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art updates security envelopes

Security Envelope Collage Video – Bird’s-eye Video

I get asked all the time how I make my collages. The process is not too complex it is just a little unusual. Here is a security envelope collage video to help illustrate the process.

There is a physical component and a digital component. The computer is mainly used to manipulate the scale of the image. All the colors and patterns are not changed in the computer. Whenever you involve computers, especially nowadays, it can be difficult to distinguish between what is real and what is not.

This video shows the entire physical process of an envelope collage. I am hoping this provides some insight to those familiar with the Snail Mail Security series. Also maybe this will give some artists some ideas on making similar projects. Hope this helps and let me know if you have any questions.

https://youtu.be/Rd730AngpMg
Categories
website updates

Security update

Abstract Collage now uses HTTPS site-wide. Until recently only the checkout pages of the online store were HTTPS, the most important part of the site to have secured. But since Google started downgrading sites it seems that even normal pages can be penalized for not being HTTPS. That’s about it, but feel free to read on if you want more information on how to transition your WordPress site.

I personally used the “Really Simple SSL” WordPress plugin to transition the site to HTTPS. This particular site is very image heavy. It makes sense because it is a portfolio website. But that is a headache when switching all those HTTP urls to HTTPS. Luckily the “Really Simple SSL” plugin does all these redirects for you.

When I tried to manually switch the site to HTTPS last year I came across some huge errors, which is ultimately why I only transitioned the online checkout part of the website at the time. I had to give up on the rest of the site. So a was pleased to find “Really Simple SSL” plugin could help with transitioning established sites (like this one).

If you are creating a site from scratch I would just recommend starting with HTTPS. It can kind of be a pain to transition your site later on. Feel free to reach out with any questions. Thanks!

Categories
further reading

Productivity Tricks For The Creatively Inclined

Kadenze is an open online course provider that I have been a longtime fan of. They recently posted a great article on their blog about productivity tricks for artists. Check it out here: https://blog.kadenze.com/student-life/productivity-tricks-for-the-creatively-inclined/

There are a few techniques that have helped me greatly over my career. ‘Start on a creative task first’ has been helpful especially when tackling large new projects and getting through creative slumps.  ‘Use the Pomodoro technique’ is a tactic that I use sparingly, but has been especially helpful when I am concerned that I may veer offtrack with a task and lose focus on a higher objective.

There are a few tricks listed that I am not familiar with. I am excited to try ideas in the ‘Visualize your workflow,’ ‘Write in a bullet journal,’ and ‘Leave time for doodling or freewriting.’

Nice article from Kadenze and thanks again for offering such cool creative classes online! I have taken Financial Planning for Creative Careers (Columbus College of Art & Design), Loop: Repetition and Variation in Music (University College Cork), Sound Production in Ableton Live for Musicians and Artists (CalArts). I look forward to taking more!

Categories
website updates

Website updated with new theme

Abstract Collage website updated to Stratum theme for WordPress. Excited about the new features for the site.  To name a few: a strong mobile browsing experience, iPad size browsing look, pertinent front page content, WooCommerce integration, and many others.

Prior to this I had been using Boomshaka. This was a theme created by Jordan Kanter and myself for artists over three years ago. It survived numerous WordPress and WooCommerce updates until recently breaking down slightly with the way images were displaying. Both Jordan and I have moved on to other projects so rather than try to update an old project I decided to check out some of the current WooCommerce supported themes for WordPress.

I have looked at many artist websites over the years and have developed strong opinions. I’ve written extensively about that. I have been particularly critical of the way WordPress handles images. The gallery features are clunky, awkward, and it is far too easy to have images stretched or resized improperly.  That’s why when I found Stratum I was confused because there are very few themes that “have it all.” And so far I couldn’t be more happy!

Categories
website updates

Online store updates / New Etsy store

Abstract Collage Security Updates

The Abstract Collage online store has been upgraded to HTTP Secure (HTTPS). We will continue to use PayPal secure checkout. I am experimenting with how much of the rest of the website will use HTTPS vs regular HTTP. Google now favors pretty heavily HTTPS so I may transition the rest of the site as it makes sense. Currently the only forced pages are when you get to “/checkout/” and beyond.

