Meow

Yay! Module 3 has begun! 

And if you don't know what "Module 3" is, check out this awesome ecourse that I'm taking: The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design.

Oh, it is just so fun! 

I already knew that I loved to create digital art, but I really had no idea how to market myself.  And it never even crossed my mind that I could create my own patterns!  This class has just completely opened up a whole new world to me that I didn't even know existed! 

It's like I've discovered everything I ever needed for my artsy biz - things that I didn't even know I needed.  It's perfect.  Love it!

Here's my latest creation for an exercise I did for my class tonight:

I've always loved Hello Kitty, since I was a little girl, and now I have a real, live kitty that I get to hang out with every day.  She's my fluffy princess.  So, thus, some new kitty art is born!  : )

I love when she lays on my desk and purrs.  So sweet.

I Love Rainbow Cupcakes

I can't stop drawing cupcakes!

They just keep appearing in my mind.

I close my eyes to fall asleep at night, and there they are.

Here's the one that popped into my head the other night:

Aaaaa, can you even stand it?  The rainbow layers, the bold/bright colors, the cherry on top with a heart inside, the subtle swirly texture on the frosting, the decadent chocolate base?!?  Oh man, it's like all of my favorite things in one happy little space. 

Too bad I can't eat it, too.  : )

You know what?  I think I might be finding my creative voice, and really honing in on my style. 

But, I know (and hope), that it's still going to change and evolve over time and only get better and better.

For me now, though, I'm loving this!

Here's some repeating features that I'm noticing in my creations:

- cupcakes (like cupcakes galore - it's basically all I've been drawing lately)
- sketchy looking lines (in a good way)
- rainbow palette
- stripes
- neutral outline of my main motif
- swirly texture
- shading

It's fun to see how I'm drawn to certain things over and over.  I'm not exactly sure what this all means about me and my personality, but I do know that I'm having so much fun, and it makes me happy. 

And that is good enough for now.

In fact, it's awesome!  : )

Upenover Make-Over

So, guess what?  Upenover: Land of Joyful Art is going to be getting a bit of a make-over in the near future.

Here's what happened.

I launched my original business back in November of 2010.  It was my first official declaration to the world that "I Am an Artist."

I received a lot of positive and encouraging words.

But no money...................ok, I made 4 sales.

I have a few theories as to why my art hasn't become a booming success, adored world-wide.

Here they are:

a. I didn't promote my business well enough.  My big efforts of "marketing" were: hosting a family party where I displayed my work, and announcing my business on Facebook.  Later, I opened an Etsy shop (which is where I made my 4 sales).  And that's about it.

b. My art was too "froo-froo" as I'm calling it:

My original business card

I do still really love my original art, but I'm feeling that I need to branch out a bit from the pastels, and maybe create a few pieces that don't have any pink in them at all (gasp!).  I found that I didn't really know where to display my art in my own home because it didn't even match my decor (I have a lot of bold/bright colors in my home).

c. I had a new baby.

My special baby boy (boy #3 for me) was born May 1, 2011.  My schedule, of course, got flipped upside down, and my lovely artful business got put on the back burner for awhile.

So, now that some time has passed, I'm feeling like I can dive back into my art, but I also feel that it needs a little "sprucy spruce."  That's my term for "sprucing things up."

So, this is a quick mood-board I created to define, in a way, where I'd like my business to go.  (Don't look at the logo too closely - it's a work in progress).

We still have cupcakes and pink, of course, but I've added more bright colors and a contemporary feel to it.

I'm also changing my business name from Upenover: Land of Joyful Art, to Upenover Design.  I really wanted to focus more on the "Upenover" part of it, because that's my special made-up word from my childhood (my magical, make-believe land where anything is possible).

So, I still want to incorporate my original art pieces, but I just want to expand and broaden my collection, ya know?

This is all in the works, but I have to warn you that I'm a bit slow.

