Some Advice From An Artist Friend

I can’t believe it has been a month since my art show. Where does the time go? Where is this season going?!

(Sigh)

Along with this disbelief of the summer circumstance had come the feeling of emptiness, in the pit of my stomach. A sense of fear was slowly setting in. What’s next? What should I be focusing on, now, as an artist? Looking for some guidance, I decided to reach out to friend and local professional artist, Deborah Leonard.

She was happy to chat and even welcomed me to her West Simsbury studio!

Isn’t it lovely? It’s like a little English cottage just waiting to show it’s treasures within. You really do feel transported into the rolling hills of Yorkshire, while being here. It is a must visit for all you art enthusiasts out there!

I had brought along a painting that I had completed for the show and Deborah had nothing but nice things to say about the piece. She also gave me lots of encouragement to pursue portrait commissions further and what price points to consider. It was really nice to get wonderful advice and hear such positivity from a fellow artist.

Deborah then continued to show me around her studio and gave me so many great tips on framing my canvases like; vendors on where to buy frames from, sizes to think about for my portrait art and what types of frames to look for that would compliment my work. She even mentioned some upcoming art show events that might be a good fit for me to become a part of!

I was like a bright-eyed student walking around Deborah’s studio feverishly taking notes and looking intently at her artwork. It was so inspiring to meet up with a well-known artist and really get some amazing guidance from her. I now have a better pulse on what to do and can’t wait to share with you all my art developments!

Thank you Deborah for this wonderful day :)

My Art Showcase Aftermath

And just like that…the show is over. Queue up the song Closing Time.

I was sad packing up my artwork last week. I must have thanked Sandy, like, a thousand times for having me display my work and, likewise, she said that Almost Famous was happy to do so. This opportunity had first posed some questions in my blogpost “I Got My First Art Showcase To Get Ready For”. I’m happy to report that I can answer them.

What my showcase will consist of:

A three tiered display of the different categories of cartoon, realism and fantasy. My cartoon and fantasy were placed on one side of the room, while my realism and portraits were placed on the other side. This helped the gallery viewer, as well as myself, see what I have to offer, creatively.

What styles I need to really hone in on, with my skillset:

My three categories were narrowed down into two different art style approaches. Cartoon and realism. This art showcase helped place a mirror in front of me. It forced myself to make decisions on how to categorize my art and, in turn, help sell my skillset to the public. I’m so thankful for that. I had created multiple events for my family and friends to attend while my artwork was up on display.

Each time I went to Almost Famous, I got to see various people and answer various questions on my art. Due to these events, I gained the confidence to let someone know what I can offer them, when commissioned.

What will get me recognized as an artist:

Lastly, this question was my biggest hurdle to jump over. I needed to do research on not just me, as the artist, but what other elements that make up my artwork.

Some elements were; the mediums, of both digital and traditional (pencil and painting), and how to display them all successfully, the design and print materials that needed, as well as, framing and pricing of artwork. I took surveys of what people thought and put their feedback in consideration on how to approach things in the future. So many great things were learned from this first art showcase, but I also know that I still have a long way to go. That’s part of being an artist though - it really is about the journey and not the destination.

If you have some feedback for me, please don’t hesitate to let me know!

Thank you for your support!

A very important thing that I learned throughout this experience was my art was only one part of the show. The other part were the people, present. Before the showcase, I felt that I created my art only for me, but that’s not true anymore. When I create a retro inspired piece and someone tells me of their stories as a kid…

…or when a person tells me about their loved one after seeing a portrait I drew - it makes me so happy. I’m happy that my art got someone to think about their own life in a positive way.

My artwork has been taken down off the Almost Famous walls, but that doesn’t mean the showcase is over. Keep your eyes open for more art showings in the future. Also, please feel free to contact me on buying existing artwork as well as commissioning me to create something for you!

I really can’t say it enough, thank you.

Shedding Some Light On My Digital Art

Phew, what a whirlwind these past couple weeks have been. Got my art showcase up in running with some help from my friends (thanks Annmarie and Lynda!) I also had fun at the opening and got to chat about my art and commission process with people. The one thing that I needed to discuss further was digital art. I feel that people are still in the dark about this and I thought an informative blog post would help.

