The Hare Illustratère

Illustration Friday: TWIRL

2012-01-26T11:54:00.000-05:00

Long Tailed Dragon - © Diana Ting Delosh - Ink, watercolor, photoshop
A long curlicue tail is fun to TWIRL
Twirl for Illustration Friday.

Dragons - 1 Sketch to Several Dragons

2012-01-25T18:16:00.001-05:00

Dragon Sketch - © Diana Ting Delosh

I doodled this dragon with my trusty ball point pen during a TV commercial. The commercials and time limit provide enough distraction so I can ignore any inner critic. I find that I can get started on a few of my back burner projects this way. Helps me get more done without the burnout. This sketch then had to wait it's turn until I had time between assigned work to transfer to paper, ink and paint, but at least the sketch stage was done.

As this Dragon illustration usage was for my Year of the Dragon/Chinese New Year cards as well as a decorative motif on various products I chose not to draw/paint in a back ground. I could add these on with Photoshop, giving me more design options. Leave it plain for a decorative look -great on a T-shirt or a card. Add to the tail to make it longer to wrap around a mug for example. Plop it on a solid background for a card or even my painted starry moonlit scene for a more narrative look.

Asian Dragon- © Diana Ting Delosh

Long Curlicue Tailed Dragon - © diana Ting Delosh

Starry Night Dragon - © Diana Ting Delosh

You can find my dragons inhabiting my shops at:

www.gcuniverse.com/dianascards

www.zazzle.com/deloshdesigns* - DRAGON

HAPPY YEAR OF THE DRAGON!

FYI the Dragon is supposed to be the luckiest of all the 12 Chinese zodiac animals. The Chinese New Year is celebrated for 15 days. 2 weeks plus 1 day for good luck. The 2012 Dragon Year is celebrated from Jan 23rd to Feb 5th.

My Chicken Licken Illo entry for the SCBWI TDP Illo Award

2012-01-02T11:46:00.003-05:00

Chicken Licken (Chicken Little)

Ink and Watercolor

TA DAH! Here is my entry for the 2012 SCBWI Tomie dePaolo Illustration Contest. The winners will be announced very very soon. Keeping my fingers crossed but I'm not holding my breath as the competition is an amazingly talented bunch!

If you'd like to see some of the other entries please go to http://scbwicontest.blogspot.com/. Fellow contestant, SCBWI Houston Illustrator Coordinator, Diandra Mae, has put up an unofficial showcase of the entries. This gallery was created to show off more of the art as the official SCBWI announcement will only show off the winners.

Winners announced on January 9, 2012.
And the winner isn't moi -sigh- back to the drawing board,
The winners can be viewed here.

Beary Christmas!

2011-12-19T15:46:00.000-05:00

Brown Bear's Christmas Wreath
© Diana Ting Delosh
ink and watercolor.

BEARY CHRISTMAS
and JOY TO ALL!

Just thought I'd wish everyone Happy Holidays before things got too hectic around here and I forgot.

Vote for...#22!

2011-12-13T12:02:00.002-05:00

Howdy Friends - I entered my Snowman - Christmas in a Greeting Card Design contest: Let it Snow and now the polls are open for voting. Anyone can vote. You don't have to be a member of the GCU community. Voting ends December 18th. Please view and vote for your favorite design by going to this link: http://gcucommunity.com/2011/12/13/design-contest-let-it-snow-time-to-vote/

Hint hint... my design entry is #22 ...wink wink.

Thanks for voting!

Illustration Friday - Brigade

2011-12-07T13:53:00.000-05:00

SNOWMEN!
Ink & Watercolor
© Diana Ting Delosh

Here's my entry for Illustration Friday - A whole BRIGADE of Snowmen to usher in the winter holiday season. I was working on my motley crew of snowmen sketches when IF posted the word of the week and I thought they fit the prompt.

I created these snowmen for my POD stores*. The arts done -now just need to sneak in the time between assignments to make the illos into "products". I know I'm a wee behind, at any rate the snowmen will be arriving into my various stores and depending on how you look at it they're either too late for this winter season or too early for next year's. In the meanwhile I hope you liked the preview.

Snowmen will be arriving soon at my *stores:

www.zazzle.com/deloshdesigns*

www.gcuniverse.com/dianascards

www.cardgnome.com/shops/delosh-cards

Note to self: 2012 resolution #1 - create seasonal art 3-6 months ahead of the season for my POD shops. Give them time to build some SEO and all that other good stuff.

YAY -I Completed PiBoIdMo 2011!

2011-12-02T12:22:00.000-05:00

I do solemnly swear that I have faithfully executed

the PiBoIdMo 30-ideas-in-30-days challenge,

and will, to the best of my ability,

parlay my ideas into picture book manuscripts.

WHEW! - so glad I completed the challenge, although with a dry patch in the middle I almost gave up. All in all even with a bit of creative block it was a lot of fun: reading the daily inspiring posts on Tara's blog, hoping to win a prize here or there. Most of all just having fun and knowing that I'm not the only one muttering PB ideas to myself for the month of November.

Now the work ahead and into 2012 is to flesh out at least 1 of these scribbled ideas into a real PB story - a PB dummy even!

For more info about PIBOIDMO please read or Follow Tara's blog at http://taralazar.wordpress.com/

M-M-M-M It's a PBDummy!

2011-11-18T15:01:00.002-05:00

M-M-M-M CUPCAKES

Scan of my Picture Book Dummy

All art and text © Diana Ting Delosh

Web/Portfolio - dianadelosh.com

Tah Dah - I'm so happy to say it's a DUMMY! I've been working on this dummy , betwixt and between jobs and life and there were many times that I thought it would never be a cohesive piece. This 32 page dummy is comprised of 2 finished colored spreads and the balance is loose sketches. I even created some yummy cupcake type for the title. Finally, here it is all put together and in time for my big portfolio review last weekend.

So how was M-M-M-M CUPCAKES PB Dummy Debut? I saw 3 reviewers; 2 editors from small to midsize publishing houses and 1 Art director from a large Big Name Publishing house.

The Big Name Publishing House Art Director liked how my dummy demonstrated that I had a real sense of how a picture book should flow. However her imprint was not interested in Concept Stories.

Editor # 1 was also not looking for picture book illustrators although CB liked my portfolio and told me I could send her ideas and sample art. Sigh.

However I really seemed to hit it off with editor #2. PG seemed to really like my portfolio and my dummies especially M-M-M-M CUPCAKES. She also really liked concept books as this mid-sized house tends to sell to libraries and schools, hence their lists are school curriculum driven. PG even quickly read through the brief text and gave me a few suggestions and permission to formally submit this proposal after I've made her suggested revisions as well as send other new proposals to her. YAY -very exciting! Keeping fingers crossed!

Note I did not mention the Publishing houses nor the reviewers by names. I have a superstition that if I talk too much about something prematurely I may jinx myself. More importantly though is that this is my experience and yours with the same company and reviewers would be your unique experience based on your work. This review has convinced me to try a new strategy of picking smaller or midsize publishing houses as they seemed to be more open to acquiring new projects/illustrators.

FYI: I only show my hard covered dummies in person at reviews, conferences etc. To submit this project as a Picture book proposal, I create a multipage PDF from the 16 spreads (15 internal spreads plus the cover) that I can easily pop in the mail or even just attach to an e-mail, with cover letters of course.

PiBoIdMo 2011!

2011-11-02T14:26:00.000-04:00

Here we go again! I just signed up for PiBoIdMo 2011, Picture Book Ideas Month at http://taralazar.wordpress.com/. The challenge is to come up with 30 picture book ideas in the month of November (30 days). Just ideas - no outlines etc. -keep it simple and have FUN.

Last year I put my ideas onto index cards. Not sure if I'm using the same low-tech method for 2011. I may just scribble them into my journal and enter them on a running list. My 2010's participation in this challenge resulted in the current dummy that I'm almost finished with. Click HERE if you're curious about that project.

SH-h-h-h -Feeling most mysterious!

2011-10-23T15:29:00.001-04:00

It's all Hush hush and mysterious
-just like my
feline super sleuth character,
Audrey Hepcat.
© DianaTing Delosh

Wow it's been awhile since my last post, but I have 2 good excuses:

1 - I've been busy with illustration gigs. YAY! Unfortunately they have been mad rush jobs. BOO! Admittedly this is partially due to my own scheduling as everything: personal and professional seems to happen at once and I don't want to miss anything.

2 - Two of the jobs I'm currently working on are confidential. Which means no blogging about them. Drats! One of them is a bread and butter type jobs, so no problems keeping mum about it. However the other project is one that I want to show off some of the illos from so it's hard to be hush hush about it. The only thing I can say is that it's an E-book project and the illustrations are almost all done. Needless to say - I can't wait until it's finished and I can finally burst out with the news.

The only other thing I can say is that the E-book company found me via my web presence. So all this frenzied web activity does do something other than bring you more followers on Twitter and Linked-in. Keep on blogging my creative friends.

The Fox and The Crow - Process

2011-09-22T22:57:00.003-04:00

THE FOX AND THE CROW

© Diana Ting Delosh

Ink, watercolor and Photoshop

Decisions, questions and hopefully solutions are a part of my illustration process. As the above illo was my entry for a fun group project, CBIG AESOP'S FABLE Illustration Catalog, the first questions was which Fable. Easy enough something that featured things I like: animals, food, nature. Sure I could've also used this as a challenge to draw things I don't like but as I was already in the midst of juggling other deadlines why stress. I did say this was for fun.

Decisions: the angle perspective of art - lot's of doodling. Decided to keep it simple as I wanted to show the goody falling from the crows mouth as well as her "OOPs" expression and the triumphant glee in the fox's face and body. Also needed to decide on whether I was going the traditional route and illustrate cheese as the coveted food item. Some of the versions did not specify cheese so I thought I'd have some fun with it and do one of my favorite yummies, the rainbow cookie. Now that's a treat worthy of some cunning. Ink in the foreground, main characters and paint.

Background Quandaries: Keep it simple or do the whole forest. Usually I'm not this indecisive but this time, who knows, maybe it was the August heat. Couldn't decide and went back and forth during the sketch phase. Decided on simple and then second guessed myself by adding in the forest after I had painted the foreground. OOPS! Painted out the forest with Gouache. Just could not stop myself as I impulsively added just a few trees over to the extreme right. Muddled it up again! My only excuse for this lapse in judgement was that I was juggling multiple projects and clearly muddle brained myself. Forgot a major rule in illustration: Keep what is important to the story in focus. Thank goodness for Photoshop. Deleted the offending background and replaced it with a sky I had painted for another project. Sigh!

