Sketchbook Project Opening in Brooklyn

Last Saturday night, I attended the Sketchbook Project opening at the Brooklyn Art Library. Check out those shelves. More than 9800 artists submitted sketchbooks!

Art House Co-op certainly generated a lot of buzz. There was a line out the door when I arrived. And there were lines inside as well for viewing sketchbooks. (If you are a participating artist, be sure to bring your library card.)

Next stop for the sketchbooks is is the Austin Museum of Art. For more tour info check here.

My Studio

This past weekend I went to Ikea and picked up a couple new lamps for my studio.... I needed more light in there, and the arm-lamp thingie attached to my drafting table broke awhile ago, so it was time. The new lamps inspired me to clean clean clean, and do a little rearranging of some items and I thought I'd take a few photos and show you what it looks like. My studio is the 2nd bedroom in my tiny condo, and its kind of cute. As you can see from the pics, I have my big beautiful mac, a desk, a drafting table, my printer, dog toys on the floor, and inspiration and other paperwork all over the wall...hmmm I've got to clean those bulletin boards... Not shown in these pics is a large bookcase filled to the brim, and pretty messy so thats why I'm not showing it, and an armoire filled with art supplies. Oh, and I ordered a new chair, since the one I currently have is old and uncomfortable... I can't wait for the new one to arrive! All in all I like my space, but of course dream of the day when my studio is in a renovated barn in the back yard, with many many cupboards and counter space, skylights and a comfy couch...sigh.... one day.....




My new cactus, also from Ikea. His name is Fluffy. I figured a cactus would be good to have, since the plant I used to have on my desk didn't live too long...mainly because I'd forget to water it.

This is whats on my drafting table - I started sketching a new everyday floral collection for licensing.

More graphic design

This past week has been strangely eventful for me, illustration-wise. Especially seeing as how I had to put my illustrating on hold ever since I started taking classes for my graphic design program. A woman contacted me online, interested in hiring me for custom work. She's looking for a cute painting for her family with the members each being different animals. I sadly had to inform her that I am unable to accept any illustration commissions until after my program ends. Fortunately, she was more than happy to wait until after May 14th to work with me. (Hooray!) Then, a friend of mine mentioned that she'd like to commission SIX paintings for her family. I'll also have to give her the May 14th news. We'll see if she wants to wait for me too. When it rains, it pours I guess! Until then, I'll probably just be posting my graphic design projects. Hope no one minds. (It'll all be over soon! Or so I keep telling myself...)

Last time I blogged, I posted the very beginning designs for my marketing folder project. We had to make up a company and design materials for them. Mine is "Good Boy", an eco-friendly dog supply company. Below are the developed spreads for the booklet (also included in this project were a folder design, letterhead, business card, etc) But I won't include those pics right now. Enjoy:

Achoo!

I've been working on this kitty the past few days for a client. The top one I hope is close to finished, below are cats I started off with that didn't make the cut. Client: "I want cat sneezing into elbow". Wasn't sure if I could pull it off since my work is so flat. I think it looks decent, should I make any changes?

It's already over?

Valentine's Day is the new Christmas and Halloween put together. Christmas because you kind of have a small let down feeling when it is over and Halloween because my kids almost got as much candy as they did in October. Whatever happened to a simple valentine? I remember looking at all my cards over and over and reading them knowing that that person picked out that card just for me.

Happy Valentine's Day!

A Valentine's Day homage to Wayne Thiebaud. Hope everyone has a sweet day!

Out for a Walk?

This week's prompt for Illustration Friday is "sweater." Here is a sketch for one idea I had of doing a family portrait in sweaters.

It's Printmaking Time!

Jane's prints are amazing. And I'm so impressed with the work she's been creating, and it looks like SO MUCH fun, that I called her up and asked if she would mind if I pulled a "single white female" and join her in the printmaking class she takes at the New Hampshire Institute of Art. She's so sweet that she said "please do!" and now I'm enrolled in the continuing education part of the printmaking courses at NHIA, and our first class was last week. I never took any printmaking classes in college, my only exposure to it was in high school or elementary school art classes, and I'm really excited to be doing this. Since I'm new, I've started with a basic relief print, on linoleum. I sketched it out and started carving in class, and the next day went to the art supply store and bought my OWN speedball tool (yay!) and kept carving at home. At the next class I will try printing with it, and see what happens. I might have to go back and touch up some spots on the linoleum, I might think its the worst thing ever created in the history of the world, or I might think "hey, not terrible, but let's try again" and pick up a fresh piece to start carving. (I'm sure some touch ups will be needed.) It's hard to think backwards and keep in mind that the image will be reversed and that what I'm taking away will not show on paper.... yikes! Maybe I'll try copper next. This is fun :)

Graphic Design

It's official - I've started my LAST semester of my graphic design program. (Woooo!) Final Portfolio. Already, I'm swamped. My illustration work has fallen to the wayside once again, so I figured I'd share what I am working on at the moment.

Our first assignment was to invent a company then create a logo and marketing items to go into a pocket folder. (Brochure, letterhead, business card, etc). I created a company called Good Boy which is an all-natural dog product company. Upon class review, it was decided that I should change the name to Good Dog so as to not turn off owners of girl dogs. I think that's a bit funny, but oh well. In any case, here's the very first draft/sketch for my cover and interior spread. Just so you know what I've been up to and where my head is these days:


Have a good weekend! Stay warm!

Cat-bird

I came up with a strange mix recently... a cat-bird. I was thinking of maybe making a series. Cat-fish? Could be awesome!

Also I started doing something on my blog called doodle of the day, I'm trying to get myself to make more stuff. It's actually kind of fun!


Also I've been redoing my studio, all the paneling has come down. It's been a major pain since I'm doing it all myself, but it will be such a wonderful space when I'm done. I'm keeping one large wall complete empty so I can start painting my paper/acrylic paintings again.

"I Wish I had their Energy"

Is something people often say when they see my kids bebopping around. I wish I had my daughter's creative energy. She has been drawing circles around me or hearts rather. A couple of days ago she began cutting and coloring in notebook paper hearts and she hasn't stopped since and there is a trail of paper in her wake. I know I didn't get as fired up about these things at her age (which is 5 going on 6). It is only a matter of time before I need to convert her bedroom into a studio. Which reminds me I need to be getting to mine!