My deadline for myself to re-launch Upenover into the world is February 2013 (hopefully sooner!).  And here's some reasons why it's going to be an awesome success (to counter my above excuses):

a. I'm totally going to promote it better.  I'm studying and researching some great ways right now.
b. It's going to appeal to more people with the incorporation of more contemporary colors.
c. My baby boy is not an infant anymore, and I'm finding that I can devote some more time to bettering my artsy biz.

Also, one of the main differences is who I'm going to be promoting my art to.

When I originally launched Upenover, I had no idea what a Surface Pattern Designer was.  I did not understand that world at all.

I've since had my mind opened up to the possibilities through the ecourse that I've been taking: The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design.

I now am completely fascinated with the idea of licensing my work.  Ahhh!  The possibilities are endless and amazing!!  I love that I can take just a piece of one of my images, and create a whole collection of surface pattern designs:

Fun, huh?

So, my plan is to work really really hard for the new few months, learn all I can about the business, and expand my portfolio.

Then, I will do a re-launch of Upenover out into the world.  I'll keep learning, and creating, and promoting, and not give up on my dreams!!

Yay!  : )

New Cupcake Art

I just love making art!

Ahhh - it is just so fun!

I came up with a funny little quirky creation tonight:

In case you have a hard time reading the text, it says, "I like you even more than a giant cupcake with swirly pink frosting."

Can you handle the cuteness?  I don't know if I can.  : )

So, here's where my inspiration came from.  I was on Pinterest the other day (but of course), and came across this gorgeous photo:

http://www.onewed.com/wedding-flowers/gallery/bright-botanical-garden-wedding

 

I just fell in love with the colors, and of course all the circles caught my eye.  So, I filed it under my "Color Inspiration" board.

The next day, I was shopping at the mall with the boys, and I saw this cute new yogurt shop in the food court:

http://www.westfield.com/shop/stores/bananaberryyogurt/trumbull?retailer=44966

Notice the similarities?  Funny, huh?  Same color palette, same circle shapes.  They both immediately spoke to me for some reason.

So, Tuesday night is my special "art time."  I LOVE it!  Lately, I start off studying my material that I'm learning in my Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design class.  Then, I have my creation time where I actually make some art.  I put on an interview from Smart, Creative Women (which I also LOVE), and just start sketching out the first thing that comes to mind.

And what is one of the first things that always comes to my mind?

Cupcakes, of course!

So, I used my color palette inspiration of the week, and came up with my little ditties.

Here's a few more coordinating pieces I made to go with the first one:

Ahhh!  I've been having so much fun tonight!  : )

You know what's one of my new favorite Photoshop brushes?  It's my collection that I made called "Dots."

Here's what happened:  I was making little art creations one day with my boys.  They have this cool set of "Do-a-Dot Paints" where you stamp little circles onto the paper:

http://www.amazon.com/Do-A-Dot-Rainbow-Art-Set/dp/B00004W3Y4

They're pretty fun, and my boys seem to love them (especially my four-year-old).  So, there we were one day, stamping away with our little "Do-a-Dot" things, and I looked at my paper and thought, "Wow, I totally need to turn these into Photoshop brushes.  This is awesome!"

So, I stamped a few on a page, scanned them into the computer, and turned them into my very own "Do-a-Dot" Photoshop brushes!  They can be any size, any color.  They are so fun, see:

Can you just imagine the possibilities?

I used them several times tonight in my pieces.  I used them for the texture in the cupcakes, for the sprinkles, and also for the swatch that's just a bunch of circles.  It was fun, fun, fun.  : )

So, there you have it - my bit of art love for the day.

Good-night!  : )

Freedom

Hi, World!

It's me.

I created some more art.

Here it is.

I'm definitely noticing a theme in my art lately:

Bright colors
Circles
Happy Thoughts

They keep calling to me.  I don't know what it is.

I've always had a little fascination with hot air balloons, even though I've never actually been in one before (some day, though!). 

