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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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Wednesday, November 2, 2011

PiBoIdMo 2011!


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.

Sunday, October 23, 2011

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

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.

Thursday, September 22, 2011

The Fox and The Crow - Process

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.

Monday, September 5, 2011

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

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...

Friday, August 5, 2011

2011 Summer Postcard -Cupcake Cat


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.

Friday, July 29, 2011

IF: OBSESSION

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.

Friday, July 1, 2011

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

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..."

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

IF: MIDSUMMER NIGHT

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

Thursday, June 16, 2011

The Twitter Effect on my PBDummy

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.

Monday, June 6, 2011

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

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..."

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Illustration Friday: ASLEEP

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.

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Illustration Friday: SOAKED

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.

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Illustration Friday: SAFARI

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.

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

IF: LESSON!

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.

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Art Biz sites: tried & results to date

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.

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Happy Easter!

Spring Fling,
Ink & watercolor
© Diana Ting Delosh

Wishing all a
Hoppy Bunny and Eggy Day!

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Tah Dah - April 2011 Self-Promo Postcard!

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!

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Rooster, Peacock & Beach

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

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

IF: TOY

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



Friday, March 18, 2011

IF: CULTIVATE!

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.