Archive for the ‘on being an artist’ Category

This is the play by play at our house:

7:00 pm: Put the kids to bed.

7:30 Flop on the couch.

7:30:01 Feel the wave of exhaustion hit.

7:31 Snuggle my husband and chat pretending like the day is over.

7:50 Kiss him goodbye as he leaves to go work on the new house (tonight it was ripping up sicko-grosso bathroom flooring).

7:51 Ignore the pile of laundry and dishes.

7:52 Make myself some tea (tonight it was Bengal spice mixed with milk and honey)

8:00 Start drawing.

But since the exhaustion is still present from a day of crazy moving-ness, I warm up. A lot. And I love it. Because then I get excited like a little kid who gets to stay up all night and read. It’s just me. On the couch. All night. Drawing. The book is nearly done…but I still spend time doodling to get my hands warm. And my eyes engaged. Here’s highlights from tonight’s warm up.  Nothing special…but the time I get to doodle with no references, no deadlines and no reasons always excite me. Like waking with no destination. It feels good.

Conversations with a just turned 4 year old.

Ian: Mom, close your eyes and come here.

Me: I cover my eyes, hold his hand and walk across the room. I love these games.

Ian: Open!

Me: I open my eyes.

Ian: See, this is my art!

Me: ART. Junk as art. I love this. Cool Ian, tell me about it.

Ian: See, everything is balancing and it won’t fall down!

Me: Ok. That is art.

Balance. He’s got it down. I’m still figuring it out.  Real slow.

*My favorite part: See that Mr. Incredible’s figure hanging for dear life on that rope over there? That’s me. But it’s all good. There is a Fisher Price fire engine just on the other side. Pretty good planning for a 4 year old.

So, Day 8 into the new year, and I have managed to draw every day. What is so hard though, is that the art that I am working on (my first picture book CHRISTMAS GOODNIGHT with Harper Collins Publishers) really can’t be shared. It’s just the way it is! But I can share the models that I use, right? It sure is nice to have live models for Baby Jesus, and others. If only they’d sit still a minute!

But I will say, that most of the art I have done so far won’t ever be used. It really is an amazing process. In book art making, you never get what you want on the first try!

It’s like how I finally get to the point when I am trying to tell my husband why I am upset about something: It takes a lot of talking about every which thing before it finally comes out! (Come on…You know it’s like that…it’s amazing how much has to come out of your mouth before you say what you really need to say!)

Well, same with art making. Or at least my art making! I have sketch books full of stuff that just doesn’t work. Or is completely random and has nothing to do with the book I am working on, but just happened to come out while I was working (like those conversations, you know?) But it all ends up being necessary to get what I am ultimately working towards.

It’s really amazing to see how illustration births itself. It’s the coolest thing ever. I love it!

I plan on having the book art done by May, and then comes the just as long production work. So cool. I get to work on Christmas all year:)

I am still digesting my Thanksgiving dinner, as I suppose you are too. But while these lazy days last a bit longer, I wanted to pop in and say Thank You for all the blogging friendship and support! I love reading all your lovely comments, and wish I could respond to each and every one. I try to…and I am just thankful this weekend  for all your kindness! I am thankful this season for really the good, wonderful people in my life.

Progressive Pioneer posted an interview with me on her blog. She asks some really great questions, and it was actually quite a good experience to answer back. It gave me some time to reflect on motherhood and my business, and everything in between. It’s a journey which still keeps me on my toes!

Wishing everyone (American and not) a wonderful weekend.

xo

sarah jane

It was painting time with the kids yesterday, and there were papers all over the floor to dry.

“Let’s hang these up all over the house, Mother!”

I love that she calls me Mother

“Sure. I’ll cut the tape for you. Put them where ever you want.”

She was giddy with excitement (as usual) to find the perfect spot for each of her masterpieces.

Minutes later, I went to my bedroom to feed the baby, and I looked across at my door, just a step away, and I saw this: taped up on my door at Addie’s eye level, a masterpeice.

