Hello you!

Hello Love - painting/pattern I made for class

This Monday did not begin like my last 5, with a "mini" assignment 

from agent, Lilla Rogers. 

I miss it. 

For the past 5 weeks I've been taking MATS 3A, the online course 

Make Art That Sells - unabashedly bold, huh? 

Initially I felt a little funny tagging the phrase as I added some of my sketches 

and reference to Instagram. Like most things, you get over it.

I took this course because I'm a fan of many of Lilla's artists.

I would love to one day create art to license to manufacturers and companies

like Anthropologie, Blue Q, Land of Nod, Oopsy Daisy, 

Eeboo, Galison, Madison Park (ipop)...

the list goes on. I realize these are tough to get, but a girl's gotta dream.

My friends, Yuko Katakawa just completed part B of this class

and Melissa Iwai is currently in Bootcamp. Click links to learn more.

One thing I've learned, the world is FULL of TALENT.

What the heck is in the water in the UK and Netherlands?! 

Soooo many fabulous designers & illustrators.

:::

Lilla's positive energy and encouraging words, each week filled with 

industry insider interviews, plus the class itself, most of whom participate on the 

private Facebook page (sharing work, ideas, links, reference & support)

make for an addictive productive experience.

I created these gingham "zipper pouch" designs as incidentals. The top one, Hello Bear

accompanied my main piece for last week, which needed to be "Hyper Lush and Full". 

Gingham doesn't quite suite the assignment, on it's own at least. 

I created the one below today and I think it's pretty sweet. 

This is another pay off from class, creating lots of elements, 

those edited out can be used in some way later.

This chipmunk also went with my final presentation. 

Below is my final, Hyper-Lush or just plain weird? you be the judge ;)

I worked on this a long time, made numerous little paintings of select ceramic animals and flowers

((the mini had been to gather personal collections - find inspiration, then photograph, draw, scan))

 The main assignment was to create a Hyper Lush Zipper pouch. I own several by BLUE Q 

assumed this would be a breeze. Not really, I never think anything will be a breeze.

I may have put too much pressure on myself, but it was fun to see  

my little ceramic animals together in one place and put them to good use! 

Many I've collected myself and some were gifts. I have to hand it to

Melissa Zexter and Kristine Lombardi for understanding my aesthetic so well!

Thank you.

These are some of the rough sketches I made in my notebook.

T

This sketch of the Scooter Bears was ok, but I could not paint 

anything that came close to the awesomeness of the real thing. 

I wish I'd had time to put together a collaged version using my photos. 

I suppose I can still do that.

 I couldn't help wanting to paint each thing.

Some flowers for background, stripes didn't work out.

This little bunny didn't make the cut, either but I will find a place for her soon.

Below, my Hello Love painting without text. I created that separately.

I will definitely do something with it in my Society 6 shop and 

will look into licensing or producing some of my own tea towels, pillows, 

fabric, maybe a card or journal?

Who knows. I will make more similar, it was probably the most simple 

piece I did for class. I had made separate pieces to attempt some sort of collage,

week 4 was 'Wall Art' 

but that was enough of a fail that I won't even share it here :/

Alas, sad kitty expresses my feelings.

I'm practicing drawing animals with more expressions than

my current stock of happy and/or surprised :)

:: Back to the drawing board ::

Thanks for taking a look!

Feel free to contact me if you'd like to know more about the class. 

I learned a great deal, not just about habits to get ya going or

the effectiveness of deadlines, but about myself -

looking honestly at what needs improving, 

pushing myself to use or draw subject matter I might not have 

chosen myself, face insecurities & look at envy directly, whether of another 

person's skill level, creativity or the success they've experienced.

For instance, I will definitely keep in mind,

that if I see work or a product I wish I had created

and feel some jealousy creep in, to look at it as a sign of 

just how much I want that for myself. 

I'll try to embrace some of the positivity Lilla exudes,

believing that more is more, that people and

businesses want great work and there is room for everyone.

Almost everyone, you know.

A BIG thank you to Lilla and Beth Kempton for a wonderful experience.

:::

I'm now going to watch the last interview, 

it's with one of LR Studio's agents, Jennifer Nelson.

This and a glass of wine will be my reward for waiting all day 

for a fridge to be delivered. 

It never came.

 ! wtf !

* Update - fridge came and it works, hooray *

PS - if by chance you'd like to see how each piece is presented, visit 

my Flickr page (the 1st 5 are all from this class)

Love ya! Have a great week. xo, A

Random Monday musings

Still Life with Aliens, Liddle Kiddle and magic Gold nugget by Melissa S. 

