Make Art That Sells Bootcamp redux

I'm participating in MATS Bootcamp again,I really like the pace of it, One new
design in 3 weeks for 6 months. The assignment this month was Edwardian
Brooches. I veered a bit from the subject but I chose to paint an Edwardian circus
with a highly decorated elephant, wearing the brooches and the spectators
watching. It started because I was dying to paint a tiger! I'm not sure this is the best
solution for a journal cover but I really like the painting... You can see the entire gallery
from lots of talented artists here.

I'm starting a newsletter.. I'm not great at updating the blog all the time so if you are
interested in signing up for updates to whats going on at Augustwren you
can sign up here or on the top right of my blog is a form...I'll only be sending it 1-2x
per month I think, so you won't be inundated I promise. Maybe if something amazing
comes up though...!

Global Talent Search Round 2!

I woke up that Tuesday morning a few weeks ago to see that I made the top 50 of
999 amazing artists in Lilla Rogers Global Talent Search! Wow...I'm in a group of outstanding artists!
The assignment for this round was to create a personified animal character for a young child's t shirt.
Uh Oh, this isn't the thing that I normally do or am the most comfortable with. I had lots of ideas and only
2 1/2 days to do it in before I left for a vacation with my Mom. I started right away just quickly
painting a few ideas.

It seemed like a good start so I started playing putting them into t shirt shapes to see how they would look.

Hmm, looking back now If I had more time I would have explored these options more.
I may have tightened up a bit too much because of time constraints. But at the time I really
wanted to show great deal of detail and thought on the animals face and gestures. You know
its so easy to 2nd guess yourself in a high fraught competition like this. (and in my experience in
a real life situation, a job, there is feedback on sketches from the art director so its not so blindly
done, so this is extra hairy!)  On the final version I wanted to show the lioness in a different position
so she is playing guitar on a vintage tin lunchbox and I also wanted to show a cute little girl wearing
the shirt. It would knock my socks off to get into the next round of 6 finalists but if not I've learned
so much and come such a long way that I'm going to be happy either way. (after a good cry!!)
Best xoxo Jennifer

Global Talent Search: Little Terrarium

Update!! I came in the top 50 of 999 entries!!! I'm thrilled and honored to have
been chosen.Now off to work on round #2.
 My final terrarium piece for the Global Talent Search! I wanted to create a
magical world, of plants and birds and insects and flowers. A place I could stare
at all day and feel inspired.I did alot of painting, somehow I can see the vision
in paint more clearly than a pencil or pen line. I can draw in paint so its comfortable
for me.
I started here: (as I posted the other day...)

I really felt I needed to see the image clearly and not get too busy and I loved the big
jar the best. and I tried 2 side by side but it is way too busy.

I painted a single jar with a better top and more considered elements.

But the background, although I like I really felt was competing with the detail in the
terrarium. I think maybe the detailed technique and the rough style in background felt
really unsettling to me.
So I tried one with a more even background with texture.

It still didn't feel grounded to me so I do what I do alot in my paintings and put the
image on a table. I felt like I could breathe now when I looked at it. I also painted
the bird and butterfly more beautifully and added a caterpillar, a ladybug, a bee and
some more butterflies. My change I would make now would be to do the lettering
more like the ones in the first versions... Oh well. I learn something from every piece of art I do.

Global Talent Search

I'm participating again in Lilla Rogers Global Talent Search. This year the brief is
little terrariums to be used as Wall Art. I love this subject. The little worlds inside
the glass jars can be so magical and special. We have been asked not to show
our final submission until the finalists are selected which is August 26th. I can't wait,
I know all the work will be so beautiful! This painting above is my first pass at some ideas.
It is refined from here but I stuck to my first vision. It took some fiddling but I'm
happy with how it turned out and I had a fantastic time working on it! Next week I'll
show my final piece. Keep your fingers crossed for me, i'd love to make the top 50.
What a trip that would be!!

