Girls With A Message

On and off, I’ve been working on a series of girls with little nuggets of wisdom. Just simple thoughtful messages. As I tinkered with the designs, I’ve come to realize this is a series that will never be finished. I’m not very prolific compared to some and I’m prone to tinker with tiny details for much too long. A teacher once told me that it’s good to keep playing until you’ve gone too far. Then you know that you’ve explored enough. But I think that I often get lost in the deep end…

Regardless, I’m really happy with my little girl characters and since there’s an endless supply of thoughtful messages to illustrate, I’ll add on as time goes by. I’ve actually created 12 so far, which could make a nice 2012 calendar. I think I’ll make myself one for sure…

However, I’m not quite certain how to make my work, work for me, in a financial sense. Calendars? Prints? Postcard sets? I’m not really equipped to print from home, so I’m turning to print on demand services online. Although, I really long to see them on real-life products, hence art licensing is always in the back of my mind. I think they would be great on products, carry a little inspiration and encouragement with you! Of course, everyone loves their own work. Tee hee! I suppose it takes some trial and error to figure out what will work. I’m uploading them to offer necklaces, keychains and magnets so far on Zazzle.

Let me know what you think! I can be wishy washy one day, then completely stubborn to a set plan of action the next day. Perhaps I don’t know how to present my own work in the best light. Maybe you can help me out with your ideas? What do you think of the series? Do you have a favorite girl and message? Any requests?

Creative Business 101: Slowly Forward

Now for a real update of my creative business landscape. Things have not been fast paced and I’ve certainly been in a slump. Or perhaps, you could call it, research and find yourself phase.

  • Girls With A Message (always taking suggestions) are being created and featured in my weekly newsletter. The latest is trust yourself. Bizarre how slowly it’s all moving. I have a set of 12 girls near completion, but that finalization step… I just can’t seem to plow through it.
  • Got stuck a bit in the middle, in reflecting about my personal experiences. Still working through The Right-Brain Business Plan (Amazon affiliate link)
  • Only add 3 new girls in the digistamp shop and another pack of papers into CatScrap shop
  • Rebound / reworked 2 old journals
  • Added to designapattern.com after discovering that there are many online courses for pattern design
  • Started some paintings, drawings, a few other books and research topics…
  • Been reading a lot and thinking a lot

Despite it all, no matter how slowly it is moving along. At least it is moving along. Onward.

Creative Business 101: Reading and Reflecting

I’ve been diving into a variety of books these past few weeks, absorbing information the old fashioned way. I know that many of us think that surfing the internet might be researching to some effect – but there’s really nothing better than snuggling up to a good book. Truly.

Side note: I purchased a few audiobooks to listen to on my Kindle… but have realized that I dislike the format. I keep trying to envision the transcript, wanting to see the structure of the content. Kindle ebooks are better, but the old fashioned paper book is still the most useful to me. Enough said.

So, I’m trying to give myself solid ground to work upon. Learning not only about business, but about myself and my true desires in life. To revamp my lifestyle entirely, because it all goes together. You can’t expect great things without great change.

Been thinking about what am I truly working for and writing things down. Journaling by hand and posting on this blog, my thoughts and feelings.

If you are interested in the books on my shelf, here’s a short list that I have read or currently reading through. Links go to Amazon.com:

Otherwise, I have been working on a new set of girl illustrations while spreading the news about them through email introductions. It never hurts to simply tell people about what you are doing. I want to thank Indi from {KID} independent, Nicole from Elsa Bags, and Amy from Pikaland for posting about my Girls With A Message illustration series. I’m honored and thankful.

There hasn’t been a lot of external action in my creative business, it’s all happening inside of me instead. It does feel like the calm before the storm. Do you have these periods in your creative journey? How do you deal with them to make it a productive time?

Decorate and Embellish Your Art Prints

Many people think of the conservation and preservation of fine art prints, but I want to challenge you to involve yourself in the creative expression and USE those prints. Since offering my Girls With A Message as downloadable printables, a lot of project ideas have opened up for me. I think that involving yourself in the art, not just admiring… brings you into the process and message. I think it’ll mean more, because you’ve put your unique touch into it.

