Art by Samantha DeCarlo

How to Grow a Beard

2012-02-24T12:34:00.000-06:00

Watercolor and Ballpoint Pen

8.5 x 11

How Not to Stop Bad Breath

2012-02-08T15:12:00.003-06:00

Watercolor on Arches

8 1/2'' x 11''

Sam

2012-02-06T21:26:00.001-06:00

Mixed media portrait

Use a Life to Save a Life

2012-01-30T22:28:00.001-06:00

Watercolor

16 x 20

Illustration for an article questioning the use of stem cell research. This image is not a reflection of my opinion on the article, just the concept I developed for it.

Stinky Feet

2012-01-30T22:25:00.002-06:00

Portraits

2012-01-29T19:55:00.001-06:00

Sketches

2012-01-12T21:06:00.000-06:00

Sketches

2012-01-12T20:57:00.000-06:00

These are the preliminary sketches for my "Derby" painting (drawing from life and testing paint combinations). The final is close to my initial ideas. I enjoyed working from life, however I prefer to use photographs as reference, which probably suits me better as an Illustrator, NOT a Fine Artist.

Grids

2012-01-01T13:59:00.000-06:00

"Ablaze"

"Temperature" (unfinished)

Holiday Commissions

2011-12-27T13:55:00.003-06:00

Having a Heart-to-Heart

2011-12-27T12:32:00.000-06:00

I recently found this drawing (micron) that I did for my editorial illustration class: "Cliche" was the assignment. I never turned this in because I hated it when I finished it...but reflecting upon it, I say it's not that bad. I think it would be cool to color it.

I've also noticed I get more hits on my blog than my website, so I'm going to advertise my site RIGHT NOW!

~GO TO MY WEBSITEEEEEE~ (that's me hypnotizing you through the computer)

The Alphabet

2011-12-06T21:42:00.006-06:00

Hookay, so here's the deal. I have developed and idea to illustrate the alphabet using animal parts as letters (A is for Anchovy, B is Barracuda, etc.) BUT, my wish for this book is to have the letters not be readily apparent; you have to work to find them. AND, I want full-view paintings where the entire animal and it's habitat are revealed, and then the following page will reveal the close-ups of the letter. Good, no?

Here's some thumbnails of what I'm talking about...

"C"

"S"

"F"

"B"

"O"

A Frenzy (Watercolor and Micron Pens)

2011-11-23T21:58:00.002-06:00

WIP 5 piece portrait

2011-10-15T14:58:00.002-05:00

this series explores the transgender transformation from a man to a woman. i utilized facial features, color, and emotion to express full transition of body and mind. inspired by chaz bono, i wanted to show that because of medical micacles, the people trapped in the wrong body can be happy.

i feel bono experienced wrongful discrimination; religious groups boycotted the show, children were told this transformation is wrong. however, everyone deserves happiness and it cannot be achieved until we as humans as content in our own skins.

this is an incomplete series, two drawings are left (stage 4 and 5) are left.

WIP of a beggar

2011-09-30T13:44:00.002-05:00

WIP of my snails

2011-09-28T22:22:00.000-05:00

Derby (better quality photo coming soon...)

2011-09-26T17:55:00.002-05:00

Derby
Ball point and Watercolor
12 x 16

The Underwater Walker

2011-09-26T17:49:00.001-05:00

Underwater Walker

Ball Point and Watercolor

10 x 14

The Grey Heron

2011-08-15T11:57:00.000-05:00

The Sharpie Solution...

2011-08-01T11:10:00.003-05:00

For quite some time now, I've wished to become an INKtern at Sanford's Sharpie Headquarters. Though, achieving this dream seems near impossible without proper marketing, social media, and business knowledge. Although all three interest me deeply - especially social media - I do not think I'm particularly savvy enough to catch their attention.

SO! Do I give up on my dream? No! Do I sit around and pout a bit? Perhaps.... BUT, I will find a way to get my foot in the door sooner or later! (Preferably sooner since I don't want to be a hostess for the rest of my life...)

In order to do this, I have brainstormed a few ideas to be clever with sharpies:

1. Hand draw my own business cards to scan and get printed.

2. Design my own coffee mug (because I'm sick of my dad using mine!)

3. Illustrate my own little short story using sharpies only.

4. Make a stained glass window using sharpies and bubble paint.

I have to admit, I came up with that last one on the fly. People always tell me my work reminds them of stained glass windows because of the heavy bold black lines paired with the sheer ink filling. (Sounds like a donut....hmmmm.) But, as I'm contemplating, I think that would be the most fun and most unique idea...

I need to get to work!

* * *

Ok. So here's the deal. I hate this. I hate everything about the way this is coming out. It doesn't look horrible against the brown paper, but once I put it to the light, it shows every imperfection in the paint and ink. I must end this project.

