Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Color Swatches for Watercolor


I don't know about the rest of you...but often I have trouble deciding what colors to use in my paintings...Sometimes I think, it is helpful to have painted samples of different colors in front of you-- therfore.... Here are some greens, browns, blues, and yellows :)

I am partial to lemon yellow, sepia, and paynes' gray myself :)


Monday, January 21, 2008

Chad Vader, Day Shift Manager

Seriously, I think this is one of the funniest things I have seen in years--- if you have the urge, check out the you tube video, on the left part of the page (you may have to scroll down a bit).., I also may be a bit partial, as it was filmed in the Willy Street Co-op in Madison WI. (I used to live right behind the co-op for 3 years).....Great place....tastey goodies....Chad Vader...That is #@!!@ hilarious!

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Back in the Swing of Things...

The title of this post says it...I'm back to working on my greeting card illustrations, and just started my part time gallery job. I've been using watercolor a lot for the past 2 years, and really enjoy this medium...Most of my greeting cards were done with watercolor...Lately I've been incorporating a bit of gouache into the mix as well. Not much of a stretch I guess! I try acryllic once in a while, but I'm not fond of the texture...I'm a watercolor girl at heart :) I would like to get back into oil painting-- I haven't done much of that since college. I like how vibrant you can get with oils, and the creaminess of the paints. Hmmmmm....maybe my first check from the gallery should go towards oil painting supplies....

Been Hanging Out in the Forums WAY too much lately....

I just can't help myself, I love those $#@! forums! I havent' gotten any sales off of them, but they are addictive and thoroughly enjoyable. I'm learning a lot too. I learned how to set up this blog by looking in the Etsy forums... I did a thread on "glues" too, in attempts to figure out the best type for paper crafts.... I'm leaning toward Yes! glue....Apparently spray adhesives work well too-- I'll have to try those.... I've discovered I really love to learn, preferably in a non--graded environment...School is definitely a different posting!

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Sweet Jesus! Parkards Launched the Website.....

#!#$@! Yes! I feel kind of guilty but I was starting to wonder if it actually was going to happen. The original launch site was supposed to be Dec. 1... Better late than never, definitely :) This makes me quite excited.... This is KIND OF the first, REALLY professional freelance illustration I have done. I did a project for my ex-boyfriend, but he iS, my ex-boyfrined...soooo, otherwise I may not have gotten that gig....When I did these illustrations I was like, freaking out...being way too much of a perfectionist and veering towards a nervous breakdown-- generally not a good thing, mind you....but I somehow got a month off from that gig-- no assignments were sent--, took a break, and feel refreshed... Well as much as I can be anyway. I'm a bit more relaxed now, working on the latest peice for Parkards....It's a Valentine's Day illustration for a card, naturally. It looks decent so far, but I don't want to freakin kill myself over it. I've realized recently that being that anal is just not worth it-- to much stress, and too much insanity....ARRGGGG....I think it will turn out OK, I just have to learn to chill....Booze is usually good for that....My sweetie Matt says I am very amuzing when I have margaritas.... well, that's good!

Monday, January 14, 2008

I didn't get much sleep last night...

I'm starting a new job today.... I'm a bit nervous about this. The first day is never easy. I'll be working as a shipping assistant in a local gallery. I'm actually really looking forward to everything I will learn-- it's completely applicable to my craft. (I always wondered the best way to ship certain things)-- for instance, if I wanted to sell an original watercolor, framed-- how would I ship that? I wouldn't want the glass to break...This is why I have not listed any framed originals yet on my sites. I am hoping to soon though, as I learn.
I got about 3 hours of sleep last night over all of this---geez...I'm kind of a dork.....

Sunday, January 13, 2008

Another Sunday in the life of Snitterdog

So it's Sunday, and my left arm is going numb. I have been on the computer a bit too much lately-- I'm new to the technology world, so this is rather exciting for me...Parkards has not launched it's site yet, but hopefully will soon. (I'm looking forward to seeing my greeting card illustrations :) Showing any signs of artistic success at this point would make me very, very happy... I feel like I'm at an age where I want to feel successful in some way. I realize "success" is a rather subjective state of being...and maybe shouldn't matter. But for some reason I do want to have some artistic success in my life. Afterall, it's what I have done since I was a kid-- that and annoy everyone I know :)- We'll see how it all goes.... Yes, I admit it, I am totally feeling sorry for myself and am completely self indulgent...Oh screw it, it informs my artwork, so that's OK! :)-

Saturday, January 12, 2008

HHMM... zed is dead....

Sorry about that title, couldn't resist... My boyfriend is watching pulp fiction....ah, happy teenage memories... oh wait, I didnt' really have any friends back then... Anyway.... I still dont get this blog thing. When I logged in, the comments that were previously there, did not show up-- what the $%#@! is up with that> (sorry, I have a bit of a potty mouth). I was constantly losing my allowance for this very reason when I was a kid...)

Friday, January 11, 2008

well holy *!#$!&*-- someone visited my blog...

Yes, someone (2 someones ) found my blog...there is hope for me and my technological ineptitudes :) Thanks for visiting you guys, that made my day! Also of good news, the new greeting card company, Parkards, is supposed to launch there website tomorrow. I did some independent contracting for them, and I will have some art work on their site. (Mostly work in watercolors). Yes, today was much better than yesterday....

Thursday, January 10, 2008

Had to drag myself out of bed this morning....

Seriously, I did NOT want to get up....Life sets in, far too much to dwell on. (So I thought I'd write in my little blog....). Anyway, I've been feeling somewhat artistically frustrated-- I am not able to crank out art as quickly as I would like, and also I'm way too much of a perfectionist. I have some ideas but as of yet, I have not exeuted them. Maybe I should become a minimalist....Nah.

Saturday, January 5, 2008

Snitterdog has been here :)

So I'm trying to figure out this blogging thing....hopefully this works (not too good with technology :)

I found out about this sight on Etsy, so I thought I would give it a try.... Is anybody out there...sorry (I used to listen to far too much Pink Floyd in my high school and college years).

Anway, I'm an artsy type. I work in a few differnt styles-- one of which I would consider wacky or bizzare, the other which I would consider a bit more mainstream (think stylized flowers and leaves, etc...) If you feel the urge, check it out: snitterdog.etsy.com (for the wacky stuff) and thegreenefairy.etsy.com (for the "normal" stuff :)