It was one simple brush stroke, maybe two, but some how (can you see it?) it is the face of a woman….with an almost DaVinci expression.

Ok. Let me help: I am being told it’s not as easy to see as I thought. Thus my post on perspective:

Did she know? Could she see it? Did this face just appear from her genius, or was I, in the artistic mood of the day, looking for her face?

She is perfect, this face, and it was all with a swift brush stroke of a child. Age 4 almost 5. And it stole my breath away.

Spontaneous and miraculous beauty.

It is for me, the perfect gift of this Thanksgiving Holiday: Beauty is truly in the eye of the beholder.

Do you see the beautiful face, or is it just a splash of muddy green on paper?

It’s all in how you look at it. And this weekend, I am grateful for the choice.

Enjoy your day of Thanks!

Last month I was interviewed by “Babies and Moms” website, and was asked to talk about a favorite topic of mine: turning your passion into a business. I had a great time with Nancy Cajun, who has had many business successes herself with her company Sign Babies and now her Babies and Mom podcast. It was actually she who inspired me to get started when I heard her speak at a Startup Princess Seminar about turning an idea into a business….and I was so honored to now get to have her ask me questions!

I am on about 8 minutes into the podcast, and we are talking about how to make that passion of yours…that hobby that you can’t stop doing…into a profitable business. I also get to share bits of my own personal story on how I got started….which is always so amazing that I got through those first few months (OH they were nuts!).  We also talk a good bit about balancing your creative passions while raising young children. These are great women I’m chatting with.

Anyways, tell me what you think! I’d really love to include more discussion of the business side of things here on the blog…but would love to know your interest.

Thanks for listening:)

You can listen here.

How cool is this: A place for bloggers who love art, design, photography, illustration and lifestyle to come together, connect and share ideas and information about all things design.  Yippee! This will be a fantastic weekend to connect, network and get inspired.

And crazy folks: I am going to be speaking.

It’s a little intimidating (OK, a LOT) when the other speakers are bloggers whom I completely admire: Design sponge, Oh JOY, Simple Lovely, Steph Modo just to name a few.

It’s going to be a party!

So mark your calendars for January 21-23, 2010 at the Grand America in Salt Lake City.

But hurry, and sign up. The early bird registration ends tomorrow!

This is the first EVER blogging event for people like you and I who just really like the visual aspects of blogging…and well, the visual aspects of most things. It will be completely inspiring.

Register here.

See the full list of speakers here.

Thank you Kirtsy for putting all this together, and Design Mom for inviting me to participate. See in in January!

Does this happen to you?

Short pencils mean there is a lot going on around here. Mostly on my book scheduled to be set into print this summer. It won’t be in stores until Fall 2011, but deadlines are creeping up soon! I wish I could share more of what I am working on, but since nothing is in publication yet, I really can’t share too much. But I will say, pencils are getting shorter and shorter around here!

Keep watching the blog this week. I have A LOT of really fun new additions to the shop coming up! Christmas gifts, cards and stocking stuffers to mention a few!

In the mean time, check out this hot new list of the New York Times top illustrated children’s book list for 2009.  Aren’t they delightful? I’ve blogged about a couple of these artists before. Just gorgeous.

OK….back to drawing (and paper doll making with the kids…have  you tried these out yet? They’re a hit around here!)

Happy Monday!

You: Hello? Sarah? Yoohoo? What corner of the world did you escape to?

Me: Escape? Did I escape, you ask?

You: Yes. Those paper bats are still hanging at the top of your blog. Come on…get with it. Blog already.

Me: OK…you caught me. I escaped.

You: Where?

Me: To a far away land that I used to think only existed in my imagination: a place where quiet and noiselessness reign. A place where there is room to unwind and create with no distractions.

You: That place actually exists? Oh, please give me directions.

