Returning to NYC in May

This is my ad that will be running in the Winter edition of Total Art Licensing with my pretty ladies :) Megan and I will be returning to NYC to host an evening of Cupcakes, Wine and Hors d’oeuvres!! We’re doing things up a little differently in 2013 

I’m a bit bummed that I won’t be able to make it to Atlanta for the Mart this time around, but it is for a really really good reason!!! You guys, I’m in the process of writing, illustrating and creating my first book!!! How frigin’ cool is that :) And just so happens that my first deliverable fall at the same time as the Mart, so I had to make some hard choices. Having too much going on is a really good problem to have and I am grateful for it. So all of you going to the Mart have a drink for me! Cheers~

on my desktop :: a cupcake or two

The prep for 2013 is already under way! Here’s a small glimpse of Megan and my Sweet Spot banner for our Total Art Licensing Winter Ad.

We’ll be doing things a little differently in 2013!! 

We made the big decision NOT to exhibit at Surtex in May. We’re taking a risk, thinking outside the box and trying something new and different this year!!

But not to worry, we’ll still be throwing it down in NYC!!

on my desktop :: In the Trenches

I had a fantastic show and I’m planning on sharing a few thought and pictures, but right now I am totally in the trenches trying to wrap up all my follow up!! I have no idea how other folks were able to write and post their recaps so fast. I needed to take a couple of days to recover and get back on the right time zone!!! Then of course, there was Memorial Day weekend and my birthday which needed some celebrating!! So, you’ll have to hang tight until I can get a bit more caught up! :)

tying up a few loose ends before showtime

I’ve been working on tying up a few loose ends, and last Friday Sofia and I tackled assembling ALL of my press packs for Surtex. I was super thankful for the help!! What could of taken me a whole day was reduced to just a few hours :)

There is something very rewarding about actually creating something physical that you can flip through, hold and carry.

Earlier last week Stephen sent me an email with pictures of the very first promo I’d ever made!!  Gosh that was a long time ago, right after graduated college to be exact. I can remember running around like the city to hunt the right number of those perfect little scissors that I put on the covers (I was doing collage work at the time, hence the scissor). I cut and pasted each accent letter on every single promo. And get this, the inside pages actually had mounted photographs of my artwork. (totally pre-computer!!) There was some serious man hours involved in assembling those little booklets. 

It’s been over 14 years and thought my style and technique has gotten a bit more refined the general format has stayed the same. I guess if it works stick with it!!

So, if you are walking the show stop on by I’ll be in corner booth 650 (last aisle)!!

Surtex is coming...Surtex is coming!!

Oh my gosh I can’t believe Surtex is only a little over two weeks away!! I’ve been so busy that it definitely snuck up on me. I’m working on tying up all of those last minute loose end. It seems I have a billion left to take care of before showtime. This morning I just broke out my huge trade show suitcases. I’m hoping they’ll be a bit lighter than last year. Each time I do this my packing and supplies get a bit more refined :)

This will be my second year partnering up with fellow exhibiting artist Megan Halsey to host  “The Sweet Spot”. An intimate function at the intersection of booths 649 & 650 to enjoy Good Art, Conversation and a taste of something Sweet.  AND, we’ll be raffling off some sweet prizes!

on my desktop :: prepping for surtex

Spent the day prepping and preparing for Surtex…the time is ticking closer, and there is still so much to do.

doing a guest post over at surtex

I was delighted when Melissa asked if I would contribute to their blog and do a guest post. Yes, of course I would! Then, after the excitement settled in, I had that “oh no” moment. What could I write about that would be insightful and add value. There are so many amazing folks that have contributed in the past that if I thought about it for too long I was going to just psyche myself out. So I took a deep breath and decided to go with my gut and write about what I know –Joining marketing forces with fellow exhibitor Megan Halsey to host The Sweet Spot!!

You can read it here :)

on my desktop :: AND it begins

AND it begins…The prep for Surtex!! This will be my 3rd year and I’m happy to say that Megan and I are teaming up once again :) I have a really good feeling about this year, though I’ve been a bit too busy to do any real prep till now. I definitely need to start kicking it into gear otherwise it’s gong to sneak up on me. 

