Custom Portraits

Last week I was surprised to be asked in my Etsy shop if I did Custom Portraits. Truthfully, I hadn't thought about it much. I have been so busy trying to fill my shop with prints I couldn't see an obvious thing. So, when the custom illustration was suggested, it didn't take much for me to say yes and just to go for it.  I ended up creating a portrait for a "Save the Date" card for a Texas couple's upcoming wedding.

Here's is the final:

You know what? It was really fun. The couple already loved my Victorian Portraits and knew exactly what they wanted. They sent a few good reference photos and we were able hash out all the extra details (I've gotten pretty good at asking many, many questions through email). I sent them some sketches, made a some changes, waited for their OK and got down to the final. It worked out pretty smoothly. And I felt pretty confident with the whole process.

So what did I learn? I really like doing this custom illustration thing. I think I will be doing it more. So as of today, bluehour studio is offering custom portrait illustrations! Woo Hoo...

(Of course, the prices will depend on the size, complexity and details of the illustration but I'm thinking a basic range of $100 -$350 for a custom portrait. So, if you are interested...let's talk.)

Sendak on Cobert

I've been busy working away on new stuff for the shop but saw the Maurice Sendak was on the Colbert Report this week and thought I'd share...

Enjoy!

I'll be posting some new work very soon.

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
Grim Colberty Tales with Maurice Sendak Pt. 1
www.colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor & Satire Blog Video Archive

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
Grim Colberty Tales with Maurice Sendak Pt. 2
www.colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor & Satire Blog Video Archive

New Work...Victorians in Love

I've been inspired by the upcoming Valentine holiday and I have created a couple of new illustrations of Victorians in Love. I've been imagining them as a successful past clients from my "Ladies & Gents Victorian Dating Service" and have a great time painting them. They went looking for love and they were the lucky ones that found it...

Introducing Mrs. & Mr. Martin Hughes

A bit of a closeup- view of the happy couple...

This is the very improper Mr. & Mrs. Thaddeus Smith

Is that a certain gleam in his eye?

I hope you like them...

Also...They will be available as 6in x 8in prints in the shop!


By the way, it is pretty interesting trying to capture love between Victorians. For my research, I look at a lot of old daguerreotypes and tintypes and the people have almost no expression at all. They are very stiff and emotionless. But that was what a a proper photography sitting required. It was a serious...but once in a while a little sense of joy would peek out.

Sweet Victorian couple via How to be a Retronaut

 Pretty cute, huh? Have a wonderful and love filled weekend everyone!

Join the Protest!

Bluehour Studio is joining in on the SOPA/PIPA protest and will be offline (no blogging, Twitter, Facebook or Tumblr) January 18th...here's more info on the Protest...

It's a little thing but perhaps with all us going offline or blacking out our sites we can stop this thing from passing.. The U.S. government will realize what a terrible idea these proposal are. We live in a world of creative people that love to inspire each other. Please don't shut us down.

PROTECT IP / SOPA Breaks The Internet from Fight for the Future on Vimeo.

A Winter's Sleep...The Season's Series...

I just wanted to give you a look at my newest illustration, A Winter's Sleep. It is the first illustration in my new "Season's" series and I am really excited about it. As you all know, I am a huge fan of folk tales and this series celebrates that. It also celebrates the friendship between the adventurous Lilly and Bruce the curious bear.

A Winter's Sleep is about taking quiet getaways refreshers in your life...and taking time with friends.

Lily & Bruce take a nap...

Ready for their closeup...

This will be a really fun series series to do. I already have so many ideas dancing in my brain...now just to get them on paper.

Oh...and this illustration is available in my shop too...

Here's to 2012! (January Meetup Goals)

Finding my balance...Tightrope Walker from Life Magazine

2011...What a year! This last few weeks have giving me time to really think about my goals, where I am and where I want to go with bluehour studio in the future. It has been an huge eye opening experience. Here is a bit of what I've learned...

To start off, it was a good year and I am pretty proud myself. I accomplished a lot. I started my Etsy shop. I think I found my creative voice and I made more art work in a year than I ever have since art school.  Most importantly, I have found my passion for illustration again (it was blocked by fear for a long time). All in all, I'm pretty happy about where I am heading as an artist but I still have a lot to learn.

So what is ahead for 2012? This is not a list of resolutions but more of a list of what I will be focusing on in the next year.

1. Etsy...oh... Etsy you amaze me. There are so many possibilities within your pages. Honestly, I thought that it would be easier to make a living with it. I thought that once I opened my shop it would be like magic and the sales would just happen. This is not reality... Now my shop is open but I don't always understand how to get views. I need to figure out how to make sales. I have heard that the magic number of shop items is about 100. I have 30, there needs to be a lot more...and I need to create a bit of diversity in artwork. I need to create different sizes, subjects, stationary, and some illustrated jewelry...It is going to be a very busy year.
2. And yes, although Etsy is great, I really want to focus on doing editorial work for non-profits, books and magazines. That will be the ideal. That is the dream...I hope I can make it happen this year. There will be a whole new learning curve about how to send my artwork to companies and publishers. But I am ready for it...
3. Kick the last bit of fear to the curb. I need to start talking about my artwork more. I can't afford to be shy anymore. I want to get out there. That means bringing my artwork to local shows and galleries. I joined the SFEtsy team and they are opening my eyes to so many new opportunities. I'll probably start small but I would love to do about 3 or 4 shows this year. Anyone know of goods ones to start off with?
4. Deal with money (and learn the ins and outs of running a successful business)...I know this is a boring subject but it is something I need to face as an artist. How do you truly support yourself? I need get myself out there in the world. I need to learn to advertise, facebook, twitter and blog more. Listen to all the marketing guru's. I need to get over the starving artist thing once and for all. Work a solid part time job too. 
5. And the key to most of this...better time management. I need to get a good plan. Write daily to-do lists and finish them. So simple, yet so hard to do...Learn to see the big picture with my business.
6. On a personal level, I need to journal more. Write out my thoughts and fears. I need to get out of the house more. Read some really good fiction and keep my imagination going always. Go for walks, make plans with friends and plan more mini vacations. Plan for a big vacation with my hubby in the next couple of years. Keep my exercise programs going (Damon & I are currently doing P90X, yikes what a workout). Oh...yeah meditate a bit daily.

So that's will be my 2012. It is going to be a really interesting year. I'm sure it will be an intense year. All the crazy politics around the world might get really serious. I'm trying to remain positive about the world around me. And keep looking at all the amazing things people are creating and get inspired by them.

How about you? What is the biggest thing you hope to accomplishing in 2012? What are you most afraid of? What are you most excited about? I'd love to hear about it.

Well, here's to a amazing 2012. It's going to be a hell of a year...

Here's to you and success in the new year!

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.