The Picture Book Challenge

This was the week I was waiting for in the Make Art That Sells E-course, creating art for the Children's Picture Book market. I have a long history with picture books. A love affair of sorts. When I was 19 I took a creative writing class on writing children's picture books. I totally fell in love with the process even though its probably one of the hardest things to write. The stories tend to be short and they have to appeal to adults and children. Not long after taking this class I began working in bookstores. The children's department was my favorite. I wrote on and off and worked in bookstores for 15 years.

I never dreamed of illustrating a children's book until recently. My artistic style is growing. A lot of people have said "I can see that in a picture book" regarding my art. Then this course came along. Our mini assignment was drawing snails. Snails? Yes, snails. A challenge for sure but if Dreamworks can do it, so I can. (The movie Turbo is coming out this summer).

 

 

 

 

So I had loads of fun creating whimsical snails. And then we got the assignment, "illustrate the cover or a two page spread from Hans Christian Andersen's The Snail and the Rose Tree". Can I just say, what a depressing story. I was totally stumped. No snail giraffe in this tale.

I figured out the grumpy snail.

And I thought I figured out a rose tree.

But I admit, I wasn't in love. Friday came and the kids and I hit the park. I brought my sketchbook and came up with this.

 

When I was creating the rose tree the previous day I kept looking at my art hanging on my wall. I realized I wasn't creating what I normally create; girls, cute animal characters and lots of color. I decided to scrap all the work I had done and start over. Then, later on Friday I got sick from a horrid migraine. I'm talking "do we have to get you to the hospital?" sick. No creating for the rest of the day.

Saturday, I felt a little better but took things slow and started creating. I was able to finish on Sunday and post my work. I need to improve my hand lettering. I would've played more if I had the time (and strength). I'm happy with my colors and characters though. This class is really, really pushing me. I'm surrounded by amazing artists and I am trying my best to learn from them instead of feeling intimidated. I want to stay motivated.

Here is the work as it progressed. I used my acrylic inks, paint and my Neocolor II crayons. All the old faves!

 

 

 

There are two weeks left to Part A of Make Art That Sells. I am really going to miss it when it's over. Part B isn't until October. I'll be spending the months in between painting, drawing and learning Illustrator and Photoshop. Knowing those programs will make me a better artist overall. It's exciting and scary but I know I can do this. I can become the artist I want to be.

 

Creating My Own "How"

The past two weeks I've been knee deep in Lilla Rogers' E-course, Make Art that Sells. It is such an amazing course. I have not experienced anything like it. There are about 500 people taking this course and they are all amazingly talented.

If you don't know who Lilla Rogers is, she is an artist's agent. She finds paying gigs for artists in all types of industries like, home goods, bolt fabric and children's illustration. She has also authored a fantastic book, "I Just Like to Make Things", which is all about how to be a licensed artist. This class is an intense expanded edition of her book.

I said above that I've never experienced an e-course like this one. I am finding each week to be a big challenge of my artistic abilities, in a good way. I had the most difficulty in week one. We had to make a piece for the bolt fabric market. Now, I thought I could handle it since I just finished a course on creating surface patterns. Well, I struggled. This class is filled with very talented artists, some of whom are already licensed. I fell into the comparison trap. I created a piece that was ok.

It actually works as a coordinating piece but not as the main piece. Ironically, a few hours later I thought of this. I wish I had thought of it sooner. Oh well.

The second week was all about making plates. Fun or fancy plates that are hip and can be used everyday, not just on Thanksgiving. I think I did better on this assignment. See, this class is not about showing you how to do something like all the other courses I've taken. Lilla did not film one of her artists painting a plate design and then sent us off to do it. She just shows some examples of what is trending and then gives us the assignment. I'm a visual learner so that's the tough thing for me. I have to figure out the "how" on my own. This is actually a good thing. I think that's how you become a true artist. You are creating your own "how".

 

With the plate project I worked really hard on creating lots of layers and details. I usually don't think when I paint. I go with the flow. I need to work on finding a balance between creating thoughtfully and creating from flow. I know finding that balance will make me a better artist in the end.

This week is about illustrating children's books and part 1 of our assignment is snails? Yep, snails. I am enjoying being challenged. Snails were never on my drawing radar, until now.

 

 

Learning New Things and Growing My Career

I just finished Module 1 of Rachel Taylor's The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design. I had never considered surface pattern as a career option. The computer aspect scared me. This particular module doesn't require using the computer, though you can if you want to. It's primarily about creating designs and coming up with concepts. All the exercises can be done with paint and paper if you want.

This course was an eye opener for me. Everything you create. Every mark you make can be used in your surface pattern art. To me that takes so much pressure off. Just having the idea that everything has potential is o freeing creatively. I did give the software a try. (My accomplishments on the computer are sprinkled through this post) The industry uses Illustrator and Photoshop and Adobe offers a 30 day free trial of the software. Module 1 included bonus exercises for the software and I actually managed to follow the directions to create things! The entire module is PDF based. No video lessons. I'm a video learner so off to Lynda.com to watch videos on the software to get a better grip on things.

I enjoyed the class. There was so much information and I found it helpful. My only criticisms would be a lack of video instruction. There doesn't seem to be video instruction all in one place for surface pattern design using Illustrator and Photoshop. I'm still looking around though and I've found some things that look helpful. Even though I don't tend to use software when I create, I can see so much potential now having some experience with it. There was also a very limited chapter on character work. Characters are one of my favorite things to create, more so than florals, which Rachael Taylor is brilliant at. I think if the course included an interview with someone who is successful with characters in the surface pattern world.

