It's nice to have hobbies, right?

[amberdreams]

Sadly my knight never made it past the initial shortlist, and my artist friend didn't get her design accepted either, which was much more surprising. So that's a shame - though I'm still planning a long weekend in Lincoln next summer with my Mum so we can peruse the competition then!

However, I entered a design for an otter trail in Dartmoor and that one got accepted - so sometime in December/early January I'll be getting a 3 foot tall otter sculpture to paint up! That one is being run by the National Park, not the usual company who do the trails nationwide, and I think it's slightly less professional in its approach to things. The reason I say that is because I sent in a Harry Otter design first of all, and the chap in charge emailed back to say they already had one of those, so would I like to submit something else? The deadline was only a couple of days away as I'd only heard about the project late, but he wasn't bothered, said I could take a few more days if I wanted. So I asked if anyone had done the Hound of the Baskervilles (which is set on Dartmoor). He said, no, and he'd reserve the design idea for me! Still i was happy to get official confirmation today.

This one doesn't pay a stipend like the Wild in Art ones do, but I can claim back up to £100 for materials, and if mine is one of a 'golden' 25 otters that get auctioned, then I get 10% of the auction price. Which is better than nothing, though I've no clue how these golden otters get chosen.

So with the otter and three large plastic ducks to paint for the Grand Norwich Duck Race 2017, I think I'll be quite busy for a while. LOL

It's been pointed out that I should have shared some piccies so here they are:
The Otter-hound of the Baskervilles

The Harry Otter that was rejected

My Gorinion submission I just sent in (PLEASE DON'T SHARE)

I've also submitted two book bench designs on a Jane Austen theme for a trail in Basingtoke, and these are the three ducks I'm going to try and paint for Norwich next year.

They are about a foot and a half long!

Comments

[milly-gal.livejournal.com]

You are officially THE girl to go to for the trails artwork sculptures :D I'm sorry about the Knight but well done for the Otter. Shame someone already snagged Harry Otter but I can't wait to see what you come up with for Hound of the Baskervilles :D Is one going to share their design for the ducks? ;) ♥

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

I haven't done the ducks yet but I'll deffo share! I've updated this post with piccies too.

[milly-gal.livejournal.com]

Hang on *heads back out of gmail* HOW VERY FECKING AWESOME! I am especially taken with the Harry Otters and your new design plus the Gorilla (he's so fab) and if you get the Basingstoke one you SO have to let me come say hey :D It;s only half hour from me :)

[galwithglasses.livejournal.com]

Otters and ducks sound like fun. I liked the knught a lot and am sorry it didn't get chosen. I'm looking forward to whatever you do with the Otter of the Baskervilles. You could do Sherlock or Watson, one or the otter anyhow. 8-) What's this about ducks? Are these like yellow rubber ducks? Fun fun fun!

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Post now has piccies! :D

[galwithglasses.livejournal.com]

Both the otters are awesome. I really like the night scene on the bottom of the Sherlock one. The duck project should be a lot of fun. I know some US cities do these themed paintings. Is this something really popular in the UK? Here, I've seen fish, cows in Chicago that were some of the really early ones like this, and moose near where I grew up. I think they had one here in the Minneapolis area too but I can't remember for sure. Maybe they were Snoopy dogs.

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

It does seem to be taking off here - we had lambananas in Liverpool many years ago, that was the first time I'd seen anything like this. Since then I've seen owls in Birmingham, and book benches and Paddington Bears in London, gorillas and dragons in Norwich - and now I'm on the mailing list there are plans for the next 2-3 years in different towns and cities. One in Dundee earlier this year raised over £85k in their auction, so you can see why charities are interested in the events!

[kalliel]

Sorry to hear about your knight. <333 But I'm excited for the otter and ducks! :DDD And besides, otters and ducks are clearly more awesome than knights, as a general rule. :P

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

The ducks are certainly most punnable - my fave idea so far is Ducktor Who. I've updated the post with piccies if you're interested. :D

[dizzojay.livejournal.com]

They both sound like fun - I can't wait to see the works in progress!

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

I've updated with some pics. :D

[sillie]

Ooooh... :D Love the otter design, and your Gorinion looks great too. <3

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Hee! Thank you! I think I might change Gorinions to Grinions though. It's easier to say.

[kalliel]

"there's pics now if you're interested" PSSSH OF COURSE I'M INTERESTED!!! :DD

I LOVE THE DUCKS (and have an appropriate icon for it)! The Harry Potter and Holmes otters are adorable, too. Shame HP was already taken--the owl is PERFECT. But I look forward to seeing your other otter in its final form, out in the wild!

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Eeeee duck icon! :D :D

Now all I have to worry about is translating the Photoshop designs into actual 3D painting with actual paint brushes! LOL

[madebyme-x.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry to hear about the knight, but I wish you all best with all your new entries (the Sherlock otter is genius - I love it!!!)

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Ha ha I was surprised nobody else had thought of the Sherlock connection, but I ain't complaining! And thank you!

[toratio.livejournal.com]

The Baskerville otter is gorgeous. I love the colour and the full moon.

This art trail thing is very cool. I hope you have some success with them.

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Well I've already had my Swinions pig and now the otter and the ducks, so whatever happens with anything else, I'm calling it a success. It's not like I'm a professional artist so I don't need to worry about the venture earning a living for me. :D

[toratio.livejournal.com]

It's nice to do something for fun and not have to worry about earning money.

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

It certainly is! I am so lucky to be able to do this. Early retirement is fecking awesome.

[somersault-j.livejournal.com]

Sorry your design never made it. But yeah for the otter. That's totally cool :D

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Thanks! He also has the advantage of being relatively small so will fit in my house for painting, and he gets delivered to me too! :D

[anactoria.livejournal.com]

Aw, sorry your knight didn't get picked... but these look really cool! I'm looking forward to some duck-related puns. XD

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

I'm definitely going for Ducktor Who...

[siennavie.livejournal.com]

Wow, just wow at all these lovely pieces! :D You're definitely keeping busy; I don't know where you're finding the time to do all of them and run fandom!

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Run fandom?? LOL!!! There's a thought. If I ruled Fandom, there's be no wank, and every weekend there'd be a convention in different fun places and cities all over the world, and my elite eschelon of fanfriends would go to every one of them.

[siennavie.livejournal.com]

In my world, fandom revolves around the RBB!

I like - scratch that - LOVE your plan; now we just gotta figure out how to elect you...

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

With a platform like that I'd get elected, right? Beats Trump hands down!

[siennavie.livejournal.com]

No contest for sure! *\o/*

[hugemind.livejournal.com]

Ooo, an otter trail sounds awesome (otters!!!) and Sherlock Otter looks fun!

You seem have a lot of these types of art trail things there. :)

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

They do seem to be everywhere, now I've tuned into them! I'm also trying to win a Sunbear in Birmingham and a hare in Norwich...

[aerynsun5.livejournal.com]

Sorry to hear about your knight, but the otters sound awesome! I look forward to hearing/seeing more!

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

I'll be sure to keep you posted! :D

[dear-tiger.livejournal.com]

Ahaha, whut? :D I get distracted by wirk for five minutes, and you are painting giant duckies and otters with the Hound if Baskervilles theme. I love it!! You rock.

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Some people have proper jobs where they are awesome and save lives. Me, I have giant ducks and otters to paint. This is how the cookie crumbles. *nods*