Cowboy Kimono

Category: Studio Projects

  • Do These Stripes and Polka Dots Make My Tail Look Big? (T-Rex’s Fashion Crisis) 🦖🎨👗

    Do These Stripes and Polka Dots Make My Tail Look Big? (T-Rex’s Fashion Crisis) 🦖🎨👗


    The Dino Denim Jacket has officially made its mark—and what a roar-some statement it was! Auctioned at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science’s 2023 fundraiser, Cretaceous Couture, this unique hand-painted jacket left buyers and guests in awe, capturing the perfect blend of creativity, fun, and fashion.

    A Dino-Mite Twist on Denim

    The jacket was more than just a piece of clothing—it was a canvas waiting for creativity to come alive. The sleeves were adorned with whimsical, white dinosaur shapes—perfectly poised for little artists to add their personal flair. Buyers had the chance to transform their prehistoric pals, whether it was a T-Rex with colorful rainbow spots, a Triceratops in neon stripes, or perhaps a Stegosaurus in cozy pajamas!

    What made this jacket so special was the interactive aspect. It wasn’t just about wearing a jacket—it was about creating one. The dino designs offered endless possibilities for imagination to take flight.

    The Paint-Your-Own Jacket Kit

    Each Dino Denim Jacket came with a special kit that included 3D fabric paints in a range of vibrant colors, turning the jacket into an exciting craft project. The paint was easy to apply, dried quickly, and—most importantly—lasted through wear and tear, making it the ideal material for young, enthusiastic artists.

    Painted sleeves with frolicking dinosaurs.

    A Jacket with a Purpose

    Beyond the fun of designing and wearing a personalized jacket, the Dino Denim Jacket was also created with a heart full of purpose. The jacket was a featured in the New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science’s fundraiser, with proceeds supporting important programs in science education and museum outreach.

    Not only did the lucky winner walk away with an extraordinary, one-of-a-kind piece of art, but they also contributed to a cause that inspires future generations of explorers, scientists, and artists. It was a win-win situation for both fashion and philanthropy!

    Final Thoughts

    The Dino Denim Jacket proved to be more than just a fashion statement—it was a full-on creative experience! The jacket provided the perfect outlet for self-expression, while also supporting a cause that nurtures curiosity and love for science. Whether it was the chance to personalize a favorite jacket or the thrill of owning a unique, one-of-a-kind piece, this product certainly left a lasting impression.

    While this particular jacket is now a collectible, we can’t help but hope that it inspires other dino-mite creations in the future! Keep your eyes peeled—you never know when the next interactive art-meets-fashion sensation might pop up! 🦕🎨

     

  • How to Create a Hip Jackalope Display

    How to Create a Hip Jackalope Display

    Over the past few years, I’ve had the opportunity to create artwork for a family law office dealing mainly with divorce. Bearing in mind that most of the people seeing the artwork would be in the midst of their own “heavy movie,” grieving the loss of a relationship, fearing what the future might hold, juggling hurt, anger, and more; I searched for visual concepts that offered a moment of comfort. Challenging myself to create art that hinted at joy, nodded at hope, distracted from worry, and stayed clear of clichĂ©. The first piece was a large print of a dog leaping into the air just about to snag a tennis ball.

    Dog Leap, Print on Paper

    The second piece would live in a blank entryway niche – the perfect stage for a 3D sculpture. After hours of shopping for the ideal statue, carving, or abstract form, I landed on garden decor. Most of the yard ornaments I found could be categorized as, “sentimental. ” Then I came across a cement rabbit with a very distinguished presence. It didn’t take long for my imagination to begin exploring additional alterations. In no time, the rabbit transformed into a jackalope. Finally, a bit of “mellow” was added with groovy mirrored glasses.

    Need a mellow entryway ornament to greet clients, family, or friends? Directions below.

