Still kicking

Yeah, so I suppose it's been a few weeks. 

Sorry about that. 

Between work and trying to get stuff done in not-work time a couple things...like this journal...got neglected. 

Part of it is because work has been a lot of necessary store signage and not a lot of anything interesting on my end...but part of it has just been me being a slacker, because I have had a few things in particular to share. 

The big one is that...well, the animated short that the creator (Andrew) and I worked on for about a year and a half, between both or our schedules and my medical problems, GOT FINISHED. 

And Andrew got it put in a gallery showcase of animated shorts from Pittsburgh. And I went and people were watching it and there were images of my illustrations on the walls. CHECK THIS OUT. 

(yeah two gratuitous photos of me because I WAS IN A SHOW, JERKFACES!) 

(I take it back. You guys aren't jerkfaces. I just got excited.) 

That's Andrew. He's the twisted brains and animation behind the operation. He was seriously a super joy to work with, understanding of scheduling issues, and every time I started reaching the point of 'this project is NEVER going to be doneeeeee' we would have a meeting and he would get me all fired up about the art again. And he hired me to work on a cool project. 

Speaking of which, if you would like to see the film in it's 4 and a half minute entirety, you can do it RIGHT HERE. The password is 'django' (which was the original name before SOMEONE had to go make a big blockbuster movie with the same name...sheesh.) 

Anyway. I did a thing. GEE. WOW. MUCH EXCITE. 

I also have done some art things in the store, though not so many lately. 

But a few. 

Mostly lots of holiday stuff. Go figure. 

I drew all those snowflakes by hand on foamcore and then cut them out with a substandard exacto knife. I just want you all to know what sacrifices I make for you. Or store signage. Or because snowflakes are purty. And I was alone with free access to glitter. 

Here's the other side of that sign. 

And two sides of a sign for that fancy fruitcake bread stuff that is apparently some sort of tradition: 

OH! A holiday tradition! Says so right on the sign!

Hey, I amuse myself. That's what matters. 

This hanging sphere of greenery I think...really could have had a better name, but...

Yes. I giggled immaturely while making this sign. 

Rosemary trees: 

And somehow forgot to photograph the tabletop tree sign I made, which was actually kind of cute. I will have to remedy that. Next journal: tabletop trees. 

But this journal, candycanes! 

Also, because I was really wanting to do some non-work, non-freelance art, I squeezed in time for Let's Draw Sherlock this month--which was actually more of a squeeze, as instead of one big challenge, it was four mini challenges for minor characters. 

But I like how my Anthea doodle came out: 

("Who the heck is that and what the heck is going on?" all you non-sherlockians are asking. This is just my way of trying to get everyone to watch the show.)

And kind of a fast (and inaccurate) lighting study of DS Sally Donovan, at the office late because of all the paperwork that darn consulting detective creates: 

Anyway, the work week's not over, so I should go to bed so I can be glare-eyed and bristly-tailed as usual come morning. Just reached the point of 'gee all this stuff keeps building up on my phone...I should post some of it...'

Good night! Stay classy, internet! (oh, who am I kidding...)

dibs and dabs

Didn't do much exciting this week. Just some standard fare signs for sales and call outs, but a couple were kind of cute. 

Made a quick little sign for living lettuce, so I cut out some lettuce to grow from the top. 

Pepperoni was on sale. ENTHRALLING. 

Halloween cupcakes. Just a super quick sign but...hey, cupcakes! 

This was for a 'story' sign for bear naked granola. I was using a board my coworker had already painted black, so I just kind of went with it. 

Didn't get a lot else done this week -- lots of little and un-photogenic stuff. Got an embarrassingly small amount done on Saturday because, between people coming up needing signs in a hurry, I was drawing and cutting out giant foamcore snowflakes for our hanukkah display and that took freaking ages. I am the worst at cutting stuff out. Literally the worst. I also kept expecting to slip and sever an artery. 

Anywho, see you next week, if I don't...well, sever an artery before then. 

First Big Project

More painting. 

All the painting. 

But no dangerous jigsaw using. Just helping others use the dangerous jigsaw. 

So my store is doing this '6 for 6' thing...basically, on Friday evenings, if you pay $6 you get to go to six different stations that have samples of different foods and accompanying drinks. We were supposed to have signs to advertise the different stations, and on the circular that was sent out, the example was this kind of...bland looking cartoonish French chef. 

Us graphics kids were discussing the relative dullness of the sample sign holder, and then I saw a somewhat more interesting version done by another one of our stores and then they assigned me the design of the signs and basically said to have fun with it and since I was going to have to make multiple copies either way, the general consensus seemed to be that I might as well make six different versions, because it would be more interesting. 

And then they turned me lose with character design. *rubs hands in evil glee* 

So, these were the original sketches for the characters we selected -- there were a few more, but they were done before I was totally comfortable with the designs, so this set came out the most fun and dynamic. 

