Pumpkin Junkin

This weekend I junked my pumpkin. See contest and entries here.

Paper Quilt Project

Paper Quilt Project, originally uploaded by crystal driedger.

I feel so fortunte to have been a part of
the paper quilt project this October. It's my first real attempt at a collage (darn! Wish I had documented the progress) and think I did alright considering I couldn't pick out the patterns myself.

The project worked as follows: You get a bunch of scrap pieces of (lovely) paper in the mail, have two weeks to develop a piece out of the scraps (without adding more of your own) in the theme: A day in my life. Send the package back within two weeks and then at the end of the year all artists involved will decide which charity they want the quilt to go to and they get auctioned off. I'll let you know which charity it is closer to the date!
See more samples from other artists here.

A day in my life:
As some of you may know, I've taken up knitting. Both my cat and I adore this new hobby of mine although I have to actually finish a single project yet (I keep tearing them out and restarting).

Figure Drawing

It's been nearly five months since I last went figure drawing
but with my sister in town it was great to make an excuse to go, soak in the talent of other local artists (& of course feel very, very humbled) and use some very lovely watercolor paper (sigh!). Yet with all this practicing of the human form I started wondering... why on earth do I make such an effort to go to figure drawing sessions and yet very rarely set up a still life to keep tabs on my perspective skills? I know there are so many challenges in perspective when drawing the human form but architecture and objects hold a different challenge (and can hold still for soooo much longer). You have more time to play with color & lighting and let's face it: still life "models" are practically free (just grab some things from your fridge, draw them then eat. Repeat!).

I have but a couple of days left with smaller projects before I start what I'm now calling a daunting November. I've just signed a contract to help the Royal Alberta Museum out for a month (part time graphic design work for their upcoming anniversary), will be teaching at college and have two large art/craft fairs to work. I've calculated and I've got five days off that month (which really means I have evenings and five weekend days to do my freelance work). This is a blessing as our family needs all the income we can get while my husband is in school but as for setting up still life paintings and going to life drawing sessions... it may be put on hold again!

What is stylization?

I've been planning for my upcoming classes and wanted to know how my readers would define stylization or personal style. As stylization is a fantastic illustration technique (my class is called illustration techniques) I'd like to briefly touch on the subject.

So! Have any of you found sticking to a specific style, engineering it and letting it grow to be helpful? Have you found a couple styles that you like to promote? Is it easier to have a broad range when you keep your illustrative efforts local?

Thanks for the comments!

Trying out a new art

My husband got me a photography club membership for my birthday and I can hardly wait to give this "new art" a fair shot. Lately I've been exploring different ways to use my artistic eyes and while so far illustration seems to be my strongest suit it has improved how I see the world already. Keeping yourself flexible and open to new compositions, techniques and abilities is healthy and above all fun. It keeps you refreshed and helps avoid that "creative block" that can happen when you work too much (which a fair chunk of us seem to do).

Here's a little taste of the photography we played with this weekend while in a local corn maze for my birthday (photography by my husband, lighting by my sister, model: Me!).

Two Great Halloween Contests

Holli Conger has a great contest going on right now called Junk your Pumpkin and there's another contest by Penelope Dullaghan called Monster Mash that looks so good! I only wish I had the time to work on these projects (i did have time this week as it turns out but decided to take up knitting instead... silly me!)

Why Sketch?

My first sketchbooks rarely filled more than half of their pages before I gave up sketching, lost it (temporarily) or just plum stopped sketching for months (ahem, sometimes years) at a time. Even in college, when I was required to complete sketchbooks I did so as though it was a chore. Perhaps restricted subject matter was always something akin to completing a math problem instead of seeing it as the root for a great idea? These college notebooks, while interesting to see the amazing progress and changes I went through as an artist, are rather dull. Blackened by millions of pen strokes there were tea kettles, forks and even a wheel chair. I wondered why I didn't try to develop my style back then, why I only bothered with still lifes that were improperly set up? I rarely go a day without sketching since I quit my last full time job. I can't sit in front of the tv without at least holding it, getting ready for the next big idea. Is it that I'm no longer afraid to draw something that might be perceived as silly, just plain weird or be rejected/disliked... a target for someone's rotten eggs? I'm also starting to not care if my sketchbooks have thumbnails, wording, or the beginning trickle of a story.

