A Little Piece of Mississippi

Last year my mom encouraged me to participate in The Sketchbook Project. While I had heard of it in the past, I had never considered submitting a sketchbook (if you've never heard of it check it out here). Basically you buy a small sketchbook through them, do whatever you want to it, then mail it back and it becomes part of the permanent collection of the Brooklyn Art Library. Anyone can come in and check out your book (and if you get it digitized people can even view it all online). So I thought it would be cool that New York would get a little piece of Mississippi.  And me.

It turned out to be more of a reflection on myself than I planned. There's paintings and drawings of myself and of every member of my little family (yes even our dog Moxie got a page). There's poems I've written, places where I live that I sketched, things that represent my past but a lot of things that show the direction of my art in the future. Its interesting to me that so much of myself fell out onto these pages. I think I was happy to share it so it made parting with the sketchbook a lot easier.

Front cover

A little about me.

There you have it! If you are ever in New York I hope you check it out. And I'd say maybe even attempt your own sketch book for next year. You may surprise yourself.

Checking in with Goals and Getting a Little Sktchy

So from my last post back in January I shared some goals and I'm happy to say I feel as though I've worked towards them in various ways! My time management has gotten better (still not there but progress!). I've really paired down the things I commit too these days and I make sure to finish the things I'm responsible for first before starting any new projects.
Still no new adventures planned but there's plenty of time for that this year. And the pottery part is still in the works but I'm itching to get my hands covered in clay again soon!

Lastly I've really stuck to a much more consistent practice with my artwork. For those who follow me on Instagram (@theartistcatie) I've been using a great app called Sktchy that has really motivated me to paint daily AND work on painting better portraits in watercolor. Basically people get on and post photos of themselves/other people and artists take that photo as inspiration and create a work of art based on it. It's a really fun low key, no pressure way to try out new techniques and get feedback on whatever you post. If you want to try it out I'm under Catie Daniel on the app (sorry its only for iPhone users as of now, but check it out here: Sktchy App)

This one is my favorite of the bunch!

 I've realized that sometimes I've got to create work simply because I enjoy it, not for any other reason (a show or commission for example). I've noticed how much that recharges me. As a mom doing something creative just for myself gives me my sanity (haha) because I do so much for my family. It's amazing to have that "me" time when Jude is sleeping and these small watercolor portraits are quick enough that I can finish them in one sitting.

 As a bonus when Jude wakes up I have all my paints out and we play. Some how he has turned watercolor into finger paint, which is fun and easy to clean. I love introducing him to creative play at such a young age!

Here's a little video of Jude painting all by himself! 

One of a Kind

So I thought I'd share what it's like to commission a painting. The process is pretty easy and most people would be surprised to realize that I am (and most artists for that matter) are pretty flexible when it comes to working within a certain budget for a client.
Let's take the latest commission I just finished for a friend of mine who wanted a painting of Mt. Rainier, where he is currently stationed.

The first step is to contact me! You never know until you ask! Tracey got in touch with me about an idea for a watercolor landscape based off of a photograph he really liked depicting the mountain. He wasn't sure if I even did landscapes (I do!) and he gave me a lot of artistic freedom (which is always fun!). Usually the first few questions I ask are:

1. How big? I price based on size first

2. What medium? I work in watercolor, acrylic, graphite, and occasionally oils. This helps me narrow down what you are looking for and also helps with pricing works on canvas or paper.

3. Subject matter. This is where we go back and forth on what exactly you were thinking. Keep in mind my style and way of painting (I'll usually have you look at my work first so you get a feel for my style). If you're wanting something waaaaay outside of what I do and the way I work then odds are, you won't be satisfied with anything I do (and I'll always be upfront about whether or not I'll take it on!). Realize you are coming to me because you like my artistic point of view.
Now, if you are not sure what you are wanting and need me to help with the designing of the piece this is where I would do some sketches/mockups to give you some ideas. You could send me inspiration photos or other things that you really love and elements to go into the piece. By the time we are done, you will know exactly what your piece will look like so there are no surprises.

