Abstracts for Curtains - Crowdfunding Project

[ellenmillion]

As you've probably noticed by now, we're building a nursery! I'm expecting in February, and we're frantically remodeling what used to be my studio into a safe and finished room for our guppy. So far, we've rebuilt some of the walls, rearranged the electricity, built a closet, sheetrocked, mudded, taped and painted, put in a laminate floor (not the one we really wanted - it cost too much!) and carpet in the closet. We're tackling trim next, and I'm looking at curtains... and our budget. I swear, we can't get out of Lowe's or Home Depot without emptying the wallet, even bypassing the fancy and high-end options for everything (1/2 price remnant carpet, yay!), and as often as we've been there over the last two months, it's starting to add up!

So, the curtain budget is pretty tapped. Why Ellen (I said to myself), why don't you use this as an excuse to try crowd-funding with your abstract paintings?

Self (I replied), that's a lovely idea.

I can staple up some second hand rugs over the windows, in a pinch. We don't have anything fancier in our bedroom. But I'd really like some nice curtain rods and blackout curtains that I can pull back easily... I live in the land of the midnight sun, which I imagine will be pretty confusing to a baby we're trying to convince to sleep, so standard curtains won't cut it.

I'd like to earn these curtains, and paint some abstracts for you!


Details

Participation is free! I will paint to prompts for as long as I have energy on Tuesday, August 9, doing tip incentives first, people who helped spread the word next (be sure to tell me if you link to the project!), and first-come, first-served after that. These will be abstract ACEO (2.5 x 3.5 inches) paintings, acrylics on canvas sheet.

A few of my favorites:


Light


Briar


Constellation


Feather


Orange Rose


Teal



I will take photographs of the pieces in batches on painting day, though scanning will require a few days of drying time, and at the end of the project, I will also take pictures of the nursery, to show you the curtains you helped me fund.

Tip incentives:

Tip any amount, and I will absolutely do your prompt, no matter how many requests I get. You may also send your prompt in advance, starting now; you do not need to catch the window of prompts to get yours done, though it will not be posted until Tuesday, with the others.

Tip $2 and I will scan a larger image of your piece. You will also receive an icon of your word (or phrase) like these:

Tip $3 and receive the original of your painting in the mail, domestic (US) addresses only.

Tip $5 and receive the original of your painting internationally.

Tip $10 and you may request a larger painting - up to 5x7 inches, OR your own ACEO and your choice of one of the ACEOs unclaimed within 24 hours by the prompter. You will receive the original(s), domestic or international shipping. I will make you two icons, you may supply the text for the extra one.

Tip $20 and you may request a painting up to 9 x 12 inches, OR your own ACEO and your choice of two of the ACEOs unclaimed within 24 hours by the prompter. You will receive the original(s), domestic shipping only. I will make you three icons, with text of your choice, or one animated icon.

Tip $25, as above with international shipping.

Prints of any of them are available for $1 plus $1 flat shipping fee (domestic or international, any quantity).

If I get to $100 total tips, everyone (who gets a painting) will get an icon (whether they tipped or not). - We've made this goal!

If I get to $200 total tips, everyone will get a painting, even if it takes me a few extra days. - We've made this goal, too!

If we get to $300 total tips, everyone who tipped may get their icons animated (a simple word fade or blinky star). - We're there!

If I get to $400 total tips, I will do a second ACEO painting for everyone who tipped. If your original tip got you the original, you will get both originals - We're a little over $70 to this goal, if you've tipped, feel free to leave a second prompt!

If I get to $500 total tips, I will give everyone who tipped a free ACEO print of their choice in addition to their originals (no matter how much they tipped!). I will also send the original of their ACEO to anyone who links to the project, whether they tip or not.

Any amount that we go over what I spend on curtains will be spent on nursery improvements. (Like windowsills, and light fixtures!) You will get photos! Update: curtains and rods have been ordered! Window returns are next on the list, and a full accounting will be posted with the photos.

You may also mail your tip to:

Ellen Million Graphics
PO Box 82851
Fairbanks Alaska 99708

You may also spend EMG credits - just let me know!

You may tip in advance, during the prompt window, or within 24 hours of the posting of the finished painting photos to claim your prompted painting.


