State of the Artist 12/16/2013

View halloo!!

It's yet another Monday here on Planet Kit, and so it's time for another State of the Artist update!


Weekly Words

A child's attitude toward everything is an artist's attitude.

-Willa Cather, 1873 - 1947



Current Project

Current project, now that the Holiday Cards are in the mail (on their way to me) is gearing up for January's Sketch-A-Day project, and some tiny thumbnail doodles for two commission projects.

But, I do have a small doodle that I worked up while sitting in the doctor's office waiting room.



I'd started the lines for this doodle a while ago, but never got around to finishing it, but sitting in a waiting room is the perfect place to get half-done doodles finished! I was also delighted when I met the new Physician's Assistant, before seeing my doctor, to find he was a huge comics/sci-fi/fantasy fan... and during the routine Q&A and taking vitals and all, we watched movie trailers on YouTube on the exam room computer. I love my doctor's office. :)




Shop Silvertales

Christmas is right around the corner, and there's still time to take advantage of the deals and discounts available on Zazzle for products featuring original artwork! Pick up a Coffeeeee Zombieeees" mug for a friend, or a Polar Bears in SPAAACE tshirt for yourself, all for 15% off!

Use code LASTCHANCE15 at check out to take advantage of the offer, valid through 11:59pm, Pacific Time, December 16th.

Shop Silvertales



Monthly Postcard Project

The December postcards for the inaugural year of the Monthly Postcard Project have all been mailed, and so that marks the end of the first year of the Monthly Postcard Project experiment! Whew!

I enjoyed the project, and had some wonderful feedback from subscribers, that I'll be continuing the project for 2014.

If you'd like more information, or to sign up for the project, please check out the info page: HERE. Subscriptions are available in 12, 6, and 3 month options, both domestic US and international.



Near Future

We're coming up on the end of another year, and so, as we approach January, that means I'm preparing for the Sketch-A-Day project for 2014! There's 31 sketches in 31 days to get done, so if you have any themes you'd like to see me try to tackle, please leave them in the comments!



Well, I think that's all for this week's State of the Artist update here on Planet Kit.

I thank you for joining me again this week! Feedback is the food which fuels the creative discussion between Artist and Audience, please, feel free to comment or leave suggestions for new projects!


If you enjoy seeing posts of new or in-progress artwork, please consider a donation.

Become a patron of the arts!

Feel free to post links to this journal/community if you feel there might be interest in my artwork!

State of the Artist 3/25/2013

View halloo, all!

It's Monday, so welcome to another State of the Artist update!


Weekly Words

It is better to write for yourself and have no public than write for the public and have no self."

-Cyril Connolly (1903-1984)

It has taken a long time to learn to appreciate this sentiment for what it is, the truth that regardless of how well-received your creative endeavors may be, if they are received at all, the most important thing is that you create for yourself, not others. Not their derision or their adulation. Some create simply for shock value, and that has it's time and purpose, but it loses value or meaning over time.

I think this can easily apply to all creative endeavors. When we create, we infuse everything with something of ourselves: hopes, dreams, fears, aspirations, some sort of kernel that is central to who we are, and when there is silence we pack our souls in one more layer of concealment.


Current Project

At the moment, the Current Project is making my way through outstanding commissions. I have one left over from MegaCon that I'm discussing with my client, and it's going well. The Moleskine cover commissions I put up the other day have already been snapped up, and I'm excited to see the idea was quite popular!

To the "Anon" who claimed a Moleskine commission, please contact me at silvertales [at] gmail [dot] com to go over payment details and the specifics of your commission idea, thank you!

I need to get April's postcard image squared away, and there should be new Zazzle products coming over the course of the week, so be on the lookout for those! As always, should there be any coupons or savings offered that apply to any items I've listed at Zazzle, I'll be sure to let you all know!

I'll be uploading the information for purchasing 2013 Sketch-A-Day originals in the next few days, so stay tuned for that, too, if you'd like to own any of the project sketches.


Near Future

The Near Future should see the completion of outstanding commissions, along with preparing for upcoming mail-in conventions. I've got a maybe-appearing-at convention coming up, just not entirely sure of the details, but I will definitely keep you posted.


Thank you for joining me for another State of the Artist update!

If you enjoy seeing posts of new or in-progress artwork, please consider a donation.

Become a patron of the arts!

Feel free to post links to this journal/community if you feel there might be interest in my artwork!

State of the Artist 12/31/2012

View halloo, all!

Well, this is it, the LAST State of the Artist update for 2012! :)

Wow... where did the year go?

 

Weekly Words

Your success and happiness lies in you. Resolve to keep happy, and your joy and you shall form an invincible host against difficulties.

- Helen Keller (1880-1968)

 

Current Project

Today is December 31, so tomorrow sees the kick-off the 2013 Sketch-A-Day Project! YAY!

Thank you to everyone who provided prompts to last week's post, there have been a lot of great replies! I'm both excited to start the project, and a bit nervous!

Last year I completed most of the sketches on toned paper, and I had a number of great responses, along with that small change generally leading to more complete sketches, so I'll be doing that again this year. I think it worked out quite well!

January also sees the launch of the Monthly Postcard Subscription Service! Again, I'll admit to being both excited and nervous about this project! This is very new for me, but I do hope those of you who have signed up will enjoy getting a new postcard in the mail with exclusive art!

If you'd like to sign up, or for more information, please be sure to check out the Postcard Subscription Service Info page!

