One Drawing In Several Stages Makes Marketing Sense

These days you have to be a bit smarter than I think I am capable of at times.  Eventually I get it, but it takes a while.  You may already know this, but I thought I would share my experience just in case there is someone out there as behind the times in technology as I am.

I discovered that if I stop at strategic spots while drawing that I can actually get more than one illustration to market.

Here's an example.  I started this drawing in pencil, then out lined it in black and continued with the black until I felt I had reached a point that this could actually be a finished black and white drawing.

I scanned the drawing and cleaned it up.  I then took it over to my store on Zazzle and created a product and of course added some words.  So I actually have more than one idea to use here already. I have a poster with my chosen words I placed on the illustration in the Zazzle program and I have a coffee cup with different words that can be customized by the customer.

In the second stage I added just a bit of color and found I had yet another marketable illustration.  So I scanned, cleaned and left it for later to use in much the same way I used the black and white rendering.

Continuing on with the illustration I finished it with several other colors, then scanned, cleaned and begin trying to use my brain to come up with several other ideas.

So from one drawing I had three marketable illustrations that I could place on products in my store to sell.  On top of that I have the original that I can sell after I finish up the center with whatever I decide to do.  I can actually put someone's name in it and give this one away if I like because it is already making money as three distinct illustrations.

But still, I'd just rather be drawing and painting.

And be sure to check out this great site for selling your drawing, it's called Sellfy.  Here's my store, Southern Sky Studio.  Open up your own store for free.

If you are interested you can take a look at some of the products I was able to create.  One product has all three stages of the illustration.  I also took the illustration and added some graphic touches for even more diversity.

This one was my favorite though.

Tattered But Not Shattered 16" x 12", Poster by Southernskyreverie

Tattered Heart Color Me Tote Budget Tote Bag by Southernskyreverie

Tattered Heart Customized Drawstring Backpack by Southernskyreverie

Empty Heart Color Me Greeting Card by reverierhapsodies
Make custom notecards at zazzle.com

Coloring Book Inspiration -- The Business of Art

I received some adult coloring books for Christmas.  I wondered if I could do what was suggested to me, that was, relax and just color.

Well, I couldn't do that.  I was inspired somewhat by the idea of drawing my own therapeutic art, so three days later I have...............

Butterflies

And it took a few hours to scan, upload and put the drawing on products in my store.

Hearts and Flowers

I put these drawings on some products that people could color themselves.

Flowers

I just couldn't resist putting a touch of color in it myself.

Needless to say the de-stressing exercise someone thoughtfully gave to me turned into many hours of inspiration.  Although I didn't color a page in any of the books.  I was definitely inspired to draw.

Take a look at the products I was able to put the drawings on that others could actually color for themselves because they are made of cotton or canvas.

Color Me Stuff
by Teresa owner: Southern Sky Studio

And then I thought if I could get inspired just by looking at the drawings in the adult coloring book, then someone else might just feel the therapeutic effects too.  So I put the drawings on other products where they would have to remain just black and white.  If you'd like to see them, click below.

Art Therapy Designs
by Teresa owner: Southern Sky Studio


Here is a really neat greeting card idea.  Take a look at these below.  You could make some of these yourself to give to a friend.  A gift and card all in one.

Just For Friends Cards
by Teresa owner: Southern Sky Studio

Now, if I could just figure out how to make an adult coloring book of my own.  Think I'll work on that next.  Let's face it, you know if you want to make anything of yourself you have to constantly be thinking of ways to do it.  If artists want to make money, making art (before we die) we have to get the work out there. Sometimes the business side of art can eat up more hours in the day than making the actual art.

I just keep telling myself, keep on plugging, keep on drawing, painting, learning and someday it will happen.  Besides I'm enjoying trying.

Please share my posts and my work.  Thanks

An Artist New Year's Resolution -- Staying Focused

There seems to be a lack of consistency in my work.

Acrylic on barn wood

Acrylic on cardstock with original verse

Colored Pencil

I'll do something serious that takes hours and every stroke can be critical.

Then I'll get some crazy idea to make my own canvas out of paint sticks.  Paint a picture and put a lace stencil around it.

Acrylic on a paint sticks, a frame made of stretcher strips and a doily stencil

Another "bright idea", I'll paint on barn wood!  Sounds like fun?  I turned it into something serious.

