By Gail Buschman

Last week I got to participate in a Q&A session on twitter with a KidLit art director. I was going to compile a recap of the event, but someone beat me too it and did a much better job than I would have:

http://onceuponasketch.com/2013/02/twitter-chat-with-penguin-art-director-giuseppe-castellano-recap/

By Paul Burrows

For those of you who really love working in Adobe Illustrator like I do, or even if you just want to learn how to use the program I recently came upon the website Vector Tuts Plus which is loaded with tutorials on how professional artist created their artwork. All of the tutorials are at various skill levels and are labeled Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced and how long it took the artist to create the work. I highly recommend this to people of all levels.

http://vector.tutsplus.com/category/tutorials/

I had the flu and missed our monthly meeting. But the beauty of this blog is that I still get to share what I learned this month. The bad news is, no one got to taste my mushroom soup.

There’s a point in the process of a painting when you say, “huh?”
You know something’s wrong. You walk away. You measure. You walk away again.
 I usually take a photo at this point. Sometimes I can see things in a photo that my eye misses. Yikes, I thought.

My son, Kurt Rohlfing, just graduated from the Art Institute with a degree in Game Design. He knows a lot of things I don't. I never let anything out into the world that he hasn’t given me the okay on. His eye is critical and accurate.

I knew I was in trouble. “Do I have to start over?” I said, practically in tears.

He assured me that some parts of the painting be excellent, but we would benefit from another eye. This is how he and Photoshop, helped me see what I needed to do. Here's what he did, as best I can remember.

o   First, bring the images of the unfinished, needing correction painting and the original reference photo into Photoshop.

o   Now with both images open on the main screen, click and hold one image             and drag it onto the other. This creates a layer on the other image
   (Make sure under Windows that Layer is checked.)

o   Use the black pointer tool to move the top image until it is aligned with the             bottom image.

o   Then go into Layers and lower the opacity on the top image until you can see  both images superimposed.
      If you need to rotate go into edit, transform, rotate, so they line up

o   Now, You can see your art work and how it compares to the reference.

o   Use this image to make your corrections.

P.S. If you're totally confused get in touch with Kurt. www.kurtrohfing.com
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Now for the MUSHROOM SOUP

As  I’ve said before, I make up recipes. I’m much better at implementing corrections with my cooking. Here’s what I did, as best I can remember.

2 oz. brown mushrooms
2 T bacon fat
2 T butter
¼ C flour
1 Quart unsalted chicken stock
1 large onion, chopped
I large potato, peeled and diced
1 Quart Goat’s Milk
½ t  each black pepper, white pepper and nutmeg
1 t Tarragon and salt

Saute onions, mushooms in bacon fat and butter. Add nutmeg and Tarragon. Add flour and cook until a light brown roux. Add stock, potatoes and cook 20 minutes. Add milk, salt and pepper and cook at low heat until mushrooms are soft. You can mash the potatoes against the side of the pot to make the soup thicker. That’s it. This is lactose free, but it doesn't have to be.

by Gail Buschman

Just a quick post today. I came across this video via social media (twitter) and while I have only watched 5 minutes so far, it seems like a really good thing for everyone in this industry to know. It is long and unedited, so bear that in mind. 

http://willterry.blogspot.com/2013/02/new-ways-to-market-your-illustration.html

I must admit, when I walk into an Office Depot or down the office supply aisle in Target, my heart beats a bit faster. I have a tiny addiction to everything paper, pen, pencils, etc. etc. Recently, I've tried to practice the "use what you have" rule.  So, when I came upon these Ink Joy pens from PaperMate for about $3.70, it was with a bit of shame I tossed them into my cart. But I am shameful no more! These pens are wonderful. Their inks are bright like dyes. They layer beautifully. The ink floats on the paper and they are worth every penny. My favorite color is the brown that comes in the 12 pack with caps. They are aptly named.  Go ahead. Buy a pack. You know you want to.

by Paul Burrows

Stephen Silver is the main Character Designer for shows like Kim Possible and Danny Phantom along with others. Normally when artists rant I get turned off, but he backs it all up with really helpful advice on things to watch out for and how to empower yourself.

by Paul Burrows

I once had an art teacher who told us that we can't be the artsy fartsy artist stereotype that just draws or paints when we feel like it. When we don't feel like drawing or painting or whatever your medium is, that is when you have to get in there and work on something until you do. 

