Please Feed the Machine

Being a working artist is often a balance between what do I want to make and what can I sell?

I want to make things that are exciting, that I care about and that genuinely add something to someone's life.  

Maybe that is too lofty an ideal.

Designing marketable work has never been my strength. I prefer postcards to greeting cards, inspirational sayings with quirky designs over holiday cards and handbound journals.  

And yet..

Does the world need my take on a jingle bells pun card?

Does anyone really want a print of my chihuahua in a santa hat (wait, yes, maybe.)

I know what I am good at. I love creative solutions. I love collaboration. I thrive in experimentation. 

And then last year, deep in the pandemic, I brainstormed:

What if I made custom artwork on my own terms?

I thought about the Drawaton 3000, one of my favorite parts of the annual Draw-A-Thon in New Orleans.  It was a large cardboard covered room with a tiny window. You inserted your word or idea and out the other side came a drawing.  (hilariously, I entered the word "happy" and received a drawing of my friend and New Orleans artist Happy Burbeck)

What if I could be the Drawaton but with collage. What if I could recreate the surprise and joy and whimsy of a machine that cranks out drawings inspired by input from the patron. 

The Custom Collage Machine was born.

Part custom artwork, a little collaboration and a unique gift all in one.

Though the machine is capable of all sorts of custom artwork, this season it is sticking to portraits.  

Portraits of your kids, one special person, your parents, a group of friends. A great gift for bridal parties or siblings.  I can memorialize a special animal pal or someone you lost.  

New this year, you can order prints of the final collage! Which means you can send the original to one person and prints to anyone else.  For example, order a custom collage portrait of your siblings--send the original to your parents and prints to your brothers and sisters! So many gifts at once. Or a photo of your friend's bridal party. Send the bride the originals and the rest of the party a high quality art print.  

Is this more work for me?

Absolutely.  I should stick to chihuahua-in-a-santa-hat cards. But someone is already doing that and better than I would.  I love collage, I love making new work and I love a creative challenge.

It's like a little gift to me. Offering one of a kind gifts like this allows me to make the work I want to make and gives you a chance to order something special. I am not making 400 prints of t-shirt I thought was hilarious but doesn't sell.  I am not generating stock to have options at the markets.  I am making something unique to you, to order, at your specifications. . Printing out your photo is the only 100% new material. I make work from my vast collection of colors and patterned paper, and ship using reusable materials whenever possible.

Because the Custom Collage Machine is so specialized, it only opens a few times a year.  Order your unique portrait by December 6. Or get on the waitlist to know the next time it opens.