And there you have it the story behind the illustration.

My Fox and Crow illustration is my entry for this years CBIG group project the CBIG AESOP'S FABLE Illustration Catalog. The pdf catalog may be viewed on the CBIG website and all 26 illustrations are showing on the CBIG blogzine from September 1st through October 31st, 2011. See my FOX AND THE CROW - CBIG Blogzine - September 23, 2011.

CBIG - The Children's Book Illustrators Group: AESOP'S FABLES Illustration Catalog

2011-09-05T12:48:00.001-04:00

Wow it's been awhile since I posted on this blog. I've had a busy busy summer with assorted projects. Here, finally, for your viewing pleasure is one of them... the CBIG Aesop's Fables Illustration Catalog. I'm also happy to be 1 of the 26 illustrators that participated in the CBIG second annual illustration catalog as well as the designer of this group effort. Please hop on over to the CBIG blogzine during the months of September and October 2011 where I'll be posting the illustrations from the catalog.

CBIG - The Children's Book Illustrators Group: AESOP'S FABLES Illustration Catalog: CBIG is proud to show off our 2011 Illustration Catalog, AESOP'S FABLES . Featuring the talents of 26 participating members, listed below in...

2011 Summer Postcard -Cupcake Cat

2011-08-05T16:14:00.001-04:00

Here's my Summer 2011 self-promo postcard. As the main focus of my personal art this spring/summer has been my Cupcake dummy and I thought the cover art was bold and yummy looking - decided it would be a natural for the front of my postcard image. I was contemplating doing a larger size but I just wasn't sure if the added expense of printing and postage would equal any benefit in positive responses. One would hope it did but then one could hope for a lot of things.

Went to VistaPrint.com to see if they were running any sales and they were -YAY. Decided to go with my usual standard size but since they were having a sale I added a color illustration to the back. The design above for the back of the card is actually turned sideways but I'm showing it horizontally so you can have a better sense of it. Yes I measured my address label size to make sure I wouldn't be covering up any of my back illo with it. While I'm not sure if postcard size would matter - I think 2 illos maybe better than 1 to get the targeted art director or editor to look at my website.

The cards have been designed & ordered. They should arrive within 3 weeks. Which gives me time to update my mailing list. Maybe this year I'll actually do 3 postcard mailings as I'm always threatening to do.

IF: OBSESSION

2011-07-29T13:10:00.000-04:00

ANTICIPATION
© Diana Ting Delosh
Ink & Watercolor

Here's my entry for this weeks IllustrationFriday.com prompt - OBSESSION.

Kitten has an OBSESSION with cupcakes. He can't wait until they're baked, frosted and ready to eat. YUM. This is another scene from my CUPCAKE, story. Still working on the project between jobs & life. I can't wait until my half-baked Picture book dummy is fully realized.

For another illustration from my CUPCAKE PB dummy see my June 16, 2011 post. OR visit my website at DianaDelosh.com.

The Art Hare's Wares: 1 Year Zazzle Anniversary Salebration

2011-07-01T13:44:00.000-04:00

The Art Hare's Wares: 1 Year Zazzle Anniversary Salebration: "About a year ago, June 2010 I opened my Zazzle Shop DeloshDesigns* because I thought it would be fun to see what my illustrations looked lik..."

IF: MIDSUMMER NIGHT

2011-06-28T16:15:00.001-04:00

Arabian Night © Diana Ting Delosh
Ink and Watercolor

Here's my ILLO entry for this week's IllustrationFriday Prompt - MIDSUMMER NIGHT.

Can't believe that the midpoint of this summer and 2011 is fast approaching. What happened to my year?

FYI: this illo is available as a:
Giclée Print
Blank Note Card
Ramadan Greeting Card at GCU and CardGnomes
Postcard

The Twitter Effect on my PBDummy

2011-06-16T15:09:00.000-04:00

Detail from an illustration from my soon to be finished picture book dummy, CUPCAKES

I usually try and do a Picture Book Dummy a year. My standing Deadline is Halloween. Doesn't always work out, but I try. This year with the help of TWITTER I'm ahead of myself.

It all began Nov of 2010 when I signed up to do PiBoIdMo (Picture Book Idea Month. See cute monster badge in side bar). A challenge I found on Twitter to come up with 30 picture book ideas in 30 days. Which lead to the #PBDummy challenge on Twitter - brought to you by KidLitArt in January 2011. This last challenge was to complete a picture book dummy by well - NOW. Wish I could say I've victoriously crossed the finish line but I concede I have not. This is by no means an admission of failure or defeat because having accepted the challenge I am that much closer to completing my PB Dummy whereas if I hadn't I might not have even begun the project. Which is what these creative challenges are all about. Helping you to achieve or grow as a creative, while having fun and even possibly interacting with other like minded artists.

So how far do I have to go? Well the dummy is all roughed out and the text, is pretty set. I actually continue to tweak both art and text throughout the whole process as I suspect do most of my fellow illustrator/writers. My "finished" dummy will comprise of 3 colored finished illustrations and 13 spreads of ink sketches. The illustration above is a detail from one of the finished spreads. I've even created some fun hand lettering for the cover. Well to answer the question I've still haven't reached the halfway point but I'm getting a bit done every week between jobs and sundry other art biz activities. Taking part in this challenge has helped me stay motivated despite all the interruptions and distractions. I see myself finishing way before my self-imposed Halloween deadline. In fact, I may even try and squeeze in this other PB dummy idea or at least begin it. Well, we'll see.

The Art Hare's Wares: Father's Day Cards and New Store Promotion!

2011-06-06T14:57:00.000-04:00

The Art Hare's Wares: Father's Day Cards and New Store Promotion!: "Howdy all just wanted to announce that I've opened a new POD Store DELOSH CARDS and currently there is a special 20% Discount on FATHER'S..."

Illustration Friday: ASLEEP

2011-06-01T11:56:00.001-04:00

Violet Dreams of Planting Seeds

Ink & Watercolor illustration from 1 of my picture book ideas.

Here's my illustration for this week IllustrationFriday.com prompt: Asleep.

Sometimes I try and dream up solutions to my art, writing or life. I ask myself specific questions about something I'm working on as I'm falling asleep. It doesn't always work but it's great when it does.

Illustration Friday: SOAKED

2011-05-25T15:29:00.000-04:00

Rain Cloud Bunny

Pen Sketch

Bunny's having a Bad Hare Day. You know the kind - where you feel like there's a dark rain cloud following you wherever you go. And you know you're going to get soaked.

Bunny's Getting Soaked Here's my illustration for this week's Illustration Friday prompt. When times are tight and I have an idea, I like to do a quick ball point pen Sketch. Maybe one day I'll make a finished illustration from this sketch but until then -this is it.

The thing with finished art is that it needs a purpose (at least for me). This way I know what size/shape it will be. For example if this idea was to be a greeting card I would make it into 5 x7 or a size that would fit proportionally. On the other hand if this were to be a calendar page - April. I might want it to be a horizontal and fit 12 x 9 dimensions. This is probably why sketching is my only true personal art. All my finished art has a purpose and sometimes even an agenda.

Illustration Friday: SAFARI

2011-05-18T12:00:00.001-04:00

Cheetah Stretches
© Diana Ting Delosh
Ink & Watercolor
I would love to go on a Safari on the African Savanna to see the cheetahs, and capture them with my camera and sketches. Here's my take on the IllustrationFriday.com word of the week.

IF: LESSON!

2011-05-04T13:47:00.001-04:00

BEAVER SWIMMING LESSONS
Medium Point BIC® Pen Sketch
© Diana Ting Delosh

Here's my take on this week's IllustrationFriday.com prompt - LESSON.

Beavers are perfectly suited for their semi-aquatic lifestyle. The kits can float soon after birth. When they get a little bigger they take advanced swimming and diving lessons from their parents and older siblings. They will also take lessons in Dam building and logging. They really don't need floaties or goggles as they have an extra set of transparent eyelids that slide over their eyes. I was just taking some artistic license.

I love learning new things but I hate it when experiences become just another lesson in life.

Art Biz sites: tried & results to date

2011-04-28T13:18:00.002-04:00

OK time to review the new things I've tried since January 2011 to beef up my illustration biz and any results to date. Sort of a review - that I hope you may find useful, keeping in mind that what works for me may not work for you and vice versa.

www.illustrationboard.com - Free site, created by an illustrator friend. Nice because it just links to my website - dianadelosh.com and I don't have to spend time loading and updating art for this site. It also has a FaceBook page so you can post news or share new work. Nice and laid back. However this site itself just began in January and to date it has just sent some traffic to my website, but hey, it's FREE and friendly.

arthareswares.blogspot.com - Started a new blog to hawk my functional and wearable art wares. In hopes of boosting traffic and sales at my stores: www.gcuniverse.com/dianascards, www.zazzle.com/deloshdesigns*, wingedrabbit.imagekind.com. So far the results for this venture have been very interesting and unexpected. Yes, it has boosted traffic to my stores and I believe sales. The interesting news is that this blog, according to Google Traffic Analytic, has been my number 1 referrer to my illustration website since it began! That's going on 3 months in the number 1 spot. It has also made me aware of any weak spots in my stores that need to be addressed. If you don't already blog, definitely begin one and if you do, blog more.

www.behance.net - FREE site. OK I was invited (anyone can join) but what made me sign up was their job board. They actually had jobs listed under illustration & drawing and not just jobs for someone who knows Adobe Illustrator. YAY. However this is one of those communtiy networking sites where you have to be social and friend other members and join groups etc. and load art etc. Personally between: LI, FB, Twitter, forums, etc. I'm a little overwhelmed by all this socializing and underwhelmed by the results. However you can follow me at: www.behance.net/dtdelosh and I promise I'll do likewise for you.
The Job Listings have been mainly for surface designs for functional ware: water bottles, iPhone cases etc. Which sound like fun. So I've added more florals to my portfolio and plan on expanding my illustration repetoire... and of course applied for a few listings.

hireanillustrator.com - $7 per week or annual fee. HAI gives you opportunities to stand out by submitting news, which they may feature on the home page (prestigious assignment, awards, etc.) or just posted with thumbnail on the side bar. HAI also puts out a newsletter (monthly?) with some of the submitted news and of course their FB fan page etc. Plus your item may also get picked up by their related site the thelittlechimpsociety.com. Meanwhile, I'm still figuring out what constitutes illustration news - is my new promo postcard newsworthy? Noticed that some artists announce their POD/Etsey news. Sure I could do this weekly but I'd rather not. I'm probably over analyzing this. Did submit my "Lucky Cat for Japan Aid" news item and I can even attribute a few sales to that. It is referring people to my website. No assignments yet, but it's only been 2 months. Find me on HAI at: hireanillustrator.com/i/diana-delosh.

