Tear sheets

Sent tear sheets off to print, hope to pick them up tomorrow. Also want to link them as pdf as downloads. Haven't found a gadget that does it so will have to do it the old fashion html way.

Here it is

Fabric pattern design

I was at the shop today where my 5' x 7' large florals hang and realized now with my new found knowledge of digital painting techniques, I can bring my cluster series into patterns perfect for fabric or whatever else that requires patterns. With the limitless translucent layers and just found a tutorial on how to create drips digitally, I cannot wait to get my hands on the mouse. Planning to submit to the Spoonflower contests.

Once I get home from the children's hospital, and have rested enough, I will get on it. Little guy had a fever and problem breathing. After meds given, he is asleep on top of me so no complains.

scatter brain

I am now learning what digital painting is in Photoshop, how to customize brushes to get different affects. How to work in really short increment of time. Whenever I can get a few minutes in to work on my illustrations. To create many layers of transparent colours, like laying multicolours and shades of cellophane to create depth and texture. I am creating a style that looks like it can be drawn by a child but has a well thought out lay out.

Do what you love

I sent out a submission to a company in Chicago called Bloomin' Flower Cards. I am happy to have found them by going through the Greeting Cards, Gifts and Product section in the Artist's Market guide and photocopies the companies that might be interested in my work.

I have so many flower images so I hope they will find something in my samples they like.

I am still working on the submission package for the Cricket Magazine Group, they print kids magazines and I am starting with the younger audience.

I posted a new post on my astridfox-illustrator blog

I am continuing working on sketching and thumbnails in my sketchbook. Here is the next step to my boys on the couch.

Minimalism

I found some very minimal style of illustrations this morning which I have posted on my tumblr. I love the style and the look because it almost look so effortless but in reality, they have been planned and plotted out. That is the look I would love to achieve but I have a habit of over working it and therefore loosing the simplicity look of it all. When I do my character studies with my mechanical pencil and eraser, I get tight and try to make it all perfect. Then I get so afraid of wrecking it. That fear holds me back. I do think I will try to create the minimal looks I found with some of my drawings to see if I can get it this time.

Process

I have decided to revive this blog and use it explore my creative process. The process can be a very private aspect to share but I would like to be accountable.

About a week ago, I stumbled across the website for The Art Department, an amazing illustration school. I wish I could travel back to a time of unattachment living and attend it. We always want something else in life, but the best we can do is to make life work for us. As I am typing this, my one year old is digging in the boxes underneath my desk so I started to put in time, even minutes during my day for my art. While I was on the TAD site, I also found that they have short but very inspiring demos from the instructors. These instructors are very well known illustrators I had known about while I was in art school. So I watched a couple demos and got cracking. I realize that in order to get past my "artist block", I need to take it right back to the art school frame of mind. Instead of trying to produce finish pieces of work, I need to re-evaluate my process, step by step. I reviewed the elements of designs and realize that somewhere along my way, I had somehow forgotten about tone and value. I was so focused on line and shape from my love of the graphic look of printmaking. So I researched more illustrators and learned about their techniques and process. I quickly got over the awe I was in about how amazing these illustrators' work look and focused on the process. I have shift into a different gear in these short couple of weeks; I am in create mode again. All I have been thinking about is light source and shadow. I started sketching again and think my next step will be to set up a strong light source on a model, most likely my kids. I believe once I can see the light and shadow again, it will help me draw with more confidence. Reference! Which I will save for another blog entry.

Astridfox-illustrator blog

Just to let everyone know that I have started a new blog that is dedicated to my illustrations. Please visit me there

www. astridfox-illustrator.blogspot.com

Thanks for your interest.

Pencil, roller and ink

Picked up a 5B pencil today. Been awhile. Looked for heart references to sketch. Found more about the band who sang "barracuda" than the organ I wanted to draw. Want a bleeding heart in the center and floating roses in the background. Found my roller, printing ink, carving tools and a piece of glass. Trying to jump start the creative part of the brain. Drained out by caring for the baby. Missed the second trimester creative juice. Clearing out a work area where my 6 years old won't discover will be tricky too. Baby steps! Maybe I can start Saturday when the older one goes to grandma and the baby is sleeping.

Petit Roses

Cataloging Petit Roses series for Saatchionline.com
Interesting that I have to weigh them for shipping purpose too. This is the part that most artist drag to do; photographing, getting imaging ready for web. Not the fun part but unless you have an assistant, suck it up and do it. Think I might train my 7 years old to do it for a few bucks or cookies. Child labour you say? No I call it " labour of love". I love them, I work for them for free.
I go through Labour for them. They can do a bit of measuring for me.