Happy New Year!!!!
This year I am super excited that I will be attending the
ICON 10 Illustration Conference. I've been wanting to attend for so long but either did not have the time or the money. I would say this year I did not really have the money either, but I took the leap and will be saving my pennies for the next few months. I'm super stoked that it is going to be so close this year, the flight is only going to be a few hours from Boston!
A little less crazy-exciting, but still super cool: this year Tom Swift and I will be exhibiting at NEW ZINELAND. This is a super indie, hand-made zine sale just off of the Central T stop in Cambridge. We will have a bunch of new very limited edition zines and ephemera for this show. I will probably not bring any originals to this show, just paper bits and bobs.
Once again we will be doing the FPAC Spring and Fall open studios. The dates and events are a bit up in the air right now, so keep an eye on their website. If you are looking for larger pieces, originals or oils this is your best opportunity to browse these paintings since I rarely bring my larger pieces to cons and sales.
Hope to see you sometime this year,
and if you can not make it to any of my shows in person you can always visit me @
https://www.etsy.com/shop/jenniferlewisart
Apr 22
NEW ZINELAND
Cambridge, MA
www.NewZineland.com
May 13
FPAC SPRING OPEN STUDIOS
Boston, MA
http://www.fortpointarts.org
Jul 11-14
ICON 10 Illustration Conference
Detroit, MI
http://theillustrationconference.org/
Aug 10 -12
BOSTON COMIC COM
Boston, MA
http://bostoncomiccon.com/
Oct TBA
FPAC FALL OPEN STUDIOS
Boston, MA
http://www.fortpointarts.org
Monday, February 19, 2018
Friday, December 02, 2016
A Quick Update
I will mostly be posting my illustration and design images on Instagram: @miorats
This blog will still be a place for my longer posts and more in-depth discussions of my current projects.
-Thank You
This blog will still be a place for my longer posts and more in-depth discussions of my current projects.
-Thank You
Monday, December 28, 2015
Onward to the Future
Freelancing and scheduling my time the end of last Summer went really well. I did forget to fit in times to exercise, but other than that, I made time to relax and I got a decent amount of work done.
Classes started again in the fall, and I thought I could maintain a semblance of my schedule, but that did not work out. I did not have any time to work on tarot cards :(
I have just finished the last class of my Graphic Design program! I will be working the next few months on my graphic design / illustration freelancing schedule and hopefully I will have a big chunk of the deck done by April.
Keep an eye out. I will be posting works in progress.
Classes started again in the fall, and I thought I could maintain a semblance of my schedule, but that did not work out. I did not have any time to work on tarot cards :(
I have just finished the last class of my Graphic Design program! I will be working the next few months on my graphic design / illustration freelancing schedule and hopefully I will have a big chunk of the deck done by April.
Keep an eye out. I will be posting works in progress.
Tuesday, August 18, 2015
A Free-lance Life
This is the first month in a while that I have had some time to pursue
my own work again and work on my tarot deck. Since I do not have many
outside imposed deadlines and set work times I'm trying really hard to
create a freelance schedule. My day job is involving more freelance
work, and I have cut back my hours at Starbucks. I have to make an
effort to plan time for getting out of the house, exercising and setting
a time to
stop working and do things to inspire me.
I'm slowly working out how to plan out a day that works for me. In the past I have had a tendency to fill every waking moment I am not at my day job with art stuff, but that was ok because my day job got me out of the house, socializing and moving about.
Jessica Hische's blog has helped me out a lot in the preliminary steps of planning my freelance schedule. Meg Hunt's illustration blog has also been a great resource especially her section on Drawing Drills and the Icon 8 conference. Do any of you have suggestions on how to schedule and organize in a freelance world?
I'm making an August the 18th resolution to plan more time for; sketching, exploring, experimenting, socializing, inspiration and collaborating.
I'm slowly working out how to plan out a day that works for me. In the past I have had a tendency to fill every waking moment I am not at my day job with art stuff, but that was ok because my day job got me out of the house, socializing and moving about.
Jessica Hische's blog has helped me out a lot in the preliminary steps of planning my freelance schedule. Meg Hunt's illustration blog has also been a great resource especially her section on Drawing Drills and the Icon 8 conference. Do any of you have suggestions on how to schedule and organize in a freelance world?
I'm making an August the 18th resolution to plan more time for; sketching, exploring, experimenting, socializing, inspiration and collaborating.