    The Basics of Transforming a Garden Ornament into a Legendary Cryptid

    SUPPLIES

    TOOLS

    • Paint brushes
    • Various tools for sculpting (I used kraft sticks, ball-end embossing pens, and my fingers)
    • Protective Gloves
    • Small Container of Water
    • Dremel and Rotary Sanding Bits (Optional)

    DIRECTIONS

    • Lightly sand rabbit, tree stump, and birch branches. Wipe clean or brush off sanding residue.
    • Using a chenille stick, shape an antler on top of the rabbit’s head. This will allow you to play with the size and curves to determine what looks best before committing to the clay model.
    • Here’s my chenille antler guide. Once you are happy with the size and shape, trace around the edges to make a pattern/guide. Then flip and trace around the edges to make a mirrored version.
    • Watch the tutorial about making antlers with Apoxie Sculpt. I followed the tutorial except for draping the antlers over the bowl. Instead, place the traced pattern on the table with a piece of wax paper on top. Then shape the rolled clay on top of the wax paper/pattern to match the twists and turns.
    • Roll two small balls of clay and stick one to the base of each antler. Push a small piece of wire through the ball to the base of the antler to reinforce the connection.
    • While the clay is still soft, press the screw head into the ball at the base of the antler. Repeat with the other antler. These will be stakes that hold the antlers in place.
    • Let dry as directed in the tutorial.
    • Sand antlers with fine sandpaper and/or a Dremmel with sanding bits. Refine the shape and surface with thin layers of Apoxie sSculpt. Let dry and give a final sanding.
    • Using a drill bit slightly smaller than your screw, drill two holes in the top of the rabbit’s head for the antlers.
    • Put a small bit of Apoxie Sculpt inside the holes and push the antlers into place. Micro-adjust position of antlers until you are satisfied.
    • Take a small amount of Apoxie Sculpt and press it onto the base of the antlers where they connect to the head. Sculpt and press to create a smooth, natural transition from the head to antler. (TIP: study images of real animals with antlers to create a realistic antler base)
    • Once all clay has completely dried, paint the jackalope and stump – two to three coats or until satisfied with the coverage.
    • Lightly sand the birch branches. Add water to a small amount of acrylic paint to create a wash. Brush the wash onto the branches and quickly wipe with a paper towel. This will white wash the branches rather than paint them. Repeat if you want the wash to be less transparent.
    • Create the scene by placing the jackalope on the stump and arranging the birch branches behind. Adorn the jackalope with a pair glasses. Stand back and let the mellow vibe surround you.
    From Nervous Nelson…
    To Chill Bill
  • Paint a One-Of-A-Kind Sofa Table

    Paint a One-Of-A-Kind Sofa Table

    What is one way to hide a chaotic heap of twisted cords beneath a colossal TV screen? My solution includes strategically positioning a visual diversion: A custom console styled with arty pots on the bottom and a Nambé bowl on the top. This project is for a home with an interior that is a nice mix of Modern and Ethnic Chic. (What is Ethnic Chic?)

    Materials

    How To

    I’ve been pinning images of illustrated furniture for years. This project was my chance to dive in and give it a try. I found an unpainted sofa table that was the right size and style. Once the table was assembled, I removed the knobs, pulled out the drawer, and lightly sanded and primed all surfaces. Then I coated it with a few layers of satin latex paint and gave the drawer slides a very light coat to keep them in good sliding condition. I created an illustration the same dimensions as the drawer front using Adobe Illustrator. Next, I printed the illustration to size and it became my pattern. I traced the artwork by sandwiching a sheet of Saral Transfer paper between the print out and the drawer face. After the artwork was transferred to the drawer front, I drew on top of the traced image with a paint pen. NOTE: It was really important to let each layer dry the recommended amount of time, as well as, lightly sand between coats. After all the paint had cured for two weeks, I covered the table with several coats of poly acrylic (again – pay attention to drying times and sanding between coats). I rubbed a bar of soap on the drawer slides to improve their glide and attached the knobs. Kinda cool. Kinda artsy. I heart.

