“Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don’t resist them; that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like.”
― Lao Tzu
In another life, I’d be…
A ceramicist.
A photographer.
A geologist.
A marine biologist.
An ecologist.
A wildlife activist.
An archaeologist.
A trail guide.
…
What would you be?
I told myself I wasn’t going to create any art for Month of Love, a weekly challenge in February, created by artist Kristina Carroll (she also runs Month of Fear in October–another addictive challenge). This is my busiest time of year. It’s essential I focus. My mistake was taking a peek at the challenges/themes for this year’s event. I thought, I’ll just take a look. Looking doesn’t hurt….
Said no artist, ever…
Ripley for Month of Love
Month of Love (and its counterpart) are hosted through Tumblr. Click on the image above to read my official blurb. Below are some snippets from the creative process.
Graphite Pencils, Charcoal Pencils, Charcoal Stick and a Kneadable Eraser
Ripley is Graphite and Charcoal on 9 x 12 inch acid free drawing paper. It would have been nice if I’d had some charcoal powder on hand, but I made do with a stick I borrowed from my daughter’s supplies. I haven’t worked with charcoal since my college days. It was fun and messy! Working with the stick also turned out to be the better option as it gives the drawing an organic rawness that would have been absent with the powder.
I worked on the drawing over the course of two days. On one of those days this was all I worked on. Now it’s time for me to get back to work on my personal project. I have my first exhibit of 2016 coming up next month! Details to come soon…
http://www.amandamakepeace.com
http://makepeacearts.tumblr.com
The subreddit r/Fantasy is holding an Artist & Illustrator week through January 31st. I’ll there today at 10 a.m. EST to answer questions about my art, inspiration, process, cats, favorite flavor of ice cream…you name it. You can ask me anything!
“Through art we can change the world.”
In 2014 I participated in my first Twitter Art Exhibit. <– Click to see my previous entry. The goal of every Twitter Art Exhibit is to raise money for charities, through the selling of postcard size art. This year’s exhibit is taking place at Trygve Lie Gallery in New York City, March 31st – April 21st, 2016. It will raise money to support Foster Pride’s Handmade Program. You can read a full press release here.
Once again I decided to with the magical bird theme… Big surprise, I know. This is Badb. She measures 4 x 6 inches and is watercolor and acrylic on Fluid Watercolor Paper (Cold Press, 140-lb).
Badb is a war goddess from Irish Mythology. She was known to take the form of a Hooded Crow and instilled fear among soldiers to sway a battle to her liking. Below is a series of time lapse videos I took during the painting’s creation.
FOLLOW
Website: www.twitterartexhibit.org
Twitter: www.twitter.com/twitrartexhibit
Facebook: www.facebook.com/twitterartexhibit
You may have noticed I like birds. My friend and artist, Melissa Gay, also likes birds. You might call us bird whispers! We both have our own unique approach to depicting these feathered creatures. What if we created a work of art from the same reference photo? How similar or dissimilar would be they? I thought it might be fun to find out and Melissa agreed!
Here’s a stock image of a Gyrfalcon I found on DeviantArt. We both took a few days to create our piece of art and then without even showing one another, we posted them on Facebook.
Same bird. Different art. Completely different vibe!
Melissa and I enjoyed this little experiment so much that we’ve decided to repeat it once a month. If you follow us on Facebook, be on the look out for our posts around this same time each month. You can also find our posts using the hashtag #birdwhisperer.
Amanda on Facebook – Melissa on Facebook
You can see more of Melissa’s art at www.melissagay.com.
Self-promotion. The forest we try to navigate each day. If you sell a product, no matter what product, you walk this tightrope. It’s not as simple as shouting, buy my stuff, from my the highest peak. Self-promotion is hard work and it involves a ton of patience. It’s not always fun and you don’t always see results. I personally dislike the feeling of forcing my art on people. Each time I share something on Twitter I wonder, am I annoying folks? Is anyone even looking at my art? But then I start to pay attention to my statistics. Days I don’t share and talk about my art my views go down. Days I do… You get the point.