You know what it is?  I've just really always wanted to be able to fly.

I remember as a little girl, I was determined to fly.  I truly believed that if I wanted it bad enough, I could actually will myself to take flight.  I vividly remember practicing in my hallway.  I'd run as fast as I could, and then jump as high as I could, thinking that at some point, I was definitely going to stay in the air, and I don't know, start flying around the house or something.

Oh, and flying dreams?!  The best, right?!

Well, I did finally come to the realization that I can't fly all by myself, but I can go for a ride in a hot air balloon, and that's pretty dang cool.

So, as I was making breakfast the other day, this vision just popped in my head of a really colorful hot air balloon with happy, positive words all over it.

I sat down and sketched it right way (since I'm trying to be an artist all the time, not just at my designated "art time.")

Tonight, as I created it on the computer, I decided to make the pattern out of circles instead of diamonds.  They speak to me more. 

So, yes, I know it's not the greatest masterpiece known to man, but I really had fun doing it, and it's kinda cute and happy, right?

You know what my favorite thing is about it?  I love how I was able to do the swirly texture.  Swirlies are another thing that keep showing up in my art - I love them! 

So, I decided to make a Photoshop brush out of them.  Yes!  I remember a time, not too long ago, when I didn't even know you could create your own Photoshop brushes out of anything in the whole world.  Then, I remember being so intimidated by the idea, thinking that I probably wouldn't be very good at.

Well, guess what?  I did it!  And it's so easy!  I LOVE it! 

So, I created the swirly brush and then I was able to use it over and over all over the art, and change the size.  It was like a magical rubber stamp.

AND, I experimented with the color a bit, too.  I changed it to see if maybe I would like it better in white, or pink, or yellow, or blue.......  Turns out, I liked it best in my original color (black).  But isn't digital art amazing?!?  I just love how much endless experimentation there is and freedom!

Yes, freedom! 

I think that's what it all boils down to for me.  The flying, the art creation, the digital medium.

I'm kindove all about freedom, and I love it.  : )

Slow Progress

My artsy progress is coming along slowly but surely. (Ok, more slowly than surely.....in fact, I don't quite know if I could even call it "surely" yet).

It's tough.

I know I want to create art.

I think about it ALL day long.

Every day.

It's usually the first thing I think about when I wake up in the morning, and the last thing I think about before I fall asleep.

I'm totally obsessed.

The problem is, I just can't seem to make enough time to progress as quickly as I want.

I fantasize all the time about how I'm going to be a "successful" artist some day.

And by "successful," I mean big money.  : )

Yes, I do love the idea of having a lot of money.  Sorry.  I don't know if I should admit that so publicly.  But, seriously, being financially independent?  Ahhhhh, freedom!  Yes!!!  Oh, the possibilities!

I would totally do worthwhile, helpful, positive, uplifting, wholesome things with my wealthiness.

I promise.

Ok, ok - I'm totally getting side-tracked.

My point is that I really really really want to be a financially independent, thriving, artist/entrepreneur.

But, I'm not.

Yet.

And it's buggin'.

It's taking way too long.

I'm taking the teeniest, tiniest baby steps ever.

I think I may be 90 years old by the time I make my first $100.

BUT, I'm going to stop being so negative.

Right now.

I'm going to tell you all the little teeny steps I've taken in the past week towards by beautiful, happy "Successful Artist" goal.

First, I made a little ditty:

It was part of an assignment for my Surface Pattern Design class that I'm taking.

I love the colors, the flowy lines, the swirly wave, and the polka dots.  I couldn't spend forever on it, though.  If I spent more time on it, I think I would blend the colors of the sun more and add a little texture to it.  I'm also not sure if I love all of the squiggliness.  It's a little crazy.  I might tone that down a bit.

