Local illustrator named to worldwide top 200 list
Written by Staff Reports | | news@toledofreepress.com
By Chase Will

After 20 years of honing her skills, local painter Penny Collins has been recognized as one of the Top 200 Illustrators Worldwide by Lüerzer’s Archive.
Lüerzer’s Archive is a bi-monthly magazine for the advertising industry, based in Europe with a global circulation of over 38,000 subscribers.


“I’m still on the ceiling with this,” Collins said. “I could not believe it when I got notification. Out of the billions and billions of talented people out there, and even in Toledo alone, to be picked for something like this is really great.”

“I love that she’s from Toledo. Out of everyone who enters, only about 20 percent are even from the U.S.,” said Claudia Coffman, chief executive of ad sales at Lüerzer’s Archive. “We sent out a call for submissions for the illustrators and they submitted their work.

It was free to submit and they could upload as much work as they wanted. We got over 5,000  submissions, which were judged by afive-person jury and had to receive at least three markings to be
considered.”

The painting submitted by Collins, titled “Save the Bunnies,” featured a bunny wearing a gas mask, sitting in front of a skull. It was created for a company in California who specialize in rabbit rescues. “It’s rather dark,” Collins said. “I ended up being inspired to do it for them because ofthe horror stories they would tell me about these animals.”

Collins runs Studio 566, where she sells her artwork and does commissioned pieces when requested. Her primary artistic focus is rabbits.

“What they tell you when you get into the business is find something you’re passionate about, because that’s basically what you’ll focus on for all your projects,” said Collins. “My next big project is doing a little cartoon strip with rabbits. I found a niche with these rabbit people, so I’m working on this book of cartoons I’m planning for next year.”

Collins credits much of her success to the Internet, which allows her to find opportunities to submit her work and communicate with peers in her field.

“Everything’s at our fingertips now. Everything you’ve ever wanted to do, you can do,” Collins said. “The Internet helps yet it doesn’t, because everyone and their mother is out there doing it. You’ve got to hit it hard. You basically make your own opportunities as opposed to waiting for them to come along.”

With several years of passion recognized in a prestigious magazine, Collins said she’d like to encourage other aspiring artists to pursue their dreams.

“That would be a piece of advice I’d give any artist struggling to make it; you’ve got to get online, and you’ve got to take advantage of what’s out there,” Collins said.

“Toledo’s just one town. We’ve got the world at our fingertips.”



Studio 566 is located at 425 Jefferson St. For more information on Collins’ work, visit:
www.be.net/studio566


Toledo Free Press
http://www.toledofreepress.com/2014/05/08/local-illustrator-named-to-worldwide-top-200-list

CLASS IN THESE HERE TOLEDO, OHIO

DETROIT PRINCESS EXITS TOLEDO STAGE LEFT

Imagine my surprise upon waking one morning and seeing this news story:

http://www.13abc.com/story/15971960/princess-cruise-cancelled-after-fight-breaks-out

In Toledo Friday night, 600 people were on the Detroit Princess Boat in two ballrooms when a half dozen people started to fight on the lower level ballroom floor. Witnesses said, at one point, up 100 people were participating in the fight.

Friday was the hip-hop crowd and Saturday was supposed to be the R&B crowd. The boat is equipped with half a dozen on-board security officers during a cruise and other staff trained to move passengers out of trouble.
All passengers are patted down when they board, whether in Toledo or Detroit. Toledo police were called and sent two dozen officers to the boat. One arrest was made, but more are possible.

Did you imagine my surprise? Did you? No? PROBABLY BECAUSE I WAS NOT SURPRISED.
Only Toledo can force a Detroit Princess cruise line to literally haul up anchor and LEAVE.

NOT OCCUPYING TOLEDO

MEANWHILE, BACK AT THE RANCH...

RIBBONS!

I am still waiting for the T Shirt sample of that nightmare job I blogged about. Still. The shirts have been long printed and sold. My portfolio grows dust waiting for this sample. *sigh* So instead of sharing my non existant sample with you, I would like to announce my latest accomplishments:

    Three entered pieces won three ribbons!

  

OMG! OMG! RIBBONS!!

LOOK AT THEM

The 2nd place ribbon for POP CULTURE (A Coca-Cola© bottle) is a special honor as it is my first award for a painting as a medium. I am also awaiting the day when I can afford to frame some of my NEW pieces in order to show them...

MY FANTASY VS MY REALITY FRAMING

Because everything looks better in giant golden garish filigree --You know it does.

SEE!??

Exceptionally bad art brought to you by: http://museumofbadart.org

IT'S PHALLIC

NOTHIN’ BUT CLASS
A new quarter and class has begun and I am currently working on an illustration for one of the Seven Deadly Sins. The sin? LUST. I gathered the messege that I wished to communicate as well as a kicking quote from the Marquis de Sade. I am, however, struggling with this project. So far, I have narrowed down 20 thumbnails looking for a representational symbol. My abstract symbol (inspired by a live model) was wildly successful!

