another blog!

Slowly, but surely, I intend to go to the very center of the world wide web this semester. It all starts with my new blog http://kevinspiesillustration.blogspot.com/. Hope everyone had a good break, I know I did.
-Kevin S.

Digital inking

Hey guys,

A couple people have asked me how to go about digital inking, or what program I use to draw digitally besides photoshop. I recently came across this tutorial written online where he explains EXACTLY how I do it myself. It's a really cool approach because unlike in illustrator, there is a much easier time at getting true line weight and your personal hand present in the ink job.

http://bobjinx.blogspot.com/2009/01/flashtip-1-drawing-with-brush.html

Enjooooy.

-Lindsay

help?

Hello everyone,
Hope you all aren't working too hard on your degree projects, 'cause your gonna make me look bad. I'm having a bit of a hard time coming up with articles for my newspaper. If anyone has any ideas or just a random headline I could use to help to create an article and illustration feel free to leave a comment. For example some of them are things like "Migrating seagulls accidentally fly over bay and turn into bagels", and "Man finds soup in finger". Anything weird that would be fun to illustrate. It's coming along very slowly... but hopefully I'll have some new stuff to show for next class. Ok, just putting it out there for suggestions. Thanks!
-Julie

My New Years Kick in the Pants

Hello everybody, Sarah set up a Behance portfolio and is working on getting ALL of her work up.  Come and see!  And if you're on it let her know, only Dr.Burney is in her circle...www.behance.net/skimilk

Sincerely, Kitten

New Years Kick in the Pants

Do it.
Read what Allison wrote and do it.
Get yourself out there, stop muttering how hard it is, and just do it.
Get your work plastered on walls-- on signposts, streetlamps, hit up gallery openings, send out postcards, call art directors.

Just do it.

Is everything going to be successful? No.
Is it going to be easy? NO.

If it was, there would be a lot more competition out here.
It's a New Year-- your FINAL semester-- then it's either back to mom and dad's or strike out on your own. Trust me, on your own is a MUCH Better place.
Andy

PS- Studio 242 invited Veronica and I to show some work this coming season-- I expect you all to show up-- there will be crackers. Date to be announced.

Hey there.

I should be sleeping, but I don't believe in sleep.


THINGS YOU SHOULD DO THIS SEMESTER:

1. Put work on ebay.
Andy recommended this to me, and while I haven't had much success yet, he has and Veronica started out this way selling small sketches and paintings for cheap.

2. Set up an etsy.
I've made over a hundred dollars in a week selling small (8" x 4") paintings with simple color schemes that were fun to do and easy/quick to make. People like small samples of unknown artists' work because it's something to hold onto when the artist gets popular and it's affordable for students and fans.

3. Build a website.
(I know I'm still behind a few of you on this, but I'm working on it.)
Like Andy keeps saying: get it done before graduation. Try to get a name for yourself online - you can get fans from all over the world that way. (I still have the same people commenting on my deviantart since 2003 and I've never had a real conversation with most of them, but they continue to give me good feedback and encourage my work, even though it's changed so much over time.)

4. Get your work in galleries and plan events.
The only thing I love more than going to a gallery show with one of my favorite artists is going to a show with SEVERAL of my favorite artists. We're all in the same boat - we should do something cool that will expose our work to the rest of the school and possibly outside sources as well.

5. Promotion.
Postcards, business cards, buttons (people fucking love buttons), customized packaging/labels, anything that will scream YOU about your work. Start a mailing list and send out little goodies and holiday cards every once in a while. It will remind people (especially people who are farther away) that you're actively doing art and that you appreciate the people who look at your work.

6. Keep making art.
Do it as often as you can.
You get better with every piece.
I'm so glad to know such talented people (though I'm afraid you're all going to run away and leave me when we graduate), so keep it up. You'll always have a huge fan, and it's me.



-Allison

Senior Reviews

Hola Amigos!
Irena sent me this email regarding Senior Reviews (and his sidekick Paco);

"Remember long, long ago, when Senior Reviews were cancelled due to snow? Well....they're back.

The make up day will be Wednesday, January 21st starting at 2:00pm.
As usual, they’ll be held on the 9th floor. Students can set up beginning at 12:30

All morning Illustration classes will be held (Digital Illustration, Illustration 3, Black + White Illustration and Freelance Studio).

All afternoon Illustration classes will be cancelled (Senior Portfolio, Book Arts and Conceptual Drawing)

BUT all faculty must attend, even those who teach on Wednesday afternoon." -- Irena Roman

So, if you need to see me about independent study, class questions, whatever, I'll be there on the 21st around Noon. I'm sure I'll have some time afterwards as well.

Good luck to all of you-- I'm excited to see the work.
Andy

Has this happened to you?

Ever fall and bruise your art bone?  Happens all the time to me during the winter and summer months.  It is a difficult injury to recover from because the longer you go without exercising your art bone, the longer it takes to heal.  So even if this little sketch is all I've done at all this vacation I still want to share it with you.  I hope to see you all soon!

MUH FUH

Hey guys. I've recently been invited to show some of my work at the MFA.

http://www.mfa.org/calendar/event.asp?eventkey=37182&date=2/19/2009

It's the best of the last 6 years of Massart animation, since the inception of the department. I'm very flattered and very greatful to be given such an opportunity, and VERY humbled to have not one, but two of my films selected out of a few thousand films.. I hope if any of you can make it you stop in. It's always hard how all the departments at Massart are so separate. We're alien to each other, which is too bad since we can all learn from the work we're all doing. Especially since animation is illustration's bastard son with ADD.

Cheers Guys!
Lindsay