Another thing I've been doing, is listening to these AMAZING interviews on the website: Smart, Creative Women.   Oh my goodness!  Seriously!  I LOVE that website!  I am so so happy that I'm finding all of these women out there in the world making it happen - doing what they love.  It is SO inspiring - keep it up, ladies!  Yay!!

The website is great, too, because I can listen to the interviews while I work at my regular job.  Yes, I love multi-tasking.  It's my favorite.

I've also been keeping up with my goals for completing Part 2 of my Surface Pattern Design class.

I work on it for 15 minutes every day, before I clock into my regular job, and then on Tuesday evenings and Saturday evenings, after the boys go to bed.  So far, it's been working.  It isn't as much time as I would ideally like, but it's something, and it does make a difference.

I also figured out how to check out library books from my Kindle - awesomeness!  And I happened to find a really cool book: Creative Time and Space.  It's really inspiring and interesting.  My favorite part so far is when it talked about making art a part of your every day, regular life, and incorporating it into as many things as you can, to keep that part of your brain turned on and tuned in.

So, to incorporate this into my life, I just randomly started sketching in my sketch book at the kitchen counter.  I ended up drawing my son's Superman Funko Pop action figure that was sitting there.

It only took a couple of minutes, but it really lifted my spirit, and I felt my creative energies come alive.

It was cool, too, because, as I was drawing, my two oldest boys gathered around me, intently watching me sketch Superman, so fascinated.  I think they thought I was a pretty cool mom.  : )  Then, they made me draw Batman, too (of course!).

Anyway, I think those are my main artsy accomplishments this week.  Small stuff, but good stuff, right?

As long as I'm moving forward, however slow it may be, I'm calling it good at this stage in my life.

Good job, Laur.  : )

Some New Fiddlings

So, I have a few little "fiddlings," as I'm calling them.

I used to only want to post my artwork when I felt like it was completely finished and as perfect as I could possibly get it.

Well, I'm over that.

I think.

I'm trying to be more real.

So, here it is, a couple of little doodle/sketches/art thingys that I've done lately.

Hmmm, I can't decide if I like it, or if it looks like a 6-year old did it.

Kindove a little of both, I guess.

I do like the colors, and for some reason, I always want to draw daisies.  It's my default, so of course, I sat down to doodle and daisies came out.  I just went with it.

Next time, I think I would do thinner lines - make it look more sketched, and less like it was done with Crayola markers.

I also drew my very first gumball machine.  Kinda cute, huh?  Something about rainbowyness and circles and sweets just really makes me happy.

So, there ya have it - my latest doodles.  Even though they're not the most awesome things in the world, it's kinda fun to throw them out into the world - report my progress - tell my story.

Maybe some day when I'm an independently wealthy artist creating breath-taking masterpieces, I'll like to look back on my early stages when I was still trying to find my creative voice.

My Peeps

See, I told you I'd be back!  Yay, me.  : )

So, this week, I have been extra excited about discovering more and more of "my peeps!"

This whole internet thing is amazing!  I am finding people all over the world who share my same hopes and dreams and visions and unquenchable creative urges.

Not so long ago, I felt a bit like a lone soul drifting in the universe, not quite understanding which direction to go.

Now, it is just incredible how many people I am discovering out there that are just like me!  I love it!

So much!

Who knew that there was this whole community of creative, entrepreneurial, positive-thinking women out there!

They are all so inspiring to me!  I love that they are out there - doing what they love, and expressing their creativity.

I've also noticed that there is a great feeling of openness and willingness to share their stories and tips and secrets!  Instead of a harsh, snobbish feeling of competition, there is a love, acceptance and feeling of "there is room enough for all of us to be successful."

They're all my new best friends.

Only they don't know it yet.

I'm a little shy still, and not quite ready to formally introduce myself.  We'll get to that.  Maybe one day, I'll have more of a two-sided relationship with some of these women.