Q: Digital art must be easier than traditional art?

A: Nope.

Digital art is the same amount of skill set as traditional art. The only difference is that I’m on a computer screen and not in front of a canvas. I still go through the sketching and coloring process in digital, just like I do in traditional.

The first step to ALL my artwork is sketching the piece. Here is an example of one of my art showcase pieces in the beginning stage.

…and here is the second step, the coloring phase. I created this piece in a gouache painting style. If you would like to see the finished art piece, come to my art showcase!

Q: So then why is your digital pieces less expensive then your traditional ones?

A: In this instance I am treating these digital pieces as art prints and not originals.

Just like what artist do with traditional art work, their originals are more expensive and their art prints of that original are cheaper. If I was commissioned to create a digital one-of-a-kind piece, it would be full asking price and the client would have the file to use as they please. I would not resell that piece. This is similar to what I do with my business clients that ask for illustrations.

Q: Is the price just for the art print?

A: In the art showcase the digital art price is for the print, print material and framing.

Some of my digital art fluctuates due to this. For instance, the cheapest option is the poster style printed on poster paper and placed in a poster frame. These are great for kids’ rooms and man caves ;). A step up from that is the option of my digital art printed on canvas and framed, gallery style.

Q: Do you have other options for your digital art?

A: I do!

The great thing about my digital art is that it is already digitized so I can transform my art into many creative elements. I bring my stickers and art postcards along with me, to the art showcase, for little souvenirs that can be purchased (that is a big hit with the kids!) I have also been commissioned to creative t-shirts, pins, beer koozies even cookies for a wedding!

I hope this sheds a little more light on what I do with my digital art. If you have any other questions, please ask. I will be at Almost Famous tonight, to hang with my art, so feel free to come by and see my artwork and have a chat with me. See ya!

A Little More About This Geeky Gal

I was born to two geeks.

One, is my dad, whom was into movies, TV shows and Intellivision video games. The other, is my mom, whom needed to have a record or MTV music videos always playing in the house. Their pop culture preferences paved the way for my own music, cartoon and geeky interests that I would draw, often.

I can still recall running into my parents bedroom, at 7am. I would jump onto the bed and show them my latest creations I drew while watching the Saturday morning kids art show, Captain Bob. They may not had shown it then, so early in the morning, but my mom and dad were always very supportive of my artwork growing up. That was where my own Geek Gal Go brandmark came from.

This is me.

The bright-eyed, corduroy pants and Hush-Puppies wearin’, 80s child that drew everything in sight. Even though I am now a mom in her 40’s I will never forget to always be that little creative girl, at heart.

This week has been a lot of print cutting, frame cleaning and matte assembling to get my art pieces prepped for the show.

I can’t even count how many times I have been to Michaels. I believe the cashiers all know me by name now. Many frames were bought and many coupons were used (thank God) because buying printing materials has been EXPENSIVE. I have forgotten this, since I have been in the digital world as a graphic designer for so long.

I also have been getting my artwork professionally printed on poster paper and canvas, so cardboard tubes of joy have been showing up on my doorstep, recently. Among all of this, I have been setting aside time to sit and create several traditional pieces that I have been showing WIP (work in progress) posts of. Lastly, I have been working on advertising graphics which I will end this post strong with an ad of my art showcase opening. Hope to see you there!

My Art Showcase Title Backstory

For my art showcase I decided to play on the phrase “Sex, Drugs and Rock’n’Roll.” I thought it was a great way to categorize my own three types of artwork, I will be displaying. After a little bit of word swapping magic the title for my art exhibit will be:

“Portraits, Cartoons & Rock’n’Roll”

I was curious, though, on the original phrase. I do this often. I like to know of the backstory to things. Why do we have “Sex, Drugs, and Rock’n’Roll” in existence? The first thing I thought of was the 60’s. I think this phrase pretty much explains the whole decade, right? Well, I went and asked the smartest guy I know, Google, and he told me that it was based off of a song in the late 70s...wha?! 