Nautical

This month in Bootcamp was Nautical for Wall Art month, To be completely honest I was sort of
stumped by the theme. It's just not my thing.. and when I think of wall art that I would
purchase it wouldn't be nautical.. 100% no. So I did lots of paintings that I hated. The one
above looks sort of old, for a dusty old house with bats in the attic that you rent for a week
on Cape Cod. (I've rented that house before)

I went a little younger here, but still it's off to me, Still good for that house.I actually have
ideas on what to do for nautical if it was a greeting card or book illustration, but I let the
fact that this was supposed to be for wall art get to me... Oh well. I ended up submitting a
cool looking sailor, but can't really imagine that going on someones wall either.. I will revisit
nautical when my head is in the right place. On another note, there is amazing work in the
Bootcamp Gallery from all my classmates. Here

Ship in a Bottle

The mini of Month 4 Bootcamp
class is Ship in a Bottle and all things nautical. I really love the water, the beach, a boat ride but nautical isn't
my go to drawing subject. I put it off the first few days. Today was a beautiful day though so I brought out some scrap paper and watercolors and just played around, I think I'm starting to find some joy in this.. It's just hard to start sometimes..

It's just a matter of getting going.

I did pages of these and had a great time. It's good to venture into subject matter
that doesn't initially excite and explore it. I wonder what the assignment will be next Monday?

Dolls and Faces

I don't think I could have more fun with an assignment! The mini this week at Make Art That Sells is
to draw dolls and faces. This is my go to!! I do it all the time, my notebooks are just filled with them.
So I had a fantastic week with this.

I saw this doll at the local church sale last week, just begging to be painted!!

And these are real people that look like dolls!! My sister in yellow and my Mom in the 40"s from
an old black and white photo.

New Things

Week 3 of #Make Art That Sells class is children's books. We had to illustrate the cover of this fable by Aesop. I haven't done too much character development and it was fun working on this fox. Of course the
decorative stuff always comes into my work.  I paint all the icons separately and scan them in and do the background in photoshop.

Week 4 is Wall Art. I don't have much to say about this one, It's not the direction I want to be going so
even though I like it I will be moving on from here.
Thank you for voting for me in the ecojot cover contest, I came in 2nd place!!!
Jen

Succulents

This week at #makeartthatsells we worked on painting and drawing succulents for the mini.
I love them and even bought a few recently, what great shapes. Then we made them into
designs for plates. I restrained myself from using too much color this time. I love colorful
ceramics but I just felt like this is what I would want to set my table with right now.
I did one that is in color and I like it as well so I'll be making it into another group of 4.
Yay, I got 2 pieces out of this weeks class.

A friend from class has featured me on her blog today and she will be giving
away a print of one of my sketchbook pages if you comment.
Giveaway and Interview Here

Catching Up

I've painfully neglected my blog here lately so I'm making a commitment today to post
at least 2 times per week if not more. (Now I have to!)
I seem to be an ecourse junkie, I signed up for another round of Lilla Rogers Make Art
That Sells class. I thought at first no way, I don't have time, but isn't it amazing that the
more there is to do, the more you can get done. Week one was Bolt fabric, Tropical Fruits
and Vintage Pyrex. I have some ideas to expand upon the white ground coordinate but first
I'm onto week 2, Mini Succulents, my favorite!!
Here Is another version of the assignment.

I also signed up to do MatiRose's Daring Adventures in Paint again. I love the structure
of the class, I learn more each time and I get so much done. I just finished this painting
which is now hanging in the Preview Show exhibit for the studio tour which will be
happening at the end of April.

Off to work, I'll be back in a few days!

March MATS Bootcamp

This is my final version of the Jelly print from our March Assignment for Bootcamp.
I wasn't sure when I started what I was going to do with this but the hats just made perfect
sense to me.

These are the paintings before I started playing with them in photoshop.

Here  is a link to the whole gallery of all the fabulous artists who participated.

Jell-o, Jelly and Moulds

I can't believe its almost a month since I posted. I just can't keep up with
everything.. I try to do too many things and then sometimes nothing gets done.
Like the blog.
I'm in month 2 of Make Art that Sells bootcamp. The mini is Jell-o, Jelly
moulds. My first reaction on monday morning was Oh, Gross. It took a day
to sink in before I even could start the assignment. Once I got over the fact
that I wouldn't touch the stuff with a 10 ft pole it got more interesting, (and
disgusting) In the 50's and 60's people made Jello with other foods suspended
in it. Like fruit, meat, spaghetti, I don't know what else but GAG. But the good
side is that the shapes are sort of awesome and the colors are happy.
Don't they look like they could be cool hats? I did..

We'll find out what the assignment is on Monday morning. I'm sure a wrench
will be thrown in.

Cell Phone Cases!!

My cuckoo clocks got deconstructed a bit when I started designing

a cell phone cover. Here I'm trying the clock face as a pattern and

then the more centered botanical version. I'm quite happy with the

jewel like colors on the black background. I'll be putting these into my

new Society 6 shop,

Today I put in the dog print. It's fun to see the art on products!