Perhaps if I used parchment paper instead...and no paint. just the marker. I always wanted to make a coloring book of my drawings printed on parchment paper...

New Portraits

2011-07-26T22:28:00.000-05:00

Poster Art

2011-05-30T18:20:00.002-05:00

Sharpie Ad

2011-04-13T09:53:00.000-05:00

More Digital Art

2011-04-02T12:31:00.001-05:00

Recent Photoshop Work

2011-03-27T11:01:00.000-05:00

SO, I havent finished anything yet, but here are some pieces I've started

Fishies!!!!!

2011-03-02T11:16:00.000-06:00

Alligator ad for Rich

2011-03-02T08:20:00.004-06:00

Mixed Media Eye (unfinished)

2011-02-22T11:48:00.000-06:00

Acrylic, Ball-point, Sharpie, and Ebony pencil

2 x 2.5 ft

2011-02-15T08:22:00.003-06:00

banana art

2011-02-08T12:53:00.004-06:00

2011-02-08T10:26:00.003-06:00

Portraits with Acrylic and Colored Pencil

2011-01-28T15:22:00.003-06:00

New Drawings in Moleskine

2011-01-26T10:49:00.001-06:00

Vulture Sketch

2011-01-11T20:24:00.002-06:00

This sketch is of a lizard's eye....

2010-12-26T16:51:00.000-06:00

New Schedule

2010-12-20T11:34:00.000-06:00

So, I have storyboarding and digital illustration, which I suppose I should be thankful for. I really want to take the digital class, but I am not convinced storyboarding will be a good fit. I have talked to Tom (Herzberg) and he thinks I'll do fine; I just don't want to be frustrated and restrained. No great portfolio pieces came out of this year.

I am super pumped for art history and art and activism, though. Both seem awesome and I think it will provide a new perspective on art for me.

There is a 3 hour break on tuesdays and thursdays, though and a 2 hour break mondays and wednesdays. I hate that, but Tom said I could paint and draw in his room if there's an open desk.

UTNE Editorial Illustration

2010-12-03T13:18:00.007-06:00

This is a mock illustration for UTNE Magazine entitled, "The Dangers of Dairies."I based this concept on the idea of fusion; I wanted the interviewee, Gustavo, to fuse into the cow. According to the article, he was kicked by a cow and was deeply injured. Because he is an immigrant, he could not afford the best medical attention, and now the plate that the doctor secured in his skull is slipping. He experiences constant agony and is marred by the damage left by the cow. He says if he was legal, he would never spend another hour in the dairy.

I have had many challenges with this piece, (which is currently still incomplete) but am working them out as I go. I do prefer the black and white version best so I will continue to work with that copy.

Face Study

2010-11-26T11:44:00.000-06:00

9x12

Watercolor and Colored Pencil

New BC Ideas

2010-11-18T13:01:00.002-06:00

Truckin' Along

2010-11-15T20:27:00.000-06:00

New Ideas

2010-11-14T11:58:00.000-06:00

Bill and Rahm

2010-11-12T13:12:00.002-06:00

Unfinished (watercolor and colored pencil)

kinda goofy. first political cartoon and assignment focused on achieving likeness.

T-Shirt Idea

2010-11-10T12:06:00.007-06:00

Just an idea. I would want the snake to look like it's wrapping around the body.

Purchasing Art

2010-11-07T17:29:00.001-06:00

After 3 years of developing my website, I have only just now set up PayPal on the damn thing.

So, you now have the capability to purchase directly from the site without needing to contact me at all (which, is actually something I don't like, but I guess that's how it goes). I have also lowered prices on most all my prints. They now mostly range from $20-$50. Tough times call for tough measures (how cliche, but true).

So! Peruse to your heart's content. Any piece that has a link as a price can be purchased. Otherwise it's sold or not for sale.

$40 per print

The Birds

2010-11-05T15:27:00.005-05:00

So, I have now added my little crows. I have one more to render on the bottom, which is holding a lily. I am avoiding the body, because I am not fully satisfied with the form I already drew. I will be focusing on the lesser elements first. (flowers, birds, feathers)

Hour 21

Well, I added part of the body. Had to do it sometime...

Hour 26

Hour 28

Aries Ram Skull (Update)

2010-11-02T21:48:00.004-05:00

So, I am about 11-12 hours in. I thought I would finally show a full view of what I have. It's still not much but it's something...

12 hours in

16 hours in

I have added a crow on the top right horn. I have a sketch of a flying crow at the bottom left. and I intend on adding another crow somewhere else....possibly sitting wings expanded on the top of the skull crown. maybe. maybe not. I have yet to draw in the flowers (roses or lilies)

Chuck Norris Can Suck It.