    Painted console table with southwestern pen drawing on drawer face
    Finished Table
  • Animated Chalk Art

    Animated Chalk Art

    Creating chalk drawings on dark paper is my current favorite drawing activity. For me, drawing the light instead of the shadows is a both a drawing technique and a formula for contentment. Converting these drawings into an animated video involved lots of watching and re-watching online animation tutorials. Here’s the basic process along with links to the videos I found most helpful:

    Preparation

    1. Create thumbnail sketches of actions to be animated.
    2. Work out the sequence of events.
    3. Write-out notes to the side of sketches to describe camera angles, zooming in or out, sound effects, etc…
    4. Photograph models or collect reference images for each major action. (I took photos of my son with a strong light coming from the bottom for this video)
    5. Modify the reference images in Photoshop as needed to unify lighting or amplify dramatic moments. Convert to black and white images.

      Drawing

      1. Print images at medium quality on copy paper (20#) to fit the size of your dark paper and scanner bed. (I use 8″x10″ black card stock which fits on my scanner bed)
      2. Transfer image to black paper, tracing only the very basic outlines and shapes.
      3. Draw the light values onto the dark paper using a white pastel pencil. Re-establish darkest values and lines with a kneaded eraser and/or pencil eraser.
      4. Scan each drawing and save as a jpeg. Improve contrast as needed in Photoshop.

      Animating

      1. Place jpeg images in a Photoshop document as layers.
      2. Select VIEW > Timeline to begin animating. Here are two video tutorials that I found very helpful:
      3. Save Timeline animations as mp4 clips.
      4. Create graphics in Powerpoint or Keynote.
      5. Combine animated clips, sound effects and music in iMovie.
      Final Chalk Art Animation by Marisa Mott
    6. 3 Sign Designs Inspired by Vintage Chintz and Steam Trains

      3 Sign Designs Inspired by Vintage Chintz and Steam Trains

      Just 120 miles North of Santa Fe, New Mexico is the captivating Village of Chama, home to the historic Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad. From late-May to mid-October, steam trains transport passengers from the sunshine of New Mexico to the snow covered mountains of Colorado, all on the same day.

      Railroad service to Chama began in 1881, it rapidly evolved into a boomtown, and ultimately matured into a lively Western-style business district. In the heart of the business district, Railyard Rebel, a one-of-a-kind shop filled with gorgeous clothing, jewelry, accessories, and New Mexico inspired gifts; offers a blend of western style and Bohemian design. The shop is housed in the Sterling and Sage building. Recently the shop and building needed signs and that is how my husband, Curtis (a sign painter), and I got involved.

      My primary objective for this project was to develop a logo for Railyard Rebel. Drawing inspiration from steam trains’ textural elements (iron, metal rivets, wood), and vintage floral textiles, I was able to create a logo that married vintage train character with western style and boho design.

      Railyard Rebel Logo Design

      Railyard Rebel’s new owners wanted to repurpose signs from the previous business.  There were four wooden signs with cut-out shapes resembling old Scenic Line of the World advertisements. In the before and after photo you can see that I tailored Railyard Rebel’s logo to fit the semi-circular band at the top of the sign and swapped the yellow and red for their brand colors.

      • Vintage Ad for Scenic Line of the World
      • Before and After

      Overhauling the train illustration involved a bit of research, but I was lucky enough to find a reference photos depicting one of Cumbres and Toltec’s engines. I rendered the train digitally in Procreate and Adobe Photoshop.

      Steam Engine No. 463 Reference
      Digitally Rendered Steam Engine

      Printed decals were produced once the design was complete. We cleaned, sanded, and painted the wooden signs, then carefully applied the decals. Curtis skillfully hand-painted the tassels and finials with a glossy white sign paint.

      Hand Painting Tassels and Finials

      Although there were a handful of design challenges, we were able to take four tired signs and breathe new life into them.

      Railyard Rebel Wooden Sign
      Final Sign Design

      A new sign was created to hang beneath the covered walkway.  Bright pink and gold floral elements on a smoky gray base serve as the backdrop for the logo’s light blue letters. It was finished with a hand-crafted wooden frame to generate an old western-feel.

      Framed Hanging Sign

      Sterling and Sage, the building housing Railyard Rebel and The Lofts @ Sterling & Sage, needed exterior ID signs. The owners’ design concept was to use a sheet of thick metal and have the letters cut out. The painted black finish was determined in the final stages of the design.

