Studio Friday: Favorite Resources Illustration Friday: Poem

The challenge: "What is the most favorite resource you use to seek encouragement, understanding, enlightenment, inspiration, strength, to gain further knowledge or fun? Is it a book or a magazine, a quote, a website, a photo, another artist?"

My Roots

I started this piece several weeks ago for Inspire Me Thursday's challenge for the word roots. I've been so busy lately with being the Treasurer for the Norcal GAG chapter, and with the Sequoia Hospital art installation sales that I've neglected my creative side.

I find inspiration in words, either through a clever phrase, lyrics, from a single word or a paragraph in a story. My inspiration for this image came from the phrase "pushing up daisies."

Poems
"Keep not your roses for my dead, cold brow
The way is lonely, let me feel them now."
- Arabella Smith, If I Should Die To-Night

"Do not stand on my grave and weep;
I am not there. I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn's rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush,
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in the circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry;
I am not there. I did not die."
- Anonymous

"Gather ye rosebuds while ye may
Old time is still a-flying
And this same flower that smiles today
Tomorrow will be dying."
- Robert Herrick

Graphic Artists Guild Postcard

Graphic Artists Guild postcard

My postcard was finally printed, mailed and delivered today. The image I chose is titled Waiting For Inspiration and is a paper and digital collage illustration. I created it as a self promotional piece.

As a featured artist on the Northern California GAG website, I was given the opportunity to use my artwork in a GAG sponsored mailing. The postcard was mailed to publishers, GAG members, and other industry professionals and was an awesome marketing effort. It markets my work as an illustrator and invites members and the industry community to monthly luncheons held at Lulu's restaurant in San Francisco.

I was an active volunteer on the GAG luncheon committee for a brief while. Just recently I have found a new position as the featured artist postcard coordinator. I worked with PsPrint, an online print service, and received excellent customer service and final product. I'm already looking forward to the next featured artist's postcard.