10 May 2011
by Caseyin Artwork, Matt's Choice
Every night my husband tells me “make more art that you are proud of”. I find as an artist I am the cliché, never completely happy with my own work. Always wanting it to be better, too close to the situation to see the continuity. This is not to say I don’t believe in my work or think it is marketable, I just am constantly wanting improvement. However, I have recently been happy with my work!
I sunk into a routine of spending any moment free making art. Apart from the large number of sculpey creatures I made, I also completed a series of pieces from The Life of Pi. The first two pieces can be seen here. Now, here is the third.
I am very happy to be able to add this series to my portfolio. Just in time for the NESCBWI conference this coming weekend. Ready for my portfolio review Friday and my web critique Sunday. The website critique is through the Advanced Illustrator Academy. I am happy to have helped organize this Academy which, will include illustrators Dani Jones and John Lechner, designer Kerry Martin, and agentNicole Tugeau. It should be a stupendous session! I look forward to seeing friends and meeting people that I have been talking with through twitter. Make sure you stop and say hi!
06 May 2011
by Caseyin Artwork, Miscellaneous
What a weekend and then week following. Nothing happened this week but, I have felt burnt out and all over the place. Honestly I still feel like I am out of sorts but, it’s time to reign this in and get back to a normal schedule.
What did I do this week? I gardened: prepping my seedlings for life outside, potted some yard violets, and went shopping at Mahoney’s as my Mother’s Day gift to myself. I purchased a plant that I am going to try to bonsai and I got information on how to take care of my venus fly trap; since, it has taken a hit on its new growth.
Then I spent the rest of my time watching How I Met Your Mother and perusing etsy. It has been ridiculous, I didn’t even update my shop! Today that stops. Back on the blog ready to update and get back to work.
Although, one last silly thought, I have gotten from How I Met Your Mother. If you had a tape/cd stuck in your car and it only played one song over and over, what song could you handle that being? I choose Parklife by Blur.
Anyway, Somerville Open Studios went excellently! Thank you to everyone who came by and supported me and Seth! We had a wonderful turn out and many of our items found new homes. In fact to celebrate the success, spring and, being back I am going to do a give away! One of my critters from the drawers will be the item up for grabs. I need to post new pictures of which critters are left; once I have that I will make an official post about the giveaway.
Until then, a fun thing that happened while I sat awaiting visitors last weekend was a I started filling a sketchbook with brush pen drawings of my critters. The style is different from how I have usually draw but, I like that inspiration is coming to my sketchbook from my sculpting. I don’t know that I will take this style to a portfolio level but, I certainly enjoy it and it helps to fuel me creatively for my usual drawing style. There is a part of me that dreams of making a side B to my portfolio filled with items like these.
For those of you coming to my blog from the kidlitart tweet chat last night you remember our discussion was on style, how you develop/find your own style. I agree that it takes years of practice, drawing enough that a consistent look comes out of you. What do you think of this? A totally different technique has sprouted out of me. Do I make side B? If I leave this on the level of my etsy shop, would you prefer me to have a separate shop for my critters verses having them together with my letter and animal paintings? Or as it was mentioned am I too close to myself and don’t see how these relate to my other work? Any thoughts or opinions would be greatly appreciated! Of course these questions are also directed at myself, this is me letting you all in on my current thoughts.
Hope you all enjoy hearing about my silly week, thank you for stopping by!
26 Apr 2011
by Caseyin Artwork, Miscellaneous, News
With just a few days left before open studios I am wrapping up my final preparations. I unfortunately caught a flu; so, I lost out on some work time but, I am catching back up and should be totally well by the weekend.
I will be at 45 Laurel St. Apt #2 Somerville, MA – #69 on the SOS map
Here is a preview of some of the pieces I will be selling this weekend. If you can’t make it anything not sold will be posted to my etsy shop.
Then, another downloadable coloring page. The whole coloring book will be available at SOS.
28 Mar 2011
by Caseyin Artwork, Matt's Choice
Lately there has been a focus on the Pacific in the world and at my home. The weekend the Quake and Tsunami hit Japan, Matt and I were listening to the Life of Pi on our drive to Rochester. This was my second time listening to it and I was taken away again. The Life of Pi is on my favorite books list; it blew me away. I had no idea what was coming. If you decide to read it I highly recommend the audio book, thanks Melinda for recommending that to me.
Upon my second listening I decided to move forward with my decision to illustrate 3 scenes that stuck in my mind. This is also my Husband’s Choice for the present as I have a show and a conference coming up in May. With his encouragement I am working to make new work to sale or donate and to update my portfolio. (yes there are only 2 of 3, the third composition is too similar to the first. it’s still in sketch stage)
With the many things happening across the world, I’m glad to say there are many groups sending whatever help they can including Kidlit4Japan There are some wonderful items up for auction. Check it out and bid as generously as you can. We are thinking and hoping for the people of Japan. Let there be more people this brave.
22 Mar 2011
by Caseyin Artwork, News, Sculpey
All right, things have been going on in my life and I have to admit they are completely disrupting my regular scheduling. I am still getting things done and am making work; it is just all coming out on it’s own time. Hopefully next week will be a bit more normal and there will begin a new series of Husband’s Choice. I apologize for the break in the usual programming.
However, new things are here! I had a wonderful commission from a friend, 6 of my specimens! As it was left completely up to me on what to make I wanted to give her options to choose from. This left me with 7 new cuddlies to sale.
