New artwork added to the Surface Design Portfolio section of Designastration.com! Dinos, Sugar Plum Fairies, and Retro Santa.

Now that I’m listed on PrintsourceNewYork.com as an exhibitor, I’m getting a lot more hits on my website. Although I update the password protected section every other day, I haven’t updated the public area in a while. My original plan was to wait until after the show to put up some of the newer work on the portfolio section of the website, but to be honest some of the work on their now is looking a little dated compared to the shiny, new work. I’ll be choosing 3-4 of the newest pieces and updating the site over this weekend. Here is one! Aren’t these ladies lovely? Robyn, Jesse, and Julie were my inspiration. The best mermaids a girl could ask for!

I thought I’d write a little bit about how I’m printing samples for the up coming show this January. This was quite the speed bump for me and I’m sure I cannot be the only one who obsessed over this unexpected mystery. Before I could commit to purchasing a booth, I needed to first be sure I could play with the big dogs and produce professional quality prints to showcase at my table. But how the heck-a-roo did those big dog artist create their prints?
When it comes to my children’s book mixed-media paintings, I’ve always had a hard time reproducing the illustrations to the vibrance levels of the original art. Obviously, because I create my New Product Development artwork digitally, this wouldn’t be as big of a problem, but the memories of long nights playing with printer settings haunt me to this day, and I wanted to be 100% sure I had the right tools to easily produce the quality of prints I wanted to show. As someone who has attended trade shows with intentions of purchasing prints from artists, I know how important it is to have high-quality, true to color, crystal sharp prints to represent your patterns and designs. It’s essential.
So I started the way most people start. I started asking fellow designers what they recommended for printers. I’m friends with a mightily prolific illustrator/sculpture/designer/photo editor: Adam Chiet.  (Seriously! This guys is GIFTED! Check him out: http://adamchiet.net/). I brought to him some examples of prints I had helped purchase from other studios. I noted the saturated ink, the matte quality of the paper, and the high-resolution of the prints.  He became my personal shopper for an afternoon and helped me pick out the perfect printer for my obnoxiously low budget and my impossible, zenith standards. I remember telling him I wanted to print to at least Super B size, it had to have easily accessible/affordable ink, and it had to be easy for me to use.
Here is the printer I purchased. An HP Officejet 7110 Wide Format. It was the first, real purchase that I made in order to take exhibiting this year seriously. Truly, I cannot complain about this printer. If you are thinking of experimenting with printing some of your work, I recommend taking a look at the size, price, and quality to start your comparisons. That being said, I should also say that I ONLY use top shelf paper in this baby. I don’t think I’ve ever printed on regular paper to date. Also, I’ve only used the name brand ink. Not counting the cost of the printer, mistakes, and re-designs: I figured out that each finished print of a pattern/design costs me over $4. When I add in the cost of the printer, and all those mistakes.. I have to admit I feel a little sick. Lets see.. I have 126 prints as of today.. and I’ve had to reprint about 35 mistake pages.. is the room spinning?

If anyone out there wants to talk more about tools or gadgets they use I’d love to hear from you. Any cost saving tips or calibrating advice?

There I am!

New from PetEdge..

Holiday bandanas!
I love creating holiday patterns. Check out these models, huh?!

New from PetEdge..

Holiday bandanas!
I love creating holiday patterns. Check out these models, huh?!

Tonight I reached 101 printed surface design samples to take to Printsource.
Still plenty of time until the January show to do more, but I’m still very proud of the quality of work backing that number. This has been years in the making, and seeing everything all come together has been an amazing award for all the nights, weekends, and vacation time I’ve spent on my artwork. All of the booth posters arrived last week along with some other booth bling and signage. Almost there..

Tonight I reached 101 printed surface design samples to take to Printsource.
Still plenty of time until the January show to do more, but I’m still very proud of the quality of work backing that number. This has been years in the making, and seeing everything all come together has been an amazing award for all the nights, weekends, and vacation time I’ve spent on my artwork. All of the booth posters arrived last week along with some other booth bling and signage. Almost there..