2010-11-01T18:19:00.006-05:00

UGH! I hate this assignment:

Illustrate: Chuck Norris sleeps with a nightlight. Not because he's afraid of the dark , but because the dark is afraid of him.

I had such a cool idea of having Chuck coming out of the dark, his arms and feet disjointed from his body. Similar to the last piece I just finished, but with more limbs. But Rich wouldn't let me because he wanted me to use a background. So, I chose something diferrent. My piece is turning out quite horribly....

It's photo/drawing collage. I'll have to scan it to get rid of the the highlight...but yeah. Currently it's half-way done. I'm too miserable to do more.

Photographed:

Scanned:

And So It Begins.

2010-10-30T14:01:00.002-05:00

As I said, I felt inspired to "go big or go home." So, now the piece I'm working on is 36" x 42" (3 x 3.5 ft). So it's pretty sizable and I need to either prop it up against the wall or work on the ground.

I'm currently a little over 5 hours in and not much can be discerned yet, but I'll add a pic once I get more inked/shaded.

It's Aries as a skull worn by a nude woman set in a charging position. I haven't decided what to do with the background yet--possibly hair flying, maybe wings, or perhaps a forest. I like all those ideas and I know how I want to render them (outline).

3 hours in...

5 hours in...

8 hours in...

Hi-Fructose: Caitlin Hackett

2010-10-29T11:16:00.001-05:00

Ever since I've started reading Hi-Fructose mag, I've been totally inspired. I recently bought the 17th volume and inside was a female ink-artist whose style was similar to mine. I loved it!

Her name is Caitlin Hackett. She does absolutely STUNNING work such as:

UH! I wanna do large inks like this.

2 Hour Color Study

2010-10-28T22:08:00.000-05:00

This was just a quick color study for a commission I recently received. It's a nude figure in sheets using red and green. This study is in watercolor and colored pencil, but the final might just be watercolor based on the client's preference. I'll be using Sarah Pabis as a model when I focus on a particular pose.

New Painting (unfinished)

2010-10-26T10:55:00.000-05:00

Blue and Rust Figure

Mixed Meduim on Clayboard

6x8 in

New painting of a female figure. It's watercolor, matte medium, and acrylic wash. I will most likely never finish it because I really don't care much for it. I needed to try something and went for it. And I'm happy I attempted what I wanted to do. My work is done here.

The Trump Tower

2010-10-23T15:15:00.001-05:00

***
Well, I should be happy. Hell, I should be ecstatic! But instead I'm alone in my room seething about what will happen only hours from now.

Months ago my very close friend, Matt McTigue, offered me a chance to show my work at the Trump Tower downtown. His mother was hosting an event for abused and abandoned children, and she wanted to know if I could donate a piece for the fundraiser. Since I find fundraisers to be the most important and influential events, I immediately accepted.

Months ago I did not have a job or any other obligations whatsoever. I thought so little about needing to schedule around the event, or ensuring I'd be free, because I was free every single day of the weekend. No questions asked.

Months ago I had no idea I would never go to the event that I had banked on attending.

The event is tonight at 7pm. Where will I be? I'll be ushering guests around my beloved J. Alexander's restaurant. Meeting, greeting, seating 'til 10:30 tonight. I love working for my restaurant. I think the establishment is the most respectable place I have ever worked for. I think they are fair, considerate, and level-headed. So then why am I so mad?

I am disgusted with myself that I did not plan accordingly for tonight. It is my fault, and now I must suffer through this god-forsaken evening smiling and prancing around like I am nothing more than a vessel bringing hungry diners to their meals. I hate myself right now.

2010-10-19T12:29:00.000-05:00

The Grey Man

11x17

Mixed Media

sketchbook

2010-10-07T19:13:00.006-05:00

So, because of a friend (Matt K.) who is always online looking at cool artsy stuff, I found out about The Sketchbook Project hosted by Moleskine Journal. It's pretty cool. You send $45 to them and they mail you a blank 50 page moleskine for you to fill out by Jan 15th. When you send it back, they take it around the country and make a digital copy for online viewing. It's a great opportunity for a young, aspiring artist, like myself!

The theme I chose to illustrate is "Boys and Girls," which is kinda general, so I wanted to focus on one aspect of youth: nightmares. So, that's what my drawing will be of! Kids crying and monstery-nightmarish stuff.

in regards to the poll:

2010-10-07T16:01:00.010-05:00

"Hiding"

"Octopus"

Bahaha!

2010-10-05T09:54:00.000-05:00

Yes. This is a pear. I painted it in Photoshop! This was my first painting I've done, which must be apparent...but I had fun. It only took me AN HOUR AND A HALF! (That's sarcasm. This should have taken 30 mins.)

