Sept Goal Wrap Up

So at first glance my goals for September didn’t go so well.  But I think it was more of a matter of changing priorities and focus, as opposed to slacking off. I’m ok with that.

1.  Make a list of all the reasons marketing is fun. I made a list.  I should post it here so you guys can add to it.

2. Finish drawing Fall Mailer and send it off to get printed. Ergh.  This one did fall by the wayside and now I’m seriously behind.  Not good.

3.  Get a wholesale account for Magnetic Kids. Still working on it.

4.  Make a list of blogs, and then contact 3 each week for both Magnetic Kids, and Other Such Things shop. This felt like to much to bite off in the end.  I did make a list, but contacting three a week is too much for me right now.

5. Be brave and buy an expensive printer.  It will be worth it. Nope.

6.  Use said printer and put some prints in Other Such Things!  Nope.

7.  Make a letter mobile.  Or two. List in Other Such Things shop.  Nope.

8.  Research holiday guides. I did a bit of research.

9.  Go. to. the. beach. Yes and it was lovely!

10.  Get a dog.  yup, I dare me. We are working on it!

10. Think about updating portfolio site. Have some more changes to make, but did make some serious headway on this one.

Anyhow I’ve decided to really focus on pursuing children’s illustration.  So I’m going to work on my networking skills to get some advice.  I want to start contacting book publishers as well as magazines.  I’m hoping the book workshop will be helpful will all of this.

I think this means not selling prints for right now.  Maybe I’ll change my mind, but it seems like too much at the moment.  So that fancy new printer will have to wait.  Sad.

But it does mean updating my site with new kid’s work. I’ve been working on a few new pieces, and I just finished up an illustration for Time Out NY Kids.  Exciting!  And perfect timing.

Btw, the photo above is a plaque on a historic house in Wickford, RI.   I love the colors and the little icon above the name.  Providence doesn’t have any icons on it’s historic plaques…

“Easy Udon Miso Soup” sketch

Drawing has been so fun lately.  Sometimes it feels very hard, but this little lady was such a breeze.

Now I’m working on coloring.

Yum.

Walking around.

As you might have guessed from previous musings, we have been debating moving to a new neighborhood? apartment? house?  the country??  Things were getting a bit desperate because of a pretty awful neighbor situation.  But they are gone and our new building mates seem lovely.  So perhaps we’ll stay put for a while…?  And maybe being happier in our space will let us enjoy our little neighborhood a bit more.   I know it has a lot to offer.  But sadly we weren’t in any mood to give it a chance.

Well, the other day we took a walk to pick up some wine.  We wound through the park, and then through the little streets with cute houses.  We stopped for ice coffees and a cookie on the way back.  It made me love our neighborhood.

I guess I forget how important walking to me is.  It makes me feel connected to where I live.  Well, I don’t forget really, its just that I don’t walk all that much.  And I’ve been thinking about why not.

Providence is a different walking experience than we’re used to.  It’s not that things are far away.  They’re pretty close by.  Perhaps a mile or two.  Which is nothing compared to daily walks we made in Brooklyn.  I’ve finally realized it’s that there’s nothing in between.  Which is really different.  In every Brooklyn neighborhood I’ve lived in you pass a zillion little places in between here and there.  Even if the “there” is just a few doors down.  Here you pass maybe one store if you go down the right street, but the rest is a bunch of houses, or maybe a gas station.  I have no idea why this matters.  Less options?  Less things to look at?  –So why bother walking?

Anyhow I suspect once we get a dog our relationship to our neighborhood will change drastically.  We will have a reason to walk down long streets that are leafy and pretty and not much else.  We will have a reason to walk over the ugly highway into downtown.   We will have to walk.  I’m looking forward to it.

Pup please find us soon.

Art Show

A few weekends ago I participated in an art show at the boathouse where I row. And I forgot to take pictures.  Which is ridiculous, but basically my M.O. lately.  Darn.  However these are a couple of the images I displayed.  They’re pen and ink, with collaged bits of vintage paper.  And the one above has some water color as well.