What might be the most difficult part about self-promotion for me, is the act of sharing things not about my art, but myself. I’m a quiet person. Not as quiet as I once was in my younger days, but my fellow Tessera Guild members will tell you–I’m quiet. I’m a thinker, and sometimes a loner. I don’t often say something unless it’s worth saying 100%. Ironically, this is key to self-promotion via social media networks. Key. When you interact with your fans you’re also building trust. Building trust will make your product look far more appealing than someone elses they don’t feel they know. Last year I wrote a blog post about building trust with online buyers after reading an excellent article at EmptyEasel.com. EmptyEasel is geared toward visual artists, but these five rules will apply to authors, musicians and anyone else selling something online.
I’m revisiting these five rules with new thoughts for the new year.
1. Don’t Make it About “You” “It’s about the community. People aren’t going to follow you if all you do is try to sell them stuff and promote yourself. Become a trusted resource, instead of a salesperson.”
Or better yet, become a storyteller. Whatever you’re creating, chances are there’s a story behind it and there’s an audience who’s ready to listen.
2. Be sociable “…the next time you think about listing one of your art pieces, take the time to figure out how you can present that piece in a more social manner.”
Don’t just post a link to the art in your shop. Think about making a collage showing the stages from sketch to finish.
3. Show the real you “Use a photo of yourself for your profile image, not a photo of your art, or company logo. People want to connect with people, not products or businesses.”
I’m not sure this is always necessary anymore, as long as your real face makes an appearance from time to time. There’s nothing worse than coming to know a public figure by their profile photo, only to find out it’s from 20-30 years ago. Don’t do that (unless you’re vampire).
There was suppose to be a dog in this photo! LOL Well, we both enjoyed the short walk. Beautiful day. 🙂 A photo posted by Amanda Makepeace (@amandamakepeace) on
4. Respond to your fans
“When you respond to your fans (or customers)…have a conversation with them.”
I try to respond to everyone and if I’m swamped with comments I will still post a ‘Thanks everyone!’ They are taking the time to make a comment, something totally voluntary, the least I can do is show my appreciation.
5. Be consistent
“From how you portray your company across various social networks, to how often you post…”
Also, remember that online and offline, you represent your art and/or brand. That’s why it’s best to be yourself, so when your fans meet you in public (whether it’s at a convention or the grocery store) they aren’t surprised…
I’ll be honest. There are days I don’t feel like socializing at all. I don’t beat myself up about that. Tomorrow is a new day and we all have off days. But when I am online I try to follow these rules and above all I try to have fun. I’ve met so many wonderful people since I joined social media and the various other sites you can find me. Some I even consider more than just acquaintances. They’ve become friends who support my creative vision and that’s invaluable.
Here are the social media hangouts I use most:
Instagram
Facebook
Tumblr
Twitter
I also have a monthly newsletter!
Through a forest of ash and mist he journeys to seek the truth.
Ever since I completed Renascentia in January of this year, I’ve been mulling over the next step. For the first time in several years I felt as if I’d tapped into something inside me–something powerful. I knew it was the beginning of a new series of paintings, but my vision was still incomplete. It took most of this year for me to unravel the ideas behind what I’m now calling Earth Rituals. I’m not ready to reveal all, but simply put it’s a series of two types of paintings: 1. People communing with the Earth (like Renascentia) and 2. People communing with animals (like Signs and Symbols above). Later next month, I’ll delve deeper into how the idea for Earth Rituals developed. For now, I’ll say that the symbolism in the paintings is sometimes based in mythology and old religions; while other times, it may be a blending or creation of my own.
In Signs and Symbols, a young man has entered a dream forest seeking the answer to a question. I leave the question up to you. He seeks a crow in the forest that will give him his answer.
What is a dream forest? – It’s a place where this world and the unseen one coexist.
What is on his hands/arms? – It’s a mixture of charcoal, earth and water. The symbol was drawn on top of the paint with talc.
What is that symbol? What does it mean? – The symbol comes from a stone I have in my personal collection. It’s one of my favorites and reminds me of an eye. In the painting, it allow’s the young man to see the spirit crow in the dream forest and to communicate with her.
What do you think he’s asking her?
If you’re going to JordanCon 2016 you’ll be able to see a framed, one of a kind embellished print in the art show! I should also have limited edition prints available in my shop in a few weeks.
A Pictorial History of Santa Claus <— Check this out for the cool info and facts.