Also, please be aware that if you sign up after the 7th of the month, your first postcard will arrive the following month. In order to make sure postcards arrive at international locations before the end of the month, all print ordering will be done by the 7th of each month.

 

Shop Silvertales

Shop Silvertales

2013 should see new items being uploaded to the Zazzle shop as the year goes on. If there is anything you'd like to see on a Zazzle product, be it a mug/phone case/magnet/whatever, please let me know!

Zazzle is having a "Make Your 2013" sale with 50-30% off cards and phone cases!

 

Near Future

Conventions and Appearances

First con up this year is OhayoCon: Columbus, OH January 18-20 so there will be a slight gap in the sketch-A-Day Project posting, but I'll be sure to get those sketches up once I get back.

If you'll be attending the convention, come visit me in the Artist Alley!

 

If you enjoy seeing new project or sneak peeks at WIP photos, please consider a donation!

Become a patron of the arts!

 

Thank you for joining me for another State of the Artist update!

State of the Artist: Call for Prompts

View halloo, all!

I hope everyone had a lovely holiday full of family, good food, and good spirits! I hope the sentiments of hope, happiness, joy, and peace follow you always! I am blessed and fortunate to have a bevy of wonderful friends in this online community, and I thank you all for your years of support!

Here on Planet Kit the holidays were definitely interesting. Our family usually celebrates twice, once for the Cuban side and once for the English side. Panda and I celebrated Nochebuena on Decmber 24th with traditional Cuban food of cerdo asado, arroz con frijoles, platanos maduros, yucca frita, and arroz con leche, otherwise known as: roast pork, black beans and rice, fried plantains, fried yucca, and rice pudding. :) On December 25th we planned to celebrate in the English style with rack of lamb, roast potatoes, Yorkshire puddings, peas... and Jack Daniels Apple Pie (not so English, I know, but no one makes trifle or mince pies like my Nana used to) ... until the oven element popped and died while preheating the oven... O.o!

So, it was Christmas Pizza! :)

 

In Monday's State of the Artist post, I said I was going to post a Call for Prompts to kick off the Sketch-A-Day Project in a few days... so, here it is!

If there is anything you'd like to see (themes, mythology, random anthropomorphisms, previously-drawm characters, concepts, etc) HERE is the place to post your ideas!

Please understand that the Request For Prompts is not a guarantee that your suggestion will be used (or used the way you envision) but more of a "throw inspiration at Kit so she'll have something to get the drawing motor running!"

I look forward to all your suggestions! :)

 

*Since the Sketch-A-Day Project kicks off on January 1st, and January 1st is a Tuesday, there may or may not be a State of the Artist on December 31st.*

 

If you enjoy seeing new project or sneak peeks at WIP photos, please consider a donation!

Become a patron of the arts!

View halloo, all!

It's Monday, which means it's time for another State of the Artist update! :) It's also December 24th, otherwise known in my house as Nochebuena. I wish you all the Merriest of Christmases, and may the sentiments of the holiday follow you always.

I'm so sorry I missed last Monday's post! After returning from the family trip on Saturday, the 15th, I ended up being laid out by a whopper of a virus that I must have caught towards the end of the trip.

 

Weekly Words

Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius and it's better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring.

- Marilyn Monroe (1926-1962)

We are all of us imperfect, and those imperfections shape how the world sees us and how we see ourselves. In turn, we evolve based on our journey through life, how others approach us, what they say to us and what they say about us. No one is an island of self-confidence without first being tested by the fires of outside influence.

 

Holiday Cards

I've had little notes from a number of people that they've received their holiday cards in the mail, so I'm going to go ahead and post the card design that went out this year. For those of you who may have missed the sign up deadline, or simply decided not to request a card this year, this was the 2012 Silvertales Holiday Card design:

The final card artwork is 9x12" mixed media on vellum surface bristol (which is a JOY to work on with quick drying media like alcohol-based inks! The blends are so smooooooooth!) If you'd like to own the original, it's available for $150. Please email to silvertales @ gmail . com (remove spaces) if interested!

 

Current Project

Whooo... currently, I'm still getting over being sick. I'm at the worn out and tired recovery stage, and slowly, but surely getting back to running on full steam.

Currently, I have commissions to get back to now that I can stay awake more than an hour at at time and my head doesn't feel stuffed full of cotton all the time anymore... I have thumbnails and progress-sketches to get to people. That's first on the list of things To Do today.

I did take a few pictures while on the 2012 family Pirates of the Backyard cruise, and if people are interested, I'll work up a picture post and "report" of the trip! I wish I'd taken more pictures... hopefully, I can borrow some from my aunt and uncle who likely took entire memory cards full of images. :)

 

Near Future

First announcement for Near Future projects is the upcoming 2013 Sketch-A-Day Project! Starting January 1st, I'll begin posting one sketch a day for the entire month. There will be a slight interruption for a few days as I'll be attenting OhayoCon for the first time this year, and it is January 18-20th, so I won't be posting from 1/17-1/21 but I'll batch upload those days sketches when I get back home and thaw out. As a South Florida native, I'm definitely going to have bundle up for that one!

On December 26th, I'll be posting a Call for Prompts post for the Sketch-A-Day project, so if there's anything in particular you want to see (or even the reapparance of a character I've drawn in the past) that will be the post to leave your suggestions!

The Near Future also sees the lauch of the Monthly Postcard Subscription Service! For no more than the cost of two snazzy coffees a month, you can get a postcard delivered to your mailbox featuring new and exclusive artwork! The postcards will be a random assortment of themes, subjects, and media... one month could be a botanical watercolor study and the next could be an abstract! There are multiple subscription options available for US and international residents. If you'd like to know more, or sign up, please visit the Subscription Page found here for information!