But why sketch at all? Does it matter, really, if you take some of your "free time" to put pen to paper?

Sketching is so freeing. You don't ever have to show your sketchbook to anyone, you don't have to show your clients (well, unless you sketch your client work in your sketchbook I suppose), your mom & dad, your pet rabbit... although I've found that the more often I share my sketchbook the more I enjoy drawing in it and the more confident I get. Any compliment is another gentle push towards the goals I have set for my career.

Sketching is a release. I have to draw cute little things all day (which I love, don't get me wrong) but sometimes you just don't feel happy or energetic. Sometimes I feel mad as a hornet. A safe place to get this out can be in my sketchbook. I'll draw someone with a really big mouth yelling. Then I laugh at it because it looks dumb and can move on.

Above all, sketching is a record of your progress. I'd never sell my sketchbooks. They're far better than my diaries ever will be and worth way more. Maybe in the coming entries I'll post sketches from my very first sketch books just to give you an idea on where I've come from and where I am now.

Happy Sketching!

Halloween Witch, originally uploaded by crystal driedger.

Blog Action Day

Be Kind to the Environment and It will be Kind to you!

Today is "Blog Action Day" (oct 15th) which focuses on the environment. You'd think there isn't much we can do as illustrators (our business's tend to be small, often in our own homes or small studios) but there are many little things that can make a big impact on the environment if you add them up!

1) Use scrap pieces of paper for spot illustrations
2) Research the type of paper that you use (or your printer uses) for postcard promotions. We send out hundreds every year and with all of the illustrators out there this one is much bigger than we think.
3) Do junkadoodles (invented by Holli Conger) with left over garbage bits. OR! Right now junk a pumpkin instead of carving one this halloween (then you can still turn it into a good pumpkin soup)
4) Make sculptures using your old pencil stubs
5) Do crafts with your kids using old paints and "no longer usable" art supplies (kids don't care if things don't work just right)
6) Recycle old print-offs (ummm, obvious, no?)
7) Make gum portraits (gross...? Take a look at the link, it's really cool)
8) Use common sense. Recycle what you can, fix what you can before buying new junk and always question consumption!

Happy Birthday Mom!

It is my mom's birthday this Friday so my sister and I decided to paint her two pictures with the following in common: Theme was sea/ocean and two colours had to be the same (to match her bathroom which is yellow with hints of purple).

Also, I finally updated my website

Mine:


My Sisters:

New Calendar

I made a calendar for 2008 that features my artwork from this year. It was so much fun to make (I reccomend this as a promo or if you sell things at craft fairs). Click on the title of this blog to see each month's illustrations).

I'm taking orders for the calendar for Canadian residents (US residents may as well order the calendar via cafépress as it will get there faster + be the same price). Save $5 on the shipping if you order before OCT 16 at 4pm. That makes the calendar $20. If you order through me I will sign your copy! (Email me at artist@crystaldriedger.com with your address and preferred method of payment). Thanks!

Halloween Creatures

I made an invite to a party I'm hosting with some other people and can't help but share the illustrated part of it because the characters are too funny!

October Issue of Avenue Magazine

I picked up the latest copy of Avenue Magazine which features an illustration by yours truly. It's under the section called "The Last Word". This particular one is about a new family who doesn't buy enough candy for Halloween...

Very Last Summer Market

I'm oh so happy to report the very last summer market (it's been getting very chilly sitting in my stall in the early morning before the sun comes up). It's this Saturday on 104th Street (from Jasper ave to 103 ave) from 9am - 3pm. While it's been fun learning new crafting skills and meeting people at the market I'm in need of a break. I've been finding myself working 9-5 illustrating then from 5:30-11 doing crafty things while I watch TV before bed.

