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.

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.

• 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.
  •  
   Modern Mechanix
  

PaleoFuture

 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.

Froggies and Studio View

I've been working on tons of Kickstarter projects, what fun!
My art tables are filled with piles of little robot sketches, frog stickers and postcards.
I've also been working on some studio photos for a FPAC blog interview.

Recently I had a short interview on Questioning Creatives.
Also I have opened up a web shop at Society6.

Some sneak peeks:

So, I've been frequenting Kickstarter more and more recently, and it is starting to become highly addictive. One of my favorite pastimes is looking at art and comics and trying to support underrepresented artists by collecting my small change and purchasing little things that they are selling, sometimes I can afford an original piece.

Well, Kickstarter gives you a chance to support a project that is not completed yet, still in production, think of it as investors in a company, sort of.

Often, an creator (usually someone with some experience on the subject) will pitch an idea and ask for a specific amount of monetary support within a certain # of days. In return the creator will offer various different incentives (available only through kickstarter) such as inclusion of your portrait in the comic they are drawing, credit, creative input, a thank you or original art work (some people come up with really inventive things).
If the kickstarter is funded and succeeds your rewards often increase in value and you get the satifaction of helping launch a project at the ground level, sort of like a producer.
If the Kickstarter dose not reach its goal in the allotted time the project will not go into production, you will not get your incentives and your card will not be charged.
So there is a little bit of a gamble involved as well.

In the last few days I think I have backed about four projects, it is so much fun. If the project goes into production the artist will also, sometimes, continue to update you on their progress.
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/breadpig/to-be-or-not-to-be-that-is-the-adventure
This has been my favorite kickstarter to follow so far... maybe it has made my e-mail in-box overflow, but it is worth it.

Inspired by my Kickstarter heroes I have decided to launch a project of my own. I was thinking about kickstarting my comic I've been working on, but I decided to launch something a little more reasonable to begin with. This way I can see how things work and iron out the kinks.

I'm really excited about this!

Here is the project:

 http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2101475072/jennifer-lewis-illustration-limited-edition-frog-r

I'm asking for $350 to print 20-500 limited edition prints of my "Robot" painting.
This is one of my favorite paintings and I sold the original fairly quickly. I would like to revive this little guy by getting some really nice prints made.
I set my goal fairly low, uncertain if  raise enough, (the cost of about 30 prints) so if we can go beyond the $350 that would be awesome! I have set additional wicked cool reward levels if I exceed the base amount and I will unlock them as we reach different tier levels.
On my Kickstareter I have some really nice incentives for your pledges such as commissioned pieces (I rarely do commissions), sticker packs and comics, something for everyone so show it to your friends.

Thanks for your support, oh and if you end up making a kickstarter be sure to send me the link so I can support you.

-Jen