I'm just sitting here with all the blinds drawn, trying to get my work done. Damn it's hot in San Francisco today. It is hanging around 95 degrees and we don't have air conditioning. I really want that cool breeze of autumn to kick in. I guess there is not to be expected for the next few days. So I must... go...on (Ok maybe I'm being a bit dramatic?) but I have too much work to to be feeling gross and sticky. This week I plan to finish those sketches for my mini book so I can start working on the final pieces and get the book laid out and finished.
I also am starting a new project for Glob Natural Paints. I'm creating coloring pages which will downloadable on their site and then gathered all together and turned into a coloring book to sell online. It is gonna be a fun project to work on. It will be something that I will try to keep pretty simple and humorous. It will be an an interesting research project on how to create books that are inexpensive to make and green. I've never made a coloring book before so it should be good opportunity to learn something new. I better get back to it.
The month flew by again and I have working on a lot of things. The mini book is taking a bit longer than expected but I'm still plugging away at it. Here is some of the things I've been working on this week, an invitation to our annual Virginia City Halloween getaway and the mini book sketches.
Halloween invite (more info to be added with illustrator)
Pic from Virginia City 2009
Here is a taste of the mini book, here is a spot illustration for "The Seven Ravens".
I had a blast yesterday helping out the San Francisco Center for the Book with their annual Roadworks fair. I was part of the dirty hands team which meant I was in inking Linoleum Cuts all day. Each print was made by rolling a steamroller over it. There was three big prints(3 by 3 foot) and many little ones. I am still covered in black ink, but no matter, it was a really fun day. I can't wait till next year.
One of the featured Artists, Rick Olson
Where dirty begins
Scraping ink
Large Print by Gary Brewer and many small linoleum cuts from various artists
This is how we do it baby...
Here are some of the small prints...
There were some amazing art booths there too. Here are a few of my faves....
I suppose I am just in that kinda weird mood today. And getting inspired by everything around me. I am listening to Hildegard von Bingen on Pandora and looking for Victorian dresses(as part of the mini book) on the web and feeling nostalgic for some reason. I've just put in a bid on ebay for a beautiful daguerreotype of a young girl. It is set in a its original case and is beautiful. Let's hope I get it.
While looking all of these old photos on Ebay I began revisiting my own tiny collection. It was pretty interesting to scan these in. I like the strangeness and beauty in all of them. They aren't perfect examples, that is why I chose these particular people. A lot of the details had been lost because of age. Now I can see even more bits and pieces. And so can you. Here is my mini collection:
I love this photo because the girl is a bit strange looking.
I love these little kids with attitudes.
Ok, not a tintype but a beautiful old photograph anyway...
Love the pint cheeks and plaid
This one is super dark and tiny, found at the flea market outside Paris.
What kind of old things do you collect?
P.S. If you are into Hildegard there is a new film out about her. Here is the preview. It looks amazing and it opens today!
Update: I won the item on ebay...I'll post it when I get it!
First off, a little update on the mini-book. I'm still working on the sketches for the book but I am happy with the results so far. I am a huge perfectionist. It is one of those problems which I am really trying to fight and learn from at the same time. It is enough to drive ya crazy.
Saying that, I'll post whatever sketches I have in the next few days. Then it will be pushed to the next stage, painting of the final drawings, and then onto the conquering the layout of the book.
In my quest for more understanding my creative self, I've been reading the wonderful book, "The Creative Habit", by Twyla Tharp and have gained a whole new view of the creative process. The book is written through eyes of a successful choreographer who has worked with some of the most amazing dancers and musicians on the planet. It is written for anyone who wants to improve their creative process. She writes about how to gathering ideas and having strong "spines"(or backbones) behind your creations. Basically she shows you how turn your spark of creativity into full blown artistic amazingness.
Here is an excerpt from The Creative Habit from 43 Folders.
One of the things I am learning is, as an illustrator, this reminds me to truly think through all my ideas. I need to ask, "Who...What..When and Why" whenever I begin a new drawing. Having these questions figured out (and doing my homework) is the difference between a good illustration and a great one.
