Here's to 2012! (January Meetup Goals)



Finding my balance...Tightrope Walker from Life Magazine
2011...What a year! This last few weeks have giving me time to really think about my goals, where I am and where I want to go with bluehour studio in the future. It has been an huge eye opening experience. Here is a bit of what I've learned...

To start off, it was a good year and I am pretty proud myself. I accomplished a lot. I started my Etsy shop. I think I found my creative voice and I made more art work in a year than I ever have since art school.  Most importantly, I have found my passion for illustration again (it was blocked by fear for a long time). All in all, I'm pretty happy about where I am heading as an artist but I still have a lot to learn.

So what is ahead for 2012? This is not a list of resolutions but more of a list of what I will be focusing on in the next year.
  1. Etsy...oh... Etsy you amaze me. There are so many possibilities within your pages. Honestly, I thought that it would be easier to make a living with it. I thought that once I opened my shop it would be like magic and the sales would just happen. This is not reality... Now my shop is open but I don't always understand how to get views. I need to figure out how to make sales. I have heard that the magic number of shop items is about 100. I have 30, there needs to be a lot more...and I need to create a bit of diversity in artwork. I need to create different sizes, subjects, stationary, and some illustrated jewelry...It is going to be a very busy year.
  2. And yes, although Etsy is great, I really want to focus on doing editorial work for non-profits, books and magazines. That will be the ideal. That is the dream...I hope I can make it happen this year. There will be a whole new learning curve about how to send my artwork to companies and publishers. But I am ready for it...
  3. Kick the last bit of fear to the curb. I need to start talking about my artwork more. I can't afford to be shy anymore. I want to get out there. That means bringing my artwork to local shows and galleries. I joined the SFEtsy team and they are opening my eyes to so many new opportunities. I'll probably start small but I would love to do about 3 or 4 shows this year. Anyone know of goods ones to start off with?
  4. Deal with money (and learn the ins and outs of running a successful business)...I know this is a boring subject but it is something I need to face as an artist. How do you truly support yourself? I need get myself out there in the world. I need to learn to advertise, facebook, twitter and blog more. Listen to all the marketing guru's. I need to get over the starving artist thing once and for all. Work a solid part time job too. 
  5. And the key to most of this...better time management. I need to get a good plan. Write daily to-do lists and finish them. So simple, yet so hard to do...Learn to see the big picture with my business.
  6. On a personal level, I need to journal more. Write out my thoughts and fears. I need to get out of the house more. Read some really good fiction and keep my imagination going always. Go for walks, make plans with friends and plan more mini vacations. Plan for a big vacation with my hubby in the next couple of years. Keep my exercise programs going (Damon & I are currently doing P90X, yikes what a workout). Oh...yeah meditate a bit daily.
So that's will be my 2012. It is going to be a really interesting year. I'm sure it will be an intense year. All the crazy politics around the world might get really serious. I'm trying to remain positive about the world around me. And keep looking at all the amazing things people are creating and get inspired by them.

How about you? What is the biggest thing you hope to accomplishing in 2012? What are you most afraid of? What are you most excited about? I'd love to hear about it.

Well, here's to a amazing 2012. It's going to be a hell of a year...

Here's to you and success in the new year!

What is the Meetup thing, you ask? It is a group of creatives that encourage each other each month to make and complete their goals. Join us...it is an amazing to watch the progress of others and yourself...
Contact Liz for more info here.


Finishing up 2011...

Hey everyone,

I just wanted to drop a little update of what I've been up to. I am evaluating what I did and didn't accomplish in 2011, and figuring out how to make some improvements in the future.  This year I accomplished many things but most importantly 2011 taught me I have a lot to more to learn.

Right now, I am working on a bunch of new pieces to be posted ASAP and I'm trying to figure out what the grand plans of 2012 will be. I am pretty excited about next year and will be working on getting my work in magazine and books. I'll be focusing more on editorial illustration and storytelling...but more on that later.

So, until my grand New Years resolution post...here is a lovely new video by Featherbeard & Lavender Lee.  Isn't it fun? I love all the creativity(and happy darkness) that went into making it. It is kind of inspiring to me for the new year.


What are you doing to finish off your year? Are you excited as I am about having a clean slate? Here's to whatever is next!

Feeling relieved...

I'm finally done with all the getting ready for Christmas craziness. And feels so good. My shopping is done. Everything has been shipped off. Fun plans plans are about to be had. My yearly Christmas depression/worries are pretty much over.  (Anybody else out there get that?) Now, there is nothing much more to do....yay!

