My Entry into the 2014 Lilla Rogers Global Talent Search

{Entry for 2014 Global Talent Search, Digital Mixed Media}

{Portfolio Presentation of GTS Artwork, 2014, Digital Mixed Media}

I entered the Global Talent Search this year after being really excited about all the entires last year. Not to mention, my "Make Art That Sells" class had just finished (also put on by Lilla Rogers' Studio) I love Lilla's approach to making art. I entered her class with a little skepticism because I am ever the realist. Her way of approaching assignments was a game changer and really pushed me to the next level. I know that the style of work may never be the right fit for her studio, but I have really enjoyed using her prompts to push myself further and create things that are the best I can possibly make. She seems to be a genuinely positive person with a lot of great tips and ideas about trends. I'm not a trend chaser, but I think you need to have some awareness about what is selling at the moment. It's also been nice to feel a little validation about some of the trends and color stories I had noticed on my own. I like to think I "get out there" enough to see what is "in" for the moment. Anyways, the assignment was to make a piece of wall art with the theme of tiny terrariums. We were supposed to include at least one word. I didn't make the top 50 from round one, but there were 999 entries and the gallery is full of absolutely beautiful, inspired art. I made a piece that I feel is 100% me, and I put everything I had into it. For my portfolio, I plan to take the hand lettering out and just show the artwork, since I feel it has a very narrative quality. Here's to making the kind of art that makes you happy! 

Bootcamp Project for May: Editorial Illustration

{Graphite Drawing with Digital Collage, 2014}

After having April off from "Make Art That Sells" (an e-course from Lilla Rogers' Studio) the class was back in full force with a project for editorial illustration. We were asked to create a piece of art in response to an article about meditation. The article was about the benefits of meditation but also about how the author found a lot of convincing excuses not to do it. (things like being busy, a wandering mind, etc.) I chose to focus on the inability to concentrate because I struggle with that also! Above is the finished piece. I used a lot of scanned textures and some ink drawings that are left over from previous projects. 

{Graphite Drawing, 2014}

This is the drawing I started with by scanning it into Photoshop and painting it. The thing I love most about the Lilla Rogers' class is that it makes you think about how you create your art in a different light. It also makes you fall back in love with the process which helps create a more successful end product. There are also tons of hints about marketability! 

Cookies Between Friends

{Digital Mixed Media, 2013}

It has been awhile since I last posted! It isn't because I haven't been working on anything. In fact, it's very much the opposite. I've been pretty swamped with work and I have several things I'd like to share on my blog. I thought I would start with this little personal illustration I created during some down time a few months back. I liked the way it turned out and I have some other little mice I would like to finish once I have some free time. I'm currently working on my 4th picture book, which I am very excited about! Juggling motherhood, an illustration career and general life stuff (and summer is always extra busy too!) has proven to be difficult but rewarding. I really enjoy blogging too, so I hope to try and fit a bit more in. 

The Sketchbook Project 2012 World Tour

{Mixed Media, 2011}

{The Sketchbook Project Promotional Logo, Find Out More HERE}

At the Des Moines Art Center, where I work, we are working on a collaborative sketchbook for the 2012 World Tour series. The top image is my contribution for our theme of "sandwich". I used a whole spread right smack dab in the middle of the book. I definitely broke the rule of putting important things in the gutter of the spread, but it's a sketchbook! There aren't supposed to be any rules! Let's just say, I would never do that if I was working on an actual book project! The art director would most definitely have to speak to me about it! Anyways, I decided to do an all-American waitress named Bea serving up the daily special. (basically all the stuff on one sandwich that has an expiration date of tomorrow!) I used stamps, coloreds pencil, marker and acrylic paint. I am so glad I got to participate in the sketchbook project even if it's only in the smallest way! I think it is such a cool concept, I just couldn't commit to doing a full book on my own with my schedule right now. Click the link under the second picture if you want to find out more about this awesome project!

I'm 28 Today!

{Collage and Drawing on ATC, 2011}

It's my birthday today. I hope I get to eat some cake!

