Busy werkin...workin, wreken...blah..you know...

So I have been somewhat busy doing some pet portraits, and I have finally been hit by some creative juices that I have to narrow down what I am working on now so that I can get these ideas out into clay and other forms of expression. It has been hard trying to get my creative juices flowing as I have started working a "real" job to get some money flow coming in too due to me and my boyfriend trying to buy a home.  Which in of itself as anyone knows who has bought a house is a very stressful, and at times enraging task to take on. Though throwing thousands of dollars away on renting a house seems so asinine to us that the very thought of doing it for another year is weighing heavy on my shoulders, and I find myself getting nauseous at the thought of literally throwing money down the toilet. Time to really become the foundation that is apart of being an adult and bringing some value to my worldly possessions and equity. (you know what I mean) So that has occupied a lot of my time thus far in the past two months.


My meager efforts trying to become an artist, or what I think is a "working artist" has lead me to this point. Sort of a crossroads on how to move on in so many directions yet keep some sort of semblance of an over all goal in mind. Which is hard considering I honestly cant picture where that will lead me, I can imagine where I want it to be, and how grand of work I want to create, but it doesn't mean I will get to what I picture in my head. I mean honestly...do we ever reach that image we see in front of us? Its always sort of skewed isnt it? Like how you pictured yourself to be as an adult when you were like 10 or 11, yet doing it now as an actual adult you sort of project these jaded perceptions of it and its not ever as pretty as you imagined it when you were at that younger tender and self forgiving age.  I dont always think I am as talented or skilled as a lot of the truly talented people I went to art school with, or even people I admire. The world wide web has opened so many doors for me to peer into and see what is out there and it has made life more intimidating for me, but still eager to become apart of it somehow. In lieu of all that....I am moving on this sojourn and hopefully bring some better work to light, and maybe...just maybe be proud of where my hands and head are taking me. I may not be worthy of it now, or praise for that matter, but taking the leap and effort to do it I know is still better than wishing I had.

Here is some recent pet portrait work for you to admire.....hopefully.

Let the Sculpting Begin....

OK...so the small surprise I was eluding to (thats honestly only really exciting to me)  in the last post...well ...We did go and get it!!! YEAY! I am now the proud owner of a kiln! So I can start sculpting once again like I did back in the day...and by back in the day I mean 1993-1997...so its been a while since I did ceramics...but I was pretty good at it, but was told by a ceramics professor when I went to governors school for the arts my junior year of high school that its hard to make money in it, and set my sights on art school, but concentrate on illustration or design...seriously thats what he said...and since he was a professor at Temple, I took him very seriously, and it stuck with me all through college..though I did take some ceramics classes my sophomore and junior year...but honestly just for fun mainly. I miss it quite honestly and want to see if I am any better at that than I am at painting...and honestly...I am struggling with my painting I feel. It doesn't excite me like it once did...and lets be real...Im not very good at it. I can copy things I see...but I am lacking in inspiration when it comes down to painting something. I dont know if this is just an internal flaw that will work itself out in time as I have only been getting back into doing art work for almost a year...pretty much only 9 months now....maybe I will get more inspired the more work I do...I have been away from concentrating on it for so long it will probably take a lot of time to rekindle those receptors in my brain...I mean when I was younger I became so inspired so easily, just looking at something, taking a walk...poof things just hit my imagination....

....I am going to have to really explore my inspiration and how I can trigger it now or find what excites me...and honestly when we have gone to the Carnegie Mellon Art Museum, or the Cleveland Art museum...the sculpture and pottery and ceramics moved me and suck me in more than anything. So we went and bought a used one from a really nice girl on craigslist....and went to Home Depot and got the proper plugs, wires etc....to set it up. I found a good place online to get clay and some really great glazes...and I am starting to do the research on how to run this kiln as well. So here is to a new adventure, and hopefully new and wonderful inspirations to come.....wish me luck!

Long time no post....

