Live from Jack London Square!

This was my 2nd weekend at Jack London and it was gorgeous! It's so good to be back out there. Getting used to the physicality of setting up the canopy and lugging things around wore me out though. Monday is generally my "off" day, but I made the mistake of scheduling a photo shoot with a client. I finished and then took the rest of the day off.

I dusted off and warmed up my drawing hand this weekend and did a couple of drawings that I was happy with. I'm selling small art prints this year — though I haven't sold any so far. I wonder if having more products clutters, confuses and makes it unclear as to what I really do, or if it's good business and opportunity for more sales. I guess I'll just have to feel my way through. I also have an idea for some little "charms" that can be worn around the neck or placed in a special spot. I plan of working on them this week. I'll post pictures.

(For some reason, I'm having trouble uploading images. I'll try again later.)

Back at Jack London Square

I went back out to sell at Jack London Square in Oakland Saturday. I haven't been out there since fall. I'm doing live caricature sketches and selling small art prints. It's kind of fun being back out in the sun and any money I make just adds to mostly beautiful days.

And the winner is...

Photoshop works for me.

Cintiq. Marvelous!

I practiced drawing on the Cintiq tablet last night using Painter Essentials. It's very simple, but I don't like that the layers don't lock. I'm coloring away and then find I've been painting on a layer I didn't intend to paint on. I'll play with Illustrator and Photoshop next time. Illustrator makes absolutely awesome lines and even smooths them. Erasing is pretty weird though. I have to play with that some more. Once the drawing is finished I copy into Photoshop and lock the layer. That prevents me from unintentionally painting on the drawing. The first sample was drawn and painted in Painter Essentials. I loved playing with the brushes and tools. The second was done with Illustrator and Photoshop. This was more finished than the previous sample. I'm still playing with different brushes and lines. I hope you enjoy looking at these.

Is anybody out there?

Is anybody out there? I guess the point is to just stay with it and let it be the thing in itself. It's not about readers. It's about having a conversation. A voice. My own musings on things that are important to me. In this case, art.

Eventually someone will find me and decide to listen in and even participate. Much like my art. I just stick with it and then someone sees it, connects with it and decides they want to own it. Continue to engage with it. Making and selling art to individuals is a valid thing to do. But it limits the audience and the availability to share with a greater audience. Everyone should be able to afford and enjoy art. I'm committed to making my art available to many, not just a few. Drawing caricatures in a locale or at an event, allows the exchange of energy and joy to be immediate. Making art available in formats that allow for reproduction in many forms is an opportunity for sharing art with more people — spreading the enjoyment to all. This blog is yet another medium for sharing.

The Human Form

I love the human form. I always return to figure and portrait in a number of mediums and expressions. Here's another take. This short video showcases a stylized, powerful female figure.

Necessity is the mother of invention. Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ov6cV1T0EdU&feature=player_embedded

(imovie gives me the blues. After reading forums, I join the chorus as I say this.)

Baby Girl Designs Online Store

Afrocentric Gifts, Apparel & Home Decor

Caricatures

HAND DRAWN CARICATURE

Aaah. I have a live caricature gig this weekend. Fun!!! It's been a while. My last one was a Super Bowl party. Nice people — adults and kids. I find it funny that the adults love it as much as the kids. Sometimes I have to stop and ask if all the kids have been drawn — youngest to oldest. Then the adults. Maybe I should let the host(ess) work that out so I won't be perceived as the grinch. After all, I'm just there to entertain, not to be the caricature police.

DIGITAL CARICATURE DRAWING

I'm learning to draw caricatures on a Cintiq pad using Corel, Illustrator, Photoshop or some combination. A number of artists are setting up using Cintiq with a large monitor, printer, etc. for live gigs. Pays well, but I don't know if I can handle all of the equipment required. So one step at a time.

Rejoice

Baby Girl has a light-hearted, fun side too!

We're all "Baby Girl" or "Baby Boy"

Baby Girl Designs is dear to my heart. Why Baby Girl? When I decided to showcase my art in a way accessible to all, the name "Baby Girl" came up without hesitation.

In African American culture (and maybe others), children are often called "Baby Girl" or "Baby Boy". It's a term of endearment and loving care. The Baby Girl of my heart is a young girl, oh 9 years old or so — emerging from innocence and fantasy to a curious, worldly knowing. I guess that's what much of my work is about. Coming into being. That space from which the yes to life is beginning to form as we become self aware. We all relish and desire peace and beauty in ourselves, our environment and with other beings. Peace begins within. When the seed is nourished, we grow into healthy, loving, generous human beings. Shadow gives way to light. Thoughtfulness to joy. And so our journey begins...

Social Media Networking

How do you use social media? Networking? Fun? Socializing? Promotion? Teaching? Curiosity? Learning? More...

Art of All Sorts

Ok. I think I've got this blog ready to go. I just placed the header. I came up with "Art of All Sorts" a couple of months ago. I was creating yet another postcard to hand out at a vendors market. I've created postcards for "Jeanette Madden Graphic Design", postcards for "Jeanette Madden Fine Art", postcards for "Baby Girl Designs", postcards for "Caricatures by Jeanette". Ok! enough already. This time I decided to design a card for all that I am as an artist (so far) and came up with "Art of All Sorts". I've worked really hard to develop each of these skills and talents. So now I give out one postcard.