Oh well, Practice makes perfect.

I've Got My Eye on You

2010-09-29T15:28:00.000-05:00

Just finished this...oh....um.....8 minutes ago.

Keeping Your Attention

2010-09-29T11:02:00.000-05:00

How do I keep my viewers' attention? The average time span looking at art is 3 seconds. I want people spending at least half a minute admiring my work. But, why would they (you) if I don't give them (you) a reason?

My idea is this: Make art that requires the viewer to find the subject. In other words, hide my subject in a mess of "environment." If someone can't figure out what they are looking at right away, they will need to search/contemplate what is actually shown for, hopefully, longer than 3 seconds.

It is important to me that people enjoy my art. My work is NOT just for me, and I don't think any artist paints, sculpts, draws, or builds PURELY for their own enjoyment; they want to share their work with others. So, therefore I want to make work that I and other people can both appreciate.

Sure...there are topics I like to draw that lots of people don't like to look at, and I will continue to do those types of drawings because I can't help but draw them. I need to get it out of my system. BUT I consider those pieces as "practice" for the real work that is universally enjoyed and accepted. That's the work that truly makes me happy.

Call me a sell-out. Call me whatever you want. But it is human nature to want to please others, so dislike me for being human, not for my reasons for drawing.

2010-09-26T13:34:00.003-05:00

Hidden Creature (Incomplete)

14 x17

Ink (Micron)

So this is my newest piece that I'm working on. I haven't shown anyone (for the exception of one person) since I've gotten this far. Most everyone at school only saw the eyes. I really like the way this piece is coming along, yet, I'm getting a little bored with it. I still have the whole left side to complete, which could by interesting....maybe I'll add another bird head or something.

But, it has taken me 17 hours already. I'm expecting at least another 8...... so, 25 hours? On this piece? To be honest, that may sound like a lot, but I went through this pretty quickly. I've spent 5 days consistently working on it.

I hope it turns out well in the end. Give me another 2 days at least to finish it up.

Okay....i finished it.

Donation

2010-09-24T12:42:00.000-05:00

Homage to Gustav Klimt

8x8 inch

Mixed media

T Shirts? Or shoes?

2010-09-24T10:58:00.001-05:00

My dad and I had a long conversation about beginning to put my work on clothes. Would people buy a shirt with, say, my octopus on it for $15? That's a random number; I'd have to research prices on getting shirts printed, but it is an interesting idea.....

Maybe I should get a poll of what work people would like to carry around with them on their backs, or chests, or hats, what have you. what about shoes? What if I put a cool design on vans or keds or converse? I would do special requests: someone buys the shoe (white or a light shade of whatever color they prefer) and I ink them. I like that idea best, but I have NO idea what kind of time that would take me.......what sort of price do you put on that?

meh....i dont know. I guess I'll have to contemplate these ideas more.

Self Portrait with the letter S

2010-09-23T23:39:00.002-05:00

Many Academy students may be familiar with this assignment: make a self-portrait using text. I decided to use the letter "S" and the "(" sign for the majority of my face. It was my first experience using Adobe Illustrator, and I really enjoyed it.

For Rich

2010-09-15T19:07:00.002-05:00

Jaguar Colored

2010-09-13T21:35:00.002-05:00

Jaguar

9x12

Ink (Micron and Sharpie)

This is the final I came up with. I am pleased with it, but not overwhelmingly. I think everything I dislike is within the first drawing stages, which were out of my control due to the limitations of the photograph. It is the best it can be at this point.

New Seahorse

2010-09-11T12:31:00.001-05:00

Seahorse

9x12 in

Ink (Sharpie and Prismacolor)

The Jags

2010-09-10T18:18:00.004-05:00

The top is the black and white version, the bottom is what I've started coloring.

Tumblr

2010-09-07T20:45:00.000-05:00

http://samanthadecarlo.tumblr.com/

I'm pretty excited about this, guys. It's so cool! You should check it out because it's not much of my own stuff, but the stuff of the most incredible artists. I have been looking for the most interesting art all week just to share with all of you!

There's Always Someone Better

2010-09-04T14:19:00.001-05:00

When I sat down to paint this morning, I felt excited! I haven't painted since April. As many of my friends and readers know, I prefer to use ink pens and black and white as media and colors of choice. Painting takes time to learn and achieve, time I did not spend this summer.

So. Since I knew my first painting would be shaky, I chose a simple subject: GRAPES. I love grapes! But perhaps I should have picked an easier subject, like a pear, because my final outcome just reminded me how much I still have to learn.

