“Thriftshop Painting Project Premier”

The “Thrift Shop Painting Project” was conceived to bring a new perspective to old neglected paintings. The goal of art is to inspire the mind, to tell within it a story, persuade a new outlook, to rivet with amazement, or forge a new path of intellectual endeavor where there was none before. When a painting or object of art no longer captivates, it has all the decorative value of as spider web. What you see before you is a new story incapable of being told in the present without the efforts of a creative force in the past. These are not works brought back to life, they are the result of a wonderful metamorphous.

“Seaside Property” BEFORE

“Seaside Property” AFTER – $500

The impetus behind the Thrift Shop Painting Project was the numerous request The CLAW received from public institutions to provide an exhibit of the CLAW’s work. Talking amongst themselves the Talons of the CLAW found that few of their membership had art ready to present for a show. This lead to a discussion of gathering up frames from thrift shops to present new work. This in turn led to the idea of using the canvas that came with the frame. It wasn’t much of a leap from there to decide that incorporating the previous image into the new work would be both unique, and exciting.

“Trojan Rabbit Proof Fence” BEFORE

“Trojan Rabbit Proof Fence” AFTER – $350

The Thrift Shop Painting Project premiered at Tacoma Arts Month Opening Party and AMOCAT Arts Awards presented by the Tacoma Arts Commission and Spaceworks Tacoma on October 2^nd, 2014. The paintings were well received and have since become a traveling show being seen at When not traveling the paintings can be seen at their home port: Tinkertopia. Interested parties who would like to offer their space as a venue may contact painting wrangler R.R. Anderson at Tinkertopia for scheduling.

Schedule of Venues (updated 02/26/15):
2015 March-April: Destiny City Comics
2015 January-February: Metro Coffee
2014 November-December: Bluebeard Coffee
2014 October: Tacoma Post Office

“Mattahorn Passing” BEFORE

“Mattahorn Passing” AFTER – $350 SOLD!

“Post Mechanical Crab Apocolypse” BEFORE

The CLAW has a very limited budget for creating this exhibit. The requirements were that the framed images be paintings, not prints. Also, the budget for purchasing a painted had to be less that $20. The CLAW achieved this by buying some of the paintings in bulk. The proceeds of the sale of painting go back into the purchase of more paintings on which the artists might work to expand the exhibit. All of the paintings are for sale.

“Post Mechanical Crab Apocolypse” AFTER – $350

You can help the CLAW by donating your old landscape paintings to the project. You can drop them off or send them to Tinkertopia, 1914 Pacific Avenue, Tacoma, WA 98402.

“Bigfoot in Park” BEFORE

“Bigfoot in Park” AFTER – $250 • This is a flip painting with “Nessie” featured on the other side. SOLD!

The Cartoonists League of Absurd Washingtonians founded in October 2008. This illustrious league of illustrators quickly became a Tacoma institution. The CLAW’s goal of communal enrichment through silliness and whimsy has been successful on many fronts. Through yearly activities with the Tacoma Art Museum, the Tacoma Public Library, and by the various activities of the Tacoma Art Commission the Talons of the CLAW have left their mark on young and old minds alike. Via the CLAW Student Scholarship, the tender talents of new emerging cartoonists are encouraged. But these are only a few of the many nefarious plans on the CLAW’s agenda.

“Season Two of the Walking Dead” BEFORE and AFTER – $150 SOLD!

“The Monlux Crossing the Wicked Woods” BEFORE

“The Monlux Crossing the Wicked Woods” AFTER – $350 SOLD

“Nessie” BEFORE

“Nessie” AFTER – This is the backside of “Bigfoot in Park” – $250 SOLD!

“Cthulu Loves the Little Children” – $150

As the painting are sold new ones are added to the traveling exhibit.

“Aloha ‘auinala, Tiki” BEFORE

“Aloha ‘auinala, Tiki” AFTER  – $300

Talon #3, Mark Monlux, is doing a project for the Tacoma Artists Initiative Program. As part of that project he has created two storyboards to aid in the creation of public service announcements on the topic of copyright. You can see the storyboards by following this link:

Storyboards Link.

My Tacoma Artist Initiative Project is creating two public service announcements using whiteboard animation. As part of that assignment I’m sharing this process on both my blog and the Cartoonists’ League of Absurd Washingtonians website. Step one of the project is drafting two scripts. My goal was to focus strictly on the dialog and time it to roughly 50 seconds per script. One I wrote each script I then sent it to my legal consultant, and then ran it past my editor. I gave my editor a few gray hairs because I did not write into the script the dialog in context with the images. I wanted to leave the script very open for when I came up with ideas during the next step, creating the storyboard.

Here are the scripts:

Voiceover Script for Defining Copyright Ownership.

Your creative expression can take many forms: writing, music, dance, sculpture, or visual art.

Copyright protects your creative expression.

Did you know that when you sell your original art you are not selling your copyright?

Just as an author does not lose the rights to his story when he sells his books, neither does a painter lose the rights to their creative expression when they sell their original paintings.

When a person buys original art, they become a curator of that piece, but they do not have the right to license the art.

Only you, as the creator, have the right to license your art.

Even after the original art has found a new home, you have the right to license and profit from your creative expression in any way you see fit.

The only legal way others obtain permission to license your work is in writing

Providing provenance to your art is a great way to inform buyers of their role as custodian.

It can confirm their obligation to keep the work safe from harm—and for you to have reasonable access to the original to make reproductions.

This message sponsored by the Tacoma Artists Initiative, and these fine creators.

@ 2013 Mark Monlux

***

Voiceover Script for Having vs. Registering Copyright

Your creative expression can take many forms: writing, music, dance, sculpture, or visual art.

Copyright protects your creative expression.

But there is a difference between having copyright and registering your copyright.

And since it can significantly affect how well your artistic rights are protected, you should know about it.

You have copyright the moment you physically create or record your expression.

But you need to register your copyright with the government to fully protect your work.

A registered copyright is your ticket into the courtroom.

It means that with a favorable judgment your legal fees can be collected in the settlement.

It also means that you can be awarded statutory damages for willful infringement.

Without a filed copyright you don’t qualify for any of that.

So, remember to protect yourself and your creative endeavors.

Register your copyrights early, and often.

It’s easy. You can do it online at copyright.gov.

This message sponsored by the Tacoma Artists Initiative, and these fine creators.

@ 2013 Mark Monlux