Recent Pet + Portrait Commissions

I realize I actually don’t share many of the custom paintings or drawings I create for private clients (especially when they are surprise gifts!) so today I thought I would share a few recent pet and portrait commissions. Usually for family/couples/kids portraits I use pencil and white conte, but I do get asked to do the occasional oil portrait too. The one featured in this video was a unique challenge, but the client was thrilled and I felt accomplished making it work.

This first image is a chalk pastel drawing of Cooper, the puppers belonging to my long time client, Helen. He’s an active lil guy and pops up to say hi on her weekly blog as well as on our regular Zoom calls. So cute!

This second one was and oil painting I created for a Christmas gift and took a bit of skill to craft from two different photos, one being really old and one being modern and from a different angle. My client was thrilled that I was able to reunite her father with his late mother, which was a great feeling for me. You can see the challenges and process here.

This is a graphite (pencil) and white conte portrait of a couple I know from Hawai’i. Brittany commissioned this piece for their five year anniversary as a couple, and then Seth proposed soon after! How picture perfect is that?!?

Sweet Cassie made her way over the big rainbow bridge last year, but I am always humbled and honored to make memorial portraits of the most tender member of our family. These use both chalk pastel sticks for the larger blends and chalk pastel pencils for getting in the more refined details. My goal is always to pull as much personality out of pet portrait as possible, for their owners to celebrate and reminisce for all time.

If you have a family member (furry or otherwise) you’d like to commemorate, pop over to this page and tell me what’s one your mind. I’ll be happy to give you a no-obligation quote and help you think of the best way to capture their spirit forever :)

2.20.2022

Upcoming Portrait Painting Magic

I’ve been working hard on finishing up my first 3D painting of 2022, and along the way I’ve ben creating little teasers for Instagram and YouTube.

One thing I’m especially excited about is that this is the first painting of a man I have done in quite a while, and this particular guy happens to be a good friend of mine from all the way back to the days of mixed tapes and beepers. The photo is so striking and I’m thrilled with the painting thus far.

This first video is the drawing phase…

These two share Chris’ facial features coming in.

And this last one shows a bit of the process painting chicken of the woods mushrooms as well as some tiny white mushrooms on Chris. They actually weren’t in the initial design, but I decided it needed a little something else.

At this point I’m all finished painting it, but now I’m waiting on global-supply-chain-issue resin to finally come in the mail. Fingers crossed it’s not too far away now!

2.17.2022

What to Name Your Art Business?

Hey there chickadee, what do you call your small art biz? Do you just use your real name? Or maybe an alias? Do you have it registered legally? Or have you even thought that far ahead yet?

While coming up with a good ‘art name’ may not be on your radar, it’s definitely something to think about before you go and get too famous because whatever people get to know you as first, usually sticks. You want to make sure that you are becoming known by a name you can grow with and live with for the rest of your life (and beyond!).

On today’s Ask an Artist I’ve got five tips to help you land on an individualistic artistic moniker that will help you establish and brand yourself as the independent artist you already are:)

Five Tips for Choosing a Great Art Business Name

1. First off, have you thought about whether you would like to use your real name or an alias? There are benefits to both, your name will never get ‘old’ but using an alias is a little more private and can be easier to remember. Occasionally artists even include a descriptive word (see tip 4)

2. If your going to use anything other than just your legal name in the business name, make sure not to choose anything too narrow that may pigeonhole you down the road. Like beware or using something related to fanart or a certain subject matter as you may want to grow beyond that later on.

3. Try to be thoughtful of difficulties your audience may have with spelling or remembering your biz name.

4. Using the words ‘art’ or ‘painting’ or ‘printmaking’ or ‘tattoo’ within your moniker can help you not only get found on search engines, but can also help to be a mini-marketing opportunity when others see your name in comments or communities.

5. Once you think you’ve come up with a great moniker/biz name, the last step is just to check it online and on the platforms you plan on showing your art on to make sure it’s not a name that is taken (at least not by anyone super big!). If it is… unfortunately you may have to go back to step one.

2.6.2022

Hand Painted Holiday Postcard Gifts

Happy Holiday 2021! Woo hoo, another year under the belt:)

I recently impulse-bought a pack of blank watercolor paper postcards and got so inspired to gift a few simple nature originals to my family in Canada, who is so far away and I miss so much!

They turned out to be a really great way to spend not too much time obsessing over a ‘perfect’ painting, and rather just a delightful way to get creative by gathering some nature inspo to share with some of the folks I love the most.

I bought this pack at my local art store, but certainly you could just make your own postcards out of any watercolor paper that is thick enough to withstand the mail (or by putting them in an envelope like me to protect them instead!). Just make sure to keep the postcard to regulatory size, which is around 4x6 inches if you plan on using a postcard stamp or 5x7 inches if you don’t mind using a forever stamp. And of course make sure to print the address on the right side of the back with your special message on the left, just like any postcard you would buy from a gift shop.