Oh, and as a side note. Have you ever read Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander Series? I just started listening to the first book in the series, while I’ve been working on our postcard and ad layouts. And I have to say that I’ve become instantly absorbed with the story!! It’s a super steamy time-travel, historical romance. It’s really quite good! And like I’ve said before I’m a total sucker for a good love story. Throw in a foreign accent, a historical location, and an accusation or two of witchcraft and you’ve got me!

There are currently 7 books in the series, so I’m hoping that should be enough listening time to take me all the way through my Surtex prep and into May. I love listening to audiobooks while I work. I could work for hours without even noticing the passage of time. It really is a nice way to work. The only problem is that I sometimes don’t want to stop listening!:)

Featured in this month's On The Surface

I'm always amazed and pleasantly surprised when someone emails me about something I've written here on my blog. I forget sometimes that people are actually reading. I honestly try not to think about it too much, because it can be a bit paralyzing if I do. I don't want to censor and edit myself because I'm worried about what folks will think. That would just defeat the purpose, hence always being surprised when someone actually contacts me.

I was delighted when Rose asked if she could have permission to quote my blog post about re-upping for SURTEX '12 in this months On The Surface. Of course I said YES!! I'm super excited to be featured and always amazed with the reach my blog has provided. This is truly a remarkable journey and I am glad I'm able to share it with you.

Sketchbook Stories :: Stephanie Ryan

I met Stephanie online, thru Holly Becker's Blogging Your Way class. I started a group for artists to chat on the class message board, and her and I because fast friends. We were chatting so much on the forum, that we actually became some of the the top posters in our class along side Ms. Monica :-) It was an amazing learning experience. And I'm so grateful that I was able to find a group of ladies that I was able to connect with. I totally found my tribe and was super sad when the e-course ended and the forum closed. Steph and I knew we needed to stay in contact, so we now schedule a chat once a month on the phone. And I was lucky to have her drive down and help me at my Surtex booth this year.

A little bit about Stephanie. Her true creative journey began after a fire destroyed Little Souls, Inc. the doll company where she worked for 11 years. She had started there working as a doll maker and was steadily promoted from designer to buyer, to product manager. After the fire, Stephanie was faced with the fact that she had to start over and she decided to go back to school. Stephanie decided to enroll at Moore College of Art & Design where she studied graphic design and discovered her love for fabrics and patterns. Stephanie now freelances as a designer, specializing in tabletop, surface, and product design. My fingers are crossed that she'll decide to take the leap to exhibit at Surtex next year, and of course be in my "neighborhood"!!

Here is Stephanie's Sketchbook Story::

SR: When Cindy Ann asked me to submit my sketchbook story I was really excited to participate, I thought it would be fun to share my process. The more I thought about it however, the more I realized that I don't sketch all that much!

SR: My process is more intuitive, I find that when I sketch I tighten up too much and my work loses some of it's magic. I also try not to look at reference, I like to work from my imagination when painting my flowers, it gives them a whimsical look that I can't replicate when looking at reference.

My painting process is simple. I work with watercolors and ink and I use my imagination and intuition to guide me. I start with a blank watercolor block and fill my brush up with color and start painting shapes, the shapes turn into flowers in unexpected ways and I add details at the end with a micron pen.  I try to fill up the paper with a variety of flowers and elements like swirls, dots and leaves to use in my finished pieces. At this stage, I never know what the finished piece is going to look like.

SR: When I am finished with painting, I scan everything into the computer and start cleaning it up in photoshop. Once I have all of the elements together, I start playing.

SR: I never have an idea in mind of the finished art before this stage in my process. This is the fun part for me. I start moving elements around, add textures, play with color and sometimes words to complete the piece. Once I have my central image finished, I try to pull together a supporting pattern collection to compliment it.


SR: Life is very exciting these days.

 

Steph's Painting Demo

Stephanie Ryan Painting Demo 1

Here’s where you can find Stephanie ::

  website:: http://stephanieryandesign.com

       blog:: Small Sweet Steps :: http://smallsweetsteps.com

facebook:: http://www.facebook.com/smallsweetsteps

    twitter:: @SmallSweetSteps

       etsy:: http://www.stephanieryanart.etsy.com