Working up a New Collection: A Sketchy Sneek Peek

Some of my preliminary sketches for my new collection.

drawing and wardrobe inspiration

cupcakes in every flavor

heavenly cupcake

how many flavor cupcakes are there?

drawing and head dress inspiration

close up of her cupcake head dress

yum

I could draw cupcakes for days

scoutie girl & cupcake

how can I help you?

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The Fruits of My Labors

When I got a request asking for fruit artwork by noon tomorrow. My response was let me see what I can pull together. When in fact, I didn’t have any fruit artwork, but I do now.

Here are a few of the designs I was able to whip up in one night. Of course, if I had more time I would of been able to do more, featuring a larger varieties of fruit but all in all I’m pretty happy with what I was able to do while burning the midnight oil. Hopefully my client is just as happy with my results.

Hurry up and draw some strawberries!! Who doesn't love strawberries?!

...And watermelon. I love watermelon

Design featuring some cherries I had initially drawn for my Cowgirl Tales Collection. I was glad I had at least something I didn't have to completely create from scratch.

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All Wrapped Up

Some new holiday gift wrap designs  that I recently did for  Earth Balance Bag Company are now available  for  wholesale orders on their site.

Geo Trees gift wrap designed for Earth Balance Bag Co.

Holiday Tree Jubilee gift wrap designed for Earth Balance Bag Co.

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Christy Hess’s thoughts on Surtex 2010

Christy Hess’s thoughts on Surtex 2010

http://christinahess.blogspot.com/2010/06/surtex-2010.html

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Inspiring Positivity -My Art Licensing Story

On the last day of the Surtex Show Artist Tara Reed came by with her camera in hand and persuading me to do a video for her art licensing stories series. It was  great to finally meet Tara in person, after knowing her for a few years in the online virtual community, and I was happy to do it. Tara’s an awesome lady who’s positive energy is truly refreshing and completely contagious!!  I love her eternal optimism. I truly believe that you need to put positive energy out into the world if you would like to receive it.

My first video debut! I think I might have a new calling in broadcasting ;-)

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My Surtex Experience- 1st Time Exhibiting

I can’t tell you how glad I was to see that my palette of artwork and supplies made it to the Javtis Center safe and sound. It was there waiting for me when I arrived to set up on the Friday before the show. I had done a ton of preparation but still was a bit unsure how I was going to hang everything. I had packed a variety of supplies with and I had a few ideas, but knew I wasn’t going to really know until I was there and doing it.  In the end I actually winded up using the T-Pins that I threw into the box at the last minute on a whim. I had a lot elements that needed to be hung and adjusted and I could not have done it with out the help of my two college friends, Christy & Dominick. They were willing to take the time to be with me throughout the entire show, while my husband Jay was taking care of my daughter, Ava Blu and holding down the fort at home.

Being a first-timer I wanted to share with you some of my logistical learnings.

My top 5 logistical learnings:

• Matt prints work best with the supplied spot lighting- I had printed photographic satin prints and they were catching some big glares from the spot lights. Next year I will definitely be doing matt prints.
• You can never have enough Tape or T-Pins. Pack more supplies then you think you’ll need.
• Be friendly with your security guard, but not too friendly, as you don’t want him hovering around your booth during show hours.
• Bring/drink plenty of water.
• Shipping freight is a mysterious thing. Make sure you have your Bill of Lading.

I met some amazing people and walked away with solid leads and prospects to follow up on. I had a great experience and left the show feeling energized, excited and a bit tuckered out but ready to work on what’s NEXT.

I’m a firm believer in positive thinking & projecting positive energy so I’m confident that all of my hard work will pay off.

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Surtex Press!!!

Check it out!!

I have a write up in Total Art Licensing page 26 (and my ad on pg 64)!!!!!

http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/4cfe6a67#/4cfe6a67/27

And mentioned on Print & Pattern (right next to my boothmate no less!!):

http://printpattern.blogspot.com/2010/05/surtex-nss-2010-also-look-out-for.html

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All Packed Up & Ready to GO!!

I’m all packed up and ready to go!!!  For the last 6 months I’ve been intensely prepping for Surtex and I’m shipping everything off tomorrow!!  This will be my first time exhibiting. It’s been a lot of work and has taken some very long night and uninterrupted weekends to get everything together. But it feels great just to get this far that I am brewing with excitement waiting for the actual show to arrive.

Here is a look at some of my pre-show prep work.

inspiration and figuring out my booth layout.

Besides wanting to showcase my work I felt it was really important to also create an emotional feeling and mood. I want people to remember my art, but more then that, I want them to remember how they feel when they view my art. If there is anything I’ve learned from working in retail, it’s that you need to create an emotion association and attachment to the product. So, I wanted to create an environment that would be conducive for folks to easily experience that emotional connection with my artwork.

spacial 3-d mock-up of booth  and wall layout

gluing, mounting, framing

packing up

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Postcard Branding

Here is the design of the postcard I sent out letting folks know I’ll be exhibiting at Surtex

front

back

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Foxy Ladies

Here is a preview of some Foxy Ladies that will be making their debut at Surtex this May.

Below are some of the sketched that started it all while I was sitting in the jury box doing my civic duty.

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