shirts and things

So I've been trying to get as much together as possible before doing this roadie gig for a month, from August 19th until September 18th. It's been a bit difficult. I'm still applying for commissions and working on my own stuff, but knowing that I'll be gone in a couple of weeks does severely hamper my abilities to look for long term work.

Despite any frustrations with that, I do really like working on side projects and one shot jobs.

I'm designing t-shirts! MySoti.com is an awesome place, totally takes care of the cost printing shirts can get to. Check it out!

I also just entered into a contest to design the poster for this open air market in San Francisco, called Treasure Island Flea. I submitted three designs, though two are just variations of the same poster. Grah, I hope I get it! Commissions have slowed down severely and it would be nice to get something. Nothing is as encouraging as getting a legit, paid job for your work.

Contemplative gummy worms.

Title is pretty much it... I have been contemplative and I am eating gummy worms.

I'm starting to feel the animating bug bite again, which is kind of nice. I've been doing a lot of illustrative work, which is what I want, but I do like to animate. Hm. We shall have to do something about that.

In conclusion, I drew a demon. On my new hand down moleskin. Mmmm, moleskin. Mmmm graph paper.

Times, they are a changin'

Oh man, crazy things this past week or so.

Basically, I've gotten a job next month traveling through Kansas and Iowa for a month, selling movie posters to colleges, and that will give me enough to get myself an apartment and try to do this whole only art thing for a bit.

Wish me good luck. I could say psha, I need no such thing, but honestly I am nervous.

Way too used to making sure everything is settled responsibly. XD

I've been doing alright with commissions through etsy and have spent a lot of time on crafts and art. Amusingly, I have yet to sell any of my original stuff on etsy! So even though I have more I could sell, I am reluctant. Check it out though - etsy.com/shop/kiraseru

At least I have a lot of art to use for future posts!

Like the following. Mmm, acrylic. Mmmm, not digital painting.

Quickly, an update!

Oh, it's been a while.

I've gotten very busy!

Right now I'm sitting in Think Coffee at a little after 3:30pm on July 4th, trying to hurriedly update this before they close at 4pm. It is beautiful outside. Everyone is eager to go to their BBQ's, beaches, parties and firework displays.

I'm starting to pull together some commissions through etsy, which is really exciting! I'm surprised - I didn't think that I would actually get any responses to my bids for work until I was better established. A bit to my chagrin, I haven't sold any work posted on my store but I'm up to three commissioned pieces! One was a set of banners and an avatar for a girl's new etsy shop, the other two are paintings. Each is very, very different from the other. Which is nice. I'm looking forward to working on both and I'm really happy that I can get some work as an illustrator and painter. Again, laughing at myself a little over this. I thought that the very last way I'd ever get money was through something like traditional painting work, and here I am!

I found out this week that the artists in Union Square will soon be no more. I was surprised - I knew there were some issues with Bloomberg or something but had no idea he was actually shutting everything down. It's ridiculous. The art vendors are such an integral part of the Square. Between that and Friday's moving into the area, I think Union Square might be destined for a more Times Square feel. Ugh.

I also didn't know that the artists there just kind of went and set themselves up! My friend Chrissy Clark had an event there a year ago, part of her thesis, and had to jump through a bunch of hoops! It's a shame they're shutting it all down, I would have definitely gone out and tried to sell some prints or pillows or something.

Might still do so next Sunday. They have another two weeks. It'd be nice to see what happens.

I'm starting to look at apartments. It's a little nerve wracking, trying to find the time. I can't skip out on work to look at places, and on my days off I'm either at internship, at Daisy's studio or... well there's Sundays, but I think most places aren't going to want to show their apartments on Sundays. Eh, we'll see - at this point, I'm rambling.

I'm also working more on my show... leaning towards making it a movie... exciting.

All this stuff is great, but I have to admit that I've been feeling cagey. The bridal shop is a good job - it's not what I want to do. Painting and doing illustrative work is fantastic - I can't yet live off that alone. I can't even pay bills on that money just yet. It's frustrating.

Ah well.

Following is a sample picture for one of my commissions! I'll post the entire thing when it's done. This was just a sample of the style I wanted to paint this woman's bid in. She really liked it, which made me happy. And I get to draw and paint a bunch of hands. Yay!

I need to do more life drawing. I miss it.