Figure Drawing Return

Yay! Just got to attend my first live figure drawing session since being back on the mainland, and weren’t we lucky to have a duo!

These are pencil sketches from the same session. It was fun meeting a whole new group of artists, including one who is quite famous in the Lowcountry.

I also wanted to share a few scenes from the most recent visit to my gorgeous hometown of Charleston, SC where I had such a lovely time visiting and reconnecting with fond memories and lifelong besties.

12.24.2019

Resolutions for Artists

Out with the old and in with the new! Time once again to reevaluate and reassess what's working and what isn't, and do a little mental house cleaning. To be quite honest, I'm not usually the type to actually make New Year's resolutions, as I try to constantly work on self-improvement, but I never turn down an opportunity to learn how to grow as an artist. 

I created this lil questionnaire as a way for we artists to set ourselves up for success by figuring out what’s working and what isn’t within our individual art businesses, especially considering each art career is highly individualized and no two ever play out the same.

So here you go friend, I hope these resolutions and reflections really help you grow your biz in 2020! Scroll down to see the worksheet and to print out a copy for yourself too.

And if you’re really ready to level up your small art biz, or if you’d like help with technique in oils or drawing basics, remember I am available for face-to-face mentoring via webcam. Learn more [here].

Here’s a printable download for you :)

And if you’re curious, here’s the weekly checklist I just made for myself to help keep me on track:

12.20.2019

How to Draw a Nose

Hi friends, are you ready to level up your portrait game?

Well that is super duper because I’ve got a 5 Part series coming atcha that is sure to help you out:)

Today I’ll be going over how to draw the nose from three angles, then every other week I’ll have a video on drawing eyes, lips, ears, and finally how and where to place them all on the head.

Make sure you are subscribed to the Birdie Blog so you’ll get a weekly roundup of my blog posts and YouTube vids so you won’t miss any of this series:

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• Yes please!

12.13.2019

First Campout in Vaughn the Adventure Van

Woo hoo for Vaughn the Adventure Van!!

I’m beside myself with excitement and to celebrate I have already taken him out for his first campout at Myakka River State Park here in Florida. I haven’t started outfitting him with my proper bed and storage yet, but for just grabbing gear form my parents’ house so far I think we’re doing pretty well!

First my friend Baila (who was actually my neighbor and hike buddy on O’ahu who recently relocated to the east coast too!) and I decided to go on a relatively local adventure around town…

then we hopped on down to Warm Mineral Springs in North Port for a rejuvenating dip. Not too bad being able to swim outside in December!

We were so grateful to find such a peaceful and gorgeous camping spot just before sunset.

This park was extra cool because it features an elevated canopy walk 26 feet tall so visitors can experience all the unique air plants and local birds at eye level. Such an enlightening experience!

The trees were absolutely teaming with aerophytes! And after that fun catwalk, you get to climb up a 74 foot wooden tower to literally look down upon the trees as far as the eye can see in this super flat Florida landscape.

I mean, WOW!

Those trees are over 30 feet tall

Good thing Venkman isn’t afraid of heights!

One of the neatest plants on the journey so far…

On our way out we got to see about a dozen big fat happy gators sunning on the bank too. Fun to see from a distance, but they appeared around 8 feet long so I think we’ll stick to the roads for now:)

12.11.2019

Finding Beauty Everywhere

As an artist, you have an inherent eye for finding the beautiful, unusual, or remarkable in everyday life. It is a very special gift we visual artists possess and we should never let location or materials hinder our creative spirit.

Today I'm going to talk to you about finding beauty everywhere while just using a simple tiny sketchbook and regular pencil to do some graphic drawings from life in order to illustrate that you can make art anywhere with anything if you just open yourself up to being inspired.

If you'd like to see my sketches up close, check out my blog post from earlier this week.

12.6.2019

Graphic Sketchbook Drawings

Although I haven’t been able to do much painting lately (my oils are literally being shipped in using ground mail from O’ahu so it may be a few more weeks still), I have been enjoying playing with some graphic sketches.

Normally I’m not a fan of such smooth, light colored paper, but this is a style I’ve been wanting to play with so when someone gifted me this tiny unused sketchbook I figured it was the perfect place to get started. I’ve noticed that over the years different materials can shift my artistic style so I love to experiment and switch things up!

With this particular drawing style I have to make bold decisions about contrast with each subject. As you can see, I’ve chosen to show only highlights and low lights, no mid tones, as a really fun exercise in shadow shapes! (everything is drawn from life )

UPDATE: I just created a YouTube video in which i discuss finding beauty wherever you go while creating two drawings in this style of a tree trunk and two tangerines hanging from a bush. You can see it here.

