Adventures in Canvas!

Lee bought me a pack of small canvases for xmas this year. And since I am beyond poor and stay home after work everyday, I started to experiment. Also, it helps with my depression. Art therapy. 

And in other news, I have a piece up at Rivet Gallery on High Street for their 'Be My Valentine' group exhibition. You can see the deets here: http://rivetart.com/get_show?i_show=81

It's up now until Feb. 26th. All pieces are for sale, hint hint...

Well, tomorrow is Muuunday. Woot. 

A new style approaches...

I dig it. Do you? 

2014 is the year of the ART

Once again, ugh, sorry I don't post. I'm gonna start posting here, but it may be mostly sketches. I'm trying to draw daily and I post them on Instagram (oreillyink). But I'll slap 'em up here too. Here's the first round!

I'm still here.

Hi...I'm alive...I forgot about blogs and posting and stuff...  Been busy working in an office that may or may not be consuming my soul.
BUT.
I just started working with horses again and am going part-time at the office. So....here's hoping for more art and more horses.

Cheers!

Lengthy updates and why I'm changing my pricing.

I think I've rewritten this entry five times so far, and I don't know why because as far as I know, only a couple people read these posts...My last post was in March...so a severe update is needed.

My work and my store is going to get a kind of overhaul.  After a lot of stress, consideration, and being bitter about a lot of different things, I have a plan in store.

Let me back up and announce that in March, I did land a job, finally.  I love the company and am very lucky to be there.  It's a great place to be while I plan ahead and/or figure things out.  But...it's not in my field and it's not getting many bills paid. So, since the job market is obviously not in my favor, I looked at my art and what I can do to fix something.  People do it all the time, right? They get laid off, they learn no one is going to save them, so they save themselves. I've been reading about these people, a lot.  I want to be one.  I think I may need to be one.  As it happens, the company I work for was founded on this principle.  Inspiring, no?

I've been working on a new batch of prints.  These are more detailed, more time consuming drawings.  I have also been studying other illustrators and Etsyians who are on the track I want to hop onto.  Over the course of the next month, you will see new prints emerge.

Finally, I have decided to begin charging a little more for my prints.  When I opened my store in 2007, I started selling my prints at $10.00.  Then, I got a much better printer and paper and upped my price to $12.00.  After looking at the market around me, I've come to the conclusion that I am underselling myself.  If someone loves a piece of art, a few more dollars won't matter to them.  So...

Starting July 1st, prints will go from $12 to $15.  I will still have a 'Bargain Bin' section in my shop, of course.

And there you have it.  I'm going to try to stick to improving all aspects of my shop.  And with that, I'm off to the dayjob. 

Watercolor & Ink...a classic duo

A sketch of my buddy Jacob, with his infamous catchphrase overhead.

A nice little drawing of Lee's most recent whiskey purchase, Bulleit Bourbon.

A portrait of Ricky, from the best Canadian tv show ever, Trailer Park Boys.

Watercolor and ink, oh how you work together so nicely. Sat down with a nice new sketchbook a few weeks ago and got to work. Halfway through the thing so far. Found my old travel watercolor set from high school and decided it was time to revive those dried, cracked colors.
I'm really liking doing this stuff again..it's refreshing. These days, art has been hard to love. Anyone with a depression like mine (Major Depressive Disorder...) can tell ya that the things you once enjoyed sink to the bottom. It's an awful feeling, and these days when it does stay away and I can get work done, I'm thankful for it.

Goodbye, Billy Boy

Billy
2000-2012

Our dear family farm dog, Bill, lost his battle with liver failure last month. I recently went up to the farm to pay my respects (and lay some flowers upon his grave) since I couldn't be there when he was euthanized. Bill's health began to decline a few weeks ago, and, after several ups and downs, it was time to put him to rest at last. We first thought it was kidney failure, though blood tests proved his liver was the problem, just due to his age. It was extremely hard pulling into that long gravel driveway and not seeing him waiting at the end.

Bill, late last year.

We picked up Bill as a tiny, fluff of a puppy from a nearby farm, a gift for my Dad, but also a dog for my brother. I remember being 14, dealing with not only a first love's heartbreak, but also the onset of a lifetime of clinical depression. I sat down in the straw near a pile of eager puppies and picked up the fattest pup. A little boy. My 8 year old brother chose to label him as 'Bill'. 'Why?' my mom and I asked. 'After the fat guy on King of the Hill.' And so he was Bill.

