Met My Deadline, with Time to Spare!

As I promised, I created labels for my Little Red Shoe Line.  The look will be the same, while the size and information will depend on the product.  Please let me know what you think!

Greeting Card Labels

Promotional Stickers

Greeting Card Labels

My Promotional Poster

An Artistic Make-over: a Before & After Glimpse of My Art

To make real the art that I create, I decided to write a little feature about some pieces I've done.  All of the following images were hand drawn and outlined using acrylic ink.  Most were done in gouache, but some may have been done in watercolor (Jane Avril Giraffe and Pug Convict, for example).  They are all approximately the size of an Artist Trading Card (2.5 X 3.5), with the exception of Cafe Dulce de Cacoa--originally done 7 X 8.  As for the paper, a few are on good old watercolor paper.  I got wild and crazy for my Zoulin Rouge Series--they are done on boxes from various snacks--cereal, gummies, Nutri-grain bars!  Without further ado, here they are:

Various ATCs I've done and turned into cards, magnets and prints

La Goulue Hippo, from my Zoulin Rouge Series

The Truffle Shelf Pig, from my Animal Advertisement Series

Yvette Guilbert Pig, from my Zoulin Rouge Series

Cafe Dulce de Cacoa, my first advertisement for a series of imaginary products.

Advertising Campaign for LRDS Looms in the Near Future :)

It just occurred to me that I don't have "Little Red Shoe Designs" labels for my products!  How this could have possibly slipped my mind is beyond me.  Yeah, I have a slip of paper in the back informing my customers what they will be getting, but nothing like labels.  Besides providing more advertisement for my work, it also adds another element of professionalism.

I picked up another book on the subject (yes, you guessed it--from the local library) and have set a due date to present myself a series of promotional items: Sat., Jan. 29, 2011.  Pictures of my new advertising campaign will be posted at that time.  I hope you drop by to take a peek!

Thanks for reading.

"Holy Grail, Batman!"

Art Nouveau poster by Privat Livemont
entitled,Cafe Rajah1899

I have found a Holy Grail.  It isn’t the kind the Knights Templar was searching for, but it is my (artistic) Holy Grail: Art Nouveau.  As mentioned before, I had another successful trip to my local library.  This time a quite informative book entitled Art Nouveau: Posters & Graphics by Roger Sainton.  Sainton provides a brief (but thorough) history of the development of this artistic style, as well as wonderful examples; I recommend this resource to anybody interested in poster art! 

Originally hailing from Southern California—and, therefore, being influenced by two minority cultures—it is not a surprise that I, like the pioneers of Art Nouveau, choose it adapt the artistic style of foreign cultures into a style of my own.  Granted, my ethnic influence is not currently Hispanic or Asian, but it is certainly influenced by a culture not my own. 

With this valuable information in hand, I intend to brandish my paintbrush to create my own form of Art Nouveau!  Heck, I may even incorporate a bit of gold leaf paper.  After all, I do love to use dark outlines and stylized images; and who doesn’t appreciate to clean lines of Japanese art?  I will leave you with some beautiful inspirational pieces I found in the book mentioned above.  I chose these pieces because I like the use of pattern, color, hard/soft lines or composition.  Enjoy!

Cover art by Henri Evenepoel
entitled, Au Square1897

Franz M Melchers
L'Estampe moderne: La Phalene des iles de la mer
1897

Georges de Feure
Lithographies originales
(year: ?)

Louis Rhead
L'Estampe moderne: Jane 
1898

My "Studio" Sneak Peak

A permanent (and safe) home for my printer

My fabulous poster for art shows, purchased through www.zazzle.com

My "Muse Board" in the background 

Since all of the hullabaloo of the holidays has ended, I have managed to organize my Little Red Shoe Designs "studio"!  Yes, I must share my space with the noisy washing machine and the dryer that beeps so loud one can hear it anywhere in the house.  Yes, it is very cold in the winter.  Yes, I still need to purchase a stool.  But it is MY space.  I can leave it messy and shut the door.  I have plenty of storage and a sink nearby.  I can't complain, so I won't.  Here it is in all it's glory.