Sleeping Lamb, photograph 1994 by Larry Gianettino

    Winnie the Pooh, Kanga, Piglet, Eeyore & Tigger - original toys given to Christopher Robin Milne between 1920-22

*Detail Cata Caquinho - oil painting by me

Basilica San Marco, Venice postcard presented by skunks

ps - I'm on Instagram

- Follow me -

It's not all cats, sorry Lena.

:: Have a great week ::

xo, A

Birthdays are FUN

* I recently had a birthday *

This gem was given to me by my friend, Melissa Zexter.

She's responsible for other fabulous finds like, 

Pastel Bears on Scooter

Shocked & Appalled  Lamb

and Cart-Pulling Poodle

Whaaaaaaaaaat?!?!!

That's right and now  Meeee-OW!

:::

What more could I ask for? 

and then,

I unwrapped this classic from my friend, Kristine Lombardi, Cannonball Simp!

If you've never read this, you should, if only to appreciate just how 

politically incorrect it is. 

I love John Burningham's illustrations. The story is funny and 

Simp is endearing. It's one of my favorites in Kristine's 

extensive vintage children's book collection and now I own it :D

:::

Tossed, literally, into a trash dump, this fat small dog with only a stump

for a tail is left to fend for herself.

Like so many survivors, she finds her way to the circus

and you guessed it, becomes a star!

:::

I received many lovely gifts this year and one is a bottle of red 

I'm about to open right now!

I met friends at The Jake Walk on Smith Street

in Brooklyn and enjoyed a really fun night with some of my favorite people!

The cocktails were tasty and our waitress couldn't have

been more accommodating whenever we needed an 

extra table or chair. I'll definitely go back.

:::

Fortunately, the start to the year was a positive one because

my 1st job of the year was in a cold dark dank

stage that wreaked of sewage and mold.

Our Union safety rep had some air purifiers added and, as usual, 

we got the job done. I value that can-do attitude in the 

film/commercial business, but at times you have to wonder ... 

Oh well, it feels good to sell more soda ;)

Sunday, I attended my 1st CBIG (children's book illustrators group) meeting.

We met in member, Ruth Karpes' lovely apartment on the upper east side.

Martha Rago, Creative Director 

at Harper Collins Children's Books, talked to us about 

the essentials, what makes 

a book stand out, what she looks 

for when acquiring a story and the artwork for it. 

She gave examples with strong Narrative like 

Where the Wild Things Are, the Gold Standard. 

Maurice Sendak's text and art are in total harmony. She also shared

soon to be classics like Peter McCarty's Henry in Love, 

Distinctive Character driven series like, Fancy Nancy 

and Pete the Cat, which was initially self published by

Eric Litwin and James Dean.

Emphasis on Composition & Design books like,

I just stumbled across this sweet animated short

of Bob Shea's Race You to Bed 

and Melissa Sweet's Balloons Over Broadway 

She spoke about Voice and Skill, stressing that your 

Technique should be impeccable! gulp

Martha also talked about Universality, 

what is it about a character that touches you?

and Concept, like Herve Tullet's 

Press Here, a why didn't I think of that book! 

and Suzy Lee's Wave, among others, which uses the gutter to full effect.

She also talked about humor and favorites like,

William Steig, Mo Willems, Lane Smith & Jon Klassen.

Of course, there are practical concerns we need 

to consider as we scratch & claw our way into the publishing world.

The number of new writer/illustrators Harper Collins

 takes on each year, drum roll please............ 

about 2 to 3.

 Martha was generous with her time and gave an informative enlightening talk.

It was a treat! and there were treats :)

I was hoping to have my portfolio critiqued by her, but alas

my name was not chosen in the lucky lottery held afterwards.

It was fun to see other people's work and I'm motivated 

to make mine stronger before the SCBWI Conference in February.

I've considered adding the category of 'Sketches' to my site,

so I was happy to hear that Martha enjoys looking at an illustrator's

studies. It's a fun way to gain insight into someone's thought process, 

see how characters are developed, etc.

So today, I added some of mine. Click Here to view :)

I'm sure I've shared most of the decent ones here on Blipadee, 

but I like having a bunch on one simple page.

:::

Btw, if you love children's books and haven't seen the 

Beatrix Potter exhibit at The Morgan Library, you still have time!

Twenty two of her private "Picture Letters" to children are on display,

as well as, original art, books, toys & games. 

It's a well done, incredibly charming show.

It closes January 27th.

photo courtesy Kristine Lombardi

Oh, and make sure to ask our friend, Monique 

about the secret stairway in the Library!

Thanks for stopping by :)

xo, A