a sneak peek of our september show...

These folks and more will be shown in our September 2012 Collection "forest fables, 'shrooms & tails"

Bloomin' on Broadway - August 2012

This is our "Bloomin’ on Broadway " collection of freshly picked one-of-a-kinds, celebrating the season’s wettest, muckiest, most blossoming, glorious month. Co-created by makers, Jeff & Dale Ocasio, and on display at the ocasiocasa studio gallery, in  the Fort Myers, FL River District.

ocasiocasa is bloomin' on broadway

Our collection for August '12 is a tribute to the hottest, wettest, muckiest and glorious time of our summer season here in southwest Florida. Filled with oversized, bright blooms, these art pieces are currently being exhibited in our studio gallery.

new mini prints for new art show...

Having our own studio/gallery to run, allows Jeff and I the opportunity to feature a new collection of art every month to our local community in SW Florida.

Each show opening coincides with the Fort Myers’ art walk event, downtown, and all of the art spaces happily receive plenty of foot traffic that bring smiles, stares, and dropping jaws.

I've committed myself to creating small prints of my illustrations and offering them to our guests as a gift for attending art walk. But I also print some info about ‘ocasiocasa’ on the backside.

These are the mini prints for our next opening, coming up on August 3rd, and they tie in with the show’s theme “bloomin’ on broadway”. Our studio is located at 1540 Broadway,Fort Myers,FL33901. Oversized, vibrant and beautiful flowers were sculpted as part of the collection.

I put them on a table, by some of our artwork, with a small sign stating “free mini prints…go on, take one…while they last”, and by the end of the evening they were all taken.

For someone, like myself, who is by no means a ‘marketing maven’ these simple little prints are too easy not to have on my ‘to do’ list. And, I’m happy to do it.

~dale

ocasiocasa artworks studio / gallery

ocasisiocasa artworks studio/gallery will be a working studio and new home to exhibit and sell our art, and we couldn’t be happier about it.

We plan to open this July, downtown, at 1540 Broadway St,Fort Myers,FL33917

More to come soon…

reclaiming frames still motion video

I recently finished a set of frames that Jeff taped for me, and while we worked I taped my iphone to the frame of our canopy, overhead, and recorded a still shot every minute.

I used an app called ‘imotion hd’ which automatically stitches each photo together and creates a video clip.

Here’s a slower version---step by step:

We take the backing off of used frames and put the glass away (we have plans for another project with those). Then, Jeff sculpts his designs with masking tape.

Then white glue is applied in several layers.

And I add the paint.

Have you ever tried to imagine a world without paint?

I believe it is a glorious invention. To protect the paint I add several layers of varnish.

Next, I choose the pictures, print them on professional photo paper with archival inkjet ink, and size them and cut to fit each frame. Over each photo I’ve laid a clear film laminate for protection.

For the backing, I use foamboard. Cut them to fit snug, and tape them up.

Then apply the glue, paint and varnish.

To make hanging easy, I create a loop with twisted tape and wire.

one piece of art, sealed up in it’s little frame home, and ready to hang…

hope you enjoyed, cheers!
~dale

making a shelter for ira starman

Some of our dolls are in local retail shops, and some are in our online shop.

And while I’ve been really happy with how they turned out, and the reception they’ve received, I’ve also felt that they seem a little vulnerable in the spaces they occupy---out in the open and over-exposed, while sitting on their shelves.

Custom made boxes are what I’ve been devising for them, and have come up with several different prototypes. But, I think I’ve finally settled on using foam board.

It’s sturdy and light weight. I use masking tape to join the edges. Inside, I create a little bench shaped structure, made from the foam board as well, and tape that in securely. This allows me to attach starman to his box with a ribbon or string.

Then, add several coats of glue, paint and illustrations printed on inkjet photo paper, and finish with a sealant.

The boxes have turned into a further extension of the art that is inside of them. I like what it adds to our toy art, and they seem happy with their hand made homes made just for them.

Here is Raman with his custom box, who was recently entered into a group exhibit at HOWL Gallery/Tattoo, in downtown Fort Myers, FL.

oooohhh, the places he goes in that box... :-)

~dale