Once we have those things established I can quote you a price. This price takes into consideration the design process, my time,  and my materials. I'll require half of the commission price as a deposit.
With my friend we established a 28"x 30" watercolor of Mt. Rainier, loosely based on a photograph but also left room for some creative liberties. He also didn't specify a deadline and gave me all the time in the world to finish (I like to have a 2-4 week turn around time, although here lately with an 8 month old I'm at around a month, depending on the size of the commission).

Then I get started! My favorite part!

My initial first wash/pass after drawing everything out (didn't get a photo of just the drawing)
The yellow at the top is my masking fluid which helps preserve my whites when I'm painting with watercolor.

My second pass is a little bit darker. Watercolor is all about building up to those layers.

Darkening the mountain even more!

Getting the trees in place as well as starting on the reflection

More work on values. LAYERS people!

The trees are just about finished and I'm making the mountain even darker and starting it's reflection as well. It's really starting to come together!

Took the masking fluid off and worked on the snow, then removed the border tape (ahhhh those crisp, clean edges!!!). Once the tape is removed I usually consider a painting done and I sign the piece.

Stared at it a while (ok A LOT) on my easel then thought it could use a little bit more COLOR to break up all the green and brown. Which left me with this:

And there you have it! I shipped this one all the way to Washington state. I love seeing my work go out into the world! I ship all over the place (including one that made it to Australia!). 

Hope you enjoyed a little behind the scenes taste of what it's like to commission a custom piece of original art that you will cherish for years! It makes me excited when people are truly happy with a painting (and I love seeing photos of it hanging in homes).

Thanks so much to Tracey for this piece! I had a great time painting it, makes me want to see the mountain in person.

Catie

April Showers....

These last few days have been nothing but a torrential downpour here on the Gulf Coast and it looks like it will continue allllllllll week long.
Sadly, the weather makes me VERY unmotivated. I've got tons to work on, things to type up, website stuff research but all I want to is drink hot tea, binge watch Netflix and mindlessly surf the internet (or if I'm lucky take a nap, this is perfect napping weather).
So I figured I'd show off some sketchbooks I've been meaning to document. Here's one of my favorite altered sketchbooks, aptly named The Observer, seeing as how this book is filled with sketches of random people/places I've observed in various places (laundry mat, bars, a beach house, and lots and lots of coffeeshops). This book could possibly also be called my Time Waster book since usually that is what I'm doing when I drag it out to work in. (Oh yeah it happens to be a book about a fictional viking boy before I altered it, love some of the illustrations in it!)

Also here is a new watercolor sketchbook I received for Christmas that I'm really enjoying working in. It's panoramic layout poses a challenge when looking for a scene/subject matter. I kinda like how it forces me to change things up though.

Now to get on all that stuff I was procrastinating....

Catie

Work in Progress

Seeing as how I haven't updated in a while I'd thought I'd post some work in progress pictures on one of my latest watercolor paintings. Kind of an evolution of a painting and the process.

This was the original reference photo I took at an antique fair. I did a little rearranging with my drawing to find a composition that I was happy with.

Initial drawing

First wash

Adding some color

Finishing touches

The final piece! "Vintage Bottles"

Autumn, the only time leaves are flowers too

All photos taken by me.

1. Sketching trees

2. Moxie enjoying fall

3. Outfit from last week

4. Butterflies attracted to the plants in my yard

5. Autumn spread 

6. Fire pit with family

7. Progress on my painting

8. Sweet gum tree, from when I was plein airing

9. Father-in-law's old 68' Ford Galaxie

Yeah it's been awhile. I've been painting and working. Feels like I'm perpetually inspired. Mostly by other artists, they do the same thing I do and yet have completely different results. Entered a local art show and walked the aisles of the wide range and variety of work and wondered in amazement how each piece differed from the next. And lately I've been truly thinking about where my place is within the art realm. What is it I want to do? To say? Where do I want to go with it?

LOTS of questions. But I'm ok with that, I need to just paint. To work. And let the work speak for itself. "It's enough that it is."