Sunday, December 30, 2012

Out with the old, in the with the new

The end of another year. Where did it go? This one really seemed to whoosh by.

I finished a nice house rendering commission just before Christmas. Isn't this a charming home? Its so nice to work on a piece that's something you like drawing. This was a special portrait of a family home for the owners, who will (sadly) be moving. So it was kind of bittersweet. 



This was done with Polychromo and Pablo pencils on Stonehenge paper.

One big goal for 2013 is to expand my architectural rendering / house portrait business. I have samples done in different styles, and want to put together a commission page on my website, or maybe even a whole separate site, just for this. I work in color as well as black and white, and do colored pencil, ink, and watercolor. I also have some new exciting ideas for "alternative", more decorative styles that are not so photo realistic. So that's a BIG "to-do" thing on my list!


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I posted this Teapot illustration a while back, and have now listed it as a print in the shop
Another goal for this next year is to keep working on all my shops. I have ideas for oodles of art and designs, but only two hands and 24 hours in a day. You know how it is! Guess we all have that. So I'm trying to balance out what I want to make (just because I want to make it), with what people will actually want to buy. (Sometimes they're not the same thing.) 





I've also raised my print prices just a hair, especially on the really "ink heavy" pieces. I've learned the hard way that printers really love to drink ink! Especially magenta. I am very thankful for Office Depot's free home delivery service, which I have taken advantage of many times over the past couple of months! 

Its a constant learning curve, crunching the numbers on selling things you make yourself, making sure you stay in the black. But that could be another whole post in itself. Prices for similar things on etsy can vary wildly, and I'm always amazed that some people charge what they do and seem to sell a lot, while others practically give it away and set the bar way too low. Don't even get me started on what people charge for knitting! 

Anyways. 

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One of my artist followers, Koosje Koene in the Netherlands, has let me know about a new online drawing course she's offering.




"It's a six week course in which the participants will get weekly updates with tutorials, step-by-step instructions, video's, photos, and lots of practical tips on drawing techniques and illustrating. Unlike many other online courses, each participant will be provided with my feedback on exercises and assignments they do. Apart from that, the course is full of unique content, practical tips, tricks and fun."



Looks like fun. I hope lots of people sign up Koosje!

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So guess that's about it for me, for now. Like you probably are, I'm half relaxing, and half making big plans for next year. We're having some nice California sun here, which is lovely. The cats are out sunning themselves on the back porch or in windows, while I make yet another cup of Peet's coffee and  either draw or knit or do this or make lists.

I sincerely hope this next year is full of good health and prosperity and joy for everyone. Things have been rough for too long. There will always be challenges, but hopefully they will just be little bumps, not mountains.

Happy New Year everyone!

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Merry Christmas






This is a card I did for Paper Moon a while back. Some things never change.

I'm going to burrow in and cook, clean, wrap, knit and draw stuff for the next couple of weeks.
Hope you all have a wonderful holiday, whatever you're celebrating! 

Monday, December 10, 2012

New Candy

I've been drawing candy again. I found this assortment of chocolates from around the world at Costco, and you know I did a little silent squeeing as I popped them into my cart. All those shiny wrappers! And ones I'd never seen before! 

This first one is a Witor's NOIR, dark chocolate. omg. Its really really good. It has some chopped hazelnuts (I think) on the top, just a few. Just enough. And that wrapper. It is just too beautiful, with that gold and brown. Yummy all the way around.

I used all Polychromos on this. 










Then this one. Its a Dilettante Raspberry No. 30 chocolate. No. 30? What's that all about? I looked it up on their website but it offers no clue. In fact, it doesn't even have this one listed. So I don't know. But I loved this one too (both the wrapper and the candy).

I used Polychromos and Pablos on this one. They're both on 6" x 8" paper, and larger than life.



They're both in the shop.

There are a few more to do, so in between other projects and assignments I will get to them as soon as I am able. I think I'd better make a trip to Cost Plus too, because they always have good holiday treats to draw. Then there's Whole Foods ... actually I want to go there for my annual mincemeat pie. So many treats, so little time!