First off… I don’t have a blog post for today. I’ve been thinking about what to write for the past two days with zero luck. I even went through an old archived blog and found nothing I might re-post. But I had this video open in my tabs because I’m a Trent Reznor fan. I know. Hard to believe this nature loving, taoist likes Nine Inch Nails. I’ve always said, I have a dark side. 😉
Regardless, this is an interesting interview. I’ve always had a thing for electronic music and I find it interesting learning how artists find their way into using synthesizers. Maybe you’ll find this interesting too. I found the video in this Rolling Stones Article – Trent Reznor Recalls Making Early Albums, Moog Influence.
A mystical apocalyptic world where shaman are warriors…
“Some of my kin look just like trees now, and need something great to rouse them; and they speak only in whispers. But some of my trees are limb-lithe, and many can talk to me.”
— J.R.R. Tolkien, The Two Towers
Tolkien’s Ents have always been a favorite of mine. I suppose that’s not too surprising if you know me well enough. If given the opportunity I’d spend an entire day roaming the woods. I only wish our forests were protected by such magnificent beings.
I created this shepherd specifically for the EBSQ Inspired by Tolkien exhibit. If you like him, click the LIKE button here: http://www.ebsqart.com/Art-Shows/Exhibits/Tolkien/429/1/
Happy Thanksgiving. . .
When I began thinking about this week’s post, I toyed with the idea of having a painfully open discussion about how awful I’m feeling, but it serves no purpose to dwell on that darkness. I’m not afraid to reveal I’m struggling, that I have struggled for many years. It’s part brain chemistry and part circumstance, i.e. life. I’m a creative, passionate person who is far too sensitive for the world. I feel immense joys and sometimes suffocating lows. I also have an empathy dial set to maximum. It’s just who I am.
Sometimes, I think I’m overly connected to life–all life on this swirling marble. You can imagine now how I’ve been feeling these last seven days. It’s not something I can turn off. I’ve done that with medication (many different medications) and all it achieved was numbness and an inability to create art. So I deal with the up’s and down’s in my own way. There were many times as a teenager I dreamed of just leaving. I wanted to pack a bag, walk into the woods and not look back. Not so easy to do. I probably would have died of exposure or animal attack. Here are five things I can do and they’ve helped me pull through the dark times (and those times do always pass).
1. I’ve stopped watching all television news. So much of the media has become toxic and even untrustworthy. I know what’s happening in the world–I try to focus on knowing and not feeling. This doesn’t fully work, but it tones down my tendency to internalize the death and suffering going on in the world. It hurts but it doesn’t bury me.
2. I get out of the house. I go for walks. When I can, I go for walks in the woods. I collect feathers, stones and other bits of nature. I watch the clouds drift in the sky.
3. I take a break from Facebook. <– Everyone should unplug from that hell mouth from time to time. I fully support social media holidays.
4. I listen to music while I paint. I didn’t always do this. It’s something I began doing about 5 years ago and I’ve been happier for it. Preferably I like to pop in earbuds so I can completely shut everything else out.
5. I try to focus on happy distractions. My daughter. My cats. A video game I love. A book. A movie. Fan art. Fan fiction.
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So, if you see me go quiet on social media it’s because I need to take care of myself for a bit. If I don’t comment on humanity’s obsession with hate and the mass murders going on around the world, it’s because I’m drowning in the pain. I have to process that pain. Channel it. Let it move through me and past me, so I’m left in one piece.
I’m lost in the woods-
Leaves crumble beneath soft soles-
Smoke rises through tangled limbs-
A voice carries farther in the dark.
No. This is not a lesson in self-actualization… Or is it? If you’re an artist and you’re ready to take your career to a new level, listen to what these two have to say. Then go sign up here:
It’s that time of year again… I hope you enjoy these fantastical artworks and have a delightfully dark Halloween!
Did you miss last year’s post Monsters, Magic and Moonlight?
October is full of art challenges. I’ve been having a blast with my Inktober adventure, but there was one other challenge I hoped I might tackle. Month of Fear is a weekly challenge in October. Each week has a different theme/prompt. The event has official artists participating, but anyone is free to participate. I knew I had no hope of creating a painting each week, so I decided on one.
The devil hath power to assume a pleasing shape.