I am hoping for a FREUDIAN RIBBON next!

The above are my thumbnails. I went for Giger and got... I have no idea. Maybe I should have simply gone for Collins. My concept is to convey extreme sexual want/hunger with the pitfall of careless sex. I wanted to capture, not so much prudishness, but where an addiction to it all can lead. I want to create a piece that if faced with what is presented, one would actually be willing to toss over their own safety for that immediate gratification.

Although the nun works for the piece. As does the serpentine tongue. The last thumbnail is one of my rabbits staring at me while I sketched the thumbnails. I felt mocked.

I MOCK YOU! ALWAYS!

I MADE SALES!



I never thought I would ever live to see the day that I would thank listeners of talk radio...

BUY THIS MUG HERE:

http://www.zazzle.com/wspd_radio_waves_mug-168262102143066726

I love SPACE BUN. It is one of my favorite designs.

BUY THIS HOODIE HERE:

http://www.zazzle.com/space_bun_tshirt-235574715736751043

It’s official: I CAN pay the cable bill this month! Which, come to think of it, I better pay...









I AM BETTER THAN YOUR KIDS

http://www.iambetterthanyourkids.com/

Here is a sample of this exquisite website:

I am Maddox, a 32-year-old computer programmer and writer. I can spell, draw, and do math better than your kids, so I've taken the liberty to judge work done by children. I'll be assigning a grade of A through F for each piece:

"Guy Fawkes, one of five conspirators in the "gunpowder" plot to blow up parliament, depicted here as a haughty queen, standing near a gray flower."

OCCUPY ANONYMOUS

Speaking of which--South Park is even getting in on the act:

One reason that I love South Park is that they attack us all. Occupy Red Robin looked a lot like Occupy Toledo. View for yourself:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8iJLa0UxTU
(No preview image available)



OCCUPYING

HE GOES BY "ACHILLES"

SEE!??

To update one and all: Occupy Toledo are still occupying. Now, various Occupiers all over this nation are starting to shoot and kill each other, rape each other, spread TB (blamed on the homeless), commit suicide and endanger the children they drag out there with them. One group elected a dog as their leader. Good choice. Woof!

BOW TO THE WOW

Nothing so dramatic HERE... but they ARE trying. Two members
(count them, 2) were arrested because they took a hand drawn sign into a city council meeting. Do not underestimate the ability to incur paper cuts on city council members with poster board. I feel the TRUE issue is about NOT hiring a professional graphic designer for the sign and NOT getting it professionally printed. I'M TIRED OF THE 99% MAN!

The two people are being charged with resisting arrest. They said they never TOUCHED any of the officers. Should I send an anonymous letter explaining the difference between assault and resisting? The ACLU has since been called in. The Occupiers here (Achilles included) were granted 2 weeks worth of tents. Oh boy.

JOKE
Q: Why is Occupy Toledo like the circus?
A: IT'S IN TENTS!!!!

(intense - in tents - circus?) - well it isn't funny if I have to explain it.

STUDIO 566

DRAMATIC

HONORABLE DAUGHTER #1 IS EXPECTING

SIMS UPDATE

 

Uncanny, isn't it?




THE END

I WENT TO THE ANIMAL FAIR

And managed 2 illustrations. More forthcoming...

COUNTY FAIRS
I ♥ the fair!!

COUNTY FAIRS PART II
County Fairs, for me, are like a time machine: they take me immediately back to being 8 years old feeding cows and horses behind my house. I hatched my own chicken and raised it, we had ducks, a dog, cats, pigeons, anything we could catch and etc. The neighbors had their menageries as well and we all enjoyed both beef and dairy farms at our mischievous disposal. I smelled like manure all the time and for the life of me, I cannot imagine a better childhood. 

Yours Truly and Brother Gus and his Kick Ass Cabin where he hid his Playboys.
We were actually getting ready to go to the State Fair.

Formative years spent in the red and white house on the left.
Mr. Choate shot black birds from the back porch of the house on the right.

BRIMTUCKY
I spent my formative years in Brimfield, Ohio. The town has expanded into near city status since the advent of the WalMarts©. Pretty soon, they will be like Toledo and won’t be able to have nice things either.

I seriously Googled "Brimfield, Ohio Walmart" and up popped a taser.

Brimfield Township is located just south of I-76, east of Akron and south of Kent. Brimfield is the fastest growing community in Portage County. Once a sleepy and intimate farming community, it is now teeming with life and activity. A new elementary school opened fall of 2007 and several large shopping centers are currently being built. www.brimfieldohio.com

The several large shopping centers would be the WalMarts©.

Take this when you visit!

 

THE LUCAS COUNTY FAIR
These here Toledo has THE LUCAS COUNTY FAIR.  It isn't as filled with spandex as Walmarts© but is just as fun. Being around all creatures great and small raised specifically for slaughter reminds me of the importance of being humane.  I love irony, don’t you?

