New Work - Custom Portraits

I had a couple of portraits ordered last month and I'd love to share them with you. First off is a portrait of my friends 1 year old twins, Hazel & Wesley playing in the woods.


And second...Is a portrait of my friend Jaime's son Jack.


I created both of these 9x12 custom illustrations with watercolor and gouache paints layered over a graphite drawing.

These were both really wonderful to do and a great learning experience working with more clients. I would love to do a few of these portraits a month. If anyone is interested in working with me just leave a comment and I'll get to you ASAP.

If you want to learn more about my custom portraits you can check them out at the shop.

It's time for the June Meetup!

Happy Summertime! Vintage Vogue Spain photo via Quite Continental




 I don't believe it is already June...and Summer. Well, I must say, May was a pretty good month for me. I had a piece and some prints in SFEtsy gallery show at Studio Gallery. I finished a couple of custom pieces and got 10 new necklaces finished. I also went on my first camping trip of the year and attended San Francisco Small Business Week classes as well as a finishing few new illustrations.

So what's up for June? Bluehour Studio is going in a slightly different direction towards editorial work now and I need to build my portfolio up...

  1. Get at least one new Editorial piece done a week. 
  2. Continue the Ladies & Gents series add 4 more portraits this month.
  3. Create a few more Victorian Children to series.
  4. Work fridays for New Bohemia Signs.
  5. Go through the Artists & Writers Market and find publications that fit...start list of dream publications.
  6. Work on creating a wonderful Behance page...
  7. Hopefully creating a wonderful Dribbble page...(anyone know how to score a invite?)
  8. Join in a few SFEtsy events. 
  9. Create a illustration for Illustration Friday.
  10. Find more blogs and websites to showcase my Etsy shop.
  11. Be more social online. After two years of  doing this thing I'm still really shy...
  12. Start my diet.
  13. Design mailers to send to publishers.
  14. Update official website to be ready to send to publishers .
  15. Keep adding new work to my Etsy shop (Goal is 80 pieces by October)
  16. Work on getting 2 custom portraits a month.
  17. Go on more bike rides with my hubby!
  18. Start researching for art fairs to apply to in fall.
  19. Get back to a better blogging schedule...I really need to improve this. (Do you blog better in writing blocks or as a daily thing?)
 Ok...I think that is enough for June. (Ha ha...Yikes)I'm getting better at getting more work done but I still need to get much more accomplished to make this business to really work.

So what happens in the summer for you guys? Do you do more or relax more now the weather is calling you? How do you keep from being distracted. Do you have any big summer plans? I'll be visiting my family back east for a week or so in July and I am so excited to get a  break, enjoy some real summertime life along a lovely little pond...

I hope you all have a lovely and productive June!

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. 

Carnival Love...


What a fabulous time had around San Francisco this weekend. I hope you all enjoyed every minute of your Memorial Day, the Golden Gate Bridge 75 Birthday, or Carnival Celebrations...

Here's more pics that I took for Carnival. I love Carnival, there is so much joy, pride and sexiness. People are shaking it whatever size there bodies are. It really keeps my ego in check. Do I really need to panic about those 10lbs I need to lose? All the worries about our bodies shapes get pretty silly after a certain point, don't they?

It should be a pretty busy week for me. I'm finishing off some custom portraits, getting my jewelry done and starting a bunch of new illustrations...Here's to finishing May up with a bang!


Art Heroes - Southworth & Hawes Photography

Some of the most inspiring (and oldest) photography was done by the photography firm of Southworth & Hawes  ( Albert Sands Southworth (1811–1894) and Josiah Johnson Hawes (1808–1901).  They were primary active between from 1843-1863 in Boston.

These guys really amaze me. I love the way they arrange their subjects. The sitters seem a lot more real then most of the Victorian photography I've seen before. They photographed some of the most famous people of the time including Louisa May Alcott, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Ralph Waldo Emerson and Daniel Webster. But the daguerreotypes that really stand out for me are the everyday people...the "unidentified" people.

Unidentified Child, circa 1850
The Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Family, 1849

"The artist, even in photography, must go beyond discovery and the knowlege of facts; he must create and invent truths and produce new developments of facts. "
--A.S. Southworth, 1870
Death of Pain (first public administered Ether anesthesia)1847


 
Rollin Heber Neal



Ralph Waldo Emerson, 1857




Alice Mary Hawes, 1852


"Learn to look and see the difference under different lights in the same faces. Learn to see the fine points in every face, for the plainest faces in the world are human faces, belonging to human beings... "
--A. S. Southworth, 1873
Unidentified Girl with Ringlets, circa 1850's
Unidentified Woman, circa 1850
Unidentified Dead Child, Circa 1855



"In the nice production of light and shade which is the perfection of modelling, the Daguerreotype will be found to surpass the Artist's best efforts, being capable of representing independently, action, expression, and character to a great extent; and in some instances approaches very nearly, if it does not equal these higher branches, thus developing beauty in grace of motion and in repose, which is the first object and the supreme law of all Art."
--A.S. Southworth, 1855

Two Women Posed with a Chair, ca. 1850 
Unidentified Woman, 1852
Laura Bridgman, 1855

Winchester Family Tomb, Mount Auburn Cemetery, circa 1853

Unidentified Girl, 1850
Winter Portrait with Fur Coat and Gloves



Unidentified Child, 1850

Of course this is only a tiny bit of work by Southwork & Hawes. You can find more in the book, "Young America: The Daguerreotypes of Southworth & Hawes. You can also see more Photographs in this flickr set from the George Eastman House.