– William Shakespeare
Supporters of my Patreon campaign has access to a Resource Pack that includes a GIF image of the painting’s progression, the Photoshop brushes I used, textures and reference. Now I better go catch up on my Inktober drawings!
If I had unlimited funds my neighbors would hate me. Alas, I’m safe from that happening for a while. Before moving into our current home, we lived in a small farm house. We didn’t have kids roaming door to door for sweets. That didn’t stop us from carving a jack-o-lantern each year but decorations beyond that were sparse. Now my family and I live in an actual neighborhood. For the last three years I’ve been buying a couple new decorations each Halloween. You might recognize the giant spider and the Skeleton Grim Reaper from last year. This year I’ve added a Pumpkin Grim Reaper and Halloween Lights!
I also have one lone ghost in need of some more buddies. So this weekend I’m going to summon some new friends for him to decorate the path to our front door. Anytime I go shopping for Halloween decorations I’m also adding to my wishlist for future years. Here are three things I’d love to have:
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Next week I’m sharing a piece of new art I’ve been working on just for this time of year….. Muahahaha!
When I first caught the reading bug in my early teens, it was horror fiction that grabbed hold of me and changed my life. I use to be one of those kids that hated reading. It was torture. A kind soul introduced me to Stephen King and it was then I realized I’d just been reading the wrong books. In 1990/91 I stumbled across a copy of Night Stone by Rick Hautala. It was the paperback edition with the holographic image. I can’t recall now where I found the book, but it looked creepy so I decided to give it try. The book ended up giving me nightmares. But I kept reading! I suppose reading a scary book just before bed, on the floor, peering under a large bed with darkness creeping across the your blanket, could have played a role.
I read Night Stone while my grandmother was visiting and when my grandmother came to visit I always gave up my bed. Was it just the timing of it all? Reading a horror novel and imagining monsters under the bed? I’ve decided to see if the book that scared me silly back then would do the same 24+ years later. I no longer have the paperback, but the book is now available for Kindle. Look for my verdict next month!
Until then…
HIDDEN TOYS
The old house in Maine gave Beth the creeps. She couldn’t believe they were really moving in. If it weren’t for the wooden doll she had found in the closet of her new bedroom, she would have been miserable. But the strange hand-carved figure fascinated her, and she sensed with a child’s instinct that she had to hide it from her parents…
HIDDEN EVIL
It was a house of darkness and shadows, but with her secret doll, Beth wasn’t afraid. Not even when she heard the scratching and whispering at night. Not even when the tall, massive stones of her dreams began to ooze with blood. For as she stared into the eyes of the wooden doll, she heard it call to her and felt the force of its evil power. And she knew that it was about to tell her what she had to do…
Inktober 2015 is here, everywhere online with the hashtag #inktober. I’m super excited to be participating this year. It’s something I’ve wanted to do for the last few years, but I’ve never had the time. This year, things are different! I have the inks, paper and time to pull this off. If you follow me online you’ll be able to see my posts daily on Instagram, Facebook, Twitterand Tumblr. However, if you don’t want miss a single ink drawing then I recommend attending myFacebook Event. The event page will have each daily post all in one spot and it gives anyone the opportunity to purchase a drawing before they go into my shop in November.
I’ve decided to go with a theme for my first time – Crows, Skulls and Owls! Here’s my first Inktober drawing – Contemplation.
If you want to keep up with other artists participating in the challenge just search for the hashtag #inktober on October 1st!
You can learn more about Inktober athttp://inktober.com/
Autumn has always been my favorite time of year. As the stranglehold of summer begins to wane, I always feel lighter and more creative. Walks are longer. I dig out my boots, my long sweater jackets and my scarves. There’s a chill in the air at night and an entire month of all things spooky and haunted. Everything smells like home and family–pumpkin, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Even Nature takes the time to celebrate. The trees transform but not without putting on a show. The breeze picks up, swirling reds, yellows and oranges all around.
Autumn is magic.
One of my favorite Autumn pastimes is to find and photograph little gems like the one shown on the right from last year. I began my quest a couple weeks ago, but now that it’s officially Autumn it will become a semi-daily occurrence.
If you follow me on Instagram you won’t miss a single leaf!
Inktober! (coming next week!)
Scariest Book I Ever Read (coming soon!)
My 2015 Halloween Decorations (coming soon!)