I've removed my Kidlitart Blinders as a result of trying Behance and HAI. Time to create more art - round out my portfolio. Submit. Promote. Get assignments. Make things happen. Make news.

Happy Easter!

2011-04-24T14:16:00.000-04:00

Spring Fling,
Ink & watercolor
© Diana Ting Delosh

Wishing all a
Hoppy Bunny and Eggy Day!

Tah Dah - April 2011 Self-Promo Postcard!

2011-04-13T17:38:00.001-04:00

Skunk, Bear, Bunny April 2011 self-promo postcard design
Ink & Watercolor © Diana Ting Delosh

TA DAH! My 2011 self-promo postcard are ready to go out into the world... whew!

Normally I do 3 postcard campaigns a year but last year I never got around to doing my usual fall campaign. Fall 2010 I had a series of unfortunate events; beginning with my G4 crashing and dying a messy and untimely death - mid project of course. Is there ever an opportune time for computers to die? My latest mailing list was a casualty along with a whole bunch of files I had never gotten around to copying to my external hard drive or the new computer. Luckily I did have the new computer in studio. Needless to say doing the 2010 fall postcard campaign meant redoing the list. (Note to self: copy current labels/list files to the Lacie). Just the thought of the task put me in full procrastination mode - forget about any other disasters and dramas that occurred last fall. Suffice to say the 2010 Fall postcards did not go out.

Is a postcard campaign even relevant in 2011? Decided yes - I should quit stalling. While I don't get an assignment with everyone of my mailings - I do usually get a positive response. So back to trying to do 3 mailings a year.

What design to use? A totally new one or an image that's my current fave? I never know what to pick. The image is of crucial importance after all that's the one that will make them click on your website or not. Considered doing a new design until I read that postcard postage rates will go up April 17th - from 28¢ to 29¢! That decided it. Use a current fave and get off my butt and send it to Vistaprint.com. Decided to cut my list in half for a lean focused campaign. The printed cards arrived - early. Thanks Vista! My labels are done! Just need to stick on address labels and stamps and Voila they'll be out and on their way before April 17th! Whew - now that wasn't too bad!

Rooster, Peacock & Beach

2011-04-05T12:37:00.002-04:00

So what do Roosters, Peacocks and Sandy Beaches have to do with each other? Will the couples go on a romantic beach getaway? Do they have a barrel of fun? And how do the penguins figure in? Or don't they? Ah, mysteries abound but will there be a solution? I'm not sure but I hope to find out soon.

With Egg © Diana Ting Delosh Ink & Watercolor.

Peacocks © Diana Ting Delosh Ink & Watercolor

Penguin Beach © Diana Ting Delosh Ink & Watercolor

To see more samples visit my website: dianadelosh.com

IF: TOY

2011-03-30T12:44:00.000-04:00

BABY! © Diana Ting Delosh
ink & Watercolor

Here's my illo for this week IllustrationFriday.com word of the week - TOY.

The toy crammed border was inspired by my dad announcing "We can buy toys again!" when I was pregnant with my 1st (about another lifetime ago). Needless to say when I was designing greeting cards more recently, his words inspired me to create this Baby Congratulations Card.

IF: CULTIVATE!

2011-03-18T15:55:00.000-04:00

GARDEN GAFFE
© Diana Ting Delosh
Ink & Watercolor

The bunny family is at it again. Cultivating a garden takes hard work: watering, weeding and harvesting. My illustration for this weeks IllustrationFriday.com prompt - CULTIVATE.

I've been trying to cultivate the habit of working on my personal drawing or writing first thing, everyday. It starts me off on an upbeat mode, even if it's only for 15 minutes. Unfortunately it means having to get up earlier to squeeze it in before the daily grind of must do's and should do's eats away the day. Which means I should go to bed earlier and not watch mindless hours of TV into the wee hours of the night. Not the easiest thing to do for an unnatural lark.

Garden Gaffes is available as a giclée print.

The Art Hare's Wares: Designed to Support Japan Relief Efforts

2011-03-15T14:50:00.000-04:00

The Art Hare's Wares: Designed to Support Japan Relief Efforts: "Like many of you I have been horrified by the Earthquake/Tsunami disaster that struck Japan on March 11, 2011. To do something to help I hav..."

IF: STIR!

2011-03-11T16:35:00.000-05:00

Baking Bunnies
© DianaTing Delosh
ink & watercolor

When the Bunny family bakes together all sorts of things get stirred up and chaos ensues. This is an older piece but couldn't resist posting this as my entry for this week's IllustrationFriday.com prompt: STIR.

I need to stir things up, make some noise, get some attention for my art. dianadelosh.com

FYI: This illustration may be purchased as a giclée print from my gallery at wingedrabbit.imagekind.com/animals

There's Good & Bad Spec Art

2011-03-04T15:24:00.001-05:00

Spec art - a Big No No - or is it? Many organizations , like the Graphic Artists Guild routinely advise to "Just Say NO to Spec Art!" On the surface I whole heartedly agree. But I think there needs to be a distinction made between Bad and Good spec art and how to tell one from the other.

Good Spec Art.
Now there's nothing wrong with a potential client asking to see how you would visualize their concept - asking for and paying for it with a fee. Since they're spending money they tend to really narrow the pool of illustrators and there is a good chance that there will be a paying project in the future with them.

There are even some fields where creating spec art is the norm. When I first freelanced for greeting card companies I would submit 3 - 6 finished art for greeting card designs. The companies provided potential freelancers with art specs. Example: size 5 x 7", schedule for reviewing art for birthdays, Christmas, etc. They did not review sketches or samples that were not formatted for cards. They just wanted to see your available to be acquired art. it should be noted that the companies rarely approached artists to do spec. Rather it was the artists researching the companies to see how to submit art. Yes they bought some and did not buy others. True to it's name it was a speculative endeavor - but if you were interested in freelancing for Recycled Paper Products, Inc and other card companies back than that was the game. I believe it still works the same but I have not approached them in recent year.

Anytime you create a manuscript/picture book dummy, visual activity for a magazine, etc. you are creating spec art. You're taking a gamble on creating your project and submitting it to the right place. The distinction is that it is a self-generated project and most likely some of it makes for nice portfolio pieces.

There's also a gray area. About a year ago I attended a seminar where the Guest speaker a prominent editor from a kids publishing house. Mentioned that he was looking for illustrators for the following manuscripts that were already under contract. He gave out a brief synopsis of each picture book and invited us to submit appropriate samples. Now if you just happened to have art that fit - great. BUT what if you didn't but wanted to be considered. Your only choice would be to create spec art -assuming you had the time. Which is what I did - with eyes wide open that the odds were against me. Did I get the contract - no. But I did get portfolio pieces out of this endeavor as it filled a gap. Maybe next time - I'll be able to just send a sample.

BAD Spec art the kind you should always say NO to - is usually requested by someone else as a sample to show how you would approach a project.... and if they like it ... you get the job, contract etc. The problem is that they are not just satisfied with looking at the samples in your portfolio that already show that you can do "it". What they want is art specifically created with their specs for free. You are handing them a free layout, sketches, finished illustration etc. In other words a cattle call that rarely results in getting the job. Now if you have cute mice in your portfolio, why should you draw 1 more cute mouse in a flamenco dress for said person/company. Yes this is a request for spec art I actually received after I sent them to my animals portfolio and even sent them lo-res jpg samples of my illos of my mice in various outfits. In this case if you did honor the spec request you would not even get the benefit of having a nice new illos for your portfolio because it would not add anything new to it. As to getting the job - most of the time it never materializes.

The keywords here are requested, Free art and self-generated.

Now on HAI!

2011-02-23T17:17:00.001-05:00

I've been eyeing this illustrator's portfolio site hireanillustrator.com for about a year and I've finally made the leap. What I like about HAI is that it focuses on illustrators only. Not illustrators, designers, writers and etc. However it is a general illustration site versus a childrens illustrations only site. Which I'm hoping will be a plus, showcasing my work to new uncharted markets. I've also heard from illustrator friends that HAI is very proactive in promoting and that they've gotten inquiries and work through this site. Sounds great but I know from experience that just because it worked for them doesn't mean it will work for me. There are many X factors - such as timing and luck as well as tastes, trends and the economy. Not to mention the energy level of the illustrator in generating buzz. One small con is that it's a UK* based site -but with the ability to send art as files etc. location does not seem to matter. Yup I've signed on and am keeping my fingers crossed. So without further ado - Here's the link to my HAI portfolio: hireanillustrator.com/i/diana-delosh.
*childrensillustrators.com/DianaTDelosh is also a UK based site - how I know location does not matter.

Bunny Post #15 - Hoppy Dance!

2011-02-17T13:42:00.000-05:00

BUNNIES DANCING © Diana Ting Delosh Ink & Watercolor

Bunnies doing the Hoppy Dance - because Spring is on the way - YAY!
I'm doing a hoppy dance too - as I've actually fulfilled my obligation to post bunnies for 15 days.

Posting bunnies from February 3rd - Feb 17th to celebrate the Chinese New Year 2011. 15 Bunny Posts and that's all folks. Happy 15th day of the Year of the Rabbit. Wishing all Good Luck and Good Fortune for the remainder of the Year.

Be on the look out for these dancing bunnies as they will soon be hopping onto my cards at www.gcuniverse.com/dianascards and other nifty things at www.zazzle.com/deloshdesigns*. I'll probably announce their debut at arthareswares.blogspot.com

Bunny Post #14 -5 Friends

2011-02-16T09:18:00.000-05:00

Hare and her friends are running through a field of wild flowers. They have balloons, plans, carrots, wonder what they're up to. This illustration is available as a giclée print at wingedrabbit.imagekind.com

Posting bunnies from February 3rd - Feb 17th to celebrate the Chinese New Year 2011. 14 Bunny Posts down and just 1 more hopping up. Happy 14th day of the Year of the Rabbit.

