Ode To The Purple Coneflower

Come into the garden for a moment and enjoy the complex, yet simple beauty of a beloved heirloom flower. Lose yourself in the majestic, towering stems, the satin-soft petals and the geometrically fascinating seed heads. Appreciate for just a moment something beyond the scope of your normal day and when you leave, take with you a renewed desire to slow down and enjoy every little moment.

I am somewhat obsessed with this flower and have been both drawing it and painting it in different ways for many years. This is my first representation of it in a digital artform. I also grow the flower at home, in my garden and look forward to it's return every year, as it produces somewhat of an explosion of blossoms that last for months with little care required. I love the vibrant petal colors, which range from hot pink to pale lavender, the intricite ways they curve and curl around one another, and have always imagined the flowers coming alive as dancing ballerinas in the night. With this art piece, I hoped to catch a snapshot of midsummer favorite in a modern, yet timeles way.

A Trip Down Childhood Lane...

Isn't this how everyone remembers the neighborhood where they grew up? Houses decorated in bright floral fabric patterns, pink-trimmed trees, huge blooming flowers everywhere and inviting front porches which led to doors that were never locked. And of course all our friends were always waiting in their backyards where we would spend whole summer days in another world, occassionally refreshed by a glass of mom-provided iced lemonade.

Well, if that' not how it actually happened, it sure is fun to pretend that it did, isn't it? With this watercolor and ink illustration, I hoped to capture some of that imagination that ran wild in me when I was a child and to convey a feeling of carefree, endless playtime. Childhoold goes by so fast, but when you look at this piece, you can get a little of it back again, if only for a few moments.

A Happy Day in Summer

This is part 2 in my Happy Day series for children. One of my favorite books of all time, is The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton, which fantastically illustrates the changing seasons. Although, my artistic style is quite different, I have always held a child-like fascination with the wonders that each new season brings. With my Happy Day art prints, I hope to highlight some of my favorite things and rekindle that spark of simple delight in others. What better way to celebrate summer, than with a garden of dandelions and a fluttering butterfly?

Lessons from Bookmarks: Breathe Deeply of Sunshine

Just think about exactly what that means . . . On that first really warm, sunny day coming out of long and dreary winter (like today!), it is SO rejuvenating to just step outside, close your eyes with your face to the sun, and breeeeeeathe in. Try it. You'll like it.

Orange Love

And now, the culmination of my 21-sketches brainstorming session on oranges (see 2 posts ago). I really do love everything Orange: the color, the fruit, the taste, the smell. So, appropriately titled, I think. This one has actually sparked an idea for a whole new kitchen re-design . . . someday.

How Many Oranges Does it Take to Turn on a Light Bulb?

Apparently a lot, in this case. I counted 21 individual oranges or slices sketched (not including the 2 page thumbs at the bottom) before I tore the page out of my sketchbook to scan in. Why am I doing this, you ask? Well, I have this inkling of an idea, a vague sort of blurry vision bouncing around in my brain for a digital design depicting fruit - specifically oranges - and this is how I am trying to "spark" that idea into igniting. If that makes absolutely no sense, I'm sorry, but all I can say is that artists are weird like that and we all seek inspiration in different ways. In my case, I already know what I want to do with this piece - I just don't know how.

I want to create something that is both pleasing to look at and represents a certain level of artistic skill, but that hasn't been done before. I researched "modern fruit art" the other day and I honestly didn't find much that was illustrated in the same "style" I'm going for, but I also didn't get many good sources either.

A source is not to be confused with copying. A source is something that sparks you brain into "art-mode" and you end up creating a piece of art influenced in part by it, yet totally different. Still, as I said, I am finding a shortage of sources for this piece I want to create, so it's up to me to sketch my heart out until I find a design that I want to run with. I would do this anyway, even if I did have lots of sources; but in this case it simply means that the creative process is a little bit harder because I have to try to draw pictures in my head based on past memories and other stored information. It's not impossible and not unpleasant, but it does take a little longer, which in cases like this, often leaves us artists staring at a blank page for quite some time before a sketchable idea takes form.

The first night I attempted to brainstorm, I only sketched about 5 different orange styles before I ran out of ideas. But overnight, my brain, once primed, started conjuring up new images and by the second night I had all of the different styles, shown above, down on paper. As I was sitting there trying to decide which one would work best, I suddenly realized that the entire sketchbook page had kind of an interesting look to it. Like some sort of funky wallpaper (minus the written notes). I still don't know exactly how I'm going to proceed with this design, but I hope you enjoyed this cutaway of the inner workings of my brain. Now it's back to work for me!

Sketchbook - check, Idea File - check, Paint & Paper - check, Caffeine???