Acrylic on barn wood

Well, then I thought I'd try to lighten up on the barn wood and have some real fun.

Acrylic on barn wood

Out of no where I decide to sew on screen wire, whhhhhhhhhhhyyyyyyyyyyyy!

Sewing on screen wire with yarn

After that came the idea of building my own crate with paint sticks.

Crate made with paint sticks

And where ever did this come from?  I decided to do a bit of weaving!  With paint sticks!  Well, I couldn't actually weave them, but believe me I tried.

Woven organizer with paint sticks

Which then gave me the idea of weaving with paper rope..............

Woven wall hanging with paper rope and stretcher strip bar frame

And then I wanted to weave a pot, and so I wove one out of paper and then one out of a t-shirt.

vase woven from an old t-shirt

I painted on lace.............

Lace on stretched canvas

Suddenly I decided that I'd like to paint on canvas again and add something real to the painting, so.....

Acrylic on canvas with real butterflies glued to the canvas

Next, okay, let's do a bit of illustration on pages from the Bible.

Colored pencil and pastel on printout from Exodus

Let's throw in a bit of Christmas crafting, again, whyyyyyyyyyyyy?

Angel made from t-shirt, wood ball and old sheer curtain

Oooh, time to paint again!  But this time, for some reason I decided to play with black and white.....

I went serious.                                                                                                

Pencil on bristol board

Then I played around a bit...........

Pale pink paint sticks
black, gray, white acrylic

This made me think of art therapy, so I had to try my hand at that too!

 

Oh and let's not forget painting and sewing screen wire on canvas.............

And making a pair of flip flops from foam and woven t-shirt scraps.....

I decided to put my art work on products, so I opened up a Zazzle store for my fine art.

Then another for my fun art, with quotes and poetry.  

And then another for greeting cards.  

Then I threw another one in for spiritual things and of course I had to have a store for the children's art I love to do. 

 Here's one of those............

Acrylic and water color pencil on bristol board


Oh and lest I forget, I also have a store for the kitchen.  I love designing the kitchen products with my art too!

So here is my artsy resolution, ready, here goes..............

This year, 2016, I'm going to try to be more focused, try to stick to one or two things and work on perfecting those areas.  I think I can, I think I can, I think I can!

Wish me luck.

Wheat - Attention to Detail

Wheat

This painting was quite a challenge for me.  Well, I was trying to challenge myself not to rush through it and think it through a bit more than I usually do.  But, I did get stuck at moments.

It began with the sky.  Whenever I am unsure of myself, I can always start with the sky, it is a motivator for me and one part of my paintings that I have a bit of confidence in.

As I was working on the sky, it helped me to decide what I'd like to do next.  I wanted a silo, wheat field and a barn too. So I began researching silos, wheat and barns.  When I decided on what I liked and where I would put them on the canvas, instead of just starting to paint them in, I actually, quickly sketched the barn and silo with pencil, which is not something I normally do.  I was on to painting shortly after the research finished, because with acrylic paint, the sky and horizon were already dry.  Acrylic dries fast.

I went ahead and painted in the base color of my land where the wheat would be and played with the sky some more.  I knew I needed to make everything on the left side of the barn darker and place my shadows just so because the sun was actually coming from the right side.  I worked on this through out each step of the painting.

To make the wheat in the foreground stand out more I had to darken the shadows and field even more.  Knowing I wanted the sun to be hitting my most forward wheat, I began placing it in here and there with white paint.

I got stuck for awhile on my wheat.  I kept going lighter and lighter and it continued to blend in with my sky until I was pretty frustrated.  It wasn't until I bit the bullet and went darker on the wheat did I fix the problem.  Then I was able to highlight the wheat to make it look as if the sun was hitting it.

But, oh that barn, I couldn't figure out what was wrong.  It looked too perfect and that's when I began working on the roof, giving it some age.  

I gave it a road, added more wheat and still wasn't happy.  It was the barn, I knew it was, but just couldn't think of what exactly it was about the barn.

Though adding those elements helped, it wasn't until I actually aged the wood that it came to life.  Put some holes and places where the wood had chipped away and was finally was able to move on.

A bit of light coming from the hole in the roof down into the inside of the barn, darken up the sky a bit more on the left.  Bring a few clouds on the horizon on the right.  Fix the silo shading.  And I think I've got a finished painting.

