Tumblr and some updates

So I am on tumblr now. I really for the life of me could not figure out how to use this and what it was about, but now I am finally getting it. For me, I am using it as a place to gather inspiration images and also display some of my artwork. It's nice to have a page to go to to look at all of my favorite things, especially when I am in need of some inspiration! I am very visual and looking at pretty things makes me happy!

check me out!

http://mariartist.tumblr.com/

Also, I will be participating in a Girls Drawin Girls book! Yay! Won't give away too many details yet, as I am still working on ideas and inspirations for what to draw--I want it to be really good, as it will be the first book my artwork will be featured in. Needless to say, I am very excited!

Happy Valentine's Day!

To all!
xoxo
Maria

February already?

Hello out there!
I have been neglecting my blog and I feel terrible about that. I have been pretty busy lately, and I haven't had a chance to do much new artwork! Any free time I have has gone to designing cards for my snapfish store. I added some new prints to my etsy, but they don't seem to be doing very well at all--Anybody out there have any tips and/ or suggestions on selling on etsy?
Anyway, I wanted to share some of my most recent designs for snapfish, because it seems I haven't ever really posted my designs on here, and I am quite proud of them. So check them out, and hop on over to my snapfish page if you want to see more, or even purchase one (some? hahaha)
For Valentines Day:
I am quite proud of this little owl design! It is selling so much better than I expected, as it is the top selling non-photo valentines day card on all of snapfish! I have also been selling 8x10 prints of this design on my etsy.
Here are some more Valentine's Day cards I designed.
there are, of course, many more cards in the works! I really wish I could be as successful selling my cards myself as I am on snapfish. Maybe one day!

Things I love of 2010

Here is my final "Things I love Thursdays" of some of my favorite things/events of 2010! This was definitely a good year for me artistically, professionally and personally, and I am hoping 2011 is even better! Hope you all have a fabulous New Year! Can't wait to start doing more artwork and adding more products to my etsy store and snapfish store in the coming year. :)

1) Girls Drawin Girls:
I had the pleasure and privilege of joining the artist collective Girls Drawin Girls early this year and it has definitely opened up a lot of doors for me. Besides being a part of a group of very talented female artists, I have had the opportunity to exhibit artwork in more shows, be a part of NYCC, get published in a calendar and more. I am looking forward to another year as a member of this amazing group. Thanks for having me ladies!

2) Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World
OK this movie was fantastic. I wasn't expecting to like it as much as I did, but it was an enjoyable experience to say the least! Great cast and acting, really great costumes and designs and of course really cool special effects. I also really enjoyed the graphic novels and am glad they did them justice. I'd recommend watching this. You won't be disappointed.


3) New York City Comic Con:
This year was my first year attending NYCC, and I also had the pleasure of exhibiting with Girls Drawin Girls. It was a little overwhelming at first but I really enjoyed it and most of all enjoyed meeting some of the west coast girls and other members from the east coast. it's always nice putting a face to a name. I also enjoyed the convention itself even though it was very crowded. Lots of talent in one place, which is always nice. Definitely one of the highlights of the summer for me.

4) Snapfish:
Becoming a snapfish greeting card designer has also been one of the highlights of this year for me. Not only am I doing something i really enjoy but I am making a little money off of it. This year I am hoping to design a line of greeting cards on my etsy as well as attend the stationary trade show at the Javits center this May.

5) Teddy Girls:
I recently stumbled upon and discovered some really awesome photographs by Ken Russell of a group of girls from England in the 1950s called "Teddy Girls" Sadly there isn't much photographic evidence but their style is like nothing I've ever seen. I want to do artwork of them or inspired by them at some point this year. I am definitely still doing research and would like to learn more about them. read more about them here



6) All the Blogs I have linked on my blog roll.
I visit all those blogs on a daily basis and I would definitely recommend anybody visit them as well. Lots of talented people on there from artists, to people who make their own clothes to people who bake and cook with lots of passion, to magazines and designers and every thing in between. I love visiting these blogs and they definitely help me go on when I am feeling creatively drained or tired of working full time, blogging and finding time and passion for new artwork and projects.

Hope you enjoyed my list and I hope everyone has a fantastic New Year! see you in 2011!! :)

Holiday show update/Merry Christmas!

