I'm on Facebook!

Hey, Gang! I just made a Facebook page for the studio! Stop over and let me know you "like" me (you really like me!). We're going to do fun stuff like have giveaways so make sure you check in every now and then to see what we're up to.

https://www.facebook.com/JaneMadayStudio/photos_stream#!/JaneMadayStudio

Waiting for Spring

Oh, I am so ready for Spring! I want to paint all the bright and pretty colors, but outside my window the snowflakes are falling. Oh well, soon it will be summer and I will be complaining that I am too hot, so I guess I should learn to appreciate the moment.

 

I have been thinking about how technology has changed my life since my college days. When I was in art school, the school only had three computers, and there was only one small class to teach how to use them. Then I graduated and went to work at Hallmark. Computer art was in it's infancy then. I was trained in using them (reluctantly) and we had to save everything on these giant discs called Bernoullis, that were about the size of an ipad today. They could only store one piece of art. (Do I sound like a dinosaur yet? You must think I learned how to draw by chiseling my art on rocks!)

 

Fast forward to today. I still paint the traditional way, but I simply must have my photoshop programs to manipulate the art afterwards. The painting above can now be placed on all sorts of different backgrounds and products with (practically) a touch of a button. And if I accidentally splash some paint, whoosh, I can erase it, just like that. But a worrying trend in the outside world seems to be that the actual skills of drawing and painting are being neglected because it is just so easy to whip something up with the computer. There are some people who create the most amazing art with the computer, and I do admire them so, but there is also a lot of slapped together work.

 

When I go for a few days without actually drawing or painting, I get a bit irritable, do you? I need the tactile feel of the brush or pencil in my hand. I need to escape to the art planet and pour out my heart onto the page. So I would encourage you, for the benefit of your heart, your soul, and your skills, to draw, draw, draw!

Paintin' Peacocks

I am still painting away on peacocks and just loving all the colors! I thought you might like to see this painting in progress. Thank goodness for gouache paints, because the tail needs lots of layers. I have done the underpainting of the feathers with Raw Umber watercolor (Daler Rowney is my fave brand of Raw Umber as it is warmer than some other brands). Now I am using a mixture of French Ultramarine and Turquoise gouache over the top. Finally, I will use blue and green watercolor pencils to finish. It is lots of fun to have so many tools at my disposal! I love to play with different mediums. My job is such fun!

I am also lucky to have good friends to walk with me on my journey. Yesterday I was really struggling with the background to place these birds on (using photoshop). I sent out a cry for help to a dear clever friend, and she helped me see what I should do. Big hugs going out to all my art friends today, even the ones I haven't met yet!

Etsy

Hello everyone! Jane's assistant here, things have been busy here at the studio, but we just wanted to let all of you know that some of Jane's prints are now available on Etsy! There will be more added soon within the next couple days.

Are there any specific peices that you would like to see as prints in the store?

http://www.etsy.com/shop/JaneMadayArt

In the Studio This Week

It looks like a chilly week in the Studio this week, and I do have Spring Fever! Still, even though we got a little snow here in Colorado, at least we didn't get the three feet that they got in the North East. I like snow, and we are having a drought, but I do draw the line somewhere!

I'm painting peacocks this week. I love the colors, but it is proving to be more of a challenge than I thought. There are so many layers in that tail! I'm struggling with the background as well. I really want to make use of the new "color of the year": Pantone's Emerald. I am sure it will come together eventually!

Jane's assistant here! I will be guest blogging to help with Jane's workload. It is sample day here at the studio.  Here are some beautiful new journals and a photo album from Enchante that will be going on sale at Ross. What a great way to organize your thoughts and memories! We're looking forward to lots of fun new products from this company this Spring.

Do any of you have any thoughts or input on what you you would like to see updated more frequently? We would love to hear them!

Atlanta Gift Show 2013

Time for another trip to Atlanta for the winter gift show! I love going to this show. It is so stimulating to see new products and I am always so happy to hang out with my artist friends! Since I work at home most of the time, getting out to shows like these is just vital. The America's Mart, where the show is held is huge. There are three buildings that range fro 15-18 stories tall. There are 5000 permanent showrooms, and 3000-5000b temporary showrooms.

 

This gives you an idea of the size of the Mart. This was taken on the 18th floor at the top of the escalator, and yes, it was very scary to hang over the edge and snap the photo!

 

 

And here is a view of the temporary showrooms.

 

 

One of the most fun things about the show is finding the products with my art. So, to show that I am not a snob when it comes to which products I will license to, let me present: Toilet Tattoos! Ta-da!

 

 

Of course, there were lots of flags showcasing my art. This is one of my favorite product categories. I love designing for flags.

 

 

 

Evergreen has come out with a nifty new product; greeting cards with an enclosed flag. What a fun thing to get in the mail!

 

 

It is always fun to design for home decor. Here is a pillow from C&F Enterprises. They did kitchen towels as well.

 

 

And mugs are always fun. The Rustic Lodge line from Downeast concepts also has matching stationery products.

 

 

But "hangin' with my peeps" is always one of the best parts of the show. But yikes, I look a bit drunken there, don't I! Believe me, I only had iced tea that night! What a wonderfully kind and talented group of friends I have made through this career I have chosen. I am very blessed. In this photo are Joy Molina Hall, Sharon Himes, Terri Conrad, and me when we went out to dinner on Friday night. Three days of laughing, hugging, and inspiration, and now I am ready to get back to painting, hooray!