Tuesday, March 27, 2007

Copyright Michelle McBride 2007

Hey, we're all aware this page is Copyrighted so any artwork appearing here is MINE peoples. I have heard rumours of people tracing some of my work. That's a big fat no no. Got it?

New Friends.


We love to play playstation! Although, we can't afford a new Playstation 3!

(So, I've just made my wee squid today. So my two little monsters have been hanging out, getting to know eachother and chatting at why my Squidee only has one shoe and why my Polka Dot Monster is brandishing a large head wound covered by a crown. {I don't know how to sew that hole shut, so it's pretty hideous}. {I also need to point out that when I teach at school my technical term for "{}" these brackets are called French Brackets because I am not sure what they are called, but they look fancy and french to me.} The Squid only has one shoe because my arm has been really sore these past few days and it just got too painful to work on.)


I'm makin some wee note cards, I've doodled these as of late, and I thought they were funny and cute, and I could send them to my mum for her birthday instead of a cheesy card. (Or crude. I'm a wee bit crude.)

I was able to teach a class with industry people yesterday (I was a busy bee yesterday) It was really nice actually. Carm always tells me I need more real world experience, as I have only really worked for one design company. So it was lovely to talk to people about their jobs and work and ra ra ra just to get different perspective. One guy actually mocked me because I forgot to turn something to outlines, so when it went to print it got all wonky. haha.. (he didn't offensively mock me. but he questioned my actions. My rubtle was that I innocently forgot.)

Anywhoodle. It was lovely to meet new people and talk about design and such. I liked it. And I was lucky enough to learn even MORE about illustrator. Wee!! So, if you need help- I can help!!

The stock portfolio will be in full swing again tomorrow. I am still wanting to make a few greeting cards, I'm still making some wee little sewn characters (to be posted above) but I am really wanting to get my website up and getting some more illustrations done.

As of today I have been approved for about 35 Amercian Visa's. Apparently America wants me. They want me bad.

STAY TUNED.

Unknown Author

I read this on blog.illustrationcastle.com. Good times.

“Every day, there are more and more CL posts seeking “artists” for everything from auto graphics to comic books to corporate logo designs. More people are finding themselves in need of some form of illustrative service.

But what they’re NOT doing, unfortunately, is realizing how rare someone with these particular talents can be.

To those who are “seeking artists”, let me ask you; How many people do you know, personally, with the talent and skill to perform the services you need? A dozen? Five? One? …none?

More than likely, you don’t know any. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be posting on craigslist to find them.

And this is not really a surprise.

In this country, there are almost twice as many neurosurgeons as there are professional illustrators. There are eleven times as many certified mechanics. There are SEVENTY times as many people in the IT field.

So, given that they are less rare, and therefore less in demand, would it make sense to ask your mechanic to work on your car for free? Would you look him in the eye, with a straight face, and tell him that his compensation would be the ability to have his work shown to others as you drive down the street?

Would you offer a neurosurgeon the “opportunity” to add your name to his resume as payment for removing that pesky tumor? (Maybe you could offer him “a few bucks” for “materials”. What a deal!)

Would you be able to seriously even CONSIDER offering your web hosting service the chance to have people see their work, by viewing your website, as their payment for hosting you?

If you answered “yes” to ANY of the above, you’re obviously insane. If you answered “no”, then kudos to you for living in the real world.

But then tell me… why would you think it is okay to live out the same, delusional, ridiculous fantasy when seeking someone whose abilities are even less in supply than these folks?

Graphic artists, illustrators, painters, etc., are skilled tradesmen. As such, to consider them as, or deal with them as, anything less than professionals fully deserving of your respect is both insulting and a bad reflection on you as a sane, reasonable person. In short, it makes you look like a twit.

A few things you need to know;

1. It is not a “great opportunity” for an artist to have his work seen on your car/’zine/website/bedroom wall, etc. It IS a “great opportunity” for YOU to have their work there.

2. It is not clever to seek a “student” or “beginner” in an attempt to get work for free. It’s ignorant and insulting. They may be “students”, but that does not mean they don’t deserve to be paid for their hard work. You were a “student” once, too. Would you have taken that job at McDonalds with no pay, because you were learning essential job skills for the real world? Yes, your proposition it JUST as stupid.

3. The chance to have their name on something that is going to be seen by other people, whether it’s one or one million, is NOT a valid enticement. Neither is the right to add that work to their “portfolio”. They get to do those things ANYWAY, after being paid as they should. It’s not compensation. It’s their right, and it’s a given.

4. Stop thinking that you’re giving them some great chance to work. Once they skip over your silly ad, as they should, the next ad is usually for someone who lives in the real world, and as such, will pay them. There are far more jobs needing these skills than there are people who possess these skills.