 

Conventions and Appearances

I'll be attending the following conventions:

OhayoCon Columbus, OH January 18-20 and MegaCon Orlando, FL March 15-17

If you'll be attending either con, come stop by the table and say hi, pick up prints of your favorite pieces, or commission something original just for you!

 

If you enjoy seeing new project or sneak peeks at WIP photos, please consider a donation!

Become a patron of the arts!

Thank you for joining me for another State of the Artist update.

State of the Artist 12/3/2012

View halloo, all!

It's Monday, which means it's time for another State of the Artist update! :)

Just an announcement, there will not be a State of the Artist update for Monday, December 10th, as a family get-together will take me away from the Intarwebz. A week without internet, or my cat... yikes!

 

Weekly Words

There are always two people in every picture: the photographer and the viewer. - Ansel Adams 1902-1984

The artist is always in everything they produce, no matter how they try to divorce themselves from their work, or claim they do. There is always a piece of their soul in every piece, a piece they put on display for all the world to see.

 

Current Project

I've got commission projects on my plate through the end of the year, so they are taking up most of my time at the moment.

Holiday Cards are addressed and signed, and in the mail today! Whew!

US residents should be receiving their cards by the end of the week at the latest, while most international residents should have them by the end of next week (barring any local postal holidays in your country of residence.)

I'll be posting the card image when I return from the family vacation, on Monday, December 17th, for people who didn't request cards, and I'll be making the original image available for purchase for anyone who'd like to have the original artwork.

After Christmas, I'll be making the cards available for order on Zazzle, too!

 

Shop Silvertales

Shop Silvertales

Last week's Perfect Gentlephalopod now has a friend! He's the Perfect Pachiydentleman!

Resplendent in his best suit and waistcoat, this very proper pachyderm pours a perfect cuppa! Like the Perfect Gentlephalopod, he's on mugs, t-shirts, cards, and various phone/eReader skins and cases. He, and the octopus gent, really look great on the black shirts!

I'm having too much fun with these little Victorian-esque animal doodles....

 

Near Future

At the moment, I'm mostly gearing up for January's Sketch-A-Day project and the launch of the Postcard Subscription Service!

I'm super-excited about the postcard service, the idea of sending a little bit of Real Mail that isn't a bill or junk mail to people with new and exclusive art makes me very happy! I hope people who sign up will be excited about it, too!

If you'd like to know more about the subscription service and options, or to sign up, check out the permanent page here: Postcard Subscription Service Page!

 

Conventions and Appearances

I'll be attending:

OhayoCon in Columbus, OH January 18-20 (which will interrupt the Sketch-A-Day Project, but only briefly and I'll just upload those days sketches when I return) so, if you'll be at the con come by and say hi, buy your favorite prints, or commission something original! :)

I'll put up a list of conventions I'll be sending art to their Art Shows via mail-in once I've gotten all those squared away.

 

If you enjoy seeing new project or sneak peeks at WIP photos, please consider a donation!

Become a patron of the arts!

 

Thank you for joining me for another State of the Artist update.

State of the Artist 11/26/2012

View halloo, all!

It's Monday, which means it's time for another State of the Artist update! :)

 

Weekly Words

Genius is another word for magic, and the whole point of magic is that it is inexplicable. - Margot Fonteyn, 1919 - 1991

 

I think we all need a little magic in our lives.

 

Current Project

Whoo! The Holiday cards arrived at the house on Friday (well, one box... there was a printing/shipping error, so the order was split and the second half will arrive by Wednesday) and they look great! I'll probably be spending most of the week addressing cards in batches since there were so many respondents.

I'm so excited, you guys! There's a lovely gloss finish on the primary image side, and the colors look fantastic! I will definitely post when they go in the mail, that way people can be on the lookout for them.

The Monthly Postcard Subscription Project is up and running. You can subscribe for 3, 6, or 12 months to receive an exclusive, limited-edition original artwork postcard in your mailbox for less than the cost of 2 Starbucks lattes a month! The Subscription Service is open to US and International subscribers. You can find out more information at the subscription page here!

 

Shop Silvertales

Studio Silvertales

Over the Thanksgiving weekend, I ended up drawing what I think is the cutest thing I think I've ever drawn...

... and he's available on multiple items in the store! He's on mugs, t-shirts, bags, skins, cases, and cards. If you'd like to see him on something else Zazzle offers, let me know!

If you have suggestions for more cute animal things let me know, he needs some friends!

Zazzle is having a fantastic Cyber Monday sale with 50% off cards and postcards, 30% off mugs, 20% off t-shirts and bags, $10 off sleeves and cases, and 15% off everything else! The code is valid through November 26th until 11:59pm PT on everything from any store, no matter how much you buy or what store it comes from.

Don't forget to check out Zazzle Blackwhich gets you free standard shipping for a year within the continental US, Alaska, and Hawaii for a flat, one-time $10 fee along with exclusive discounts throughout the year.

 

Near Future

The Near Future sees me spending much of the upcoming week filling out holiday cards! This is the part of the project that I usually forget about... the hours spent hand-addressing and writing notes on all the postcards requested. O.o

I'll be splitting that with working on a recent commission project and getting ready for the holiday insanity that is family visits and trips and holiday get-togethers, along with making sure I have everything together for the launch of next year's Postcard Subscription Project and the Sketch-A-Day Project along with OhayoCon.

