One great thing about the internet is how easily we can connect with other creative and like-minded people! I recently made a connection via LinkedIn with Bob Coar, a unique comic book creator. I liked his original perspective on current topics and political issues and also enjoyed the artistic style of the illustrations. So, I invited him to be my latest guest blogger & share some insight into his revolutionary world of comics…..
I admit it!! I’ve been lazy…well, when it comes to blogging anyway. But I have an excuse…I really do! It’s because other art related stuff has been taking up my time and I’m really happy about that! OK, so other social media networking has been a big time suck too…don’t you ever fall into that Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. time warp where you start out promoting your craft and get caught up in the home page posts of friends, cute animal videos & political drama when you realize, CRAP!…I just wasted an hour on fluff? Yeah, guilty as charged but I have honestly been really busy with for-real art stuff too! So, to catch you up, here’s what’s been happening in my creative world so feel free to post comments about how you deal with the bombardment of social media & how it effects your work.
TEACHING IS FUN! Being someone who is not a fan of public speaking I didn’t know how I’d feel about giving art lessons but when it’s one-on-one or a small group, I found it’s awesome! So I have a cool group of students of various ages (even one across the pond that I do Skype lessons with) & it’s so awesome to pass on creative knowledge and see people really get into it & see how their work progresses during the lessons! Aside from art lessons I also give creative marketing lessons as I have extensive experience in sales, fund raising & marketing from previous art & non-art jobs I’ve had over the years before making the leap to full time artist! My goal is to give at least one class a day (5 days a week) & I’m pretty close….so if you want to hone your creativity or know someone who does, drop me a line here & I’ll get back to you!
Dream Of Trees 2, oils (c)Lauren Curtis
ART SHOWS ARE FUN TOO! Especially when stuff sells! I’m currently in a 4 artist show at the Merwick Care & Rehabilitation Center in Plainsboro, NJ & the above painting pre-sold! And I sold both pieces that were in the last show I did at Gallery U in Westfield, NJ. Now I’m preparing to submit work to 4 new exhibits so fingers (& nails) crossed. (If you know me at all you know I have crazy Ripley’s Believe It Or Not length nails!). So hopefully my next blog will be about some of the new shows my work will be in…
YAY! COMMISSIONS! As a full time freelance artist nothing is better than getting hired to create art & design work for clients! Luckily I’ve been hired to do illustrations for books, graphic design work, and one of my favorite things, pet portraits, for a variety of clients across the US & abroad. This has not only kept me busy but helps pay those bills too so the more work the merrier! Keep it comin’! Here are just a few examples of the work I’ve been doing lately that has caused my lack of blogging…
pencil illustration for a children’s book (c)2017
Commissions welcome so message me for details!
So, you see? I haven’t been lazy with my artwork, just with blogging….I’m trying to get back in the swing….so can I ask you a favor? If you can read, comment, follow & like posts it’ll encourage me to keep at it and to start getting interesting guest bloggers again so it’s not just all about me….there are so many fascinating people out there creating awesome work that I’d like to share so drop me a line if you’re interested & help end the blog slacking! Thanks for reading…till next time…which will be soon, I hope…..fingers & nails crossed!
For all of you out there who are self-employed, especially in an artistic career, you know how much work it is to, well, find work! Sometimes the actual search for freelance jobs becomes a full time job in itself but when things click and clients start rolling in it’s the best feeling! You get to create and do what you love while earning a living! I fully admit to often stressing out between clients, feeling like the next project may never come along, but then someone responds to my application or inquiry with a “yes, I want to hire you for this book, magazine, logo, painting, illustration….” and it’s such a rush!
The last few months, I’m very happy to say, have been filled with freelance illustration & design work for clients across the US & abroad, and I wanted to share some of my favorite projects with you. I’ve also been creating new one-of-a-kind Steampunk/Gothic jewelry as I vend at many events and this is the busiest time of the vending season. The work below is my specialty…hand drawn pen & ink work, sometimes with watercolors, as well as some pictures of the new jewelry (ranges from $15-$30 each). Please feel free to comment or ask me any questions about this work and I hope you enjoy it! Thanks for looking!
Wolf Pup, pen & ink, watercolors; client: NJ author, (c)May2014
Ruins, pen & ink; client: London playwright, (c)May2014
Farmhouse, pen & ink; client: Hawaiian author, (c)March 2014
Jewelry May2014
Jewelry May2014
A new year and new endeavors…I just started designing for the NEW greeting card company, Quickie Cards…geared to make it easy and painless for men to purchase greeting cards on line for all occasions! Here’s the website: http://www.quickiecards.com
Right now, I have designs in the Birthday section, and will have some for Mother’s Day, Easter and hopefully many more!
🙂 Lauren
Lauren's Creative Corner 