Custom Christmas Card

My latest commission was for a Christmas card. They wanted something different, but personal too. They love their dog, Sparky, and decided to feature him on the card! I also decided to take a few pictures in-progress to show you how I complete a drawing in colored pencils.

They provided me with a few different photos and this is the one I chose to work with:

They wanted me to spice it up and make it look “more Christmasy”. So I did a sketch for them that looked like this:

Which they loved. (Sparky really does like to open presents too!)  I figured we could put text on the inside that said, “No peeking” or something along those lines.

Here is the final sketch:

It’s more refined than the initial sketch I gave. That was just to give them an idea of what I was thinking. This final pencil drawing is fully shaded on illustration board and made to the correct size and proportion of the final piece.

Then, I put a thin layer of gesso right on top of the drawing. I usually spray fix the pencil, just so it doesn’t smudge with the weight of the brush. I use a cheap foam brush, so I don’t get any brush marks and it goes on nice and evenly.

As you can see, the drawing underneath the gesso is still visible. The gesso is thinned slightly with water and when it dries it’s slightly transparent. You don’t want to thin it too much because then it defeats the purpose of putting gesso down altogether. …but on the other hand, if you don’t use enough water, it becomes opaque and you lose the drawing you just did. This might take some experimenting to get the right mixture. I use gesso because I like to thin out the first few layers of colored pencils with turpentine to give it a more solid feel. A lot of times with colored pencils you can see the white of the paper through the wax. (sometimes, I use the color of the paper to enhance the colored pencils, such as in this piece) Using a solvent, such as turpentine, with eliminate the white show-through.

As shown in the photo above, the red bow has been thinned with turpentine, and I’ve just laid down the green on the present — see the white of the paper through it? That will be a smooth surface after painting it with a solvent.

This pic is a little smaller than the others, but you can see that I have my reference shot to the left and the present is just about complete. Sparky is sitting patiently waiting his turn to be colored!

And here is the final product!

Original illustration created in colored pencils on gessoed board, approx. 6″ x 6″.

Contact me if you’d like your own custom portrait and/or custom greeting card for the holidays or anytime!

Newly Formed Business Alliance Serves Local Businesses

Bill Baldwin, owner of Compelling Marketing Communications, has announced the formation of a new business alliance serving Connecticut.

Compelling Marketing Communications, mpression graphics, Paolucci Illustration and Design and Talcott Mountain Media have all joined together to deliver even higher quality services to their small and mid-sized business clients.

Compelling Marketing Communications specializes in creating and enhancing web sites, getting those web sites noticed by the right people and email marketing. mpression graphics, owned by Michelle Stanish, specializes in graphic design. Michelle’s primary contributions to the alliance include logo and web site design. Paolucci Illustration and Design, owned by Sarah Paolucci, specializes in illustrations, drawings and graphic design. Matthew Craver, owner of Talcott Mountain Media, is a writing specialist. His contributions to the alliance revolve around the written words for web sites, email newsletters and other marketing tools.

For more information about this new alliance and how it may benefit your organization visit http://tinyurl.com/CMC-Partners.

Open Studios!!

I will be showing my artwork at Artsake Gallery during the Open Studios of Northeastern CT this year. From 10-5 on November 28-29, and December 5-6, many art studios in the northeastern corner of CT are opening their doors for visitors! Get out your wallets and support local artisans from the area! Get a loved one a handmade gift they will never forget.

Artists of all kinds will be there: painters, woodworkers, glass, jewelery, printmaking, ceramics, textiles. You name it! Visit aosct.org for more info and a map of the area.

This year WindhamArts is running a promotion with participating locations. Get a pin by becoming a member of WindhamArts (for $20.00). When you wear your pin at the participating locations you are eligible for different discounts or raffles! Join now! Click here for more info. If you come wearing a pin to Artsake Gallery, Jennifer Hopkins will be raffling off a handmade bookmark!

So come visit me at Artsake Gallery. I will have NEW ART to show you! And as always, I will be selling prints of my artwork, and cards for the holidays.

I am showing with two other artists. Barbara Cambra is a textile artist who combines color and pattern to create unique usable art: table runners, lap quilts and wallhangings handquilted for adults and children. Jennifer Hopkins, owner of Artsake Gallery, creates handmade glass beads. You can purchase individual beads for your own creations or choose gifts of bookmarks, bracelets and necklaces. Lamp-work demonstrations on Sundays. <—These are a lot of fun to watch!