 

If you enjoy seeing posts of new or in-progress artwork, please consider a donation.

Become a patron of the arts!

 

Thank you for joining me for another State of the Artist update! :D

State of the Artist 11/19/2012

View halloo, all!

It's Monday, which means it's time for another State of the Artist update here on Planet Kit! :)

This past weekend saw the Holiday Card artwork sent off to the printer and my card order placed! Yay!

There were a few donations made in the last week, and I thank you all for making them. They are greatly appreciated in alleviating the cost of production and postage, particularly in light of the number of requests. I've never seen that many requests before!

Now, if only I could get 50% of that on my actual art posts!

Don't worry, I'm not going to hold my breath.

 

Weekly Words

We'd get sick on too many cookies, but ever so much sicker on no cookies at all. - Sinclair Lewis, 1885 - 1951

I found this quote particularly meaningful today, as I was lamenting my lack of cookies. I am a very sad Kit without any cookies. It's a simple joy, but ever so important. Life would be dull and dreary without those simple indulgences.

I think today is a "bake cookies" kind of day....

 

Current Project

I am excited to announce the launch of a new project: the Monthly Postcard Subscription Project!

I don't know about you, but my mailbox is usually full of bills and junk mail.

It always puts a smile on my face to see something personal in my mailbox instead. In the hopes of putting smiles on other people's faces when they go get the mail, I'm launching this postcard subscription service. :)

For the cost of about 2 coffeehouse lattes every month, you can receive a postcard in your mailbox featuring new, exclusive, limited-edition artwork! You'll also have exclusive access to purchase the original artwork before it's released to the public!

The service is available in 12, 6, and 3 month durations for US and international subscribers, you can even order a subscription as a gift! Once you sign up, payment is collected monthly for ease of tracking, and only for as many months as you signed up.

If you'd like to know more, or sign up, please check out the subscription service page at: silvertales subscriptions!

Please be aware that postcards will not start mailing until January of 2013.

 

Shop Silvertales

Silvertales Shop at Zazzle

SO many new products posted over at the Zazzle shop! Everything from laptop bags to sleeves to skins to mugs to cards to even a few onesies, featuring new and classic silvertales art!

Today (Monday, November 19th) is also the last day to take advantage of Zazzle's '15% off ALL orders' coupon code: FALLIINTOSAVE. Offer ends at 11:59pm Pacific Time. Don't forget to check out Zazzle Black, for $10 a year, you get free shipping on all orders, all year! Zazzle also allows you to start a WishList and tell friends and family. :)

 

Near Future

I've gotten a few positive responses to the idea of a Silvertales Sketch-A-Day sketchbook idea, so I'm still batting the logistics of that project around. Please let me know if you're interested in this project, I need to see if it's worth it to do it.

I'm also pondering the logisitics of offering small, livestreamed commissions maybe once-a-month, depending on convention schedules, where you can request a small commission (probably between $20-$60) and watch it come to life in real time via a live stream. What do you all think?

Family and holiday plans are taking up most of my time right now, as we're well into That Time Of Year, so that's mostly what my Near Future consists of!

For my fellow Americans, Happy Thanksgiving This Coming Weekend, and for everyone else, I hope you have a safe and happy week!

 

Conventions and Appearances

There are no further convention appearances for 2012, but I will be making my first 2013 convention appearance at:

OhayoCon in Columbus, OH January 18-20!

I will have a table in the Artist Alley (I'll post my table location once I'm told) so if you'll be there, come say hi, buy some art, or commission something original! :)

 

If you enjoy seeing new project or sneak peeks at WIP photos, please consider a donation!

Become a patron of the arts!

 

Thank you for joining me for another State of the Artist update!

State of the Artist Supplemental

View halloo, all!

First off, the Holiday Card artwork is DONE, including layout for the card, and everything! The Request post is now closed, and the order is off to the printer! *whew!*

Thank you to the generous souls who donated in the last few days, it is a tremendous help and every donation goes to the cost of producing the cards, and postage. If you'd still like to donate towards the cost of card production and postage, I'll include my donation button at the end of the post.

 

In Monday's State of the Artist post (here) I mentioned that populating my Zazzle store was addictive...

... so much so that I spent about an hour creating a rather obnoxious number of products with a little-known image, my very FIRST Holiday Card artwork image from years ago! I don't think I made more than about 20 of these cards (and they were done by hand!) but it was also the very first time Panda appeared in any of my artwork. It was the year I adopted him, 2004 (and, yes, he was a surly little thing even then!)

 

The very first little winged Panda now appears on everything from cards to mugs to iPad skins to postcards to onesies (I couldn't resist!) If there's anything you'd like to see him on (or anything else) let me know!

Shop Silvertales

*Zazzle also has a current 15% off ALL orders offer valid through November 19 at 11:59pm PT. Be sure to use code SANTASAVINGS in the coupon box when placing your order to take advantage of the sale.*

If the rest of the week, and into the weekend, goes as planned, Monday's State of the Artist should see the launch of a new project!

 

Become a patron of the arts!

