Copper Blog

Otis Film Fest

Near the end of 2009 we had an opportunity to work on award plaques for the Otis Film Festival held annually at Regent University. The awards were to be given to various winners at the festival in six different categories (see list below for award and award winners). Chris Free who participated in the festival was also in charge of finding the appropriate ceremonial gifts. He came to us looking for rustic and aged plaques which would honor the outstanding attempts at cinema at Regent.

We produced awards with a rough deep brown patina that gave them an antique look. We also allowed the fill of the etch (the text) to pull out in certain areas to add further effect. The final result was something very original and far from the ordinary plaques or trophies commonly given at award ceremonies.

We thank Chris for seeking us out to help in this project and we hope we can be of service in the future. Congratulations to all the winners at this years Otis Film Festival.

The Otis Film Festival is annually hosted by the Council of Graduate Students and Regent Undergrad Council.

BEST FILM
Brittle Time – Producer & Director: Caleb Stern, Writer: Michael Boling

2ND PLACE
Standing Outside – Producer: Christopher Free, Director: Joshua Overbay, Writer: Molly Hughes, Director of Photography: Benjamin Dyer

3RD PLACE
3. Sad Sarajevo – Producer: Stephanie Bain, Director/ Writer: Jon Mark Nail

BEST ACTOR
Ryan Clemens

BEST ACTRESS
Anna Koehler

MALENDOWSKI AWARD
Crab Feast or Famine – Producer/ Director: Kat Moo

-Douglas

Welcome, Come On In

The newest of our custom pieces was a big one that allowed us to work on something we had wanted to for a while, a welcome sign. Early in the companies evolution we had made a few welcome signs just experimenting and ever since we have wanted to take the time to do another one. After meeting Bob and Brigette in Blacksburg, Virginia this summer we soon realized we would get our chance.

At the Steppin Out Fesitval this August we had an opportunity to take on some custom jobs. Our favorite however turned out to be a 24” x 10” custom welcome sign that Bob and Brigette commissioned. It was to be for the entrance way to their house that serves as a foyer before you actually get into their home.

We worked to make a few modifications to the piece over the span of a month and finally had a solid image to work with. It came out perfect. Just recently Bob sent us a couple of photos of it finally in place. With time the piece will begin to patina and take on a unique character all its own. Thanks Bob and Brigette for letting us help with such a cool project.

If you are interested in a custom piece for your home or as a gift we would love to hear about it.

Till next time,

Douglas

California Custom Copper

In the middle of October we were once again presented with the challenge of creating a custom order. Time was of the essence this go around as we needed to produce 65 bookmarks for the Marketing Concepts Group based out of Long Beach, California, and we had just about a weeks time to do it in. The Marketing Concepts Group is an experiential marketing agency that functions as a boutique, minority run, agency with clients such as Verizon Wireless, Hyundai, and Coke as well as an assortment of amazing events that happen all over the country. Needless to say, we wanted the bookmarks to be stunning since they would not only be reflecting our company but members of the Marketing Concepts Group as well.

With some quick thinking and swift designing we spent a handful of days exchanging information with Allison Thomas, a marketing director for the Marketing Concepts Group. She was in charge of making sure the gifts given at this event were of the highest quality. As we let her know she was one of our best clients yet helping to make the project come alive on such short notice. Just recently she filled us in on how the event went and exactly what the gifts were used for.

Little did we know the bookmarks were going to serve as a gift from Tami Erwin: West Area President of Verizon Wireless for selected guests attending the event. In an email from Allison she told us…

Tami Erwin held the intimate dinner at the Hotel Maya for about 65 guests on 10/26/09 which is where the bookmarks were passed out along with a book from Maria Shriver (she is the one responsible for making the Women’s Conference happen). Overall the event was a smashing hit and all guests had an amazing time….I’ve never been thanked so much in my life.

Well, let us thank you one more time Allison for your seeking Copper Art Designs out to help in creating a most memorable evening for your agency and all of your wonderful guests. We hope to hear from you again in the future.

If you have a project or an event that you would like us to help collaborate on please feel free to contact us, we are always up for the challenge!

-Douglas

A Beautifully and Brilliant Buffalo Bracelet

It was only a short time after we finalized our bracelets and put them on display that we had an awesome opportunity to start working on a custom design. While at the Town Center First Friday Art Walk we had a women by the name of Pam come to our tent that was ecstatic about the finding of our bracelets. Just short of jumping up and down she smiled as she fired question after question our way. Her boyfriend had previously purchased a copper bracelet while they were at Yellow Stone National Park and it had begun to crack. For Pam this was her chance to not only replace her boyfriend’s bracelet but to give him the best anniversary gift that she could think of.

