My world is crumbling

The power outage two nights ago left our server storage unmountable. Does that mean all my work is gone? At first all I could think of was my more recent work; my children's illustrations, my surface pattern designs. Then I realized I have work from 10 years ago in that storage. I tried to convince myself that this is an opportunity for me to let it go, start FRESH. On top of that, one of the sites I have posted many of my work up has closed. One less place I could have an archive of my work online.  Then I thought about the photos, photos of my younger days, of children, my memories. I tried to convince myself the most important things, people, is in front of me. I don't need photos to remind me of my past. I have my lovely family right in front of me. But. I am sad, so sad that I couldn't even work on my art in my sketchbook without thinking of all the stuff in that storage, let along start another new on the computer. I have the fear that everything in the storage is really all gone, then I got even a bit more sad when I heard Etta James died today.  Hoping for a better tomorrow.

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.