EXCITING NEWS!

I just finished my first real

freelance illustration job!

Oh sure, I've been commissioned to do portraits and even some t-shirt design work, but I've never worked on a national publication before! I was contacted by Bluewater Productions to do the cover for one of their "Political Power" comic books and I am so psyched about the project!

I'm really pleased with how the piece came out and even more happy about the amount of time it took me to complete it. When I first got the call, I wasn't 100% sure that I'd could to finish it by Monday without pulling an all-nighter, but apparently I was underestimating myself! I slept well each night and still got it scanned in by Sunday afternoon.

I met the man from Bluewater while I was working as a booth babe at Wizard World 2010. We spoke about the possibility that I might illustrate the cover of another book in their Political Power series, but when I didn't hear from him for months I started to lose hope. A few weeks ago, I heard that the comic book we'd discussed would be hitting the shelves soon and I figured I wouldn't be hearing back from him.

Then I get this email, out of the blue, saying that he may have a job for me!

I had already planned out my weekend- Hang out with Tom, paint some eggs, silkscreen some geeky t-shirts to sell at the Collingswood Book Festival, meet up with the gallery owner I met at my last show and talk to him about selling giclée prints. I canceled all of that immediately as soon as I got the details. I locked myself in my studio all weekend long, with St. Thomas of Mitchell keeping me company. I'm extremely excited about the possibility of working more projects like this.

UPCOMING ART SHOWS:

I will be sharing a booth with Stormwatch Comics on October 2nd

from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm as part of the Collingswood Book Festival.

I plan on selling my comic book themed artwork there, so that means Julie Newmar portraits, comic book heroine pin ups, and the Avengers sketch covers with Black Widow as played by Scarlett Johansson. I'm also making some t-shirts just for the occasion. If you're in the area, stop by! It'll be a great time!

Also, the Barrington Harvest Festival is coming up.

I will be there on October 9th from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.

EGGS

So, it's almost 2:30 in the morning and I've finally stopped painting for the day.

I've started dreaming about them, so I'm officially hooked. There's just something really satisfying about finishing one and seeing it- all shiny and brightly colored. It appeals to the magpie in me.

I started painting eggs a few weeks ago when a Craigslist ad told me that a man in north Jersey would pay RIDICULOUS sums of money for them. Time went by and the job never actually materialized, but I fell in love with the intricate patterns and the calming sort of repetition that goes into making each one. Plus, I get to show my long-time love of mythical creatures.

I'm hoping to have a basket full to take to my next major art show, and I'm planning on making a few into Christmas ornaments for the holidays.

UPCOMING ART SHOWS:

Speaking of, I'll be taking part in the Barrington Harvest Festival

on October 9th from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm! VERY EXCITING!

Now it's time for me to get some sleep, because I can't see straight anymore and my shoulders have been replaced with lumpy rocks- but seeing those first three eggs sitting in the carton makes it totally worth it.

Collingswood and Portraits

I had a fantastic time at Collingswood's Second Saturday event! I sold enough artwork to make it worth packing up the car, made some connections with a local gallery owner, and then danced my butt off with Tom at the end of the night.

At the start of event, we noticed a band (Beyond Therapy) setting up directly across the street from us. At first I was nervous that they were going to be loud and obnoxious and that having them playing so close to my stand would make it impossible to conduct any business, but I was pleasantly surprised!

Some of the people I talked to at Collingswood expressed interest in my portraiture- so in order to clear out the queue, I've finished up the double portrait I'd been working on for Tom's sister and her husband.

Also, I've started painting eggs. For fun and possibly profit. More on this later.

Haddonfield and More

Haddonfield's First Friday was mildly successful- it's certainly promising enough for me to go back and do it again next month. It was the first time I'd done an outdoor art sale at night, which poses it's own set of unique challenges.

My boyfriend Tom is usually the one who helps me manage the booth at these types of shows, but since he was off visiting family for the majority of the night, my mother stepped in to pick up the slack. We sold a little bit of my work and got several offers for pet portraits. Next time I go, I'm bringing a bigger sign and chatting up anyone with a four-legged companion.

And, because I think it looks awesome to see the step-by-step transformation of a piece, I'm going to start posting animations of just that. This one is for Mary, Mother of God- a watercolor and ink piece I completed in 2009.