I hope these daguerreotypes have inspired you as much as they inspire me. 

Now, I'm off to work on a custom portrait...




SF Etsy Art Show Opening

This weekend was the reception for the SF Etsy art show. Let me say, it was pretty wonderful. The place was packed with people and filled with friendly faces. I was so happy to have one of my pieces hanging in the show. Truthfully, I am a super shy person and this was the first gallery show I have been part of since college. It felt really great and I have to thank the SF Etsy team for getting this together.

Welcome to the Show

Local & Handmade

Here's my piece for the show...Miss Sarah

And so she hangs...(my prints are in the back of the gallery)


Here's a few of the other artists in the show. I wish I took a few more pictures but I was pretty busy blabbing away...there were so many cool people to meet.

Mix Media Paintings by David Fullarton




Les Herbes Print by Geraldine Adams




A big thanks to Katy to got this idea for the art show going...




Here's Katy Atchison's work

 Prints  by Maggie Hurley
Archival Pigment Prints by Meagan Eckman
There was so much amazing work at the show. I'm so proud to be a part of such a talented group of artists. The SF Etsy show is up until May 27th.

Studio Gallery
1815 Polk Street
San Francisco, CA 94109

For More Information: Studio Gallery

I'd also love to give a huge thank you to everyone who helped get this gallery show together. I think it was a big success for all those involved. And it is always wonderful to meet more like minded folks. Shall we do it again next year?

Good Night...Maurice Sendak

Feeling pretty sad about the loss of the great Maurice Sendak this morning. He inspired so many illustrators to do what we do. His gift for storytelling will be greatly missed in this world...and I hope his work continues to be read for generations to come.

 I came across this video on the Drawn blog and it was too good not to share...



Rest in Peace, Maurice...

p.s. thank you for your honest grumpiness too.

It's time for the May Meetup!

Mlle. C.H. Dufau painting Via Library of Congress

 It been a very interesting month. I was excited about the upcoming SFEtsy show that opens tomorrow. Woo Hoo! Most of last month was spent getting ready for the art show. I'm only showing one original and some prints but I had to totally work my Etsy shop to reflect the sizes and prices the gallery wanted. April was a huge learning experience and I am excited about what's next.

May is going to be another busy month. And I'm switching focus a bit.

  1. I want to start focusing on the bigger picture with my illustrations. I want to start focusing on editorial work.This will require a lot of research and learning about the industry. Can any of you recommend any good books on getting into the publication world?
  2. Get a better blogging schedule. I've lost my way a bit and really need to get back to posting at least 2 to 3 times a week.
  3. Add more pieces to shop. Add more folk tale illustrations (seasons series). Learn about SEO and better tagging.
  4. Work on some editorial for my portfolio. I think I need at least 15 editorial pieces by the end of summer.
  5. Get Jewelry done! Consign to shops and add to shop!
  6. Work on new custom portraits.
  7. Create a couple samples for custom portraits.
  8. Go camping...get out of the house and into nature.
  9. Get back on an exercise schedule.
  10. Research local art fairs, apply to at least one for this summer.
  11. Apply to more galleries.
  12. Work on money fears issues. I am currently reading, "Overcoming Underearning" by Barbara Stanny. I highly recommend this book. It has really been blowing my mind.
So that's where I'm at. Seems like enough to keep me busy, don't you think? May should be a really good month. Bluehour Studio will be celebrating it's two year anniversary in July and I really want to be in a good position the time come around. It seems like a really good time to push myself. Wish me luck with all that!

So what is your month like? I hope you all have a super creative and highly productive May!

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. 



Introducing...Miss Sarah





I'm so excited about being part of the SFEtsy group show in May. I just wanted to share the original painting I dropped off at the Gallery yesterday. (There will also be a bunch of my prints to purchase too!)

Here's Miss Sarah. Her story, she is a 27 year old, seamstress and lace maker who creates incredible dresses for all the rich woman in town. She dreams of one day being able to wear one of her own creations. Until then, she sits in the near darkness hour after hour, stitch after stitch, dreaming of a better life...

I hope you like her.

The SFEtsy group show opens on May 2nd and runs till MAy 27th.
Artist Reception, May 12th 2-6pm

Studio Gallery
1815 Polk Street
San Francisco, CA 94109

Here's more information about the show.

Weekly Brain Mushings

I've been working away trying to get everything ready for the Etsy art show. I'm trying hard to get over my inner messy kid and find the perfectionist within. I'm working on measuring everything perfectly, over thinking everything and basically rethinking my entire life and career...

Yep, I'm driving myself nuts, but in a good way. It is pretty wonderful when you push your self father than you've gone in the past. And looking towards a hopeful future.

