first auction phase is over & keeping short

... it was epic. I know the last minutes of an ebay auction are the most exciting but this rocked so much. I'm already looking forward to phase 2 and the final phase in 9 days.
I'm a bit very proud my illustrations did so well. And I hope the last two will do equally good.

The last two items can be found here and here. Both look much better in real life O_o

Since April's already rushing to the final days I decided to finish my new story. I really wanted to keep short but it's quite impossible. If you're used to 6 panels and have blank pages again it's like "I can write as much as I want".
And I already fear the point where my editor takes the red marker and erases all those funny little details I spend so much time on. Doh...
Anyways, I want to start getting my canvases out again, mess around with colors and mix my basic colors in jars. We collected so many, they scream for being used.

And I really started missing the fine texture of linen canvas and the feeling of scrubbing the color into it with a Morani brush. Nothing's better than finally getting a color right and having the final illustration finished. It's different from digital art and quite addictive and yes, I still worship acrylics.

huge TOKYOPOP auction for Japan

My publisher Tokyopop (Germany) started a huge auction. All proceeds will help Japan- which is why I donated some of my favourite artworks on canvas done for the Kulla series (for those who asked: working on book 4 right now ). All canvases are signed. If anybody is interested in which book those can be found let me know.

***Official text***
The staff of TOKYPOP as well as all our authors and artists have been deeply saddened by the recent events in Japan. The earthquake and ensuing flood have cost many people their lives and left many more homeless.

We also want to do something to help the people of Japan. Our artists Anike Hage, Anna Hollmann, Anne Pätzke, Asa Eckström, David Füleki, Inga Steinmetz, Marie Sann, Mikiko Ponczeck, Natalia Batista, Natalie Wormsbecher and Reyhan Yildirim have expressed their wish to auction signed originals of their work for the good cause. Akira Toriyama, the artist behind Dragon Ball, has also kindly allowed us to include an original drawing from 2002 in the auction. Plus, we will be auctioning prized display pieces from past conventions and book fairs, which we have often received requests for.

All proceeds from these auctions will go to the German aid association Aktion Deutschland Hilft. In this way, we hope to make a small contribution toward helping victims of the earthquake catastrophe rebuild their lives.
*****

List of all artworks available

Link to the eBay Store

Link to the (German) Website Gemeinsam für Japan

First Auction starts at 18:00  (MEZ) on Monday, the 18.04.

Next to the awesome news that you can bid on original artwork of myself *hehe* the biggest whoa might be he fact that you can get one of the original drawings of Toriyama-san!

I cross my fingers and hope my canvases will find a new home. Anne

Questions? Shoot!

If anybody wants to spread news and help copy the official text into your journal.

The Stretcher Frame

So... some people asked me if they really have to use the wedges attached to a canvas. The answer is simple: Yes, you have to, if you don´t want to have a tottering canvas when you work on it.

Two examples... left is linen (my favourite) with very strong and small wedges. Rhe right one is cotton canvas (which I use because I´ll run soon out of linen and can´t buy new before tomorrow..). The cotton wegdes are cheaper than the linen ones and tend to twist and break. One reason why I hate to use them. :(



So, how u use it (example on linen canvas)

1. Step Put the wedge with the angled side slightly into the pre-cut space left for the wedge. There are two spaces for two wedges, you have to start *of course* with the lower one.


2. Step take the hammer and try to hit it evenly. If you have "scratches" on the front showing up after hammering don´t worry. Those will vanish when you start to work on it. Just... try to hit the wedge straight - or else it might break or you might hit yourself.


3. Step put in the upper wedge (again the angles side "sliding" on the frame).. take the hammer and drive it into the frame.


4. Step admire the wedges :) you can see that the frame slightly departed. Don´t worry, this is absolutely ok. You frame won´t fall apart. This happens while strecthing and will stay like that. The wedges will keep everything in place.


When if the canvas perfectly strechted? If you are done with all wedges and tap lightly on the canvas with your fingers it should sound like a drum. I love the vibrating sound, it shows you that the canvas is ready.

If you want to buy canvas with plastic wedges attached: Don´t buy those. The worst quality available. I bought those once at the very beginning. You can´t really use the wedges and the canvas will start sagging sooner or later >_>

So, back to work, I have five canvases waiting to get primed. Dang @_@ The flue got me, I guess it´s normal in spring to run around sniffing and coughing.

corridor

due to massive shortage of space in my living room (and workspace) i had to put the canvas of my second book on the walls @_@ it´s strange. I am not a fan of things on my wall but there was no other possibilty.

I´m already dithering about the other 40 canvases... oh my.