Making a Poster! Make Art that Sells :)

This month in MATS Bootcamp, our assignment was to design a poster for 

Lilla Rogers' Global Art Gathering event in Brighton UK this summer.

We were encouraged to participate in a contest where the winner is paid and

has their design produced and used as the official poster and postcards for the event.

Here's the April Gallery if you'd like to see all the submissions! I'm on page 4 :)

I made some loose sketches and then just went for it, since I had some other 

projects to finish last week.

I stuck to my painterly, kid-centric style, which could limit my chance of winning.

The event is about creating commercially viable art, not solely for the kids' market.

but, you know ...

I've Gotta Be Me - Sammy Davis Jr

I Am What I Am - Shirley Bassey

I Yam What I Yam - Popeye  :D

I still look forward to trying some Skillshare classes to make more 

elegant, funky and/or fanciful lettering, but I think mine worked for 

the overall feel of my illustration. I wanted the Make Art that Sells to appear

as if it was drawn in the sand, but kinda tricky to do. 

Our brief included a color palette, dimensions and the essential information. 

I made my image too long and had to resize it in photoshop.

In the end, I think it actually helped to shorten it, but it sure is annoying 

when you realize your mistake.

Brighton - ice cream man in waders - photo by George W. Hales 1939

Of course, I went to Pinterest to see what Brighton is all about.

I really wish I could attend this event. I'm sure it will be fun and informative.

Plus, Brighton looks delightful!

Below - some of the reference I used for my piece. 

I love vintage travel posters, beach umbrellas and amusement park images.

My dog pays homage to this guy ;)

Pesaro would make a nice trip, too!

Have a great week!

xo, A

Art (and Pinterest) Appreciation Month

Hey! It's Art Appreciation Month! Did ya hear that, Art?

Pierre Bonnard

Today, I present you with-

a rather random sampling of art 

that makes me happy to look at over and over again.

I love paintings, photography, design, cover art, packaging, travel posters, 

children's books, old & new, vintage ads, clever stuff, funny stuff, you name it...

Basically, all things that have helped make Pinterest the hit that it is!

Here are links to a few of my boards, just in case you're curious - 

painters I love, more great art, contemporary art, photography, installation

great book covers and more...

Here - travel posters and fabulous vintage art & illustration

Daphne Padden

Daphne Padden

Mail art !

Horst Lemke

Hundertwasser

Jim Flora

Margaret Tarrant

Alice and Martin Provensen

Vintage children's books

Isabel Arsenault

Current  illustrators ... more

Kate Lewis

The number of images on Pinterest continues to astound me.

There are soooo many talented artists and creative people 

working today and many that I have only recently learned about.

The seemingly endless number of natural wonders in the world 

can strike total awe.

Ok, this is a joke, but Edourdo Noriega is a natural wonder ;)

With stunning architecture to admire, objects to drool over,

and beautiful and/or cool interiors to envy, it's like a guide on- 

.

The plethora of adorable animal photos and movie star pics is almost 

beyond comprehension!

Just how many images of Audrey Hepburn & Marilyn Monroe 

are there out there? 

but I digress, please appreciate for yourself....

Moholy-Nagy

a classic

Tom Friedman

Lisl Weil

Helen Frankenthaler

Stuart Davis

DeKooning

love this

Georges Menager

:::

I've had to limit my time on Pinterest and I promise I do not receive any kick backs 

from them. I am simply in awe. Sure, there's a lot of crap on there, too.

Women, stop dieting! just stop it.

I only regret that it will be impossible to travel to every destination 

I have pinned onto my Must Visit board!

But,  you never know...

Thanks for stopping by!

xo, A