Winter Thaw
The beginning of August I finished up a few long term projects. One of my scheduled creations was a short comic for the Dark Lady anthology. This comic collection is due to be published sometime around Halloween by Hellcat Press. My submission was a short horror story revolving around the spring thaw, rot, collections of curiosities and teeth. In my searches I came across some amazing old dental supplies, beautifully gruesome charts and diagrams.
Then I found these tooth necklaces (above) from BoneLust on Etsy.
I do have a bit of a fascination with teeth, I spend a lot of time at the dentist. I think I like sweets too much, wich leads to cavities and lots of dentist visits.
Enjoy the photos and keep an eye out for The Dark lady anthology.
-Jen
Tuesday, May 26, 2015
Boston Harbor Islands Research
I'm currently working on a fairly large painting (for me) for a show inspired by the Boston Harbor Islands. This show will be curated by the lovely Elizabeth Devlin with the Isles Arts Initiative.
To inspire my paining process I have compiled a lot of visual research and stumbled across some cool facts, charts, ephemera and data.
The Boston harbor islands served a wide range of uses through out the years including, city landfills, fortifications, farmland and industrial operations and a home to hermits and outcasts.
With these changes in use, the environment flora and fauna also has changed. In 1635 farmers began to plant non-native plants including orchards. By the end of the 17th century most of the islands were inhabited, cultivated and mostly deforested for firewood. During the 19th century the islands were often being used for recreational purposes, and to beautify their environment an initiative began to reforest the islands. I have found some very nice resources that list a in depth analysis of the current flora of Raccoon island. Here are some scientific illustrations:
The subject of my painting was Raccoon island. Raccoon island is a small island off the coast of Quincy, Ma. At low tide it is possible to walk to it from the mainland. The island was likely used by Native Americans as a seasonal campsite. Later, in the 1600s, colonists grazed sheep on the island at this time it was called "Sun Island." In the 1880s to the 1930s the island was used for recreational camping parties.
A history left behind, I am fascinated by old abandoned buildings and things left behind that tell a story. In this painting I am using a society's left overs, foliage and a little bit of allegory to tell the story of Raccoon Island.
To inspire my paining process I have compiled a lot of visual research and stumbled across some cool facts, charts, ephemera and data.
The Boston harbor islands served a wide range of uses through out the years including, city landfills, fortifications, farmland and industrial operations and a home to hermits and outcasts.
With these changes in use, the environment flora and fauna also has changed. In 1635 farmers began to plant non-native plants including orchards. By the end of the 17th century most of the islands were inhabited, cultivated and mostly deforested for firewood. During the 19th century the islands were often being used for recreational purposes, and to beautify their environment an initiative began to reforest the islands. I have found some very nice resources that list a in depth analysis of the current flora of Raccoon island. Here are some scientific illustrations:
The subject of my painting was Raccoon island. Raccoon island is a small island off the coast of Quincy, Ma. At low tide it is possible to walk to it from the mainland. The island was likely used by Native Americans as a seasonal campsite. Later, in the 1600s, colonists grazed sheep on the island at this time it was called "Sun Island." In the 1880s to the 1930s the island was used for recreational camping parties.
A history left behind, I am fascinated by old abandoned buildings and things left behind that tell a story. In this painting I am using a society's left overs, foliage and a little bit of allegory to tell the story of Raccoon Island.
34 at Boston Sculptors Gallery, will be on view July 22nd through August 16th, 2015 with an artist reception on Sunday July 26th from 3-5PM, and a First Friday reception on Friday August 7th 5-8PM.
Friday, May 01, 2015
Processes and sketches
I've been doing a lot of quick work recently, between homework and short-term assignments. Working fast sometimes makes me more productive. I do feel like I have been doing a lot of very different work, but it is all very fun.
This is a sketch for an info-graphic assignment. I like info-graphics, but I had no idea how hard this would be. The trick may be to really pair down your information and say a lot with images not words.
Well class is almost over, then I have my awesome Summer projects to work on.
This is a sketch for an info-graphic assignment. I like info-graphics, but I had no idea how hard this would be. The trick may be to really pair down your information and say a lot with images not words.
Well class is almost over, then I have my awesome Summer projects to work on.
Saturday, December 20, 2014
Vardo the Romani wagon
Recently I've been watching Peaky Blinders, it has rekindled my love for little traveling houses. As a child I remember falling hard for Mr.Toad's little yellow gypsy caravan. At one point I vaguely remember owning a toy
Sylvanian Families gypsy wagon, or I may of looked at the image in the catalog so often that I imagined I owned it. It also could of been a Fabuland caravan. These guys were the cutest!