It's difficult not to compare my work to my classmates. Most are at my level; we are just starting out in the world of watercolor. But some seem to exceed with exceptional skill. For example, my friend Cindy Bernhard. Her work blows my mind. Not to mention Anthony Kosar, the first person I met from AAArt.

Thus, where does this leave me? Someone who cannot surpass these two artists, and assuredly there are more Cindys and Anthonys out there which of whom I've never even met! I will be competing for jobs against them. So how do I make myself stand out? I need to focus on my own "niche," my own style that is completely unique and difficult to emulate. I have my pens, thank god.

Jagaur or Leopard? That is the question.

2010-09-03T11:39:00.001-05:00

Big Cat Quick Sketch

Ink on Paper

9'' x 12''

I consider this a quick sketch drawing since it barely took me 5 hours to complete. I always told my mother that I don't draw hairy animals in response to her nagging and demanding I draw our pets. However, because a friend, Eddy, I was exposed to an opportunity to draw a Big Cat when he commissioned me just a few weeks ago. This is not the image he commissioned me to complete, but I must say it was good practice to do this before I set to work on his image.

Curious

2010-08-25T07:27:00.000-05:00

So last night when I couldn't sleep, I decided to play around with my face in photoshop. I was seriously bored, you have to understand, and I didn't think anything of this picture after I made it. But, due to my boredom, I posted it to Facebook and all the sudden I get a good handful of comments. It was almost 1 in the morning! I posted "The Ghost" to Fb too, but that got far less attention that this.

I'm not upset, of course. Any attention is good attention, really, as long as an artist makes her viewers feel something. I just don't get why this is cooler than my ghost! I feel like this is so cliche.

The Ghost

2010-08-25T00:00:00.001-05:00

Long exposure shot I took while my mom was looking out my window one night for some ding-dong-ditchers. I dig the colors from the night, and the blurred image mom made when she moved even though I told her NOT to. It may make it to my site if I get enough feedback.

New Art

2010-08-22T00:45:00.001-05:00

So, this is my final logo I think for Edward. I didn't feel completely satisfied with the first run, so I redesigned if for better reproduction and a bolder statement.

I think I may be seriously reaching on this one. I don't know what the hell it is! I thought maybe it was a bunny with a pot leaf as ears....and maybe the white thing around it's mouth is part of joint paper? Does joint paper fold like that? Is it even called joint paper? I don't know.

Business Card?

2010-07-27T11:54:00.004-05:00

Current Painting: Pisces

2010-07-16T17:53:00.004-05:00

So, I decided I would continue to explore the zodiac signs, this time I chose Pisces. It's only about half-way done, and I'm sure the design I intend on creating in the boarder will take the majority of my time.

Thus far, I am 5 hours in (roughly). To get inspiration, I studied the origin of Pisces, styles of Mucha, and the Beta Fish.

Aries, the Ram

2010-07-12T12:25:00.004-05:00

Micron ink. 4 hours in...

6 hours in...

All done...

New Blog

2010-07-02T16:18:00.002-05:00

I started a new blog. Maybe you should check it out, but don't be offended. I'll just have to blog about you and your lack of nerve.

So, if you follow me on this blog, make sure to follow me on my new one! (Otherwise I look like a loser with no followers...)

New Project: My Process

2010-06-26T15:53:00.003-05:00

I should have the thing colored by next week sometime. It depends on when I can get to Tree Towns...

This is it, I guess........im not very excited about it. It may end up in the trash to be honest...

Long Day.

2010-06-23T19:27:00.004-05:00

Here's the painting i began. Now, mind you that i've never touched oil paints before. I'm just trying to figure out how the medium works. Plus, i want to learn a few cool techniques like this artist I found, Harriet.

Basia's Gift, For Real!

2010-06-23T14:13:00.005-05:00

So i ended up re-doing the mosaic for Basia. This one is completely different in every way: color. design, stones. I think this piece is much more "together" and way cleaner than the first. It turned out better than I anticipated.
I ended up giving both pieces to her for the one price we agreed on in the beginning. It was only fair since it was my choice to redo it and not hers.

Abstract Art

2010-06-22T18:42:00.008-05:00

I have always thought those who cannot paint realistically, paint abstracts. This I have found to be wrong. Abstract painting is equally as difficult. You have to know how to work with colors, textures, flow.....everything. AND you have to create it from within, not from a picture or a reference. I had made a small collection of a few abstracts I've done in the past year. It is a sad collection, I'll admit, but I tried. I want to go further with my red and blue grid, but I don't know any techniques to get the look I want. Perhaps I need to experiment more (which I'm sure is the only way to figure it out) but I don't have the patience. My mother hates abstract art and thinks all the pieces I create are garbage. This is discouraging, as one can probably assume. But I have seen worse!