Mixed Media Pin Back Buttons

{The New Stash, Mixed Media, 2011}

{Buttons, 2011}

{Some Favorites, 2011}

{More Favorites, 2011}

I spent a good amount of this morning creating mini wearable collages. I have had a button making machine for a few years now and have used it to make several types of buttons. (often featuring my own illustrations.) For this lot of buttons I used found papers, vintage illustrations, vintage texts and magazine clippings. I tried to put together images, words and patterns that spoke to me. I think the chicken buttons are my favorite. I'm really into chickens in general right now! Probably because I consider myself a bit of an urban farmer (but only grow vegetables at the moment) and chickens would be awesome to have!

Illustration Friday - Gesture

{Watercolor, Acrylic and Colored Pencil on Paper, 2011}

{Detail, 2011}

This started as a free form watercolor piece working wet into wet. As it was drying I pulled some of the color out where the face was and also added a few watercolor details where the eyes, nose and mouth are. I used a colored pencil to tighten the piece up and some white acrylic to add highlights. I love that this wild child started out as a gestural watercolor! (It sort of fits, considering my lack of planning in lieu of playing.) I wish I could have a crown of wildflowers and insect wings!

Mixed Media Meanderings

{First Page, Magazine Clippings, Prayer Card and Ink, 2011}

{Organized Rabbits, Decorative Paper and Marker, 2011}

{Organized Seed Packet Information, Marker and Ink, 2011}

{Garden Plan, Colored Pencil and Ink, 2011}

I bought a mixed media journal the other day so that I could get out some of the junk thats been floating around in my head. My book projects are very calculated and predictable, which isn't a problem but sometimes I like to sit down and create without knowing where something will go. I also like to make lists, organize things and record ideas for later. This Strathmore Mixed Media Visual Journal is satisfying that need. I get in a little time before I start my work day and a little before bed. Its also nice to finish something in one day. Most of the things I have going on in my professional life take several days so the sense of finishing a page is really fulfilling. I'm also really excited to start thinking about gardening again!

Beach Porcelain Shadowbox Project

{Mixed Media Assemblage, 2010}

{Detail, Mixed Media Assemblage, 2010}

{Mixed Media Assemblage, 2010}

In my attempts to clean my studio today, I happened upon a shadow box that I bought a few months ago on a thrifting trip. I got the urge to give it new life with some scrapbooking papers and some tiny treasures. One of my favorite things to do is beach comb and when I get near the lake or ocean, I can't help myself. The treasures I chose to fill my shadowbox with were an assortment of porcelain pieces that had washed ashore. Its always interesting to think about all the places and people those pieces were with before they came to me. To add a little extra charm I also added a few plastic farm animal toys!

{Photography, 2010}

Also, is anyone else just TOO EXCITED that the leaves are starting to crunch beneath their feet again? Come visit me again tomorrow and I promise to share a drawing! I know its been pretty craft/mixed media heavy around this blog lately, but I am still an illustrator to the core! However, I think its important to stay creative in all aspects of life and I try to fill my soul with inspiration wherever and whenever possible! (which is why I have been sharing these other projects.)

EDIT: I promise to have some drawings later this week. I have been a little under the weather this weekend.

Altered Book Project

{Altered Book Cover, 2010}

{Altered Book: Favorite Color, 2010}

{Altered Book: Favorite Books, 2010}

{Altered Book: Travel, 2010}

{Altered Book: Gardening, 2010}

{Altered Book: Ocean, 2010}

I am currently teaching a Mixed Media class for 9-12 year olds at the Des Moines Art Center. Our first project is an Altered Book and so this past week I have been filling up my demonstration book with examples of collage and ideas. I love the tactile experience of collage and altered books. (during and after the processes of making them) I still have several pages to fill, but I plan to finish the book. It can be pretty cool to have a visual record of what you were into at the time... like 2010 in this instance! For this altered book I went to the local thrift store and purchased a board book. The pages are generally pretty thick and shiny with UV coating to resist things that babies do (ie drool, food, puke). While its nice to have a thick board book, the shine can interfere with paint chipping off so I recommend sanding the book and adding one layer of gesso to the covers and each page before beginning.