Art ~ What Lies Beneath (coming soon!)
Let’s make one thing clear.
As a child I had night terrors, as well as nightmares where I would wake and still be partly dreaming. I would hallucinate-dream spiders crawling all over my bed. Thousands of them. I still vividly remember those images. It’s no wonder I developed a phobia. There have been a few instances where my phobia has embarrassed me horribly, like the time I walked into an orb weaver’s web and threw myself to the ground screaming and rolling around as if I was on fire. Yeah. Not my finest moment, though I can laugh about it now. I’ve never sought help for my phobia, nor do I plan to, but I have tried to ease the anxiety and fear over the years with my own self-directed CBT (cognitive behavior therapy). I can now say, with complete honesty, I have a favorite spider. Here he is:
Spiny-backed Orb Weavers are between 3 and 9 mm across, males being on the smaller side. I’ve been photographing them each September for the last three years. I use a macro lens on my phone, but I still have to get within a few millimeters to capture the perfect shot. It’s an anxiety producing experience. The first year I screamed in our backyard when the wind blew the web toward my phone! But, each year it gets easier, which means my CBT is working.
My shot for 2015
This was an oops shot
I look forward to these little spiders every year now. Who knew one day I’d have a favorite spider.
Creating for the future, or the long-term, is what I’m doing right now. I recently finished a large commission and I won’t be taking anymore for at least a year. That’s kind of scary! Commissions have not made me rich, but they have been a nice cushion. So why on earth would I do this? I’m thinking about the future. I have a list of paintings I want to create and while I love the commissions I’ve tackled they aren’t MY creative vision. I’m also in dire need a cohesive portfolio, one that represents ME, for next year’s DragonCon jury process.
The last few years have been a journey to reinvent myself, my art, and find my true passion. I feel I’ve finally breached a wall in my psyche and now I want to create art where my vision and heart collide. That first glimpse over the wall was of course, Renascentia, which is also quite apropos since the name means rebirth in Latin.
If you want to follow me over the wall and pitch in $1 a month, take a look at my campaign on Patreon. Seriously. I’m only asking for $1 a month. Crazy!! But that $1 will add up and you’ll get an inside look at my creative process and a nifty little reward each month too. I’ll be sharing sketches, progress shots, tips and how’s to articles and videos on a weekly basis. Basically, double what I share on Instagram. Patrons will also get to see the creation of my next sketchbook volume before anyone else.
My Patreon campaign will help keep me accountable, keep me pushing ahead with the art I need and want to create over the next six months. If it does well, then it will also help me with funds for art supplies and maybe further down the line, funds for more conventions. I hope you’ll consider pitching in $1.00 a month while I go crazy making art!
Yes. The whatnot post has returned. I know you’ve been lost without it, adrift in a sea of the unknown. Never fear. I’m back with all the little things you’ve missed and new ones you never knew existed.
1. DragonCon – Over the last two weeks I’ve had numerous comments and questions about the convention. No, I’m not going this year. Since I’m not in the art show this time around, I couldn’t justify the expense. This happens to be my daughter’s senior year in high school. Other expenses I have right now include: SAT and ACT exam fees, 2 AP exam fees, Senior Dues, Senior Portraits, Yearbook, College Application fees, and more. That’s a lot of money. I’ve also just begun a two month subscription to Schoolism (purchased during their Kickstarter). In the end, it just didn’t make any sense to attend DragonCon. Fingers crossed for next year!
2. Bone Oracle Prints – Prints are now available in my shop, but for a limited time. The graphite drawing is going to be the starting point for a painting of the same name. When I finish the painting the print of the drawing will no longer be available. Any prints purchased will have a number on the back, bottom right corner. The original drawing will be coming with me to JordanCon in April 2016.
3. Secret Shop – I bet you didn’t know I had a secret shop. You can find it on my website by clicking Five Dollars in the menu.
