Edmonton Sketch Crawl

I heard of an experiment that someone was doing in San Fransisco which they dubbed a "sketchcrawl". The idea is to go out and draw for an entire day everything that you do or things that you see as you go along. I was inspired and intrigued by the idea so I decided to plan one myself! I urge other illustration readers to plan one in their city. It's a great way to meet other aritsts in their community.

EDMONTON SKETCH CRAWL
(18th international)
SAT, MARCH 29th
11am
STANLEY A MILNER LIBRARY, Down town
(in the entrance if it's terrible outside, outside if it's glorious!)

Here's what the founder had to say:

"The basic idea: to record nonstop everything I could around me with my pencil and watercolors. A drawn journal filled with details ranging from the all the coffee I drank to the different buses I took. After a whole day of drawing and walking around the city the name seemed quite fitting: “SketchCrawl” - a drawing marathon. The crawl was more tiring than I imagined but also more fun and exciting than I had thought. Giving yourself this kind of mandate for a full day changes the way you look around you. It makes you stop and see things just a tad longer, just a bit deeper … needless to say I loved it.

I soon figured out it was much more interesting to do the marathon with a group of artists instead of all by myself! And so SketchCrawl turned communal. After a whole day of drawing it proved to be amazingly interesting and inspiring to share and compare other people’s drawings and thoughts. Different takes on our surroundings, different details, different sensibilities.
The next step was making the SketchCrawl a World Wide event: having people from different corners of the world join in a day of sketching and journaling and then, thanks to the Internet, having everyone share the results on an online forum.

Hope to see some of you out there!

The Dark Side of Crystal.

Perhaps it is the snow that never seems to stop coming down from the sky, but lately I've been a bit under the weather emotionally. Sad, for no good reason. This is why I've created these sketches, which are rather darker than my usual style, in the hopes of getting some of the darkness out of my system (yes, even children's illustrators get the blues).

Illustration Friday: Leap

Illustration Friday: Leap, originally uploaded by crystal driedger.

Maybelle, grown tired of her usual persuits, ties a bow round her head, paints some boiled eggs with patterns and leaps into the air with joy. Has she gone mad or has she just become the easter bunny?

(sketched exclusively for illustration friday, what a gosh darn treat!...)

Disposable Art?

Birthday Party, originally uploaded by crystal driedger.

Every year it is my goal to use the skills I developed while working full time at my last job (I was there for four years and the company sold gift bags, childrens books, greeting cards and other fun things to quite a variety of companies including Walmart, Costco, American Greetings and many a dollar store among other places). One of the downsides of selling to these big companies was that the end results of my work (the actual products) weren't sold or created in Canada. Now normally this wouldn't be a problem, but I am a very far drive away from our nearest border (which for me is Montana, a beautiful state packed with mountains and sweet smelling forests)... and for those of you who have had the wonderful experience of seeing your work in stores it's so so satisfying to see it being touched and admired by real people, even if they are standing on it while it's on the floor (this, by the way, happened to me when I was lucky enough to be able to go on a business trip to Nashville. In a dollarstore in the middle of the city people were frantically searching for the "perfect" Christmas gift bag all the while tossing things on the floor where the faces of my paintings were being covered by the mud on the streets beneath customers boots).

This story reminds me of the reality of commercial illustration, or perhaps illustration in general. We create art that is essentially disposable. Our paintings get admired for seconds, perhaps a few days at most then is thrown away or recycled. There are exceptions to this rule: Children's books can be cherished and read over and over, some greeting cards are saved for years and I've heard of people framing copies of art they've clipped from magazines.

While I know that not every child who gets a card I've created in their mailbox will treasure it I can't stop trying to make similar images than those I loved when I was little. Greeting cards and childrens books were the first things I could call mine and they were certainly evidence that an artist could influence and brighten my world. Not to mention it dispelled the idea that if you wanted to be an artist you had to be "starving". Someone must have been paid to create the cards I got for my birthday and there was no way the artists behind the Lion King weren't being compensated in some way (although at the time I would have licked dirt to have been one of their artists, forget paying me!).

So I'll continue to illustrate and create concepts that might, if I am so lucky, be turned into cards that are eventually thrown away (or at best recycled). Because heck, people might like my design so much that they will buy my card and fill it with money. If that doesn't make my card worth more to someone, I don't know what will!

By the way: Here's the concept sketch:

Childrens Illustrators (dot com!)

I've decided to join children's illustrators (dot com)! Can't wait to see the results. It's an online listing of children's illustrators (719 of them at this point) with access to portfolio, links and bio. Here's my link.

Paws & Claws Painting Finished

barnes garden, originally uploaded by crystal driedger.