For a while I have been thinking of making the step to have a separate shop for my specimens. I believe these cuddlies don’t fit in well with my CaseyGirard etsy store. I think when the letters or even the other cuddlies are what brings you the shop and then you see the specimens they are off putting. So, to give them some proper space I have opened up Biology Class my new shop just for the specimens and any other strange creations that come about.
Here are the others that will be going up for sale throughout the week:
Yes the two not in vials are now and will sell in vials.
08 Mar 2011
by Caseyin Artwork, Matt's Choice
One more down and only one left, X. A print of the W is now available for sale in my etsy shop.
23 Feb 2011
by Caseyin Artwork, Wednesday Animal
A local art store often puts wooden canvases on sale. During one of these sales I purchased some small ones to see how it would be to work on wood. Last Friday inspired by a meme I started almost 5 years ago now, I made this little piece. I used watercolors, colored pencils, and a white paint pen for the painting and the magenta edges are acrylic. I am extremely happy with how this came out. This panda is my current benchmark for how the rest of my work should look.
05 Jan 2011
by Caseyin Artwork, News, Sculpey, Wednesday Animal
A year to catch our breaths and calm down. Last year was rough, so many hardships came down upon people I know and love. I am hoping with the start of this year we can all heal from these trials, grow, and find balance.
My plans for myself are to simply stay on track. I have developed a great work routine over the past 6 months and I don’t want to loose it. As I continue to develop my illustration I am mainly spending time on my own ideas. To keep me on track I have signed up for some online group projects. You can see on the right of this post widgets for them, 250 words a day from Inky Girl and the Picture Book Dummy Challenge (that’s really a twibbon, I also put on my site). I am very excited to be participating!
Also keeping me on track are my weekly post themes, today, Animal Wednesday! I always like to illustrate the animal of the year. However, this is the first year I am happy with and willing to share my drawing. My year of the Rat image defied gravity, literally my rat was standing on air because of a bad perspective. Anyway, this is my rabbit, I am selling this piece on my etsy store too.
Playing along with the other holidays I am planning on making 3 or 4 Valentine’s Critters. Here is my first one:
Happy Year of the Rabbit I wish you all well for this year!
13 Dec 2010
by Caseyin Artwork, Sculpey
Clay. The medium that relaxes me and makes me feel like I am refreshing my creativity while I work. Example, I worked on projects until 2am last night and didn’t notice the time at all. Over the years I have learned some tricks as well as found other artists who’s work in polymer is truly inspiring.
My relationship with clay started my Sophomore year of college after a horrible winter quarter in Rochester. I was feeling down and out, ready to quit illustration. Things had to change so, I took a quarter of electives: print making, metals/jewelery, and hand building clay (because throwing classes were full thanks goodness!). It was a revitalizing quarter. I would spend many extra hours in the ceramics studio finishing my sculptures because, having my hands wet, dirty, and kneading clay brought me back to life.
Continuing with clay that needed a kiln was outside of my realm. However, I found sculpey which, can be cooked in my oven, a satisfying replacement. This was introduced to me by dimensional illustration class and Teresa. She started out simpley and by the end of our college career she was a master at making all of her art with sculpey. It was impressive and beautiful.
These influences started me making ornaments for all of my cousins. Making over 20 ornaments every year since 2003 was how I learned the ropes of polymer clay.
The year after I left college I was jobless and watching a lot of TV when I saw a Converse commercial featuring Meredith Dittmar. Completely inspired I have been regularly checking out her guys since then. For my first date with Matt we actually got to see her work in a local gallery. A year later I bought him our favorite piece from the show as an anniversary present.
Seeing her work made me want to work beyond the ornaments but, it wasn’t until September 2009-when I signed up for a craft fair where I couldn’t sell my ornaments-that I focused and made something different. Desiring to still make something functional I made magnets. This year I again was part of the craft fair and I stepped it up again. Having gotten some small vials from a biology lab I knew I wanted to fill them with my own scientific specimens.
After two craft fairs and being on top of getting product made I started selling on etsy. I watch the feeds seeing what else comes up and yes watching to see where my pieces land in the pages of items for sale. One quiet day I came upon this shop Beastlies. These Beastlies by Leslie Levings are so completely adorable I adopted Garen. Since, he loves butter and I didn’t want him to be alone, I made him a friend named Butter. They are already pals and keep me company living on my drawing desk.
Making my own creatures has been the ultimate goal since I started expanding from ornaments. Today I have gotten started, these are my Cuddly Critters.
09 Nov 2010
by Caseyin Artwork, Matt's Choice, News
My 100th post. I have been so nervous since I realized I had hit this mile marker. I wanted to be sure I posted something good. The pressure has been on! Although, stars aligned and a few things came together. 1. my husband had given me the prompt “where do dreams come from” 2. my winter card needed to be finished this week so I can mail it off before Thanksgiving so everyone has my new address 3. I think my style is showing itself
I like to draw and draw and draw and muddle over a piece forever. It’s why I enjoy burnishing. However, I also feel something about that method restrains me from another part of myself. Over the summer I played with all the materials sitting on my desk trying new things and watched all the talented people I have found through twitter and conferences. You all have been so inspiring and encouraging. Thank you. For any who have been following along and watching my progress thanks for coming along with me on this journey. I think a corner has been turned!
I am going to do a giveaway for this event, a print of this piece, 11 x 14. Leave a comment by next Tuesday 11:59pm and I will announce a winner Wednesday, the 17th.
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