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?

Happy Thanksgiving

Marilyn and her Turkey via VintageGal.tumblr.com

Hope you all have a wonderful holiday with family & friends...I'll see you next few days with a bunch of new illustrations!

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/

Happy Friday...

Just a little reminder of the wonderfulness of simple things...

Murmuration from Sophie Windsor Clive on Vimeo.

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.

It's Time for the November Meetup!

12 year old strong girl via howtobearetronaut

I don't believe that October is over. Yikes...it must be time to crack the whip again. I decided that this month is going to be all about art. I know that sounds silly because all of my time should be about art, but it seems like days go by without me actually doing anything art like. I need to work on that.

Last month I was very happy to get my Etsy shop up. I added 4 new pieces am a slowly figuring out how the Etsy world works. You can check out my shop here.

I also sold my first piece on Etsy...Thank you, Paul!

Here is my November Plan:

  

1. Get 10 more pieces done for Ladies & Gents series.
2. Add these prints to Etsy
3. Rework website...add banner and a link page.
4. Rework blog...add handwritten bits & buttons, add more illustration.
5. Start Nursery series... A Victorian inspired children's series. I would love at least 10 pieces done this month...if possible.
6. Work on large illustrations for website/portfolio.
7. Buy extra supplies for Holidays.
8. Get business cards done. I would love to include one with each purchase.
9. Research charities to get involved with. Does anyone know of any websites or organizations that connect artists to doing good things?
10. Create a holiday card for family & friends.
11. Research and experiment making necklaces/lockets with my artwork. Find suppliers.
12. Start getting my Christmas shopping done(I don't want to panic this year)
13. Remember to exercise!
14. Get a better work schedule at the shop.
15. Find time to help Ashley at Glob Paints.
16. Research holiday fairs. Am I ready? or should I wait?
17. Get involved with the SFEtsy.
18. Remember to draw daily!

So that's my month. WooHoo! Hopefully I will get a lot done. I am looking forward to the holiday season. This is the first year I have anything to sell. I better get drawing. I hope you all have a successful and inspiring November!

I almost forgot. Since I am now on Etsy, do any of you have a shop you would like to share? I would love to see them. Just leave a link to your shop in the comments. Thank you!

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.