My City

2010-06-21T14:25:00.004-05:00

Once in a painting class, I was assigned a brief read, Invisible Cities, by Italo Calvino. It was a beautiful book with descriptions of imaginary cities that Marco Polo supposedly visited. I then needed to choose a city I found most interesting and paint it.

As much as a loved painting Calvino’s city, I wanted to make my own city filled with things that interested me most. So, perhaps now is the time to begin writing.

The shore lines the vacant town with jagged rocks and shells, which crush the washed up bones of fish; none but crabs and seagulls walk this beach. Salty air hangs thickly around the decrepit buildings that once maintained commanding beauty, though now chip yellowed paint off their siding. A passer-by may dismiss this broken city, but beneath the gritty exterior is a story. A story of what this place used to be.
Every shattered window, every splintered door was once a guardian of its people. But where are these people now? No voices echo through the damp alleys or within the church’s walls. Everything is grey, for the exception of a small, red hat with, what was once a white satin bow, now a sick shade of green. It is the only evidence that life ever existed here.

I will be sure to add more if I can think of anything interesting to add. Perhaps I should develop a murder story centered around the town. I don't know.

ALL IS LOST!

2010-06-21T09:13:00.006-05:00

So as few people know, I changed my domain name from arttalkit.blogspot.com to samanthadecarlo.blogspot.com. When I did this, I lost all my comments from friends and followers. I'm a bit bummed about it.

On a brighter note, I now have TWITTER AGAIN! whoo-hoo. You can ALL FOLLOW ME @SGDart My goal one day is to have 1,000 followers, which is a bit excessive, but in a few years I think I can achieve it. Oh! And I want to get followers WITHOUT "we follow" or "geo-follow." You know, those programs that generate followers for you? That's not real marketing. I want people to care about what I'm saying and drawing.

Speaking of which, I want to highlight a couple good friends: Anthony Kosar has a phenomenal website and blog that any artist or art-lover should follow. Also, Cindy Bernhard is a fine artist at school with me, and she has developed a great portfolio. As well as Dustin Yoder. Check them all out! I"ll be sure to add a few more friends next time.

Google Analytics

2010-06-19T18:08:00.010-05:00

So i just set up google analytics for my blog. I didn't think I could do it, but I really surprised myself! It was a lot easier than I thought it would be.

Now I can track how many people look at my blog a day, what country they are from, what city they are from, and what pages they look at. I'm so pumped!

I already had it for my website (which visitor viewing is up a whole 29%) so i thought, why not my blog? Best decision ever.

For those who aren't familiar with what it looks like, it's super easy. It lists the sites you are tracking and how many visits you've had in a month period, and whether the numbers are up (green), or down (red).

When you click on "view report", it opens up to show you a much wider range of information, like visits and views per day, where the visitors are located, how many times one person has visited the site. CRAZY STUFF! it's awesome.

If you haven't set it up, and you have sites you wanna track, i recommend doing it asap.

go to:
http://www.google.com/analytics/ and it will tell you how to do everything there. Good luck and have fun! But beware, it's very addicting...

business cards.

2010-06-17T15:21:00.004-05:00

As an artist and a current freelancer, business cards are a very effective way for me to spread my name. SO WHY HAVEN'T I HAD THEM UNTIL NOW!? I guess I have been lazy considering I've been at AAArt now for two full years and most every upperclassman has a card or logo. Although they claim to be ahead of the majority of other artists, I believe there is no such thing as "being ahead," or "being behind." There is just getting out there.

My reasoning is this: you are never too young to start marketing yourself, just as you are never too old. My friends at school laugh at me for having a website and a blog, but I think it's silly not to start putting yourself out there. I would tell ANYONE who is in the business of "selling themselves" to start now and do everything! I'm embarrassed I only just ordered my cards this morning (1:30 am).

This is front of my card

This is the back

I wanted this to be simple and a good representation of my work. I love my monsters and underwater hybrids, so these two pieces are perfect. I love the color against the stark white, and the negative space around both figures. I thank Nick Eby for helping me with the text and figuring out what to add and how to align it.

New Octopus. (In progress)

2010-06-15T14:10:00.004-05:00

This one is terrible. It looks like a rainbow, which is really lame.

I think I'm going to stick with this color scheme.

Colored Monster

2010-06-13T12:57:00.000-05:00

Colored in the monster I recreated.

Colored Monster

Black and White against Colored Monster

Steppin' It Up

2010-06-10T16:41:00.000-05:00

A new section has been added to my website: Before and After.

The premise of this addition is to take a drawing I've done years ago and redraw it. Then post both drawings together to show the improvement. Also posted will be my black and white drawings that I chose to color, for example the seahorse or my Two Birds. I plan on making a good amount of colored piece from the original black and whites. I'm not sure how many redrawn pieces I can do, or have time to fit in, but I think that is the most interesting transformation.

