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Welcome to my blog , The Hare Illustratère. I'll be posting about my art process and journey as an illustrator/author here.

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Thursday, June 17, 2010

IF: RIPPLE

CALL OF THE PELICAN
© Diana Ting Delosh
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 CenterPlease see http://Ripplesketches.blogspot.com for details on how to "purchase" and to see other art available for a $10 donation.

Thursday, June 10, 2010

MY New ZAZZLE Store!




Cymbidium Blossom
© Diana Ting Delosh
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!



Tuesday, June 8, 2010

IF: TRAIL


Seed Pack © Diana Ting Delosh
Ink & Watercolor
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 

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

IF: SLITHER!




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.

Friday, May 28, 2010

Now Hanging at the One of Us Exhibit.

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

  

Thursday, May 27, 2010

IF: EARLY!

Turtle Pond
© Diana Ting Delosh
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. 

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

IF: Equipment


Baking Bunnies
© Diana Ting Delosh
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.


Wednesday, May 12, 2010

One Of Us Exhibit


Moi at 9
© Diana Ting Delosh
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.

Saturday, May 8, 2010

12 Week Challenge - Illo #1


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
© Diana Ting Delosh
Ink & Watercolor

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



Friday, May 7, 2010

12 Week Challenge - Wk 1, 2, 3,

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!

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

IF: AHEAD!

Bear Walks in the Woods
© Diana Ting Delosh
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.

Thursday, April 22, 2010

IF: DETECTIVE

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.

Thursday, April 8, 2010

IF: DIP!

Boy's Koi Pond
ink & Watercolor
© 2007 Harcourt Achieve

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?



Monday, April 5, 2010

HBF Library Show - March Report.

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.

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Spring 2010 Postcard

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)
© Diana Ting Delosh
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.

Monday, March 22, 2010

USA Artists - © ADVOCACY ALERT

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

Friday, March 19, 2010

IF: EXPIRED!


DEAD/UNDEAD • © Diana Ting Delosh
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.

Friday, March 12, 2010

13 Whimsical Spring Illustration Exhibit


My illustration exhibit at the Harborfields Library.
See previous posts starting March 5, 2010.
Photos © Diana Ting Delosh.

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.

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

HBF Library Show Postcard

Self-Promo Postcard for the general public
© Diana Ting Delosh

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.

Friday, March 5, 2010

Now Showing at the HBF Library!

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.