Bunny Post #13 & IF: SWEATER!

2011-02-15T08:30:00.004-05:00

BUNNY SWEATER - © Diana Ting Delosh - Ball Point Pen

The SWEATER looked different than how Bunny imagined it would.

Here is my illustration for this weeks illustrationfriday.com prompt - SWEATER and it's also doing double duty as a Bunny Post*.

Sometimes this is how my writing progresses. My story is all mapped out in my brain - concise and elegant prose. It should just flow onto the paper. Then I sit down to actually write and it morphes into bloated, awkward text. Only after much angst and many revisions does it match the original dream.

*Posting bunnies from February 3rd - Feb 17th to celebrate the Chinese New Year 2011. 13 Bunny Posts down and 2 more hopping up. Happy 13th day of the Year of the Rabbit.

Bunny Post #12 - Valentine's Day

2011-02-14T09:28:00.044-05:00

Picnic Hares © Diana Ting Delosh

HOPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

The Picnic Hares design is available as: Valentine, and Anniversary cards at www.gcuniverse.com/dianascards.

Posting bunnies from February 3rd - Feb 17th to celebrate the Chinese New Year 2011. 12 Bunny Posts down and 3 more hopping up. Happy 12th day of the Year of the Rabbit.

Bunny Post #11 - Surprise!

2011-02-13T10:20:00.039-05:00

The Egg Artist © Diana Ting Delosh Ink & Watercolor

Sometimes when you least expect it, your work surprises you.

Bunny Egg Artist design is available as an Easter card in my store, www.gcuniverse.com/dianascards.

Posting bunnies from February 3rd - Feb 17th to celebrate the Chinese New Year 2011. 11 Bunny Posts down and 4 more hopping up. Happy 11th day of the Year of the Rabbit.

Bunny Post #10 - Hare with Laptop

2011-02-12T09:01:00.001-05:00

Hare with Laptop © Diana Ting Delosh Ink & Watercolor
Detail from illustration used on a self promotion postcard announcing my Illustration Website.

I have to make like this hare and get to work on my latest Picture Book dummy venture. Sometimes I draft the whole story first than thumbnail than draft etc. This time around I find I'm doodling, then outlining, than sketching than back to scribbling words. My text isn't ready for me to type up yet but the art is taking shape in a very rough form. Working in a random pattern rather than linear. Not saying one method is better than the other, just that this is how my current project is unfolding.

Posting bunnies from February 3rd - Feb 17th to celebrate the Chinese New Year 2011. 10 Bunny Posts down and 5 more hopping up. Happy 10th day of the Year of the Rabbit.

Bunny Post #9 Baking Bunnies

2011-02-11T14:00:00.001-05:00

Baking Bunnies, ink & watercolor, © Diana Ting Delosh
Kitchen Calamities ensue when this family bakes together.

Currently I'm working on another Picture Book* idea; drafting the story and trying to decide what animal characters to use. The only thing I know for sure is that it will have an animal characters. They will be clothed and there are some cooking/baking scenes and of course baked goods. The question remains what type of animals? Rabbits as in the above illustration? Bears? Cats? Squirrels? Will have to mull this over in my sketch book.

*I'm participating in the #PBdummy challenge over at the KidLitArt blog. Read more about the challenge HERE - scroll down to the 1/4/11 post.

Posting bunnies from February 3rd - Feb 17th to celebrate the Chinese New Year 2011. 9 Bunny Posts down and 6 more hopping up. Happy 9th day of the Year of the Rabbit.

BakingBunnies Art Prints by Diana Delosh - Shop Canvas and Framed Wall Art Prints at Imagekind.com

Bunny Post #8 -UGH!

2011-02-10T09:55:00.002-05:00

UGH © Diana Ting Delosh In & Watercolor

Sometimes things just don't work the way you want them too.

Posting bunnies from February 3rd - Feb 17th to celebrate the Chinese New Year 2011. 8 Bunny Posts down and 7 more hopping up. Happy 8th day of the Year of the Rabbit.

IF: REVERSE & Bunny Post #7

2011-02-09T09:20:00.004-05:00

REVERSE © Diana Ting Delosh Pen sketch

This is a quickie ball point pen sketch for this weeks IllustrationFriday prompt, REVERSE. If you're not going forward, you may be going in reverse. On the otherhand there are many times I wish I could hit REVERSE and UNDO a few OOPS. Here's to moving forward to better times and reversing our misfortunes.

Posting bunnies from February 3rd - Feb 17th to celebrate the Chinese New Year 2011. 7 Bunny Posts down and 8 more hopping up. Happy 7th day of the Year of the Rabbit.

Bunny Post #6 -Yah

2011-02-08T08:50:00.034-05:00

Amy, Crow & Yah - ©Diana Ting Delosh - Ink & Watercolor

Yes - it's a stuffed toy bunny, but it still counts as a bunny. When I was very young my favorite stuffed animal was a yellow bunny that I called Yah. Leap over to my portfolio at http://dianadelosh.com.

Posting bunnies from February 3rd - Feb17th to celebrate the Chinese New Year 2011. 6 Bunny Posts down and 9 more hopping up. Happy 6th day of the Year of the Rabbit.

Bunny Post #5 - Dream Hare

2011-02-07T09:21:00.002-05:00

Dream Hare © Diana Ting Delosh Ink & Watercolor

Hare dreams of growing wings and flying to the moon.

Here's to dreaming big.

Posting bunnies from February 3rd - Feb17th to celebrate the Chinese New Year. 5 Bunny Posts down and 10 more hopping up. Happy 5th day of the Year of the Rabbit.

Dream Hare is available as a New Year, Birthday and Note cards at www.gcuniverse.com/dianascards. You may change the inside greetings of any card to suit your needs.

Bunny Post #4 - Animal Characters

2011-02-06T11:00:00.001-05:00

Mother Hare & Fern Painting in the Garden
© Diana Ting Delosh
Ink & Watercolor

My friends and family frequently appear in my art as animals. I find basing my characters on someone grounds them, makes them distinctive. The costuming of the characters and the subtle gestures, poses bring a character, human or animal to life. My Mother Hare and Fern characters are based on my mom and my daughter, Renee and the overflowing lush setting is my mom's garden. We illustrators set the stage and cast, costume and direct the actors. Our illustrations are the play.

FYI: This illustration is available as an art print MHare & Fern at wingedrabbit.imagekind.com and as Mother Hare & Fern - Note at gcuniverse.com/dianascards.com

4 Bunny Posts down and 11 more hopping up. Posting bunnies from February 3rd - Feb17th. Wishing all a prolific, productive and prosperous Year of the Rabbit.

Bunny Post #3 -Hare or Tortoise

2011-02-05T08:25:00.002-05:00

Tortoise/Hare

ink & watercolor

Slow and steady like the tortoise or fast and in leaps and bounds like the hare? As an artist I'd like to be steady and reliable like the tortoise but create fast and reach new creative heights like the hare.

Happy 3rd day of the Year of the Rabbit. 3 Bunnies posted, 12 more to come. A bunny post a day (from February 3rd to February 17th) for hoppiness in 2011.

Bunny Post #2 -Wormy Apple

2011-02-04T09:04:00.003-05:00

Yuck!

ink & watercolor

This is an illustration from Bunny Apples, my picture book dummy and manuscript that I'm currently shopping around to the publishers. I've got all my fingers and toes crossed for this one. Hop over to my portfolio at dianadelosh.com to see more.

Happy 2nd day of the Year of the Rabbit. 2 Bunnies posted, 13 more to come. A bunny post a day (from February 3rd to February 17th) makes the bad luck go away.

Happy Year of the Rabbit! - let the Bunny Posts begin!

2011-02-03T12:08:00.000-05:00

Robed Hare

Ink & Watercolor

Wishing all a Hoppy, Creative, Prolific and Prosperous 2011!

To Leap into the Year of the Rabbit I'm going to post a Bunny a day for the first two weeks of the Chinese New Year. Starting today Feb 3 - Feb 17th - that's 14 bunnies plus 1 for good luck! Here's Bunny Post #1.

This hare brained idea was cooked up between Me and my illustrator friends, Ginger and Mark . We'll also be posting bunnies on the IllustrationBoard Facebook site. 2 ways to Join in the fun by commenting and sharing a link to your blog's bunny post for me to see and OR Posting your bunny pix on the Illustration Board's FB page.

FYI: this illustration is available:

as a Giclée Print - wingedrabbit.imagekind.com

various Greeting Card Designs: gcuniverse.com/dianascards

on Nifty Stuff: zazzle.com/deloshdesigns*

Happy Groundhog's Day 2011

2011-02-02T17:26:00.002-05:00

Groundhog Awakes!

ink & watercolor

It's been so brutally cold and snowy this winter that I want to believe in the power of groundhogs. According to news reports, Puxatawny Phil did not see his shadow which means spring will come early. YAY! Happy February 2nd -Groundhog's Day!

Tomorrow February 3rd is the start of Chinese New Year, The Year of the Rabbit. To celebrate I'll attempt to post a rabbit illustration a day for the first 2 - weeks of the Chinese New Year. Having 14 bunny illos isn't a problem - after all I am the the Hare - it's the daily posting that may bamboozle me. That and the fact that I'll be on call for jury duty for part of this period. I guess I better plan ahead to post.

Fellow artists: I hope you'll join me by posting your own bunny images on your respective blogs. Let's make it a Hoppy 2011.

Judy Adamson's Art and Design blog: Guest Post by Illustrator/Author Diana Ting Delosh...

2011-01-31T11:47:00.000-05:00

Recently I had the pleasure of being interviewed by my friend and fellow GCU and Zazzle artist, Judy Adamson. Please click on the link below to jump to her blog and read the interview.

Judy Adamson's Art and Design blog: Guest Post by Illustrator/Author Diana Ting Delosh...: "Our guest post this week is an 'email interview' with Diana Ting Delosh, illustrator and author, whose work I have very much admired ever s..."

IF: CHICKEN

2011-01-18T17:08:00.002-05:00

CHICK CHAT

ink & watercolor

Here's my illustration for this week's Illustration Friday prompt - CHICKEN. It's an oldie but it fits and it still makes me smile.