I hope you enjoy!

Before and After: Angler Fish

Before and After: Monster

I See a Seahorse!

2010-06-08T13:56:00.000-05:00

I have had the "skeleton" (the black and white version) of the seahorse created now for about 5 months. I recently decided to color it just to separate the subject from the background better. I think it was really beneficial. Also, I've had a lot of great response from it.

If someone wished to buy the colored print, I would create a special color scheme for them that I would not reproduce. So my plan is to sell the black and white colored print for $50 and the colored prints for $100, since they are unique and original color.

Colored Print

This took roughly 2-3 hours to color, whereas the skeleton took around 25 hours to draw. I used micron pens for the black and white, then sharpie and prismacolor markers to fill in the color. Again, this is just one version of color. I would actually like to see it more blue rather than orange.

For my website, I posted the skeleton against the colored drawing.

Black and White against the Colored Print

Basia's Gift

2010-06-07T21:37:00.000-05:00

A young girl walking uptown approached me while I was packing away the dog house in my car. She told me she liked the design and asked if I could reproduce it on a smaller scale for her sister. I agreed. So, here is my progress...

It is very different from what I am used to doing. Sure, I LOVE to do crafty stuff! I just don't think I'm very good at it. I tend to be sloppy, believe it or not, and I get frustrated very easily. I ran into a few problems already with this piece. I did not like how it originally looked without the glitter. And then once I glittered it, I hated it even more! The caulk I bought was sticky and everywhere. The glitter not only stuck to the glue I meticulously painted around the beads, but to the black canvas i had yet to paint. So...I had no choice but to just paint right over the rouge glitter.

STEP 1: attach beads

STEP 2: glitter

STEP 3: paint

Price Check!

2010-06-07T16:53:00.000-05:00

When I walked into work this morning, I felt great. I had been busy all weekend with commissions, prints, and redesigning my website. So, I confronted my art director, Noel, about how much attention my site had been getting lately. This was quite rewarding considering he informed me how UNoriginal and boring he thought my site was just a week previously.

I also told him of a woman in Alaska who found my site and loved one of my prints.
He exclaimed, "Excellent! How much did you sell it for?"
I told him, "Well, $25. That's the price for a print."
He then burst into laughter.
"How could you sell a print for so little?" he asked.

I informed him how I felt about selling my work as a print. How I'd rather have my art work everywhere because people can afford it, than nowhere because it was too expensive. Though, he wouldn't listen to a word. He told me since I don't mass-produce, every print is like an original. I suppose I can see his point. Thus, I doubled my prices.

So, I ran to him and told him I did so. He laughed again. He thinks I should be selling my work for numbers in the hundreds. HUNDREDS! I couldn't believe it. My work? Well. I disagree that a print would be worth that much unless it's massive and difficult to reproduce. All my work is quite small, the most reaching 11 x 17 inches. So, I feel that the prices I've picked for each piece is reasonable and workable. If someone cannot afford an art work, I can lower the price accordingly. I think it's more important to give out art than hoard it.

So, I have raised my prices (most now are around $50 for a print), and I hope everyone can deal with it.

Randomly Found Work

2010-06-03T11:22:00.000-05:00

I have been working on this fish for quite some time. A lot more time than it looks, to be honest. Perhaps 3 weeks? I began it the first week i was out of school, and then i abandoned it for a while. I really disliked the composition of the fish against the pipes. I should have planned it out better. I would not call it an absolute failure, but it's not my best.

This bird was also started three weeks ago. I worked on it one day and never touched it again. I will not be finishing it.

...

2010-06-01T18:08:00.000-05:00

I am a little upset with myself. I have not done much since the week I finished school for the summer. Given I produced four pieces in four days, no new work has made its way onto my paper. This must change. For, if I am not creating, I am nothing.

Dog House

2010-05-27T16:41:00.000-05:00

So. I am back at Maddock Douglas, and for the past few weeks I have been working on designing and producing a dog house. Yes. A very large - and in charge - dog house.

Here are some quick views of it pre-assembly:

I used mosaic to detail the paw prints I had painted on the sides of the roof. In total, there are seven paw prints including the big one on the "butt" of the house.

On the body of the house, I chose to continue my gridded pattern in a more subtle color scheme. The grid is larger, and I only used three colors: light blue, ultramarine blue, and black (oh! and silver!).