I decided to decorate and embellish my art print, adding that glam that makes me smile with delight. I printed my artwork on photo paper, then printed just the bow of her hair onto cardstock and cut it out. BTW, see the color difference between photo paper and regular cardstock prints below?

I took that cut-out bow and covered it with some pink tinsel glitter – super glam and girly! I love it! Funny how it fits onto the magazine page image that I was using as scrap paper under. She looks mysteriously glamorous…

When my embellishment was completely dry, I put a bunch of foam tape on the back, so that I could attach it on top of my full print.

Working on a separate piece of cardstock means that I can experiment a bit, without directly working on my art print. It also adds an extra 3D pop effect and if you used temporary adhesive, you could probably switch out different decorations as well.

It’s a simple decorative element, but adds so much to the life of the print. A personal touch that makes me look and smile.

How can you decorate and embellish up your 2D images? Add some glitter, pop-up elements, put real earrings on her ears… it’s up to your imagination. Have any ideas to try out?

Feed Your Soul and Print Some Motivational Art

I must have mentioned Indie Fixx before and Feed Your Soul: the free art project, offering printable art downloads as PDFs from amazing artists. I’ve been a fan for a long time, since it first started way back in 2009. I was recently visiting the site to print some art for my inspiration board and it got me to thinking about my artwork. I suppose it’s no surprise that I’m now offering my own art as printables. Perhaps it was inevitable…

The goal for my artwork is very similar to the whys of the free art project as well. Art is an important part of our culture and I think it offers inspiration, empowerment and thought-provoking emotions in the viewer. Yes, both feeling and thought. Visual communication is so powerful and really grabs attention, especially today. In our fast paced environment, it’s much harder to get folks to slow down and read. Books are getting shorter and shorter, because people don’t have time. It’s amazing how an image, can stop someone in their tracks.

I want to brighten your day, no matter what the situation. Just a little smile or even a chuckle here or there. That emotional reaction is a connection. A piece of art can do that, even when you feel melancholy and especially when you need help. A little print tacked on your cubicle wall, in your art journal or framed on your wall – they all can do so much good. From the littlest, shabbiest copy to the most prized original painting, they all make a difference to provide energy, hope and joy to people like you and me. Even when we can’t explain or provide the fancy analysis of why… we know and feel the power and effect that Art has on us.

I really want to spread that energy through my artwork. Not just all over the world but into all facets of our life. I suppose, that is why I’m so intrigued by art licensing, because getting art onto everyday products means you are going to affect people in even the most mundane activities of life. Drying your dishes with that towel that has impactful imagery. You think twice, think happy, smile… that’s pretty darn cool. You are feeding your soul with Art and perhaps we are all lacking a bit of that in everyday life.

I’ve been thinking about my foray into digital downloads of “fine art” and how many people disagree with the offering. They think it devalues Art. My pricing seems low in certain communities and high in others (have you seen the pricing on digital scrapbooking products?) I suppose, my pricing was based on what I think everyone can afford. That fits better with my goals for the series – I simply want everyone to enjoy the work. Actually, if you subscribe to my newsletter you get a free printable… so I’m trying to reach as many people as possible.

So why charge a price at all for my Art? Well, because I want to be sustainable! I want to keep doing what I do. I’m sure it’s been said too often, “we all have to eat, you know!” But it’s true. Ultimately, I’m not charging for the cost of materials, I’m asking you to contribute to my work as a whole. It’s your contribution to me as an Artist – and for that, I’m truly thankful to all who have supported me.

Of course, I want you to realize that there are so many ways to support someone. For me, you can buy printables from my shop, but you can also spread the word, leave a nice comment, just be happy seeing my work online – literally, yes! Smile! I know there are folks out there who simply enjoy my work online and that’s cool too. We are all on different points of our journey and contribute with what we have. I appreciate it all and respect it all. I’m at the point of jumping head-on into making a living from my artwork, so that’s what I’m working towards… but I think we can all feed our soul with Art and especially motivational art, in some way.

You can learn more about my series of Girls With A Message in this post.