5. Students DO need “experience”. But they do NOT need to get it by giving their work away. In fact, this does not even offer them the experience they need. Anyone who will not/can not pay them is obviously the type of person or business they should be ashamed to have on their resume anyway. Do you think professional contractors list the “experience” they got while nailing down a loose step at their grandmother’s house when they were seventeen?

If you your company or gig was worth listing as desired experience, it would be able to pay for the services it received. The only experience they will get doing free work for you is a lesson learned in what kinds of scrubs they should not lower themselves to deal with.

6. (This one is FOR the artists out there, please pay attention.) Some will ask you to “submit work for consideration”. They may even be posing as some sort of “contest”. These are almost always scams. They will take the work submitted by many artists seeking to win the “contest”, or be “chosen” for the gig, and find what they like most. They will then usually have someone who works for them, or someone who works incredibly cheap because they have no originality or talent of their own, reproduce that same work, or even just make slight modifications to it, and claim it as their own. You will NOT be paid, you will NOT win the contest. The only people who win, here, are the underhanded folks who run these ads. This is speculative, or “spec”, work. It’s risky at best, and a complete scam at worst. I urge you to avoid it, completely. For more information on this subject, please visit www.no-spec.com.

So to artists/designers/illustrators looking for work, do everyone a favor, ESPECIALLY yourselves, and avoid people who do not intend to pay you. Whether they are “spec” gigs, or just some guy who wants a free mural on his living room walls. They need you. You do NOT need them.

And for those who are looking for someone to do work for free… please wake up and join the real world. The only thing you’re accomplishing is to insult those with the skills you need. Get a clue.” – Annonymous / Unknown

Friday, March 23, 2007


well, these are closer, but I forgot to put the suitcase in on the flight attendent, so I have to do that. And darken my colors a lot more. I am a sucker for subtle colors. But, I'm having fun. Although, I am having fun but poorer than poor... stink. That's ok. I hope to get some work coming soon. (Hoping.) And I hope this stock illustration comes together soon.

Other then that, just watching a british movie, and it's super duper funny.

I'd try to be funny here, but I'm tired, hot, and sleepy. So. I promise tomorrow, to be funny alrightee?

Later.

Thursday, March 22, 2007

Eat This!


Well here is my second installment, it's a bakery. It's still not done, I have to add in the goodies and cakes and stuff, but I like where this one is going too. I think my last piece will be a giraffe. I likey giraffes.

Surprisingly, I am using the Pen tool more and more lately. I'm shying away from the pencil and brush. Mostly because I am working so much with a mouse for work that I am kind of getting back into old habits I guess. The pen tool is easier to work with, with a mouse. I am amazed at people who can illustrate with a mouse. It takes me ten times longer.

I'm teaching a lot of illustrator lately, which is good because I love it. It's the greatest program I know. However, I have an advanced class during the week that's a little unnerving. I have lots of studying to do in the next day or so.

Anywho. I'll keep posting.

Wednesday, March 21, 2007

Wear These!



We-ll, I finally got to a hardware store and sorted my stuff out. I can finally post these and sell them and people around the world can love them. I haven't been to the beach in a really long time :(, but next time I go, I will find more of these babies.
Anywho. Yay Done!

Take Off!


Well Hi Y'all.
I'm still working on my horoscope series, with a few new ideas going along with. And some sewing along with. And I am loving every minute of it. I also get a lot more time off in the next few weeks as I only have a few classes at the mo. Although, they keep giving me more day by day, which is good!! Because I am so very berry poor, and I need a hair cut. A special shout to my lovely brother that gave me free cash the other day. He is the best brother in the world. Nobody can top him.( and I'd say that even without the cash you know.)

Anywho. Right now I am working on a Stock Portfolio. no no, I am not going into the Stock Market. Hell, I dunno what that is even. But I am making a Stock IMAGERY portfolio. I am hoping that this one pays off, I know some people say it's not the best way to go, but I think that it will get my name out in the world and hopefully people will buy my stuff and love me as much as I love my favorite artists.

Here's one of my first images, I have five that I am working on at the mo. This is the only one that I have worked on in illustrator. My colors may be off as my wee little computer is hard to work on and the LCD screen always seems to throw me for a loop. I miss my computer at home with it's gigantic monitor and sluggish qualities. haha.. well, not the sluggishness. But I do miss a moniter (spelling? monitor?) larger than 14 inches.

As for posting and working on my own stuff, it's really been on the side lines lately, just with work (Teaching) and all my extra side jobs. Phew. Busy.

Well. I'll keep you posted, I am having a Pantone dilemma this week and it's causing hair loss, so this will probably be it for my posts for awhile.. although, I have to get my work to this stock company soon so my evenings will be full of illustrator funness and calls to my mum and dad. Or "Bev" as I have lovingly renamed them. You know, the whole "Bennifer" craze.

Alright. Over and out. Oh, PS it's Terry's birthday. So wish him birthday goodness.

M.