Just a quick update that the painting is finished and the website is up with all the other artist involved.

Link Back Love for Valentines Day

Happy Valentines day Friends! I love and adore you all so for valentines day I'm sending some link back love!

For nearly four years I worked with some of the most talented and wonderful people (mainly illustrators) I've ever known. While we have all moved in different directions this last year, a big group of us seem to keep blogs which are actually so funny you'll want to roll around laughing each morning you surf the web!

Kim Grift
Michelle McBride (aka Miss Dishy)
Miss Modderpotts
Jason Dirks
Mike Boldt
Gabriel Wong

websites (for those who don't keep blogs)
Igor Woroniuk
Adolfo Ruiz
Marcus Cutler
Pink Polka (Jenelle Gartner)

Someone I almost worked with (came from same place as people above)
The Lemonade Tree (aka Carmen)

Marketing and Dreaming of Dreamweaver...

A note before I get into this weeks topic:
THE PAWS AND CLAWS GALA WEBSITE is up!
Scroll down to see the developing piece I'm working on.

Making "the list"...

A very important part of being an illustrator that can actually survive off of the jobs they obtain requires marketing. While I did do a limited amount of marketing last year, I've taken it upon myself to up my antics this year. As I hope to be a full time freelancing illustrator again by summer (for those of you who don't know, my husband went back to school for 3D animation and modelling last fall and with the pressure of supporting us both on one income I took up a part time job and leapt into as many local craft markets as I could to sell my work face-to-face) I'll need to be exposing myself to the biggest audience I can.

Here's a list of things I'd like to accomplish marketing-wise in 2008:

1) Update website by taking dreamweaver/flash classes
2) Get my portfolio on children's illustrators.com
3) Do another postcard run
4) Enter contests (commarts,applied arts, ACE awards)
5) Become involved in charity auctions with my art (down for 3 this year already)
6) Reasearch other ways to reach clients in children's illustraton market (European emphasis while dollar is strong)
7) Update portfolio for my agent, Maggie on a monthly basis (min)
8) Do group art show for fine art exposure
9) Sign up for more arts/craft markets

Creating a list can be a good place to look at what your marketing plans are going to cost and what you can afford to do/not do. Keep in mind that while your business is new, as mine is, shying away from marketing that looks expensive may keep your business hidden as well.

Here's the update on "Barnes Garden" (see original post here)

You Made My Day Award

I was so excited when Mike R Baker told me that I'd "Made his day" via my blog. This is a great compliment as I frequent his blogs myself. He is a fantastic illustrator and always surprises me with his illustration friday contributions which are often completed in gouache at lightening speed! Mike also designed this wonderful new logo for the award which I find adorable (I couldn't resist passing it on...)

So, here I am passing the award on to five wonderful people who's blogs I check everyday (I'm not kidding, I'm rather addicted). Thank you to:

• Dani Draws (this blog is incredible. Dani is talented and has detailed tutorials... so CHECK IT OUT!)
• Amanda Woodward (A tremendous source of inspiration both from her life and her art. I consider her a good friend and am lucky to have met her - she's from my home town as well. Actually, to be perfectly honest, Amanda helped inspire me to quit my full time job to illustrate for a living and I've never looked back!)
•Chrissy Fanslau (Her perseverance and dedication is ultra inspiring!)
• The Daily Coyote (Just check it out, it's awesome!)
• CutewithChris.com (um, yeah, Cute with Chris is so darn funny)

In Edmonton this Saturday?

This Saturday there's going to be an aid benefit for Louisianna at St. Joseph College Newman Centre in Edmonton. (Refreshments start at 7:30 pm. The Silent Auction closes at 10:00 pm. Tickets: $10.00 in advance/$15.00 at the door. Contact Chelsey, for more details).

I created this ink drawing which will be sold at their silent auction. I'm just so in love with drawing insects, flowers and silly women these days!

Paws & Claws Gala

Last year I had an idea to raise funds for the Edmonton Humane Society (they are building a new shelter for their animals, called the Margaret Chapelle Centre for Animal Care, named after an Edmonton Artist who gave the largest dontation in history to a Canadian Animal Shelter). I thought: "What if I could gather a group of artists that would create art featuring shelter animals and hold a gala which people could come and bid on said art?"

Well, after much planning and hoping, the gala is going to happen! Held at the beautiful Mayfield Inn in Edmonton on April 12, 2008. It's going to be in conjunction with Coventry Homes for Hounds and the seats are are going to sell out fast. To purchase tickets please contact Leslie or Kara. Please keep in mind that you'll have to pay via cheque or cash (made out to Homes for Hounds).

