First Time Plein Air Painting!

I had a truly magical journey into the jungle with my sister artist Zee this weekend., followed by relaxing and playing with some paints I brought along in a clearing by the head of the hike.

I cannot believe this was actually both of our first times painting from nature. We enjoyed an absolutely gorgeous hike through the jungle admiring a variety of ferns, listening to birds calling back and forth right over our heads (which you can hear in the vid below!), and gasping over the brightest greens you can imagine.

We are super excited to do more artsy adventures together and I can’t wait to practice more live plant painting with my gouache paints!

View fullsize

Now enjoy some incredible jungle bird calls:

4.10.2019

Figure Drawing Demo :: Plum Female on Grey Paper

Aloha friends I have another figure drawing demo for you today. I use Stabilo Carbothello pastel pencils to create these works which you can find below if you’d like to order some for yourself.

And if you would like more info on getting your own handmade-with-love toned (or white) paper sketchbook pop over here to be kept in the loop for my next sketchbook release. I’ve been making these books for a few years and I love them more than anything for creating vivid and refined figure drawings.

I usually draw from life, but for these demos I use figure drawing reference websites such as:

https://line-of-action.com/practice-tools/figure-drawing

http://www.onairvideo.com/croquis-cafe.html

Enjoy the demo today!

Here are my materials (any purchase through my links helps support this blog -Yay!):

Caput Mortuum Violet Pastel:

https://bit.ly/2U0zeaO

White Pastel:

https://bit.ly/2UuPiWF

Kneaded Eraser:

https://bit.ly/2WOwYWA

Mono Zero:

https://bit.ly/2DfU93e

Add to your art collection! I have many original figure drawings available here.

4.5.2019

Traveling to Walla Walla

Had such an amazing time in quaint Walla Walla, as well as roadtripping to Spokane, WA for a fantastic Dale Chihuly + other glassmakers exhibit, and a surprise Cody Trepanier show of his monumental Arctic paintings that looked so frigid you could almost get a chill in the gallery.

Walla Walla was quite booming around 1900s-1920s so the architecture was classic and full of personality.

Plus a few jaunts through the woods in nearby Oregon rounded out the trip perfectly. Such gorgeous wilderness to behold!

Can’t wait to come back and play in the PNW again!

4.3.2019

How to Make Art Prints

Making art prints using free software is super simple, and you can create any size imaginable to either print at home or send to a professional print shop.

This method will walk you through how to edit the clear photograph I showed you how to take last week using natural lighting (see it here if you missed it) and then format the image for high dpi printing and to include a white border of any size.

I'm using a Windows PC for this tutorial so the photo editing is done on the free software that comes with it. You can use any program you like for that step though. The second part uses paint.net, a free program you can download here, to increase the print quality and create the white border.

3.29.2019

Nervous About Showing Your Art?

Remember that video I did just a few weeks ago that was chock full of art biz advice? Well I wound up having a great discussion with a viewer as a result of it regarding her own upcoming art show. This fellow artist is awesomely motivated and she and I have communicated quite a bit via YT. She really finds my vids useful and is always quick to comment on and compliment them (which fills me with joy!).

Anyhoo, not only is the vid full of excellent advice, but I think our chat in the comments is worth sharing too for anyone who may be a little nervous showing their own art at an event.

Yay! I really love helping fellow artists so much!

If I can ever help you out feel free to drop me a line in the comments, here, or in my email caleigh@caleighbirdart.com. And don’t forget I now offer Art + Art Biz Consulting if you’d really like someone enthusiastic in your corner helping you leap those hurdles :)

3.27.2019

How to Photograph Artwork

Photographing artwork is surprisingly easy and is actually best done with neutral and natural light, which I will show you how to find outside. This technique is great because you don't need any fancy equipment at all. Any high resolution digital or smart phone works wonderfully during the right time of day.

And make sure you tune in next week too because I’m going to show you how to turn your bright and clear photographs into prints from editing to formatting all using free and easy software.

Prints of 'Farina' painting available here.

3.22.2019

New 3D Oil Painting :: Dip In the Abyss

Just a wild ride of a 3D painting for you today. Definitely a bit more free than my usual works but I had a blast experimenting:)

Nothing on this piece was really planned, I just kind of went for it with each layer of resin. What do you think? Is it fun and mysterious or too busy to focus?

I'd love your opinion in the comments!

3.15.2019

Art Consulting Now Available

Aloha friends, big news today! I am now available for fine art and art biz consulting! Yay!

I am constantly getting asked advice from how to prepare for an art opening to how to 'be more professional' to basic technical skills. Now I am here for you one-on-one and face-to-face through Hangouts or Skype to help tackle any obstacles between you and the art or art biz of your dreams.

Make sure to check out all the options for working together here

And by all means, keep leaving me questions and comments here and on YT! I am thrilled to share my artsy knowledge with this wonderful community any time:):)

3.8.2019

New Painting :: 'Heartbeat'

'The Sun, the Moon, and the Heartbeat In Between’ takes up a space somewhere in between real and imaginary… sleepiness and wakefulness… lightness and darkness…

Straddling the warmth of the sun and the cool of the moon in a deep state of bliss actually describes my close friend Emsy in a perfectly poetic way. She is the meditator and the adventurer, the muse and the artist, the old soul and the young spirit, the calm and the excitement.

