Goodbye Summer, Hello Fall

Rain, originally uploaded by lauren minco.

Whoo! I took a needed vacation for most of August- saw my family in Texas and recharged my batteries. In a week I start teaching Editorial Illustration at Montserrat and I'm trying to get all my paperwork in for this past pre-college session as well as RISD and Montserrat for the Fall semesters (why do W4 forms always trip me up no matter how many times I do them?).

About 3 weeks ago my poor laptop finally died due to a crashed hard drive, but luckily the most important stuff that I use for etsy and such was backed up on my boyfriend's computer. I still lost most of my music and some photos, however. Back up your files, people. RIGHT NOW.

I'm preparing for the September TINY ART SHOW at Nahcotta Gallery in NH. Above is another piece for it, and yesterday I painted a little diddy that might actually replace another painting for a mailer! Imagine that? Beginning of next month will be mailer month, along with painting for the RISD Alumni and Student Art Sale in October. There should be lots of new images on my blog during that time, so come and take a look!

Keyboard Player

Keyboard Player, originally uploaded by lauren minco.

I've been working on the paintings for the TINY ART SHOW in New Hampshire and have been enjoying making some images that could be more "spot" illustrations for my portfolio. I did this one Sunday night and really like her arms and colors (and the yellow skin! I need to not use "flesh" color for the skin all the time).

This past Monday my students had to do a Concert Poster for their final and it truly was the strongest week they've ever had! Needless to say I was very proud of them. I'm hoping Wednesday and Friday's group will knock my socks off as well.

Etsy Kid Contest Entry

The Tiny Artist, originally uploaded by lauren minco.

So this my entry for the Etsy Kid Contest. I've always liked this one for its angle and the colors. It was the image I used for my second promotional mailer, too (about a year ago).

Week 4 of teaching RISD pre-college and my troops are starting to show some stress. Every semester I usually try a new assignment, this year's being a T-shirt design. I figured it would be a fun, open assignment where they could go crazy and do anything they loved, but I was surprised how many lackluster projects I got. Is it because all those all-nighters are catching up? Was the project too open and therefore overwhelming? I am very optimistic that this coming week will be better, however. In the meantime, I have 6 paintings breathing down my neck and those mailers to finish (let's not forget I have to update my 100+ client list. UGH).

My Music

My Music, originally uploaded by lauren minco.

This will be one of three new promotional mailers in 2008! Other artistic events include getting information to a boutique in Vegas who is interested in selling my originals and having "Mi Amor" placed in the main room of Woods Gerry Gallery for the RISD faculty show (sweet!). I have gotten that room every time I've been in a show (both as a student and teacher), so I'm happy that my streak continues.

Rock n' Roll

Rock n' Roll, originally uploaded by lauren minco.

Hello everyone! The Pre-College Roller coaster is on its third week and I'm happy with where my students are. I am trying to balance long term with short term goals, plus all the little annoying things life throws at you (grocery shopping, laundry...). I have been taking a class that will allow me to update my website's appearance soon (hooray!), and before I know it I'll have 8 paintings that will be bugging me for a show in the Fall (not hooray). New promotional pieces are being executed, but they have to take a back seat at times.

Narrative

Narrative, originally uploaded by lauren minco.

Weeeee! This one just got mailed out today for the show in Nebraska and I was a little sad to see it go (I guess that means I assume it will sell...I do hope so). It is the first gouache painting I have done on cradled gesso board (tip: matte medium pencils line so you don't make your colors muddy). In the future I think I will be working like this again because not only did I like the finish product, but mailing them instead of framed paintings is much less risky.

Summer Madness

Whoa! Who knew that the summer months were going to hit me so hard. RISD Pre-College has begun and so far my students seem pretty much on the ball. I'm behind on my promotional materials and now have to debate whether a 10 day vacation in August should mean I should delay the whole deal until I get back (no use putting out mailers and then having to turn down jobs a week later). 

In other news, I've recently found myself featured in all these blogs! Who knew??

Design is Mine

Elephatine

Croq Blog

Pretty Little Things

Paper Crave

Eggnmeiyo

Kiddlebug

By Lilsis

We Love Etsy.com

Birdie Says Products

Sunday Sampler

The CraftGossip Blog

Quin Knits a Twisted yarn

Hullabaloo

Thanks everyone!

New Work (not to be confused with New York)

Alright! So the 1st one was a commission for a wedding portrait I did based off of the original "Happy Couple" on my website (I like to say this one is the remix). The second one is for the a show I have 8/8/88. They were going with an eight ball theme, so all the pieces had to be on 8" circles. I've never used my acryla gouache on canvas before (especially so tiny! Oye!) but I'm pleased with the way it came out.

Monday I start teaching again for RISD Pre-college and am really excited about that. I also have 3 painting that I need to finish (oh wait, make that four) hopefully by next Friday. Yikes.

Oh yes, and my trip was good. I won a kazoo as an award for "Relative Who Traveled the Most Distance" and was able to see a lot of California that I haven't seen before. Sometimes I wish Rhode Island had such glorious beaches!

Sunny California

Howdy to everyone! Just a notice that I will be away in California for a family reunion this week. I will be back Sunday and look forward to new work being posted in the beginning of July!

Who's Your Daddy?

 I decided to add a couple of new prints on Etsy. The one below was originally for a family-oriented article and is called "Thinking Positive". I really love the colors as it was my first attempt to do a more muted but tasty palette. On Etsy I have gotten over 450 stars and have made 39 sales so far! My dream is to put up some more originals soon, dabnabbit. I have 2 paintings for the show to finish as well as one promotion piece. Please Lord, can I get it done by the first week of June??