Middle-aged Bill...just beginning to get a gray muzzle...

Bill stayed with us through the disappearance of my mom's black lab, Oliver, and the death of our 13 year old husky, Silas. He had what you'd say was an 'old soul,' as if a human life dwelled beyond his golden brown eyes. Bill was not a dog, he was a member of the family. He was my doggy-brother, my fellow traveler, a keeper of his family. He wagged his tail til the end, I'm told. He never wanted his family to know he was hurting, but to realize he was grateful. It will take time to realize he's not at the front door or sleeping under the dinner table. Toys put away, food bowl shelved. Every dog owner will say it, but he truly was one of the best dogs ever.

On his couch...2009 or 2010

December 2011

A young, but furry Bill...sometime around 2001 or 2002.


I do have puppyhood pics, but not with me. Hopefully I can add them soon.

O'Reilly Ink Embroidery Illustrations!

A collaboration has occurred...

Oh yes, that's right. Thanks to my old co-worker/current friend, Lena, for setting me up with her extremely talented friend Devin, so that O'Reilly Ink can bring you my illustrations in a fun new form! They are much, much lovelier in person-the photos just can't do justice. This is the first 'batch'-a test market, if you will. If these do well, more shall be made! :)
Devin is also the crafter behind the Etsy shop 'Ooooh Shiny', a maker of fine jewelry.
These babies are in the shop now.

Making Christmas

Bill, the family farm dog. He turned 11 this year and is still acting like a happy pup. This was a gift for my dad.

Daisy, a goofy, loving yellow lab. This drawing was a Christmas gift for my mother-in-law, Vickie. She adores her dogs.

Noodie, a chiweenie. Did this as a favor for my Aunt Nora so she could give it to her son. They both loved it.

Just some xmas things I did. Hope you all had a great holiday. My best present was seeing my mom on Christmas day when I thought she was going to be working instead. :)
But I also got the Lion King on bluray finally!! And my best friend got me the Peppermint syrup they use at Starbucks so I can make Peppermint Mochas at home. Yay!

Results: the CCAD Holiday Art Sale

This was by far the best art sale I've ever done. The weather wasn't terrible for a Saturday morning in December, and that made for a really great crowd. I am so thankful to EVERYONE who bought something (but special thanks to my in-laws and to a few of my family members for buying from me). Lee & I got to go full on grocery shopping tonight because we actually had the money. My xmas cards sold within an hour, all my totes sold, and all my calendars! I am so super thankful for my local art lovers. :) And I bought a couple gifts as well!

Black Friday/Cyber Monday Deals at O'Reilly Ink!

I'm having a Black Friday and Cyber Monday sale over at the shop! Don't worry, you don't have to stay up 24 hours straight and wait in the cold for these deals. From Friday, November 25th to midnight on Monday, November 28th, just use the coupon code FREEBIESHIP when checking out to receive free shipping. :)

Happy shopping!

A Fine Thanksgiving Day to You!

It's Thanksgiving time here in the US of A. Headed back home to see my fam, yay!
Here's a drawing of a turkey that I got carried away with...



And also this little colorful sketch about wild horses.


Have a spectacular Thanksgiving all! Hope you eat too much and see all those you love!
I'm thankful for having truly the very best family I could ever ask for, to have a husband that puts up with me, for my stinky but well behaved dog, for still having a roof over my head despite my money woes, for not have to sell my car yet to pay bills, for being able to hang around horses, and for peppermint mocha flavored coffee creamer.

What are you all thankful for?

Illustration Friday...."Silent"

This Friday's word is Silent. I think this illustration conveys that pretty well.

New prints: Animals in Sweaters

Marabelle the Paint Horse

Elwood the Elk

Brodie the Polar Bear

(Look at all these blog posts! It's a record..)

I enjoyed my polar bear Christmas card illustration so much that I have decided to make him into a print, and give him a couple friends. If these do well, there will be more joining in. And I will take suggestions! :)
They are all for sale now in the shop.

On a side note, I'm going to be creating a 'Last Chance'-type section for a number of my prints so I can create a less-overwhelming list of products. So, if there are any you've been putting off buying, you have until at least Christmas to buy them. I'll post here again and on FB/Twitter when the section is created.

