Malware message resolved

Startled   Sold

8 x 10  acrylics on stretched canvas

I'm not the most technical person in the world, so when people started telling that got a malware warning message when clicking on my blog today, I wasn't sure what to do about it.

But like everything, a little research and some factual reassurance by major players have convinced me that I have the issue resolved now.

The message was linking my site with rpc blogrolling dot com, a supposed host for malware.  Apparently quite a number of other blogs have been getting the same message when clicked over the last few days.

Publish Post

   My Norton antivirus scanner picked up nothing on a full scan of my laptop that I use for blogging.  Next I did a check on Google Webmaster Tools for a diagnostic of my blog.   The result:  Google has not detected any malware on this site.

Ok.  No viruses, no malware, so what?   Looking through some help sections on Blogger I found some similar problems that seemed to relate back to blog rolls on blogs.  So I decided to remove all my blog lists on the site, then slowly add them back in to see if that resolves the problem.


Please let me know if you do get this message again and never fear, I will reinstate all my blog links again!  If I miss anyone, please send me a message and I'll add you back.  


Meanwhile, having some paint left over from Tripod's last portrait, I did another.  Its his alter ego this time.  The fight or flight within him is a fine line and when surprised he generally flees.  His invisible enemies win then.

I came across him in the barn lying in some sawdust.  The startled look and lighting was something I wanted to try to capture.

The Stalker

 The Stalker

8 x 10 acrylics

SOLD

 Tripod's attention span is pretty limited, especially when in the house.  Outside however, he can focus something in his sight and stand perfectly still for the longest time.  Especially if the object of his 'affection' is a mouse or a rabbit.

In that frozen window of time all his energy is focused, he barely blinks.  The only movement is the very tip of his tail twitching and sometimes a  slow motion movement as he inches forward.  He, like most animals, believes that if you move in slow motion, nothing can see you.  You become invisible.

Tripod also believes that he can become invisible if he takes something that doesn't belong to him, destroys something or pees on something.  He doesn't seem to understand how very visible that makes him to humans.  However, that's another story.

I captured the stalker's gaze in acrylics on an 8" x 10" stretched canvas.  I use acrylic paints very seldomly.  I usually end up at some level of frustration with them and always forget how quickly they dry.  But I had cleaned off my oil palette and thought I'd try the acrylics once more.  And a more appropriate viewing distance.  I so dislike the constant 'in your face' views that are online.

There may be a few final adjustments, then it will be presented to 'Sir' for approval.

New experiment

After some input yesterday and some further tweaking, the new logo is now complete as you can see from the header of the blog.  I'm excited that I now have something that represents me as an artist and hopefully will be timeless enough to last well into the future.

Now comes the task of using that logo or brand to create some marketing materials with it.  I have a number of ideas in mind in addition to the usual business cards, but I'm starting small and keeping costs at reasonable levels right now.

I've been working on a new piece that involves gyotaku loosely, but in a very new medium for me. I've used molding paste on canvas and impressed it with fish bones, crushed shell and sand and overlaid with washes of colour.  Now a gel transfer (keep your fingers crossed that it works) will be applied tomorrow if it dries.  Its feeling more like a piece of sculpture than a painting and I'm quite enjoying creating it, whether it turns out well or not.

This image isn't the final piece and shows the basic background and colours, along with some seaside 'bits' that I am experimenting with for possible inclusion.  Who knows where it will end up yet.  The piece is small - just 6 x 12 - as I wanted to use it as a test piece to see the new mediums would work.

Its all in a name

As an artist, one of the most important images that belongs to me is my signature.  It defines who I am, it is legal proof of my identity, it my signature of authenticity on my work, it confirms my place in history.  It is my logo.

In branding myself as an artist I always considered images of my work. Then I thought that the images can and will change over time, but the image that would stay consistent would be my signature, so why not use that as the brand for my art.

I have created my signature image here and am now trying to decide on the final wording and although I likely know the answer, I still seek input from my peers.  The two taglines on the signatures above define what I produce.  Both are fine art but one has the addition of gyotaku to it.  This is where I toss out questions into the ether and seek other perspectives.

1. I seem to have found a niche in the world of fish and gyotaku, but I wonder if I will continue to do so into the future?  
2. Does 'fine art' cover gyotaku as well and make the addition of the word to the tagline redundant?  
3. If I move into another avenue of art in two or five or ten years time, will this make what would then be an established logo which represents me, outdated?
4. Is the signature the image that defines the logo and brand and the tag line something that can change or are they inextricably bound to become one unit?
5. Are the colours of the logo and the tag line pleasing and readable?
6. Does a graphic need to be added to the image?
7. Are there any safety concerns about using a signature as a logo?  i.e.  can it be 'lifted'?

And speaking of all in a name, I am happy to announce that Elaine of Cedar Knoll Farm was the winner of the small 'Uncle Vinnie' original print that I offered in a blog  post draw last week.  Thanks to all who participated and shared their stories about their own 'Uncle Vinnie'.  I appreciate you taking the time to comment and share.

And for those who have not seen the update for the bluegills print, here it is.  I blogged about it on Watermarks yesterday.  This is a sneak preview of part of my gyotaku project that I am currently working on, generously funded by NLAC and due to be completed in April 2011.

Clouds

I love big white cumulus clouds. Nothing symbolizes a warm summer day than these, at least for me. Cumulus aren't as frequent here, even though we're often we're blanketed by cloud, just not ones as distinct as cumulus or perhaps a combination of cloud formations.


Clouds provide endless opportunity for drawing and painting and I took time to paint one in oils.  This is 5 x 7 and can be purchased in my 'Under $50' page of this blog.