Don't Forget The Logo

I was talking to my friend this evening and she brought up that one of my pieces could be used for someones logo. Well, it got me thinking about the many logos I've done in the past, including a few recently that I had never posted. I tend to separate graphic work and illustrative/painting work and forget to include the graphic work here on the blog. Eventually, I'll get it all on the website as my full portfolio, but hey, I can note it here, too! The Ashlee Nicole Photography logo, I just completed recently and she loved it. She accepted the very first proof....I love it when that happens! Wing City Grille was the same way, as well as a few others. It's a great feeling when a client gives you basic input on what they're looking for, and after listening closely, you create something that they love the moment they see it. It doesn't always happen that way, but it's great when it does! It's time to get back to some painting....till next time.

Bee Happy!

Finished the bee pendant, no catastrophe with the resin and the client really liked the final piece....all is good! I will admit though, I held my breathe with the resin.....probably lifted the cup that I use to protect it while it cures, at least 25 times. Whew! Bee Happy! :) I am also pretty happy with the packaging card that I created to use for the pendants. I have some other pendants under way, as well as some other paintings, too. Slowly but surely, my inventory is growing. I have waited for so long to be in a place where I could paint and create, every day, all day and it's glorious! Thank you Jesus!!! I prayed for God's will in my life for a while now and then all heck broke loose! Be careful what you pray for!!! It can often be scary at first because your life as you know it can be radically changed. Can't wait to see what happens next! School will be ending pretty soon and the kids will have a few activities here and there for summer vacation, but otherwise, they will be here with me while I work....Egad! There will certainly be a lot to juggle. No problem, I am woman...

Sea Of Fun

Busy, Busy, Busy! Love it when I'm busy. So much has been accomplished since last post. The biggest thing, I think, is that I just bought an unbelievable new printer to print my work with. I have been doing a lot of research trying to find the right professional printer that, first, I could afford and, second, was still going to give me the quality needed for the necessary archival needs. I certainly am not going to have happy customers if my prints start fading over time! Well, I found the printer and it is remarkable! The HP Photosmart Pro B8850, large format photo printer. It uses the Vivera HP pigment inks that are engineered to resist fading for over 100 years! It uses 8 ink cartridges and produces AMAZING colors. I am so pleased with it. Can't wait to get everything scanned, printed and ready to go. Yippee! Working on a lot of artwork too. Some good, some not so good. Had someone that wanted a pendant for his wife for Mothers Day, finished it on Friday, Saturday put the resin on, checked on it later that day and it looked like goop! Not sure what happened but it totally ruined the entire piece. Sunday was Mothers Day and I couldn't fix the piece in time. Will be re-painting the piece and try to get it to him ASAP and I am so glad he understood. Sometimes, these things happen, but hate it when it does! I also finished this colorful watercolor that I had started and I have to say, watercolors are soooo great to work with. I just love them. You don't have to have a lot of 'set-up' which is so great when life is busy. This one was so much fun to do and the kids really wanted to watch the progress, which was nice. Have a few more that I should be finishing soon and will post when done. Well, onto more painting....till next time....

Every Day Is Earth Day!

What a beautiful day it is here in Florida. Would be a shame for anyone to have to spend it indoors! Today being Earth Day brings to mind further what a shame it would be if our children could not enjoy nature and our world as we know it now. It's ever changing, and not for the good! The kids and I have been working hard as a family on little things that can help our world for some time now. Everything from recycling, using re-usable bags for shopping, turning off and unplugging appliances when not in use, exchanging the old light bulbs with the new energy efficient ones (can be costly so we do a couple at a time instead of all at once), and many other things, as we can. We spend a lot of our playtime/weekends outside enjoying nature and they are so in love with the trees, the waters, the bugs, the animals, all that is outside, just as I do! What a blessing. The old Native American proverb is so true..."We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we BORROW it from our children". I used this quote in one of my ACEO cards and would like to use it again. I'm not sure if I like how it turned out, so I will probably do another and focus on the lettering a bit more. Happy Earth Day everyone, and remember....EVERY DAY IS EARTH DAY!

Spring Break and ACEO Addictions

I feel like it's been an eternity again since my last post...although I think about posting constantly! Welcome to the life of an independent/freelance artist-mom of 2 young children-Type A personality, woman! Whew! I have had so many projects going on, not to mention we just finished with our little Spring Break staycation of fun in the sun. The kids and I spent time at the beach a lot, doing some hiking, picnics, and just enjoying life together. Hannah was off from school for over a week so I put the computer away and the kids and I had our little vacation here....I mean, hey, we live in Florida....who needs to fly away somewhere when we live in vacation capital. Spent some time with friends, spent Easter with family, it was great!