State of the Artist 11/12/2012

View halloo, all! It's Monday, which means it's time for another State of the Artist update! :) Weekly Words Nothing is more apt to deceive us than our own judgement of our work. We derive more benefit from having our faults pointed out by our enemies than from hearing the opinions of friends. - Leonardo da Vinci, 1452 - 1519 In a creative field, in particular, little is more useless than glowing praise. Don't get me wrong, glowing praise gives you those warm fuzzies that always feel so good, but it does little for creative advancement. If all you ever hear is "it's perfect," especially if you hear it often enough, you will come to rest on that. Herein lies stagnation, the end for anyone intent on honing their craft. In truth, we gain more in the long run from criticism of a constructive nature. Key word there is, of course, constructive. Just as no one ever improved by hearing "it's perfect," no one ever learned anything from "I don't like it." It's not enough to declare, one must tell you WHY they don't like it. Sometimes, it's as simple as "it's not to my particular taste," and that's fine, but there is nothing to be done with that. But, sometimes, it's not that easy to explain. Sometimes, it's a more visceral response, but those kinds of responses always have a why. Without that all important WHY, there is no room to see where something might not be working. Current Project Still at work on this year's Holiday Card artwork, but pretty sure I'm nearing completion! Nothing like cutting it close to a deadline... >.< And yet, my Quality Control Supervisor (Panda) is keeping a close eye on my progress... the other day, he interrupted my work to enforce a Mandatory Cuddle Break. Beyond Panda, you can see my Tools of the Trade, otherwise known as my collection of Copic markers, which I'm using after the ink stage. Shop Silvertales If you've ever thought that my art would look great on a tote bag or a t-shirt, or you've ever wanted postcards or note cards with that certain piece on them, well, you're in luck! I've opened up a Zazzle store which features my artwork on all kinds of goods, perfect for gift-giving, or just keeping for yourself! :) http://www.zazzle.com/silvertales If there's any particular pieces you think would look great as a postcard, bag, t-shirt (or anything else you can think of!) let me know! I'll be populating the store with more products over the next few days (week/months/etc ... it's rather addictive,) and Zazzle constantly has deals and coupons to redeem, so check back often! In fact, today is the last day to take advantage of Zazzle's Verteran's Day Sale of up to 50% off cards, 30% off mugs, and 15% off all other products! I'll also be sure to post any coupons or codes Zazzle offers as they become available. Holiday Card Project This will be the last post regarding this year's Holiday Card Project Request, as the post will be closed to new replies on November 15th (this Thursday.) This is so the art can be sent to the printers and the cards shipped to me in time to mail them by early December. If you'd like to get a holiday postcard in your mailbox, please leave a mailing address HERE. Please only reply to the linked post, as comments there are screened for your privacy. This may also have to be the last year I offer Holiday Cards. This year has seen an incredible jump in the number of responses to the Request Post. While it is extremely gratifying to see such an overwhelming response to receiving these cards, many from people who've never commented in this journal before, it has also resulted in a prohibitively expensive proposition. I put forth this project as something I pay for out of my own pocket (and those kind souls who donate) in order to provide something small and special in people's mailboxes over the holiday season. That worked out fine when I was fielding up to 60-65 requests a year, but I am now sitting at over 350 (!!) responses to be mailed all over the world and, as an independent artist, I can no longer afford to continue sending out professionally produced materials for free. Please understand that while I love working on this project, and truly wish I could continue doing this, it's just not economically feasible for me anymore. If you wish, donations to the aid with the cost of production and postage are greatly appreciated:

Become a patron of the arts!

Thank you for joining me for another State of the Artist update.

State of the Artist 11/5/2012

View halloo, all! Well, Daylight Savings Time is over for another year, and it's back to getting dark early, which is definitely taking some getting used to! Weekly Words Frame thy mind to mirth and merriment, which bars a thousand harms, and lengthens life. -William Shakespeare, 1564 - 1616 Smile, be kind to one another, respect each other, treat others as you expect to be treated, and the world could be a more harmonious place. We spend so much of our time decrying the lack of respect that we forget to respect others in turn. It has to start somewhere. Current Project Hold the phone! I'm 99.999% sure I've found my final Holiday Card art in the latest sketch I was doodling. (I think I really need to start planning my Holiday Card artwork in July in order to avoid this last-minute mad panic in November!) I'm also 99.999% sure I've got the final colors and such all worked out in my head, too... which I rarely know in advance. I spend far too much time dithering over color choices during the coloring process, instead of working that out in advance, either through a mini rough color version, or a digital color sketch just to see how it's all going to work out. Generally, when I'm in the process of putting color on a piece, it's the first time I'll have any idea what color I'm going to use! But, here you go, a sneak peek at this year's Holiday Card artwork! Holiday Card Project So many of you have signed up to request Holiday Cards this year, I'm amazed! At last count (Sunday evening) I have 225 respondents, and the post is open to replies for another 10 days. O.o Judging from the number of comments I receive to my art posts, either here on LJ, or through other social media outlets, I was NOT expecting this kind of response. But, if you'd like a card and still haven't left an address, you can reply to THIS POST HERE as all comments are screened for privacy. Please be aware the request post will be closed on November 15th to get final artwork to the printers so the cards come back in time to be mailed in early December (fingers crossed.) I don't require a fee of any kind for this project, but donations toward the cost of production and postage are greatly appreciated! If you'd like to donate, the graphic below will take you to my PayPal donation page:

