Breaking out of patterns

The Artdog Quote of the Week 

When we look at creativity's value, it's everywhere.

IMAGE: Many thanks to Pinterest, and Professional Artist Magazine for this image. 

Revealed truth

The Artdog Quote(s) of the Week
Since my zany schedule cheated us out of quotes earlier this month, here is a second pair of quotes to kind of "even things out." Separate centuries, parallel thoughts by well-respected writers. I hope you enjoy them!

IMAGES: The Ralph Waldo Emerson quote is courtesy of Self Help Daily's page of "Quotes about Books and Reading." The Stephen King quote is from Quotefancy. Many thanks to both!

Love in the Storm

The Artdog Image of Interest 
For now, this wraps up my series of Images of Interest focused on my own artwork. Love in the Storm is one of my more recent multiple-original images, based on a 2016 stand-alone original that is now in a private collection.

I developed the image from several separate drawings penciled on tracing paper, overlaid against each other for placement, then inked, scanned, and colored using Photoshop.

Each multiple original is one of 25 double-layer multiple original paper sculptures. Each is printed with fade-resistant inks on archival paper, then cut out, sculpted, and assembled by hand using archival materials.

The single mat (available in black or white) tops 2 layers of foam board spacers and an acid-buffered backing. Each piece is individually hand-signed and numbered by the artist, Jan S. Gephardt, and comes with a Certificate of Authenticity. Images from this edition are now available at a few science fiction convention art shows and through the Artdog Paper Sculpture Shop on Etsy.

Well, that happened.

I had other plans for today. A blog post to write, for one. Then I received an unanticipated grace, a small miracle at an exactly-right moment.

It changed all my plans, and this is the extent of the blog post (slightly late). But I'll take it. Thanks!

IMAGE: Many thanks to Bitnote's "Serendipity Happens" page, for this image.

Variations on a theme

The Artdog Quote(s) of the Week 
Far as it can tell, Sam said it first, then Tom streamlined it a bit. Same basic thought, and an observation that takes on special resonance for me, in light of recent events.

IMAGES: Both of these illustrated quotes come from the same Brainy Quote page about Fiction.

Common Cliff Dragon--Male

The Artdog Image of Interest 
This month I've been posting some of my own artwork for my Images of Interest. This is a representative image from my edition of multiple originals titled Common Cliff Dragon--Male. It was recently listed in my Etsy shop, Artdog Paper Sculpture.

My three drawings from 2012, inked and scanned.

It was developed from three pencil drawings I did back in 2012, each created to overlay the one below. The "cliff surface" is one layer, the dragon's body is the second, and the dragon's wings are the third. Once the three were aligned on tracing paper, I inked them, scanned them, then colored each using Adobe Illustrator and a Wacom "Bamboo" tablet.

These are the pieces I cut out.

The artwork prints out as five different pieces: the border base (on heavier archival stock) with the title in the rectangle; the cliff face (sculpted and floated over the base), the body of the dragon; and finally two layers of wings, one more heavily sculpted and glued over the lower layer for a better 3D effect.

Here's the assembly process.

Then it's time to cut the pieces out, which I do with small, precise scissors (they go dull so much less often than X-Acto knives! Then I sculpt with clay-working tools on the flat surface of paper laid over corkboard, assemble the pieces, and it begins to look almost alive, sometimes.

IMAGES: All images are by me, of pieces of a paper sculpture made by me, Jan S. Gephardt. You may use them online, if you'll provide accurate attribution and a link back. Thanks!

Memories of the 2017 NASFiC

Perhaps you'd like to see a presentation my son Tyrell Gephardt and I prepared, about our experiences at this year's North American Science Fiction Convention (NASFiC), held anytime the Worldcon is not in North America (which it is not this year; it's in Helsinki).



We hope you'll enjoy it--we certainly enjoyed our time there! We've also shared this presentation with KACSFFS, our local Kansas City Science Fiction and Fantasy Society, both at the July meeting last Saturday and on the KaCSFFS Blog (scroll down).

Ty and I also spent a couple of days afterward, wandering around in fascinating Old San Juan. It's possible some of the thoughts and photos from those peregrinations may end up in future blog posts here!

IMAGES: At least half of those in the NASFiC presentation, are by Jan S. Gephardt. Most of the other photos in the presentation are by Tyrell E. Gephardt; the remaining photos (credited at the end of the NASFiC presentation) are from the official website of the Sheraton Puerto Rico Hotel & Casino, where the NASFiC was held. Thanks!

"Coming Through!"

The Artdog Image of Interest 
This month I've decided to feature several pieces of my fantasy artwork that I've recently added to my Etsy shop, ArtdogPaperSculpture. Yes, I'd like to sell some. But I also just enjoy sharing my artwork. I hope you'll enjoy looking at it. These works also travel to art shows with me.

I first began developing the composition Coming Through! in 2012, but my assertive little unicorn making his way through the day lilies has been through several variations since then.

The photo on this post shows one of two different Artist's Proofs that are variations on this composition available through my Etsy site. Here's the link to this one. Here's the link to the other. 

I'm now developing an edition of no more than 25 multiple originals (each piece made one-by-one, hand-sculpted and assembled, which leads to subtle variations. Thus, although the edition is consistent, each piece also is unique).

Subscribe to this blog for further updates on all of my available artwork! Note: this post was updated with additional images on 7/19/2017.

IMAGE: This photo of my art was taken by me for documentation purposes and to use for my blog, social media, and my Etsy site. Feel free to re-post it, if you wish, but please don't forget to attribute it to Jan S. Gephardt, and a link back to this post or the Etsy site is deeply appreciated!

Where have I been?

I apologize for the "radio silence" in this blog-space since the end of June. There just simply hasn't been enough time to do everything, as I prepared for two major sf conventions. I showed new artwork, and was scheduled for numerous panels.

My art display at NorthAmeriCon '17.

First came SoonerCon 26 in Midwest City, OK (metro Oklahoma City); then, less than two weeks later (time that included a lovely visit with a houseguest over the 4th of July weekend), came NorthAmeriCon '17, the North American Science Fiction Convention (NASFiC) in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

I strongly believe that people who come to my programming items deserve for me to be well-prepared and organized. It makes for much more in-depth and interesting conversations, if all panelists have done their homework beforehand! I plan to turn my notes from some of those discussions into blog posts in the future.

My "Who is Mary Sue?" panel brought us together for a lively conversation. L-R, Johnathan Brazee, Jan S. Gephardt, Paula Smith (yes, she who coined the phrase!), and Mike Substelny.

Also, since Sunday afternoon, I've been taking full advantage of my short time window to see all I can of Puer
to Rico--or at least San Juan--while I'm here. You'll see pictures from those adventures, too!

But for just a little longer, a tropical wonderland awaits. I'll get back to you!

IMAGES: the photo of my artwork display is by me. The photo of the panel was taken on my phone, by an obliging member of the audience. Either may be re-posted online, as long as you include a link back and an attribution to this blog post. Thanks!