Oops

By mistake I had turned off the commenting on this blog, but its back up now. Many thanks to the talented Laura from Little Orange Kitchen (one of my favorite bloggers) for letting me know- and thanks also for the compliment on the photo.

Things have been pretty hectic lately. The show season has begun again, and at the same time I've been doing some commission work.... which is why its so quiet here.

As soon as I log off tonight, I'll be painting, so there will be new stuff soon.

There is the coolest woodpecker in the tree outside right now, its mesmerizing me.

Be well.

The Diner

ink and acrylic on bristol
8x8





This is the drawing used in the step-by-step portion of Zine Three.

Painting

Making a bright brick color for my latest drawing.

Mixing paint is not as satisfying as inking, but it is a close second. I always use some sort of tool to stir it all up and get the color evenly blended, but I always end up with it on my sleeve too. My laundry becomes part of the process.

No wonder we always wore smocks in school.
:)

Retreating

Well, a couple weeks ago I took some time off of work and went away to a place where all I had was my art supplies and food. Its amazing how much one can accomplish when they are focused (or at least how much I can accomplish when I am focused).

It was a snowy trip, but very calm and energizing. I was able to get most of the zine complete, and I am still happily on target for an April 13th release. There are also a few new projects on the horizon. My next show is in May, so I feel like I have a month off from that sort of organizing and preparation, which is nice.

All in all, I had a good trip and am certainly feeling creative again at full force.

Be well,
Jaye

The Antique Shop

The original of this is done in ink and color pencil on 11x14 bristol board.

Its been a challenge to be creative within the new schedule, so I squeeze in some sketching during my lunch hour. Even though I can't get a ton of artwork done during that time, I get enough done so that at the end of the day I'm charged up to keep going in the evening and on weekends.

This weekend I've got a couple of projects. Number one, and neverending, is organizing my desk. My tax forms are still in a pile, so I suppose if I am going to clean its time to just do them. I've also got some computer work, like back-ups and zine formatting (issue three is halfway done!). Cleaning up from last weekends show, and getting ready for next weekends show is on the list. Along with finishing two drawings.

Strange that the last thing is the one I am most excited about.

I wish you all a happy and safe weekend.
Be well.

Trip

Its been quiet here on my blog because I have been on vacation this past weekend, and it was a very much needed break. I feel like I've finally hit the groove of balancing work and art again, which is great.

We kicked off the weekend with a show at the Silver Coast Winery Irish Festival. Jeanette Janson, the visionary and crafter behind Carolina Artist and I shared a booth, and were entertained by the sights and sounds of the day. If you get a chance to check out Jeanette's assemblages you won't be disappointed. She has a great eye for detail and composition that keeps people coming back for more.

After recovering from the show and hunkering down during a tornado watch, we got to do some serious antique shopping. I'm not sure how I can spend hours in a store like that, touching and opening everything of interest, but only walking out with a small bag of treasures. Look out for the day I own a home, because I'm going to fill it with this stuff.

One morning we got to go to the cat shelter where my Uncle volunteers. There were six rooms full of cats and kittens! They each had unique personalities and they all deserve a caring adopter. This little guy's name is Leo. He leaped up onto my back when I was holding another cat and climbed to my shoulders. In a place where one goes to choose a cat, it was cool to be the one chosen instead!

However, bringing the cat back to my small apartment that is already at cat-capacity just wasn't possible at this time. If you live near the Myrtle Beach are and are looking for an awesome cat adoption agency, check out Cat Tails in Ocean Isle, NC. They do a great job keeping the cats clean and healthy and ready for a new home.

There was also an awesome lobster dinner prepared by my Dad, who gets all the yucky stuff out of the way before it even hits our plates. It was scrumptious... and surprisingly it was from Maine, and not the coast of Carolina where we were!

New Note Cards

Wave Two of the flat note card sets now available here.



Thanks,
Jaye

FIN six

Yes, you are.
But its okay.

Joy of Old in Charlestown, MA

It's always exciting to have my prints available in retail stores, and this one is no exception. The Joy of Old is an antique store in Charlestown, MA and they have recently expanded their inventory to include items from the Boston Handmade group. Here is a shot of my prints (in new hanging sleeves!) taken by Betsy of Stonehouse Studio.