CHICK CHAT is my homage to my days as a production artist in what was then called the stable. I miss the comraderie of those days. I don't miss the insane deadlines but wait as a freelance/independent artist I still encounter insane deadlines. Originally this illustration was a design that I had submitted to several greeting card companies that I freelanced for. They all passed on it - but I still believed in this design. Today you can find it as an Easter card in my store - greetingcarduniverse.com/dianascards

Ta Dah! The Art Hare's Wares Blog Opening.

2011-01-12T17:22:00.001-05:00

Grand opening - my new blog - THE ART HARE'S WARES. This blog will focus on my whimsical and elegant art that is available for purchase in my:
• Card Store at greetingcarduniverse.com/dianascards
• Gift Store at zazzle.com/deloshdesigns*
• Giclée Print Gallery at wingedrabbit.imagekind.com
As well as any other news of my art and writing when they're available in a retail way.

Having this other blog where I can feel free to hawk my wares will allow me to keep the focus in this blog on the creative journey/process. This way I won't be turning off the editor with my hawking and the fan looking to see if they can buy my art as a print won't be bored silly with my post about the submission process or tutorial about making a soft bound dummy or any of my other artsy interests. Different blog posts for different folks.

I'm hoping that having this other blog will help me to ramp up my promotion which will result in increased sales. And if this experiment in art sale promotion works -I'll report it here.

If: RESOLUTIONS!

2011-01-04T15:53:00.001-05:00

Bunny Resolutions

Bunny's Resolutions for 2011 starts with number 1: To be hoppy.

Here is my illustration for IllustrationFriday.

My resolutions for 2011 are a little less simplistic.

I have decided to put the focus back on creating art/writing

and submitting projects/samples on a regular basis. Of course - I still have to continue to tweak, network and all that stuff.

Here's wishing all a very

Happy

Creative

Productive

and Prosperous

2011!

Illustration Friday: Winter!

2010-12-30T12:05:00.000-05:00

SNOWMAN

Ink & Watercolor

Br-r-r-r it's cold and blustery outside. Even the snowman is wearing a hat and scarf. Here's my entry for this weeks Illustration Friday prompt - Winter. Please visit my website.

I'm staying indoors away from all this wintry weather, making a list of things I want to try or do in 2011. One thing on the list is to post weekly if not more frequently on this blog. Another is to create more.

NOEL!

2010-12-21T15:18:00.000-05:00

Noel

Ink & Watercolor

Christmas Card

Just wanted to wish all a very Merry Christmas before I got tripped up by my own holiday preparations!

Illustration Friday: MAIL!

2010-12-17T14:16:00.001-05:00

Post Office

Ink & Watercolor

Here's my illustration for this week's IF prompt: MAIL.

It's a busy day at the Greenhaven Post office. The clerks are doing their best but despite there best efforts there's quite a line forming. Can you spot my alter ego with an arm load of proposals and art samples to mail off to the publishers?

Speaking of Mail, I better get cracking on my Christmas Cards or they'll be late!

Seasons Greetings to All!

YAY - I completed PiBoIdMo!

2010-12-02T10:36:00.000-05:00

Yay I'm a PiBoIdMo 2010 winner and I can proudly display my badge for all to see. I came up with 31 Picture book ideas in November. The last one came to me right before the stroke of midnight on November 30th - but it's still right in there. Now I have to admit it was a bit of touch and go where I wasn't sure if I'd hang in as November was an extremely hectic month for me. Which is why I'm so happy to announce that I tried it and completed the challenge!

Interestingly some of my picture book ideas are things I'd want to research and write about but may not want to illustrate myself and there are of course a few that are based on characters I've doodled or are spin offs of my latest PB dummy and manuscript. I'm also happy that I jotted them down on index cards as now I can sort them by type: fiction, concept, non-fiction and further categorize them by whether I want to illustrate them or just write the manuscript. Hopefully all of this sorting will help me decide which will be my next project.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2010-11-25T08:18:00.001-05:00

Turkey or Bald Eagle?

Bic® Pen sketch

Here's some food for thought. Did you know that Benjamin Franklin wanted the wild turkey to be the national bird? Which would you have voted for: Turkey or Eagle? Did you know that the magnificent Bald eagle was once considered vermin?

Wishing all a gobbling good Happy Thanksgiving!

Illustration Friday: SNEAKY!

2010-11-19T14:54:00.001-05:00

Groundhog Escapes!

© Diana Ting Delosh - ink & watercolor

Here's my illustrations for this week's Illustration Friday prompt - SNEAKY!

Groundhog A.K.A. Puxatawny Phil is Sneaking out his window while his friends are at his front door. SNEAKY Groundhog. Rather than hibernating this winter he's planning on vacationing somewhere tropical. Where do you think he's off to? Where would you go if you were a groundhog? Why does he have to sneak away from his friends?

Hmm - this sounds like an idea for PiBoIdMo (30 Picture book ideas in 30 days in November) - here's my #17 out of 30. To find out more about PiBoIdMo you can click on the PiBoIdMo Badge in the righthand column or read my previous post by clicking here.

FYI - Groundhog Escapes is available as a Giclee Print, Groundhog's Day Card and a Note Card.

30 Picture Book Ideas in 30 Days!

2010-11-12T16:56:00.000-05:00

Came across this neat exercise via twitter and Yup - I've signed up to do PiBoIdMo - which stands for Picture Book Idea Month. The concept is to come up with 30 PB ideas in 30 days during the month of November. I've decided to use portable, handy index cards. 1 idea per card. Small enough so I won't feel threatened but big enough to put more thoughts if needed. They can be filled out whenever/wherever my muse strikes. Which I've discovered is not as easy to coax out. So what Have I discovered to date from this exercise.

• Nothing get's done no matter how small unless you make time for it.

• I need to be unplugged from my computer and all things E - clear my mind and be quiet. And only then will I get an inkling of any idea.

• It's not as easy as I thought it would be. I find that I'm flipping through my cards to make sure I'm not repeating myself.

• I seem to have an easier time with my concept ideas than pure fiction ideas. With the fiction I mostly just have a premise where with most of the concept ideas I have an actual beginning, middle and end.

• Some ideas are very promising and others are amazingly blah... but I'm not going to throw out any cards until after November 30th!

• It's a lot of fun putting down the ideas on index cards.

So far I'm on target with 12 ideas in 12 days. At anyrate I figure it'll put me in a good position to have a new book dummy for my CBIG Review 2011. Next year my goal is to have my dummy done in time without loosing any sleep over it!

Happy Howling Halloween!

2010-10-31T09:18:00.003-04:00

Wolfman and Wolfie

Med Point Bic® Pen Sketch

Wishing all a Howling Good Halloween!

FREE Dragon Picnic Coloring Page

2010-10-27T21:00:00.001-04:00

Dragon Picnic Coloring Page
© Diana Ting Delosh
Ink

This is my Coloring page activity art version of my Dragon Picnic art just for your amusement. Just Click on the image to enlarge and Print. Please note you have my permission to print it out for your personal or classroom use as long as you keep my copyright and URL info on the page. The purpose is to spread the word about my work as an artist/illustrator. You may not profit from this piece. Please do not abuse this offer.
The Dragons and Magic CBIG Exhibition at the Jefferson Market Library in NYC (Avenue of the Americas near 10th St.) will end on Friday, October 29, 2010. The illustration exhibit featured art created by 18 CBIG members inspired by the children's books, The Reluctant Dragon by Kenneth Grahame and The Magic City by E. Nesbit.

If you're in the neighborhood please come by and enjoy the show. The framed originals are upstairs in the adult section on top of the book shelves. Look up and all around. You'll also find the kid friendly display in the Kid's Room - dupes of the art mounted on foam core.

Please see cbig-nyc.blogspot.com - look for posts titled/labeled Dragons and Magic during the September & October 2010. My Dragon Picnic is 1 of 18 illustrations in this group exhibit.

Illustration Friday: SPOOKY!

2010-10-21T12:38:00.001-04:00

The Corpse Bride, Ball Point Pen © Diana Ting Delosh

Here comes the corpse bride all dressed in spider web white. Here's my SPO-O-O-OOKY sketch illustration entry for this week's illustrationfriday.com prompt. Another not my usual style illos - but just having fun in my sketch book.

I find doodling things that you're not known or typecast for a good way to break out of a creative rut.

To see what I'm known for go to:

dianadelosh.com

childrensillustrators.com/DianaTDelosh

REJECTION! - A few Antidotes

2010-10-15T16:55:00.000-04:00

Rejection is not something I like to deal with but as an illustrator/writer it is an unfortunate part of life. I have to admit that while it still hurts I have learned to not take it too personally. Sure I still sulk and OD on chocolate but after a bit I brush my ego off and am back in the game. After all the only way to avoid Rejection is to take yourself out of the game and that is not an option unless you're retiring. Here are a few of my antidotes in random order. If you are an illustrator or writer please feel free to comment on how you have dealt with rejection. Let's learn from each other.

1 - Submit more stuff pronto. Yup, sounds counterintuitive but this actually works. You don't have to submit the project that just got rejected right out -but submit something, anything ASAP. Everyone of your submissions represents hope. If you have a lot of submissions floating around out there it's more likely that something will come back accepted. Don't put all your dreams into one project submitted to only one company.

2 - Work on a new idea - even better fall in love with your new project. Keeps your mind on something positive and moving forward.

3. Focus on the process not the result. Make it into a game. Right now I'm challenging myself to submit something weekly. It can be an art sample pack, a poem to a kid's magazine or a Picture book dummy /manuscript proposal, whatever. The weekly question of "Who am I submitting to and what" keeps me moving and the checking off - "Yay, I did it" helps give me a mental boost. It also makes me realize that I need to create more things so it's easier to to submit weekly. Another challenge to try is: Submit 10 different projects to 10 different places in 10 weeks.

4. Plan for rejection. When you submit a project have a plan B. Research who else maybe interested in your project and have their info ready just incase you need it.

5. Accept it when they say the style doesn't suit their needs at the moment. They didn't say you are a terrible person. They just were not into your work. Move on. Someone else may love your style.

6. Wallow in the Rejection. When all else fails OD on the chocolates and hide under the blankets just set a time limit -an hour, a day or even 2. Allow yourself to feel sorry for yourself and your project, even shed a few tears - you're human - just remember to get back on track, ASAP.

