Make Art That Sells - Week 5

Last week concluded the Make Art That Sells e-course that I've been spending so much time on over the last five weeks.  I'm feeling sad that it's over, but have a renewed sense of love in my art making!  The final project was a personal one.  We were instructed to take one of our personal collections and create a hyper-lush zipper pouch for the gift market.  I'm a girl who loves collecting and arranging my treasured objects into little groupings, so this project was right up my alley!  After some debate, I chose to illustrate my vintage taxidermy collection (and add in a couple pieces I don't have yet... but hope to, someday).  I knew going into it that this personal project was not going to be as marketable in subject matter, but since Lilla said to make something for us, that WE enjoyed... I decided to just go for it!  Who knows, there are some awesome boutique companies that take more risks, so maybe there is a chance that this taxidermy pouch may someday find it's way into stores.  I played around with a color palette that I don't usually use, but was good for me to step outside of my color comfort zone!  It gave me a fresh perspective on a favorite subject matter.

Looking forward to taking part in the second half of the course (MATS B) next spring!

Make Art That Sells - Week 4

Just wrapped up week 4 of Make Art That Sells.  This past week, we focused on the Wall Art industry.  Our assignment was to create a collaged 'abstract' (with abstract taken loosely) piece of art, with text.  The color story was chosen through a list of given color pairings that coincided with our birth dates.  This was to narrow down our options and give us a focus.  Then, we began a scavenger hunt for found objects in our hues.  Clearly, my colors were orange and blue.  I didn't have to look far to gather a collection of interesting textures.  I have a bit of a hoarding obsession when it comes to vintage bits and bobs.  My biggest inspiration were from some old maps that I pulled from a school atlas that was falling apart.  I have an appreciation for maps, as my husband has amassed quite a collection of interesting ones from places that we've traveled to.  The maps I pulled gave me a sense of 'Wanderlust' and I decided to go with that feeling as a subject matter.  I just love traveling!  

I was quite intimidated by the 'abstract' part of the assignment.  Though I have formal art training... traditional abstract is not something I do well.  I'm just much more attracted to icons and more figurative imagery.  So, I added in the image of the explorer gal and gave her some over sized binoculars.  I couldn't help myself!  Though I'm unsure of whether the finished piece really fits in line with my normal style of art making, I like it!  There are so many techniques used in this piece (scanned textures, watercolors, vector art), that I think I can take away some aspects from it to inform future works.  

I also just came off a busy week, as I was in Cincinnati vending at Crafty Supermarket on Saturday.  It was a great show!  Another plus, was that it is probably the closest show we've ever done to home, so the drive and travel expenses were super reasonable.  Score!  I'm entering into another crazy couple of weeks, as Art Star Craft Bazaar is only a mere two weeks away.  I'm going to be a busy bee!

Make Art That Sells - Week 2 & 3

I'm more than halfway through the "Make Art That Sells" (Part A) e-course with Lilla Rogers, and I've got to say... the thought of it ending is making me blue!  I'm already looking to sign up for Part B next year!  It's proven to be an incredible class.  I'm so impressed by the talent and support of the community as well as Lilla's kind insight.  Week 2 and 3 covered the Home Decor Industry and illustrating for Children's Books.  

In week 2, I discovered that I really love designing for Home Decor.  It's definitely something I've always wanted to try my hand at, and now getting a taste of it with our assignment, I can't stop obsessing over the possibilities!  Home Decor encompasses ALL the decorative objects for one's home, both functional and non-functional!  Curtains, plate sets, bedding, the list goes on and on.  Our assignment was to create a set of ceramic plates with succulents as the main imagery.  I've always had a thing for quirky vintage ceramic planters.  I even keep a few on my desk to hold my essential crafting tools.  I imagined a fun selection of succulent planters and created pen and ink drawings of them to decorate the plates.  I spent way more time on this project than I had anticipated, but as Lilla reminds us each week, "People buy your joy."  It couldn't have been more true in this case.  My finished piece was even chosen by Lilla to review for the class critique.  She said it was quirky and engaging with great colors and phenomenal art.  Perfect for the Land of Nod customer.  I was so tickled by the sweet things she said!  Very much a piece I am proud to put into my portfolio. 

Week 3 covered Children's Books.  Though I initially thought this was an area I would enjoy and do well in, I finished the project feeling a bit iffy about it.  I'm not so sure  that my art is suited for this industry.  I like my characters and icons just fine, but I don't feel they are as strong when fashioned into story book art.  The assignment was to create a cover for the Aesop's fable "The Fox and The Crow."  I'm a huge fan of the BabyLit line of board books, so I envisioned it as a project for a company like theirs.  I mixed a limited color palette of flat graphics with felt leaves 'stitched' to the cover.  The style of art that can be used for this industry is almost a little too open ended that it overwhelms me.  I think this is a good thing to know about myself and how I work.  Through this course, I am discovering new things about my art every week!

I Hope everyone had a wonderful Easter (if you celebrate it) or at least enjoyed the gorgeous spring weather, like we were experiencing in Cleveland (if you don't!!)!  

Make Art That Sells - Week 1

Most of you only know me for the creature work I do for my 'Horrible Adorables' line.  What you may not know (though I post on and off about it) is that I also have a love for surface design.  I've been working as a freelancer for various toy and textile companies for the past five years.  Sometimes I make soft toy prototypes, sometimes repeat patterns that get molded into hard plastic... it really varies!  Something I would love to do is get more involved in the various design fields and license my art.  Maybe a line of Jordan Elise textiles are in my future???  

I was thrilled to find out about art agent extraordinaire, Lilla Rogers', online class "Make Art That Sells," and promptly signed up!  I've only been through my first week of the intensive five week course, but I'm already loving it!  Everyone is extremely encouraging and kind.  The environment sort of reminds me of my days as a fiber student, sitting around a table of ladies on major day, drinking chai tea and talking about feminism and how we can make the world a better place.  Yes, we were the free-spirited hippie types of our school ;)  

The first week was all about bolt fabric; something that comes a little more naturally to me.  Our subject of vintage kitchen ware with exotic fruits challenged me to move away from my normal cutesy critter designs (though as you can see in my name logo, I had to insert at least one silly beast).  I'm excited to learn more about how to immerse myself into the different industries, step outside of my comfort zone, and better understand my art style (something I struggle with from time to time).  FIngers crossed that this class can prepare me for exciting opportunities in the not so distant future!