Or - simply enter your email address in the "subscribe to our mailing list" box at the right.
I’ll send out the coupon codes to the newsletter mailing
list next week.
Why should you sign up, even if you’re already a fan of my
Facebook page?Because a lot of posts
don’t get out to everyone.Unless
there’s activity (such as Likes or comments) on a post, it’s likely that only a
few folks will see it on their feeds.So, if you want to be sure to get announcements of new artwork and
products,notification of blog posts and
sales, and special offers such as discount codes, I encourage you to sign up
for the email newsletter.I promise I
won’t give your email address to anyone else, and I won’t inundate your inbox
with constant pestering.Scout’s Honor!
I’m really excited to present this piece.I feel like it’s taken my work to a new
level.
Interestingly, it took a trip through the dark to get there.
I don’t talk about it much, but I struggle with occasional
depression.It runs in the family, and
fortunately, it’s never been severe.There are just certain days when I can’t seem to get my thoughts turned
the right way ‘round.
All my doubts and fears are magnified, my motivation and
enthusiasm seems to evaporate.For
whatever reason, even though I KNOW I’m not being rational, I can’t seem to
find my way to the positive outlook I usually have.I can’t seem to manifest ME.It’s frustrating and…well, depressing.
By now, I’ve learned to recognize that it’s temporary, so it
doesn’t worry me too much.I just have
to ride it out, and eventually the dark cloud will lift.
I have learned that on those days, it’s best to set aside
creative endeavors (my Muse usually visits on brighter days) and keep busy with
something basic, or find a distraction to maybe cheer me up.
The other day was One of Those Days.
After spending the morning cranky, unfocussed and frustrated, unable
to find a distraction to grab my attention, I decided to grab my sketchbook.
I didn’t want to feel the way I was feeling, so I thought
about feelings I DO like to feel.
One of those feelings is a sense of Mystery.That enchanting
sense that wondrous things are possible, that the answers to all those deep
questions are out there (or within, or both), and they are extraordinary and
magnificent.It’s a feeling of
sacredness, of reverence; it’s the secret song that serenades the Soul.
This feeling is one of the reasons I’m drawn to studying sacred
art and spirituality in its many forms, to explore the explorations of other
minds that have delved deep into the Mystery and shared their insights. It’s one of the reasons I’m fascinated with
symbols – how they can convey secret messages to those who learn their
language.
“Mystery” is the result of this escape into the refuge of my
imagination and inspiration.
"Mystery" by Cristina McAllister
There are many symbols entwined in this elaborate mandala,
many images that invite you to ponder their significance.There is even a secret code – an idea I’ve
been contemplating integrating into my work for awhile.
"Mystery" StarCode message.
The blue bands with the stars contain a message, encoded in
a simple alphabet-substitution cryptogram.The message in the art doesn’t contain enough information to crack it
(though you’re welcome to try!), so I’ve provided a sample, below, for you to
work with, if you are inclined to take a whack at solving the mystery.Please let me know if you do!
A sample of my StarCode - can YOU decipher the secret message?
Future works will contain more starcode ciphers.
This piece is more elaborate than my previous work, and took
a lot more time and effort to create.I
was striving to balance complexity with legibility, to create an overall impression
of ineffable mystery that dissolves into comprehension as one wanders through the
details.I wanted to create a sense of
exploration and discovery, to try to capture that sense of wonder and reverence
I value so much.
To that end, I’m not going to explain all the symbols in
this one.I’ll leave that for you to
discover.Many of them I’ve used before,
and have written about in art descriptions and blog posts.The internet is a fantastic resource for
finding answers.And do not discount
your own, intuitive interpretations – they are just as valid, and perhaps even
more meaningful, than the established connotations.
What does the Mystery whisper to you?
So...I feel like this piece has raised the bar for me, and it taught me something; my Muse is willing to visit me on my bad days, if I invite her in :)
Fine art prints of this piece are available from my print
shop (you can also zoom in to get clear images of the details here):
I've been restructuring, redesigning, prepping art, adding watermarks,
writing blurbs and FAQ answers, diving back into Dreamweaver and going: “Wait…how
does this work, again?”. I closed my
Shopify account. I switched web
hosts.I added social media thingies. I created
an email newsletter sign-up.I even inserted
widgets!!!
My experiment with Shopify, which allowed me to make items
directly available for sale from my website, was ultimately unsatisfying.It was too limiting in look, layout and
organization.With Shopify, my only
option was to make the site product-based.
But I want my site to focus on the art, not the products.
So my new site is more of a gallery – click on an image
thumbnail and you’ll get a closer look at that design, complete with detailed
art description, and links to available products featuring that image.
The one thing I have not been able to make work are the
Pinterst Pin-It buttons.I’ve been
through several tutorials and tried several different techniques to get the
darn things to work right, and so far I’ve failed.I read that it may be because I have an SSL
certificate, which makes the site secure for online transactions.In any case…this is boring technical stuff…
The Facebook and Twitter Share buttons appear to be working,
though, so please make use of them!Share
away!It really is a HUGE help to me
when folks spread the word about my work.:)
And FYI: you can Share a particular product directly from the product pages - look around for the little Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, etc. icons, or "Share" buttons and BAM! Instant gratification!
I’ve also added an email newsletter sign-up, and will be
launching an email newsletter soon.Thusfar I’ve mainly used Facebook to connect with folks, but after
speaking to a social media marketing consultant (THANK YOU, Sunnny D!), I now
know that my Facebook posts don’t actually reach all of the fans on my fan
page.
I often feel like I’m spamming my fans with too much stuff,
but it turns out that most of what I post is only seen by a small portion of
people.How mysterious and sometimes annoying
you are, Facebook!
So, if you want to be in the loop and get the scoop on new
work, new products, new adventures and special offers such as coupon codes,
giveaway drawings and sale alerts, sign up for my newsletter.
You can do it RIGHT NOW!!!
I also re-organized my Zazzle shop, which has cases and
covers for cellphones, iPads, iPods, laptops, Kindles, etc.These are really nifty and eye-catching “costumes”
for your devices that protect them and turn them into expressive accessories.
You can now pick a design you like and see what products are
available featuring that image.
I realize some of these products are a bit pricey.I can’t do much about that. The prices are
largely set by Zazzle, and I add a small markup, which is my cut, and it’s not
much.
BUT…Zazzle regularly has sales and coupon codes that give
significant discounts – up to half off! - and those discounts don’t affect my cut.Score for both of us!
If you sign up for the email newsletter, I’ll let you know
when relevant sales are happening so you can save some $$$.
That’s about it for now.Thank you for all your support!