So yea...sorry its been a while...I have been really busy art makin though! So that's a good thing eh? Had a bunch of commissions over the Holiday season...didn't get a ton of feedback on my Etsy page though...not sure if its either one...people don't know how to leave or don't know that they can leave feedback...or they didn't like my work? I dono...odd. Anywho...working on a big commission currently! Doing a portrait of a gentleman's dogs...two cute Shar Pei dogs to be exact. Its quite large too....13x19 inches...so its taking some time but its turning out great! I also have kept up with http://almalusplaceblog.com...and still doing fashion illustrations for that talented designer! I also have some possible exciting news....but I wont know for sure if I can expand on that till after tomorrow....it will lead into the development of new work...and its not the drawing or painting kind either....so you will have to wait on that...not that there is too many of YOU out there...I think only 1 or two people ever look at this blog...but eh...I will try to keep up with it much better....and show more of my work....until then...here are some fashion illustrations I have done for Almalus Place in the past weeks...enjoy!

Busy busy Art makin season....

Well I know updating the past few months have been few and far between but I have been busy making things for customers...yes CUSTOMERS! ....and I couldn't be more elated! Its been a unique experience so far....pet portraits are the go to for my main customers, but I have been asked to draw a plane belonging to a beloved father who restored it and had to sell it....I have also done some interesting combination illustrations of pets...also I have been BUSY making presents for my own family and friends...drawings, plush animals...etc...it goes on and on...and I hope everyone loves all the things I have made.

 I have also kept up with making fashion illustrations for Alessandra Aghilar and her website Almalu's Place. Again I cant say enough about this fine ladies taste in fashion and design. She posts amazing party recipes too! She is simply brilliant! So just to keep you all up to par as to what I have been drawing...here is a pet portrait, and some of the fashion illustrations I have done thus far....this however is only a tiny fraction of what I have been up to.  So I hope you all are enjoying the holiday season! And you know create something instead of buying....it means so much more to the receiver! 

Fashion smashion and furry mugs....

Gosh...where to begin? Still working on the things in my etsy shop...and added a few items to the list of services/products I sell, and they are pet portraiture...something I have always been good at and always enjoyed...I love offering this to people for my passion for animals and well, its just nice to see how much people adore and want keep sakes of their furry children. So check out my page if you are interested in wanting such services done for either yourself or as a present for the up coming Holiday season. Great gift for someone who is a animal fanatic or obsessed with their own pets. Here are my wares...  http://www.etsy.com/shop/Rabbitinthewindow


Also still continuing doing fashion illustrations for that Amazing Italian Design Blogger Alessandra Aghilar at her page here .... http://almalusplaceblog.com/

Her design, party, food, wedding and fashion ideas floor me every day! She has such a knack for color and design its amazing. Not like any American designers I know. Its fresh, colorful, modern and oh so classy! Just even down to the details of decor on the straws and the little touches of personal style on things is so interesting and dare I say it again...CLASSY! So if you ever want ideas on throwing a truly fashionable and fun party, or just want ideas on favors or clothes for a fun day with friends certainly check her out.


 Below are a sample of one of my animal portraits, one with the photo I used as reference and the actual finished illustration. Also are a few of the fashion illustrations I have done for Almalus Place. Enjoy!

Busy busy...and then some...

I know it has been some time...I have been busy with selling things in my shop...I made a few more masks, and sold a few more other Halloween-esque things....so on that front things are going really well.

 Moving forward I have encountered a new endeavor starting at the end of this month. I will be collaborating with a brilliant Designer out of Bologna, Italy on her blog page. Her name is Alessandra Aghilar, and she is so talented I am very honored to be working with her and doing illustrations for her page. Here is the link to her page below.

http://almalusplaceblog.com/

I am very excited for this, and I also designed a logo for this occasion so I can be linked from her page and I believe it is very fitting. So be on the look out for those developments at the end of October. I am looking forward to it! 

 

Fall brings on the masks...

So I have been busy in the studio...though selling some things in my store for the first time! Very exciting...so I am adding to my inventory...I am making some Halloween masks....some paper mache ones for some added adult items in my offerings....trying to make them look somewhat old fashioned and fun...still working in the studio on my painting though....I just need to update the photos on that ongoing work as well....I also received some good news this weekend...two of my pieces will be featured in our local Wine Festival art show...which will be some GREAT exposure for me...hopefully that generates some custom work...finally someone has deemed my art worthy of being viewed publicly which is nice...considering this is an UBER conservative area and most people only like paintings/photos of landscapes, grape fields and the lighthouses on Lake Erie....so its nice to see that I can find a venue for it locally....pretty stoked about that....so here are some images of my new masks that I will be selling in my Etsy shop.....oh..and here is the shop itself...http://www.etsy.com/shop/Rabbitinthewindow