As for creating confidence in my work, (something I really, really need to do) I need to remind myself to practice my skills constantly...daily. I really liked this bit from the book, from Chapter 9, on Skill:
Confidence is a trait that has to be earned honestly and refreshed constantly; you have to work as hard to protect your skills as you did to develop them. This means vigilant practice and excellent practice habits. You've heard the phrase "Practice makes perfect"? Not true. Perfect practice makes perfect. The on e thing that creative souls around the world have in common is that they all have to practice to maintain their skills. Art is a vast democracy of habit.
So basically work, work, work till you get it and then work, work, work so you don't lose it.
Here is another person's look at creativity and on creative success. I'm sure you all know Elizabeth Gilbert the author of "Eat, Pray, Love". Here she is speaking about the role of creativity in a semi-recent TED talk.
I really love the her take on the genius and the muse...
Another wonderful weekend in the woods. I went to Pinnacles National Monument with some friends to get out of the city and spend the weekend out in nature. It is amazing to sleep under the stars, get away and clear out my mind while visiting some animals and doing some hiking. We hiked about 8.5 miles straight up the mountain in the 90 degree heat. It was damned hot...We climbed through dark caves and over ridges.
It was pretty good until my knees gave out and I tripped and got myself bloody. Yay, 39th birthday....Oh well. It was a good time. I'm ready to get back to work tomorrow and working on the sketches on the mini book. I'm happy to be back in my comfortable bed and get a little shut eye. Here are a few pics from my trip...
The bunny from the campground.
Stairs coming up from the caves.
A tree that grows anywhere.
No swimming alllowed!!!
Bluejay
Entrance to the caves.
Weird fluffy vines.
I hope you all had a wonderful Labor Day weekend too.
August has been another crazy month but a good one, filled with deep thinking and some big changes.
The biggest thing being, I changed the medium that I had been doing my paintings in. I had been using oil to do my work and I was thinning it down with a lot of mineral spirits which was leading to a stinky house and headaches. This was not good....So I am now doing my work in watercolor and gouache. This is great. The paintings feel a bit lighter and my drawings shine through instead of being covered up with paint. I'm finding it easier to work this way and I am able to create more details in my work. I will admit, it is a bit of an adjustment but I think medium change was a epiphany that needed to happen. And I am glad it happened now instead of 6 months from now.
Saying this, I'm still working (and reworking) the paintings I was working on last month but they are coming along and I must say it "just feels right".
So what else did I figure out in August?
My August Goals:
I started a mini book...yay! I'm pretty excited about it. You can read about it in the post below.
I joined The Creative Empire in August and it has been amazing. It is a wonderful group of creative people building their businesses and their dreams. There is so much great info posted on the site, and the people on it are really smart, inspiring and cool. The group is set up in a clever forum format which is super comfortable to participate in. There is a low monthly fee but it is totally worth it. I highly recommend it.
I reworked the look of my blog. I think it looks so much better and I added a portfolio page.
I did background for Twitter which is simple and fun..
I started volunteering at the San Francisco Center for the Book which has been so amazing. I have been working with the PR staff and learning many things while earning credits toward free classes in letterpress and printing. What could be better? Not so much, I say...Also, I have my first volunteer spot helping out the folks at AIGA this week.
What shall September bring?
My September Goals:
Finish up the paintings I have been working on.
Work on the mini-book paintings and design.
Continue reworking the blog in look and content.
Work on a Halloween invite for a friend.
Gather ideas for prints for an Etsy page.
Learn how to do and Etsy page.
Rework the text for the mini book.
Gather ideas for postcard mailings.
Get those damned business card done.
Start a mailing list. Any tips on creating one?
Here's to getting all of my stuff done! And cheers to you all for setting and meeting your goals for September, may it be an awesomely productive month!!!
What is the Meetup? It is a group of creative people who "meetup" monthly to set goals and inspire each other to get those goals done. For more information on joining visit Liz at athenadreams.
