The Odd Bird

While doing some research for an upcoming project, I happened upon this little weirdo, the Stork-billed Kingfisher.

I wanted to experiment with some cold press paper anyway, so I did a little painting.


The process reminded me why I use (and love) hot press paper, but it was also fun to pull out the gouache to save this painting. This little guy was surprisingly difficult to draw, since he doesn't even look very believable in photographs. I fudged the color on his neck to that he looks a little more unified, but the proportions are all correct.

Here's a link to more thoroughly weird photos, from a really excellent website, Surfbirds.com.

But what is the upcoming project, you wonder? For now I'm keeping it secret, but I'm hoping it will be ready by the end of the month.

PS: My Etsy store has been so lonely lately. Drop by and say hello to the postcards, prints, and original paintings, will you? (And tell me if there's other merch that should join them.)

Hold Your Applause

About six months ago, I was looking at apartments in Boston and spending a lot of time with fellow illustrator/recent grad Kate. We were talking about making portfolios and postcards and realized we were doing very similar self portraits to blow off steam. Constructing a lot of stuff that says, in a demure and subtle way, "I am so awesome you want to pay me lots of money to do all this for you" is stressful to me, so I drew a piece that said it explicitly. (Kate was painting herself as a saint.)



Actually, the piece includes a lot of what my work is about: anteaters, yes, but also bright color, pattern, a generally light mood, a healthy dose of cuteness, and stylized but accurate and researched anatomy.

Like I said, I thought of the composition in December, took about a month (and a lot of embarrassing reference photos) for the drawing (and one night to ink it), colored it, hated it, put it away for five months, and pulled it out today to finish it. I wanted to do this piece digitally since the beginning, but it's been a struggle to find a level of finish that isn't fully rendered or shaded but still shows all the forms I want it to. For now, I'm pretty happy with it, and hopefully it will kick off some rather breakneck portfolio building in the next few weeks.

Updates!

I've added some more prints to my Etsy shop. I still have some original paintings and I want to list my Spoonflower fabric as well, but that will have to wait a couple days. I can only list so many things on Etsy before I start making silly mistakes.

I also wanted to show off yet another aspect of my growing internet presence (ha!), my public profile over at Spoonflower: ta da!

I hate to make a post without images. Rest assured, I have a couple sheets of watercolor paper stapled to boards and drying on my floor. Assuming nothing unexpected gets in the way, I should have some new work to show off soon.

Happy May!

I had a great time at the Alumni Sale yesterday! All the preparing...


And staging the table in my studio before the show...


Really paid off (I think)!


(That's my table-mate, Kate, who also has a great blog and Etsy shop.)

Even though there was a tent over all the tables (it rained a little in the morning) a ton of people came to the sale, and as an added bonus, I returned home un-sunburned.

I've added the postcards, which made their debut at the sale, to my Etsy shop. I'm also working on an elegant way for people to order custom fabric (printed by Spoonflower) from me. I'll be adding that fabric and some new paintings to the shop this week, so keep an eye open. (And of course I'll announce it here, too!)

Live and in Person

This Saturday I will be half of table #59 at the RISD Alumni sale.

I'll be selling the stuff I offer in my Etsy store--prints and greeting cards--and some other goodies will be making a premier: awesome, awesome postcards, some original paintings at bargain prices, and fabric!

I've been preparing for the whole display and packaging and everything, and will post pictures of the set up after the event.

(If you can't make it to Providence, that's okay. I'll be listing the things that don't sell on my Etsy shop when I get home.)

The sale is from 10 to 4 this Saturday, May 2nd, on Benefit Street. I've been doing ceremonial dances to ensure that the weather continues to be as wonderful as it is right now.

Also, I finished a painting: (prints and the original will be, you guessed it, available this Saturday.)



This is based on a Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale called The Elderflower Witch, although I took some liberties, mainly removing a character and changing the appearance of the witch from an older Norwegian. Consider this the beginning of my campaign to quit drawing pale, skinny brunettes (except for actual self portraits, of course) and introduce a little diversity into my work.

I Dedicate this to Mr. Taxman

I have new work to show, but first, an extremely compelling answer to the question, "Where have I been for five weeks?"

Where I started:


Where I ended:


This year, I did my taxes by myself, for the first time, start to finish. My Dad gave me a big maroon binder, recommended Turbo Tax, and answered my (occasionally panicked) questions. Today I mailed off five envelopes and a lot of money, and I feel great. The best part is that as a freelancer, I'll pay my taxes quarterly from now on, so the task will never be this insurmountable again. Never mind that I'll have to do this four times as often.

To celebrate my mathematical triumph and in an effort to revive my limping checking account, I've stocked my Etsy store with a fine selection of prints, including two Brand New Pieces. (I'll blog about these later this week, including the exclusive location where I'll be selling the originals, but for now, visit my Etsy store

Me and Totoro

The other day I realized it had been a while since I had painted anything. I took a few hours and did this.



If you haven't seen My Neighbor Totoro, I would set aside the time to do so immediately. Also, I am truly terrible at chess.

On a related note, I made this last summer:


I'm hoping to find some cheap bulky yarn and make a larger one someday soon.