Feel free to post links to this journal/community if you feel there might be interest in my artwork! Near Future Well! I've got some project plans for 2013! As has become my usual, January will kick off with the Sketch-A-Day project, and February will see the Work-A-Week project. I seem to get the most responses with the Sketch-A-Day project, so I'm thrilled you all enjoy the daily sketches and seeing them go from sketch-to-finished piece in February. I'm also planning on adding another Sketch-A-Day (and subsequent Work-A-Week) later in the year. I'm planning on Sketch-A-Day sketchbooks, collecting the pieces done in each year's project. A number of people have requested the daily sketches be collected in print editions for collecting, and I think it's a great idea! I'm also planning for a postcard subscription service in 2013! If you sign up (I'm planning on 3,6, or 12 month options) every month you'll get a postcard in your mailbox featuring brand new artwork produced specifically for the postcard project. You'll also get first rights to buy the original artwork, before it becomes available to the general public. Keep an eye out for the informational post about the service in the coming weeks to learn more! I'm planning on offering some limited small-commission slots and livestreaming the production process. If you've wanted an original or a commission, but my regular pieces are just not in your budget, this is the perfect project for you! Commissions will be kept small and you can watch them happen in real time! I'm excited for the coming year! Let me know what you think of the planned projects, or if you have ideas you'd like to see me tackle! Thank you for joining me for another State of the Artist post!

State of the Artist 10/15/2012

View halloo, all! It's Monday, so it's time for another State of the Artist update! Weekly Words Doing a straight-forward, clear-cut task that has a beginning and an end balances out the complexity-without-end that often vexes the rest of my life. Sacred simplicity. -Robert Fulghum Ah, simplicity... Current Project This week's project is a very personal piece commissioned by a dear friend who recently lost her father after a considerable struggle with failing health. She requested a 5x7" watercolor of her father with his two dogs, silhouetted against a setting sun; an image from a dream from before her father passed away. These kinds of projects always make me rather nervous. While I am always honored to be asked to complete so personal a project, I'm always extremely aware of just *how* personal these commissions are, and I want to be sure I've done right by my client. Near Future Ack! I've got a commission sitting on my plate that I need to make more progress on, I've got a personal painting I'd LIKE to make more progress on, but seems to be stalled... I've got a convention I'm not prepared for coming up in 11 days... and I've got a Holiday Card to design... eek! I need more hours in the day! O.o I'm hoping to post the Holiday Card Request post this week, and close it off again mid-November, so stay tuned for that if you'd like to receive a Holiday Card this year. Taking suggestions for themes for this year's Holiday card! So, go ahead and let me know in the comments below! That's all, folks! So much for another State of the Artist update, thank you for joining me! Feel free to leave comments/feedback and I always appreciate feedback! If you enjoy seeing posts of new or in-progress artwork, please consider a donation.

Become a patron of the arts!

Feel free to post links to this journal/community if you feel there might be interest in my artwork!

State of the Artist 10/8/2012

View halloo, all! It's Monday, which means it's time for a State of the Artist update! Weekly Words Dogs are wise. They crawl away into a quiet corner and lick their wounds and do not rejoin the world until they are whole once more. - Agatha Christie, 1890 - 1976 Current Project This week's post sees the second half of "The Eastern Star" WIP pics! Done with the figure and border, and so now moving on to laying in the initial layers of the backgrounds. I decided to go with greens and golds for the fabrics. I wanted colors to contrast with the large amount of red I'd ended up using near the bottom of the image (again,) but not *too* much contrast... *** ... since I was going give the rest of the background a deep, old, oiled wood feeling. *** Last few layers of color for the fabrics and coloring in the sky background seen through the ship's porthole, results in... *** THIS! Original: SOLD Prints (8x10" archival prints): $12 Near Future Still on the commission streak... I've got one rather complex one sitting on my plate at the moment, and it doesn't seem to be cooperating much with me right now, much to my dismay. I'll be attending Necronomicon in Tampa, FL from October 26-28, so if you're in town or attending the convention come by, say hi, buy a print or commission something new! Thank you for joining me for this week's State of the Artist update, please feel free to leave comments to what's been posted or suggestions for new works! A LiveJournal account is not required to reply to any post in this journal. If you enjoy seeing posts of new or in-progress artwork, please consider a donation.

Become a patron of the arts!

Feel free to post links to this journal/community if you feel there might be interest in my artwork!

State of the Artist 10/1/2012

View halloo, all! It's Monday, so welcome to another State of the Artist update! Weekly Words In youth we learn; in age we understand. -Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach, 1830 - 1916 Current Project As I said last week, I'm posting WIP pictures of "The Eastern Star," the second in the crew lineup of the Lofty Pursuits airship brothel. I'll start with the clean line art image, full of lots of little details guaranteed to drive me nuts: and move on to adding in base coats of the skin tone colors, gradually building up color in layers, and the border. While working on "Red Light Flights" (the first in the series) I found I'd get some pigment bleed if I left the pale border colors for last so I did it first this time: ... adding in costume pieces, again in light layers to build up color depth and intensity. I used to work straight from the final color I wanted only to realize it usually made things very heavy and blocky, without any kind of luminosity. Next week, moving on to the background! O.o Near Future Not much different here than last week's Near Future plans: more Necro con prep, commission work to do, and Holiday Card ideas to consider.... Ack! Thank you for joining me for another State of the Artist update! Please feel free to leave comments below, a LiveJournal account is not necessary to comment here, and feedback is always appreciated, it makes for a Happy Kit! If you enjoy seeing posts of new or in-progress artwork, please consider a donation.

Become a patron of the arts!

Feel free to post links to this journal/community if you feel there might be interest in my artwork!

State of the Artist 9/24/2012

View halloo, all.

Well, it's been yet another Real Life week on Planet Kit, some good, some... not so good, but that's life, right? But, it's Monday, so it's time for another State of the Artist update!