After that I had to redraw them all on giant sheets of plywood and believe you me, getting proportions and expressions consistent was...challenging. I was sometimes successful and sometimes not. 

Then they were cut out, the edges sanded, the backs painted white and finally, I painted them all. Which was a lot of fun and also a lot of challenge, as I'm still not entirely comfortable working with paint. But they came out....pretty cute. And vaguely sinister. 

Well, in some cases, overtly sinister: 

"Hey baby...I see you ordered...the LOBSTER."

We felt that this guy was subtly judging us. Also, who can trust a chef that skinny?

Her mouth smiles but I think her eyes want you to experience pain.

And here they all are, screwed to crates, ready to guide the curious through our store! So helpful! 

stuff I painted this week

This week I painted. A lot. 

I'm re-learning traditional media techniques the deep end way.  

But.

I finished that jam sign: 

Then I made a new sign for pudding cake: 

...and was asked to make a sign for loaf cakes that would kind of match it: 

Twinsies! 

BUT...they trust me with power tools.

This is a gross oversight on their part, I feel. 

But look! I used that drill to put up this sign! So cute! 

I actually used the drill to put up the loaf cake sign as well. This kind of happened in the middle. I switched drill bits and EVERYTHING. With no supervision at all. 

And still have all my fingers. 

But next week they have a project on which they intend me to use a jigsaw. So we'll see how long the fingers last. 

Welp, now off to go work on stupid adult stuff up to and including the logo design for my friend's store that has been taking a beating as I've been trying to slot it around work. BUT TODAY. I LOGO. 

Hope your weeks treat you great. 

Things I Do All Day

So, I am now employed at an upscale division of a local grocery store, and my job is basically..."Hey we need a sign for this. Just come up with something. Whatever you want. Be creative. Paint's over there." Some of the projects are bigger things that involve research and planning and sometimes they are just a quick price change and sometimes they are "Oh my god no one did this and I need it in half an hour can you make something?"

Today I got a psuedo-official go-ahead to post stuff on my website, so here are a few of the things I've gotten to work on so far. 

This was my very first little sign. We were adding Imagine Soups to our Late July display. So, on my first day, they had me make a little sign for soup: 

Masterpiece.

(according to my friend Abby, these soups are delicious.) 

And here it is on display in the store! Isn't it precious? 

Next they had me work on a sign for Hint water. This was my first kind of...bigger, no training wheels project. The soup sign I did on my first morning with my boss and coworkers around for input, but the second one fell much more into the territory of..."make what you want...here are a few ideas if you like, but if you have a different idea that's better. Here's where you can find random supplies. If you have questions or need input, we're here, but other than that, just go for it." I was given a large board to use as my base and otherwise just told to do whatever seemed good.

Here's what I made: 

Not ground-breaking, but look at my adorable fruit! Also, getting used to using traditional media after working almost entirely digitally for a few years has been exciting. There are no Ctrl+S or Ctrl+z when you are painting, and generally, no layers either. And a lot more paint on your clothes, hands...face... (I may have discovered paint smeared under my bottom lip when I left at the end of last week.) 

Next...let's see...Next, I think was Oatmeal.

The Health and Beauty department was doing a thing with products that were good for your insides and your outsides, but prior to the new hiring in my department, there was some upheaval, and as a result, there was a bit of a project backup...and the sign they needed for the discussion on Oatmeal had slipped through the cracks and the event was going to be in half an hour and they had nothing and COULD I MAKE THEM A SIGN? So yeah, I did. 

(If you can't read it, it says, "Oatmeal - good for the belly, good for the skin" awww adorable.) 

But seriously, being a few days used to using paint at all, and not only that, our paint supply was running low so our colors were somewhat limited and geeze I don't know how i did this as quick as I did. But I did. *wipes memory-sweat from forehead* 

Then there was Listerine. They have an annual contest to make a cute display and it had to be Halloween themed? And this was another project on a short schedule. My boss wanted it, ideally, by the end of the day (we didn't quite hit the deadline...but I finished it the next day.) So, my coworkers had discussed doing something with Red Riding Hood, and just to cover bases, I made some Red Riding Hood sketches and some additional concept sketches as well:

In the end, we decided to go with Red Riding Hood. As we were on a short time frame and had to paint both sides, I went with a solid color block style. They came out kind of cute: 

aww look at that bright smile! 

(there is a table down below with Listerine and...in the evil style of dentists everywhere, pumpkin trick-or-treat buckets full of candy. And some spider webs and stuff.) 

Let's see...what else...

I was asked to make an Apple Festival sign. No real direction, just..."We need a sign for the apple festival." 

So appley! 

Currently, I'm working on a sign for some fancy jams. I'm attempting to a) hurry, b) still make it look good and c) work in a style inspired by post-impressionist master, Paul Cezanne. I had it about half done by the time I left today, but here's a shot from earlier this afternoon.

So that's what I've been up to. And now I'm up to heading to bed, because I work tomorrow and my schedule is going through a bit of upheaval, for which I need to prepare myself.