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I was so excited when Mike R Baker told me that I'd "Made his day" via my blog. This is a great compliment as I frequent his blogs myself. He is a fantastic illustrator and always surprises me with his illustration friday contributions which are often completed in gouache at lightening speed! Mike also designed this wonderful new logo for the award which I find adorable (I couldn't resist passing it on...)

So, here I am passing the award on to five wonderful people who's blogs I check everyday (I'm not kidding, I'm rather addicted). Thank you to:

• Dani Draws (this blog is incredible. Dani is talented and has detailed tutorials... so CHECK IT OUT!)
• Amanda Woodward (A tremendous source of inspiration both from her life and her art. I consider her a good friend and am lucky to have met her - she's from my home town as well. Actually, to be perfectly honest, Amanda helped inspire me to quit my full time job to illustrate for a living and I've never looked back!)
•Chrissy Fanslau (Her perseverance and dedication is ultra inspiring!)
• The Daily Coyote (Just check it out, it's awesome!)
• CutewithChris.com (um, yeah, Cute with Chris is so darn funny)

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I bought a moleskin shortly after I spied my friend Amanda's at a market I was working last summer. It's been such a treasure. It's exactly the right size and weight (can be carried with me at all times for creative moments that come out of the blue), is flexible and so so soft!

No matter what situation I'm in and no matter how hectic my schedule, if I find the time to sketch during my day it brings me great peace. While this is not always the case with client work, where there is always pressure to create something better and more lively, sketching for myself has been a very effective way to test different styles and techniques and an even better way to just clear my head of nonesense.

I like to go back into my sketchbook months afterwards and add colour to the cross hatching I first did with my pen in front of the tv. For some reason I don't like just sitting and watching tv... I enjoy doing something creative while I do this. Perhaps it lessens the guilt factor of being a movie nutt.

* Just a reminder: There's only 6 days left until I draw for those two free calendars and secret prize...

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I have two copies of my 2008 calendar to give away to two different blog visitors (plus a surprise gift!). Here's the rules: Post a comment on the following topic and I'll draw from the names of people who comment on or before January 31st for the prize. Then once I've contacted the winner you'll be sent the prize (please don't leave your address in the blog comment section but rather leave a website or blog address/email where I can get this from you privately)!

Here's the topic:

"Green Illustration & Design" (what are you doing to make your illustrations and office more environmentally friendly? Any links to good office crafts out or recycled goodies? And if you're not an illustrator or designer what are you doing to make your home more eco-friendly?)

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Oh poor Jane
Don't feel so plain!
Your dress might not sparkle
But your smile always will.

Illustration completed exclusively for Illustration Friday. :)

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If there's one wonderful aspect having a part-time job, it would be the ability to diversify yourself. While it's nice to be able to see people other than your family on a 24 - 7 basis, this is not the biggest benefit I've discovered by working at the Royal Alberta Museum. While my job is primarily graphic design in nature I have been able to complete the odd illustration here and there. To top off this bunch of pure goodness, it's usually different stylistically than I do during my business hours as an illustrator. This really gives me the chance to experiment, which is very needed in this business of illustration.

The bears above were for a board game that the education department uses to educate children about grizzlies and black bears. It's more of a simple, sihouette approach and yet I found it fun (sort of like a puzzle).

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Here's another plywood painting that I completed and it's process (for greater detail click on each picture).


1• Create a confident drawing that will show you how to create your gradients and values (based on a greyscale drawing). Get it approved by your client.

2•For a painting where the texture is important, choose your canvas wisley. I pulled about a round dozen sheets of pokey plywood off the hardware stores shelves before I found just the right "chunk" for this image. Tell the person who cuts out your block of plywood that it's for art and yes, you know canvases are cheap down at the local art store...!

3• Protect Your Painting before it's even started. Give it several good (thick) coatings of Multi Purpose Acylic Polymer so that weird chemicals don't leak into the painting over the years destroying the values you create. THEN! Protect your paint (it doesn't come cheap after all...) by Gessoing your surface. This will give your paint an extra "grip" or "mile" so that you don't have to layer it on really thick. I paint my gesso on in several layers in different directions so that the brush strokes aren't going to create a distracting pattern. Thing to Remember: Your brush strokes on every layer of every painting can help aid your composition!

5• Block in Dark Colours.


6• Think Details and Light. The concept is to have your darker colours in the "Valley" part of the plywood ridges and the light colours on the "peaks". This will really make the texture pop. For details do what you normally do, fill in the valleys and peaks with similar values.

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I made an invite to a party I'm hosting with some other people and can't help but share the illustrated part of it because the characters are too funny!