Thy name is IRONY

And now… what you have all been waiting for even though you didn’t know it…

THE ANIMALS AT THE FAIR - or - A PHOTOGRAPHIC ADVENTURE THROUGH MILES OF MANURE
Viewer Warning: There are an inordinate amount of rabbits shown and no cows or goats... or sheep.

~ Once and Future Bacon~

THIS LITTLE PIGGIE WENT TO MARKET... literally.

The barn was sweltering and all of the domestic swine were splayed out in front of industrial fans and oinking. I scratched behind a lot of ears and heard all of the gossip of the fair.

Pigs are highly intelligent and extremely social, so... naturally we kill and eat them.

Donald and Daisy

CHEESE AND QUACKERS (Above)
My ducks gave me Impetigo. More specifically, I contracted Impetigo from swimming with my ducks. I still have a slight discoloration on my mouth to prove it. Yes, I got it on my mouth. I kissed the ducks. Don't judge. I did not kiss the ones shown above. They did not seem to be interested in me in that way. Maybe they heard about the Impetigo. (The swine are gossipy, after all...)


HENNY PENNY! (Below)
My chicken's name was "Henny Penny." I realize the originality of choosing such a name is damned near unheard of coming from a child of 5 (it is a literary reference). Our dog would wag her tail and Henny would jump over the tail as it went back and forth. The goofy bird followed me everywhere. If not me, then the dog. Even though she had no lips, I kissed that chicken quite often.

I am judging you.

You are being actively judged.

 




















I did not kiss any chickens this day. The chickens... THEY MOCK ME. I was worried about getting my eyes pecked out. I sensed blood lust.


JIVE TURKEY

I am judging you.

He bore holes into my very soul with his eyes...

A HORSE IS A HORSE OF COURSE OF COURSE

This fellow gave great horsey hugs. I used to ride. I learned Western but can ride English. I even rode bare back. I have also fallen off of a horse who happened to have the same name as my X husband. But I digress...

This guy cracked me up: I kept holding up my camera and teasing, "SMILE!" He would rub his cheek on the slats of the stall. He did this every time I held the camera up. I caught an actual smile on a horse.

I am judging you.

NAKED CHICKS

I am judging you.

BABY QUACKERS!

OH MY GAWD SO CUTE!

BABY QUACKERS! - THE FILM
Nominated for 7 Academy Awards 
Directed By: Francis Ford Copella
Written By: Francis Ford Copella

THE BUNZ!
First, I would like to explain to all you city folk that fairs feature something known as "Market Animals" that are auctioned in "Slaughter Auctions." It is exactly what it sounds like. From the beginning, the 4H Whippersnappers know the purpose of raising their animal. As an Ohio country girl, these pragmatic realities are part of life. Even for me. Even for the bunnies.




Here are some of the market bunnies...


o, man.


*sniff sniff*







BREEDING BUNNIES! (Not for Market - Only for Show)

Affirmative Action at work within Miles of Bunnies

I am judging you.

Two Faces, One Bun

I am judging you.

FLEMISH GIANT
The Flemish Giant is one of the biggest rabbits EVER. Below is a Junior Buck (boy under 6 months of age). The guy is over twice the size of my full sized Rex, Sammy. These rabbits were originally bred in the area of Brussels around the 16th century for fur and meat. Please note that wire floored cages are NOT suited for rabbits, especially Flemish Giants (due to their size). The information is riveting, I know. This rabbit had some BIG FEET. I have included a scaled to size human to show the utter magnificence:

Why is he waving? GET OUT OF THERE!

I am judging you.




REX - JUNIOR DOE (Female under 6 months)

I am judging you.

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT:
Outdoor bunnies get hot. The show barn was a bajillion degrees. Rabbits cannot sweat and WILL keel over from heat stroke. To help the bunnies stay cool, their owners froze bottles of water and placed them in the cages.
Frozen water bottles help cool my buns on hot days too.







OOOO BABY!
And now a quick visit with the babies!

OH MY GOD I'M IN A CAGE!

♥ soon to be drawing ♥

I literally bonded with this little one. He so enjoyed grooming me. He is in the corner where I was sitting on the floor. They were for sale for $10 or best offer. Word to the wise: DON'T DO IT.

Unless you are willing to make an 8 to 10 year commitment, DO NOT BUY A LIVE BUNNY. This one would require a vet exam and eventual spay/neutering.  They need food, water, cleaning and lots of attention as they are social creatures. I got a little verklempt when I left this one.

FEEDING FRENZY!

Family Frenzy!

LIVE ACTION FAMILY FEEDING FRENZY!

Babies - tiny tiny babies.
Life is so Precious.

ALL OF THE ABOVE CULMINATED IN STUDIO 566:

I hate you.