I may have put the computer away, but I couldn't put the drawing and painting away! I wanted to do some smaller pieces that were not so cumbersome, so I could take them with me while watching the kids play, or during quiet times, and still be marketable. I have always loved working in pen and ink and started some ACEO (Art Cards, Editions and Originals) Trading Cards. These cards have one main rule - they are 3.5 inches by 2.5 inches - the size of a trading card. They were originally made to be traded. And while artists were happy trading them, the public showed interest and had no way to get them. So a group of artists finally made their cards available for sale and it's become quite the explosion. I just love them and so enjoy creating them. Affordable for anyone, regardless of whether it's an original or numbered edition. Here are a few I've done and I'll post more once I get them photographed. (I have quite a few, some are inked and just need the final painting). I also started a series of crosses and have received a lot of interest in them, so I think I'll create a few more and offer them as sets as well as individual pieces. I think they would look very interesting in a long frame as a complete set. I like these as black and whites, but also want to paint them (ahhh, the dilemma), so I have to work out the details of that. Not sure how many will be printed in the editions yet, we'll see. Well, it's late, much to do tomorrow. And will try very hard to post more often! I should be ashamed....

Hangin' In There......

It seems like it's been forever since my last posting. Better late than not at all, I guess. I really started to get rather busy and as luck would have it, I came down sick and everything came to halt. I don't think I have been that sick since I was pregnant with Nathaniel. I won't go into the gory details, but nothing got done anywhere for almost 2 weeks. Feeling much better now...thank the Lord! Just finished this pendant and it feels good to get a paintbrush in my hands again. I still need to finish the water lily (that's next) and I hope to finish it in the next day or so. I will be donating it to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Southern Florida 2009 Wishmaker's Ball that is coming up in a couple weeks, so I really do have to finish it! It will be used as one of the auction pieces for that night. (I should have time to get the glicees done, too.) I am also donating all of the graphic design work of the printed pieces for the event (invitations, posters, program, etc). It is a great cause and am glad I can help out in some way. Well, I have some new ideas for my pendants and am sketching them out now....but first thing's first....onto the lily.....

Pendants In The Making

Here are some of the pendants I have been working on and have many more in the making. They are one of a kind, original, handpainted, wearable pieces of art! I am not sure if I am going to offer these as pendants only, or whether to create the full necklace. Most likely, pendants only. This way, I will have more time to paint. Each one is signed/dated and has a different scripture on each one as well. Still working out the details of the packaging but will most likely have the full scripture included. Will post the others once completed and get them photographed.

Getting Back On Track

This past week has been sooooo busy and it feels GREAT! Although I am getting so much accomplished, I still need to set up an actual timeline schedule for myself so I can stay on track. Especially when I'm working on my artwork, I tend to slip into the 'no time zone' and lose all perspective of actual time. It's a new world for me, working completely as an independent and working out of my home office, with the laundry and household cleaning staring at me at the same time. This is the canvas I have been working on this past week (not quite finished, will probably finish in the next day or two) as well as some of my pendants (will post those images later today). I have been looking into Etsy.com and a few other resources to get my pendants out there. Etsy is great! I have been reading some of the blogs and stories on Etsy and there are so many success stories. Some amazing artisans with very similar stories as my own and it has ultimately changed their lives! I would love the good fortune of being a featured seller some day. Stay tuned, you just never know. My plan today is to update my blog and finish setting up all the extras available. There are many links to other artisans that I really want to post and get the ball rolling. Sadly, so much of this part has been new to me for too long, but I'm a quick learner. The 'old' 9 to 5 life didn't leave a lot of time for all the necessary extras, especially when my world is always dictated by motherhood first and foremost! Hannah (9) and Nathaniel (4) are my greatest creations of course. This is such a wonderfully, exciting time for me. I can't wait to see what's next.....

Giving Birth To A Blog

Almost there! My blog is actually starting to look like a blog...well, I'm getting closer anyway. I'll start posting works that I have done in the past and works in progress, so that everyone can take a look. I have wanted to get my blog going for sooooo long now, that I'm having a bit of a 'giving birth euphoria' going on right now...I know, call me crazy. I'm working on my website too, so it's like giving birth to twins I guess. Just to make it clear, I have had the 'real' kids too (they are now ages 9 and 4), so I'm hoping that gives me permission to use the 'giving birth' euphemism.......lets hope so.
Here are a few pieces of my work to get us started. There are many more, I just need to get all the images together to post. I am working on a few pieces now as well. How many hours are in a day? It's all good.

Better Late Than Never

Well, the day has come - I am officially a blogger! And it's about time, I will have to say! I am looking forward to this next venture and am so excited to start documenting my progress in my creative world. My creativity explodes often AFTER HOURS, hence the name of my blog. And once it starts, it's hard to stop. If it wasn't for kids and responsibilities, I am sure I wouldn't eat or sleep for days once I started a project. It's an addiction! So, here goes.....may the addiction begin.