Real Pretty Winter

It snowed! Where I grew up, it snowed all the time, but in the valley here, snow is rare. Probably for the best; no one actually knows how to drive in it. This morning, I decided to run errands early and get back home before the roads turned into a complete zoo. There were only about 2 inches on the ground when I left, and by noon (long after I very gratefully pulled into the driveway), there were at least four inches piled up...and it kept coming down!

My little collection of birdhouses out in the backyard were looking very alpine peeking out of the snow and reminded me of Heidi or something like that. 

It's probably going to stick around for a few days at least, since the weather forecast calls for low temperatures until Monday, at least. I'm going to be trying to balance out my love of the frozen white stuff with my tendency to get cabin fever at the drop of a hat...or a snowflake. I might walk over to the Eugene Holiday Market, since the artists and performers are planning on being there and I enjoy rewarding stubbornness, and of course, being stubborn myself.

Dreams and Believing

It's been a crazy busy couple of months. I was in the Orycon art show again, I had a sale with friends last weekend, I did a new window for St. Johns Booksellers, and there's been the usual work for my design clients. Through it all, I had to fight the voices of self-doubt that I struggle with so often, but it's been getting easier to shout those buggers down. I'm finally starting to feel like I'm on the right track.

At Orycon, I sold a couple of original illustrations and a number of prints, doing better than I've ever done. All the work of Inktober really paid off. Recognize the trio? I airbrushed the background using the Copic ABS and a tree stencil, and then inked over the top:

The original sold at Orycon!

The Sinister Trio is currently available for purchase as an instant download over in my Etsy store, something new that they (and I) are trying out.

At the convention, I had the chance to show one of my sketchbooks to some artists who were very kindly offering some of their time to do sketchbook critiques. Among them was Rob Carlos, who said some really helpful and encouraging things, which I'll be remembering for a long time. I said that I felt like my art was missing something, I didn't really know how to describe it. He said, "You're an artist. You're always going to feel that way." 

Ok, having someone of that professional level call me an artist was so deeply affirming, it made me tear up a little. Still does, truth be told. The thing I've wanted most for a long time was to feel like I was moving in the right direction with my artwork. Between the sales I've had this year, the feedback they gave my sketchbook, and just feeling it in my hands and my heart, I absolutely feel like I'm getting there, wherever there turns out to be - even if there is just the next vista on the road. I'm finally starting to believe. 

A couple of weeks ago, my friend Vandy introduced me to the glories of watercolor pencils. Now I've never really liked pencils as a medium, but after playing with hers for a bit, and finding what I could do with them in terms of color and texture, I am SO hooked. The wintry bird above was done with watercolor and water soluble ink pencils. I am in love with the texture and shading - the serendipity of them. And I've always loved the look of watercolors. I am so deeply excited at the possibilities here.

Busy, Busy

It's actually been a pretty busy month. I found out about this thing called Inktober over on Tumblr. 31 days of daily ink drawings. For me, it's been casual and fun. It's basically turned into 31 days of cat drawings. I let it.

I've found myself trying some new things, and finding some ideas to work up into more formal treatments. These are the casual drawings that have led (or will lead) to more finished pieces:

 Nyaang, the Last Catnipbender

Many-Armed Cat Goddess

Notre Dame des Petite Chats

 Sibyl Cat

I'll be posting the formal, finished pieces soon. Here's a peek of Notre Dame des Petite Chats in progress:

October Thunders In

Sketchbook Kitties

October came in like little cat feet. Not creeping in like fog, but thundering across the tundra like wild beasts, which is what our cats do most of the time. The only time they creep is when they're trying to sneak up on a plate of people food.

Fall, so far, has been as gray and green as these kitties.

In other news, my show at the Beanery is over and I just realized that I didn't take any pictures and neither did Bear. Oh well, one more thing to remember for next time. Learning is good, right?

Over the next few days, I'll be taking pictures of various pieces and getting them up on Etsy. A good handful of pieces sold, enough to make me feel like it was a success and something to do again soon.

Ooh, note to self, I must send Amy, the manager, a little thank you! Self, take note.

Fall Collage: Nevermore

I am having a very, very good time with collage lately, playing with a limited palette of pens, watercolors, papers and stamps.

 I'm using Pitt india ink pens, and loving the really velvety dark black you get by going back over the first round of inking.

Paper for these is either blank watercolor postcard stock (I love watercolor paper) or Bristol ACEOs.

I'm digging into my backstock of vintage books that have been damaged and could use the second life. In this case, we're talking about a couple of old dictionaries and schoolbooks. Fun!