A Picture A Day

Sometimes while working on specific illustrations for clients and while doing research for imagery for their assignments I go on tangents and create imagery that is just for me. And this is one of those times. I was working on a fashion illustration for a client and while this specific illustration did not work for what they were looking for I ended up liking it and finishing it for me. What do you think?

Diary of a Freelancer: Balancing the Business vs. Artist Me

Quote found here: http://felinatral.tumblr.com/

When I left my full-time job last March I knew that I was taking on more then just drawing for a living. I was becoming my own CEO, CFO, Assistant, Receptionist, Janitor... you name it... and I was looking forward to this. I love it, I really do, but something I still struggle with is the business aspect - especially when it comes to getting paid and the cost of my work.

I get so into illustrations and each individual job. Getting them completed to the point of being proud of them but also on time is my number one concern... The money portion is secondary... This is a good and bad thing... it's good because doing a great job and being concerned with the quality of work should be number one... it's bad because it can be so awkward and sometimes I just want to avoid it!

The biggest times and the worst examples I can tell you about are when I have clients that ask for sketches for free, or think my pricing is to high, etc... When this happens it's so tempting to want to make them happy. I worry that I won't get to keep them as a client or that they will go to someone else, so I half consider saying yes to the free sketches or lowering my prices.

But if I did, what would that say about me? It would say that I don't value my work, or my time... it would also say that I have no back bone and I'm a pushover... (things I'm secretly afraid are true anyway) and it would also (and this might be the worst part) under value the work of other freelance designers and artists because I'm willing to do work for less then it's actual worth...

At the end of the day I know that I need to learn to not worry if I turn away someone or miss out on a project. There will always be other opportunities and other clients that do value my work. Clients who do appreciate the time it takes and the level of quality they are getting, and they won't complain. But for the time-being when things like this happen I end up feeling icky and unsure. And truthfully, I'm also a little insulted. How can someone expect me to just do something or create a custom piece for them, for free? How would I make a living if I worked on things for free?

So it's been a balancing act that's for sure and I still have a lot of learning left to do... but in the end it's better to learn it now then not at all. And if I want to succeed in this world and this industry I will learn it... but for now let the learning curve continue and I'll focus on the positive... All of my wonderful clients who do appreciate my work.

Wish me luck and any advice you want to pass on is much appreciated!

xo Sweets!

Currently Reading - Safe Haven

amazon.com

I used to read Nicholas Sparks books all the time. I was literally obsessed with them. But then, plot after plot of sad twist left me feeling like I needed something new, and a little more uplifting to read.
So it's been years since I read a book by him... until recently.

I'd downloaded a song We Both Know by Colbie Caillat and Gavin DeGraw (both of whom I love) and so the cover of the song on my ipod says it's for a movie, Safe Haven, which is coming out soon and stars Josh Duhamel and Julianne Hough (two more people I love.) And so that led me to watching the trailer for the movie which then led me to the book.... and I loved it.

Side note: the cover on the left is the original cover and so perfect for the storyline. The cover on the right is the movie adaptation cover. There is nothing more I hate then buying a book with the movie adaptation cover. It just gets me nuts. Most original covers are done so artistically and are perfect for the book and they trade that in for two actors to promote the movie. And since I have a marketing past and I understand wanting to sell as many copies as possible as well as make poeple want to see the movie - I get it - I just wish they would use a poster or something or just a few new covers with the actors on it and leave some with the original cover for traditionalist like me... ok... back to the book...

I think I read the entire book in two days. It's charming and suspenseful and has great characters and a story that is so serious and yet happy. The story follows Katie, a girl on-the-run from her past life quietly settling into a small town and trying to forget her past as well as blend into her current surroundings. She doesn't want to make friends, she doesn't want to get to close to anyone. Then there is Alex a widower with two small children who owns a small convenience store in town. He is still mourning his wife and has not met anyone or dated anyone since her. He also assumes that living in a town as small as theirs the likelihood of meeting someone is pretty small. Katie shops at the store often and gradually becomes closer to Alex and his children and slowly lets him in to learn about her past... and he hopes help her to move on from it and to fall in love again.  This is the basic plot but the past that Katie has to deal with and move on from is what makes the story so suspenseful and interesting. If you like Nicholas Sparks books like A Walk to Remember and the Notebook you'll love this story.

Has anyone else read Safe Haven?

Springtime Wish List

Outfit One Neutrals and Textures: Tory Burch Shirt and Wedges, Banana Republic Skirt and Scarf. Outfit Two Easy Sundress: with Piperlime Sundress, DSW Sandals and Kate Spade Sunglasses. Outfit Three My Spring Uniform: Victoria Secrets Pants and JCrew Sperrys. Outfit Four The Maxi: Maxi Dress from Victoria Secrets! 

I know, I know... it's still January... I hear you... I do... but I really just want it to be spring. I want to wear pastel colors, cute sun dresses, sandals, skirts, short sleeves... less layers....