Prompt guidelines:

If you are sending a tip now, you may send me your prompt at any time, either as a comment here, as a private email, or a PM on Facebook, etc. I'm flexible! If you are participating in the free window, you have to wait until Tuesday, August 9th. I will post an entry here at LJ where you may leave your prompt in a comment. I am planning to leave prompts open for about 4 hours, approximately 9 AM - 1 PM Alaska time (1 PM - 5 PM ET). If I get a manageable number of prompts, I'll leave it open longer.

Prompts should be simple ideas, single words, or short phrases. For example:

Hope

Turbulence

Brilliance

Dreaming Awake

Neverending

A green swirl

Something red and yellow

More complex and representational things may not translate well to abstract, though I may do very simple things, like:


Birds


Previous posts showing some more examples of my abstracts:

http://ellenmillion.livejournal.com/1198108.html
http://ellenmillion.livejournal.com/1198704.html
http://ellenmillion.livejournal.com/1188962.html


Please spread the word and link to this post! I look forward to painting for you and hope you will leave me some prompts!

Comments

[jenny_evergreen]

But, but...I'd much rather have 4 5x7's than one 8.5x11!
Seriously, I'm concerned you'll get a lot more 5 than 20 donations; the value ratio seems off...maybe make it 10 for a 5x7 or something.

Also, YAY! It's like a mini-baby shower. And I am totally going to do my part. Now to ponder my prompt options!

[ellenmillion.livejournal.com]

Oh, hmm! Yes, I think you're quite right - I've adjusted it. :)

Thank you!!

[ghost-light.livejournal.com]

Are you having a boy or a girl?

[ellenmillion.livejournal.com]

We don't know yet! We'll find out at the 20 week ultrasound, I hope, but we're still some weeks off from that yet. :)

[pixiewildflower.livejournal.com]

I love the ACEOs.

[ellenmillion.livejournal.com]

Thank you!! :)

[glinda-w.livejournal.com]

lovely things; sent what I could. Either "Light" or "feather" or something similar would be fine.

Oh, I'm supposed to tell you that bkwrrm_tx sent me here. :)

[ellenmillion.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much! I am all anticipation of fun painting times on Tuesday, and look forward to doing this for you!

[ellenmillion.livejournal.com]

I combined some of the techniques of each for you:



Also, I hit my funding goal, so you get a second painting as well! Let me know what you'd like for your second prompt, and which one you'd like an icon of (and what you'd like it to say). :)

Thank you!

[bkwrrm-tx.livejournal.com]

**hugs**

[kittrel.livejournal.com]

I donated a little bit, but I already got my prompt done! - so thank you already! :D 'Feather' is hanging above my desk. :)

My sister recently found out she is due in February too! It must be an auspicious month. I am still agonizing over what to make for my new niece or nephew for a present - hoping ideas will flow easier in September when they find out the sex of the baby.

I hope you do great with this project and get your curtains soon!

[ellenmillion.livejournal.com]

We must all be trying for leap year babies. :P

Thank you!! You are welcome to ask for another, though - and I will, at least, make you an icon of it. :)

[aldersprig.livejournal.com]

<3

I donated a bit (sorry, buying house, money tight) and boosted on LJ/DW/Twitter.

"Home." Alt. "Hearthfire."

(Donation lyn/addergoole/com)

[ellenmillion.livejournal.com]

New house!! So exciting - I'm looking forward to doing this piece for you. :) :)

[browngirl.livejournal.com]

I sent $10, and I would like this option: "your own ACEO and your choice of one of the ACEOs unclaimed within 24 hours by the prompter. "

I like stars and spirals, apart or together.

PS You can choose which extra ACEO I get.

[ellenmillion.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much! I am so excited to paint something for you. :)

Donated!

[haunted-blood.livejournal.com]

Tip $20 ($25 cause I live over the pond!) and you may request a painting up to 8.5 x 11 inches.

Prompt: Mystical Forest

<3

Re: Donated!

[ellenmillion.livejournal.com]

You are the best! I may start this one early... >.>

[acelightning.livejournal.com]

Here via several of my friends. I'm sending $3.00, because I want the ACEO and the icon. I like lightning, and the color purple, the closer to ultraviolet the better (or at least more bluish than reddish and somewhat dark).