12.4.2019

5 Reasons Not to Sell on Etsy

Hey my artsy friends, I know it’s that major sales times of year so I figured now was a great time to touch on a subject that I’ve been asked about more than I can remember; selling artwork on Etsy.

Now I’m sure you can tell by the title that I’m not a fan, however I’m not the end-all-be-all of artists so definitely do some of your own research as well. I would recommend comparing and contrasting it to running your own website (which is actually ridiculously easy and affordable these days).

I have personally found Etsy to be a huge waste of time and effort though, and I’m going to share why with you today….

In a nutshell..

1. Etsy is no longer exclusively handmade

2. Etsy does not promote smaller creators

3. Etsy shows other peoples’ products on your product page

4. Etsy charges really high fees

5. Etsy is ultimately in charge of your shop, not you

Hope this vid save you the countless hours I wish I could have saved myself!!

12.1.2019

Full 3D Oil Painting :: Seana's Secret

Alrighty now I’m sure you remember this 3D painting from a few months ago from my ‘How to Paint Sheer Lace’ and ‘How to Paint Gold Jewelry That Really Shines’ videos (if not, check ‘em out!), but since I never posted the whole process I figured folks might be interested, especially since there is a tattoo featured on my subject which can be a real challenge to paint!

Seana McCarthy, my muse in this work, is a lovely and unique artist living in New Hampshire. She discovered my work on Instagram probably around a year or so ago and reached out to tell me how she connected with a certain painting in a deep way. Our conversation was so meaningful that as soon as I checked out her page and saw here contemplative, quiet and deep self portrait photography I knew we needed to do a collaboration. Lucky for me, Seana agreed to take a series of new portraits utilizing some dramatic shadow play I love so much, and let me take pick of the litter to paint from before sharing any online.

We are both body-positive artists trying to help foster a world where realistic beauty standards and adoration for each other’s natural selves is celebrated and cherished. It’s been amazing to befriend someone so far away and be able to see eye-to-eye on an artistic venture right from the start. I look forward to meeting one day in person as vanlife brings me around!

See Seana’s work here @theillustratr

This will be the last video created in my Hawai’i studio (kinda bittersweet) so enjoy that little space one more time. I’m actually already moved out of there and am looking forward to picking things back up on the mainland. Cheers to new adventures!!

11.23.2019

Big Island Hawai'i Adventures!

Wow I am still floored by all the differing ecosystems coexisting so closely on a tropical island! It’s so weird to drive from arid desert, to grassy plains, to lava fields, to rocky coast back to thick jungle all in a matter of hours, especially when all you’re expecting is palm trees and lush mountains! If you didn’t catch the island hopping vlog already, tune in for a real treat too:)

Not to mention the surreal nature of playing on both black and green sand beaches!

And, did I mention this particular black sand beach was a nude one...? So you know, when in Rome…

I’ll have to admit, the opportunity for some plein air painting in the buff was too good to pass up. What a fantastic day!

One of the wildest things we did wasn’t splashing in our birthday suits, believe it or not, it was actually exploring some lava tubes! Lava tubes are basically places where the the igneous rock has broken away forming long underground caves. The temp became 10 degrees cooler the second you enter, and quite damp regardless of how dry that area of the island is. I didn’t go far at all because I only had sandals, but apparently they go back for miles and miles until you are literally crawling! Somehow spelunking does not feel like my forte though....

Make sure you check out my Maui blog too for some of the most phenomenal waterfalls ever!

11.21.2019

Livin' in a Van on Maui

So um, van-lifing around Maui is my new favorite thing...

From sleeping under the biggest rose gold full moons, to guerrilla bathing in a state park stream, to chasing more waterfalls than we ever thought possible... following Hana Road along all of East Maui has been one of the most delightful road trips of my life. If you didn’t already see the island hopping vlog I made, get ready to plan your next vacay…

My friend Steff from O’ahu (yep, different than Stephanie from Charleston - not confusing at all I know) and I rented a really nice n roomy minivan (although I am calling them adventure vans more and more these days), but weren’t quite sure what we were going to do before we arrived. With my blow-up mattress, sunscreen, and some citronella incense in tow, along with the perfect temperament for adventure, we wound up happening upon the most delightful places to eat, sleep, and play which gave us the most fulfilling, yet totally relaxing island tour ever.

There has been so much beauty to see and so much delicious fruit to consume in countless little adorable ‘honor-system’ roadside fruit stands in between mind-blowing photo ops around every twist and turn… I think we may have actually discovered heaven on earth!

And I can’t help but share these epic waterfall shots Steff snapped of me too..

Make sure to take a peek at my Big Island pics too for awesome green sand and lava tube adventures too!

11.19.2019