7. Learn from your mistakes. Take a cold hard look at your proposal. Is there room for improvement? Revise, fix as needed and send it out to your plan B.

8. Work on your craft. One day, you may be pleasantly horrified by some of your earlier rejected projects and agree with the editors.

9. Diversify. Learn new things. Keeps life interesting. Your writing may be selling at the moment but your illustration may not, but at least something is getting a positive response. This also allows you to submit to different markets.

10. Adapt. There maybe nothing wrong with your project. It could be something you can't help like the economy or the market. Be willing to repurpose your art. So the picture book market is down maybe adapt the story for an early reader or chapter book Or try working on art for an older market.

It should also be noted that in this day and age where many companies are no longer responding to submissions unless they are interested, a rejection at least is a concrete response. I personally find the lack of response more unnerving than a definite yay or nay.

Illustration Friday: TRANSPORTATION!

2010-10-12T13:00:00.000-04:00

Here's my illustration for this weeks Illustration Friday prompt: Transportation.

It's a piece I had created for a client almost a year ago. It's different from my usual subject and it just goes to show that you never know where a job can transport you stylistically or subject wise. It's always good to stretch your boundaries and reach beyond your comfort zone.

Visit dianadelosh.com to find out more.

visit IllustrationFriday to join in on the weekly fun.

Illustration Friday: Proverb

2010-09-16T13:02:00.001-04:00

Moi Fall Postcard © Diana Ting Delosh

A Picture is worth a thousand words.

I wasn't quite sure how to handle this weeks Illustration Friday prompt hence why it's almost friday and here I'm posting at the last moment. I mean sure a proverb but there are so-o-o many? Finally decided that as an illustrator the above proverb was quite fitting. Here's my entry, a girl drawing a picture of her cat.

This IF post is a doing double duty as it is also going to be my Fall 2010 promo postcard. I wanted to use 1 of my recent people illos for the image as the last few postcards were all about my animals. I've been hemming & hawing between this one and another in my portfolio, Boy & his Wolf. Wasn't sure about using this image for fall - thought it looked too summery. However earlier this week, while running errands, I noticed that all the garden shops were carrying fall blooming daisies. So I'm having daisies for fall too. Did I mention that I'm partial to this one? Now the front of the postcard is done. Think I'll just use my stock back - return address and all my contact info. Now I just have to wait for my check that's in the mail or a good sale at Vistaprint.com to turn this into postcards.

If only the proverb was A picture is worth a lot of moolah!

Illustration Friday: Dessert!

2010-09-03T14:43:00.000-04:00

Yummies!

Ink & Waterolor

Come and get it! Here's my illos for this week's Illustration Friday Prompt.

M-m-m-m-m yummy dessert. I just love dessert.

For more yummy art please visit my website.

Have a yummy Labor Day weekend!

Dragon on my Back

2010-08-25T14:41:00.002-04:00

DRAGON PICNIC

Whew finally got this dragon off my back and onto the paper. This illustration started out as a fun project but due to too many interruption, it just dragged on. So now it's finished and I'm not sure what to think of it. I'm happy enough with it to add it to my portfolio. I'm also glad that I have something to show for my efforts as this is my entry for the upcoming CBIG group exhibit; Dragon & Magic, art inspired by the books, The Reluctant Dragon by Kenneth Grahame or The Magic City by E. Nesbit.

Needless to say my choice was The Reluctant Dragon. Really enjoyed the story about a peaceable poet of a dragon and the boy who befriends him. In this scene Dragon recites his latest poem to the boy as they snack on cheese and berries.

Do I love it? Don't know - I'm just so glad it's finished and I can now move on to what's next on my list.

More on the exhibit in a future post.

Illustration Friday: Star Gazing!

2010-08-18T11:15:00.000-04:00

New Moon & Stars

Ink & Watercolor

Here's my illos for this weeks IF prompt: Star Gazing. The new moon surrounded by swirling stars.

I had originally created this illustration for my card store as a Ramadan card. It's interesting that the Muslim holidays revolve around the new moon while the Asian holidays revolve around the full moon. Either way the ever changing glorious night sky is always a source for inspiration.

Friday the 13th!

2010-08-13T14:11:00.000-04:00

Black Cat Friday the 13th
© Diana Ting Delosh
Ink & Watercolor

Blackie the feisty black kitty says
HOWDY and HAVE A
HAPPY & LUCKY FRIDAY THE 13TH!

This card and 700+ more of my whimsical card designs may be seen at www.GCUniverse.com/dianascards

Celebrating my 3rd Anniversary at GCU!
SPECIAL OFFER
Free Shipping when you order 20 cards or more
- use code AUGSHIP20 - ends August 18th. (U.S. only)

Illustration Portfolio at: DianaDelosh.com

Illustration Friday: Double!

2010-07-23T13:11:00.000-04:00

Twin Doves

Ink, Watercolor & Photoshop

Art is available on cards at www.gcuniverse.com/dianascards

See my portfolio at dianadelosh.com

Mirror image twin doves. Yup -you're seeing doubles. Here's my entry for this weeks IF prompt: DOUBLE.

On the subject of doubles, I have met my doppleganger. She works at my local super market and looks like a younger version of me. What's too coincidental is that instead of Diana her name is Diane!

Golden Mosque - Sketch to Card Art

2010-07-22T12:39:00.003-04:00

Golden Mosque

Ink & Watercolor

GCUniverse.com/dianascards

Wingedrabbit.imagekind.com

Non-mainstream holidays are a big seller at my online store Diana's Cards. Most likely because the brick and mortar stores have very little selection if any for the non Judeo Christian holidays. So it was a no-brainer for me to do a new illustration for the upcoming Muslim holidays. Here's my approach for the subject. As the upcoming holidays are religious I decided to do a mosque as the focus of my design.

What better mosque to be inspired by then the famous Golden Mosque of Jerusalem. Did a Google search and did this rough sketch from the image references on tracing paper. I wanted to use the reference as a jumping point, an inspiration not a true depiction of that famed building - so no print outs for reference.

This reference sketch was actually done awhile ago and just put aside until I had time to work on this project. Finally yesterday, with Ramadan coming up fast in August - it was time to push this illo out now. Amazing how time creeps up on you and how that ticking mental clock can be a great motivator.

The art process begins in earnest:

Step 1 - Resize sketch and transfer onto watercolor paper via my light box. Decide that it's not balanced. Too heavy on the right, needs something more on the left. I add buildings to the sketch, erase it. Sketch in more trees - it's ok -but not inspired. Remember that there is actually a newly built mosque right around the corner from me. It is a rather plain structure accept for the rounded pink scallops on the top of the building. Fills in the empty spot nicely.

Step 2 - Go to ink - I use double 0 and triple 0 rapidiograph pens filled with waterproof ink for my line work. Use the 00 pen for the foreground and 000 for backgound and detail, texture. This goes smoothly and I scan the line art in case I screw up in the next step.

Step 3 - Coloring.The painting is pretty straight forward. Take a step back and realize that the pink in the back building is too bright and makes it pop out too much. Change it to purple. Also decide it's too plain and add more lines for texture. Last a moody night sky is added in and stars are painted in white gouache. I like that the white can be more opaque or translucent, gives more depth to the stars and the the night sky. I could've dropped in the sky with Photoshop but I like the effect of mixing the black, blue and purple directly on the paper. Art is finished.

Final Final Step - Scan and clean up in photoshop and make into product. I did say this was for my card store - yup it's loaded and submitted as 3 designs for 3 different categories and in about a week it will be ok'd and available for purchase. Maybe this design's too late for Ramadan 2010 but there's still Al Fitr in September and Al Adha in early winter. While we're at it - might as well make it available as a print. So better late then never.

IF: BREAKFAST!

2010-07-20T12:44:00.000-04:00

Cat Family

Ink & Watercolor

Breakfast with the cat family. Poppa Cat and Bart are sitting down to a nice bowl of crunchy cereal. Momma is tending to baby. What is Clarisse up to? Don't they notice that she's sneaking off?

This is my entry for this week's Illustration Fridays prompt - Breakfast.

To see more of my work at DianaDelosh.com

ARG-G-G-G-G! They STole my Art !

2010-06-30T14:32:00.002-04:00

Just received an alert form a fellow artist that they noticed while they were browsing Etsey what appeared to be my art and gave me the url.
http://www.etsy.com/listing/43083094/original-watercolor-painting-the-bear

And low and behold it is my art! And they're claiming it as their own handmade art!!!!! and are making $ selling it on Etsey!!! WAH-h-h-h-h! I'm so-o-o angry I feel ill.

So I report it as not their handmade art and e-mail the store to please take down now. First I had to join Etsey to report the store. Crazy- huh? Then I posted & vented my grievance on Facebook and Twitter to alert my fellow artists about this offending store.

Have just received a form letter from Etsey for how I can claim to be the rightful creator of said piece. It is a 2 page document. I hate paperwork but need to deal with this.

Anyway if you're an artist check out the above Etsey store to see if they're stealing your art. Let's close down the offending store!

Will keep you informed on if I get satisfaction and how fast my art is removed. This is day 1.

After much activity on Twitter and all, the Etsy store is now down. Only took a few hours. Not sure if Etsy took it down or the store owner closed shop.

More details in a future blog.

IF: PAISLEY

2010-06-23T22:59:00.000-04:00

Groundhog Awakes!

Ink & Watercolor

Website • Diana's Cards

Groundhog loves to lounge in his daisy paisley trimmed robe. Here's my illustration for this week's Illustration Friday prompt. Wish I had a Daisy Paisley trimmed robe.

THANK YOU!

2010-06-22T11:04:00.000-04:00

YAY! My Ripple Art Card, #581 CALL OF THE PELICAN, Sold! It makes me so happy that my art was picked by someone as their gift for donating to help save the animals from the BP/Gulf Oil Leak Disaster.

Now for the Icing on the cake - someone just requested that I do another Call of the Pelican as they would like it also. Ah-h-h to bask in the warm glow of appreciation while doing my part to help. So yes I will do a Call of the Pelican 2. It will be similar but due to the spontaneity of my watercolor medium it will not be an exact dupe. I hope to have it finished by the end of this week.

Please see http://ripplesketches.blogspot.com/ for more info on the project.

