one-of-a-kind, hand-made designs by Desiree Warren

about

Q: What is it?


A: STREET SIGN VINYL on ALUMINUM, PLEXIGLAS, and PAPER

The vinyl I use is repurposed and saved from the garbage thanks to very generous local sign-makers who let me rifle through their discarded scraps. Because they are scraps, the colors and sizes vary, therefore dictating my design parameters. By experimenting with different color combinations I have the opportunity to push the boundaries of my "comfortable" design elements, coming up with unique and fabulous designs you'll never see anywhere else.

My clocks are on street sign aluminum blanks, as well as many wall art pieces. Refurbished thrift store frames are used to finish my current "Leafy" body of work where I layer vinyl on and behind Plexiglas and paper to create shallow reliefs.


What I Do


Eighty Acres Art specializes in clocks, greeting cards, magnets, wall art and stickers. The secret ingredient is vinyl, and because every piece of vinyl is hand-cut and hand-applied to either metal or paper, no two works can ever be exactly alike.

You can choose from the designs here or custom order your very own unique and fabulous piece of functional art!


Bio


I, Desiree Warren, was born in Ottawa, Kansas, and grew up just outside of town on eighty acres of land. The far youngest in the family, I had plenty of time to myself to explore and create on the farm. I always had a love of creating and decorating.

After graduating from Ottawa High School in 2001, I went to the University of Kansas. I discovered a love of wood-working and an interest in street signs. Majoring in sculpture and minoring in art history, I finished my career at KU in August of 2005. I was able to find a job related to my art background at a retail gallery in Downtown Lawrence, where I learned about running a small business and making it on my own.

I moved to Kansas City, Missouri, the summer of 2006 where I am now the sole proprietor of Eighty Acres Art and working toward the goal of being my own boss.


How It All Began...


Street Signs.

We see them everywhere, and obey their commands uncondtionally (some of us). If one thing was changed on a sign, would we notice? This idea started my exploration of street signs and vinyl stickers. I probably did some things in the name of art that could have gotten me arrested, or at least a heavy fine, so I will not advertise them here. The main point is that I fell in love with the way I could manipulate the large sheets of vinyl sticker and make very graphic images on othewise ordinary street signs. My messages were usually naughty, but I guess that is up for interpretation.

The gallery I worked for focused on clocks, so one day a co-worker and I put two and two together and thought: clocks made out of street signs! And my clock-making days had begun.

I used sticky vinyl that I'd only been using to make bumper stickers to design the clocks (the stuff sticks forever). Greeting cards had always been something I enjoyed making as well, so I threw them into the mix. Recently I added wall art, window art, and magnets to my repertoire.

Using retro nature and coloring books, I choose images of animals and mix them with highly-graphic elements.

Please enjoy looking. Thank you.