As I got older my idea of a Caravan faded from the minimal decor of a Lego interior to the intricate patterns bright colors and textures of the gypsy wagons depicted in Carnivale. I often imagine my caravan could double as a painting studio or maybe a traveling art gallery. Below is the lovely art caravan by Marie Meier.
Someday I could imagine having a home with one of these lovely painted wagons in the back yard.
 |
There are a few movies I watched in hopes of getting some good caravan imagery. I remember carnival having some great caravans, but most of the scenes were very dimly lit. Carnivale
has this great mystical, Twin Peaks feel to it. The characters are all
awesome and the imagery is beautifully rich and grungy. They travel in wonderfully restored caravans. If you search you tube you can find a video of one of the un-restored German caravans that they bought for the show. For more beautiful wagons check out http://gypsywaggons.co.uk .
This show also sparked my interest in Tarot cards.
Wednesday, November 05, 2014
Winter Wonders
A big thanks to everyone that made it out to the FPAC fall open studios.
It was great to see all the old faces (and some new ones).
It is always nice to meet other artists and catch-up.
Below are some images from open studios, if you were not able to make it.
This year I will be showing my work at the
RISD HOLIDAY SALE – SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2014
I usually do not do any sales around the holidays. I have been using the time to catch up on illustration commissions and take a little break between work and classes. This year Nicole of Honeydew Studio asked me to split a table with her and I figured I could not pass-up the opportunity.
Hopefully I will have some more Life Science wordless card games printed out by then as well as some new business cards and prints.
It was great to see all the old faces (and some new ones).
It is always nice to meet other artists and catch-up.
Below are some images from open studios, if you were not able to make it.
This year I will be showing my work at the
RISD HOLIDAY SALE – SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2014
I usually do not do any sales around the holidays. I have been using the time to catch up on illustration commissions and take a little break between work and classes. This year Nicole of Honeydew Studio asked me to split a table with her and I figured I could not pass-up the opportunity.
Hopefully I will have some more Life Science wordless card games printed out by then as well as some new business cards and prints.
Made in Fort Point Store
If you live in or are visiting Boston Mass. and have not checked out the Fort Point area, it is definetly worth a visit. The area has changed so much in the past few years. The rent hikes and the development have pushed a lot of the artists out of the neighborhood. There are a lot more restaurants and start-ups in the area now. My favorite new-ish eateries include Flour, Bees-Knees, Tavern Road and Drink.
The artists that are in the neighborhood continue to make Fort Point their own with awesome public art, open studios and the Made in Fort Point store.
The store just recently moved. It is now in a more central location, but just a little hidden. If you are in the area be sure to check it out.
The store sells an array of my prints, and stickers as well as some amazing works by other Fort Point artists. This is a great place to shop for the holidays and support your local crafts-artist.
Above are some of my Krampus Christmas cards.
The artists that are in the neighborhood continue to make Fort Point their own with awesome public art, open studios and the Made in Fort Point store.
The store just recently moved. It is now in a more central location, but just a little hidden. If you are in the area be sure to check it out.
The store sells an array of my prints, and stickers as well as some amazing works by other Fort Point artists. This is a great place to shop for the holidays and support your local crafts-artist.
Above are some of my Krampus Christmas cards.
Thursday, April 17, 2014
Retro Future
I've been working on another neat illustration project "Life Science".
If all goes according to planned I hope to be releasing it at the FPAC spring open studios.
Why frogs?
With this vision of the future I wanted to counterpoint by depicting the effects of a consumerist robot-centric society on the environment. Most frogs require suitable habitat in both the land and water environments, they have permeable skin that can easily absorb toxic chemicals. These traits make frogs especially susceptible to environmental disturbances, because of this frogs are considered indicators of environmental stress.
If all goes according to planned I hope to be releasing it at the FPAC spring open studios.
- This project is another series of illustrations focused on frogs and robots, but a little more retro-modern in theme. I had an awesome time researching retro-futurism.
- Retro-futurism depicts the influence of the future produced in an earlier era. This aesthetic is characterized by a blend of old-fashioned "retro" styles with futuristic technology. Retro-futurism explores the themes of tension between past and future, and between the alienating and empowering effects of technology. Sort of steampunkish but in this case rather than being based in Victorian times my aesthetic was based in the retro 40's and 50's. (Diesel punk and Atomic Age) The "Atomic Age" is a descriptor typically used to name the period of history following the detonation of the first nuclear bomb.
focuses on Utopias and the pasts vision of the future and time capsules
http://www.paleofuture.com/blog/category/1940s
Why frogs?
