Gearing back up again

Talk about busy. Halloween just completely absorbed almost three months of my life. I mentioned before I work as a make-up artist and I got busier than ever with gigs this year. I'm not complaining about the work, I'm so thankful for all the cool opportunities I got this season. But, I'm just sad that I wasn't better about keeping up my new shop, making new designs, blogging, etc... I started this mission with lots of gusto but lost steam when I got too busy.

I wanted to be able to grow my shop and expand my product line faster than I have. It's hard to do with little money and little time, but I know it can be done. My gusto is back but more focused. I realized I need to set realistic goals for myself and get better about time management. It doesn't matter how quickly this happens for me as long as I keep being productive and moving forward.

I have been very productive this week. Made several new screens for the new line of scarves I'm working on. Previews and pics soon! :)

back in the saddle again

Sorry it's been awhile since I blogged. I got caught up in being busy I guess.

In happier news yesterday was my birthday and was one of the best days I've had in a long time. I was surrounded by people I love all day and that was really what made it so awesome.

The best thing that happened on my birthday was I made my first sale in my etsy shop. WOO HOO! It was a very encouraging step forward. I listed some new artwork tonight so you should stop by and check it out. New designs are on the way soon. I can't wait to burn some more screens.

So, another year in the life has passed, only 2 more till the big 3-0. Bring it on! :)

Should be sleeping...

This week is super busy so far, can't wait for the weekend so I can have some free time to really get some work done- which is kind of an oxymoron.  I've been cranking out the merch to post in my etsy store all while working a 40 hour work week- which is not normal for me. Here's some t-shirt samples  of two of my latest designs and the gears are already turning for new designs...

Aside from being a freelance artist and designer I also work as a make-up artist. I have a long history in the entertainment industry and love working in theatre and movies- there really is no business like show business. If it wasn't for my eclectic journey through the entertainment world I would have never found my current place in this world as an artist. My fun side job is working at Universal Studios Orlando in their make-up and prosthetics department. I love it there. I've worked as a make-up artist for their Halloween Horror Nights event for the past three years (as well as other stuff around the park) and it has come to be my favorite time of year. We are starting pre-production for the event now so the fun (and busy-ness) is just beginning for me.

I recently got to work one of the most exciting events I've ever been involved in at the park. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter just recently opened and I was one of the hair stylists and make-up artists working on the Hogsmeade villagers featured during the red carpet and opening events. I'm a big Harry Potter fan so it was so exciting to be a part of it all. Here's our Hogsmeade crew all dressed and ready on set- I heart these guys! 

To legit to quit

Hey hey!

Just got back from seeing Pat Benatar rock the stage. I freakin' love her. She always puts on such a GREAT show! She was promoting a new biography she recently released that sounds interesting, Between a heart and a rock place. I think I'll pick this up if I ever allow myself time to read something just for fun.

That cover is awesome. Maybe I should do a Pat Benatar screen print design next. I saw a cool 80's style themed tee at her merch table tonight I was really inspired by. I know it's cliche now that there has been such a rebirth of 80's style, but I just love the graphics of that era. They were so bold & colorful.

In other news...

I've been busy busy lately screen printing the blank shirts & totes I've had sitting around. It took so much time to build all the web pages, blogs, etc... that I haven't had much time to get back to the business of actually making stuff to sell. I'm so excited about everything that's progressing though. I've been talking about opening a etsy store and selling more of my work for over a year now. Now it's actually happening and I can't wait till this all comes together!! Here's a preview of one of the designs I drew that I burned into one of my silk screens- you'll definitely see this on some prints and apparel soon:

RAWRRRR!!!! :)

Good night folks, Happy 4th of July!!!

So much time so little to do. Strike that, reverse it!

This week's theme is "If you build it they will come." I have spent hours sitting here at the computer filling out profiles, about me's, product descriptions, shop policies... I feel so narcissistic. But on the upside, some serious web presence progress is being made and the etsy shop I've been dreaming about running for the past year should be open for business soon. I'm tired of being on the computer so much and itching to creating more merch for the shop. But I figure there is no sense in opening up a shop and having the items sit in a dead shop with no promotion. So here's the fruits of my labor so far:


A new (simple) website to house my portfolio: www.designingdevin.com
 My first tweets: www.twitter.com/designingdevin


Also, I've recently been reading a few fantastically helpful books on craft business and freelancing that I wanted to share with you. Both are great resources when your trying to break into the business of being you! The authors and contributors in these books have braved this road before you so it's especially encouraging and helpful to hear tales of those who have "made it." The Handmade Marketplace is pretty specific to conquering the craft market while My So-Called Freelance Life is more general and could apply to different types of creative freelancers.

 






The Handmade Marketplace by Kari Chapin          My So-Called Freelance Life by Michelle Goodman


Alright now, back to setting up shop on Etsy and rediscovering why I love the music of Guster

Hey world, here I am!

Tonight I was watching "U.S. of Tara" and the angsty teenage daughter was complaining to a new friend about how much she hates herself. He says to her "Shoot yourself and walk away. Change. It's your life." Meaning why complain any longer about things that you have control over. That moment stuck with me because it was exactly what I needed to hear.


I am a artist at heart, I work in many different mediums but I haven't been able to figure out how to use my skill set yet towards a sustainable career. I've become so frustrated lately because I feel like I have a lot to offer, but I can't seem to find success. I've tried many different creative career choices and can't figure out why I still feel so unsettled. Part of it is because my interests keep evolving as I learn more. It's my self-diagnosed "artist a.d.d." The other part is that I'm afraid to try and make a living as an artist because of all the stigma that comes with announcing that as a profession. There is also a little bit of fear mixed in with that. Sure my friends and family think I'm awesome but will the rest of the world? I could come up with a million excuses as to why I shouldn't pursue my independent plans, but I'm tired of working so hard for other people and feeling like I'm going nowhere. I've never fantasized about a ordinary career choice and it's time that I bite the bullet and put my energy towards what I really want to my life to become.


Join me on this journey as I set forth on the task of becoming an independent creative freelancer. I want to share with you the process I'm going through in hopes that it will help out someone else going through the same sort of thing. Claiming that you are going to be a independent professional is a huge leap of faith, but what gives me hope is there are many out there that are a lot like me who are successful. When I see what others before me have achieved I think "why not me?" So I'm going after my piece of the pie. Who's with me?



We are all inventors, each sailing out on a voyage of discovery, guided each by a private chart, of which there is no duplicate. The world is all gates, all opportunities.
Ralph Waldo Emerson