Thanks Joy of Old for including my work among your fabulous selection!

-Jaye

Beginnings

In celebration of opening a new online store, the Labyrinth Print is now available. Not to worry, I still sell on Etsy, but it is not my main store anymore. I enjoy having more options in regards to settings, inventory, and tracking that is not yet available on Etsy. I realized I have enough products now to have my own store and drive traffic there without needing buyers to register and figure anything out.

There are more new beginnings going on here, too. Now that March is here, its the perfect time to get back into the groove of drawing regularly. I know many of you have been expecting a new FIN cartoon for a while. I'm sorry the wait has been so long. He is here, taped to my drawing board and rampant in my mind, I assure you.

Also, I have booked my annual art retreat for the end of this month. Last year that trip supercharged me and made me ready for my first big art show. This year, who knows what it will bring. So long as the creativity is flowing I am fine.

Be well,
Jaye

Introducing the new note cards:

Wave One



available here

Zines

Zine (pronounced "zeen") is an abbreviated term for magazine.
Simply put, a zine is an inexpensively produced underground publication.

But what does that mean?

If you are tired of the magazines found on your local newsstand, and are looking for a new and different perspective in a similar format, then zines might be right up your alley.

Zines exist that cover issues such as music, cooking, crafting, fashion, art, journaling, politics, comics, sports, and millions of personal experiences ranging from tenth grade history class, to running away from home, to dealing with illness, to starting businesses, and so much more.

There is no set format, these days you select from ezines or paper zines. They come in black and white, or full color, or a mix. They come reproduced by copy machine, or by typewriter, or by hand. Some have staples holding together, many have threads holding them together, and still others have brads or barrettes, or an old piece of gum holding them together -- well, I imagined that last one, but it could be true.

There is a huge variety of distribution possibilities. Some zinesters pass them out on the street, or leave them in cafes and libraries and buses. Some post internet ads on craigslist or LiveJournal. Many sell them via Etsy. There are also "Distros" that purchase zines at a wholesale price, then resell them along with other zines. This is convenient for both zine creators and readers as it allows zines to be easily discovered and purchased.

The third issue of my art zine, thirteenthstory, will be available in March. For me, the format has always been quarter-size pages that I create with my printer and a copier. The cover is always in color, printed out on labels then applied to the blank front.



In each issue there is a spotlight on a famous artist, some creative writing, an illustrated verse, an art dvd review, a look at techniques, and of course it has drawings throughout. Issue two is still available by clicking here.

Still want more info?
Check out Stolen Sharpie Revolution, or Whatcha Mean What's A Zine at your local library or bookstore.

Messing about

This picture was taken in April, which is why there are no leaves on the trees yet, but it was mild enough to sit outside... while wearing two coats, anyway.

One of my friends is a photographer, and we go on art outings when the weather permits. I look forward to those again. It's a good time to experiment with techniques. I can fill my sketchbook with colorful drawings, or ones with lots of detail as practice and inspiration for final compositions.



This is what I was sketching that day. I'm not comfortable using much color in my work, so when I try it gets a little messy.

Have a great rest of the week, everyone.
I'll be launching a new product this weekend, and FIN 6 will be ready.
Catch you then.

-Jaye

Train Train

If you love someone who loves trains, they might enjoy this piece of original art.

It is framed and ready to be hung.
The colors are black, white, maroon, and gray.

Made carefully with pen, ink, and brush.

Thanks for looking. For more information, click here.

-Jaye

Icarus Falling

Sculpture is one of those mediums that I always enjoy browsing, but never end up buying. Perhaps I am deterred by the extra dusting I'd have to do to keep sculptures looking good; or perhaps I think they would become very dated very fast.

However, there is one piece that I discovered last year that I frequently visit online, and I find myself looking around the apartment every now and then to determine where it would look best.

Artist: Kate Newlyn
Title: The Fall of Icarus
You want it: click here

The cost of it is prohibitive to me as well, but its one of the first things I'd buy if I suddenly had a lot of cash. Perhaps I'll make an offer when I get that tax rebate check.

There is just something about it I can't shake.

-Jaye

Commission Work

This winter I was proud to be hired to design the New Years card for the M + R Strategic Services local office.

