Carnival Love...

What a fabulous time had around San Francisco this weekend. I hope you all enjoyed every minute of your Memorial Day, the Golden Gate Bridge 75 Birthday, or Carnival Celebrations...

Here's more pics that I took for Carnival. I love Carnival, there is so much joy, pride and sexiness. People are shaking it whatever size there bodies are. It really keeps my ego in check. Do I really need to panic about those 10lbs I need to lose? All the worries about our bodies shapes get pretty silly after a certain point, don't they?

It should be a pretty busy week for me. I'm finishing off some custom portraits, getting my jewelry done and starting a bunch of new illustrations...Here's to finishing May up with a bang!

Art Heroes - Southworth & Hawes Photography

Some of the most inspiring (and oldest) photography was done by the photography firm of Southworth & Hawes  ( Albert Sands Southworth (1811–1894) and Josiah Johnson Hawes (1808–1901).  They were primary active between from 1843-1863 in Boston.

These guys really amaze me. I love the way they arrange their subjects. The sitters seem a lot more real then most of the Victorian photography I've seen before. They photographed some of the most famous people of the time including Louisa May Alcott, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Ralph Waldo Emerson and Daniel Webster. But the daguerreotypes that really stand out for me are the everyday people...the "unidentified" people.

Unidentified Child, circa 1850

The Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Family, 1849

"The artist, even in photography, must go beyond discovery and the knowlege of facts; he must create and invent truths and produce new developments of facts. "

--A.S. Southworth, 1870

Death of Pain (first public administered Ether anesthesia)1847

 

Rollin Heber Neal

Ralph Waldo Emerson, 1857

Alice Mary Hawes, 1852

"Learn to look and see the difference under different lights in the same faces. Learn to see the fine points in every face, for the plainest faces in the world are human faces, belonging to human beings... "

--A. S. Southworth, 1873

Unidentified Girl with Ringlets, circa 1850's

Unidentified Woman, circa 1850

Unidentified Dead Child, Circa 1855

"In the nice production of light and shade which is the perfection of modelling, the Daguerreotype will be found to surpass the Artist's best efforts, being capable of representing independently, action, expression, and character to a great extent; and in some instances approaches very nearly, if it does not equal these higher branches, thus developing beauty in grace of motion and in repose, which is the first object and the supreme law of all Art."

--A.S. Southworth, 1855

Two Women Posed with a Chair, ca. 1850 

Unidentified Woman, 1852

Laura Bridgman, 1855

Winchester Family Tomb, Mount Auburn Cemetery, circa 1853

Unidentified Girl, 1850

Winter Portrait with Fur Coat and Gloves

Unidentified Child, 1850

Of course this is only a tiny bit of work by Southwork & Hawes. You can find more in the book, "Young America: The Daguerreotypes of Southworth & Hawes. You can also see more Photographs in this flickr set from the George Eastman House.

I hope these daguerreotypes have inspired you as much as they inspire me. 

Now, I'm off to work on a custom portrait...

New Work...In Mourning

I have always been fascinated by the images of death in Victorian times. I just created a piece that depicts a beautiful Victorian Lady in mourning. She is too upset to look at the viewer but still polite enough to dress for the occasion.

So here is my Lady in black lace...being very sullen.

You can find her in my shop right here.

SF Etsy Art Show Opening

This weekend was the reception for the SF Etsy art show. Let me say, it was pretty wonderful. The place was packed with people and filled with friendly faces. I was so happy to have one of my pieces hanging in the show. Truthfully, I am a super shy person and this was the first gallery show I have been part of since college. It felt really great and I have to thank the SF Etsy team for getting this together.

Welcome to the Show

Local & Handmade

Here's my piece for the show...Miss Sarah

And so she hangs...(my prints are in the back of the gallery)

Here's a few of the other artists in the show. I wish I took a few more pictures but I was pretty busy blabbing away...there were so many cool people to meet.

Mix Media Paintings by David Fullarton

Les Herbes Print by Geraldine Adams

A big thanks to Katy to got this idea for the art show going...

Here's Katy Atchison's work

 Prints  by Maggie Hurley

Archival Pigment Prints by Meagan Eckman

There was so much amazing work at the show. I'm so proud to be a part of such a talented group of artists. The SF Etsy show is up until May 27th.

Studio Gallery
1815 Polk Street
San Francisco, CA 94109

For More Information: Studio Gallery

I'd also love to give a huge thank you to everyone who helped get this gallery show together. I think it was a big success for all those involved. And it is always wonderful to meet more like minded folks. Shall we do it again next year?

Good Night...Maurice Sendak

Feeling pretty sad about the loss of the great Maurice Sendak this morning. He inspired so many illustrators to do what we do. His gift for storytelling will be greatly missed in this world...and I hope his work continues to be read for generations to come.

 I came across this video on the Drawn blog and it was too good not to share...



Rest in Peace, Maurice...

p.s. thank you for your honest grumpiness too.

New Work...Bluebird & Apple Blossoms

Here's a peek at my newest illustration...Miss Bella Bluebird! I will admit, although I love working in muted colors, sometimes it feels really great to break out the bright colors. Hello blue!

And, of course, she is available is in the shop....

It's time for the May Meetup!

Mlle. C.H. Dufau painting Via Library of Congress

 It been a very interesting month. I was excited about the upcoming SFEtsy show that opens tomorrow. Woo Hoo! Most of last month was spent getting ready for the art show. I'm only showing one original and some prints but I had to totally work my Etsy shop to reflect the sizes and prices the gallery wanted. April was a huge learning experience and I am excited about what's next.

May is going to be another busy month. And I'm switching focus a bit.

1. I want to start focusing on the bigger picture with my illustrations. I want to start focusing on editorial work.This will require a lot of research and learning about the industry. Can any of you recommend any good books on getting into the publication world?
2. Get a better blogging schedule. I've lost my way a bit and really need to get back to posting at least 2 to 3 times a week.
3. Add more pieces to shop. Add more folk tale illustrations (seasons series). Learn about SEO and better tagging.
4. Work on some editorial for my portfolio. I think I need at least 15 editorial pieces by the end of summer.
5. Get Jewelry done! Consign to shops and add to shop!
6. Work on new custom portraits.
7. Create a couple samples for custom portraits.
8. Go camping...get out of the house and into nature.
9. Get back on an exercise schedule.
10. Research local art fairs, apply to at least one for this summer.
11. Apply to more galleries.
12. Work on money fears issues. I am currently reading, "Overcoming Underearning" by Barbara Stanny. I highly recommend this book. It has really been blowing my mind.

So that's where I'm at. Seems like enough to keep me busy, don't you think? May should be a really good month. Bluehour Studio will be celebrating it's two year anniversary in July and I really want to be in a good position the time come around. It seems like a really good time to push myself. Wish me luck with all that!

So what is your month like? I hope you all have a super creative and highly productive May!

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.