Full Figure Fairies.

Here's a little project I've been working on.  My "Full Figure Fairies."

I've noticed that lately, fairies seem to be rather slender.  It wasn't always that way.  A lot of fairy paintings of the past, fairies were more curvy.  It seems that fairies' body shape follows what ever sells best to society's ideals of beauty.

However, I think that fairies seem to be either mostly imaginary or largely unseen, so we really don't know what they look like.  Being of the spirit world, I'd have thought they could look however they want.

So, I've decided they look a little healthier than the gamine things that seem to be the fashion these days.

These two aren't really finished.  They still have a little masking fluid on them and probably need a few touch ups with colour pencil.  Then I might see if we can sell them as prints or greeting cards.

See you next time.

House of Shan.

It is here!  I have opened my Etsy shop.  You can go and have a look here.

House of Shan.

I know there are only seven available prints at the moment, and I know three of them are coffee.  Someone suggested a set of three, so I've been looking at some ideas.  Next will be a coffee pot on black.

Then we might start looking at some pretty flowers.  Although there is a rather nice pic of spilled nail polish I'm dying to do.

Any ideas, especially in sets of two or three, are very welcome.  I've got my own ideas, but I really want to know what other people want to see.

Another reason I'm going with the simple still life is that they are simple.  Ha.  I mean that they are easy to get done and up on the site.  This means I've got heaps of work up and there's a lot to look at and choose from.

It also means I can practice while finding my groove.  I still don't know what I want to do with my art!  So this will do in the meantime.

Also in the meantime is doing some personal commissions, a portrait for one friend and a reproduction for another.  And some book illustrations for yet another.  And if any of them are reading this, I did some work on yours today!  Promise.  One's drawn up, one's touched up and the other has been researched.

I really am having fun with this whole small business thing.  What I've also been doing is reading up on how to run a small business.  I love libraries.  I want that on a t-shirt.  "I love Libraries!"

I've mentioned my new favourite business guru, Leonie Dawson, another Aussie chick who runs the Amazing biz, amazing life academy.  I'm going to sign up one of these days.  In the meantime I have soooooo much stuff from her website, free downloadable book, facebook page and emails to keep me going in the meantime.

All in all, it's been a couple of busy days.  Seeing the psychiatrist, scanning pics at the school library, editing said pics, updating the Etsy shop, drawing up a commission, library visit, laundry (well, it has to be done), shopping, vacuuming, research into Caravaggio's technique, photoshopping some more pics, planning a holiday, emailing some friends, visiting with Mum and planning my nieces birthday pressent.  And it's only Tuesday.

And with that, I'm off for evening prayers, piggy jim jams and sleepy bo bos.

Good night.