There were a few different drafts, they were looking for something wintry and/or something New Englandy. So, if I remember correctly there was a snow design, a lighthouse design, and a design that incorporated some of the text from Robert Frosts' Blueberries poem. This is the one they ultimately chose:

The biggest challenge in this one was to find something that complimented their logo, which has a very clean look and uses all cool colors. To me, the logo has an icy feel to it, and it was natural to use snowflakes for the holidays.

Thanks for looking,
Jaye

From 0 to 40

This coming March, issue three of the thirteenthstory zine will be available. Its nice, because it debuted last year in March, with issue two in July and issue 2.5 in November. Three per year seems reasonable to me, especially now that I am working a full time job again.

Yes, you read that correctly, after a season of artistic commitment, I've gone back to work. It was planned that way, though: three months to kick-off the business, then back to work to make money that will sustain the momentum I built.

At a craft fair yesterday, three of my prints sold out of the stock I brought to the show. That felt great, and certainly helped me experience that the momentum is still there, despite the new schedule.

Its been a little while since I've updated my online shop, and that is my first priority right now. Look for a new FIN, a new line of note cards, and a new original piece for sale in February. All those things will be announced here in the blog, and I thank you for reading.

Be well,
Jaye

Why thirteenthstory?

When I was a child, my father told me that many buildings do not have a 13th floor. It was the first truely absurd thing I had ever heard.

Sure, people can be superstitious to the point of not wanting to live or work in a place addressed 13, but are they really foolish enough to think that whatever is labelled 14 isn't REALLY 13?

My brother once said, "If you jump out of the 14th floor window, you will hit the ground faster than you think." As sad and gross as that is, its true.



So in honor of that very-real-yet-ignored floor, I've named my business thirteenthstory.

And incidentally, I've named my cat Lucky.

Four To Go

Sometimes it is difficult to let go of originals. This is the first time I've said goodbye to four at once, and though the gaping holes on my own apartment walls are noticeable, it is with pride I send these drawings off into the world.

The two in the center, Fifteen Trees and Celtic Tree, are being sent to Lawrence, MA for the Shades of Gray exhibit and sale hosted by Rich Girl Records in February.

The two on the edges, Clotheslined and Brick House, are going to be part of the inventory at the new store called OAK Boston, opening March 1st at the corner of Newbury Street and Gloucester Street.

May they find good homes.

The Red Thread

Four years ago I got a phone call from my brother telling me that he
and his wife were going to adopt a baby girl from China. This news
was most exciting, my first niece was out there somewhere, and they
just had to bring her home. This is Mary:

As you may know, the international adoption process is a long and
difficult one, filled with the most challenging waiting period I've
ever witnessed. It was close to two years later when they were
approved and next in line to visit the orphanage in Chengsha.

During that time, my brother and his wife had learned about a Chinese
folk tale called The Red Thread. The story is that every time a child
is born, they are surrounded with an invisible red thread that
connects them to those who will love and care for them in their
lifetime. As the child grows older, the red thread shortens in
length, bringing them ever closer to loved ones.

One of the agency professionals who was working with my brother and
his wife had a red thread tattooed around her ankle! Its a wonderful
idea, and inspired this drawing:



Thanks.

Angel Print on Front Page of Etsy

This was pretty cool. A treasury curated by bamabelle based on shadows made it to the front page of Etsy:

Many thanks to Liz from Lush Beads for the screen cap.

-Jaye

Justice

At shows, one of the comments I get the most is: The internet does not do your drawings justice. I suppose that is true for many artists and crafters, as flat scans and photos never seem to pick up the colors, texture, and true-life look of our creations.

Even this photograph, taken digitally in October and uploaded straight from the camera, looks far more washed out online and seems to be missing hundreds of colors compared to the printed one in my hands.

Lest year, one of my priorities was better pictures and scans of my work. By understanding my camera settings and taking more pictures of the art hung on a wall or sitting framed, it gave viewers a better idea of the size and presentation of the pieces.

This year, I thought it might be a good idea to get my actual art in front of as many people as possible, so I don't have to rely solely on compatible browser settings and monitors to showcase my work. I'm going to do more shows in more cities for one thing; and I have recently sent over 100 prints to The Sampler. My hope is that more folks will get to see my art, and that they will see it in the manner that does it justice.

