Tomorrow!

Well everybody, tomorrow's the day! Tomorrow is my first expo/convention/show/whatever you want to call it, and I'm so unsure of anything but whatever! Diving in head first! If anyone's in the San Francisco area and has an incling towards my humble little comic, feel free to head on over to the Alternative Press Expo and say hi! I'm at the Rojofolio table, I think it's 127.

Printed

Working on prints today for my part of a table at APE ( alternative press expo ) this year - so exciting! I've never done anything like this, it's so strange and new. Now just waiting for the comic to be shipped!

In Progress

Well, I'm back! Here's what I've been working on in the few months I've been gone: Our house is now doing a sort of themed painting night every once in a while. This is the newest theme, and it is 'Monsters'. The previous theme was 'Hindu Gods,' and I chose Matsya, the first avatar of Vishnu. I am also spending a bit of today working on this piece, a companion to the Don't Give Up The Ship one I did a few months ago.

Also new and exciting: I now have a website, and I know the '.net' ending is totally lame but there are about five thousand kat martins out there, so I couldn't find one that worked better, alas.

Also, I've been working on a comic starring everyone's favorite sailor, Mick Spinner. It even has a website, although I have yet to add content. The comic, as well as a BUNCH of prints and things, is going to be sold at Ape this year! That's right, I'm going to a convention for the first time in my life, oh man. My friend and coworker has a table and I'm tagging along for the ride.

I've also completely redone my bedroom, gone on a trip to Santa Cruz, worked on a few commissions, got an iPhone (!!!) and I may or may not have an awesome project brewing with none other than the fabulous Kelsey. Phew! It's good to be back!

New Paintins

Just a small note to let you all know there are some new tiny (3x3 inches-ish) paintings in the shop! Feel free to check them out!

December Hath Come!

Well it's been a while. No excuses, just sometimes hiatuses (hiati? haitus...ow) happen, right?

There are some new baubles at my shop, and there are more to come in the next few days! So, got someone nautical-minded on your holiday gift list? Eh? Hop on down and get em while they're hot! I also do custom work, since I have about 8,000 pieces of seaglass on my shelves in every color imaginable.

Working on a new layout for this place and even contemplating a move, gasp! Stay tuned!

And if you haven't already, check out my pal Kelsey's blog - she has been away in New York and having many adventures, but last time we made Stuffed Pumpkin Pancakes, and soon we will be back with a vengeance!
(Wow, check out that amazing photography, what a great photographer she must have- oh wait, that's me HARHAR.) Man, I can't wait to get back to eating and creating devastatingly delicious food.

New Work + Things

New work! Hurray! This is the rarely seen Narwhalship - half narwhal, half ship, completely awesome! He is a small 6x9 piece, that I painted one day while waiting for other work to dry, and I just love him. Painted with my fancy new Liquitex Heavy Body Acrylics. I really recommend these paints - not just cause they're smooth like buttah but also because the packaging is really nice. Yeah, I judge a book by its' cover. (The Narwhalship could be yours!)


So because I work at an art store and someone opened a set of gouache (and if you are like me and have no idea how to pronounce it, it is, in fact, pronounced 'gwash'. Just fyi!) tubes and stole the red tube, I got the rest of the set free, so I decided, hey, I should try using gouache! This is the first painting I've ever done with gouache, and I gotta say, I like it! I used both Winsor & Newton Designer's Gouache and Holbein Acryla Gouache, and I think I prefer the Holbein, because it's easier to get the right consistency with the paint. Everyone should try it out! I know I want to do more with it! (Pst, also, it's up for sale at my shop, if anyone's interested)

In other exciting news, between going to the Wicked Plants exhibit at the Conservatory of Flowers in Golden Gate Park:

...And having crazy awesome adventures:

...I'm also going to be in an art show! My co-worker is curating one, and almost everyone at work is going to be in it. I'm going to help him hang it today, but I'm so nervous - I've never been in an art show before! I spent a bunch of time framing my stuff today and I even got some fancy mats, so I hope it turns out well. I'm so scared I'm going to put my stuff up next to everyone else's and they'll be the worst ones there, hahaha! Oh well, at least I'm giving it a shot, right?

