I decided to get on my computer and do some research about getting my cards printed. I’m going to try and take my illustration work and get cards, stickers, pins, etc made from them. I’m also looking into t-shirts and I’m going to document my findings here on my blog, youtube, instagram, FB.

I found a great article from Dolce Press Blog. To finding different vendors for packaging your cards. I’m looking into Clearbags. The cost is inexpensive. I don’t want the card jackets. I don’t really get that, but I like the flat bags that seal.

I ordered a sample pack of printing from FinerWorks. Costs approx. $20.00 plus $3 for shipping from FinerWorks. They do small runs of cards on fine art papers. It’s interesting you can go to some of the larger printers online like OvernightPrints and get cheaper cards, but the only offer glossy. I’m not a fan of glossy when it comes to artwork on cards. The gloss is distracting for me.

Another company I found was Smartpress, but they really are expensive to me. They cost is probably not that bad if you do a large order. I’m just starting out and don’t want 500 cards sitting in my house collecting dust. You can check them out for yourself.

The photo included in this post is from a photo booth I purchased. An investment I just made I am thrilled about is a portable light photo booth. Gosh good lighting is key and it really improves my work that I’m posting on social media. $145 from Amazon.com It is a little heavier then I thought. Sturdy and it reminds me of those art portfolios that you bought when you were in art school and toted every where. The set up is easy and there was no cast shadows from me! The photo I posted has no color corrections on it. Just needs the yellow taken down a notch in Photoshop. Not bad. The booth is big enough if you wanted you could put a small pet in it.

I will be shooting some set-ups for myself and then I think I might be able to shoot some things I an sell as bundles for other artists that want to use it in photoshop to put their work in it. I’ve been seeing those templates for sale.

I also thought about investing in a Epson Archival Inkjet Printer, laser printer, iPad Pro/pencil. Those things I need to research some more. I’m thrilled that 10 ysr ago I researched this stuff and the prices are much more reasonable these days. More to come. I will post the sample pack that I get from FinerWorks. I got that info from the FB artist group I’m part. I highly recommend anyone trying to get into an art market try and join a FB group to get insight. Very helpful. Nice people too.

I just changed the setting on my blog, so now I should be sharing to my NMillerIllustration Facebook page versus my personal FB page. Sorry for all the double posts folks. Trying to work on that. How annoying!

I am seriously thinking about opening a store on the creative market and also getting some other things in the works for side hustle. I figure it won’t hurt trying to get my art out there. I also just joined the Savannah Artist Association. I also joined a artist FB group and an childrens book author and illustrators FB group.

Seriously looking into trying to do more with my art. I have a wish list of tech art things I would love to invest in. We will see…

I’ve been really lucky to get a chance to judge at the Bulloch Co. Regional Technology Fair. I’ve learned so much about what students are capable of doing with digital technology. This is my 3rd year judging. This year, myself and 2 other judges had the Graphic Design Category. I really wished I could post some of the digital art that I saw today. They were younger students 3rd-8th grade. I teach high school and it really amazed! Truly blessed to participate in the event.

I’ve had to learn so many different types of software over the course of a semester. Or relearn, since I’ve been teaching high school. Right now I’m teaching Adobe Illustrator. Needed a refresher. It’s hard to remember if you don’t use that particular software all the time. I’ve been watching these videos and wanted to share them.

Adobe CC 2018 is what I’m using at home. $19.99 is what I pay per month as an educator to have access to the CC.  I like video tutorials around 10 min. I know some people go way deep. But I’m a busy teacher and don’t have time for all that.

Adobe Illustrator

TEELA CUNNINGHAM Youtube.

MCC Multimedia

This one is for Adobe Animate.

ArtTips

Alan Becker

Review of products

Drawing with Jazza

I have never seen of anything like this in my 23 yrs living in the low country. Snow has been coming down since around 9 am and it is sticking to the ground. Snow days for school meaning a good time to catch up on my artwork. It is almost 1.5″ deep.

Share the pplluv.com site on social media using the hashtag #PPLLUVTEXTURE and email People Love Process the link at info@pplluv.com and they’ll give you this FREE texture set.

I signed up for the Ask Us Anything from the Society of Visual Storytelling. It was free to sign up. I saw the posting on their FB page. @SVSlearn. Will Terry, David Hohn, and Lee White.

The time consuming art of lesson planning. I am working during the break because one of my 3 quarter classes is going to create their own board game to incorporate game development. Did I mention I don’t play board games or video games? This is a real struggle for me and I am binge watching youtube videos for designing board games. Here are some sites if you are interested in making your own.

Board Game Geek https://boardgamegeek.com

The Dice Tower Youtube Channel

Cardboard Edison

https://cardboardedison.com

Jamey Stegmaier Youtube channel

I also really liked the HomeMadeGameGuru’s youtube channel. He shows you step-by-step how to prototype your own professional looking games. He is a cardboard craftsman.

HomeMadeGameGuru

My students even my own child think there is some magic tip to drawing well. That I am hiding the secret. All I can say it takes practice. It is muscle memory and hand eye coordination. Not just 10 min but 1,000 of hours. I would say I started picking up drawing when I was 9 yrs old. I am now 42. I still have issues with my drawing but things are easier knowing when I need to make adjustments. I still acknowledge I make mistakes.

I am surprised that so many people think I just woke up and knew how to draw well. Granted there are those that are born gifted and have natural ability that comes at a young age. There are only so many Motzarts and Picassos. Most it is a lot of effort and long term growth.

I wish it was like the Matrix. You became a master just by downloading the information into our brains but we aren’t at that point yet. Until that time we just have to practice, practice, practice.

So grateful to have a break a recharge my batteries and be creative. I am going to try and spend some time working on projects for myself.

It is funny when I think of this phrase as a teacher. I was reading it got popular because of Annie Hall the movie. My high school students are surprised that I can draw. I try and take it as a complement. I guessed they figure the old adage is true. It is a constant force of will on my part to make time for it. I miss my younger years of hours drawing and sketching on whatever project I wanted. Those were the days.

Teaching is a very time consuming profession. It takes hours of prep for lessons. I have a few video tutorials, looming overhead, I need to work on as I type. I will say my students’ enjoyment of drawing has spurned me to find the time and the projects I want to work on. Some of them are very good. The 1000 of hours and muscle memory has already paid off for them. It is inspiring at times.

But there are always ways one can enhance and work at their craft to make it stronger and better. I have been trying to go back to that student mindset. When I was freelancing a part of me was always trying to cater to what I thought would help me get the next job. The pieces I have truly enjoyed has been the projects that were for me and exploring something I wanted to do. I am trying to keep that mindset as I work along.

That is why I don’t discourage the fan art in my class. The students do some amazing work from the things the find interesting in their popular culture. I had this idea in my head that real drawing should show more of the stuff that art schools and colleges are expecting in portfolios. I had to be honest to myself the idea of drawing another still life has never “WOW” me. I rather draw something cute and fuzzy.

Most of my Drawing 1 and 2 classes I spent drawing piles of junk. Teachers are generally hoarders, amd I am no exception. It did teach me composition, value, and space etc. I was never thrilled or excited about what I made. I would rather have students that are excited about their work and make the fan art and teach the principles of art within those contexts. Plus, I like the fan art too.

It is hard teaching and being sick at the same time. I think it is the worst. I felt it coming on 2 days ago. Yesterday I knew I was exhausted. My morning students I think felt some pity for me and tried. I took today to rest and recoup. Nearly forgot things I need to take care of for tomorrow. I hope am not forgetting anything else.