 

http://www.etsy.com/storque/section/spotlight/article/character-sketches-for-your-male-shopping-woes/1943/

Hooray! I was featured in another Etsy Storque article, this one about Father's Day and gifts for dad (the male half of "duet" was featured). I was also recently put up in the Sweet Figment's Blog as well as The Naughty Secretary Blog. I think I've been featured enough to say that maybe I can finally put a "press" section on my website.  Oh, poor website, I'll update you in July. Promise.

TGIF, mate.

Ok, it's not like Fridays around here are really a big deal since I don't have a nine to five job. Actually,  I taught on Saturday mornings in the past and it usually was a little sad because I couldn't celebrate like my friends did. No, Friday nights represented early bedtimes and morning panics. Luckily those days are gone!

I can still feel the need  for the week to be over, however. My boyfriend and I need to go grocery shopping desperately this weekend (please honey?) and there will be duck pin bowling with $1.00 beer/$.50 hotdogs. Today I just wrapped up the cover image for CROQ issue #12! I feel like I can't really post it yet (cheating maybe?). I will wait for it to come out and then let everyone know. I do like the final image- two girls painting on each other (sounds kinda sexy, doesn't it? It's not).

What was I thinking?

So here it is, a detail of the new painting from earlier. My palette just DID NOT make sense and I decided to let the pink monster take over.

WARNING: sloppy digital pictures taken at midnight ahead...

On another note, I happily did a whole piece just with a ball point pen and adore it. The scratchiness makes me so happy, and I really tried to just start without having a clue where it would end up. Kind of like a big sketchbook page, basically.

My Interview at Indiefixx!

Please check out my interview at   http://indiefixx.com  !! It's a great blog and I'm very honored to be featured! Thanks Jen!

ARGH!

The painting wins. I'm redoing it. Now.

Me Vs Painting

So this is a painting I sketched maybe a month or two ago and really like. It's almost done, but I'm not sure if I'm diggin' the color. Originally my brain was like "navy, pink, white, lighter pink..." but I have been trying to stay away from pink and girly palettes. Funny thing is, I think this one really fits the navy/pink palette mentioned above. I might have to sleep on this one.  Hopefully in a day or two the final will be up. Wish me luck!

I know you want pictures, but tough.

It is Memorial Day. Today, my boyfriend and I will celebrate by cleaning the apartment and fighting the terrorist that is our dirty laundry. Have at you!

On another note, I am done with teaching and have felt like I have shed my skin. This summer I will be enjoying pre-college again, and in the Fall I start teaching at Montserrat College of Art. One thing that has really helped me be successful is teaching. Jumping in out of that environment keeps my mind sharp, whether it is with business, personal goals, or the development of my art. taking my own advice (the advice I give my students) has saved me a lot of stress and anguish.  Some of the important things I've realized, especially in the last few months:

1) There are thousands of clients out there. My work will not fit all of their needs, and that's okay. I do not have to stretch my portfolio in 263 directions. I can pick the subjects/styles that make me happy and try to find clients that fit ME.

2) It's about time I got those damn books my teachers told me about!

3) Hard work always pays off, even if it's in ways you don't realize.

4) Do not be too influenced by your inspirations and likes. The world doesn't need another (insert artist's name here). They need one of YOU.

5) Connected to no. 4... no one will do your work better than you. Isn't that enough reason to find your own identity?

6) learn from your mistakes and failures. It is okay to be disappointed, even angry for a moment, but that moment has to pass.

7) Your work should make you happy. If it doesn't, something is wrong.

Etsy Pissing Contest

I like to go the Etsy forums from time to time to post and get my avatar clicked on. I respond to people asking for critiques, answer a business question from time to time, and sometimes I even like to watch the occasional bickering that happens between two members (scandalous, I know!).
However, “occasional” has seemed to turn into “all the time” which is kinda getting on my nerves. Perhaps everyone is restless now that the warm weather is taking customers away from their computers?? I’m not sure, but I do know that it’s getting really old fast. There seems to be a handful of people who like to come out of the woodwork just to be a know-it-all or shoot someone else’s opinion down, which seems silly and counter productive.
Also, in a recent thread artists were described as “doing what they want and saying what they want” plus having less-than-civil behavior. Since when did artists become pirates? I’m a little tired of the whole “I can’t be a functional member of society because I’m and artist, man!” routine. I guess I missed that class in school: Behaving Like a Disgruntled Preteen 101.

I mean business, y'all!

New online portfolio at altpick! altpick.com/laurenminco

I recently realized that my postcard plan has one minor glitch- I can't get into the computer lab until July, which means I can't scan/send the work for the mailers until then. No biggie, because I probably need June to paint anyway.

I hit 30 sales on Etsy! That means as a new seller I'm roughly doing 10 sales per month. Awesome.

More importantly, I've decided that I needed to get all those books that a young struggling artist like me should have. I ordered 4 books, the first one that arrived from Amazon was 2008 Children's Writer's and Illustrator's Market. I have to admit, I didn't know how helpful it would be since it has to do a lot more with being an author, but there are so many Young Adult Publishers and magazines that the section on clients was well worth the $21. I have over 200 new Art Directors to contact! Better get painting...

Back from Texas

Man, I haven't posted in a while! I spent a wonderful week with my family in Texas and was MIA from blogging and such.

This Sunday I will be in NYC for the Surtex convention rubbing shoulders (literally since it will be packed) and snatching up lots of business cards for potential clients. I have to start two new paintings so that I can make a three postcard promotion pack (puh puh puh) that will hopefully be out sometime in early July. So far there is a girl playing a guitar, and I also will do a piece I have been meaning to do for a while with little boats, and finally a portrait of Jason Schwartzman (with pigeons and tambourines of course). 

Also, the RISD art sale was great for me, profits breaking the $1000 mark!