Anatomical Skull Glow Up

Do you remember that trio of skulls I did a while back? They were some of my most popular prints n paintings and I really loved creating them, so I’ve often kicked around the idea of making more.

Somewhat spontaneously I acquired an anatomical skull just slightly smaller than in real life to use as a reference for more skull paintings. The material and accuracy was great, but I wasn’t really a fan of the color.

So I decided to give a glow up by actually making it look much older - ha!

I wanted the skull to have that antiquated, slightly mildewing, authentic bone aesthetic to try and mimic the real deal. It was my first time trying to age an object like that and it actually turned out better than I was expecting - Yay!

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Artist, Teacher, Mentor (@caleighbirdart)

First I plugged up the sockets with cotton balls so they wouldn’t get too light colored inside. Then I sprayed a nice double layer of white primer, which was perfect for adhering the acrylic paint with a sponge.

It was a remarkably easy process and only took about 90 minutes - super fun and satisfying!

What an improvement, don’tcha think?!?

Before…

After

Stayed tuned for some more skull paintings coming soon, just in time for spooky season! Take a peek at the preparatory drawings for now 🙌

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Artist, Teacher, Mentor (@caleighbirdart)

10.9.2022

Resolutions for Artists

Out with the old and in with the new! Time once again to reevaluate and reassess what's working and what isn't, and do a little mental house cleaning. To be quite honest, I'm not usually the type to actually make New Year's resolutions, as I try to constantly work on self-improvement, but I never turn down an opportunity to learn how to grow as an artist. 

I created this lil questionnaire as a way for we artists to set ourselves up for success by figuring out what’s working and what isn’t within our individual art businesses, especially considering each art career is highly individualized and no two ever play out the same.

So here you go friend, I hope these resolutions and reflections really help you grow your biz in 2020! Scroll down to see the worksheet and to print out a copy for yourself too.

And if you’re really ready to level up your small art biz, or if you’d like help with technique in oils or drawing basics, remember I am available for face-to-face mentoring via webcam. Learn more [here].

Here’s a printable download for you :)

And if you’re curious, here’s the weekly checklist I just made for myself to help keep me on track:

12.20.2019

How to Write a Newsletter

Today we are going to tackle a task that every serious artist should be doing on a regular basis: writing a newsletter. I know it’s easy to think that social media posting is enough and is the best way to connect with your online audience, but it’s only half the battle.

Tune in to see why it is soooo essential for any pro artist to put out a regular newsletter, and then learn a super simple formula for engaging your readers every time. A good newsletter is like a fun lil present in your audience’s inbox so don’t look at this as bullet points of your finished ‘to do’ list, try to figure out how to make it an exciting lil story of your recent artsy adventures.

Check out this newsletter here and sign up to receive mine every month here!

Choose 2-3 Exciting/Interesting Topics

• New piece of art or product

• New venture in your art biz (ie, teaching, new social media platform, new service offered, upcoming exhibition or collaboration)

• Recent achievements

• Recent difficulties

• Recent adventures (that fit in with your audience)

The Details…

• Expand each topic into 1-3 concise paragraphs and include photos and links as needed

• Break things up into bite-sized chinks to make it easy for your audience to read and digest

• Don’t make too long/ too long winded or they won’t read next time

• Include a CTA (call to action)

• Include a PS

Tips

• Be real! Be yourself and upbeat

• Use a friendly conversational tone in 1st person

• Turn any shared difficulties into a positive learning/teaching moment

• Offer exclusive content

• Occasionally offer an exclusive deal or sale

• Include clear pics of you in action or at work on a project

• Use consistent branding throughout (more branding info here)

• Have website and other pertinent info in your footer

• If you can, gather locations of subscribers so you can tailor email blasts to them about upcoming local shows or events

I use Mailchimp for my email service, but Mad Mimi and Squarespace also offer newsletter platforms as well.

It’s as easy as that folks! And if you ever need help with your own small art biz, just fill out this quick application to see if we’d be a goof fit for a little one-on-one art mentoring via webcam.

And here’s last week’s vid all about branding and looking like a pro.

8.9.2019

How to Write an Exciting Artist Statement + Motivation

Ok so today's topic is super duper daunting to many artists, but it really should not be... I'm talking of course about writing an artist statement... Yikes!

Now I know this video is a bit longer than usual, but I didn't just want to share some boring blah checklist like you can find anywhere online. I want to motivate you and give examples and get you excited about talking about your artwork because Lesson One is literally that no one will get excited about your work unless you are first! 

You should definitely watch the video first and then this handy dandy little list below is going to make a lot more sense. I just wanted to make sure that you as my audience have all the great info organized here so you don't necessarily have to take notes during the vid. 

Writing an Artist Statement:

1. Why?

• Builds a deeper connection with your audience
• Audience likes insight; likes to be 'in the know'
• Your message is not always obvious
• BE EXCITED ABOUT YOUR OWN WORK!!!!
• GIVE PEOPLE A REASON TO CARE!!