I haven't decided if I will be taking the next two Modules in the class. Right now I'm taking Lilla Rogers' e-course, Make Art That Sells. This course goes over ten markets that want artists' work. I'm very excited for this course. It started today and it was filled with eye candy and oodles of info. I see changes in my career this summer. I'm going to continue learning Photoshop and Illustrator. I'm going to get that Etsy shop opened. I'm going to be building my portfolio.

Thanks for stopping by!

 

 

 

A Year of Drawing Day 4 & 5

I decided to go "woodland cute" this weekend with my drawing. I think Alisa Burke's Whimsy & Wonder E-course inspired this set of drawings. It's a sketchbook approach to creating whimsical drawings. My sketching skills are something I really want to improve on so, this class was perfect. I will say if you want to learn to draw a specific thing, that is not how Alisa teaches. She gives you ideas and shows what she does but she does not show you step by step how to draw specific things. The drawings she made for this course are not intimidating though. If you draw a little and like to draw from imagination, this course is wonderful.

 

 

 

 

One thing I have definitely learned is that I am a paper snob. I have to use Strathmore Mixed Media paper if I want to do watercolors. Alisa uses cheaper paper and doesn't mind the buckling. She even irons the paper after it dries. The buckling drives me crazy. I have to use the good stuff. Strathmore has a few mixed media journals and their paper holds up very well.

Oh, and just an FYI. I have a big announcement coming this week! Stay tuned!

 

 

Posted with Blogsy

A Year of Drawing

This June I'm taking Lilla Roger's new e-course, "Make Art That Sells" and I decided I need to improve my drawing skills. I'm good but I would like to be better. I've been looking at the art of some licensed mixed media artists and they all have wonderful illustration skills. I want to improve but I also don't want it to be a chore. I have to enjoy what I am doing so I keep the desire to do it.

I'm making my rules very simple:

Draw for 10 minutes a day (minimum)

Post what I draw (the good, the bad and the ugly) on my blog (hopefully everyday)

In my opinion it doesn't matter what you draw as long as you are drawing something. I want to keep my drawing options open in regards to subjects matter but give myself an easy minimum time period to stick too. No matter how crazy things get in this house I can usually find 10 minutes to draw.

Here is what I drew yesterday; Some quick characters.

 

 

 

 

Before bed I've gotten into drawing what I call Zenanimals. Here are my two latest.

 

My intention is to do this for a year. Yes, a whole year! This is the only way to make it a habit which is what I want. I enjoy drawing and I think it's a helpful skill to be comfortable doing. I don't want to have any "fear" about drawing. I have a little basket of drawing tools that I carry around the house with me and I have a mini sketchbook in my purse. I have an issue with drawing in public that I want to overcome.

I just turned 44 so starting my Year of Drawing this month is a good thing.

I hope you will follow along!

Thanks for stopping by.

 

Posted with Blogsy

A New Painting.... Mermaids

As promised, here is the big reveal of my BIG painting, Mermaids.

It took me about a month to create this 24'x36" painting. This video from Alisa Burke and this video from Mindy Lacefield inspired me for this painting. I watched Alisa's video and I thought "I can do that. I need to paint big!" I wasn't afraid or unsure of what I was doing at any point during this process. I was in the zone!

Here is is from start to finish.

A background filled with collage, paint and inky drips.

A face emerges.

 

Then another.

 

They are mermaids.

 

 

 

Here are details of the painting.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am so proud of this painting. A part of me can't believe I finished this and another part of me knew I would because I was so into it! I am currently taking Mindy Lacefield's True Free Spirit course. It has really built my confidence as a painter. I highly recommend this course. The women who are taking it are so supportive. It is just amazing!

As a special bonus I have a video here from Qwiki. It's a new iPhone app that let's you share videos. They are short snippets of special times in your life.

Click here to see the video. I hope you enjoy it!

 

Posted with Blogsy

Mermaid Painting from Start to Finish

Here is the completed painting I gave a sneak peek of in my last post.

First is the background with the beginnings of a face. I did this on a textured gesso board with paper, inks and paints. Funny thing is, I originally messed up on the background. I adhered some beautiful papers with gesso instead of glue. It made everything milky white and I lost all my colors. Oops. Well, I think I got my color back.

This is the face. It's still in the early stages but its going in the direction I want it to. I drew the outline with acrylic ink its dropper.

She has become a mermaid. I'm not happy with the tail. I need to tweak that.

I fixed the tail. I added some coral and shells and more blue to the background. I like the translucency and seeing the layers underneath. I feel like she's in a coral reef. I think she is done at this point and then I noticed the left eye. It looks like she got a black eye swimming under the sea. I felt the need to fix that.

She is finally finished. My three year old daughter (soon to be 4 this spring) insisted on some shimmer. She said it would be the "perfect finishing touch". So I added some shimmery inks to her hair and body. My daughter was right!

I really love how this painting turned out.

This is the second one I did based on the techniques I learned from Mindy Lacefield's True Free Spirit e-course. It's only the first month of twelve months of lessons and it is so much fun. We have a very active and supportive Facebook group and the work being produced is amazing. Mindy also created this video here that was an inspiration for my painting. It gives you a good idea of Mindy's style. I'm finding this class has given me a kick in the creative butt! I'm so excited with what I'm creating!

 

Posted with Blogsy