Here are all the materials I use in the video. Any purchases through my special links help to support this channel at no cost to you, so thanks!

Titanium White: https://bit.ly/344AceH

Azo Yellow: https://bit.ly/3ApQTPe

Gamborge Yellow: https://bit.ly/39husjc

Napthol Red: https://bit.ly/311Z0lP

Cerulean Blue: https://bit.ly/2PXJtNx

Permanent Green Light: https://bit.ly/2XG47ZR

Payne’s Grey: https://bit.ly/3g59q8t

Princeton Size 1 Round Brush: https://bit.ly/3gFb7cT

Da Vinci Size 0/2 Round Brush: https://bit.ly/2CqUxiK

Da Vinci Size 2 Filbert Brush: https://bit.ly/2NdkwMv

And I don't have the link for the exact brand of postcards I found at my local art store, but these are both close:

Watercolor Postcards (rounded corner): https://bit.ly/32l3PcM

Mixed Media Postcards (square corner): https://bit.ly/3snRG1Q

12.22.2021

My Nashville (Art) Studio Apartment Tour

Welcome back to the Nest! One of these days I may settle down and quit moving so much, but until then, enjoy yet another studio apartment/art studio tour!

This one will be different though, because this is the first time in 6 years I’ve been able to have my art and nature collections out on display.. so get ready to see some one of a kind and unusual pieces!

If you love all the organizational possibilities of the the Mollie Ollie caddy as much as I do, pop over to this link with the discount code 10Caleigh https://www.amazon.com/dp/B089RRRJN3#CaleighBirdArt

11.26.2021

Siren of the Palms :: New 3D Oil Painting

Oh my goodness! Now you know I'mma Bird who loves to oil paint sooo much, but even my patience has its limits! There were so many challenges, obstacles, and learning curves to creating this work of art that I almost though it might not actually happen!

Luckily, a few people and some serendipitous events magically aligned to allow me to make a truly captivating work of art that I honestly can't wait to show off in person. Time to get to work on making that happen next!

Here is my lovely ‘Siren of the Palms’. She measures 15x15” and I could not be more thrilled with how each and every layer turned out. I’m thinking I’ll probably do a limited edition print run before the holidays…

Want to learn all about oil painting? Check out my Complete Guide to Oil Painting playlist on YouTube or as a totally free course on Skillshare:

Here are a few vids on my Layered Resin Art techniques:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxmP_I9gEvM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LK3LYCG_G9k

A huge Thank You to my collaborator @greatcreatorvision

10.17.21

Shortie Process Vids

Lots of people have jumped on the TikTok bandwagon, which they seem to love, but I just can’t quite bear to sign up for yet another social media app when I don’t even post on the ones I have as often as I like. So rather than guilt trip my way around another time-suck, I’ve been having fun making shortie vids for Instagram and YouTube.

Here’s a few fun little ditties of my art making process, and you can subscribe to me on YouTube here (and make sure to ding the bell!) to see my future Shorts too!

I try to find cute music to accompany my drawing or painting so make sure you’re not watching them on mute!

These two (above and below) are processes if my current painting, which you can imagine has been quite time consuming! But in the end is very satisfying to have accomplished. I’ll be sharing the finished painting first on my Birds of a Feather monthly letter, which you can sign up for here if you haven’t already.

Last but not least, here’s a small alla prima pitcher plant mini painting from a photo I took at a botanical garden on O’ahu. These little plants are so mysterious and full of personality!

8.26.2021

Get Your Art + Products in Shops!

How exciting would it be to see your art or art products on the shelves or walls of local boutiques and restaurants?!? To be able to walk around town showing your friends which businesses to pop into to see your work in person??

Not only is it so satisfying, but it can become a great way to generate another source of income within your many small art biz channels.

This question comes from one of my long-time YouTube subscribers Shona Renae Savage, who has definitely been an active and positive part in this Bird’s community. Thank you, Shona!❤️ She writes…

“What are the step-by-steps of how to approach a local business with your art/merchandise such as stickers, T-shirts, mugs etc? Do you call ahead, email, snail mail a sample of your merchandise, or simply show-up with a business card and merchandise? Should there be contracts; how does that all work? Is it a different approach for a restaurant or dental office vs. a gift shop? Not quite there yet but I have goals. Art takes time.”

It sure does, Shona! And patience is one of the best things we can have as artists!

Tips for Landing Your First Spot in a Local Business

• Make sure you are a good fit for the business you’re looking into. Make sure your work will elevate the atmosphere of the shop or office and be able to articulate how it will do so when you’re speaking to a manager or owner.

• Go into the business in person during a time they are not busy. If it’s a shop or restaurant, bring examples of your work or products that you can easily hold in your hand (but is bigger than a phone screen) and show it to the first employee you talk to as a way to get them on your side and interested in your work BEFORE going to find the manager for you. Be super friendly, big smiles, and if you notice they’re busy, don’t bother them and come back when they’re not.