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I'm oh so happy to report the very last summer market (it's been getting very chilly sitting in my stall in the early morning before the sun comes up). It's this Saturday on 104th Street (from Jasper ave to 103 ave) from 9am - 3pm. While it's been fun learning new crafting skills and meeting people at the market I'm in need of a break. I've been finding myself working 9-5 illustrating then from 5:30-11 doing crafty things while I watch TV before bed.

Here are some dates in which Michelle McBride (miss dishy) and I will be selling Christmas goodies (check back for exact times and for coupons):

NOV 2-4
Silvanna's in St. Albert (St. Albert Inn) TENTATIVE

NOV 16-18th
Stop & Shop (Tran Alta Arts Barn, 10330 - 84 Avenue) CONFIRMED

DEC 1-2
The Royal Bison (Cosmopolitan Music Society building, 8426 Gateway Blvd) CONFIRMED

Meanwhile if you're interested in buying things but can't make it out to these dates feel free to visit my etsy shop which is constantly updated with new items!
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5069714

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A few months ago I found a fun website that allows artists to sell greeting cards with their own images on them. It's one of three places you can buy my work online (the others being etsy and cafépress) because it's free to upload as many images as I like and I get a bit of a royalty every time something sells. This, I feel, has been a good opportunity to make a little money off of images that I have created that are not yet owned by someone else.

I just received a bit of a coupon via email for this site which I'd like to pass along to anyone interested in buying some cards from artists such as myself. The promo code you have to enter is FALL 199 (which you enter at the checkout). This makes each card only $1.99 US which currently is almost on par with the Canadian dollar.

Click on the title of this blog to go to Greeting Card Universe.

Also, all of the cards on my site are now available as free personable ecards.

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I've been working on updating the way I draw children. Here's a sketch I was finally able to finish last week.

© crystal driedger 2007. All rights reserved.

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I have been told the dates I will be at the Downtown farmers market (and I'm so so sorry that my cell was locked in my trunk when two friends who drove two hours to come see me missed me because they thought I meant the Strathcona farmers market!) and hope to see some familiar faces there this weekend! I have made some new funky objects which I had so much fun creating this week around my classes and freelance work (no wonder my house is a mess). These are also available to purchase online via paypal if interested. I can ship them to any country.

DATES for DOWNTOWN market (Jasper Ave & 104th), 9am - 3pm
AUGUST 18, 25
SEPTEMBER 8, 26
OCTOBER 6

Here's a sneak peek of some new items for sale this weekend:

Foxy Bulletin Board (24 x 18", woodburnt and painted) $40 or $45 with three designer tacks.



Teresa Fine Art Bowl (10" diameter, Wood Burnt) $100



Mini Chalk Board, Magnetic (5x7", woodburnt, varnished) $25



click on each image to see it larger. To see more images click on the title of this blog (flickr site).

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I wish I had some photos to post (my husband has my camera at his work, plus he's my photographer) but I've been working my regular 9-5 on the Royal Alberta Museum project and then going on to work until sometimes midnight on my woodburning projects (which I am going to sell I hope during an August farmers market). They're really turning out great. I bought all of these pin backs to make "orginal mini art pins" (no two alike and all that jazz) but then my sister told me she wouldn't want to lose her's and to make it into a magnet instead (she's already claimed three of them). Just wondering if any of you out there had an original piece of art on a mini pin (one inch circle) or a magnet or as jewlery, which would you prefer?... Other than that I'm burning up a storm with wooden bowls, a beautiful mailbox (the wood it's made from is such beautiful quality), wooden spoons and even a little bit of wooden crosses. I'm having so much fun but I also have several ugly burns on my fingers (ouch!).

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This sketch is for an article titled "Dealing with Parents" for a drug facts booklet. It's my second "stab at the chicken" as they say (or do they?) for a contest under Maple Leaf Publishing. I'm working on the "dad" in the picture a bit more as he isn't as cleverly sylized as the "mom". However, the real trick will be to ensure bright, nauseating colors which are sure to print clear as a bell on newsprint. Until another day!

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Coinscidentally I blogged about this piece a couple of days ago and now it fits nicely with the ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY topic: Moon.



This is what I wrote:

I've decided to make cards for the farmers market (in august) of paintings I have done that recieved lots of laughter during the artwalk. One such design is the "moon farmer" which I completed in college for an acrylics techniques class. As it will be given a new home this week (tomorrow!) I have done a good scan of it to post here. Good bye little farmer!

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My first day at the artwalk was much hotter than anticipated. I was ready for wind and rain but the heat seemed to go right through my umbrella onto what I now like to call my tomato face. Other than the sun, however, the day was amazing. People came from all around to visit and stopped by for a chat (thanks everyone!) and I met a wonderful group of artists living in the city (once again making me feel sure you can make a living doing what you love to do). My friend came and bought a group of us fruit smoothies which hit the spot like you'd never believe while another came and bought up a stack of cards... and retrieved some needed change for me.