I came upon this wonderful TED talk by Alain de Botton.


 His talk really calms me. Basically he says we are all driving ourselves nuts.  Doesn't it feel good that we are all in this crazy world together?

Weekend Ponders

The amazing Anais Nin

“There were always in me, two women at least, one woman desperate and bewildered, who felt she was drowning and another who would leap into a scene, as upon a stage, conceal her true emotions because they were weaknesses, helplessness, despair, and present to the world only a smile, an eagerness, curiosity, enthusiasm, interest.”
― Anaïs Nin
 
Something to think about over the weekend, perhaps? How many women do you have in you? I think I have at least 4...

Happy Friday, Everyone!

(Does anyone know who took the photo above? I'd love to give credit.)

Wednesday Brain Mushings

I have to admit in the last few month things are finally changing in my artistic life. I'm doing custom work, jewelry and I'm in a gallery show. Crazy...and truthfully, I am scared to death. I have been fighting procrastination like crazy. And i know that I can't mess this up. Beginning new things is scary...

I came across this video on Drawn today.  Ze Frank's "An Invocation for Beginnings" seems to sum up all my weirdo fears pretty damn well.  Here's to getting shit done...



Do you freak out before new challenges? What do you do to get over it?

 Check out this video by Chuck Close.  He has a great way of putting things...

“The advice I like to give young artists, or really anybody who'll listen to me, is not to wait around for inspiration. Inspiration is for amateurs; the rest of us just show up and get to work. If you wait around for the clouds to part and a bolt of lightning to strike you in the brain, you are not going to make an awful lot of work. All the best ideas come out of the process; they come out of the work itself. Things occur to you. If you're sitting around trying to dream up a great art idea, you can sit there a long time before anything happens. But if you just get to work, something will occur to you and something else will occur to you and something else that you reject will push you in another direction. Inspiration is absolutely unnecessary and somehow deceptive. You feel like you need this great idea before you can get down to work, and I find that's almost never the case.”
― Chuck Close

It's a little kick in the ass, isn't it?

Now, time to get to work!

Time for the April Meetup....

Frida Kahlo doing what she did best...via 3wings

     Wow, April is already here...Crazy. Well, March was pretty interesting. Here's a recap.
  1. I finished a four more paintings done for the Ladies & Gents series. Yay!
  2. I finish one of my custom portraits (still working out the 2nd)
  3. Attended my first SFEtsy Meetup. This was wonderful and inspiring...
  4. Applied to the SFEtsy gallery show in May and GOT IN!
  5. Had my shop on Papernstitch in March, (got about 60 views from it, no sales). This was my first shot at advertising, I think it went Ok...of course a few sales would have been nice. A Question, has anyone done one of these online galleries that worked really well for you? What were they?
  6. Started working on my lockets and have a ready had a  lot of interest in them. I've been wearing my prototype and a so excited about the interest so far. I'm already getting orders...woo hoo!
So that what April bring? Here's my business plans for the next 30 days. All I can say is it is gonna be an very busy month...

  1. Get ready for the art show. I am going to create 2 original Victorian portrait for the show and will have a spot to sell my prints. 
  2. Create at least 20 Victorian Portrait necklaces. Make them available on my Etsy shop and at the gallery show. 
  3. Get prints gallery ready...owner wants them resized and matted for super easy framing...
  4. Order & redesign more business cards.
  5. Create bio cards for prints.
  6. Finish custom portrait for Amber.
  7. Rework Etsy shop.
  8. Work on an illustration of my friends band, The Kingdom of Not.
  9. Breath...
  10.  Work on some editorial illustrations for my portfolio.
  11. Get on a better blogging schedule...
  12. Continue working on getting my work out there.
  13. Design postcards to send to magazines.
  14. Start working on a press kit. (This really scares me.)
  15. March was pretty stressful for me and I admit to being pretty anti-social online. I really need to work on this...
You can say I had a bit of an eye opener this weekend. I went to a open studio with my friend Kerry this weekend and man, it was great. Of course I have gone to lots of gallery shows in the past but I think this is the first time I felt that I was ready for the gallery scene. As an illustrator, there is always this weird bullsh*t, stuff about illustrators vs fine artists. Mainly, that illustrators aren't "real" artists. Well ...I'm getting over it. It really starts to open up the possibilities when you start seeing yourself in a gallery setting as well as an illustration world. A very ah-ha moment for me!

Any of you have any "ah-ha" moments lately?

I hope you all have wonderful productive month.

 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. 


Introducing...New Victorian Portraits

I'm hoping you are all having a wonderful week. I have been very busy creating a bunch of new artwork. Here is the latest in my Ladies & Gents series...

So, without further ado, I'd like you to meet:

Garrett, age 32, map maker

Miss Eleanor, age 37, ghost story writer

Benedict, age 26,  footman

M. Lily, age 26, widow, laundry maid
I hope you like them. I have a few more to do in the series but I'm getting ready to write more in depth stories about each character. It is so fun. Honestly, I'm pretty proud of myself with this project. I haven't created so much artwork in years. There is so much truth in the fact that the more you do, the more want to do.

All prints are 7 x 10 and are available in the shop.