2. What?

5 Q's to Touch On:

• Are there any unusual processes or materials (especially if the medium is a direct correlation to the 'voice' of your work)?
• What exactly is the subject and what does it mean to you?
• How does the subject affect you and/or how would you like it to affect the viewer?            **why did you create this _______ to represent that ________
• What in your personal life or history made you gravitate to this subject?
• Is there anything you hope to accomplish by sharing this work with the world?

3a. How to Answer?

• Brainstorming/ Mood board creating + At home art show to view your works together
• Choose 2-4 most interesting topics
• Freely write about each

3b. How to Write It?

• Make sure to answer 'How/What/Why did you create?' 
• Connect those thoughts together
• Write a strong intro with a hook to captivate your audience
• No more than 400 words + great to have an abbreviated version too
• Keep your paragraphs short and concise
• Tone is conversational and intelligent without being lofty
• This is not your bio!
• Be brave and bold with adjectives but not too fluffy or flowery
• Triple check grammar and spelling
• Put away for one week then reread with fresh eyes and update
• Have at least 3 people critique your statement
• Ta-daaa! DONE!

Links to Help You:

• https://dictation.io/speech  
• https://www.thesaurus.com/  

Hope that gets you started in the write direction! See what I did there ;) Happy brainstorming!

::

originally published on August 2, 2018

Solo Show in 2 Weeks!! Aaah!!

Wow! That happened fast!! I'm thrilled to announce that I will be having a solo show of my Bohemian Goddesses on Friday March 2nd at an art and music space called Ong King here in Honolulu. Yaaay!!

So because of there is a lot more to curating a successful show than meets the eye, I have decided to do a series here and on my YouTube channel about how to throw an art show on a budget ('cause you know that's what I'll be doing anyway! Ha!) 

Here's the plan, though things may change...

1. Creating flyers (as you can see above that one is done so I'll have a video of my process this Wednesday. [UPDATE: Watch it here!])
2. Making simple, yet sophisticated, frames
3. Setting up the venue
4. The Big Night!

So enjoy the series! I'm looking forward to continuing to make it! 

Also, if your curious about some of the struggles of finding an exciting contemporary art venue here in Honolulu, sign up for my monthly Birds of a Feather letter here where I talk a bit more openly and honestly about taking the good with the bad when it comes to being a working artist. 

::

originally published February 18, 2018

3 Ways to Blend Oil Paints Smoothly

Welcome back to the studio folks! I'm glad to have you here! I've got three great techniques to share with you so you can achieve some really nice, realistic blends throughout your works.

A Quick Summation:

1. Wet brush blending as you go
2. Using a dry brush to blend your wet paint
3. Scumbling with your dry brush on a dry painting 

Check out my snazzy new vid for details and step-by-step demos. These are really easy methods that you can incorporate today! 

Go ahead and leave me a comment on the video or here and let me know how useful you found this vid, as well as any questions or techniques you'd like me to address in the future. 

--

originally published October 17, 2017

Oil Painting Portrait Demo - 'Anastasia'

Oh boy, have I got a special treat for you today! My very first full-length portrait oil painting demo - Woo Hoo! You get to watch me speed paint this lovely muse in about 1% of the time it took me to actually paint it - ha! I've been finding better and better copyright free music recently, so the soundtrack get's pretty jammin' too ;)

In case you were curious about my incredible Malaysian muse, 'Anastasia' is a delightful and inspiring person inside and out and I was thrilled for the opportunity to paint her as part of my ongoing Bohemian Goddesses collection, in which I lovingly highlight creative and confident women from all over the world with my portraiture. You can read my paragraph about the woman behind the painting here. 

oil on linen, 12x16 inches prints available

Hope you enjoy the demo today! Go ahead and hit that Subscribe button while you're there so you don't miss any future vids:) 

What's on my palette...?

Here's a list of every oil paint I used for the entire work, and below you'll see a few color mixes from specific sections:

• Cadmium Orange
• Burnt Sienna
• Raw Umber
• Magenta
• King's Blue
• Cobalt Blue
• Terra Verte

• Titanium White
• Mars Black
• Paynes Grey
• Naples Yellow
• Yellow Ochre
• Flesh Tint*
• Brilliant Pink

* Flesh tint is actually only used in the turban; it's an incredibly vivid pink color that would only work in tiny doses when painting skin tones. 

Above was my initial palette for painting the turban and I later incorporated that with the rest of the paint needed for her skin tones. Here are most of the mixtures I developed while painting 'Anastasia'. Yep, even the dark green and blue went in there. 

So I've noticed a lot of other YouTube artists answer questions or talk about certain topics while showing their speed demos. Leave me any comments, questions or topic suggestions if you'd like to hear my thoughts over future demos:) 

--

originally posted September 26, 2017

---

How to Extend the Life of Your Pencils

.... Using only blue painters tape! 

Enjoy this super sweet little artist hack that will enable you to use your pencils right down to the teeniest tiniest 'lil nub, and, as with most of my hacks, both your wallet and Mother Earth will thank you. 

Any other brilliant ideas on using your pencils to the 'bone'? I'd love to hear them!

--

originally posted: June 20, 2017