Illustration Friday - Atmosphere

{Mixed Media, 2010}

I thought it was interesting that tonight is a full moon. I didn't even realize that when I was making this illustration today! I started with watercolor and acrylics and then drew the moon's face with colored pencil and added some stamped lettering. I always thought the moon looked more like a beautiful woman rather than an old man. The moon has such an atmospheric radiance when it is full on a clear night. I took a walk this evening and it was perfect! The moon was large and clear and I could see its reflection as I walked around our local lake.

Faces and Places

{Watercolor and Prisma Pencil, 2010}

{Watercolor and Ink, 2010}

These are some recent watercolor sketches. I really love drawing faces so the top was a free-for-all. I started with a bunch of skin toned swatches and then sat in front of the TV while I made up random people. The piece below was a quick demo for a painting and drawing class I taught. Also, I wanted to share that I will have a few pieces of exciting news in a future post so make sure you check back soon!

Let us build a nest together.

{mixed media, 2009}

This is a graphite drawing with colored pencil, white acrylic ink and stitching. It was inspired by certain birds that mate for life. Nature can be cruel, but it can be so romantic too! I plan to do a female bird drawing too, but for now this little guy's love must go unrequited.

Illustration Friday - Entangled

{Mixed Media, 2009}

{Graphite, 2009}

My submission for Illustration Friday's theme of "entangled" is a mess of octopus tentacles. I've always wondered how Octopus' are so serene and graceful with eight legs. I have a hard enough time with two! I drew the entangled tentacles in my Moleskine watercolor sketchbook and then used a mixture of watercolor, ink and acrylic to finish it off. Oh, how I love the sea!

Lurking in the Studio

{Oil and Colored Pencil on Wood Panel, 2009}

I know it happens to everyone... You start a piece of art with the willpower of a million fires... and then something comes up, followed by something else and so on. Well, that was the deal with this piece. I finally made my self add the last few details so that I could consider it a done deal. I showed the drawing for this painting on THIS post. I wanted to try a slightly different technique for this piece so I combined colored pencil lines with oil paint. I think looking at a lot of tattoos lately inspired the black line art. I also just really love lines! This is a symbolism painting... I hoped to convey innocence, purity, strength and hope.
EDIT: As my friend, Sara Butcher, commented in the comments... "what about a background?" I had the same thought. I was thinking a wispy and light background but couldn't decide quite what to put there. Any other ideas? Hmmm... maybe its not quite a done deal yet! However, this piece will hang, as is, in the faculty exhibit at the Des Moines Art Center into October... which gives me plenty of time to think of a background.

Theater Illustration and Spot

{Watercolor w/ Mixed Media, 2009}

I finally finished up these little illustrations. I'm not sure how I feel about them. I don't usually like dark colors, so it was hard to push the shadows in this piece. I had to make myself do it! This is the colored version from the Illustration Friday prompt of "Theater" last week.

Gifts Revealed

{Star Collage Ornaments, 2008}

{Circular Collage Ornaments, 2008}

{Pink Birdie Plush, 2008}

These are the handmade gifts I made this year. The ornaments were really fun to make because they are so different than what I usually do. The plush was my first try at making a toy. I made it for my cousin's little girl, Josephine. I got the pattern here, from Spool Sewing. It was pretty easy to make and so cute!

Warm Hands, Warm Heart Cards

{Holiday 2008 Cards}

{Detail, 2008}

{Deluxe Cards, 2008}

The cards are done for another year. Now I just have to write, address and stamp all 60. They were really fun to make and I was completely in "the zone" while I was creating. I also made 4 deluxe extras to sell as a set in my Etsy store.
*sorry to any friends / family that see this before they get theirs in the mail!! I couldn't wait to post them!

As The Wind

{"As The Wind", Mixed Media on Watercolor Paper, 2008}

{Detail}

This is the final piece that I am including in my portion of Crossroads Iowa 2008. I have a few older pieces and then the one from the last post. I used watercolor, colored pencil, acrylic and oil in this piece, and not necessarily in that order! I think photographing it did the colors much more justice, after several frustrating tries at accurate scans.
Does anyone out there have a fantastic scanner in their home that reproduces even the slightest nuances? Let me know! I may be interested in getting that...