I didn't get to participate in the girls drawin girls holiday show this year, unfortunately. It seems my package was lost in the mail and never made it to LA! and sadly I did not get insurance on it (but luckily it was not original artwork, just prints, but it was still signed artwork in frames and it hurts that they are lost) here is hoping that somehow they get sent back to me.

I would like to start participating in more shows in the NYC or surrounding area, I love participating in GDG shows and events but the stress and cost of having to send artwork and merch to LA from NY--and facing the real possibility that the work will get lost, is getting a bit too much. I need to just focus on maybe participating in 1 or 2 shows and events with the group per year and focus on that instead of trying to over extend myself and participate in more!

In happier news, my cards over at snapfish are doing well and it has been a lot of fun designing for them. I am actually planning on branching out and selling a collection of greeting cards that can be customized on my etsy site, so stay tuned for that. In the meantime, please visit my snapfish store!

I would also like to wish any and all readers a very Merry Christmas if they celebrate, and a Happy and prosperous New Year filled with lots of art, happiness and love!

New Holiday art

Hello all!
happy December! I recently completed a new Holiday themed piece for the upcoming Girls Drawin Girls Holiday show. Check it out! This peice will be on sale, framed and matted for only $20. I will post more information about the show soon!

Girls Drawin Girls Calendar

I recently created some artwork for the Girls Drawin Girls 2011 calendar! This was super fun because we were each paired up with another girl for a collaboration. I was paired up with the talented Megan Levens and we got December (which i was super happy about-winter is my favorite season to do artwork for!) Here is what we came up with:
Our theme was "indoor/outdoor" "cold/warm" and I think we did a good job conveying our theme!
So get your GDG 2011 calendar already! There is lots of really great art on there. Check it out!

Some updates

My cards over at snapfish are finally available for purchase! This has been a lot of fun for me, as I love greeting card design! I am adding more designs almost on a daily basis so please keep checking it out!
I have also created a few iphone and ipod touch wallpapers of some of my artwork available for download for personal use only. check that out here

Lastly, a quick note on "Things I love Thursdays" I can't come up with a post for that every week, so I have decided to do it on a monthly basis, but it will still be on Thursdays

Mondo Lounge-Las Vegas

Vegas baby! No unfortunately I am not going but Girls Drawin Girls will have a booth there, and I am going to have this brand new, exclusive print available at the Mondo Lounge in Las Vegas, this weekend, October 22-24. Clearly, this is something I'd really love to attend, but maybe next year! anyway, check out this new piece i did to be sold exclusively at the Mondo Lounge! if you find yourself in Vegas, you should go!

Things I Love Thursday

I'm back with another "things i love Thursday" post! preparing art and prints for NYCC and work kept me busy so i didn't get a chance to do this in a while, so here we go!

Bettie Page: (and the movie "The Notorious Bettie Page")
Obviously, I have much respect and admiration for the pin up queen herself, Bettie Page. She never considered herself an icon or a queen or any of the labels bestowed upon her, which might be one of the main reasons she is so appealing. She came alive in front of the camera, captivating her audience with her radiant smile. Looking at her pictures automatically puts a smile on my face, because she seems so genuinely happy in that moment. She led a very interesting life, sometimes difficult, but there was a sweetness and innocence and complete lack of self consciousness about her that has never quite been recaptured by anybody.

as for the movie, many people didn't seem to really like it, but I thought it was beautifully done. Many people say it didn't delve into who Bettie "really" was, but I think that is the whole point of Bettie Page. She was always a bit of a mystery, somebody who seemed to be happy and herself and really come to life in the presence of cameras. She had no agenda, she wasn't out to break down feminist barriers or change the world, that wasn't Bettie at all. I think the film captured that about her quite well. I also think Gretchen Mol did a fantastic job portraying Bettie. She captured her sweet, free spirited innocence really well, even though they don't really physically look alike. It was a pleasure to watch and different than your typical Hollywood biopic.
Bernie Dexter:
Next is Bernie Dexter, who is my number one muse! I know she got initially got attention because she looks like Bettie Page, but Bernie Dexter is in a category all her own. She has many of those sweet and innocent qualities that Bettie Page had, she comes alive and radiates in front of a camera just like Bettie. I love Bernies happy photos and use many of her pictures as reference and inspiration for my art. She has a beautiful face and figure but an even more beautiful spirit. Thank you Bernie Dexter for being a constant inspiration for me!