Using the acrylic resin allowed me to bring the found Luna Moth and the doily held with her elevated left hand into the third dimension. not to mention the shining night sky magically illuminated by the sun’s rays.

oil on Belgian linen panel with mixed media in acrylic resin; framed, 12x15 inches, 2019

Take the 3D tour:

3.6.2109

5 Tips for Small Business Artists

Aloha fellow up ‘n coming artists:) Today’s video is especially for those who are interested in turning their love of artistic creation into a small business.

I’ve been navigating my own art biz for just a few years, but even in that short time I have learned so much that I wish I would have known starting out. If there’s one thing I think a lot of us have in common as newbies it’s that we tend to run around in a million directions at once not really knowing how best to focus our efforts and wind up wasting a lot of time.

I think a bit of bouncing around is totally necessary as each artist will find their own flow differently, but today I want to at least impart 5 little nuggets of advice to help navigate your own small art business.

So enjoy the video and then scroll down for notes

1. Don’t spread yourself too thin

When first starting out many artists are given the advice to ‘be everywhere’ online in order to share your artwork with as many people as possible (ex. Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Deviant Art, Pinterest, YouTube, Tumblr, Etsy, Society 6, etc). Now it is true that building an audience is the most important thing you can do for your art biz, but it’s actually much more effective to find 2-3 platforms where you think your target audience is most likely to hang out, then put forth your best, most professional efforts there. The worst thing you can do is sign up for so many platforms that you are unable to keep things updated so when folks do find you your page is an unloved, archaic mess. What a tragedy!

2. Follow journeys of ‘Goal Artists’

We all have artists that we hope to emulate one day either by style, success, or both, and that’s a very healthy thing. It’s great to have idols! Especially in the crazy world of professional art where there really are no set rules or protocols for building a prosperous and fulfilling career it can be incredibly helpful to have people to pattern after.

My advice is to pick 2-3 of your favorite contemporary artists whose style and/or target audience matches your own and who have also achieved a high level of your ideal of success. Remember that success looks different to every artist so it is important that you get kind of specific with this ideal; it won’t do you any good to emulate an artist being granted huge sculptural instillation art contracts when you are trying to paint pet portraits for celebrities. (You can love any artists’ work without trying to replicate their careers :) )

Then simply research and follow each artist consistently. Find their website and check out their CV or Exhibition/Awards roster to see potential venues to apply to or contests to enter. Sign up for their email list to hear about where/what they’re showing next. See if they teach workshops or college classes, or even jury for certain exhibits. Find them on social media and stay abreast of upcoming projects. How do they market themselves and their artwork? How do they get their audience excited about new artworks? What are specific ways that they engage with their audience?

Since basically everyone is all over the internet these days it is easier than ever to see how your idols are advancing but please, no matter what, do not ever make the mistake of comparing yourself to them. It can sound cliche, but it is very true that no two artistic journeys are ever the same. Gathering inspiration or references from favorite artists is fantastic, but you have no idea how exactly they got their start, how their socio-economic background influenced their educational opportunities, or how they may be connected either through location, schooling, or lineage. Circumstances are always different when peering from the outside in, so use your goal artists as just that, inspirational goals… not rigid one-size-fits-all rules.

3. Practice, expand and grow!

Now I know this one may sound obvious, but I honestly think this is one of the easiest ways that we can get lazy as artists. Once we are finished with official schooling it can be very easy to stick with our usual routine of style/materials/subjects/techniques and not keep branching out but it is really important to do so. We as artists need to be challenged regularly and we should always be striving for improvement, which comes with never ending practice.

Of course as we build an audience we want to stay true to the artwork that brought their adoration to us in the first place, but don’t forget that although we as humans like what we are already familiar with, we also need growth and change to keep our interest piqued. Trying out a new medium or a different subject within your same style is a great way to expand without alienating your audience. Or maybe use your artwork to collaborate with a clothing designer, children’s book writer, local event or good cause. The bonus is that by trying new things you will inevitably expose new people to your artwork along the way. Win win!

4. Be consistent

This is soooo much more important than I think a lot of young artists give credit. There are literally thousands of other artists all vying for your audience’s attention and if its been too many days/weeks/ or (dog-forbid) months since they’ve heard from you they are not even going to remember you when they move and need new art for their walls or when their sister’s birthday rolls around and they want a custom portrait created.

Consistency is also one of the best and cheapest ways to look professional. Literally just showing up on a predictable basis with quality work will put you head and shoulders above so many ‘amateurs'. Plus social media algorithms loooove consistency and we all know we need to be pleasing the mysterious algorithm entities as much as we possibly can!

5. Say yes

Often times in our lives we are presented with jobs, gigs, or opportunities that perhaps don’t specifically align with our end goals which we tend to say no to out of lack of interest or sub par compensation. Now I will never advocate for obvious time-wasting or being taken advantage of, but there is something to be said for getting out and doing as much art-related work as possible during the early stages of one’s career.

The thing is that so many random seeming opportunities morph and push us in unexpected directions and often turn into surprising and unique learning endeavors. Not to mention that as young artists we absolutely need to be exposed to as much of the business side of the fine art world as humanly possible (especially since art schools teach bupkis about the biz aspect of things). Also, working in any creative sector will garner more and more personal contacts who will in turn present you with more artistic opportunities. It can be a very exciting and lucrative cycle indeed!

My advice is to branch out into as many creative endeavors as you can handle reasonably and with quality. Never take on more than you can do well by giving only half efforts as your reputation will proceed you and could cost you excellent opportunities in the future. Just do your best and have an upbeat attitude and people will be thrilled to hire you again and again.

Skippity-do it’s as easy as that folks! Show up to your own life consistently and enthusiastically with your best effort and you should do great! Yay!

3.1.2019