the Kindle!

New Artwork and Poem about Politics!

This is a new work by M. Nicole van Dam called "The Voting Booth." Each pair of shoes seen below the poll booth curtains represents a different segment of our population, and in the poll booth curtains above their shoes is what they might be dreaming of as they cast their vote. The poem that follows, called "Politics," is also by M. Nicole van Dam, and is an interesting compliment to "The Voting Booth" artwork.

The Voting Booth

Politics

Humans up to their tricks
So rightfully pretending
Public service never ending
Ethics unbending
All problems mending

These are foes of monetary might
waging an ad laden fight
with clever slogans to delight
and red, white and blue colors always in sight
Each has supporters who avow this candidate is right
The media's twirling spin adds dizzying flight
to a fanciful murky blend of fact, opinion and insight

The voters hopefully will select their candidate with care
and not in too many false promises be ensnared
Each ballot being cast
is by an individual among the vast
populace

But even among the voting throng
Is one common theme to which all seem to belong
A hope that from all this debate comes a vision we can share
of better tomorrows
an end to the world's sorrows
and a prayer, belied by our experience
that yet
Once elected they shan't forget
All the problems they set
out to fix
In this odd quest
of debate and jest
underhandedly above board zest
all at Democracy's behest
Politics

New Artwork and Poem about Politics!

Treasure Mask created for Santa Barbara Maritime Museum Fundraising Auction

Treasure Mask created for Santa Barbara Maritime Museum Fundraising Auction

The Creative Process:

I love to create, whether it is a subject that just occured to me, or a request from a client based on their specific needs.  Often what I create from my own thinking is later selected by a manufacturer for use in creating a new product for them.  Here is an example of how "Bench at Giverny," an image I painted as a traditional painting, inspired by the beloved Giverny gardens of Monet, was selected by an international company for their product line to be transfromed into a glass plate, sold around the world: 

Traditional Painting "Bench at Giverny":

 

Glass Plate version of "Bench at Giverny":

OTHER GLASS PLATES:

Here are some of the new glass plates just released.  There are now 18 different glass plates available!

THE SUN and THE MOON:

SWAN DUET (for the Romantic at Heart):

FOR SCRAPBOOKERS AND RUBBER STAMP MAVENS:

Another company has acquired the rights to some of my designs to create fun rubber stamps - I would LOVE to see the creations you make with them - please share your creativity with us!  mailto:nicole@artimagination.com

COLLECTIBLES:

Another company asked me to design 3-D carved collectible cache pot - here is one of my designs, called "Honey Bee Happy," in tribute to our hard-working, garden-making honey bees, and inspired by my vegetable gardening exploits. Inside the "Honey Bee Happy" piece, the words "Life is Beeautiful" are inscribed.

HONEY BEE HAPPY:

SEASON'S SPARROW

Another collectible cache pot created for that company was "Season's Sparrow."  As you rotate the piece, you will see a visual story about our friend the cheery sparrow journeying through each of the four seasons.  Inside "Season's Sparrow," the words "Beauty in All Things" are inscribed.  Follwing the picture of "Season's Sparrow" is one of my poem's that the manufacturer published in its worldwide Collector's Newsletter to accompany the release of this fun collectible:

Season’s Sparrow

Sparrow of Winter

Where did you go

Almost disappearing

Behind drifts of snow

You live in a world of crystal

Glittering ice lining each branch and thistle

Sparkling as you flit your quiet dance

Before you take flight

Sparrow of Spring

In the dogwoods I hear your sweet song

You will be well hidden amidst the leaves

Before long

I see you flying, seeking your mate

Soaring through pastel skies on nature’s date

Building your nest amidst blossoms, buds and green

Your nursery soon full and not easily seen

Sparrow of Summer

Awash in a sea of leaves

Happily singing in the lazy breeze

Your job is done, an empty nest

Testifying that you’ve earned your rest

But ‘tis not all chirp and play

As you busily store Summer’s abundance

For another day

Sparrow of Autumn

Luminous fluttering falling leaves barely distract your eye

As you curiously watch plain me pass by

Raking leaves

You should know me by now, I think you do

I am the one, rain or shine, to fill your feeder for you

Framed by this world jeweled gold and red

The table is well set for my Sparrow to be fed

My Sparrow of Winter, Spring, Summer and Autumn

My dear, dear friend

I looking forward to spending the seasons with you again.

-AND MORE GOODIES

Other companies have selected my work to make a myriad of other things, such as scarves, coasters, trays, even tile wall murals for kitchen backsplashes and bathrooms, which they manufacturer to fit the physical size of your space.   It is an honor for me to think of so many people living with and using my art every day.  If you have any photos of how you have created a living space using my art, I would love to see it!  mailto:nicole@artimagination.com

If you are interested in seeing a portfolio of my work, please visit my our M. Nicole van Dam Official Website and if you are interested in purusing our store please visit http://www.myartshop.us.  The store is programmed in a way that takes awhile to load, so please be patient and even if it looks like it is finished loading, give it a few extra moments to download all the photo images!!!! 

New Products!

Here is an example of some of the products currently available from M. Nicole van Dam original designs.

How did these products come to pass?  Nicole's fine art is available for purchase, lease, license and commission.  If you are interested in acquiring rights to use some of Nicole's designs, or are interested in purchasing, leasing, licensing or commssioning a work, please email us at Email Nicole.

New Products!

Inca Dink, The Great Houndini is about to be released!

Exciting, exciting!  Our first children's book publication is about to be released!  As part of the process, I needed to go into a recording studio, where I learned that sensitive recording equipment picks up just about every noise!  Stay tuned for details.

Inca Dink, The Great Houndini is about to be released!