In a hasty effort to bring us the broken bracelet she ran off down the city street yelling in the distance that she would be back. Not but a few minutes later she returned and presented us with the broken buffalo bracelet and asked if we could possibly help her by recreating it. We gladly took on the project and much to her delight we had it completed in just a few days in time for her to wrap it and give it to her boyfriend on their anniversary.

We soon after received word that the gift was well received:

“Derrick loves the bracelet! He is wearing it – everyday. Just like the last one. You guys did a great job. I’m really happy with the piece and he loves it too. Thanks again for the quick service and even the delivery. It was a just one of those days, and you really helped me out.”

Thank you Pam for letting us be part of something so special.

Douglas

Creative Custom Coasters: What a Wonderful Gift

One of the best parts about our job is helping people create gifts for their friends or family members. We get to hear about what people love and admire and then we get to assist in creating a piece or pieces that exemplify those very things. Sometimes it is a birthday gift, sometimes it is a wedding memento, but each time it is something that is special and fun to work on.

Most recently we had our good friend James come to us with an idea about making some coasters for his friends in the Big Apple. When he dropped by the studio to meet with me on the morning we got his project started he laid out a series of drawings that looked as though a four year old had scribbled them out. It made me laugh a little and so I asked him what exactly they were and he told me that they were from a game of cranium that he had played with his friends not too far back. Perfect, I thought. Once again we had been approached with something new that was very simple but full of good memories. We talked about the coasters some more and then after James settled on the design I got to work. After a bit of a rush to get them completed before he was off to NYC to meet with his buddies we were confident that we had helped create another one of a kind gift.

I think as more and more time passes I have started to realize that a lot of what we do at Copper Art Designs is allow those around us to tap into their inner artist. All anybody need do is approach us with an idea and we love to watch it come to life not only for ourselves but for those who had initially thought of it.

- Douglas

Clocks and Indians and Polar Bears, OH MY!

We had wondered when we would get the opportunity to dig into some of our Native American design work and we recently finished up a project that allowed us to do exactly that. Keeping in step with the diverse range of custom pieces we have done this is another that we are happy to add to the list.

Our newly acquired friend Chelsea that we met at the Elements Center craft show had us put together a northern native themed clock that will serve as a Father’s Day gift. It is decorated with a tribal design and centered with a polar bear which is in the style of the natives in Alaska: Inupiat (Inuit), Yupik, Aleut, Tlingit, Haida, Tsimshian, Eyak, and a number of Northern Athabaskan cultures.

It is always a new experience working with customers to create something near and dear to them, a friend or a family member. We hope that Chelsea’s father enjoys the clock and we look forward to any up coming projects that are on the horizon.

If you have a special gift that you would like to commission please contact us and we would love to work with you.

-Douglas

Sunflower Journal

This personalized journal is one our first, but you would never know as it came out elegant and beautiful. The design includes a sunflower (the recipient’s favorite flower), a passage, and the owner’s name and date.

Keep your face to the Sunshine and you cannot see the shadow,
It’s what Sunflowers do.

May you Live, Love and Laugh everyday of your Life.

Let us know what you think. We hope to create more journals this summer. Maybe they would make great holiday gifts? We’ll see…

Thanks for stopping by!

- JSuar

Sunflowers and Hearts

A Baroque Heart

A few months ago Yuki, a friend of mine, contacted me and was interested in creating a custom piece to commemorate her father’s anniversary of his successful heart transplant. Our goal was to make a beautiful and meaningful piece for her father and to avoid the generic plaque look. After some brainstorming, mainly investigating her father’s interests, we arrived at a Baroque inspired heart design.  A pretty cool and simple design in the end. Yuki was happy with how the piece turned out and in turn so were we.

One last note, after witnessing what her father experienced during his transplant Yuki was inspired to start a non-profit organization in March of 2008 to provide affordable housing to heart transplant patients in the greater New York City area. Please check out her organization: http://www.harboringhearts.org

- JSuar

Nothern Lights

The great lights of the Aurora Borealis, better known as the Northern Lights, can be seen as you make your way to the northern United States on up through Canada. If you live in the south the drive to see this spectacle may be a bit out of reach for a weekend road trip. But thanks to a very interesting birthday present request, that we recently received, you can now find these energetic nocturnal rivers of light in our art work.

This piece allowed us to not only look through pages of stunning photos of the light show on display in the northern sky for research; it also gave us a chance to explore new and stylized techniques with our copper. Capturing the glow of light was a bit tricky but after some experimentation we found a result that gave us a soft feathered glow evoking the idea of the northern lights.

We hope that when the piece makes its way to where it will rest in North Carolina that it will be a reminder of the evening illumination that has kept anyone who has caught a glimpse in awe.

Size: 10.5” x 18.75”

Etched copper that has been aged with brown, green and blue patina.

- Douglas