Here are some dates in which Michelle McBride (miss dishy) and I will be selling Christmas goodies (check back for exact times and for coupons):

NOV 2-4
Silvanna's in St. Albert (St. Albert Inn) TENTATIVE

NOV 16-18th
Stop & Shop (Tran Alta Arts Barn, 10330 - 84 Avenue) CONFIRMED

DEC 1-2
The Royal Bison (Cosmopolitan Music Society building, 8426 Gateway Blvd) CONFIRMED

Meanwhile if you're interested in buying things but can't make it out to these dates feel free to visit my etsy shop which is constantly updated with new items!
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5069714

Work In Progress

Remember that carnival sketch I posted a couple weeks ago? (Scroll down to the purple sketch) This is a work in progress as I have/make time for it during my increasingly busy schedule (I must paint more children for my portfolio type of project)

Well, I've been revamping and painting... take a look at the progress here:

October Snowmen

It seems that my farmers market adventures might finally be paying off. I'm starting to take on a bit more fine art projects which have come from meeting the people who shop the market. This is all so very exciting!

I'm due to work some pretty big christmas shows (three day long events that occur in November) in which I hope to do a little advertising for my illustration business, sell some art and prints and meet some new people. I've been working on painting up bits of wood with snowmen to sell at the shows. Here's what I created this weekend:

"Danny" A snowmen on a stick (pole says "Let it Snow") pole measures 22.5x1.75x0.75". Snowman painting measures 5x8x0.75"



"Together" Another snowman on a stick (same measurements as above)Pole says "Merry Christmas"


Saucy Smoker 7x7x0.75"



Andy Snowman 15.5x5x1"

Creating that "Great Idea"

There are many steps to coming up with great work and having a wonderful and creative idea. I know that sometimes it seems that creative professionals can pull ideas out of hats as easily as a magician and sometimes ideas do come rather quickly but there are crucial guidelines one should stick to when trying to meet a clients needs. As an illustrator or designer you should always allow some time to reasearch a client's target market and buisness needs. A great idea might only be great for you or to satisfy some artistic craving you are waiting to fill but how does this help out the people who have put their trust in you? So, what should you research to ensure that you are coming up with something fabulous that will actually help your client get what he/she needs?

Here's a little list of things to research when you get a new client:

Who is your client? What exactly do they do?
(Sometimes this is rather easy while other times I've had clients where I've had to look up the meaning of their profession in the dictionary before starting, rather daunting!)
Why did your client hire you?
(Exactly what needs arose for them to hire you in the first place? Are they looking to gain more clients in a juvenile audience? Do they always hire illustrators because it's worked for them year after year? Does illustration give them a personal touch or edge?)
So to narrow this down a bit:
What is their target audience?
(And are they trying to broaden their scope using you?)
Who are their competitors?
(And what are they doing to promote themselves/using on their products? Say you're doing illustrations for a package on a new doll. Take a look at Barbie. Why is she so sucsessful? What sets her apart from what your client wants?)
Think about the target audience: What else are the clients buying?
(Think back to the barbie situation: These children also wanted to buy Dora books, big thick chunky jewelry filled with purple and pink and love bright coloured candy)
What is the client wanting to evoke in their clients?
(Are they wanting to make the clients feel a certain way when they use the product/read the artical/look at an ad/packaging?)


Take time to research images & colours. Find out what is appealing to the target audience. If you know nothing about 8 year old girls hang out for a bit in the Disney Store then head over to Zellars to get a broad scope of what exactly your client is doing and desiring. Go to the library and read to children of this age. What are the parents like in this situation? Are parents consistently turning down certain products that children like? Sometimes it's just as important to take into consideration things like this as the true client is the adult.