This is the worst time of year, in my opinion. The winter holidays are over and there is really nothing to look forward to until Memorial Day which just seems so far away. And all of the stores are showing their spring lines already... I just want warm weather now. It's also one of the coldest days so far this winter and we had snow showers last night... plus my little trip to Florida last week that included six 80 degree days so that didn't help anything.

Are you thinking about Spring like me? Or are you loving the winter weather?

Diary of a Freelancer: A Week in the Life

So to start... this is no ordinary week... No, this is an awesome exciting and fun filled week that involved Disney as well as work!

My brother and Uncle were running the Disney Marathon and I had the opportunity to paint a mural while I was down there and who would say no to that!? I mean seriously!? So last Thursday I flew down to Florida got ready to paint a mural, go to Disney to watch the marathon and spend a few days at the most magical place on earth, and then finish the mural before I returned home a week later.

It was a great and exciting week. Disney was so much fun. Maybe I'm still a big kid at heart because I loved every minute of it. Just walking around and enjoying the sites. We spent Saturday through Monday spending time at Disney. We stayed at the All Star Movies Resort which was so cute. If you have kids this is certainly a great place to stay. So Saturday after we arrived we hung out by the pool then grabbed dinner and a glass of wine or two and then called it a night. We had to get up at 3am the next morning for the marathon that started at 5am. At 3am we woke up and watched the marathon begin .. and then four hours later we saw my brother and uncle cross the finish line. After the marathon we spent a few hours by the pool, grabbed lunch, and then went to the Magic Kingdom to walk around, go on some rides, and enjoy the park. The Monday was spent at Downtown Disney shopping and relaxing until we were ready to head back to my uncle's house.

Tuesday came faster then expected and I only had two and a half days to paint a three section sports mural. I was a little nervous about getting it done but I had to try. And after two and a half pretty long days I did successfully finish. Tuesday I started with the largest portion. The baseball one. and slowly but surely got it all done. I started with a black and white outline. Then blocked in the color. Then added the detail.

After that, Wednesday into Thursday afternoon, I worked on the Hockey portion and then the Football portion. I finished the mural Thursday around noon. My flight was at 5pm... perfect timing if I do say so myself :-)

What do you think?

Great week huh!? I'm a little sad it's over but I'm moving onto more projects and getting my year-end information ready.... wish me luck... 

A Picture A Day: Long Overdue Logo Update

Back in November I showed you logo sketches for Hunting Parks Finest, an outreach and youth mentoring program. And as one of my ways to try to benefit the community and do something good with my art I started working on this logo for them.

When I showed the first group of sketches I let everyone know that the top option was my favorite. I was so sure it would be theirs too! But it wasn't... this is the case a lot but I think their logo turned out great and will benefit them exactly how they want it to, and most importantly, this fits them and their message and aesthetic better then my original pick. 

What do you think? 

Currently Reading - Bossypants

I'm currently reading Bossypants by Tina Fey. 

This book is awesome.

It's written with a great amount of sarcasm and and vibe that suggests Tina Fey, even with how successful she is, doesn't take life as a celebrity to seriously. I quite literally laugh out loud every time I open this book. I've even read it on the train or waiting rooms... you know those public places where you just want to blend in and read... and end up laughing and looking like a lunatic!

The basic premise of the story is Tina Fey telling you about her path to success and what she has learned from her life and career. She is so candid.

Need a good laugh as well as an encouraging story... go read this!

Custom Illustration Update

A few months ago I showed you all this illustration for Sylvia C Hall a Creative Life Stylist in Kansas. Sylvia had contacted me looking for a fashion illustration for her styling business and I was over the moon! Well now, to make things even more exciting as her business changes and becomes more successful she was looking for a few tweaks to her illustration to more accurately represent who she is and where she is going. And same as last time, she is so much fun to work with, absolutely gorgeous, and her style is awesome :-)

Below is the original illustration I created for her.

New Logo for Sylvia C. Hall Personal Stylist

And here is the updated illustration

We wanted to create something that was a little more Sylvia as well as give her an outfit that worked in other seasons then just summer ;-) 

What do you think? Do you like the updated illustration? I personally am so happy with it and hope it works great for Sylvia! Also, check out Sylvia's website and if you are in Kansas give her a call and work with her! 

xo

Diary of a Freelancer - Always Have a Back-up

Hi there  and how was your weekend?

I'm back and finally able to get back to work after a bumpy week last week. With the holidays and everything else going on I was already running behind and in order to try to catch up I was working pretty late hours. So Thursday night at 1 a.m. my Wacom tablet, which I use to draw on the computer with, died. It had been blinking and turning on and off for a few hours but I just thought it was the cord connection. If I moved the cord a little the tablet would turn back on - so that seemed like the logical conclusion to me.

