Tick Tock - it's Time for Clocks

I've fallen in love with one of  Zazzle's newest products -- their clocks! Available either round or square and in two sizes, they will look good in any decor.

I made some this week using the patterns I've recently created in Pixelmator.  These will coordinate with the plates, mugs, teapots and pitchers and will look nice on the kitchen wall.

Green and Blue Leafy Pattern Clock by 3DDesignsByJayne

Blue and Gold Tiled Pattern Clock by 3DDesignsByJayne

I also created some using my equine artwork, created in DAZ 3D.

Buckskin Horse in the Forest Clock by 3DDesignsByJayne
See additional Clocks

Run Like the Wind - Galloping Paint Horses Clock by 3DDesignsByJayne
Shop for more Clocks at Zazzle

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Other artists at Zazzle are doing some wonderful things with the clocks.

For example - I love the way the thick black numbers complement the black hands on this clock by Anderson Designs. I love the soft green too - one of my favorite colors :-)

Abstract Floral Stripe Light Colors Clock by Anderson_Designs
See other Stripe Wall Clocks

Ready for a little Christmas in July? (I can't believe it's July already!) This clock by cutechristmas  has some cute snowmen on it, with a dark red border.

Happy Holidays Snowmen Round Clock by cutechristmas
Shop for other Clocks online at Zazzle

I think it was a stroke of genius to put Da Vinci's Vitruvian Man on a clock -- I wish I had thought of it!

da vinci vitruvian man clock by funny_tshirt
Create a clock at Zazzle

When creating my clocks, often the hardest part was deciding whether or not to put numbers on them. As you can see from my clocks above, some I added all the numbers, and others had no numbers or just four numbers.

This clock,  by SuevianArts, is perfect just as it is and doesn't need numbers.

Purple butterflower clock by SuevianArts
Shop for additional Clocks at Zazzle

Here's another stroke of genius. This clock looks like a golf ball. What golfer wouldn't love this on the wall of their Man Cave?

Golf Ball Wall Clock by dgpaulart
More Golf Wall Clocks

As you can see - the possibilities are endless. Now it's your turn. If you are a Zazzle artist or designer, you're invited to link to your clocks in the Linky tool below. Use Option 1 in the Link Widget on the page of the Zazzle product/design you'd like to add. It will show up below as a small thumbnail and when clicked on, will link directly to your product.

My First Abstract Artwork

Anyone who has seen my art galleries on Renderosity and Cornucopia can tell that my usual genre of art leans toward realism -- either landscapes, equine art, romantic couples etc :-)

But several years ago, when I used to work in Bryce 3D, I found some neat tutorials which showed how to create abstract art in Bryce.  I was fascinated and loved the effects they were getting.

Years went by, I went back to my landscapes, started working in DAZ and doing more people, then moved on to Vue d'Esprit and more landscapes.

But I've seen some lovely abstracts recently and wanted to try one of my own.

Even though I have binders of printed tutorials in my home office, I couldn't find the one on abstracts in Bryce.  So I did an online search to see if I could find one.

I found several online discussions on the subject and this tutorial, by Ending Eternity at DeviantArt turned out to be just what I needed!

The instructions are easy to follow and I really enjoyed playing around with it.

Here's the first abstract artwork I came up with after playing around with the concept for a while:

I was really please with how rich the colors appeared, but by changing the colors of the lights in Bryce, I'll bet I can produce some different effects with the same basic setup.

I think this particular design seems to lend itself to products like iPad cases, laptop sleeves etc. Some examples are shown below.

Sapphire Blue Abstract iPad Case by 3DDesignsByJayne

Sapphire Blue Abstract Sleeves For Macbooks by 3DDesignsByJayne

Sapphire Blue Abstract Mouse Pad by 3DDesignsByJayne
Browse other Abstract Mousepads

So while my mind was on abstract design, I decided to have a look around Zazzle and see what other artists were producing in this genre.  And there certainly is a lot of variety!

Here are some examples: 

Firestorm Abstract Art iPad Case by OniArts

Keeping within the category of electronics cases, this iPad case features rich reds and oranges on a black background. The name "Firestorm" perfectly describes this lovely abstract by OniArts.

Autumn Mosaic Abstract Ipad Sleeve by Bebops

This design, by Bebops, also features fall-like colors, this time in a mosaic design, which looks great on this iPad sleeve.

abstract circle i pad case by abstractdesigns

This iPad case has a "grungy", worn look to it, with faded print and blotched watercolor effects.

In addition to the iPad cases and laptop sleeves, abstract art is a natural choice for posters, pillows and other items for the home.

Wind - Abstract Art Pillow by MyOtherPlanet

I'm not sure if it's supposed to, but the swirling design on this one reminds me of oil on water :-)

Fiesta Throw Pillow by SophieLerlei

This pillow just seems like a happy pillow. In fact, the color scheme would look great on my own sofa!

 

Steel butterflower pillows by SuevianArts

This pillow features a design that resembles a mix between a butterfly and a flower in grey and steel-blue colors.

Quadratic Spiders Poster by vilhei

The golden orbs and lines on the dark background make me think more of the night sky than the spiders in the title of this piece by vilhei.

Abstract Gold Squares Poster by made_in_atlantis

While many abstracts are obviously digital (like the ones I created), I think this one is an actual painting. Hand painted, or digital, I like the effects.

I hope you have enjoyed this brief foray into the world of abstract art and design.  I'm certainly going to play in the genre some more and see what I can create!

Now it's your turn. If you're a designer or artist on Zazzle, you're invited to link to your abstract designs in the Linky tool below. Use Option 1 in the Link Widget on the page of the Zazzle product/design you'd like to add. It will show up below as a small thumbnail and when clicked on, will link directly to your product.