I also have a suggestion. I'm a day-sleeper, and I wanted blackout curtains for my own bedroom. Most of them are way too expensive, but I found some at Target - in fact, I found a pair of vivid purple blackout curtains that were intended for a child's room! Here's (http://www.target.com/s/ref=sr_sort_lowhigh?ie=UTF8&keywords=blackout%20curtains&searchSize=150&searchView=grid5&searchNodeID=1038576%7C1287991011&searchPage=1&fromGsearch=true&rh=&searchBinNameList=subjectbin%2Cprice%2Ctarget_com_primary_color-bin%2Ctarget_com_size-bin%2Ctarget_com_brand-bin&searchRank=price#/abn?url=%2Fs.json%3Fie%3DUTF8%26node%3D1038576%257C1287991011%26keywords%3Dblackout%2520curtains%26searchNodeID%3D1038576%257C1287991011%26rh%3Dproduct_site_launch_date%253A-0a%257Claunch-date%253A-1y%257Cavailability%253A-2%26releaseID%3D%26searchView%3Dgrid5%26searchRank%3Dprice%26searchSize%3D150%26low-price%3D0%26high-price%3D20&clear=false) a selection of the less expensive ones online. I recommend not choosing a light color, though, because the curtains aren't completely opaque.

[ellenmillion.livejournal.com]

Oo! This sounds like fun! Thank so you much - for both the donation, and the links! I shall have to see how awful shipping to Alaska is, or if we've got something like it locally! (We don't have a Target, alas!)

Donated

[lepi.livejournal.com]

This is a great idea! Donation sent, prompt is black eyed susans, and hope this turns into a great day of fun art for you!!!
Cheers!
Krystal

Re: Donated

[ellenmillion.livejournal.com]

Oo! Looking forward to doing this one, too. Thank you!!

[karadin.livejournal.com]

this is great stuff, you might be interested in joining this site - http://www.spoonflower.com/welcome

you can design fabric, (so in future have your own textile designs in your house) the company prints on demand, AND you can sell your designs through the site (think Zazzle)

[ellenmillion.livejournal.com]

Oh, intriguing! I've seen that site mentioned, but never really followed up on it. That gives me all kinds of ideas!

[baranduin.livejournal.com]

Here from browngirl's LJ.

Have done the PayPal thing.

Prompt is: sea foam.

Thank you for doing this and congratulations on the upcoming birth!

[ellenmillion.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much! :) Did you want a 9x12 or an ACEO (or 5x7) with the choice of 2 extra ACEOs?

[whuffle.livejournal.com]

I'd love to donate but can't do so right this second after paying the household bills. Mind if I do so soon as I can?

By the way, what are you looking for in curtains? Light blocking? Specific styles or colors?

[ellenmillion.livejournal.com]

Your painting has been sponsored by an anonymous donor! :) Please let me know what your prompt is, and PM me your address so I can ship you your original.

I'm definitely looking for light blocking curtains, which probably necessitates a dark color - either dark green or dark blue that doesn't clash too badly with the Very Blue-Green wall. They've got to be fairly large, too, so that not too much light sneaks in the sides.

[firecat]

Fun idea! Here via browngirl, pm'd you, signal boosted.

http://firecat.dreamwidth.org/734581.html
http://firecat.livejournal.com/726621.html

[ellenmillion.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much, on all counts! :)

[eeyorerin]

I am here via firecat and have donated.

My prompt is: star.

[ellenmillion.livejournal.com]

Oo! I like this prompt - I'm going to have fun painting it! Thank you!

[clever-doberman.livejournal.com]

I am here via firecat and have donated.

my prompt is: water.

[ellenmillion.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much! :)

[mjlayman.livejournal.com]

I'm here because of Firecat, too. I donated for two of the 9x12 originals, one for me -- Joy -- and one for a present for a friend -- bellydancing (greens). I'll have to think about the icon; my friend isn't on LJ.

[ellenmillion.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I've got the bellydancing piece finished and joy started. :) :) Such wonderful prompts!

[cereus-sphinx.livejournal.com]

Prompt is:

Bats

Purples, Browns, Greens, or whatever you like. :)

Best of luck on your new room and your little one. :)

[ellenmillion.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Ooo, I have some ideas for this one.

[tybarbary.livejournal.com]

Oooh, shinyobjects.

I tipped! :)

Prompt: shapeshift(er/ing)

Potential 2nd prompt (exciting!): primal/primeval

(If I might request an exclusion of pinks and reds, that would be awesome. Just about any other color goes, though.)

[ellenmillion.livejournal.com]

We got to the second prompts! Horrah!

Here is shapeshift:



And you get your choice of these two... I did the orange one then thought it might be too red for you and whipped up a second one in blues:




And let me know which you'd like for an icon and what it should say. :)