With this said, illustration shouldn't always be about fitting into a market. If your client wants to break new ground take a look at what's out there anyway so you'll know who's creating new ideas, what makes their work innovative and how you can allow your own work to evolve (but remember, a client is the main thing that separates fine art from illustration so always always keep them in mind). Sketch... Alot! Don't show a client all of your sketches (unless they have requested this as it can become a buffet of ideas in which a client will want to take pieces of each idea and merge them. This will result in a bloated and ugly stomach where nothing get's noticed for it's flavour). Pick out the best couple of sketches (or just one!) based on your research and tell the client why you picked what you did. Explain the choice of colour, the composition, the arrangement of elements. Let your client in on your process, let them know how long each phases is and ask them questions. Don't be afraid to ask your clients questions about their business (clients adore talking about their business and it shows you care and want to do a good job for them). Meet them in person as often as you can. Look them in the eye when they talk. Take notes. See how they react to your ideas. If you didn't get a concept right the first time find out why it's not working. Maybe go back and explain why you did something a certain way.

In many ways finding a good idea is just the result of narrowing down the extra large field of "I can do anything I want!" which is so daunting. Following the above guidelines can take lots of the pressure off of you to create a masterpiece from nothing.

Good luck and happy creating!

One Brown Cow

This is the first complete image in a new children's picture book I'm working on with local author Patricia Gitersos. It's a very sweet story about a little brown cow who does odd and wonderful things. Focusing on a signature colour each page (this time the red boat) other colours will be a little more muted and soft. It's my first assignment in watercolour.

Etsy Alberta Blog

A new blog about Albertan Etsy sellers has just started and I was lucky enough to be the first person featured on it. Read the interview by clicking on the blog title. If you're interested in being featured on this blog or have some information to contribute go ahead and look her up on etsy (her seller profile is katelynjane).

Here's a spot of info on the creator, Katelyn Jane who has an etsy shop that features wonderful handmade bags:

Well, I'm the oldest of eight kids. I grew up in Victoria, BC but moved to Dawson Creek when I was in my young teens. I love it here and would never have stayed in Victoria if I had a choice. I got married two years ago this past summer and am LOVING it (: We bought a house last year and are doing it up, right in the middle of renos as we speak! I've actually only been making my bags for the past month or so. I saw the idea somewhere and thought "I can make that" and so I did. It now fills all of my spare time, it's an addiction!! I can't watch TV without cutting out a bag. I dont' really sell them anywhere else other than to friends and whoever is in my town and hears about them. I'm not full time but would LOVE that to be in the near future. Maybe when this starts on a roll I will be. Talk about dream come TRUE! I wanted to start the group because I love to get together with other crafters and love inspiration from others and brainstorming with people who are interested in the same stuff. I guess really, I love my schedule to be packed full...haha.

Roberts Snow

Lately all I've been spotting is snowflakes (not outside the window, but on the "web") and they're everywhere I look! I really wish I had some money this year to buy a very exciting christmas present because so many of the most exciting children's book illustrators have contributed to "Roberts Snow", a charity auction of hand painted snowflakes, that I'm practically rolling around with glee thinking about them.

Here's the "scoop" from the Roberts snow website (title is linked to the site):

Own a piece of art from your favorite children's book illustrator while helping to fight cancer. Participate in Robert's Snow: for Cancer's Cure, a unique fundraiser for cancer research. Since 2004, this online auction has raised over $200,000 for Dana-Farber, and with your help, we can continue this holiday tradition in 2007.

"Robert's Snow" is a children's story about a mouse not allowed in the snow. Children's book illustrator Grace Lin wrote the book, which was inspired by her husband Robert's battle with Ewing's sarcoma. After the book was published, Grace gathered artists from all over the children's book illustrating community to create special snowflakes to be auctioned off, with the proceeds benefiting sarcoma research at Dana-Farber. These snowflake auctions became known as the event "Robert's Snow."

Farmers Market Update

I'll be at my booth again this saturday at the down town farmers market (104th street and Jasper ave-103street) from 9am to 3pm with some new things: