Shaking things up...

Hey Everyone. I'll be working on a few changes here at the bluehour studio blog. I'm trying to create a similar feeling throughout all my online world. I hope you like the changes so far. I've got a lot of work ahead of me but I'm feeling pretty good about it so far. Check back to see more changes. I'm hoping to get it all done in the next few weeks...

So close...

Looking over the edge of a cliff at Sea Ranch

 Man, I don't believe that August is almost here. I've gotten a lot of work but I still keep falling a bit short before it is finished. I've made 10 more drawings for the "Ladies & Gents" series and very close to finishing what I need to do. This morning I woke up with a stiff neck and shoulder. I figured I must have slept weird or pulled something last night but can't figure it out. But alas, I'm not feeling like working. I'm giving myself the excuse of being hurt to not work.

What the hell? Why do I give myself such excuses? This procrastination/fear thing is really ridiculous! I'll be so happy to be finished and go on to the next thing. Why would I stop? I swear my body is in cahoots with my mind in the fear of success battle. It is pretty funny what ailments I seem to get whenever I am on the precipice of finishing something.

Does anyone else have this problem with finishing things? What do you do?

Ok,It is time to take some more ibuprofen and some more neck stretches and get to work...I'll show you all my new work in a few days.

In Progress...

What have I been up to lately, you ask? Well, I have been work on some new portraits for my "Ladies & Gents" series. I am trying to get all 20 illustrations done by the end of the week. And get them made available for prints ASAP. Wish me luck!

Here is a sneak peek at the lonely and loveless crew...

First, the Gentlemen:

Albert, James & Abiel

 and, The Ladies:

Natalie, Lydia, Hortence

Next, I'll finish the drawings of the last 4. After that, I will add the watercolor and gouache.

I better get back to work!

Art Hero: Lucian Freud

As you all may know, Lucian Freud died on Wednesday at the age of 88. I've only discovered his work fairly recently (about 5 years ago) and I would love the opportunity to dig a deeper into his work. Freud paintings really amaze me. To me, his work is very illustrative. Each portrait he paints tells a seemingly sad story.  I could look at his work for hours and discover incredible new aspects each time. As an artist, I would  love to thank him for bringing back respect and passion for figurative work to the overly abstract and conceptual art world.

Lucian had such a talent for capturing quiet emotion and really gorgeous flesh. Here are some of my favorite  Freud paintings:

Large Interier W. 11,  1981-1983

             "The painter makes real to others his innermost feelings about what he cares for.  A secret becomes known to everyone who views the picture through the intensity with which it is felt."

Lucian Freud

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

Hotel Bedroom, 1954

Ib and her Husband, 1992

"The aura given out by a person or object is as much a part of them as their flesh. The effect that they make in space is as bound up with them as might be their colour or smell ... Therefore the painter must be as concerned with the air surrounding his subject as with the subject itself. It is through observation and perception of atmosphere that he can register the feeling that he wishes his painting to give out."

 Lucian Freud

Girl with White Dog, 1952

Girl with a Kitten, 1947

"The longer you look at an object, the more abstract it becomes, and, ironically, the more real."

                                                                                                Lucian Freud       

Self Portrait, 1985

Benefits Supervisor Sleeping, 1995

Rest in Peace, Lucian...Thank you so much for the inspiration.

Ode to the Heat...

I found myself humming this cheesy song lately.  San Francisco hasn't been hit by the heatwave (yet) so I find myself yearning a bit to have some carefree summer fun...Thanks Serge for being the soundtrack for my day!

Do you have a favorite summer song?

Art Hero: Max Ernst

I love a really good surrealist illustration. Some of my favorites are the weird haunting images of Max Ernst, especially the colleges he did for his 5 volume book, "Une Semaine De Bonte" (A Week of Kindness) in 1934. The collages are a bit of a mystery, they have no titles, and there is no text.  What do you think he met to evoke by these strange collages? They are all just plain creepy to me. And as you all know, I love me some creepyiness.

Here's some of my favorite images from the book:

Here's a interesting piece that goes a bit deeper into his works. In the video they show the original pieces, in which you can actually see that it is a collage built with the different colored papers and drawing styles. I would love to see these pieces in person.