      Sterling and Sage – 534 Terrace Avenue, Chama, New Mexico
      Metal Signs with Cut-out Letters
      Installing the Sterling and Sage Metal Sign on the Front of the Building

      Railyard Rebel is looking forward to their first fall season since opening their doors in May 2022. It is a great time to ride the railroad, enjoy a day trip of exhilarating rugged mountain views, and relish the fall colors.

    7. Black and White Chalkboard Therapy

      Black and White Chalkboard Therapy

      “I just want to make beautiful things even if nobody cares.”

      SAUL BASS

      An artist’s dream – living in a place where you can draw on the walls. As a renter in a home with blackboard paint on the kitchen door, I kinda lived that dream. Using school chalk, I would draw for hours creating images to celebrate holidays (a few of my favorites below). Although there were no paychecks attached to these illustrations, there were gobs of benefits. The stress of my day job melted, my artistic confidence bloomed, and my wandering mind stayed focused in the moment. Not having to make color decisions was one of the many reasons I found it relaxing. Admittedly, I dug the subtractive drawing vibe; erasing areas for darker values and adding chalk for the lighter values.

      Cupid for Valentine’s Day
      Hipster Santa for Christmas
      Cowgirl for Fourth of July
      A Few of My Favorite Chalkboard Door Drawings

      I no longer reside in the house with the dreamy chalkboard door and was craving some black and white chalkboard therapy. The work-around solution? Taking a rediscovered pad of black paper, a brand spanking new white pastel pencil, and drawing! I drew each subject on a separate piece of paper then scanned. (Separate images in gallery below) Once I had digital images, I placed them into a single composition using Photoshop.

      Street Artist
      Harmony Player
      Spreading Harmony
      Separate Chalk Drawings

      This time my concept wasn’t based on a holiday. Instead, it was a play on words – harmony and harmonica. The next step was to Frankenstein words together and craft a message that flowed through the composition. “Harmony – Spread That Stuff Everywhere,” won out. Lots of tries later, I surrendered to design defeat; the message and the composition weren’t jiving. This is when not having a chalkboard door went from being a hurdle to being a springboard. This is when I realized I had all the components for an animated video. I created animated clips in Photoshop, combined and refined them (a bit) in iMovie, gathered copyright free music from YouTube creator’s studio, and built an artsy video (below). Beautiful to me (and maybe to you). “…even if nobody cares.”

    8. Jumbo Milagros for Mother’s Day

      Jumbo Milagros for Mother’s Day

      Celebrate Mom on her day by crafting, loud and proud Milagro charms that screams to the world, “This is MY Mom and I LOVE HER! ” This simple craft can be made by small or big hands. Milagros strung on ribbon magically transform into a stunning necklace that any Mom would wear with pride.

      Jumbo Milagros

      What are Milagros?

      Alternatives Global Market Place: “Milagros, meaning “miracle” in Spanish, are religious folk charms found in many areas of Latin America and Southern United States. They are used by people to petition for help or protection. These small metal charms are attached to altars, shrines or sacred objects. Milagro Charms can also be carried for protection and good luck. They are made in a variety of shapes, representing body parts, animals and many other objects. They are used to assist in focusing attention towards a specific ailment or need, based on the type of charm used. A milagro’s symbolism is not uniform and can take on individual meanings. ” Milagro Symbolism

      Supplies

      • Milagro Templates
      • Glue Stick
      • Tag Board or Cardboard (tag board is used to package cereal, crackers, frozen pizza etc..)
      • School Glue, Hot Glue, or 3D Fabric Paint
      • Aluminum Foil
      • Sharpies in a Variety of Colors
      • 1/8-inch wide (or close) Ribbon, cut into 6-inch segments for each Milagro
      • 1/2-inch wide (or close) Ribbon, cut into 20-inch length for necklace
      • Hole Punch
      • Scissors
      • Scotch Tape

