Matcha Soft-Cream Cone says Thanks!
At the beginning of 2008 I realized that this was a milestone year for my art career. Not only am I celebrating 10 years as a practicing, professional artist, I realized that in the early months of the New Year, I would add my 100th collector to my community of supporters.
Wow! This was cause for celebration and I wanted to find a way to say Thank You to each of them.
So, I got to work in the print studio, cutting paper, mixing ink and burning screens for an edition of 100 prints as a special gift for my 100 collectors. The image is from my travels, from the town of Uji, Japan — a town seeped in the smell of roasting tea .
What I enjoyed about the project is that it gave me an opportunity to work differently than I usually do — this time with very little digital influence. The green color of the soft-cream is an abstract hue for Western audiences — definitively not your typically vanilla. And I enjoy how the cone itself floats on a field of blue in a nod to the “pop art” that I grew up on.
After the screen prints were finished, they were signed, titled with You’re Sweet and numbered in a limited edition of 100, and then sent by mail to each of the collectors as a special, surprise gift.
The whole process was a labor of love, and with each step in the process I couldn’t help but feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude to all those who have made my career what it is today. I couldn’t have gotten this far without you. You’re Sweet! THANK YOU!
Images:
1. Finished 4 color screen print
2. Blue field anticipating the yellow cone
3. Yellow cone on blue color field
5. Green ice-cream on yellow cone on blue field
6. Prints on the drying rack.
How do you celebrate those who support you? Leave your comments here:
Tags: green tea, Japan, screen print, thank you, Uji
April 16th, 2008 at 11:24 am
Wonderful Lyn. Not only the art but also that you have such a great marketing idea. Kudos to you!
April 17th, 2008 at 6:12 pm
Lyn, these are wonderful. We need to remember to love what we do and who we do it for rather than see our work as another thing to be accomplished. Thanks for that reminder.
April 18th, 2008 at 11:44 am
Great idea, Lyn! I look forward to hearing what the response has been. I’m sure your collectors will be grateful and totally surprised (the best kind of gift).
April 21st, 2008 at 11:36 am
Lyn, thank you for your wonderful gift—the print and your friendship! I’m honored to received both, and appreciate all that you put into what you do. I put my print up in my office so I get to see it every day.
I am looking forward to seeing your latest work at Open Studios next month.
April 29th, 2008 at 9:01 am
Great idea!
May 6th, 2008 at 11:42 pm
Thanking U for the information. As Iam working artist & teaching at Chamarajendra Academy of Visual Arts, Mysore.College is Affiliated to Mysore University.Iam working in the Graphic arts- medium like Photo etching, computer Graphics, lithography, photography.
May 11th, 2008 at 6:56 pm
Thank you very much for “You’re Sweet”. It was a great surprise! It’s soooo Cute! I love the shape & the colors. It’s amazing you always find things interesting, what most Japanese don’t turn their attention to. You breathe new life into them. I’m horoed to be one of your art collectores. I wish I could come to Open Studios! Love Always, from Japan