These fine artists & illustrators have been invited to participate:
Michelle Schwengler, Amanda Woodward, Igor Woroniuk, Nicola Pringle, Rachelle Miller, Suzanne Stevens, Marcus Cutler, Drury Stratiy, Amie Kerman, Danielle Inglesias and Michelle McBride.

I've chosen a rather fluffy black and white cat called Barnes and have already started painting his portrait (I forgot he didn't have a tail so when I went in to photograph him again I was quite surprised... needless to say I'll be painting his tail out of the picture, poor chap!).



Here's the real guy! So shy, but so big and fluffy and huggable!

Calendar Winners Announced!

Thanks to everyone who entered my January Blog Contest (calendar giveaway with secret prize...). I used a random number generator to pick the two winners who are (drum roll please) Chickengirl and Jenna! If you didn't receive my emails girls give me a shout back with your addy's. Cheers!

And for interests sake, here's a map of my recent visitors. This is a free service provided by statcounter.com

Retrospection

I spent a bit of today looking through old sketchbooks and had a good laugh. Take a look at a sketch I completed in 1989:


From 1997:


And some from 2002 (I was a student at Grant MacEwan College):



Evolution is a wonderful thing!

*there's only one more day until my blog contest ends! Scroll down for more information.

Sweet Moleskin

Sandra, originally uploaded by crystal driedger.

I bought a moleskin shortly after I spied my friend Amanda's at a market I was working last summer. It's been such a treasure. It's exactly the right size and weight (can be carried with me at all times for creative moments that come out of the blue), is flexible and so so soft!

No matter what situation I'm in and no matter how hectic my schedule, if I find the time to sketch during my day it brings me great peace. While this is not always the case with client work, where there is always pressure to create something better and more lively, sketching for myself has been a very effective way to test different styles and techniques and an even better way to just clear my head of nonesense.

I like to go back into my sketchbook months afterwards and add colour to the cross hatching I first did with my pen in front of the tv. For some reason I don't like just sitting and watching tv... I enjoy doing something creative while I do this. Perhaps it lessens the guilt factor of being a movie nutt.

* Just a reminder: There's only 6 days left until I draw for those two free calendars and secret prize...

2008 Calendar Giveaway Contest!

I have two copies of my 2008 calendar to give away to two different blog visitors (plus a surprise gift!). Here's the rules: Post a comment on the following topic and I'll draw from the names of people who comment on or before January 31st for the prize. Then once I've contacted the winner you'll be sent the prize (please don't leave your address in the blog comment section but rather leave a website or blog address/email where I can get this from you privately)!

Here's the topic:

"Green Illustration & Design" (what are you doing to make your illustrations and office more environmentally friendly? Any links to good office crafts out or recycled goodies? And if you're not an illustrator or designer what are you doing to make your home more eco-friendly?)

Illustration Friday: "Plain Jane"

Plain Jane, originally uploaded by crystal driedger.

Oh poor Jane
Don't feel so plain!
Your dress might not sparkle
But your smile always will.

Illustration completed exclusively for Illustration Friday. :)

tea time sketch

tea time sketch, originally uploaded by crystal driedger.

I'm going to embark on a new artistic journey soon... I'm going to try my hand at linocuts. And, using only the internet as my teacher, we'll see how good I'll be at this craft. I'm sure the first will probably be full of mistakes but then, isn't that the same as life?

Holly's Castle

This is another illustration I've completed in the efforts of building more samples of children in my portfolio. This was much faster than the "Summer Fun" image I completed early January and was tremendous fun as well. Looks like I'm in for a great month!

Opportunity to Use a variety of styles

If there's one wonderful aspect having a part-time job, it would be the ability to diversify yourself. While it's nice to be able to see people other than your family on a 24 - 7 basis, this is not the biggest benefit I've discovered by working at the Royal Alberta Museum. While my job is primarily graphic design in nature I have been able to complete the odd illustration here and there. To top off this bunch of pure goodness, it's usually different stylistically than I do during my business hours as an illustrator. This really gives me the chance to experiment, which is very needed in this business of illustration.

The bears above were for a board game that the education department uses to educate children about grizzlies and black bears. It's more of a simple, sihouette approach and yet I found it fun (sort of like a puzzle).

A Painting for Maggie

For those of you who don't already know, I have an agent. We've been working together to resolve some issues with the way I draw kids. This is the first painting that I've managed to finish for her and it's taken me months to find the time to finish. You might remember the progress of this painting from a previous post made in October. This just goes to show how busy I've been in the last few months. My goal is to load up my portfolio in the next couple of months with kids doing fun things. As I adore painting, this shouldn't be an undesirable task!

ps: This picture is big enough to be a desktop image so please feel free to use it as your wallpaper. :)