It took a total of 2 weeks, including hours and hours and HOURS spent at home after work nursing the grout and cleaning the stones. It was back-breaking work, but I must say, it was worth it. I've never attempted a project this big, let alone by myself. Though, my dad helped me a lot with varnishing and maintaining care of the glitter. That glitter is everywhere now!!!! It's scattered all over my backyard so when my pooches run through it, it resembles falling snow. I even caught my puppy, Derby, eating a pile I swept up; she had glitter up her nose for a few days...

Now, the house is waiting to be sealed and assembled by ECAF. (Don't ask me what it stands for.....I only know E stands for Elmhurst). It will be pretty shiny once under the sun, and I hope it catches a lot of attention.

Some Old Drawings I Found

2010-04-30T17:20:00.000-05:00

I was looking for some old artwork and came across these figures. I thought they were quite nice, so I thought I'd add them! Both are done in charcoal on newsprint. Unfortunately, they are both folded awkwardly so nothing will come of them, but i salvaged as much of the image as i could and added it to my website.

Holly

Toned Figure

Art Prints: Tree Towns

2010-04-29T19:35:00.000-05:00

For as long as I could remember, I have been going to Tree Towns Reprographics in Elmhurst, IL for my art prints. They are by far the best print shop around here for artists using inks, watercolors, colored pencils, well....really any medium.

This is long overdue, but I thought i'd give a little shout out!

www.treetowns.com

So if you are an artist looking for a place to make inexpensive prints (under $3 a print), I highly recommend contacting Tree Towns at (630) 832 - 0209. They have consistently phenomenal service, and they are very prompt in reproducing your work.

New Art: Micron and Sharpie

2010-04-26T22:17:00.000-05:00

Monster Rebooted (9 x 12 in)

Angler (11 x 17)

Eyes In Water (9 x 12)

Summer Projects

2010-04-21T17:27:00.001-05:00

So.

The year is almost out. Two and a half more hours tomorrow and summer begins. What to do? Well, I begin working at Maddock Douglas on the 24th of May....so that leaves exactly a month of constant free time. Thus, I must create projects for myself so that I remain on top of my game.

Things I might like to do:

1. Ink Drawings: more hybrids, perhaps photorealism, editorials
2. Watercolors: figure painting, master copy, editorial (full color)
3. Photography: hum....no idea, but perhaps a thought will come to me in an "a-ha" moment

I think this could cover it for a month. Id prolly only do one a week......maybe one and a half.

oh! I NEED business cards. asap. So i'll work on that, too.

Nuns and Such

2010-04-20T13:16:00.000-05:00

Well....I suppose this is new. It's an illustration for an editorial about Ken Jennings. Don't ask.... But the assignment called for combining a short list of words together to produce a general overview of the article. Mine combined "nuns," "worms," and "barrels." Interesting, no?

This might be my second favorite piece I painted this semester. Chloe and the Octopus is down to third, and my fruit is number 1!

What? You didn't see my fruit?

Yeah....this was a lot of fun to paint.

Oh, Bother......

2010-04-20T13:10:00.000-05:00

Ugh!!!! I lost my sunglasses at the train station. I think I have bad Karma.

Also, my dog ate my brand new Tom's Shoes that I hadn't even WORN YET! I am so pissed.

Why me? I ask. What did I do to deserve this? Did I act too cocky with my art? Give a bad critique? Not give my all to the last projects of the year and now I'm paying the price?

I believe everything happens for a reason so I must convince myself I did not deserve those things because they could have resulted in my death or something tragic. Maybe someone more needy than I am needed a nice pair of sunglasses because they cannot afford them. I want to think that happened, but I really wish I still had them.

New art work? Not yet.....I have to scan it at school tomorrow so I'll be working on this during the afternoon.

Stellaluna

2010-04-12T18:23:00.000-05:00

For an Illustration assignment, Mr. Goro, aka Misha, had us all individually pick a children's book to re-illustrate the front cover and inside spread. I chose Stellaluna.

Since I could not find my copy, Patrick-my boyfriend of 4 years- loaned me his copy to study. This is what I came up with:

What do you think?

Misha loved it. My dad, not so much. I, personally, am very surprised with the results. I had such low expectations for this project from the get-go. (This is the inside cover spread, by the way. I refuse to post my cover i did because it is just hideous.)

My cover spread turned out terribly. It was originally supposed to be inked with light wash of paint. But because i used illustration board, i found the paint just soaked right into the paper, leaving little pigment behind. AND what was left of the paint was dingy and washed out. I became very frustrated with it so i just pilled paint after paint coat to try and saturate the paper....but nothing worked.

Aside from this problem, my color scheme sucked. it was every color of the rainbow. it looked like a clown smeared his make-up across my drawing-which also sucked. ugh. what a nightmare.

Thankfully, the torture is over, and we begin a new class project: illustrate a movie poster, but this time, everyone must illustrate the same movie!!!!! this should be very interesting....