Commissions and Beyond

Time is going by very fast, working in the studio just about every day of the week. Taking time for eating, sleeping, and giggling. I have been working almost non stop on the Oakland Museum of California commission. I have been meeting my dead lines and eating my breakfast. Well, we are at the refining stage of the work. All illustrations are painted and now we are just making small adjustments and adding a few things here and there to make this the best, most exciting stop motion animation the West has ever seen!

So below are photographs of the work. Canadian Goose, drawing, and painted illustration.

 A drawing of a black tailed mule deer. As I was drawing and then painting her, I thought about the two of us frolicking in the Oakland Redwoods together, best friends, totally in love with each other. We danced and ran as magical fairy dust swirled around our bodies and western sword ferns tickled our ankles.

Here is the beginning stage of the Oakland Redwood forest.

 Below are the two different drawings I sent for review. The first squirrel made the cut, however, the robotic funny, squirrel/bear/raccoon animal did not make it. hahahaha. He makes me giggle each time I flip through my sketch book and see him there. He looks like he knows a lot of great jokes!

Here is the finished squirrel. Below her are a few additional painted sketches. This was the first time using illustration board, and I love it!

 

Here I am working on the Downtown Oakland scene. I am working on the Fox Theater. Aside from my 2010 trompe l'oeil work, I have not painted many cityscapes. This is a great opportunity to do just that. As I was painting this scene I was thinking a lot about the robots and how it seems like they are finally getting their own home to live in. That makes me feel so great inside. Now that this painter has a place to call home, so do the robots, and gosh, it feels GREAT!

This is my Western Sword Fern I purchased and planted so that I could study what the leaves looks like and how the plant feels, so I could place that into the Redwood piece. There is more work to create.

I have been working on a new commission for a new client! So fun! I just love it! Here it is in progress! I was supplied a photograph of the dog, for the dogbot, and I just LOVE him so much, he is the love of this painting for sure!

In between I have been working on more robotic things. I have new robot prints that are for sale on the etsy site here. I am also starting to work on 'spot murals' for families or people who would love a robot, but not a whole mural of robotic goodness. The spot murals are much less expensive but they still have that certain robotic quality that just makes you feel all squishy and gushy inside. Here is an example of a spot mural:

Here are a few shots of the new prints on-line for you!

With all of that, it is ALSO a little past the one year Birthday of Robot Love! So LOVE ON my little humans and write to you soon!

Oakland Museum of California and Studiomargo

It is time to share some very exciting news. I am working with the Oakland Museum of California to create illustrations for a permanent exhibition in the Natural Science Galley! I had a meeting last month, they love the work and now together we will be creating an interactive piece in the museum. The opening will happen in 2013. I spent some time at the museum after the meeting and I am truly amazed. This space is so beautiful, so full of knowledge and life. I could not keep my hands off, which was great because this museum has so many interactive elements.  We are so excited that the robots and I will be a part of this and get to share it with you too! If you have not been yet, or it has been a long time since you last visited the OMCA, you shall come soon because they are/have remolded the galleries. The Natural Science Gallery is currently closed for remolding. Once it opens it will have new elements (like the robots) to have fun with. The gallery will be telling the story of 7 different regions in our super environmentally diverse state of California. The robots and I will be representing the Oakland section of the gallery.

I am creating three backgrounds and 21 characters/ props for the project. The art studio has been reorganized to suit more illustration work at studiomargo for the next 2 months.

Extra, Extra, Read All About It!

The word is out. I have been hand picked to create art work for Sacramento's Chalk It Up event that happens every Labor Day weekend.

Chalk It Up is an amazing event that raises money for children's arts education programs throughout Sacramento County. Do you remember last year? I participated and created my very first chalkbot. The robots and I even made the local news...on... television! The bots are loved by people from all walks of life. I am so grateful that this work will help to promote an amazing event by supporting our future, the children! If you would like to donate and help out, check out the website. http://chalkitup.org/

Here is the image I created for Chalk It Up.

This is the first year the robots will be on a t-shirt! So come on down get your shirt and be merry!

Jollybots From Us to You!

The last post was about the positive review from the Triton Museum in Santa Clara regarding the "Robot" series.  This post is about the development of products inspired from the robots with the hard work of the Jollybots. From buttons to magnets, cards to pillows, my etsy shop will have what you are looking for. A little ray of sunshine on your keys, on your couch, or in mail. So let's have a magical summer together and get yourself, or your best friends a little piece fun and love from studiomargo!

Pins above and art cushions below!

Above and below are small mirrors with miniature water color painting prints happily shining.

I just want to spread my love all around the world, but I need your help. Check out the Etsy shop!
xo

What's Growing On?

 
The first piece of news hails from the Triton Museum of Art: “Thank you for…sharing your work … with me, I remember it very well. Your work made me stop and think for awhile. I found your body of work to be very fresh, crisp, clean, flowing and direct. It engaged me visually and made me pause. Very consistent … Every now and then there is an artist’s work that easily stays in one’s memory for many reasons. Your work does that for me. For me there is nothing weak about your work or inconsistent, or off by any stretch… I remember your work and I won’t soon forget it. I wish you continued success and joy in your work.”

- George Rivera, Executive Director / Senior Curator of the Triton Museum of Art, Santa Clara, CA

 © Margo Mullen 2012

Busy as a bee here back in the Central Coast. I am growing roots here figuratively and literally. Living life the past 2 years as a nomadic creature taught me so much. From this experience, and my Carmel Valley days I will always be so grateful to live this life here and now. Now onward to what I am growing. I am trying my first time for a little garden: quiona, kale, bok choy, arugula, micro greens, tomatoes, garlic, cilantro, lemon verbena, rosemary, cucumbers, swiss chard, spinach, peas. There are established trees like figs, apples, strawberry guava, and a grape vine!

Here is what I am really excited about, a door mat! My very own door mat! To My door! 

Here is the farm! Above is the baby bok choy and below is the quiona!

Garlic and greens above, green apples, grapes and gardenias below!

Below is the swiss chard rainbow mix!

On to the art! I have been working mostly in water colors the last few months. Today I finished an 8.5 x 11 water color painting for a special visitor. I have busted out my Prismacolors, using them with the water colors.

Above are two water colors that are almost finished. Both inspired by my interactions in the Central Coast. Below is a painting I have been working on for about 3 months now. I am adding more kelp to the sea and pumping up the colors more. This is a challenging piece right now. I have it sitting next to me in the extra chair, so she is there when I wake up and still chatting with me when I go to bed. This really is a fun piece to work on, it is just the largest water color I have even created.

Here is the finished product you saw above.

The Product is in! Art cushions starting at $35.00. Hand made in California. We also have buttons, magnets, and little mirrors, starting at $4.00.

 So, all great things going on, staying busy and hanging out with my robotic friends. Have a Happy June and stay cool!
xo