I just can't get over how amazing it is that I've discovered them, though, and I'm finding their words just really ring true for me.  I'll get choked up at times reading their blogs because they are speaking exactly what is in my heart.  And I didn't really realize that there were other people out there who feel exactly how I feel.  Awwww, I love it!

Anyway,  so here's a little list (in no particular order) of some of my new favorite people in the world.  This is not an all-inclusive list.  There are so many amazing women out there living the dream - making it happen.  These are just a few of my very faves right now:

Danielle Laporte

 

Jessica Swift

 

Kelly Rae Roberts

 

Leonie Dawson

 

Beth Nichols

 

Rachael Taylor

I just love them!  They are all so inspiring to me.  I am so grateful for each of them and their amazing talents, and attitudes, and ambitions!

Thank-you!!!

Maybe one day I'll be as cool as them.  : )

Commitment

It's me.

It's been awhile.  I know.

I'm easily distracted.

BUT

This is my official declaration of commitment!  Commitment to posting regular blog entries.

For the first time in about a year, I actually feel like I have a reasonable amount of time to devote to my artsy biz (knock on wood).  YAY - love it!  : )

So, here's my plan:

I'm taking this AWESOME ecourse right now - The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design.

A year ago, I didn't even know what a Surface Pattern Designer was.

Never heard of it.

Now it's my destiny.

Honestly - I love it!  I kinda think I was born to do this.  It is so me.

So, I'm currently in Part 2 of 3.  And my goal is to have part 2 completed by September 3rd, which is when Part 3 starts.  And this time, dangit, I am going to keep up with the rest of the class (as of today, I am 5 months behind everyone - eef - lame, I know)!

My other goal, as I mentioned earlier is to post regularly on my blog, so I will be on here twice a week with a little update from my designy art land world.

Here's what I've been up to this week:

It's raining cupcakes.

Why?

I don't know.

Why not?  Heck - I want to live wherever it rains cupcakes!

Cupcake flower, anyone?

How about a whole collection of cupcake flowers?

For some reason, the two things that always seem to pop in my head first when I sketch, are cupcakes and flowers, so, bam, there ya go - Cupcake Flowers.  Cute, or what?

I was proud of myself for this color palette.  I'm usually either putting every color of the rainbow into my art, or loads and loads of pink.

I didn't do either this time.

I'm thinking outside the box.  Trying to edit myself - stretch myself - whatever you want to call it.

I just did these kinda quickly, without trying to think to much.  It was fun, and have I mentioned before how much I love my Cintiq?  Ahhhhhhhhh.........

Need More Art Time!

It's after midnight right now.  I sat down at my computer two hours ago, and told myself that I had 15 minutes to work on my art.  Then, I was supposed to move onto more responsible things - like working at my job that actually pays me in real money - the kind I need to pay bills and stuff.

For my fifteen minutes, I decided to listen to an interview from my Surface Pattern Design class.  (By the way, this class is my new favorite thing - love it, love it!!)  The interview was all about this awesome artist, Lousie Gale who is living the dream and making it happen!  She's following her passion, and living a life full of creativity and inspiration! (Soooo jealous, but excited at the same time to see living proof yet again that my dreams are possible!)

Anyway, of course after listening to this uplifting, inspiring interview, I couldn't just shut down my art mode right away and move onto processing payroll for the week for my job (I work from home).  I allowed myself 15 more minutes to "doodle."  I just wanted to loosen up, and create something of my own - anything.  I didn't have a plan, I just turned on my favorite song, "Dream Big" by Ryan Shupe and the Rubberband, and started sketching on my Cintiq the first thing that came to mind. 

Then I couldn't stop.  There was this annoying, nagging voice in my head telling me that I should, but I didn't.  My artist voice won tonight, and you know what?!  I'm glad!!!  Not that I created the most fabulous piece in the world or anything, but I'm just happy that I made my art the priority.  I need to do that more often, seriously.  My artistic voice is screaming, and I mean screaming inside of me to come out.  All day long, I just want to create, create, create!!!  There aren't enough hours in the day, and I'm not sure when I'm going to make up my hours that I was supposed to get in tonight, but I'll work it out some how, I guess.  The search continues to find that perfect balance in life where I can have it all......  I'll let you know how that works out.