The next morning I get up and it's time to deal with this issue that I'm hoping will be fairly quick and painless... so first I call Best Buy and Apple to see if they sell just the cords in their store. Well no surprise here... they don't. So my next call is to Best Buy again to see if we purchased the two year protection plan on the tablet well it wasn't even offered to us because the warranty is covered through the manufacturer so I can't just go get it replaced that easy. So then I call Wacom explain the issue and since it's covered under the two year warranty still I have high hopes it'll all be ok. I'll have to go buy a new once since I can't wait weeks for the tablet to be replaced but then I'll have two so it'll all workout...But they think it's the cord as well and cords are not covered under warranty so I should just go to any electronics store and they have the cord since it's a standard cord blah blah blah...

Now I'm calling Best Buy for the third time and the one closest to my house does not have this so called standard cord. So I try Target.... they don't either... then I call the next closest Best Buy which is a half hour away and they have it! They tell me to order it online and just do store pick-up so it's fastest and should be perfectly simple. I Order it online. Half hour later I'm picking the cord up at Best Buy and the Geek Squad guy is promising me that it is in fact the correct cord and it'll be fine. Drive half hour home. Plug in cord. Why doesn't this cord fit!? O it's because they gave me the wrong cord!! Call Best Buy AGAIN, they assure me the right cord is set aside and I should come back and exchange them. Go there and am in the process of the exchange and I ask the sales girl if I can just take a look and make sure it's the right cord. And IT'S NOT!!! WTF!!! So back to the computer section where a very nice sales associate helps me find the right cord... surprise again. This cord is not standard - that Wacom jerk lied. In fact they barely make it anymore and I have to buy this crazy pack with like fifteen different cord hook-ups just to get one that matches. So back home, again... Plug in the cord. Yay! It Fits! But wait... wacom still doesn't turn on. WTF!!!!!!

So at this point I'm about to loose my mind or maybe I did... it's all a big angry blur. After all of that the cord wasn't the issue and I've wasted the entire day either on the phone or driving back and fourth to Best Buy. And all of those projects that I was so terribly behind on are nowhere closer to completion and I'm supposed to be leaving for the Poconos in an hour to spend the weekend with friends. So on the way to the Poconos I stop at Best Buy AGAIN and purchase a brand new Wacom, the updated version, and continue to the Poconos where any downtime or TV time we had I drew and worked on those projects. But the damn updated version sucks. I absolutely hate it. It has a tooth on the surface of the tablet so I can't make a smooth line with the pen and the icing on the cake the damn tablet continually freezes and I have to unplug it and then plug it back in to get it to work again. 

So now it's Monday afternoon. I've returned the new wacom, purchased an older version (which happens to be the same one I had to begin with), and am back in business!

But since my old wacom (the broken one) is still covered under warranty I now have to call Wacom again and get a new one from them too! I'm a little afraid based on Friday how this is going to go. And even if it all works out it'll most likely take a few weeks to get the new one anyway. But since this is the most important piece of equipment I use it can't hurt to have two.

Lesson learned though. If your major equipment breaks and you don't have a back-up you can't do your job and then you loose money and time! So ALWAYS HAVE A BACK-UP!

Happy Monday Sweets and here's to a better week!

xo

A Picture A Day - Logo In Action

Back in June I showed you a logo and watermark design I had worked on with the fabulous Kristin Gainey Photography. Well Kristin so nicely sent me photos of the logo in action on her packaging.

Take a look! What do you think? I personally love it (not to toot my own horn or anything) I think it goes so nicely with her aesthetic and packaging (Especially on the m&m's - she is a girl after my own heart!). Check out her site, and her blog as well to see her incredible work!

Thank you again Kristin. It was wonderful working with you and it's so exciting to see the final product!

 

Diary of a Freelancer- How is it 2013 already!?

 O my goodness, how it is 2013 already!? How was your holiday?

Mine was fabulous and busy, filled with to much food and drink, friends and laughs, family and presents... I'm always sad to see the holidays come and go and get back to my usual routine so for now let's recap the wonderful holiday season! I saw three movies in particular that I loved (Silver Linings Playbook, The Words, and Pitch Perfect) (if you haven't seen them you definitely should!), drank champagne, watched the entire first season of American Horror Story (had never seen it before but now am hooked), spent a day in New York City, went outlet shopping and purchased a fabulous red Kate Spade laptop bag for 70% off (Woo Hoo!), drank Champagne, relaxed a little, ate cookies, spent the weekend in the Poconos, ate dessert while drinking champagne, worked on personal marketing pieces to send out in the New Year, drank Champagne, ate dessert, ate cookies, exchanged presents and received an absolutely beautiful Michael Kors leather jacket, made pot after pot of yummy soup, and drank more champagne...

and now it's time to start working out, to finish the marketing pieces to expand my company in 2013, to update my website, to launch a new company with one of my dearest friends, and to eat healthy.

Bring it on 2013 I'm ready!!

Happy New Year Sweets, xo!