The song “Sex, Drugs, and Rock’n’Roll” was a B-side track off of an album called “Razzle In My Pocket” by Ian Dury and the Blockheads. Now here’s a fun fact that got my eyebrow raised, boys and girls... The song was released in 1977 - the year I was born (head explosion). You have got to check out this video. It’s has all of the 70’s vibes, man, and some far out wipe-in effects. But what caps it all off is the super-rad Ian Dury floating head that moves into center camera. It’s perfection.

The birth year connection to this raunchy classic inspired me to officially make this the art showcase with the most sexy, addictive, air guitar hands (get it) EVER! I’m now completing portraits and my art prints are starting to come in, so more developments and little artwork teasers are in the works. It’s starting to come together :)

When A Teacher Becomes A Student...Then Becomes A Teacher Again

If you were to have told me that I would be teaching a drawing class a year after I started up my artwork again, I would have thought you were crazy.

Teaching graphic design at a community college was one thing, but teaching something that has always been just a passion for me and to have to show my drawing to a class full of people?! That’s some nerve-racking stuff right there! In February, I had taken a drawing course, where I exchanged my teaching cred for the bright eyed-bushy tailed student and realized I had a lot to learn in some areas. I thought, then, that this art thing will be a long, bumpy road to travel on…but that didn’t stop me. With my chin up, I worked really hard on drawing every day, just like my drawing professor had advised me to do.

In July, I was suddenly under the spell of a possession jutzu. I walked right into a local literature and pop-culture company called the Storybook Cottage to ask if they were ever thinking of expanding their amazing writing and geeky fun events to include the drawing and illustration realm. The receptionist gave me the owner’s card and told me to send some ideas along. I remembered going home and just staring at the business card. Should I even bother? Would they just turn me down? I sent the email with my ideas and my art samples, anyways…and held my breath.

One hour later the owner responds, “Let’s chat further about this.” We met and she loved the ideas I had come up with. I was asked to come in and be a guest speaker for a kids book publishing camp. The kids in the camp were great and so creative with their book ideas. The teacher was back! :)

Today, is the day. The graphic design professor that became the art pupil is now the art teacher. I’ll be showing the kids some drawing tips and techniques for cartooning. Below, are some other classes I’ll be teaching in the Fall.

Learn to Draw Cartoons Friday September 20/ 4:30-6:30 pm

How To Design An Eye Catching Book Cover (Adults) Friday September 27/ 7:00-9:00 pm

Tim Burton Macabre Drawing Friday October 18/ 5:30-7:30 pm

Ghoulish Drawing By Candlelight Friday October 18/ 8:00-9:30 pm

Fantasy Drawing I (Wizards & Castles) Friday November 15/ 5:30-7:30 pm

Fantasy Drawing II (Fairies & Dragons) Friday December 13/ 5:30-7:30 pm

Naruto hopes to see you there!

For My Brother's Birthday I Made Him An Unfinished Megazord

I took some time off this summer. It was nice to get away from time to time and go on some family adventures, but now the summer has ended. It’s back to morning school prep madness of reciting simple chores and “did you remembers” along with daily bento box wrestling matches. The phone has been ringing more frequent with current client projects and new clients that have been requesting my artwork. It is all very exciting, but something is amiss…

Tomorrow is my brother’s birthday. This year, it had snuck up on me. Back in May I was starting to draw a piece for Ryan. I knew how much he loved the Power Rangers, when he was younger, and thought of creating a Megazord art piece for his birthday, in September. I had plenty of time. I then got busy and put my borther’s birthday gift on the shelf. The funny thing about shelves is that you tend to forget things being placed on them.

Sigh.

This is what I have for him, an unfinished Megazord. I know he would be fine with it. I know he would just smile and say it looks great…but I’m not fine with it. I’m not OK with giving him an unfinished art piece. To me this symbolizes something. I have a lot of unfinished work to do. I need to refocus a little bit more on myself and my feelings. I think that is what Ryan is trying to tell me.

I also recently drew my brother, again. It has been a year since I had done the last drawing of him. This time, I drew him older or at least he appeared older to me. Ryan was happy in the reference that I drew of him. The reference was of a family shot during my wedding day. I need to revisit him more this way. I think that this is another thing Ryan is pointing out to me. He wants me to stop being sad and just draw his happiness.

Thank you Ryan, I love you <3