Me: Are you ready? It’s complicated. You need to go to my in-law’s wonderfully empty-nested house. It’s great. They cook too. And love babies. And have an abundant amount of watercolor brushes, down comforters and table space to just spread out and GTD (get things done). Oh, and they also take you out to sushi.

You: Oh take me take me!

Me: I plan on their being a next time. Many more next times. Don’t worry.

So yes…after 2 months of let’s-get-my-life-organized-enough-to-run-a-business-and-illustrate-a-book-while-only-getting-2-hours-of-sleep-at-a-time-at-night-and-raising-3 children kind of living, my husband took one look at the bags under my eyes and booked a flight for me the VERY next morning to California to spend 5 days with his parents while HE watched the other kids during his fall break. I know. My in-laws are awesome, but my husband? Amazing.

The trip was, may I say, incredible. I ate, slept, fed the baby, illustrated and story-boarded for my book I’m illustrating with Harper Collins right now. Getting away proved to be the perfect remedy for a mommy who’s brain hardly gets to enjoy the space of her own creative thinking due to the natural (and wonderful) chaos of the day with 3 small children.

But I am back. No more escaping for a while. As much as it is good to get away, I am a sucker for my family. Who wouldn’t be with faces as kissable as this?

Feel free to cuddle your screen…I know…she’s practically edible.

Cheers!

Two years ago today, I took a really, really big leap of faith: I started selling my art work. I had no idea my art would be accepted or interesting, but I did it anyways because I had to. Part of being an artist includes a need to share, give and express. Opening my ETSY shop 2 years ago filled that need.

And it’s been 2 years! What started from a corner computer desk in our small apartment bedroom has grown to a 4 person operation. I have met some incredible people, made valuable connections and have grown so much as an artist since that day. I am so glad I made big leap: it was scary, but oh so worth it. It’s been an incredible journey for myself as well as for my family, and I want to thank you for your support! It has meant so much!

*You must indulge me for a second while I take a couple lines to thank the person who is responsible for why I am still here: my incredible side-kick and better half. My husband has been so generous with his efforts: countless dinners made, laundry done, floors vacuumed and children tended to so that I could squeeze in “just one more hour” of time to my passion. Without him, I would have burned out long ago. But he believes in me and has encouraged me the whole way. When I have wanted to just give up (and there have been a few sleep-deprived moments of “why am I doing this” kind of talk) he has been my cheerleader. And somehow through it all, we have had time still to be together as a family, run a small business, have a third baby and manage normal (and magical) family living. We have been truly blessed. He is my best friend.

Ok! Now for the fun stuff:

Every Party needs party favors…and this is a good one!

The Giveaway includes:

Gifts from my shop as well as Warm Biscuit Bedding Company: a wonderful online store…one of the first in the market to offer personalized and custom gifts and decor for children. My products have been in their online retail store for a while now and I have just loved their company. You are just going to love these:

A set of Matruoshka dolls

and 3 darling suitcases. You can’t pass this up!

a Personalized Family Tree and

and a set of 10 Halloween Cards from Yours Truly.

• All you need to do is enter a comment below (just say “Hi”, smile and wave…offer a suggestion…or just say “Happy Birthday”)
• Thursday, I will present the winner here on the blog. Make sure to include your email address in your comment.
• Entries are valid through Wednesday at Midnight (EST)

But of course, we can’t all win this one. So….

THIS WEEK ONLY:

FREE shipping at Warm Biscuit Bedding Company when you make a purchase and mention: Sarah Jane as your coupon code

and…

BUY 2 GET 1 FREE in my shop!

• Purchase TWO items in my shop.
• At the time of purchase, MENTION the FREE item you would like in the message to seller box.
• FREE items can only be equal to or LESS than the other items purchased.
• There is a cap of TWO free items for the entire order.

But remember: every good party comes to an end: Wednesday October 7th at midnight (EST) is your last chance!

Have fun everyone. And thanks so much for all your wonderful support and e-friendship (is that a word? well, it is now…and it’s meant so much to me!)

Spread the word, and have fun at the party!

xo

sarah jane