Things don't change, but by and by our wishes change. - Marcel Proust, 1871 - 1922

 

Current Project

... and now for something completely different....

I debated about posting this particular piece because it is significantly different from the things I normally do/post, but it was a commission that I enjoyed working on a great deal due to it's significantly different nature.

My client has waited *mumbledy-mumbles* for this, very patiently, I might add, as it took me quite some time to figure out how to complete this particular type of open-ended commission.

There is something far more viscerally satisfying about working with a full-body medium, like acrylics, than say markers or watercolors. That's not to detract from either markers or watercolors, but standing before a canvas with a riot of colorful blobs of acrylic paint and a palette knife in your hand, forces you to approach your medium with a completely different mindset and attitude, particularly if the commission request is an abstract. There is something freeing about manipulating big blobs and streaks of paint into forceful swipes and creating soft-peaked textures on canvas.

It's a lot like going back to kindergarten and just letting yourself go, back before people told you things had to look a certain way and had to follow set rules.

Actually, since I smeared around a lot of this paint with my hands, it's *exactly* like that.

Working on this piece was extremely rewarding, even if I do have to put it in a box and ship it off.

 

Near Future

I have more commissions to complete before I can open up the queue to new requests. I've had a few inquiries, so I will definitely post when I've opened up the queue, though.

I hope to finish at least one new piece before Necronomicon next month, but right now it's hard to say how things will progress over the next few weeks.

I have a Holiday Card design to come up with so I can post a call for requests a little later in the year, I'm thinking mid-October-ish.

OhayoCon table is paid for, OhayoCon hotel arrangements made, so all that's left is travel arrangements and OhayoCon will be a go in mid-January!

 

Thank you for joining me for another State of the Artist update, as always I appreciate feedback and responses, and a LiveJournal account is not necessary to comment on this journal.

Next week, should be WIP pics of "The Eastern Star," 2nd in the "Lofty Pursuits" airship brothel crew!

 

If you enjoy seeing posts of new or in-progress artwork, please consider a donation.

Become a patron of the arts!

Feel free to post links to this journal/community if you feel there might be interest in my artwork!

State of the Artist 9/17/2012

View halloo!! Sorry for missing the State of the Artist update last week, but it's been a busy and hectic few weeks on Planet Kit, and, honestly, nothing got done last week that wasn't random Real Life random red tape-ness. Thank you to those who asked after me and kept me entertained and buoyed when things got to me, you know who you are. Weekly Words In youth we learn; in age we understand. -Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach, 1830 - 1916 Current Project More commission works being churned out and sent off, in lieu of being able to work on anything personal at the moment. There's a strange push-pull relationship between working on commission work and working on personal pieces. The commission/professional work feeds the wallet (and hence, pays bills) while the personal expunges the soul, making room for new inspirations to claw their way free... and, it is mostly clawing. There are times when it becomes exceedingly difficult to work up enthusiasm for my own work. The final commission in a series of black and white ink wash pieces is on it's way to it's buyer, and I can only hope he's happy with the final results! Near Future The Near Future sees more commission work progress (hopefully) and prepping for Necronomicon coming up in October. I hope to start posting WIP posts of "The Eastern Star" soon, let me know if you'd like to see those! If you enjoy seeing posts of new or in-progress artwork, please consider a donation.

Become a patron of the arts!

Feel free to post links to this journal/community if you feel there might be interest in my artwork!

State of the Artist 9/3/2012

View halloo! It's Monday, so it's time for another State of the Artist update, catching up with what's going on on Planet Kit. Weekly Words Peace is not something you wish for; it's something you make, something you do, something you are, something you give away. -Robert Fulghum (1937- ) Current Project About a month ago or so, I posted what seems to have become one of my most popular sketches, that of "Georgie," the strange lizard-dog-creature-thing I was commissioned for during Florida SuperCon at the beginning of July. Well, he's done! I am so ridiculously pleased with how he came out, as is my client (even better!) He looks exactly as I pictured him in my head when given the description. He just seemed to flow onto the page from sketch to ink to color, he was probably one of the smoothest commissions I've ever completed. I have to admit, a part of me was loath to part with him, I enjoyed working on him so much! But, I have a happy client, and that makes me extremely happy. :) Near Future Still planning to attend Necronomicon in Tampa, FL in October, but it seems as though there will be no 2012 Sketch-A-Day sketchbook to have on hand for the table. I know nothing about page/book layout for print, so it seems some research must be done before I tackle launching that Kickstarter, although I still have plans to do it! Next up, though, are more backlogged commissions and a Holiday Card design for this year. My card designs always include Panda and myself, but I'm definitely in the market for suggestions for themes or settings, so, if you've got a suggestion or two, go ahead and let me know! Thanks for joining me for another State of the Artist update, and thank you for your comments and input! If you enjoy seeing posts of new or in-progress artwork, please consider a donation.

Become a patron of the arts!

Feel free to post links to this journal/community if you feel there might be interest in my artwork!

State of the Artist 8/27/2012

View halloo, all!

Early this morning saw the approach of Isaac, which ended up being much ado about nothing... lots of heavily gusting winds and a rather impressive deluge, but, overall no big deal. But, now it's back to the drudgery of cleaning up the minor tree damage and residential street flooding due to rainfall.


Weekly Words

That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.
-Neil Armstrong (1930-2012)

By making those small steps, we make those giant leaps reality every day.


Current Project

During the approach of Isaac's outflow rain bands last night, MCA Hogarth and I were texting back and forth that some hurricane-themed art might be a good project to tackle. Seeing as we both live in Florida, I agreed!