New Etsy Store

I have also just recently opened an Etsy store here. This is the result of having a few previous but unsuccessful attempts at stepping up security on Abstract Collage. Even though the security on Abstract Collage has now been updated, I will still be pursing the Etsy store at least temporarily. I am debuting only one product, the Recycled La Croix Greeting Cards (3 pack). Depending on how it goes I have some other test products that I may try to audition on the Etsy store. Very exciting to have the opportunity to find new customers and test out different demographics.

It is my intention to keep Abstract Collage as my main online store presence. Abstract Collage is still the only online place to buy the Snail Mail Security collages. I have done my best to offer incentives for Chicago and surrounding suburb buyers with discounts on shipping as well as local pickup options. This is one of the benefits of building your own online store. I can set the prices and the only middle man I have to pay is my credit card processor (PayPal) just like any other retailer.

As to products that are featured in multiple places like the Recycled La Croix Greeting Cards, I intend Abstract Collage to offer the best price and to be tailored to previous customers and repeat buyers. For example, the current La Croix greeting card options on Abstract Collage are “grab bag” style where customers will get a 5 pack of cards from an assortment of different designs. On the other hand on Etsy, I probably will not offer a “grab bag” style product.

More updates coming soon!

Categories
security envelopes

Security Envelopes I am Currently Looking for (an incomplete list)

Updated July 7, 2017: One of the coolest of the cool security patterns sets on the internet is by Joseph King. This is a 160+ pattern collection on Flickr. So I went through this collection and selected all the patterns that I do not currently have. These are all featured below. Think of this as my personal vision board.

Updated 12/22/2017: I have gotten some very generous donations from the community and I am happy to “cross out” some of these envelopes from the wish list. List is now a little easier to read and grouped by color.

Updated 10/31/2018: Updated again, patterns that I have received have been removed from this list.

10/14/2019: New update, crossed off a few that I recently got.

4/7/2021: List updated again

If you recognize any of these patterns from your own personal or business mail… I want to hear from you!

Continue reading “Security Envelopes I am Currently Looking for (an incomplete list)”
Categories
art updates

Instagram La Croix greeting card giveaway

[CLOSED] See below for details on my La Croix greeting card giveaway

why am i doing this?:
I’ve gotten a lot of support on Instagram and felt like this would be a fun way to show some appreciation.

prizes:
First winner: 8 cards
Second winner: 4 cards

description:
These greeting cards are made up of recycled La Croix packaging that would otherwise end up in the trash or recycled. Finding a “second use” for a material can extend its lifespan and often takes the place of another “first use” product. You might like these if you: like to write letters, are environmentally conscious, are obsessed with La Croix.

how to enter:
1. Like AND comment the above Instagram photo
2. Follow @abstract_collage on Instagram
3. Must live in the continental US

Winners are selected at random on Wednesday, May 17, 2017. I will Instagram direct message both winners to coordinate the shipping of the prizes. I’ll give each winner 3 days to respond, but if I don’t hear back from them I will continue drawing new winners until the prizes find a happy home.

This promotion is not sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Instagram or La Croix.

Categories
further reading

Get To Work

Get To Work

“The advice I like to give young artists, or really anybody who’ll listen to me, is not to wait around for inspiration. Inspiration is for amateurs; the rest of us just show up and get to work.

If you wait around for the clouds to part and a bolt of lightning to strike you in the brain, you are not going to do an awful lot of work. All the best ideas come out of the process; they come out of the work itself.

Things occur to you. If you’re sitting around trying to dream up a great idea, you can sit there a long time before anything happens. But if you just get to work, something will occur to you and something else will occur to you and something else that you reject will push you in another direction.

Inspiration is absolutely unnecessary and somehow deceptive. You feel like you need this great idea before you can get down to work, and I find that’s almost never the case.”

— Chuck Close

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