Tomorrow we're filming a fake trailer for a movie spoof, next weekend is the gallery opening party, the weekend after that my Mom is coming to visit (yay!) and the weekend after THAT is our big nautical house party - so many decoration ideas, I will keep you all posted. Hope you made it through this epicly long post, and have a great weekend, everyone! Xoxo!

Friday, Friday, Gotta Get Down on Friday...

I should just rename this blog 'photos of Roman being cute on my bed, oh and also some paintings once in a while.' But that's a pretty long blog title.

Did a quick little watercolor sketch last Tuesday because I was feeling really uninspired and just wanted to get SOMETHING down on paper. Ever have those days? I had my pallette all nice and laid out, my brushes and water and paper ready to go, and no ideas what to do with it. I tried working on this other painting, but I might just give up on it.


I was actually looking at this image when I was painting it - so it's very VERY loosely based on it. I also had the sky this ugly yellow, then an ugly blue, then I just gave up and Payne's Grey-ed it up. Mostly I wanted to practice painting the sea - waves are really hard (for me at least).

Apparently my camera memory card erased itself - anyone know if I can recover anything once that happens? I think it had all my U.K. photos on there, but I think I also saved them somewhere in the bowels of my computer, so I should be alright.

Speaking of cameras, I'm about to buy a new lens for myself with my etsy proceeds! I've never bought a new lens, I'm so excited! It goes to f1.8, heck yesssss, since my lame kit lens only goes to f4. stoked.

Oh yeah, there's also a teeny sale at the shop so check it out if you want a teeny painting or two! I want to start doing notecards again soon, too... Any other ideas?

80th post!

Have I shown you all my new business cards?


Aren't they the cutest? I needed new ones so badly, and I whipped these out in about an hour, and I love them!

I've been sick lately, but I'm finally feeling better and today we're going to work on filming our short film that might just end up being submitted to some film fests! We're pretty stoked about it, and I have to say, I think it's pretty funny and cute. We still have so much work to do on it, though, and almost every shot has some level of special-effects so it is a LOT of work for a very small amount of footage. But it's fun, and that's what's important.

Also coming up is my super secret project that I'm working on with a pal. Actually TWO super secret projects now! Busy busy! But for now, I have to hop to the post office to deliver an order.

I love doing wax seals. I wonder if I should do a tutorial on them sometime soon? I only just recently learned, when I was working at the art store. They are so much fun, but so easy to mess up if you don't know what you're doing! Obviously I am not a pro at them yet, but I'm working on it :) It also doesnt help that I just started a new stick of wax so it drips all loosey-goosey... Anyway! See you soon, everyone!

Dance Dance Til You're Dead

I don't know if anyone's noticed, but I can never think of clever post titles, so I usually just take a line from whatever song I'm listening to at the moment. Usually it's the Decemberists. Today it's Heads Will Roll by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Just thought I'd share.


I painted this yesterday for my new Valentine's Day cards set which is available here. Oh gosh, I love it so much. It came out exactly as I wanted it! Poor squid and sperm whale, their love is so epic and fated. Are they the Romeo and Juliet of the deep sea?

HUGE shop update currently happening and continuing today and tomorrow. Prints! So many prints! Cards! Original paintings! I made a fancy ad image that I'll use in the next post, woohoo.

In other news, I've been doing lots of art, working on a design business thing with my friend on the side which shall be unveiled soonish, finished another book - this one was Sherlock Holmes vs. Jack the Ripper - good fun. I also have been enjoying the nice weather! It's gotten so much nicer and hot and sunny!

Hope everyone's doing swell. Til next time!

Ships and Sailors

Hey kids! I've not been up to a lot lately (but I plan on changing that asap), but here's one of my almost-finished works. I still have to edit it because the background is slightly not white and that really bugs me. I like her, though!

How is everyone? The weather is beautiful here in San Francisco - it's been nice and clear and hot during the day and then it gets foggy and cold in the evening, just like I like it! (Everytime the fog rolls in I think 'It's Black Pearl weather!' Hahaha, I am such a dork).

Hopefully I'll have a shop update soon, but I dunno. Any suggestions? What would anyone like me to put up? What would you like to buy?

I was thinking of doing calendars for Christmas presents. That means I should probably start drawing some pictures for them! Yikes!