4. Creative Bloq – You may have heard about a recent Kickstarter lawsuit. If not, you can learn more about it today at Creative Bloq (the blog for ImagineFX and other creative magazines) and you may run across a familiar name and image. 😉
5. Books – Usually, I read about 2-3 books a summer. It’s a busy time of year. But for whatever reason, I managed to read 10 books this summer and I’m in the middle of my eleventh. Some of them have been re-reads and others brand new. I enjoyed John Scalzi’s Lock In so much I bought a hardback copy after reading it on Kindle. Books… NomNomNom…
6. Biter Bash 2015 – I’ve reserved a table for the small event, December 5-6 in Roswell, Georgia. I will be selling art prints, sketch cards, and whatnot. I’ll also be bringing along some copies of my sketchbook Daydreams & Wanderings.
7. The Dracula Dossier – Myself and many others created art for this book. I’m thrilled I could contribute. I can’t share the art yet, but it won’t be long now! The book is available for pre-order from Pelgrane Press.
This week’s creative interview is with author Martin Powell, who I wish I had met at JordanCon back in April, but our paths never crossed. We connected afterward via Facebook and it’s been wonderful to discover Martin’s amazing library of talent. I hope you’ll be delighted too!
Well, I’m an insomniac writer of prose, graphic novels, and children’s books, with hundreds of published credits, which I suppose is proof of my restlessness. I was born and raised in Louisville, Ky., spent a number of years in the Twin Cities, but now I reside in Florence, Alabama with my wife, Leia Barrett Durham Powell.
I did, actually. Although I was also interested in many other things like stage magic, astronomy, and my formal education was in paleontology, which I’m still deeply connected with. But the writing bug bit me very early. I wrote my first book during Christmas holiday when I was in the second grade. So, yeah, I’ve always been lucky enough to know exactly what I wanted to do.
Not sure if I really have a preference. I’ve pretty much written in every conceivable genre, from mysteries, science fiction, horror, comedy, westerns, and over two dozen children’s books. Ray Bradbury was a great friend and mentor, and he always stressed remaining flexible, which is crucial for the survival of a full-time writer like me. Happily, I’ve be able to write some of the industry’s most popular characters, such as Superman and Batman, Sherlock Holmes, Popeye the Sailor, and Tarzan of the Apes. I’m a very lucky guy.
It was an amazing show, for certain. Actually, I sort of tagged along with my wife, as she’s a regular presence at JordanCon, with her novels and stained glass art. We both had a great time and, as a first-time guest, I felt very welcomed and at home there. Next year, please come to my table and say hello!
What are you working on now? And where can we find more?Well, my most recently published books are JUNGLE TALES OF TARZAN, from Dark Horse/Random House (which, amazingly, sold out within a couple days of being released), and a new children’s graphic novel version of ROBINSON CRUSOE, from Stone Arch Books. Currently, I’m writing seven different weekly online comic strips for Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc., and Leia and I are co-writing the prose novel, THE HEART OF FRANKENSTEIN, a genuine sequel to Mary Shelley’s original book. A number of other new projects loom in the near future, but I can’t talk about them yet. I’m looking forward to all of it. I always believe that the best is yet to be.
You can Follow Martin Powell on…
I’m a child of the Washington D.C. suburbs; which means all of our school field trips consisted of visits to the major museums. As a parent and artist living in London, I spent a lot of time taking my daughter to the all the major museums and visiting them for my own enjoyment too. While studying at Kensington & Chelsea College, we spent a several hours sketching classical paintings at the National Gallery. I love museums. When I graduated from the University of Georgia my mother gifted me with my first trip abroad. I chose Paris in part for the museums! During the time of our visit I was a little crushed to find out the Musée de l’Orangerie was closed for renovations, so it’s naturally on this list. The list below is just a few of the art museums I yearn to visit.
Panorama Interior of Musée de l’Orangerie 2″ by Jason7825 – Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 via Commons
1. Musée de l’Orangerie – Paris – Home to Monet’s water-lily paintings, known as the Nymphéas. Can you imagine standing in this room?!
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Van Gogh Museum Amsterdam” by Taxiarchos228 at the German language Wikipedia. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Commons
2. Van Gogh Museum – Amsterdam – This was another almost/maybe. While living in London, my daughter and then husband made plans to fly to Amsterdam. We were at the airport, but before boarding the plane my daughter (5/6 years old) realized she couldn’t find her seahorse plushie (from the London Aquarium, so it was mega important). We missed our flight and went home. Oh well!