Article of Interest

Over on the Design*Sponge blog, Joanna Goddard wrote a fantastic guest article detailing the edits of two illustrations she completed for the New York Times.

Check it out here: Click

Letters

This is a new painting, just for fun. Its rare I work without ink, but sometimes I enjoy layering on all the colors. Acrylic on canvas board, measuring 9 x 12 inches.

Be well.
Jaye

FIN four and five

FIN, the ninja cartoon, is now updated every Friday.
Here are the latest two:

They are all ink on Bristol Board with acrylic paint applied dry for color. It's been great making them, and the format remains at five inch square panels. The prints are all Limited Edition, numbered to 13 (of course). I'm keeping the originals myself, in case someday I have enough for a book.

Mostly, I enjoy that I'm able to work in my style and tell some stories. Good stuff, that.

Be well,
Jaye

FIN on Etsy Front Page

Aw, FIN made the front page of Etsy for a little while today.
There was a treasury featuring black and blue products, and the whole thing looked pretty snazzy:



It lasted about an hour before the print sold, which was wonderful. I'm so glad FIN one has a new home.

Many thanks to Amy (of Amy Olson Jewelry) for catching it and sending me the screenshot.

Be well,
Jaye

thirteenthstory on Trunkt

My artwork has been accepted to Trunkt, an independent art and design showcase. While you are there, be sure to browse the other wonderful artists whose work was also selected by curators.

Thanks,
Jaye

Clothesline Drawing

It always begins with sketches. Many color combinations and layouts are practiced at thumbnail size, with color pencils and a regular pen. This particular one included decisions about creating a composition that would lead the eye around yet ultimately give it somewhere to rest. This is why, in the last sketch, one shirt was chosen to be hung upside-down.



Next, the Bristol board (series 500, two ply plate) is taped to a mat, and the basic design is carefully measured and laid out in pencil. Its important to me that the final work fits in standard sized mats and frames, because custom stuff is often too expensive for me. This one is 10 x 8 inches.



My favorite part is the inking. I use Koh-I-Noor Rapidographs of various sizes, and slowly ink lines over the pencils.



Once the ink is dry, and all pencil marks are thoroughly erased, then I tape up the clean edges of the work that will not be painted. This allows me to be a little freer with my brush strokes and not so scared that paint will obliterate the freshly inked lines. Its not an exacting process, and touch-up comes later, but it does soothe my nerves while painting.



Using red, blue, yellow, black, and white I always mix my own colors with acrylic paints. For this piece, it was a lot of blue with some white and black to mute the brightness a bit. I applied the paint with a dry brush, which essentially means when I put paint on my brush, I remove most of it on scrap paper before dragging the dry bristles across the page. It gives it a very loose and ghosty effect, which I've come to adore.



There were a few areas that needed to be touched-up, and I do that with black ink and plain white acrylic ink (the only white-out for me). The color used here worked out well, for it seems like a cloudy sky backdrop for the expanse of clotheslines, but also resembles denim... a familiar combo with t-shirts.




That's the process I've been most comfortable with, and the whole thing took about one day from sketches to hanging.

A print of this drawing is available in my Etsy shop.
Please click here for more information.

Thanks so much,
Jaye / thirteenthstory.com

Inspiration Boards

There is a group on flickr dedicated to inspiration boards, which I just read about and joined today. Its fantastic seeing such a variety of style and the mood surrounding each one. Personally, I've kept inspiration boards going since I was in Junior High School. It started when I made a wall of Rolling Stone Magazine covers, then taped advertisements, tattoo designs, and comic pages on top of them. Since then, my space has become smaller, and my aesthetic quieter:

As you can see, I also use that same wall to hang my black mat-cutting board. It's handy that way, and all the paint and cut marks make it seem like art in-and-of itself. At least that's what I tell guests.

This board goes through a lot of changes based on whatever colors I'm immersed in at the moment. I use clear thumbtacks to hold and maneuver each piece, and to hang charms and more solid found-objects on as well. Its in that location so I can see it from everywhere, my desk, my couch, and every time I go to the kitchen for tea. Hence the tea-bag tags on there.

Thanks for checking this out.

-Jaye