I leave you with Mick. Looking pensive and content in the snow. Even though he's probably freezing to death. Poor Mick.

OH YES: That SALE is only until TOMORROW, so if you want em, go get them!!

xoxo

Sale Sale Sale!

I'll have a real, honest-to-goodness post soon, but I just wanted to report to all y'all that there is a SALE at the shop! Hurry while supplies last!

Before the Mast

I'm sorry I haven't posted in a long time. Our internet is still reaaaally dumb. I have to call comcast and complain - it makes it way too hard for me to update my blog, since it is sooooo slow. The only reason I can update right now is because I am in Seattle for my Mom's birthday.

Anyway, I guess I should just show you kids what I've been working on lately. How does that sound? Here goes:


Here's the bigger views of the images that are on the cards:





Thanks for looking, have a good day!
xoxo

Leigh Has an Etsy!

Everyone should check out my pal Leigh's etsy likerightnow. Not only is her banner insanely adorable, (and yes Leigh, I was watching you over your shoulder like the whole time you drew it) but she also has awesome pendants and necklaces that she makes and I love. I think this is my favorite:

But I am also a huge fan of the M&M! How cute is that!

In other news, I've sketched out about 8,000 new paintings and I'm planning on expanding my merchandise to a few things. Perhaps some tshirts or bags or some cool clay necklaces that I am dying to make lately. Does anyone have any opinions on what I should sell? I also might offer some original papercuts soon, too, since I'm doing a commissioned one right now. Woohoo!

It's Saturday! I want to go thrifting! But thrifting fails on the weekends! There are too many people! I did get some super neato frames and SHIPCURTAINS at Value Village the other day. But now I guess I will just be stuck in the house all day cleaning, boo.

Drunken Lullabies

Yes, Happy St. Patrick's Day! I'm sitting in my studio listening to my Irish Music playlist to get in the spirit of the day (not that I don't listen to this playlist all the time or anything. It's not like I need St. Patrick's Day as an excuse to listen to some awesome music!)


There's what I've been working on lately. Hurray. Painting on wood is fun. They're part of a card set on sale at the shop. Wheee!

Okay, I'll leave you all with some awesome Irish music to celebrate the holiday:

In Which My Stomach Makes Funny Noises

I actually sold five things at my etsy today. Whew! What a day! That's the kind of encouragement I need! Now I feel like I could take on the world, hahaha.

I forgot to post this picture back when I finished it; remember that cut-paper Mick I was doing? Maybe? I blogged it here. Anyway, I finished him the next day, I think. Here's what it ended up looking like that day:


I say "that day" because shortly after I took a few pictures, I took the background apart because I was unhappy with it. Now he is taped to my wall in the rigging that leads no where. I'm sorry, Mick. Someday I'll put you in a better background.

I think my post was going to have a point besides that, but now I can't remember what it was. Oh yes. I drew some more today! So yes, three more paintings will be coming up either tomorrow or the next day; two mermaids (one with Mick), and an Easter themed one, possibly to be made into a notecard. Who knows.

Oh, and Scotskipper. In response to your comment on my last entry: I never really thought about that. I suppose the poor ship always seems to meet an untimely end in the paintings I've done. Believe it or not, I have lots of sketches and unfinished works sitting in my portfolio with the ship all in one piece and functioning well. I'll have to actually finish them to prove it, I suppose!

I'm a Busy Busy Bee

Ooh, I made a new layout! I just did not like the proportions of the old one - I think this is much better. Plus I wanted a cute background. Yes. I might paint some waves for a background tomorrow, but for now, this one will do.


New items up in the shop, hopefully someone will buy some. Prease?


I spent yesterday embroidering more and watching Avatar: The Last Airbender on my computer. Ah bliss. It rained all day, so I didn't feel bad about sitting on my bum all day. Although I did manage to clean my room and take out all my garbage, which was a LOT of recycling. Why am I talking about this? I'm rambling. Hooboy.

Not much else to say. Tomorrow I'm planning on actually drawing. And painting some more. I have so many ideas and not enough time! Plus I've been spending a lot of time advertising my etsy store and yet not getting any sales, I wonder what I am doing wrong. If I could get like. Two more sales. Then I would feel like I can relax and work on something else. Well. I must perservere, I guess!!