      Directions

      1. Print Milagro templates.
      2. Cut out each Milagro 1/2-inch away from outer edges. Put written descriptions aside to put on the back of milagros later.
      3. Coat the back of each Milagro template with glue stick.
      4. Adhere Milagro templates to cardboard/tag board and smooth out with your hand.
      5. Using school glue, hot glue or 3D fabric paint, draw over all the lines to create a raised areas. Allow plenty of time to dry and harden.
      6. Cut out cardboard/tag board shapes close to the edges.
      7. Lay Milagro shapes face down on foil. *Note: if you want the shiny side of the foil to show, put the shape face down on the dull side.
      8. Cut the foil 1/4-inch away from the edge of the shape.
      9. Wrap the foil around the edges of the shape and press onto the back. Clip into corners or along curves as needed to make the foil follow the edges.
      10. Tape edges on the back side
      11. Rub the foil side with your finger to make the raised areas stand out.
      12. Color with Sharpies and allow to dry.
      13. Adhere the written description of the Milagro to the non-foil side.
      14. Punch a hole inside each semi-circle “loop” with a hole punch.
      15. Thread the thinner ribbon through this “loop” and tie a knot on the end. Repeat for each Milagro.
      16. String the Milagros onto the longer length of ribbon for a colorful, blingy, charm necklace.
    9. Fabric Paint Saves Stained Pants

      Fabric Paint Saves Stained Pants

      I almost lost one of my favorite pair of pants to a defiant paint stain. Before giving them the heave-ho, I devised a rescue plan using fabric paint. Gambling on the pants looking like a chintzy couch from 1983 or looking like a boho oldster, I chose a watercolor flower pattern in indigo. Now, I’m wearing them and a smile. Here are the directions for this fabric paint rescue:

      Supplies

      • Acrylic Paint (I used Craft Smart, Premium Satin, Midnight Blue)
      • Delta Ceramcoat Textile Medium
      • Small Spray Bottle filled with water (to create watercolor effects)
      • Scrap Cardboard – cut into the shape of pant leg to prevent paint from bleeding through to the opposite side of pants. Stuff inside leg of pant while painting.
      • Paint Brushes
      • Paper Towels
      • Paper Plate Palette
      • Optional: Print Outs of watercolor flower patterns for reference

      Instructions

      1. Place cardboard inside pant legs to tighten fabric (which improves the painting surface), and prevent paint bleed-through to the other side.
      2. Prepare your painting supplies:
        • On a paper plate, mix a blob of acrylic paint with textile medium.
        • Have a cup of water available for brush washing and dipping.
        • Fill the spray bottle with water.
        • Keep paper towels near for dabbing your brush, sopping up spilled paint, or blotting paint application that is too heavy.
      3. Paint using watercolor flower reference or your imagination.
        • To achieve a wet-on-wet effect, spray the fabric first and paint with diluted, watery paint.
        • To achieve a dry brush effect, dip your brush in undiluted acrylic paint and lightly blot it with paper towel. Test a couple of brush strokes on a piece of scrap paper. Then stroke paint onto a dry area of the pants.
      4. Remove cardboard and allow painted pants to dry 24 hours.
      5. Turn pants inside-out and iron painted areas, without steam, on medium heat.
      6. Done! Now it’s time to go forth and show off your mad pant painting skills. * Download the painted denim laundry instructions for care.

       


      Laundry Instructions

    10. Grocery Bag Bird Ornaments

      Grocery Bag Bird Ornaments

      A Two-for-One Craft: Celebrate Earth Day by painting paper pollinators and honor the earth by upcycling waste found around the house. This simple craft can be made and ready to hang before Mother Earth finishes her rotation.