Growing up, scenes like this weren't something I noticed everyday, in fact not very often at all.  But there is something so inviting and breathtaking about the countryside, I would be happy living in a barn with this as my yard.  Wish I would have paid more attention to details like this while growing up.

I hope you enjoy my wheat field, barn and silo.  I really loved painting this scene and learned quite a bit from the experience.

This is an acrylic painting on stretched canvas.   If you would like a print of this particular work, please visit my store by clicking below to view the posters.

Southern Sky Posters
by Teresa owner: Southern Sky Studio

Paint With Black, White and Gray

Even if all you have is black, white and gray paint, you can still paint anything you like.  I'm going to be experimenting with this technique a bit more, but I really did enjoy keeping it simple.  This painting is on canvas and painted with acrylic craft paint, black, white and gray.

There are some touches with watercolor pencil.  Three shades to be exact, French Green and Staedtler #50 another green. Then add Staedtler #30, a blue touch for the rain and droplets.

After lightly penciling in the flowers and stems, I just began my background with black, gradually working up the canvas adding a touch of white as I moved upward and gray.

This was my first attempt at raindrops, so I Googled them, studied them and tried it.  Yes, I was afraid of failing, but now I've actually got something to build on for the next time I try.  They are not the greatest, but they will do in a pinch.

I enjoy the look of lead pencil and the act of shading.  This worked much like it, just a different look.

You should try it.  If this becomes your palette think of the space you would save in the studio.

On dreary days as it's pouring or drizzling rain, it seems my mind will always turn to flowers and especially sunshine or light.  Even on these kinds of days God can help us turn our minds to happy, positive visions and thoughts.

God gives us His light to see us through, even on days like these.

God’s Great Gallery

 

 

Really, no other gallery matters does it?  All the art work I do can go ignored on this earth if that is the way it is to be.  But I am closest to God when I am painting.  Because when I paint, I think, I pray, I meditate on things above.  I ask God to help me as an artist, as a person, to show me what His purpose is for me, to use me to glorify Him in some way.  The only way I can even imagine is through my art, so that’s the direction I am taking.

If He chooses to give me another way, a better way, then I have to be ready.

 

As I was working on trying to improve this painting, I was thinking about what I would like my life to be about.  This is what I came up with.

 

My paintbrush is my heart,

my imagination, my palette,

my purpose is God’s will,

my prayer, to glorify God,

my goal is to spread His Word,

my destiny, I will exhibit some day in God’s Great Gallery.

Written by Teresa Haynes Johnson

 

And so I plopped it right here on this painting to show the world how I feel and who I want to become.

 

I hope you enjoyed my artist thoughts today.

Starting off 2015 Western Style

I procrastinated several days before starting this one.  It was lined up to be the next painting I worked on, but I was waiting on the new year so it would be the first of 2015.  Then when the first day of the year rolled in, I seemed to have found yet another reason not to start the painting.

When you deal with a lack of confidence the way I do, procrastination is either your best friend or your enemy.  Which ever way you choose to look at it I suppose.  In a way I think it’s manipulation of yourself.  Putting off your goals, your fears and ultimately your success.

Instead of looking at each piece as a learning experience in technique and subject matter, I’m going to look at it as an exercise in building self confidence.  How do I do that?  Beats me, but it’s worth a try.

Part of being successful at anything is making mistakes and learning from them.  Finding the error of your ways and correcting them.  I can see several things that need to be corrected in this piece along with getting it closer to completion.

So as I labored with my lack of confidence and poor planning, hours into the painting I had this…….





So the picture was cut completely in half by land and sky.  Not a good idea.  When I got to looking at all the area I was going to have to fill up with blades of grass, I got really tired.  That’s when I knew I should stop for the day.  “I’ll tackle that after a good nights sleep”. (More procrastination?  Or maybe finally a bit of wisdom.)  Only this would have never happened if I’d planned a bit better.





One million blades of grass later, a few weeds here and there, a few touch ups, oh and also some after thought embellishments I finally had a finished piece.





This painting was most definitely a labor of love.  Love of the process of art and the beauty of God’s creation, the desire to please the customer and to grow as an artist.

Not sure if this has boosted my self confidence though.