With this vision of the future I wanted to counterpoint by depicting the effects of a consumerist robot-centric society on the environment. Most frogs require suitable habitat in both the land and water environments, they have permeable skin that can easily absorb toxic chemicals. These traits make frogs especially susceptible to environmental disturbances, because of this frogs are considered indicators of environmental stress.
The Life Science wordless story game is now for sale on Etsy.
Saturday, December 07, 2013
Krampus Christmas
Happy holidays everyone!
I've been working on some fairly long term projects recently.
This holiday season I will be sending out a little Snail Mail gift envelope of little stickers and such to those of you on my mailing list.
Just add your self to my (E-mail Signup) http://eepurl.com/CZ0Tr with your address before 12/14/2013.
(I will only ship to US mailing addresses)
For my holiday card I've been doing a little bit of research on Krampus.
Here is the finished card:
Krampus is a goatish devily creature from German folklore. Krampus acts as Saint Nicholas's opposite. Insted of rewarding good children with presents he punishes naughty children swatting them with switches and rusty chains before dragging them in baskets to a fiery place below.
Krampus grew to be a part of many familys' Christmas traditions. In the late 1800's, the invention of color printing and postcards wound up making Krampus a Christmas icon. German-speaking people around the world took to sending their friends and children postcards that featured the Krampus. The postcards would often read; GRUSS VOM KRAMPUS, meaning Greetings From Krampus. The message was intended to be a humorous reminder to be good.
sE9swm(v0lBRj9kMrpO!~~60_57.JPG)
I've been working on some fairly long term projects recently.
This holiday season I will be sending out a little Snail Mail gift envelope of little stickers and such to those of you on my mailing list.
Just add your self to my (E-mail Signup) http://eepurl.com/CZ0Tr with your address before 12/14/2013.
(I will only ship to US mailing addresses)
For my holiday card I've been doing a little bit of research on Krampus.
Here is the finished card:
Krampus grew to be a part of many familys' Christmas traditions. In the late 1800's, the invention of color printing and postcards wound up making Krampus a Christmas icon. German-speaking people around the world took to sending their friends and children postcards that featured the Krampus. The postcards would often read; GRUSS VOM KRAMPUS, meaning Greetings From Krampus. The message was intended to be a humorous reminder to be good.
sE9swm(v0lBRj9kMrpO!~~60_57.JPG)
In these regions it also became fairly common for the young men of the town to dress up and run through the streets. Whenever the first people decided to dress up as Krampus, they would have created a monster defined by whatever easily available materials could be used for a startling effect. In some cases those materials were the horns and pelts of mountain goats, and in others, straw or hay set aside as winter fodder. Today, though some costumes may be produced by mass production, they still imitate the look established by materials regionally available in Alpine valleys.
Their traditional costumes and masks are elaborately handcrafted. Krampusses can usually be encountered on and a few days before December 6
Atlas Obscura
Europe's Wild Men
For the children of the Alps, Krampus isn't purely a figure of terror. No, he's also a sugary treat, factoring into a whole host of traditional chocolates, cookies and breads.
Decorations from Salzburg
If you like Krampus, I recommend the movie "Rare Exports"
All the best winter wishes and holiday traditions!
-Jen
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
Marceline Painting for Desert Bus
Desert Bus for Hope
My most exciting announcement this Winter is the auctioning-off of the Marceline painting I donated to the Desert Bus charity.I was working on this fancy oil painting for the majority of the Summer and am really happy with the final piece.
Desert Bus for Hope combines video games and tedium to benefit charity. Desert Bus started in 2007 by internet sketch comedy group LoadingReadyRun. This year they will auction off and giveaway about 300 prize lots. These items are nerdy-game related and crafty items. I have spent the last few years following their live video stream and auctions and I'm so happy to be participating in the auction this year.
Check out the painting here
The auction Starts:
06:00PM PST, Nov 19th
Saturday, September 28, 2013
Mauzer and the Guttersnipe Warriors
Recently I have been inspired by the old-timey street gangs of London (something along the lines of Oliver twist). I have been watching a lot of Sherlock Holmes, Ripper Street, and doing some on-line research. There is something so grungy and primal about of the stories of those children that have been dealt the worst hand and manage to scrape and claw their way through the muck of London. Ripper Street is very similar to the Guy Ritchie Sherlock Holmes with beautiful movie sets based in the 1800′s. “Ripper Street” offers high budget filming locations and consuming that are dressed superbly in city soot.