Last week I visited Printsource New York  for the first time. Having been to Surtex twice, I knew that the trade shows were similar in that artist would show their artwork available for purchase or licensing to vendors. The two shows are slightly different though. My take on it, in a nutshell, is this: Surtex is a celebration of the industry where new ideas are revealed and new connections are made. PrintSource is a place were business gets done.
Now, I’ve had my eye on Printsource for a while and I was eager to see it for myself. I am ready for a show, but unsure which is right for Designastration. I spoke with a few artist who had booths, spoke with a buyer in the aisles, and then got an opinion of a friend, and fellow artist, who also visited the show.

Visiting a show like Printsource can really give you a sense of the industry and get you psyched up to create some new work. I highly recommend it if you are an illustrator or surface designer! But I’d like to suggest a word or two about etiquette when visiting shows as an artist. There are only a few rules, but they are golden:

1. If there is an artist or design studio you’d like to talk to, be sure there are no buyers talking, approaching, or about to approach them. You wouldn’t want to discourage a buyer from not visiting their booth by being in the way.

2. When introducing yourself to the artist or agent at the booth let them know immediately that you are an artist or not a  buyer.

3. If you are talking to an artist at their booth and someone else starts to approach (however apprehensively they peek in) Acknowledge it to the artist and excuse yourself so they can get to work selling their artwork to potential buyers. Let them know you might be back if you want to finish the conversation when they’re free again.

4. Do not request to look through their prints. This is a big taboo. It may seem like an innocent request to you, but it may not be to them. They don’t know you and no one likes to be put in a position that they have to say ‘no’. Unless they offer, just assume it’s off limits. Enjoy the booths though! I love to comment and compliment artist on the most beautiful booths. Most of the best work is on display anyways. Breathe it in and get inspired! Just don’t take any pictures.

Again, going to these shows is invaluable. Sometimes I wish someone had recommended one to me while I was in art school. Here are some links to art licensing shows:
www.surtex.com
www.printsourcenewyork.com
www.indigo-salon.com

If you know of some other, or up-and-coming shows, please share them! I’d love to hear about them!

p.s.
Oh! and ‘yes’! I applied for a booth at Printsource this coming January. I’ll be extremely busy prepping, designing, and printing in the next couple months. I think Printsource is a great way to debut Designastration and I’m eager get started!

Last week I visited Printsource New York  for the first time. Having been to Surtex twice, I knew that the trade shows were similar in that artist would show their artwork available for purchase or licensing to vendors. The two shows are slightly different though. My take on it, in a nutshell, is this: Surtex is a celebration of the industry where new ideas are revealed and new connections are made. PrintSource is a place were business gets done.
Now, I’ve had my eye on Printsource for a while and I was eager to see it for myself. I am ready for a show, but unsure which is right for Designastration. I spoke with a few artist who had booths, spoke with a buyer in the aisles, and then got an opinion of a friend, and fellow artist, who also visited the show.

Visiting a show like Printsource can really give you a sense of the industry and get you psyched up to create some new work. I highly recommend it if you are an illustrator or surface designer! But I’d like to suggest a word or two about etiquette when visiting shows as an artist. There are only a few rules, but they are golden:

1. If there is an artist or design studio you’d like to talk to, be sure there are no buyers talking, approaching, or about to approach them. You wouldn’t want to discourage a buyer from not visiting their booth by being in the way.

2. When introducing yourself to the artist or agent at the booth let them know immediately that you are an artist or not a  buyer.

3. If you are talking to an artist at their booth and someone else starts to approach (however apprehensively they peek in) Acknowledge it to the artist and excuse yourself so they can get to work selling their artwork to potential buyers. Let them know you might be back if you want to finish the conversation when they’re free again.

4. Do not request to look through their prints. This is a big taboo. It may seem like an innocent request to you, but it may not be to them. They don’t know you and no one likes to be put in a position that they have to say ‘no’. Unless they offer, just assume it’s off limits. Enjoy the booths though! I love to comment and compliment artist on the most beautiful booths. Most of the best work is on display anyways. Breathe it in and get inspired! Just don’t take any pictures.

Again, going to these shows is invaluable. Sometimes I wish someone had recommended one to me while I was in art school. Here are some links to art licensing shows:
www.surtex.com
www.printsourcenewyork.com
www.indigo-salon.com

If you know of some other, or up-and-coming shows, please share them! I’d love to hear about them!

p.s.
Oh! and ‘yes’! I applied for a booth at Printsource this coming January. I’ll be extremely busy prepping, designing, and printing in the next couple months. I think Printsource is a great way to debut Designastration and I’m eager get started!