The artwalk is so far about discovering the true bond of friendship and generosity among artists. We are not shy it seems to lend one another a hand or to tell our trade secrets to each other. With over 200 artists competing for business I could never feel more than the exact opposite about the experience. I am enriched by this experience already.

But the sad news is I didn't prebook a ticket to harry potter and so had to drive my sisters standard back to my house. Stalling, cursing and wondering which pedal was which (the clutch is on which side?) I'm just hoping I didn't give the poor little car a one way ticket to the garage...

Thanks everyone for coming to the artwalk thus far to visit! (I'll remember to bring my camera tomorrow so I can post pictures).

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I stumbled apon this great rates calculator for freelancers (link above). As it turns out I am charging almost exactly what I should be to live on. The only thing that really got me was the question "what is your billable hours percentage". I figure I'm only at 50% right now which means I'm still spending more time than I'd like to be marketing and looking for clients. Of course, this will all come in time and honestly the entire adventure of it all is very rewarding and fun! Meeting new people, discovering the world of fine art (which as it turns out is indeed different than illustration afterall) and signing contracts for new jobs...

The last couple days I've been setting up my studio outside on my deck. Painting under my new umbrella (bought for the Artwalk this July) with the birds at my bird feeder and the sun pouring around me... I swear this is my dream job in every aspect.

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I'm currently working in my sketchbook every minute I get as I'm trying to develop a solid look for my "little kids". Just thought I'd post some for funzzies.

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This is a little sketch portraying "diving" suit. I also thought of "swimming suit" but as I havn't looked through the links yet I'm sure I'm not the only one!

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As Greg (my husband) so rightly put it yesterday, "I feel the winds of change a blowin". Maybe spring is in such full force that everyone is reexamining their lives or perhaps it's just everyone that I know, however, it seems so many amazing things are happening to the people around me. People are making hard decisions to better their lives, or at least in the hopes of. Perhaps it is in this spirit that in the excess hours of my day (late at night) I decided to update my website to something a little more "me" as they say. It features bigger pictures and less "gobbly gook" on the sides. It's very simple, not too flashy, and yes, I am aware that I need to work out a couple bugs (*not all the buttons work... he he he). You can log onto my website via the title of this blog.

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Tonight is the grand gala for Doctors and Derrieres II! If you're still interested in seeing the show or bidding on a few pieces (there are some really cool ones in there....) tonight at the Red Strap Market between 7 and 11pm is where you'll find a buzzing crowd, cocktails and of course doctors and arists to chat with.

I will be selling prints of the pieces that were for sale at the auction as well as the rest of my originals soon. I know a couple other artists are going to sell the rest of their pieces as well and we might set up an online store where you can purchase some of these splendid goodies. Hope to see you at the show!

Shown below (and please forgive the reflections on the glass) are artists: Adolfo Ruiz, Amanda Woodward and Gerry Rasmussen.

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I've been working very diligently on a new children's book with local author, Mrs. Georgie Prockiw. It's a cute story about Grandma GoGo and two little dustball fairies that she discovers in her dollhouse. I am half way finished the paintings (which I am so excited about!) and can hardly wait to see the final product.

To see some of the newly uploaded sketches feel free to click on the title above, which will take you to my flickr page.

ps: For those of you interested in a little treat buy the edmonton journal this Saturday... (look under Ed Magazine) and you'll find a little feature about yours truly. Thank you so much Jason for making the interview fun and entertaining. I can hardly believe the leg on my chair broke just as we were starting, however!

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As a beginner freelance illustrator I've never been more daunted by what to price my work. Do I charge what I want and risk scaring my client away or do I undercharge to "build my portfolio". Lately I've been erroring on the side of charging too little and have been wondering if my fee even covered the supplies (Yikes!). However, I have been lucky enough to find some posted rates for illustrators on the "chewingpencils" blog by Matt Glover

Australia
The MEAA (Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance) sets recommended rates for Australian artists. Only members have access to the site directly, but the Australian Cartoonists’ Association has kindly reproduced the rates

here

The Australian Society of Authors lists rates for authors and illustrators on their site

here

England
The AOI (Association of Illustrators) in London has a very comprehensive list of rates on their site

here

Ireland
The Illustrators Guild of Ireland list their rates

here

South Africa
The South African Freelancers Association has a list of rates here:

here

America
The Graphic Artists Guild has a handbook on pricing and ethical issues for sale on their site

here

I don't have much for Canadian Illustrators but I know Canadians contributed to the American: Graphic Artists Guild Handbook for Pricing and Ethical Guidelines (link above).

Individual People's Rates:
http://www.curtoons.com/logo-design-rates.htm
http://www.unlimited-ideas.com/cost.htm
http://www.electriceasel.co.uk/Prices.html

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