In my searching I discovered a new show, Peaky Blinders. It looks like it may just be my cup of tea. This is BBC2's new epic British gangster period drama. The story follows of an infamous street gang, a terrifying Brummie mob who ruled the industrialized areas of Birmingham through the 1880s and early 1900s.
For a recent show, (Story Time) at the Monkeyhouse gallery, I created a character that was very much inspired by these shows.
This is Mauzer he lives in city a similar to 1920’s London. Mauzer is a “mouse hunter” he finds mice that are down on their luck and recruits them to join his Guttersnipe Warriors gang.
This group of misfits live on the dirty city streets banding together to make their way in the world. They sometimes fight crime, but they are also known to fight for scraps of fish by the docks. Mauzer’s lady-friend is Kitten-has-claws, she is a strong-willed spirited lady that is a pro at the slight-of hand.
When they travel to other cities, or need a little extra cash they will operate a side-show circus. This mouse gang will use their various street-smart skills to impress the carnival attendees.
In the future I may make a comic out of these characters, there are so many great stories to develop!
In my searching I discovered a new show, Peaky Blinders. It looks like it may just be my cup of tea. This is BBC2's new epic British gangster period drama. The story follows of an infamous street gang, a terrifying Brummie mob who ruled the industrialized areas of Birmingham through the 1880s and early 1900s.
For a recent show, (Story Time) at the Monkeyhouse gallery, I created a character that was very much inspired by these shows.
This is Mauzer he lives in city a similar to 1920’s London. Mauzer is a “mouse hunter” he finds mice that are down on their luck and recruits them to join his Guttersnipe Warriors gang.
This group of misfits live on the dirty city streets banding together to make their way in the world. They sometimes fight crime, but they are also known to fight for scraps of fish by the docks. Mauzer’s lady-friend is Kitten-has-claws, she is a strong-willed spirited lady that is a pro at the slight-of hand.
When they travel to other cities, or need a little extra cash they will operate a side-show circus. This mouse gang will use their various street-smart skills to impress the carnival attendees.
In the future I may make a comic out of these characters, there are so many great stories to develop!
Monday, August 26, 2013
Boston Arts Festival 2013
The fall-sale season and the Boston Arts Festival are rapidly approaching. My summer efforts are coming together and I'm getting paintings all packed up and labeled for next weekend.
The festival will showcase of over 50-juried visual artists from the Boston area as well as a performing arts & interactive arts program.This year do not miss:
Aug 31st. At 9:00pm fireworks display.
and the grand opening of the new carousel.
• Boston: Christopher Columbus Waterfront Park
• Sat, Aug 31st – Sun, Sep 1st, 12 – 6pm.
This
year I have titled my series of works "Fly Away home" most of the
paintings in this series developed from exploring the idea of home,
connections and travel. Most of these paintings continue to include wild
woodland girls and fuzzy creatures.
Over the summer I've been continuously working on numerous projects and trying to finish up a little Graphic Novel. As practice for my fancy comic my husband (Tomas Swift) and I have been working on a few quick storyboards. I have compiled these little comics and some sketches into a new photocopied zine project that includes all kinds of nifty animals, words and mini story-lines. I'm excited to announce it's debut at the Boston Arts Festival.
For my Fall sales I will also have a new set of pin-back buttons, frog stickers and the limited edition fancy prints from my Kickstarter.
-hope you can stop by.
Boston Ahts Festival
This will be my first sale of the Fall season!The festival will showcase of over 50-juried visual artists from the Boston area as well as a performing arts & interactive arts program.This year do not miss:
Aug 31st. At 9:00pm fireworks display.
and the grand opening of the new carousel.
• Boston: Christopher Columbus Waterfront Park
• Sat, Aug 31st – Sun, Sep 1st, 12 – 6pm.
Over the summer I've been continuously working on numerous projects and trying to finish up a little Graphic Novel. As practice for my fancy comic my husband (Tomas Swift) and I have been working on a few quick storyboards. I have compiled these little comics and some sketches into a new photocopied zine project that includes all kinds of nifty animals, words and mini story-lines. I'm excited to announce it's debut at the Boston Arts Festival.
For my Fall sales I will also have a new set of pin-back buttons, frog stickers and the limited edition fancy prints from my Kickstarter.
-hope you can stop by.
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