      Supplies

      • Paper Grocery Bags
      • Crayons, Paint, Markers or Paint Pens
      • Stapler
      • Shredder Paper
      • Scissors
      • Rubber Bands, String, Yarn or Ribbon
      • Bird Template

      Directions

      1. Download and print bird templates
      2. Cut grocery bags down the center side folds.
      3. Turn bags inside-out so non-printed sides are showing.
      4. Layer a template on top of the bag. Bag should be folded so there are two layers.
      5. Hold the bird template in place (or lightly tape) and cut leaving a 1/2 inch margin around the outer edge of the bird. Repeat for each ornament. Keep bird shapes that were cut together, paired together.
      6. Decorate one side of each pair with crayons, paint, markers, or paint pens.
      7. Lay the decorated piece on top of the undecorated piece and staple half way around the edge of the bird. (It will look like metal stitches) Do not staple all the way around.
      8. Stuff the bird with paper from your shredder. Tuck away any wayward pieces.
      9. Place a rubber band, knotted piece of string/yarn/ribbon near the neck on the interior. Let the loop side hang out of the bird to use as a hanger. Staple in place.
      10. Finish stapling the edge of the bird.
      11. Take a photo and Tweet your handiwork!
    11. Cactus Patch Mail Art

      Cactus Patch Mail Art

       

      Cactus Patch Mail Art

      I just finished teaching a Mail Art class at Pennysmiths Paper. In the class, we discovered the different effects that could be created using Studio Series Dual-Tip Alcohol Markers. The markers are a perfect tool for exploring blending techniques, watercolor tricks, and doodling patterns. The two-hour class was over before we could draw our fourth envelope, the Cactus Patch. Below are the steps I followed to create the mail art pictured above.

      Supplies

      • Envelope
      • Studio Series Alcohol Dual-Tip Marker Set (available at Pennysmiths Paper)
      • Uniball Signo White Pen, Broad (available at Pennysmiths Paper)
      • 1 sheet heavyweight paper, cut to fit inside the envelope
      • 1 sheet heavyweight paper, to protect the surface where you are working
      • Post-it Notes
      • Mailing Label (optional)

      Steps

      1. Start by placing post-it notes on the front of the envelope over the address area to keep it the same color as the envelope.
      2. Insert a cut sheet of heavyweight paper inside the envelope to keep the markers from bleeding onto the backside.
      3. Select 3-4 harmonious colors (these would be next to each other on the color wheel or all the same color family). Blues or greens work well. Go a bit wilder by using orange, yellow and red or purple, red and blue.
        • Using the brush end of the pen, make an inverted “U” that flares out a bit at the bottom.
        • Grab another color and draw a stripe just to the right of your first line. The stripes can touch or overlap on the edge. Let the stripe get wider as you move towards the bottom.
        • Repeat until the “U” shape is filled with stripes of color. 
        • Using the fine tip in the same color as your original U-shape, dot the outside to create needles.
        • Repeat the above steps next to your original U-shape, but make this one smaller in size and overlap it a bit. This will create the illusion of depth. 
        • Continue making different sizes and overlapping until the bottom 2/3 of the envelope is covered.
      4. Pick two harmonious colors for the blossoms. Using the fine tip, make clusters of upside-down teardrop shapes along the top each cactus.
      5. Select one of the lightest markers and use the fine tip to draw lines for the sky.
      6. Use your white Signo pen and marker’s fine tips to draw different patterns lining the cactus stripes. If you need some pattern ideas, check out the black and white handout (below). 
      7. With the white Signo pen, add needles to the edges.
      8. Finally, draw concentric teardrop lines inside the cactus blossoms using the white Signo pen.
      9. Remove post-it masks. Cover address area with a mailing label for cleaner edges (optional)
      10. You can play with the design even more by:
        • Mixing-in different types of cactus – add a barrel cactus or prickly pear.
        • Create a sea life version with coral, starfish, and seaweed. 
        • Finish the envelope by lining it with colorful paper. Envelope liner templates are available at Pennysmiths Paper.

      Cactus Patch Timelapse  Video

       

      Black and White Handout

       

      Looking for more inspiration?

      1. Little Chimp Society, Mail Me Art Gallery  https://www.thelittlechimpsociety.com/gallery-mma4
      2. Pinterest: Search Mail Art or Envelope Art
      3. Zentangles : https://craftwhack.com/how-to-zentangle
      4. YouTube: Search Alcohol Marker videos
      5. Link to the time-lapse video (below) of this technique: Cactus Mail Art