So, I say it is time to slow down, stop for a bit, relax (have a large glass of wine) and do nothing except enjoy the holidays. Maybe, sit back and try to remember why we have these crazy holidays in the first place. Sound like a good idea? I hope you are able to do the same...

Addams Family via Charles Addams
I hope you all have a Merry Christmas. And I hope your holidays are filled with joy and laughter.

Santa is here...well almost.

I just wanted to give you all a peek at the Santa Claus illustration I've been working on. He is a little bit Victorian(of course). Hopefully he will be done and made into a card ASAP.  I still need to work on adding some type. But I think the portrait is pretty much done. Hope you like him...


Illustration Friday - Separated

There are some words on Illustration Friday that bring an instant image to my mind. This was one of them. The word challenge, "Separation",  instantly made me think of the recent local news story of conjoined twin girls who had an operation to be separated.

Separated by bluehour studio
Detail



The story is pretty scary story one. If you happen to give birth to conjoined twins, you basically have two choices. One, you take the big risk of deciding to separate the girls and hope they both survive. Or two, you keep them together and hope they don't have too difficult a life together. This family decided to go forward with the operation and hope for the best.

Luckily, this story happens to have a happy ending, and both girls, Angelica and Angelina, are doing great.  I wonder if they are happy now or they miss being so...so...close?

Hope you like it!


Mid-Week Music and A Work in Progress

I'm working on a bunch of new art work now and have been in a kind of dark mood lately. Don't worry though, my dark moods can be a huge source of my inspiration. So I wanted to post a little bit of music I've been listening to. I had only heard of Agnes Obel really recently, isn't her music lovely?



Oh, here is what I am currently working on...This is my work in progress for Illustration Friday.  This weeks word is "Separated".  I'll post it again when it is finished.

 

I better get painting....

A Good Thought...

I am loving this wonderful poster by Jon Contino.  I makes the world seem a little lighter doesn't it?

Well, it also explains exactly where my brain is today...I'm trying to envision(and to make it reality) using my illustration to help people around the world...

Good Deeds Poster via helpink.org



FYI, This lovely poster is featured on the amazingly good charity/art collaboration site helpink.org.

Here's a little bit about Help Ink:
Help Ink is a collaborative project, using the sale of premium and exclusive art to help charities in an exciting way. With each purchase you’ll be doing your part to help charitable organizations and individuals around the world.
Pretty cool, huh?

Monday Inspiration: Maurice Sendak on Illustration

I love this video. Maurice Sendak is so honest about the nature of being an illustrator. How does it all work? He doesn't know...

Basically, as an illustrator, you just want to tell a good story with your drawings. Yep, that's about it. He makes it seem so simple...It suppose he has the experience, he has been illustrating for over 60 years...amazing!




Here's a few of Sendak's wonderful illustrations...
An illustration from "In Grandpa's House" (1985) via The New York Times
  An Ilustration from, "Where The Wild Things Are" (1963) via DailyArtFixx.com
An Illustration from, "In The Night Kitchen" (1970) via loveardently.com
Yay for Maurice and all his curmudgeonly ways...

What is your favorite Maurice Sendak book?


Introducing...some new Victorian Portraits

Here are a few new portraits for my Ladies & Gents series...I have been having a wonderful time creating all of these portraits. There is so much I want to experiment with. I would love to create some jewelry with them. (I've been planning on making lockets) and I am thinking of putting them all in a book. I have a few more to do, I plan on doing 30 all together, so far I have 26. And I need to figure out get these lovelorn people to meet. The story possibilities are endless...


Miss Amelia, 26, Ladies Maid




Benjamin, 29, Gentleman


Miss Charlotte, 23, Upper-House Made



Maude, 27, Stage Actress

Jasper, 31, Apothecary


Ambrose, 36, Photographer

I hope you like the newest portraits...If you are interested, they are available for purchase in my shop.

Do you have a favorite?

Chronicle Books: Happy Haul-idays



I have to start off by saying. I love Chronicle Books. I am so happy that they grace my city with their presence...Now it is time for a Chronicle Books Contest!!! I had so much fun with this contest last year, I'd thought I would do it again. Here's the deal...I choose $500 worth of fabulous books from Chronicle. You check them out...and love/want them. And you LEAVE A COMMENT. And Bam you are entered to win. Then if my blog is chosen by Chronicle, we both with copies of the books I chose! Yay, what can be easier?