CALL OF THE PELICAN

Ink & Watercolor Sketch art- 2.5 x 3.5"

Illo 2 - A Boy & His Wolf

2010-06-18T14:44:00.244-04:00

A BOY & HIS WOLF

Ink & Watercolor

Well here it is Illo #2* - now this piece was a long time coming. Too many interuptions, obstacles both personal and professional -but here it is finally and I'm fairly happy with the finish.

I wanted to work on Book Jacket type art. Several art buyers have looked over my portfolio and have stated that I should add more full color Jacket and B & W interior art for middle grade/YA books to my portfolio. Why - because midgrade/YA books are big sellers and the picture book market is slow right now. I should add that doing so has been on my to do list for awhile but it's the 12 Week Challenge that's galvinized this thought into concrete action.

The idea/assignment - Bk jacket art - I decided to redo an old piece that's been languishing in my flat files. There are somethings about it that I still like: the wolf and the dreamy forest. As for the rest - it's over wrought/overdone and what's with the boy's outfit?

Decided to loose the heavy distracting border, whale , eagle, etc. Stared at a lot of book jackets and noted that most titles were on the top third.

Used photoshop to isolate and enlarge what I wanted to keep in my new illo. Pencil now shows boy & wolf fills the jacket bottom two thirds. Note also that the boy is wearing a contemporary sweat jacket. Research and find good reference for clothes, wolf, boys haircuts etc.

After the pencil, comes the inking and finally we're in the last stages - the coloring. As usual I lay in my color. Work on the boy - paint in the wolf - now with more detail and depth then my older version. Paint in the background.

Here is where it went awry. In the new version I put in a big tree in the mid ground. The tree top is where I envision the type. BUT I end up hating the tree top! Would probably look fine with type but as it stood - I just wasn't happy. I am happy with the boy and I love the wolf. Now what? Feed my trash monster? Banish it to my flatfile? What? As this is watercolor, a transparent media, I can't just paint over the offending parts. I can paint the background on another piece of paper and splice it in via photoshop. OK that's a thought but wait this is a personal piece and there is no real size for me to stick to just as there is no deadline or client. There is only me to please. So what's my solution? Crop it! Yay! and I even like it now.

Yes, yes one day I'll paint dreamy forests and splice in with photoshop but that can wait. Now I hear illo 3, Sandcastle Summer, calling me as well as Ripple Sketches and gazillion other things to do. Illo 4, 5, 6 will be randomly: The Reluctant Dragon, black & white, and TBD.

*Refers to the Zero2illo 12 week challenge. Weeks 4 - 6: create 6 portfolio worthy illustrations. My personal challenge - create 6 people illos as my website is underpopulated with people.

IF: RIPPLE

2010-06-17T17:09:00.001-04:00

CALL OF THE PELICAN

Ink & Watercolor Sketch art- 2.5 x 3.5"

I usually think of Pelicans as large lovable, even comical birds to see these beautiful birds covered in black goo on TV because of the BP Oil Disaster is so-o-o-o tragic.

Here's my entry for this weeks IF prompt: RIPPLE.

This is also my art donation for the Ripple Project - helping to raise funds to save the wildlife effected by the deadly BP/Gulf oil leak disaster. Here's hoping that all our combined efforts will make a few ripples add up to a tsunami of good.

My original ink and watercolor may be yours as gift for donating $10 to either 2 nonprofits, The Institute for Marine Mammal Studies or The International Bird Rescue Research Center. Please see http://Ripplesketches.blogspot.com for details on how to "purchase" and to see other art available for a $10 donation.

MY New ZAZZLE Store!

2010-06-10T16:45:00.007-04:00

Cymbidium Blossom

Ink & Watercolor

Just opened a store on Zazzle.com, http://www.zazzle.com/deloshdesigns* for fun and hopefully profit! Now my whimsical and elegant illustrations will be available on a variety of products.
My Cymbidium Blossom motif is my debut image in this venture.

See Cymbidium Blossom motif on:
• MUG
• T-SHIRTS and assorted TOPS, Infants to adult sizes:
• Just in time for Father's Day TIES
• APRONS
• HOODIES
• TOTE BAGS

To celebrate this new venture -
all items are currently set at a special introductory price.
Promotional pricing will be in effect for about a month or until I have 4 motifs up
(which ever happens first)

THANKS FOR LOOKING!

IF: TRAIL

2010-06-08T17:17:00.001-04:00

Violet Mouse reads her seed pack so voraciously that she doesn't notice the trail of seeds falling out of the package. Here's my entry for this weeks Illustration Friday prompt, TRAIL.

Here's wishing everyone Happy Trails this summer.

See more of my art at http://dianadelosh.com

IF: SLITHER!

2010-06-01T14:43:00.000-04:00

Snake Runner

Ink

The Boy fantasized that the carpet pattern was made of snakes and before he had reached the end of the runner his daydream had slithered to life. Here's my entry for Illustration Friday's prompt: Slither.

Can't believe it's already June! I have to remember to stay focused on my goals or my dreams will slither away.

Now Hanging at the One of Us Exhibit.

2010-05-28T13:05:00.001-04:00

My ink & watercolor, Moi at 9, hanging at the One of Us Exhibit at Book Culture, sponsored by Tilbury House. Unfortunately, I was unable to attend the Book Launch party last Monday night, May 24, but my friends did. PatriciaKeeler took this photo for me (Thanks!). Marilyn Pappas reported that there was a good crowd and some people took pictures of my piece. Of course they could've been taking pictures of the art surrounding it but we'll be optimistic.

At any rate, I'll find out soon enough if it sold (for charity) as Tilbury will return my original via my SASE if it didn't. Wonder if it garnered me any notice in the publishing community (I can hope). So was it worth doing even if I couldn't attend and schmooze in person? Yes, if only because it got me to sit my butt in front of my desk, with subject, deadline, size (almost like a real assignment) to create a nice portfolio piece. A people one at that! I now have 32 animals to 12 people illos in my portfolio. More people coming up soon.

For a close up of Moi at 9 art.
To see my friend's art.
For scenes of the book launch party visit the CBIG Blogzine

IF: EARLY!

2010-05-27T14:09:00.001-04:00

Turtle Pond

Ink & Watercolor

This image is available as a Giclée print.

Early one morning at the pond, Bird wishes Turtle a good morning. Here's my entry for this weeks Illustration Friday prompt: EARLY.

Not sure if Bird is early enough to catch any worms. I, on the other hand, have so many things I want to do that I better get up earlier... or stay up later.

IF: Equipment

2010-05-19T15:05:00.002-04:00

Baking Bunnies

Ink & Watercolor

The Baker Bunnies are very low tech when it comes to their baking equipment but check out their nifty carrot grater. Here' my post for Illustration Friday weekly prompt.

For more examples of my art click HERE.

One Of Us Exhibit

2010-05-12T22:37:00.003-04:00

Moi at 9

Ink & Watercolor

Here's my original 6 x 4 postcard sized art for the One of Us Exhibit. A romanticized self portrait of myself at 9 doing one of my favorite activities: drawing in the garden with my cat, Gracie beside me.

Location: Book Culture (536 West 112th Street, NYC, USA)
Date: May 24 - 28, 2010.
The show: Original post card sized art, 6 x 4" by female illustrators. The assignment: a self-portrait - at any age, any media, any style, but must be 2D. The exhibit is sponsored by Tilbury House, Publishers. The launch party is on Monday, May 24th (the night before BookExpo), beginning at 6pm at Book Culture. The exhibit will remain up at Book Culture through the end of the week. Art will be for sale to benefit Powered by Girl.

Not sure if I'll be able to make the opening - so if you go - have fun - take pictures - and look for my painting.

12 Week Challenge - Illo #1

2010-05-08T00:17:00.017-04:00

Illo #1 - MOI at 9

FYI: see Zero2Illo.com for more info about the 12 Week Challenge.

My process? It begins with the assignment. In this case the assignment is illo-1 (6 people illustrations). As I also needed to create original art for the One of Us Exhibit (more about this later) - self-portrait, any medium, must be flat and 4" x 6". No problem -fits my 6 people illos parameters. Illo #1 would be me at 9. When I was 9, I loved to draw in the garden with my cat, Gracie beside me. I begin by doodling layout ideas in my sketchbook.

Once I've settled on a layout I rule out my paper and start penciling on tracing paper to size.

I use my lightbox to transfer the sketch to watercolor paper and refine the pencil sketch some more before I begin inking. When I've finished theink I scan it - just in case something goes wrong in the coloring step.

Before I begin to paint I tape the paper to my desk on all 4 sides to prevent my paper from warping. I like to start with my trouble spots like the girls face. There is not a lot of room for error in water color so I want to get past my tricky spots in the beginning. I put in all the shadows using either a bluish gray tone or a warmer brown tone -depends on what color goes on top. And then I keep painting - being careful to let areas dry so nothing bleeds or fuzzes unless that's the desired effect. When I think it's finished -I walk a way -take a breather and then comeback. Look it over and decide if I need to do any overpainting to adjust the color. For this piece I decided that the grass was too yellow & pale so I put a bluer green wash on the grass area. I wait until the piece is fully dry and then cut it off my desk. Scan - TahDah - here it is!

Moi at 9

Ink & Watercolor

Whew -1 down and 5 more people illos coming. Number 2 coming right up.

12 Week Challenge - Wk 1, 2, 3,

2010-05-07T23:23:00.002-04:00

Found this neat Illustrations challenge at Zero2illo.com via Twitter! Basically the challenge is to take 12 weeks to make your illustration dreams come true. Unfortunately this Challenge began before I discovered it, so I'm jumping in somewhere in the middle. I'm fast forwarding through wks 1 - 3. May fill in with more details at a latter date -- or not.

WK 1 - ID your Dream Goal.

Easy -Children's Book illustrator! The broader picture to make a good living as an illustrator specializing in whimsical & decorative art.

WK 2 - Create a 1 page Strtegic Biz plan for my Project/art biz career

OGSM -Objective/Goals/Strategy/measures

WK 3 - The Biz

• Decide Biz structure: Solo player -Moi!

• Marketing Strategy:

- My audience? Art Dir, Editors, professional Art Buyers.

- My end users? Adults that buy kids books, products

1) Research where/what my art will be best received. Won't post my list of 10 companies here. Suffice to say that they will be trade pubs, Kids magazine, etc.

2) Plan 6 Portfolio Pieces to create for weeks 4, 5, 6. That's 6 illustrations "due" by Sunday May 23rd -that is if I'm to stick with the framework of the 12 week challenge.