So, I came up with this idea that there MUST be some correlation between how an artist drinks their coffee and the type of art they produce (since, logically, one's artwork is an extension of one's personality). But I couldn't prove it, so I decided to do a little survey. The results were as varied as the artists themselves who participated, but I did get an interesting window into one essential part of their lives. They all like coffee - a lot. Well, OK, some people prefer tea, but they are just as particular about it.

I, myself, drink at least 2 cups a day, heavily creamed and honeyed with a touch of cinnamon, and I prefer to enjoy it, slowly, with both palms wrapped around a warm, heavy mug. But, hey, if styrofoam's the only option available I won't complain, if I'm in need of a little pick-me-up. And for me, just inhaling deeply of the fragrant aroma before I even take a sip, is a pleasure unto itself.

What does that have to do with my personality and my artwork, you ask? Well, perhaps nothing. But I DO know that that kind of coffee is considered "girl coffee" and I am definitely a girly-girl. I like to dress in bright colors and florals, I love nature and beautiful surroundings and I believe my artwork reflects this part of my personality. Sometimes, I find myself just staring into my coffee mug, enjoying that quiet moment, tucked under an afghan on my couch in my beautiful living room, and I think "what a lovely picture this makes".

But that's just me. Here are some of the coffee preferences I gathered from my survey of artists, matched with the type of art they produce:

• Black with sugar: exotic-style jewelry with a devilish twist

• Straight black: unusual painted sculptures made from everyday objects

• Will take it anyway she can get it: delicate charm jewelry, featuring lots of flowers and hearts

• With sugar and cream: bright colored, comedic art

• Triple espresso with light cream and lots of honey: delicate beaded hair jewelry

• Black: funky graphic designs

Maybe I'm just reaching, but I do kind of think I can "see" some connections here. Or maybe I'm just making them up. But I thought it'd be fun to do this little experiment and it was. Mmmmmm I want some coffee NOW!

When A Project Goes Bad

"For what do we live, but to make sport for our neighbors, and laugh at them in our turn?", Mr. Bennet in Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen

Truly, sometimes the best response to any of life's less-than-stellar moments (or in this case, accomplishments) is to laugh, thereby gaining the most useful thing we can out of it, since laughter is good for us.

I took up this project several months ago when I thought I'd like to try my hand at collage (I'm the kind of person who can't resist chasing every rabbit off the beaten path). I had a "vision" of sorts in my head, then I roughly sketched out a design and then I just started cutting and pasting and painting, thinking the piece would take form "naturally". But I didn't like how it looked finished the first time, or the second, or the third....And finally, I just rinsed my brushes out, let the piece dry and decided that "collage" is not for me. Not even for fun - so much do I hate this piece that I have created. It doesn't matter how long I have it turned against the wall, hoping that the next time I look at it with "fresh eyes" I will have a better appreciation for it. It is simply, without a doubt, the ugliest piece of art I have ever created and now there is nothing more I can do with it, but to laugh at myself and let a few others laugh at it as well. Now, I suppose, compared to something a pre-schooler might put together, it is relatively good, but it is just not good enough for me. I didn't even enjoy the process - I was frustrated the entire time. Lesson learned. Back to the beaten path for me - it is long enough and I will probably enjoy myself much more, if I just admire the scenery along the way, instead of getting lost in it.

Meet Lavinia

I just couldn't resist doing a little bragging today! I just finished this design today at 3am and I am so proud of it. To me it represents a new milestone on my journey as a digital artist - I feel I have embarked on an exciting new path with the style of this piece. When you are a relatively "new" artist and are working on developing your own style (one that you are totally in love with and that is also recognizable), you can definitely tell when that style begins to take form. I am very pleased with how this design turned out and feel a new creative energy spinning around inside my brain now. This is "Lavinia", the 1st in my "Shy Peacock" series for 2008. Look for her cousin, "Chloe", coming soon!

Why I Love Digital Art

I run into all sorts of interesting responses when I tell people that I specialize in "digital art", ranging from "What's that?" to "Oh, so the computer does all the work for you." I much prefer the former, because it gives me a chance to open someone's eyes to the wonderful world of graphic design as an art form. The latter response I usually just try to ignore, because anyone that will look down their nose at your craft without actually understanding anything about it, is usually so caught up in their own little world that they really only want to hear themselves talk. I'm not going to launch into a long schpeel about how intensive and detail- oriented digital art is, because it really doesn't matter (although I do have to point out, that it takes more skill than simply point-and-click, as is a wide mis-conception). But, since I do find myself so drawn to it, and am fascinated and inspired by many other talented digital artists, I wanted to take a moment (as much for myself as for others) to sing it's praises. I really have no idea what kind of a list I'll end up with, but usually the best way to figure yourself out is to start writing down all the thoughts in your head, so here goes:

