Popularity - IF

"Mr. Smith, the local butcher, felt his popularity rise with every step. Everybody loved his sausages!"

A quick sketch, rendered in Illustrator, in a completely different style than usual.
Sometimes you need to try something different…

Lore, a winterbaby

2 weeks earlier than expected, Lore was born on the 26th of december.
So I can now post the final design that I made for her birthannouncementcard.

What a coincidence it's very fitting for this weeks "Winter" theme on illustrationFriday.com

Kobe, now a Big Brother, is announcing his baby-sister

On a more technical note: this is the first time I really got my hands on the new width-tool for lines in Illustrator CS5. I like the way you can now play with line thickness!

And the original sketch:

Winter

We wish you a playful new year!

Illustration Business tips

Holli Conger  is a digital and dimensional illustrator who illustrates in a whimsical style suitable for any application of illustration. From magazine, greeting cards and advertising, to CD covers, packaging and children’s books, Holli approaches each project with whimsy and creativity guaranteed to put a smile on any child’s (and parent’s) face. (text taken from Holli's website)

I adore her style and the fact she is very liberal with advise on how to get started (or improve) in the illustration business.

This month she is posting illustration business tips on her blog. Every day of december there is a new article containing a wealth of information!

So far, topics have been:

• how to find clients 

       (http://agirlwhocreates.com/2010/12/1-how-do-i-find-clients.html)

• how to balance family and career 

       (http://agirlwhocreates.com/2010/12/2-balancing-career-family.html)

• finding your style 

       (http://agirlwhocreates.com/2010/12/3-find-your-style.html)

• the process start to finish on a job 

       (http://agirlwhocreates.com/2010/12/4-process-working-start-to-finish.html)

• taking on work for “exposure” or less pay 

        (http://agirlwhocreates.com/2010/12/5-paying-your-dues.html)

• going freelance  

        (http://agirlwhocreates.com/2010/12/6-going-out-on-your-own.html)

• setting up your studio 

         (http://agirlwhocreates.com/2010/12/7-setting-up-your-studio.html)

• promotion  

         (http://agirlwhocreates.com/2010/12/8-promotion.html)

• to get an agent or not 

         (http://agirlwhocreates.com/2010/12/9-to-get-an-agent-or-not.html)

• keeping your jobs organized 

         (http://agirlwhocreates.com/2010/12/10-keeping-your-jobs-organized.html)

• negotiating rates 

         (http://agirlwhocreates.com/2010/12/11-negotiating-rates.html)

• contracts 

          (http://agirlwhocreates.com/2010/12/12-contracts.html)

• easy color palettes 

          (http://agirlwhocreates.com/2010/12/13-easy-color-palettes.html)

• social media  

         (http://agirlwhocreates.com/2010/12/14-social-media.html)

• laying out and mailing a postcard 

          (http://agirlwhocreates.com/2010/12/15-laying-out-and-mailing-a-postcard.html)

• diversity 

           (http://agirlwhocreates.com/2010/12/16-diversity.html)

Topic for the next 2 days: tips on art licensing

Go take a look at her blog!

Holli is even giving away a 3 month illustration marketing consultation.

Which aspiring illustrator wouldn't be over the moon receiving one of those? I know I would be!

Baby announcement

N° 1: an Ice Princess

N° 2: big brother caught a Little Mermaid

Every now and then I illustrate birth announcements. Usually I make 2 proposals, based on themes or suggestions from the expecting parents. I sketch them out in Photoshop, like the ones above. Give the parents some time to choose and finalize one. This time, I made 3 sketches. All quite different from one another. The third is being finalized. I'll publish it after the baby is born, early january. But I might still finish the other illustrations, just for fun!

Transportation

A little girls favourite way of transportation...
The Ultimate Piggyback-ride: piggyback-riding with a piggy-backpack on your dad's back!
(a serious tongue-twister...)

Acrobat

A little late as it was last weeks Illustration Friday Challenge...