• Realize that you will need to approach different businesses in different ways depending on if it’s a retail shop, a restaurant, or a medical or business office. Use tact, dress appropriately, and be super courteous to whoever you approach. Be professional (ie. likeable) and they’ll want to work with you! Watch the video for specific examples of how to handle different types of businesses, but no matter what, you should have a biz card and some kind of example, flier, or write-up you can leave.

• No matter where your work or products wind up, make sure to have a specific contact person or liaison to deal with and have set parameters for what’s expected. How much will the shop take as a cut? When will you get paid? (If it’s an office or restaurant, they probably won’t even sell for you. They’ll probably expect you to leave a biz card on the wall so the customer can buy from you directly.) How often should your art or merch be restocked or changed out? If it’s a retail shop, are they purchasing wholesale or are you consigning? How long is your work going to be featured in that business? These are a few examples of things you’ll want to have worked out beforehand, but there may be others. It’s not a bad idea to have even an informal contract written up so that both parties are on the same page.

• Be wary of shops that want you to pay them in order to sell there. I have had success volunteering 1-2 days a month at an artist co-op where I sold my Sock Monsters, but as a rule of thumb if you are paying the business to have your work, then they have far less motivation to actually sell your stuff because they have already gotten their slice of the pie.

• And the best advice I can give is to become part of the community of the local boutiques and restaurants where you want to sell. People like to help artists that are also invested in their own small businesses; it becomes a beautiful and uplifting cycle. Watch the vid to learn EXACTLY how to gain all the benefits of being a working artist in a local community (including gaining tons of new and inspiring friendships!)

  8.15.2021

3 Ways to Add Some "WOW!" to Your Art

Making your artwork really stand out can be a difficult task these days considering just how many incredible artists there are currently working in the world today… but it’s totally essential if you ever want to gain some real traction!

Now there are an infinite number of ways to create notable artwork, and today I’m super psyched to share three fantastic ideas to add a real ‘WoW’ factor to artwork that pretty much any artist can implement within the work they are already creating. I have personally used all three of these methods within my own work, and have gotten wonderful feedback each time.

How to Wow!…

1. Play with proportion

   Making something unusually small or large can be a really unexpected, surreal, or memorable treat for your audience, especially if they are able to experience it in person. This also make for great selfie-with-your-art moments with the added bonus of people wanting to publicly post their interactions with your artwork (so make it easy for them to tag you!!)

2. Make people laugh

   Bringing out emotions like sadness, longing, or even hope or nostalgia can be a very powerful tool for connecting deeply with your audience, but in this case, laughter truly is the best medicine. It takes a certain skill to create quality art that also makes folks literally want to laugh out loud, and because it’s so rare, your art will stand head and shoulders above similar artists. This is another way to make your art super-shareable as folks genuinely love cracking a smile with their friends and followers.

3. Use familiar materials in a new or unusual ways

   People love feeling inspired to try new things, see objects in new ways, and interact with the world around them in unusual ways so sparking some imagination within your audience by doing or creating something they have never seen before will make you a favorite artist your audience will keep coming back to out of pure curiosity if nothing else. And yep, you guessed it… folks love sharing jaw-dropping or just plain old weird content too… so give them something unusual to impress their followers with!

Featured Artists:

Claes Oldenburg

Salavat Fidai

Bry Marie

Sarah Ann Sweeney

Zeezytat

Dorielle Cami

Callen Schaub

Ai Weiwei

Erika Iris

7.18.2021

A Big 'No Go' to the Van Gogh Immersion Experience

Vincent Van Gogh was one of the least appreciated artists of the 19th century, yet has become one of the most famous artists of the 20th and 21st centuries, especially these days considering his artworks are no longer protected by copyright.

That's right, his artworks can literally be used, reproduced, and profited off of by anyone in the world now... but should they?

Today I want to share with you some of the ethical concerns I see arising from this wave of Van Gogh immersive experiences popping up in cities all across the US. I'm sure it will be a fun experience for those that choose to attend, but being an art history teacher and knowing so much about Van Gogh's last years and the suffering he endured, I have a few ethical concerns to share regarding this traveling exhibit that you may be interested in learning for yourself.

Here are the images I shared in the video. The first ones are Vincent Van Gogh and the last four are by his friend and notable artist Paul Gauguin who moved to Tahiti where he became known for painting the local women.

After watching the video, I would love to hear what you think of random companies being able to profit so heavily off of art they find in the public domain. While I think the ability to access old artworks, songs, and other creative accomplishments as copyright free and able to be built off of long after the artist has passed on is a wonderful part of our society, turning that work into an exclusionary event just feels wrong. Leave me your thoughts here or on the video comments!

7.4.2021