It was a small, pretty low key show of the boathouse member’s, ie rower’s, work.  Who knew I was in such good company?  Apparently, a lot of artists row in the Seekonk!  Anyhow it was a gorgeous evening on the river and everyone seemed to have a great time.  Thanks to my parents and friends who came out.

Here’s an, unfortunately incomplete, list of the artists who showed:

• www.sharoncutts.com
• www.margiebutlerart.com
• www.blgreenart.com
• www.iragarber.com/projects
• www.wendyllbrown.com

As I row at 5 am these days, it was especially nice to connect with other rowers. Besides my team, there are only a few other people crazy enough to be up at that time.  And several people pointed out that it was fun to see teammates in their “regular” clothes, perhaps looking a little nicer than usual.  –No one cares much about looking nice pre sunrise.

Weekend Away

Recipe for Perfect Martha’s Vineyard Evening:

1. Kayak 40 minutes to the next town over and pull your boat up on some nice person’s backyard/ handy beach.

2.  Take the short cut to the Menemsha Fish Market.

3.  Eat your newly purchased chowder and raw clams on the pier out back, legs swinging, overlooking the fishermen hauling in lobster.

4.  Carefully pack your fish for dinner into the kayak.  Plastic bags and ice recommended.

5. Kayak home as the wind picks up.

6. Steam up some corn on the cob, set the table, light some candles, sear the tuna.

7.  Tuck in.

8.  Thank your lucky stars you have an aunt who happily welcomes visitors.

Falling Leaves 09: Picture Books Master Class

I was accepted into a picture book workshop! –the Falling Leaves 2009 Picture Books Master Class, run by the Eastern New York chapter of the Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.  Gosh, that’s a mouthful.

It’s a November weekend in the Adirondacks filled with group critiques and lectures and individual meetings with children’s editors.   I’m pretty excited about it.  I’ve been working on this book proposal for what feels like forever now, and hopefully I’ll get some useful feedback.

Now I just have to make it to November.

If you’ve attended previously, or have any insights regarding attending such workshops, I’d love hear about it.

Pikaland: “Good To Know” issue #5

Pikaland is a blog about all things illustration and, not surprisingly, it’s one of my favorites.  It’s founder Amy says:

Pikaland is a blog about living the illustrated life — an art and illustration blog that’s a collection of beautiful things and inspirations that I stumble upon on the internet that’s made/designed by illustrators and artists, and is updated almost daily.

She also organizes the PikaPackage project (a fun promo and marketing tool containing a bundle of prints, limited editions and other goodies from artists and illustrators, that’s for sale seasonally,) and the Good to Know project— “a zine filled with advice + inspiration from illustrators, artists and designers.”

Right now the 5th issue of Good to Know is available in print and in download form, and explores the topic of Art School:  ”Do you think that artists need to have degrees/qualifications from art school in order to be one? Did you study art? Does it matter?”

Always helpful and gorgeous to boot, get yours here!

Ooh almost forgot the giveaway: ” 2 random winners will win a copy of the zine when they leave a comment at the blog.”

Spidery Tattoo Dress

Have you seen this dress by Alexander McQueen?

Photo from Style.com

Perhaps on Drew Barrymore?

Photo from JustJared blog.

I am in love with it.

Photo from FadedYouth blog.

It’s amazing.

Photo from JustJared blog.

Oh spidery lace tattoo dress I wish you were mine…

Maybe a bit odd, but it’s hard to be away from New York today.

Double Birthday…

Happy late birthday to my sister Faith, and her husband Bruno!  We filled Saturday night with beers, a projected soccer game, grilled steaks, and a rainbow cake!

Unfortunately, in the excitement, only a couple of our photos really came out… But check out those rainbow stripes!

edit: oops!  I meant to include the recipe I used.  A quick search resulted in many recipes, some more free-form, but the most gorgeous one and our inspiration is from Whisk Kid.  We accidentally had to skimp on the frosting, but she knocks hers outta the park…