Looking at lovely pieces from Ernst,  I can really see an influence on Edward Gorey's work. Here's one from "A Glorious Nose Bleed":

Can you see the beautiful similarities? I wonder if they were fans of each other? Or were they enemies?
Who knows? But I glad they both exist in my little art world....


Happy Friday Everyone! Hope you all get out and enjoy some sunshine.

I've got news!

One of my illustrations from, "The Seven Ravens" by the Brothers' Grimm

Last week I received an email from a exhibit designer in Germany. They are working on an exhibit honoring the Brothers Grimm on their 200th Anniversary of their first publication. Woo Hoo! I love Grimm's Fairy Tales. We'll that's not the best part...I was asked if I wanted to participate in the exhibition! Double Woo Hoo! I already sent my images to them and it is a go. The images will be blown up and placed on part of the exhibition framework.

Amazingly enough, they found my illustrations for "The Seven Ravens" on my blog and really liked them. At first I was a bit skeptical (thinking this might be spam?)but I'm happy I went ahead answered the email. The exhibit will start off at the Goethe Institute in December and then do some world traveling. I'm so excited about this. It is kind of like a dream for me. I'll tell you more news when I get it.

 I guess this really pushes me to finish my mini-book...I would love to get it done before the exhibition starts. One more piece to go...

Happy Friday!

tiny camping spot...by josefnovak33

Going camping this weekend. I can't wait to lie amongst the trees and under the stars. I'm bringing my camera along and hope to be inspired. Hope you all have a lovely weekend too.

Happy 4th of July!

Do go postcard via Riptheskull

 I've been listening to the fireworks around my crazy neighborhood all weekend and hoping my kitty isn't too freaked out. This cute vintage postcard from 1906 looks rather innocent doesn't it? I guess boys will be boys no matter what century they're in.

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend with family & friends this weekend. I know I will. Happy Fourth of  July!

It's time for the July Meetup!

Girl Playing Via Nationaal Archief

Hey Everybody, hope you are enjoying your summer so far. Wow...I don't believe that it is already July. It has been a crazy month for me and I really need to refocus on my artwork. And find time for a little bit of fun too, no?

As you may know, I have been working at New Bohemia Signs for the last few months and and am very thankful for the work(mostly administrative stuff but I'm also learning some lettering). It's been great to be surrounded by such amazing  and inspiring artists and I have been loving watching them finally get the recognition they deserve. Way to go everybody!

Now that the craziness of me working full time at the sign shop and our gallery show almost over, it is time for me to get back to it my illustration work.

So what's a the Bluehour Studio plate for July?

1. Redo the Blog! I need to get a new look that matches well with my website.
2. Finish up the new website...It is not 100% done yet but I'm pretty happy with the results so far. You can take a peek here.
3. Add artwork to my Etsy page. I have work to go up. I just need to figure out the descriptions for each of the pieces. I need to get this going already. Why am I so nervous about this? Damn you fear.
4. Redo my business cards. I've never been totally happy with them, so a new design is in order. And I need to get in the habit of carrying them with me wherever I go. I need to really focus on becoming more business oriented.
5. Create a mailing list and postcards to send out to potential clients.
6. Get back to drawing everyday.
7. Restart Morning Pages.
8. Add more work to my portfolio section of my website.
9. Actively search for new illustration jobs. 
10. Get back to blogging more( at least 3x a week), updating Twitter and Facebook(both pages) and updating my other art sites more often ( Society 6 and Design Related)
11. Bi-Monthly Illustration Friday drawings. This weeks topic, " Remedy". I love doing these because it gets you used to doing deadlines.
12. Lose 10 pounds by my 40th birthday. This is coming up at the end of August. I'm pretty freaked out about it and I want to look my best. 
13. Get on a better exercise routine.
14. Add more paintings to the "Ladies & Gents" series
15. Create painting for my Nursery Series AKA super cute birds and animal prints to sell on Etsy.
16. Take as many mini-vacations as humanly possible...it is summer after all.

OK that's it for July. Hopefully I can get many of these things done this month.

Oh, yeah and it seems this is also my one year anniversary as a business. I've grown so much in the last 12 months. It has been exciting and difficult but I'm ready rearrange a few things, learn some new strategies and push forward...Here's to all of that!

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.