Here's this years list!

more info: Decorate by Holly Becker $35.00

More info: Graphic Design Thinking by Ellen Lupton $24.95
More info: Graphic Design for non-designers by Tony Seddon $22.95

More Info: Design Diaries...$40.00

More Info: Fresh Dialogue 7...$16.95


More info: Little Book of Screen Printing by Casper Williamson $24.95

More info: How to Design Websites by Alan Pipes $29.95

More info: Typography Sketchbooks $55.00




More Info: The Art of Instruction by Katrien Van der Schueren $35.00

More Info: The Book as Art...$34.95

More Info: DIY Furniture by Christopher Stuart $24.95

More Info: Same Place, More Space...$24.95
More Info: Botanicals Stationary Set by Rifle Paper Co. $14.95

More Info: I am Yours, 30 Postcards by Joseph Park...$9.95
More Info: Drawing Nature, A Journal by Jill Bliss...$16.95


More Info: Brother Sun, Sister Moon...$17.99
More Info: More Things Like This...$35.00
More Info: Paper & Craft...$19.95

More Info: Land + Air + Water, A Tripdych Journal Collection by Susie Ghahremani...$14.95

So that's my list...It was pretty difficult to choose. Which one was your favorite? Chronicle Books makes so many amazing books. Let's cross our fingers and hope we win. Remember, just add your comment below to enter.

BTW,  if we win, $500 worth of books goes to a charity. I would love to help build the library of San Francisco Center for the Book. They teach old school book making classes and letterpress classes and many other book arts that seem to be dying. I has also been a wonderful place to volunteer and I think they a really positive place for learning amazing new skills. Here is there website if you want to learn more...http://sfcb.org/







Art Hero: Alphonse Mucha

Alphonse Mucha (1860- 1939) is one of my all time favorite artists. I love his style and his incredible ability to capture so much emotion in each person he draws. His work is such an inspiration to me. I love that his work is mostly illustration. It amazes me how incredibly beautiful he makes the most simple things. There is a sort of comfort in his work and a beauty that will ever go out of style.

I've seen a lot of people that try to imitate his work but it never seems to quite get it right. It must be something about the colors he chose or the movement of his backgrounds. The characters he drew had the incredible fluidity which really shows off his talent.

In a ideal world, companies would be trying to create works of art with their packaging. There is some amazing package design being created today but I doesn't always seem to always reach my grocery shelves, but wouldn't you buy more stuff it was packaged like this?

Poster for Amants, Theatre de la Renaissance

Poster for Chocolat Ideal, 1897


Poster for Chocolat Masson, 1897


Poster for Flirt Biscuits, 1899

Moravian Teachers Choir, 1911

Poster for Moet & Chandon Champagne, 1899
Nestle's Food for Infants, 1897

Poster for Bagnolet Soap Factory, 1897

Here are a few the amazing (and very large) paintings he created as part of The Slav Epic Series...the details are so incredible.


Master Jan Hus Preaching at the Bethlehem Chapel-1916
Defense of Sziget Against the Turks 1914


 Holy Mount Athos-1926

Here is Alphonse in his studio working on The Slav Epic



Here is the lovely photo of man himself, he had a pretty interesting an sad life. He died of pneumonia after being arrested by the gestapo after being denounced as a 'reactionary' for his views... I recommend the book Alphonse Maria Mucha: His Life and Art by Jiri Mucha (written by Alphonses' son) to learn more.

Hope you enjoyed the work of one of my illustration & art heroes!

Doing some good...

I have always wondered what, as an artist, am I supposed to do with my life. Can I make some sort of difference in the world? Can I help anyone...even just one person? Maybe I can help people get their message out by creating a visually inspiring illustration or poster? I'm not sure but I am going to try. There must be real ways for artists to make an impact on the world.

What made me start thinking about this? I went to a amazing spiritual conference this weekend. It was encouraging the participants to not only work on their spiritual selves but also get out there in the world and become an activist. Truthfully, I have always yearned in my heart to help people and I dream of doing these incredible pieces of art, but I get scared. I sometimes feel like I don't have a voice. I'm afraid to get political because I might frighten people away. I might offend people. It is not good for my "career". I have a hard time speaking up, I get tongue-tied...but that all needs to change. I need to grow up. I need to find my voice. And you know what? My voice is my artwork...and I don't it to be want to be quiet anymore.



Do you think artists can make any impact in the world? Is it passe' thing to do? Have you ever wanted to use your artwork for "good". Did you do it or did something stop you?

In the next year or so I plan to get more involved with the world. I will learn about charities and non-profits around the world. I will help someone somehow, and use my creative gifts to do something good. There is so much to do...where should I start?

Do you want to do some good? What are you excited to help out with?

Do any of you know of organizations to get involved with that you love? Do you have any recommendations of charities that tug at your heart? I'd love to hear about them.


BTW, the poet in the video, Drew Dellinger, was one of the speakers at the conference I went to. You can find out more about him and his work here.