I need to have more people pieces in my portfolio - show kids ages pre-school to YA. I've been telling myself that I need to add more people to my portfolio and here's my chance. 1 or 2 of my 6 illos will be a book jacket style art and another illo or 2 will be b& w interior style art. 6 People Illos coming up!

Well here goes. Wish me luck!

IF: AHEAD!

2010-04-28T14:29:00.004-04:00

Bear Walks in the Woods

Ink & Watercolor

Bunny noticed that when Bear walked in the woods he looked straight ahead. He did not look side to side or behind him . That's because , thought Bunny, He's a bear. And bears don't have to worry about anyone sneaking up on them. They can just march forward. This is my post for this weeks Illustration Friday prompt: AHEAD.

I'd like to be more like Bear. Confidant, looking ahead, going forward. So what's coming up? My HBF Library Show has been extended by popular demand until the end of May. In June, I'll be trying something new as a directed study advisor to 2 grad students. Advising them as an Animal Watercolor expert (AWE). Aside from that - I'm sending out the final balance of my sunflower friends Promo postcards. Always on the prowl for the next assignnment.

To see more of Bear and other animals - see Animals on my website at DianaDelosh.com.

IF: DETECTIVE

2010-04-22T16:34:00.003-04:00

Audrey Hepcat

Ink & Watercolor

Audrey Hepcat, is the glamour puss and the brains. Her partner, Cary Gruff is the top dog and the brawn. Together they make up the detective duo of Hepcat & Gruff.

Here's a character sketch for a mystery story I'm working on. I still have a ways to go on the writing. But here is Audrey Hepcat fleshed out. She's chic, sleek and stylish. The absolute cat's meow.

Here's my entry for this weeks IF prompt: Detective.

IF: DIP!

2010-04-08T11:23:00.004-04:00

Boy's Koi Pond

Diana Ting Delosh

ink & Watercolor

The boy and his Koi are good friends. All he had to do was dip his finger in the pond and all the koi would come and play with him. Here's my entry for this weeks IF prompt: DIP. Better late then never - right?

HBF Library Show - March Report.

2010-04-05T13:25:00.004-04:00

Tah-Dah! The first month of my Harborfields Library Spring Illustration show has come and gone. So how is it going you may ask? Unfortunately I have no earth shattering news to report. My postman did congratulate me on my library show, as did my banker and other community members -which is very nice. Having the illustration exhibit did raise local awareness.

According to the Google Analytics on my website - my website had a 79.59% increase in traffic! The tracker compared the period between Feb2 - March 4, 2010 to March 5 to April 4, 2010. This is quite impressive. While there were many other factors that could have accounted for the increase. For example: Childrensillustrators.com at the Bologna Book fair in mid-March, joining Twitter March 22, other social networking activities, etc. I can only attribute the big uptick in Direct Traffic to the Library show. Which is lovely.

Other than the increase in website traffic there were no other obvious occurrences to report. Unfortunately the trackers on my POD stores only tell me how many viewers/clicks and the sales reports just tell me the general location - state and or country. So I have no idea if this helped my art shops in any form or shape.

The show will be up until April 3oth. Hopefully it will continue to point more traffic to my website, card shop and gallery and all the possibilities that can lead to.

Spring 2010 Postcard

2010-03-30T13:20:00.006-04:00

Sunflower Friends Spring 2010 Postcard Design

(my real e-mail and phone number is on the card - just removed them for purpose of showing the design on the blog)

Ink and watercolor

This is my spring 2010 self-promotion postcard. The hardest thing is deciding what to pick as your postcard image. Originally I had wanted to do a totally new image for the card - maybe a fantasy image - or bunnies for Easter etc. However my mind kept turning back to this piece in my portfolio... so Sunflower Friends it is. Just as well as I need to get these cards mailed before the postal rates go up in May. Not sure if the postcard stamps are affected but it's better to err on the safe side.

Just heard from Vistaprint that they've been shipped and I should get them soon. Already bought the stamps. Last year, the post office had run out of postcards stamps in April so this year I bought them early. Now I just need to update my mailing list, print out the labels and I'll be ready to get them out before the Mother's day deadline!

Other news - My blog article, Why an Artist Should Have a Blog, is posted on Greeting Card Designer as part of Kate Harper's Social Media in March series. Please Hop over and read. In fact browse through her blog it's full of useful info for all types of artists/illustrators.

2010-03-22T13:54:00.004-04:00

ADVOCACY ALERT

The Obama Administration is asking creators to send in their stories on how
intellectual property infringement affects our ability to earn a living,
and hurts the US economy.

Victoria Espinel has been appointed and confirmed as the first U.S.
Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator. She has put a call out for input on
the costs and risks of copyright infringement. As she states in her blog,
"My job is to help protect the ideas and creativity of the American public...
I believe it is enormously important that the United States remain a global
leader in these forms of innovation -- and part of how we do that is by
appropriately protecting our intellectual property. Our intellectual property
represents the hard work, creativity, resourcefulness, investment and
ingenuity of the American public."

Click here to read the full posting.

PLEASE SEND IN YOUR COMMENTS.
Please share your experiences on how intellectual property rights are
important to you and your business, and how you've been negatively impacted by
copyright infringement.

• Email the White House at intellectualproperty@omb.eop.gov. Be
sure to include your name, location, and occupation. Remember that all
comments will be posted publicly on the White House website, so don't include any
information which you don't want broadcast.
• Forward this email to your friends and colleagues, and
encourage them to send in their stories of copyright infringement!
• Broadcast this call for comments on any social networking site
you participate on: Twitter, Facebook, etc. You can retweet the Guild's
Twitter post.

THE DEADLINE IS MARCH 24, SO PLEASE RESPOND BY THEN!

To read the PDF or for comments, click here.

Graphic Artists Guild
http://www.graphicartistsguild.org

IF: EXPIRED!

2010-03-19T17:03:00.005-04:00

Black Bic Pen

Someone should tell the Corpse Bride that she's passed on, Dead, EXPIRED! Here's my image for this weeks Illustration Friday Prompt.

Last October I experimented with drawing outside my usual cute, whimsical, illustration mindset. This is one of my doodles from that period. I had a lot of fun while vacationing away from my style and came out of it feeling refreshed and I'd like to think better than ever. It helped to expand my parameters. Draw like someone else for fun - try it if you're in a creative rut and your usual block busting techniques are not working.

13 Whimsical Spring Illustration Exhibit

2010-03-12T10:50:00.006-05:00

My illustration exhibit at the Harborfields Library.

See previous posts starting March 5, 2010.

Thought I'd attempt to share the experience of seeing the show live. Imagine these 2 photos side by side. Beginning on the left with Frog and Castle illustrations going all the way across the long wall to the Big Bear. Click on the photos for a slightly larger view.

The exhibit will be up until April 30. 7 more weeks to go.

For a more detailed look at the individual illustrations please visit either http://dianadelosh.com and or www.childrensillustrators.com/DianaTDelosh.

HBF Library Show Postcard

2010-03-10T12:02:00.010-05:00

Self-Promo Postcard for the general public

Just received the Postcards I created for the HBF Exhibit (see previous post) that I ordered from Vistaprint about 12 days ago. I should have used the 7 day delivery option but I had to be a wise guy. Previously I had used the slow deliver, cheapest option and always received my order within a week. Why pay extra for 7 days if I don't have to - right? Ta-dah... because.. when you most need it in 7 days - they change their delivery methods. Anyhow it's here now. Not too bad. It could've been March 21st which is the original slow delivery date. While it would have been nice to have all my handouts out at once - it's not crucial. I do have an art list flyer with all my website, GCU and IK URLs out and I have also designed a few bookmarks.

Did consider having a "Guest sign in/comment" book until I looked at the featured artist's "book" in the main gallery - I was surprised to see negative comments!?! sprinkled throughout and very few - e-mails - which is the purpose of a guest book. The negative, snarky comments were a bit of a shocker after all who needs that! Incidentally I liked her images. So no guest book for me.

So far my out-of-pocket expenses for this promotion experiment has been the cost of 3 pre-cut mats, 11 frames/hanging wire and 250 Postcards. Luckily I had some hanging wire and enough white mat boards to cut out 9 mats. Thankfully the library is taking care of the art list and bookmarks.

Now I'm off to drop-off my postcards - about 30 should be fine to start with and I'll check back weekly to see if they need to be replenished.

Now Showing at the HBF Library!

2010-03-05T15:00:00.007-05:00

Clip from the Harborfields Public Library March 2010 newsletter.

13 of my Spring themed illustrations are now hanging in the children's room gallery at the Harborfields Public Library. They will be on exhibit from March 5 - April 30th - so if you're in the Greenlawn, NY area drop in and take a peek.

Just installed this morning and I must say they look pretty good - hanging up in their white mats and thin black frames. We started installing at 9:30 am and finished before things got too busy at the library. I'm glad I decided to show the originals as nowadays - most people just see the printed or the online versions.

IF: PROPAGATE

2010-02-24T14:19:00.003-05:00

Garden Gaffes

ink & watercolor

The Bunny Family want to hear all the latest news on how to propagate vegetables - especially carrots. Here's my entry for this weeks Illustration Friday prompt - Propagate.

I need to propagate my illustration biz - make it flourish.

Currently I'm prepping for a show of my illustrations at my local library. Hopefully it'll give me some local exposure. A boost in traffic to my website, card store and print gallery can never hurt. Plus you just never know.

Happy Year of the Tiger!

2010-02-13T23:57:00.000-05:00

TIGER!

Ink & Watercolor

FYI: Tiger is available as print & greeting cards.

Wishing all much success in all their creative endeavors and just a Gr-r-r-r-r-r-eat Year in general!

Happy GroundHog's Day

2010-02-02T09:25:00.001-05:00

Groundhog Awakes!

Ink & Watercolor

Website • Diana's Cards

Wake Up and smell the coffee - it's Groundhog's Day!

Staten Island Chuck has reported that he didn't see his shadow, which means an early spring. Hope he's right. Just the thought of an early spring warms me up.

IF: CLUMSY

2010-01-27T13:55:00.006-05:00

BAKING BUNNIES

Ink & Watercolor

Illustration available as a print

All it takes is a few errant carrot peels and one clumsy bunny for a kitchen calamity when the bunnies make a carrot cake. Here's an oldie from my portfolio for this week's Illustration Friday prompt - CLUMSY.