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3. Georgia O’Keeffe Museum – New Mexico – I’ve mentioned before the impact O’Keeffe’s art had on me as a young girl. My mother kept a book of her art on our coffee table. No doubt I was exposed to a lot of art and artists as a child, but O’Keeffe was the first that made an impact.
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4. New York Museum of Modern Art – New York City – It’s the MoMA and I’ve never been to New York City! The MoMA has over 10,000 artists in it’s collection, including Van Gogh’s painting Starry Night. Of course, if I took a trip to New York City the MoMA would only be one place I’d visit.
Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art
Whitney Museum of American Art
I’ve seen nearly everything in Washington D.C., London, and Paris. New York seems like the next big city to visit. Internationally, I’d also love to visit Italy (Florence and Rome especially) as well as Saint Petersburg, Russia. The list could go on forever!
The 2015 Chesley Awards were held last night at Sasquan, the 73rd World Science Fiction Convention, in Spokane, Washington, USA. Congratulations to all the winners!!
The winners are:
Best Cover Illustration / Hardcover
Julie Dillon, Shadows Beneath: The Writing Excuses Anthology edited by Brandon Sanderson; Dragonsteel Entertainment, June 2014
Best Cover Illustration – Paperback
Raoul Vitale, Nebula Awards Showcase 2014 edited by Kij Johnson; Prometheus/Pyr
Best Cover Illustration – Magazine
Julie Dillon, Analog, April 2014
Best Interior Illustration
Anna Balbusso and Elena Balbusso, “Ekaterina and the Firebird” by Abra Staffin-Wiebe; Tor.com, January 2014
Best Color Work – Unpublished
Michael C. Hayes, Alegretto, Oils
Best Monochrome Work – Unpublished
Allen Williams, “Sphynx” graphite
Best Three-Dimensional Art
Dan Chudzinski, The Mudpuppy, resin & mixed media
Best Gaming Related Illustration
Peter Mohrbacher, Pharika, God of Affliction Magic card, Journey into Nyx; WotC, May 2014
Best Product Illustration
Donato Giancola, George R.R. Martin Song of Ice and Fire 2015 calendar Bantam, 2014
Best Art Director
Irene Gallo, Tor & Tor.com
Lifetime Artistic Achievement Award
John Harris
Gate 128, a mysterious place, promising salvation from the extinction of the female species, draws two struggling survivors (Rose and Camilo) in a post-apocalyptic world. The last known female on earth, and her protector must finish their dangerous journey past the world outside of Gate 128.
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Gate 128 (PG-13) is a little weak in spots but I like the premise–post-apocalypse with a touch of Children of Men. It’s a diamond in the rough. Let me know in the comments what you think!
There are only 4 months and a couple weeks left in this year. Whoa! I can’t believe how fast the year has flown by. I thought it was time for a progress report–a look at what I’ve accomplished, what I still have planned and a peek into 2016. Before 2014 ended, I had already begun thinking about what I wanted out of this year. At the time I was working on the first stages of Renascentia, compiling pages for my sketchbook Daydreams & Wanderings, and I had purchased my Art Show space for Jordan Con 2015. I had also stumbled across this video by Bobby Chiu. His wisdom urged me to take my 2015 goals more seriously than I have in the past.
I ran my first Kickstarter Campaign and as a result printed my first sketchbook. I’ve sold half of the books printed now. WooHoo! Check out my Flip-Through video for a look inside Daydreams & Wanderings.I’m in the final stages of a large commission and once that’s off my ‘to do’ list I’ll be working on some new paintings for my personal portfolio. I have so many things I want to paint!! These new pieces will come with me to Jordan Con and they’ll be the work I submit for the Dragon Con jury process in March. First up will be finishing this drawing for The Bone Oracle before moving onto the painting.
There’s have been a few moments this year where I’ve wondered if I’ve been doing enough. It helps to compile it all in one place, to see that I AM moving forward. The year’s not over yet. Let’s see how much more creativity I can cram into 2015!
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See what I did there? Admit it. I tricked you just a little. This isn’t a post about daydreaming, but if you use my coupon DAYDREAMER at checkout you can take 30% off your order! I haven’t had a big sale in my new shop yet and with the end of summer on the horizon I thought it was about time.
And of course, I have signed copies of my volume one sketchbook Daydreams and Wanderings. My Summer Art Sale ends September 15th. Don’t miss out!
