Redbud Redux

So instead of tackling a new painting like I had planned, I went back into the redbud and did a little bit more detail work to try and clean up the vision I had of it. I'm happier now. I could probably keep working on it, and I may once I get one of those new fangled art pens and a tablet that supports it... but for now I am content!

Which do you prefer? The original or this one?

Redbud Quick Draw

3 in a row- wow I'm good! Here's this week's Quick Draw. Referenced from a photograph I took on USCA's campus last year, a redbud budding. Say that 10 times fast. I've always loved the photograph because of the color, the blue and purple make me smile. I like the painting, but I think it loses some of the depth of field that made the photo work... which is of course my doing. I may revisit this one and sharpen up the detail in some spots down the line.

Quick Draw: Missing the Mountains

I did a flash road trip up more north this weekend and spent a considerable amount of time in and around the Smokey Mountains. I absolutely adore it up there- and so surprise surprise, the only thing on my mind when I sat down to draw a little this morning were all the vistas. They're so hard to capture with my current photography equipment, so this will have to act as a poor substitute for the time being. I could move there in a heart beat, I really could.

Quick Art

I'm going to try to do a piece of quick art once a week, we'll see how long this lasts. Spend 30 minutes to an hour doing something artistic- either in the real 2d world or a digital painting.

This is what happened this morning when I was centering myself for the day at work:



I'm happy with it for a short period of time. Of course there are parts that I would love to go back into and "fix", but I think I'll try not to. Just leave it as it is. Before it gets overworked.

Reference photo credit goes to Alaina Doran at Thoroughbred Country.

Where has the Kaylan gone?

Well, I sure have been slow at posting over here. Whoops! This past year has been a crazy one. I started my online shop, Wildcard Fiber Arts which sort of took off. Then I had surgery, and less than 6 weeks later started a new job! Woohoo! I'm working as the Tourism Assistant for Thoroughbred Country, which is a State Funded Tourism Region in South Carolina. I get to do a lot of things, including a good amount of design work! I'm really enjoying myself.

So, as far as design goes... what have I been up to?

Creatively Dyed
I just finished working with Dianne of Creatively Dyed to do a new logo for her. She is such a bright, vibrant person that her logo needed to be bright and vibrant, too!

She is really happy with it, and so am I. It will start replacing her old logo in print ads in the near future, but first off we've got to start transitioning all her old materials!

I've also been continuing work with Dianne on the Charlotte Fiber Festival advertisements. They have been showing up in many Fiber Arts Magazines over the past few months, and we're getting ready to start designing a few larger scale pieces soon as well.

Thoroughbred Country, SC
Okay, so this isn't freelance. This is my real job now. But I'm still having fun with it!

1. Itinerary for American Road Magazine's online Website- you can download it by heading over here. We had an itinerary previously, but when it came time to make a few content changes... I asked if I could give it a face lift as well and was given the go-ahead.

2. State Parks Stay and Play Brochure - Viewable as a PDF at this location. Just a quick flyer redesign for our local State Parks to help advertise some of their special deals.

3. Our Winter Newsletter - Viewable as a PDF at this location. Again, just a brief update for our Tourism Partners on what we're doing and to spread the word about some of the local holiday events happening throughout December.

Plus a smattering of redesigned ads for American Road Magazine, Southern Living, SC Living and more. I've been having a blast!