I’ve been creating a LOT of new work! Time to update the website a little.. just to round it off with some more characters.

I’ve been creating a LOT of new work! Time to update the website a little.. just to round it off with some more characters.

It’s fun to see the differences between the original mock-ups/sketches and the finished products!
These Whisker Tails are great for puppies! They have bouncy-ballys in their heads, squeakers in their tails, and they will soon be available at pet boutiques all over the place.

It’s fun to see the differences between the original mock-ups/sketches and the finished products!
These Whisker Tails are great for puppies! They have bouncy-ballys in their heads, squeakers in their tails, and they will soon be available at pet boutiques all over the place.

Don’t be scared! Some new Halloween Designs have been released at PetEdge.

Don’t be scared! Some new Halloween Designs have been released at PetEdge.

At this moment I’m on the Bolt. Somewhere between Amsterdam and 96th. I’ve got Lily Allen crooning in my headphones and a computer bag full of surface designer samples. Going to Surtex from Boston is always a long day but ALWAYS worth the trip. Trend forecast for 2015 predicts lots of soft greens and violets. Woodland themes and animals are still very hot (thank goodness!) I also noticed a lot of dramatic, black and white holiday patterns. A nice touch of drama to traditional Christmas. Lots of robots, cakes, rabbits, and florals.

I’m sad to leave New York so soon… but I’ll be back in August for PrintSource!

At this moment I’m on the Bolt. Somewhere between Amsterdam and 96th. I’ve got Lily Allen crooning in my headphones and a computer bag full of surface designer samples. Going to Surtex from Boston is always a long day but ALWAYS worth the trip. Trend forecast for 2015 predicts lots of soft greens and violets. Woodland themes and animals are still very hot (thank goodness!) I also noticed a lot of dramatic, black and white holiday patterns. A nice touch of drama to traditional Christmas. Lots of robots, cakes, rabbits, and florals.

I’m sad to leave New York so soon… but I’ll be back in August for PrintSource!

Updated the website last night with some fresh, new print collection details. Forest Tapestry and Vroom (show here). I’m working on a ton more and I’m truly having the time of my life.  In a couple weeks I’ll be heading out to Surtex and I’m looking forward to that rush of inspiration. No matter how smooth and fast I think I’m traveling; once I visit Surtex I get thrown back as my mind kicks it into Warp Speed.
I wish I could show some of my fun new product designs, but .. sigh.. still playing the waiting game for decisions to be made designs to be released for Fall. In the meantime I’ll enjoy Spring while it’s here. My little money pit is looking damn fine with all the pretty shrubs and bulbs I planted last year in bloom. Funny, I waited all Fall and Winter to see these blooms and now I’m waiting Spring and Summer to see the new products!

Updated the website last night with some fresh, new print collection details. Forest Tapestry and Vroom (show here). I’m working on a ton more and I’m truly having the time of my life.  In a couple weeks I’ll be heading out to Surtex and I’m looking forward to that rush of inspiration. No matter how smooth and fast I think I’m traveling; once I visit Surtex I get thrown back as my mind kicks it into Warp Speed.
I wish I could show some of my fun new product designs, but .. sigh.. still playing the waiting game for decisions to be made designs to be released for Fall. In the meantime I’ll enjoy Spring while it’s here. My little money pit is looking damn fine with all the pretty shrubs and bulbs I planted last year in bloom. Funny, I waited all Fall and Winter to see these blooms and now I’m waiting Spring and Summer to see the new products!

Still plugging away at some textile and surface designs. I’m heavily considering showing at Designsource in January and so I’m seeing just how far I can push myself. It’s a huge investment to get a booth at an art licensing trade show, but with some recent freelance work raising my confidence I’m thinking it might just be now or never.
Here is a sneak-a-peek at something I’ve been working on this evening.

Still plugging away at some textile and surface designs. I’m heavily considering showing at Printsource in January and so I’m seeing just how far I can push myself. It’s a huge investment to get a booth at an art licensing trade show, but with some recent freelance work raising my confidence I’m thinking it might just be now or never.
Here is a sneak-a-peek at something I’ve been working on this evening.

How cool is this?! Topographical Map Printed Pet Carrier! Released a couple weeks ago for Dog Is Good license. I got one for my fuzzy baby! ‘Never travel alone!’ 

Detail of print