If you’ve been following my blog, you know that I took a break from my art business to have a baby. She’s here now! Her name is Clementine and we are head over heels bonkers for her.
It’s been almost two months since the birth. I’ve had some struggles with recovery and adjusting to postpartum life. And, even though I am not yet ready to tackle any commissions, I’m really excited to share my art with you. (more…)
My etsy shop might be closed for the Holidays, but I can’t help myself…I’m bubbling over with new creations!
Like this DESERT CRITTERS themed cactus CHRISTMAS CARD inspired by Texan Wildlife!
Join the raccoon, wildcat, oriole, armadillo and worried little prairie dog as they deck the cactus out in holiday cheer! (more…)
I am expecting a new baby any day now, so my etsy shop will be closed through the end of the year.
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You can also follow my instagram feed @ekwetzel for life updates and a sneak peek at new illustrations and portraits. (more…)
Inside of each of us there lives a wild spirit.
It’s easy to overlook this intangible part of our being, but it creeps up into our awareness, through our nicknames, our slang, our childlike imaginations. We often use animals to help us describe the otherwise indescribable aspects of ourselves.
What is the difference between a hug and a bear hug? What do we mean when we say one person is sheepish and another is foxy?
Animals make terrific analogies for the different parts of the human spirit or the different personalities that people exhibit. Animals are fun. They are whimsical. And the anthropomorphism of our favorite critters is something that has been around ever since children sat around a fire listening to the first fables and stories known to man.
We tend to compartmentalize our concept of The Physical apart from our concept of The Metaphysical. But what if the two were intertwined all along? What if the skin on our faces reflected the face of our souls? What would that look like?
Maybe it looks something like this. (more…)
I’m excited to share my latest commission with you: an illustrated family portrait inspired by Mary Poppins!
When the client contacted me, she was very interested in commissioning something creative. Challenges like this are exciting for me! I browsed her Instagram feed and came back to her with a few ideas. (more…)
Here’s a little post, with a few portrait commissions that I’ve completed recently…
This portrait was commissioned as a gift for the family featured, to celebrate the birth of their new boy, as well as commemorate the relationship the dog had with the boy after the dog’s passing. It is a compilation of three different photographs (they didn’t have a good photo of all four of them). I am particularly fond of the impressionistic field of grass, a detail the client specifically requested.
Watercolor and Ink on 11 x 15 inch watercolor paper. (more…)
When I started selling my watercolor paintings, I only sold originals. It soon became obvious to me that this was not a sustainable way to make money off my art. The watercolor cards and watercolor paintings I produced were well-loved and well-received, but in order to offer the art at a price that was fair for the time I put into each piece, the end product was too expensive for most people.
That’s when I started looking into printing services.
It is more difficult to create prints from watercolors than from other kinds of paintings because of the translucent nature of the watercolor. You cannot simply scan and print these images at a Kinkos while retaining the true nuanced nature of the original work. I understand that no print will ever be as good as the original, but there is a certain level of quality I expect from anything I sell. I refuse to put my name on a product that is subpar.
I explored dozens of businesses that offered reproduction services. The easiest services to find are professional reproduction services that will professionally reproduce your artwork for a hefty price. Sometimes these companies require that they manage the printing of the reproductions, as well. Oftentimes there are requirements on how many prints you create; a 100 print minimum is not uncommon. As a small-scale artist who was just getting started, these options did not suit my needs. I needed a DIY option.
Here is what I found. (more…)
The moment I learned that Melissa’s two-year-old daughter was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes, I wanted to bury her in the biggest hug. But, since they live 1,000 miles away, I painted her a picture instead.
I’ve never met the Wilsons in person, but we’ve known each other online for years. The more I talked with my friend about the struggles her family was facing, the more I wanted to do something to help. The Wilson family has health insurance, but it barely covers their expenses, and they quickly blew through their savings in order to get the appropriate medications and treatments for their little girl.
Just because we are part of an online community, that doesn’t mean it isn’t a Real one. So I created the Love Little Violet fundraiser. A swell of encouragement rose up to support the Wilsons, and a few donations trickled in. Online community can be amazing and full of love.
But it still wasn’t enough. So I decided: it was time to do more. (more…)
When someone is striving to be more spiritual or more religious, all too often they end up despising their physical existence in the hunt for the metaphysical. I have been guilty of this. I understand the impulse. I want to rub up against something divine, to grant Meaning and Purpose to my mundane existence. I want to believe things happen for a Reason, that the monotony and heartbreak of everyday life isn’t all that there is.
I’m not supposed to talk about these things. It’s not polite. But, during tragedies, or in the quiet, lonely moments of the night, these feelings slink about in my heart, like never-ending questions. What is the meaning? Who am I? What is my purpose?
I don’t have answers, but I find comfort in words. (more…)
Are you a visual artist who is thinking about selling your art on the internet? Here is my Guide on How to Start Selling Your Art Online!
There are many sites where you can sell your art online: etsy, society6, redbubble and café press are all popular. These sites provide a storefront, but they do not promote/market/sell your art for you. Don’t expect them to. Don’t just throw your art up there hoping to get “lucky” and “discovered.” It will never happen.
Ok, sure, maybe as your shop gains momentum, it will seem like more people are finding you through whatever storefront site you use. But that’s not the case. The new customers are finding you because of networking.
YOU have to be very active in promoting and marketing yourself and your work. (more…)