• You don't have to clean up a bunch of messy paint after each session of "creating" and it doesn't smell funny. You can also wear your nice clothes, if you want to.
• The simplest sketch, can be turned into "art" with a little skill in tracing and an eye for color.
• Simple is good. Less is more. If you can evoke the proper response with a clean-cut image on a white background, there is nothing more that needs to be added.
• It is forgiving. If you don't like the way that line curves, or you want to move that object over there (or delete it altogether), you may do so to your hearts desire.
• It can be modified. Have a dream in the middle of the night for a whole new "look" for your original idea? No problem. Just save a new file and get started (the old one will still be there, if you decided to go back to your Plan A after all).
• Half the "fun" is in creating and putting together a collection of shapes, object, lines and colors that by themselves had no meaning until you came along and gave them new life.
• How many different ways are there to design an orange? Let's find out.
• Layers. Layers. Layers.
• Color. Color. Color.
• How many "stories" can be told with just one picture?
• The blending of reality and imagery - it is imagination brought to life.
• Sometimes all you want is a really cool pattern.
• Words can be art. Visual poetry.
• It's easily reproduced - bringing art to people all over the world, as efficiently as possible.
• The possibilities are endless.

Well, I think that about covers it for me. In the end, you just have to "feel it". Art is personal, and there are many different tastes and styles. I've chosen to embrace digital and I hope that many others will come to enjoy and appreciate it as the art form it is. It sure makes me happy.

Turning Ideas Into Assets

Ever been flipping through a magazine or just minding your own business somewhere and have one of those “mind bursts” where an awesome idea pops up and you just have to jot it down before you forget? That happens to me all the time and for years, I had notes in dozens of magazines scattered all over the house and drawings in various notebooks that might have or might not have been the main one in my purse at the time. And it seemed that every time I actually had some time and wanted to sit down at my craft desk to work on making a specific idea into real artwork, I could never find the original sketch or picture. It wasn't a big deal (just more of an annoyance) until I decided to go into business and I realized I needed a better plan for collecting and organizing my thoughts, since they would most likely turn into money-making artwork some day. I started to think of my ideas as valuable supplies that couldn't afford to be wasted, and in the few years I've been selling my artwork, I've developed a plan that (with a little tweaking from time to time) seems to be working.

• I have an “Idea” Binder. This is quite a behemouth of a binder, but it is really quite useful. I have divided it into several “categories” and in each of those I put page-protected sheets of blank paper with pictures I've cut out of magazines that fit the category. These pictures are not arranged any certain way and they tend to be cut out at odd angles and secured with 1 or 2 pieces of scotch tape (my pages wouldn't win any graphic design layout awards), but now whenever I get in a mood to create a certain type of artwork, I have only to flip to the category I want and browse through the pictures I've personally selected for instant inspiration. I collect these pictures, whether I have a specific idea in mind at the time or not, because if they stand out to me at all, I never know when I might need them at a later time and I don't want to have to go searching for “that one photo I remember from a magazine (not even sure which one) about 3 months ago.” I might have even tossed the magazine away by that time – Ouch!

• When do I have time to collect all these picures you are asking? There really is no set schedule, but I do try to have a pen or colored marker handy when I'm flipping through a new mag, so I can put a star by the pics I really like. Then, if I know the whole magazine is a keeper, I will write “KEEP” in big, bold letters on the cover, to remind me not to toss it when I do house cleaning. If I do decided to get rid of some piles of paper, I will usually briefly flip through the mags first and either cut out the highlighted pics first or just stack them on my desk to be dissected later. If I have time to cut, but not sort, I will tuck the new pics into the pocket of my binder and the next time I crack it open looking for ideas, I will take a few minutes to add the new pics into the appropriate categories.

• I carry a small sketchbook or notebook with me at all times. I work evenings at a hotel front desk and I keep my sketch book in my lunch tote so it is always handy if I have the time to flesh out a new idea while I'm at work. I usually have 1 or 2 newer magazines in there too for some visual backup. If I'm just out and about with my purse as company, I at least have a small notebook handy, so I don't miss out on any potential “mind bursts”. These notebooks frequently contain my grocery and to-do lists as well, but they are there when I need them. To keep all my personal sketches organized I have also added another section to the back of my Idea Binder, where I put all notes and drawings that didn't originate in my main sketchbook. Once it's time for a new sketchbook, I will usually tear out my “favorites” and add them to the binder as well. I should also add that I always sign and date my sketches, for future reference (I figure this might also come in handy if I ever have to deal with copyright issues).

I have found that anything I can do to keep my most important assets (my ideas) in one place, organized and easily-accessible saves huge amounts of time and lets me get right down to the business of creating – which is hard enough to find time to do as it is. Just thought I'd pass the word along.