I'm back at Make Art That Sells. This time it's bootcamp where we get an
assignment each month. This is perfect because it gives time to do other
things as well as really dig deep into it. The first month we have Cuckoo Clocks!
My grandparents had one in there home when I was a little girl and I remember
being enthralled by it. It was so magical with the little bird popping out and
making that pretty sound. I haven't thought of them since.
It turns out we have to design a cell phone cover using a cuckoo clock. I need
to start sketching..
I've also been continuing my sketchbook paintings a day...

Here are a few florals, The right one inspired by Downton Abbey, that
beautiful shot at the beginning. You can see them all at my website.

Folk Paper

Make Art That Sells class ended with a big party this week. We designed
paper plates and napkins influenced by Bavarian Folk Art. The complete and
total gorgeousness that came in from my classmates was astounding. This class
was so much more than I could have ever expected. 10 weeks of incredible
assignments that pushed my limits every time, helped me see, learn and to find
joy. I learned what I love to do best. The class was full of so many likeminded
talented, supportive, interesting artists who I now call friends. I so hope there
is a Part C sometime soon. I thank Lilla Rogers and Beth Kempton for making
this happen.

My project for this week was a bit about finding out how to bring my ideas and
focus to a place outside my studio. I was visiting my Mom in Florida so I had
limited supplies and time. Watercolor where I usually use gouache. The difference
between now and the time before MATS is that I was able to do this quickly,
happily and without extreme stress and uncertainty. Using the tools we learned,
minis, icons, color choices and joy I just did it. It's not the best thing I ever
created due to the restrictions but I am so happy I have grown so much during
this course. Here is the final, I'll miss the weekly assignments.

Back to Class

I'm back at Lilla Rogers Make Art that Sells class, round 2.
I did 5 weeks of part 1 earlier this year and now we have 5
more weeks. This week is the scrapbooking market. I honestly
didn't know anything about this besides seeing all of those
packages of doodads and papers in the craft aisle of Michaels.
It turns out that painting all of these little icons around a theme
and placing them on the page is right up my alley. I loved it.
The assignment was to paint/draw camera's and typewriters.
And then place them around a theme. The scrapbook companies
then take the icons and create all sorts of fun things to cut
and paste. So here is vintage travel and memories.
I love this class and totally recommend it. The group of artists
are amazing and we've formed a wonderful bond!

Together

This weeks word for Illustration Friday is together. It's such a perfect word
because I'm participating in a Blog Parade together with a bunch of my new
friends from Lilla Rogers class, Make Art That Sells. The class itself was fantastic,
I can't say enough how much I learned and grew from those 5 weeks. And Part B
is coming up in 2 weeks!!
The other wonderful thing that came from the class is the group of amazing artists
I've been able to connect with through the private facebook group. We share advice
and information, work in progress and thoughts. It's been such a treat to meet kindred spirits
from around the world.
I can vouch that they don't look like the above menagerie (we've all shared short videos)
but I'm so glad we've come together.
Next in line on the parade is Sherry London who works absolute magic with
photoshop, she's an expert, she teaches and is so generous with her help. She
also beads and spins yarn. Please go check out her blog and then go on the
parade if you like.

Here are a few sketches of the wild animals I drew earlier today.

 

Global Talent Search

The last 2 weeks I've been so absorbed in my entry to
the #globaltalent search. We had to design a 5x7"journal
cover with the theme vintage playground and the word
journal in there. The winner gets 2 years representation
by the amazing Lilla Rogers and a whole slew of licensing
deals. It's stiff competition, I've seen lots of the entry's and
there is some really  amazing work out there. I don't know how
many entrants but it could be thousands.. I would drop dead with joy
if I won, but right now I'd be blown over by just making the
the first cut which is the top 50 pieces. It's a long shot but if
you don't try you can't win...
I played with a few versions before I landed with the chalkboard
version which I submitted..
I started with pencil sketches, I knew I wanted to paint the icons
goauche and play with them in photoshop. I began designing a scene
but I just wasn't happy with it, It felt fussy and somewhat off.
especially as I added more icons.

Looking back now, I could have stopped here on the
scenic one but I was set on having the moms on the bench
in there and it just didn't work well with this layout.

I put this little sketch on the submission page. I remember my son doing this!
I'm looking forward to August 1st when we see the final 50!