So, here's my little ditty - looks like a Lollipop tree to me.  Fun, right?

Oh, and you have to check out this funny thing that happened the other day.  For my art time, I really wanted to make a rainbow cupcake (I don't know, I just love rainbows and I love cupcakes, so why not?)  Here's what I came up with:

Then, I was looking through some pictures I had taken a few years ago, and look what I found:

Ha!  I just happened to make chocolate cupcakes one day for the fun of it, and as I was putting them onto plates for my fam, I thought to myself, "Oh, man, this is too cute, I need to take a picture."  So, I did, and then filed it away and forgot about it..........or did I?  It was still lurking around in my subconscious, I guess.  Pretty, funny, huh?   Looks like the rainbow cupcake idea runs deeper in me than I thought.

Anyway, it's totally past my bedtime.  That is my artistic update for today.  Good night.  : )

Color Palette Ideas

Friendly Little Reminder To Myself

My new goal, as I mentioned last time, is to post more of my art - even unfinished, maybe-not-that-great art.  I think it's good for me.  I need to express myself more.  I'm pretty much terrible at that.

So, here's a piece I created a few months ago.  The words and idea popped into my head one day, and I thought to myself how interesting it is that all of our experiences in this life really are only temporary.  I think it's important to be reminded of that when things are going great, and also when things are going not-so-great.  That way, you can "live it up" in the great moments, and "let it go" in the others.

So, here is my friendly reminder to myself:

 

I'm Back!

Wow!  Has it really been almost a whole year since my last post?  I am a terrible blogger!  Is having a baby a good enough excuse?  He's almost 9 months old now  - boy # three for me - need I say more?  : )

Anyway, I've started on a new artistic adventure.  I signed up for this awesome class a couple of months ago - "The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design."  And here goes my list of excuses:  I was out of town the week it started, then it was Christmas and I was totally behind on all my shopping and preparations, then I've been super busy with kids/work/ and my house falling apart....  Finally, tonight, I made some time to get started (and it's almost 1:00 in the morning - that is when I "find" most of my free time).

I just completed one of the first exercises, and AHAAJHAAHAGHGA!  I love to make art!!!!  I love it!  I love it!  I love it!  I love it!  I want to do it every day!!!  All day!!! 

Wow, I guess I've been suppressing that for awhile.  But, ahhhhhh, to create my own art again - was just so exciting, and rewarding, and fulfilling, and every other positive word I could think of!

And my new goal is to share my art more - all of it, even if it's not perfect or whatever.  So, here goes:

The exercise was to create an art piece out of something in nature that inspires you.  Of course, the first thing that popped in my mind was a Cherry Blossom  - my fave! 

Now, are you ready for the best part about making this new creation?!?  It's my first real art piece that I created on my new Cintiq!  Yes, I have the best husband in the whole world!  He totally surprised me on Christmas morning with something I had been drooling over and fantasizing about forever - my Cintiq!  (In case you don't know what a Cintiq is, it's a giant monitor that you can actually draw/color/paint/create with directly on the screen with a stylus!) 

It is so amazing - I am absolutely in love!  I hardly ever just free-hand my art, but I decided to try it tonight with this, and I loved it - so much fun and so therapeutic! 

Yes, there's me - Christmas morning - still in happy-bliss shock!  I couldn't believe my sweet husband!  And the cutest thing ever is when he said, "This is because I believe in you and all your dreams!"  Can you even stand it?  Does it get any sweeter than that?  He had secretly bought it months ago, and has been selling things on ebay to pay it off.   Awwww.....

I better create some pretty awesome art with it.

So, wish me luck!  I'm back on the artsy train and lovin it, lovin it!  : )