These last few weeks have been from you know where, I had some minor health issues, my computer monitor broke down, one of the glasses from my eyeglasses popped out when I wasn't noticing and I couldn't find it, and worst of all some guy leaving the spanish market pulled out in front of me before I could break fast enough and then took off when I was starting to pull into a parking lot and I didn't think fast enough to get his license plate number. 

And I have to say that last week because of usual late nights working on projects mixed with the new found stress I broke down and cried a little. But I decided that I was going to allow myself that one cry and then keep going to try and fix it all. When my monitor broke I decided that I was going to pull out my pencil and paper and work on another project that I had pushed off and I actually felt better for having been creative and productive.

As Artists we go  through a lot of obstacles in life and we always have the choice, are we going  to sit there and cry all day over slights and wrongs done to us or are we going  to roll up our sleeves and create art, it just feels better to keep creating. As a  side note I was blessed because my son found my lense in the back car seat, someone in our group was nice enough to give me their old monitor and we got a fairly new used car with the payout from our insurance and a family loan. So no matter what you’re going through keep creating and eventually you'll get out of it!

After years of having an art practice I decided to return to school at Cal State University Northridge  and get a BA in Fine Art.  I have dyslexia and felt it was time to get over my fears and just do it.  I'm proud to say I graduated last year with honors.  While I attended I continued to keep up my art practice, attained a few scholarships that involved teaching art in order to earn tuition money, and even worked on a community project for the Sunset Strip. Over the years and now after my college experience, I continue to meet many artists, art  students and recent graduates who  ask how to get started and how to create outside of the classroom.   Creating outside of the classroom was never an issue since I am self-taught.  I was seen as an outsider artist originally.  A-little over a year ago  a museum director informed my that  my work was too sophisticated now and to refer to myself as a figurative painter.  I was elated that she had taken the time to notice how I had evolved over the years.  The point here is that no one instructed me or told me to paint.  It was and always has been something I had to do.  If you are having a difficult time getting started- just start.  De-clutter your studio and make sure your art space is ready each day.  Before any big project I do this to clear out past energy.  If you feel stuck close your eyes while flipping thru a magazine and let your hands do the walking.  Stop at a page randomly and use the reference loosely to interpret  what ever imagery is there.  Go to a mall and draw the people, signage or even the salt shakers in  the food court.  Don't think about whether it's important or a good subject.  My paintings and drawings are a compilation of live sketches, photos, and bits and pieces of magazine and newspaper articles that have touched me in some way.  Images come out of no where and I add them because it feels right.  Put in time each day and develop a body of work.  Let the process take you.  Once you have around 15 to 20 pieces of work then get to the business of creating a website.  I can recommend two terrific books.  The business of Being an Artist by Daniel Grant and Taking the Leap by Cay Lang.  A great venue for any artist whether they are just starting out or have been out there awhile is the haleARTS SPACE.   Jacob's Dollhouse is one of several paintings along with graphites being exhibited at this gallery currently and will end this week.  They had paired me with a terrific artist, Catherine Coan.  She creates these incredible bird cages with real canaries that she taxidermies. Each canary has it's own strange story.  Each cage is a mini stage.  It's fascinating.  I am always amazed at how many different ways an artist can create.  The exhibits are just two weeks in duration but the location is wonderful and they get alot of traffic.  Recently a talented artist called me to ask how to get started.  I told her  to come to the show, and bring some cards.  She was a smart cookie and showed up at the reception.  I explained that she should hang out and at the right moment I would introduce her. My policy is "ask and you shall receive".  If an artist ask and I can help, I do it.  I truly feel there's a place for everyone.  At the show I made quick introductions at opportune moments for her and other artists, reminding each artist to make a quick exchange. Gallery owners don't enjoy long dialogues, especially during a reception.  I'm a talker  when nervous and to this day, have a hard time with this.  The haleARTS SPACE books a year in advance.  It's rare to get a review for a short exhibit but one show can lead to other opportunities so an artist has to weigh out the pros and cons of this. Like Field of Dreams, if you build it, someone is bound to show up.  The address is 2443 Main Street, Santa Monica, CA 90045 info@haleARTS.com, www.haleARTS.com.