*clicking on the thumbnail opens the larger image*


The two square red flags with black center squares are the US Storm Signal flag arrangement that indicate a hurricane. Use of Storm Signal flags was discontinued by US Coast Guard back in 1989, after 100 years of use, due to the expanded reach of radio and television to warn and advise residents in threatened areas. In recent years, they've been making a comeback, particularly on coastal waterways and beaches for boaters and tourists.

(Living in Miami, home of the University of Miami Hurricanes, this flag arrangement never really went away here, just got co-opted to show support for the team sports.)


Near Future

Near future plans include completing my remaining open commissions, mostly, and hopefully squeaking some personal art in there, along with contemplating designs for this year's Holiday Card design.

There's Kickstarter planning in there, too... once I figure out what I'm doing and the best way to get what I want done done.

I am currently planning on attending Necronomicon in late October in Tampa, FL, just trying to figure out travel arrangements.

If you enjoy seeing posts of new or in-progress artwork, please consider a donation.

Become a patron of the arts!

Feel free to post links to this journal/community if you feel there might be interest in my artwork!

State of the Artist 8/20/2012

View halloo, all!

I seem to be rounding the corner of this massive attack of Con Crud that has kept me drifting in and out of feeling human for the last two weeks. Thank you to everyone who has asked after me, sent emails and texts, sent me little care packages and entertainments so I didn't go mad staring at the ceiling while I was awake, they are all much appreciated.

On with the post!

Weekly Words

It has been said, 'time heals all wounds.' I do not agree. The wounds remain. In time, the mind, protecting its sanity, covers them with scar tissue and the pain lessens. But it is never gone.
- Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy, 1890 - 1995

We are all the Walking Wounded to one degree or another. Our scars shape us, give us the depth to understand an others' pain, give us the clarity to learn from an others' mistakes, give us the drive to to make things better, to shield our selves away from the hurt or to open our selves to another, to just keep living.


Current Project

As I said above, I'm still a bit under the weather from the bout of Con Crud I've been battling since the end of AFO, but I'm definitely better than I was last week. That said, I've been a commission completing machine (when I've been awake and hand-steady enough to sit and work.)

So, first up:

*clicking on the thumbnail opens the larger image*

A commission for a repeat customer who always comes to find me at AFO. :) She requested a red-headed man with purple eyes wearing a mix of traditional Japanese clothing and modern Western clothes, joined by a cat wearing a skeptical look. It was fun! I managed to get this out in the mail the other day, so here's hoping she likes the finished product!

Next up:

I've got line work for another b&w ink wash commission taped to my boards waiting for me to get started!


Near Future

More commissions await me, and as time waits for no artist, I need to get started, Con Crud or no Con Crud.

I know it sounds early, but I need to get to work on a Holiday card design so it will be ready to go to the printers no later than the Thanksgiving holiday. I'll have a card request post up later in the year, most likely sometime in late October/early November.

I'm hoping to attend Necronomicon in mid-October, but that depends mostly on the travel situation, which, without a car, is difficult to plan in advance.

I'm hoping to get that 2012 Sketchbook Kickstarter project going soon, but I have no idea what I'm doing, how I'm going to go about it, or how to even begin laying out this book... O.o

Somewhere in there, I'm also hoping to get some personal art squeaked in.... O.o!


Thank you for joining me for another State of the Artist update, I hope you are all well and that you join me again next week!

If you enjoy seeing posts of new or in-progress artwork, please consider a donation.

Become a patron of the arts!

Feel free to post links to this journal/community if you feel there might be interest in my artwork!

State of the Artist 8/13/2012

View halloo, all!

I'm sorry for the absence lately, but with back-to-back conventions and the onset of lovely Con Crud, I've been rather keeping to myself lately.


Weekly Words

This man beside us also has a hard fight with an unfavouring world, with strong temptations, with doubts and fears, with wounds of the past which have skinned over, but which smart when they are touched.

- John Watson (1850-1907)

I had an entire exposition on this quote typed out and ready to post, mostly dealing with the crux of most people's personal issues: money; the lack thereof, the uncertainty of where it's coming from unless you have a reliable income stream available to you in one way or another (be it yours or a partner's,) etc, but it stressed me out too much to actually post.

At the end of the day, we are all walking hard roads and dealing with problems, be they money-related, health-related, family-related, or any combination thereof... and in many cases, we don't know the extent of others' problems.


Current Project

Coming home off back-to-back conventions has resulted in being walloped by Con Crud of the highest order, so unfortunately, I'm rather delayed in projects I've had on the table. I do have a handful of commissions from these recent conventions to complete, so, I'm hoping that marathoning tea, soup, and sleep will help me get back on track as soon as possible.

That said, my next personal project I hope to post is the progress post of The Eastern Star:




Please let me know if you'd like to see the progress post of the above piece as I work on it!


Near Future

The Near Future sees a break in to-attend conventions until mid-October (I think.)

I hope to have more art projects to post in the meantime, along with still working on logistics for the 2012 Sketch-A-Day Sketchbook Kickstarter project people seemed excited about a few months ago. I do hope the enthusiasm for this project can be maintained and spread to the point of funding the book, as I'd love to have a published book of my art/sketches.

Please let me know if you're still interested in seeing the Sketchbook project come to life!

If you enjoy seeing posts of new or in-progress artwork, please consider a donation.

Become a patron of the arts!

Feel free to post links to this journal/community if you feel there might be interest in my artwork!