Hoilday Cards are here!

I just put my holiday cards in the shop. :) 2 designs, sets of 6. I enjoy them. I hope others do as well.

The 2012 Calendar is in!

I just listed my annual calendar. I hope it's as well received as last years edition. You can find it in the shop here.

Notes to myself...

Peter Gibbons said it best.

Note to self: Set some goals.

In an effort to make my goals seem slightly more official, I'm putting them on this blog for all to see. And just for fun, here's the story leading up to this need for goal-getting...

On Nov. 1st, a little over one year ago, I was told by my boss that I was going to be laid off along with another three designers. Well, I was given the ultimatum to commute/move 2.5 hours away to keep my job OR get laid off. I took the latter. The job search begins.

January 28th, last day at my job. Had one phone interview so far that didn't go any further. Unemployment compensation begins soon thereafter. I quickly land another interview for a 2 month gig close to my house that could potentially be full-time. I am offered the job, but weigh my options and decline. I am afraid of being laid off again in 2 months time.

Months pass...more interviews, I get offered a couple jobs but decline as it's early in my job hunt and I think I can land something better. But then I don't. After so many dead ends, I start emailing area horse barns, offering to lend a hand. Many answer and say thanks but no thanks, but one offers me a part-time gig. Ta-dah, and we are here.

Now, in these months and months that feel like YEARS, I toy with the idea of trying to just take charge of my work and try to squeeze as much profit as I can from it. Unfortunately, depression is an ugly beast that steals the passion you have for anything and smothers it. Art was a chore to me and that was bad. I literally just stopped caring. I just wanted a job that would help me pay my loans and give me some health insurance. Easier said than done.

I miss being excited about my work. I miss being excited about anything in my life. This year has been the hardest for both me and Lee. I've realized that the way this economy is, no one is going to throw me a rope. Unfortunately. In the words of actor/director/hockey fan/writer Kevin Smith "I have to go where the puck is going to be, not go where it was."

I'm done dragging myself behind everyone hoping that someone will slow down the bus and let me on. I'll just build my own bus. It may not look pretty at first, and it will probably break down several times, but it's my bus and I can drive it the way I want. And I can bring Lee and Cherry with me for the ride.

So, the goals? Debut new products/work at the CCAD show and see if it's well received or not. Keep creating things that I find exciting and interesting. Read up on other artists I admire, see what they did, where they started. Working through depression and stress is a big, big challenge. That's for sure.

Sorry for such a lengthy and insightful post, my dear readers. But thank you for listening.

Inspiration Search...Sandra Dieckmann (and some stuff about me)

This might turn into a series.
Feeling lazy, uninspired, and not creative in any way lately, I went on a quest to find new illustrators. My search turned up Sandra Dieckmann, a fantastic illustrator out of London. I never do reviews on here of artists I love, but I think I need to when it inspires me like this. Her work is exactly what I've been trying to get into myself, weirdly enough. Line art, detail, patterns, and of course, animals! LOVE. And she has an Etsy shop! My Etsy wishlist is getting out of hand.

Feathers + Buffalo + patterns = AWESOME.

I love the big solid colors combing with the delicate lines.

Sandra's workspace. I want to go hang out there.

In other news, the weather in Ohio has appropriately turned to bullshit. Sheets of rain, 40 something degree weather, snow in some places (according to my mom who lives up north). I agreed to cover for someone at the horse barn tonight, as well as tomorrow...and Saturday. Once you've been stuck in the house for 8 months, it's hard to complain about going to work, regardless of the circumstances.

Cherry taking advantage of the weather. She lives a good life.

I don't think I mentioned I started working part-time at a horse barn in Plain City, Ohio. It's just something to do while I continue my never-ending hunt for a full time job. They house around 40-50 horses and I think I finally know all their names. Even in this weather, I'm thankful to be working with my passion of horses and not waiting tables or working retail. Helping little riders learn their way around horses is just fine for now, thank you. :)

And with that, it's time to dig my Carhartt coat out of the closet and seize this rainy, yucky day.

Log Cabin Love...Holla!

Opened up my Etsy newsletter in my email today...The title being 'Log Cabin Love'. I LOVE log cabins indeed. I want to live in one so bad someday. It's an obsession close to my vintage camper love.
My print was featured in the newsletter! Hurray! :) That's nice on a Monday.