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!!

[jenny_evergreen]

Glad to help! :)

[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.

[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!! :)

[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!

[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!

[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)

[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.

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

[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.

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

[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. :)

[ellenmillion.livejournal.com]

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

[ellenmillion.livejournal.com]

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

Re: Donated!

[ellenmillion.livejournal.com]

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

[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!)

Re: Donated

[ellenmillion.livejournal.com]

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

[aldersprig.livejournal.com]

Yay!

(yeah, I'm excited, too!!)

Edited to add: when it gets to it, I THINK I got Paypal to agree with me on the new address (should be a 458 address)

Re: Donated!

[haunted-blood.livejournal.com]

Woot! \o

[acelightning.livejournal.com]

There are three Target stores (http://sites.target.com/site/en/spot/state_results.jsp?state=AK&stateName=Alaska) in Alaska, all apparently in the greater Anchorage area. If you know anybody there, maybe they could mail the curtains to you?

Incidentally, I envy you the ability to see the Northern Lights!

[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)