Artsake Gallery is located at 273 Tolland Stage Rd (corner of routes 74 & 30), Tolland, CT

AOSCT.org – for more info about the organization and other studios

Here’s one example of a new art piece I have to show you…

This is created in colored pencils and is 12.5″ x 15.5″. I think the title is going to be “Believe” but I’m not sure yet, if you have any ideas, please let me know!

Stephen Brown

There have been many art teachers in my life. The so-so teachers show you how to do it, the good teachers teach you how to be better, using what they know, but the great ones teach you how to see. Stephen Brown was one of those teachers. Stephen passed away on October 21 after a long battle with cancer. It’s hard to say he was one of the most talented teachers at the University of Hartford’s Art School, because they have so many talented teachers. But he was.

Stephen Brown taught painting. Oil painting to be specific. He was able to push and pull the medium and give a flat surface an enormous amount of depth. In his class we painted countless still-lifes, which I still have to this day, and he taught me that a white wall is far from plain white. He didn’t just say it, he had a way of making you see it. He gave many students that “aha!” moment, when they realize how to paint. And it wasn’t just realism either. Although his work is mainly realist portraits, still-lifes, and landscapes his teaching applied to abstract painting as well. It was about color and composition and movement and line and space and all the elements of design.

A few days after I found out about the news, I knew when the calling hours were and sadly I could not make it. But I was driving in the car at the time when I looked up at the sky I saw a cloud that personified the Stephen Brown that we all know and love. First of all most of the clouds in the sky seemed to be painted on – maybe that was his doing. This particular cloud was not in front of the sun but off to the side and had a rainbow in it. I’ve never seen anything like it before, but it reminded me of everything he taught. In one white cloud were all the colors of the world – you just have to open your eyes and see it. I tried to take a photo of it, but anyone who has been taught by Stephen Brown knows that a photo can’t compare to the beauty that came from his paintbrush. He was an amazing teacher and I am a better artist because of him, as are many who have attended the Hartford Art School. HAS will never be the same. His beauty and legacy lives on in his paintings. My condolences go out to his family in this difficult time. He will be missed.

For more information about Stephen Brown here is an article about the painter written by UNotes which is a University of Hartford news website.

Get updates about me!

I have started a mailing list for all those who want to keep up with my art shows, exhibits, new work, and anything else that I think may be of interest to you!

Click here to sign up today!

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Thanks!

Two Weimaraners

My latest portrait is complete! This is a portrait of two Weimaraners. Weims are beautiful dogs with a silvery/gray/brown coat that seems to change in the light. They are probably most known for being the inspiration of William Wegman’s work. That’s a whole different blog post for another day!

I had a choice to do this portrait in colored pencils or pastels. I chose to do the portrait in colored pencil on a grey/purplish paper. I wanted to accentuate the richness of their coat, and I thought this was the best way to do it. I let the color of the paper show through in some parts. Colored pencils are much more delicate than pastels. I can layer the color over itself and come up with an entirely new color that way. Whereas, pastels are the color you see and when you try to blend them, they can get kind of muddy. Also with pastels I try to pick a colored paper that will contrast well with the final drawing. I like using colored pencils on paper where I can incorporate the color of the paper (since it usually shows through the pencil strokes) and build it up from there.

“2 Weims”, Colored pencil on grey paper, 10″ x 8″ This was created from two different photographs which I then combined into a sketch and was approved by the client prior to completing the final drawing.

Contact me for details on how to get your own portrait done!

Nike was right… Just do it.

I met someone the other day who is an aspiring illustrator. He was excited to learn that I am a practicing illustrator in the field. Now, I don’t know this man’s background and I don’t claim to know him very well, but he had a plan for himself in the coming months. He wants to get all the perfect equipment to do what he needs. He has been saving his money and over the next 6 months or so, he will purchase the perfect drawing table, and the perfect light table and the perfect lamps, etc. I think it’s great that he has goals and wants to do this full time, but I also think he’s going about this all wrong. If he wants to be an illustrator, all he has to do is draw. A sketchbook and a pencil. Create characters and bring them to life. For some it’s easier said than done.

I have found that if I put off creating/drawing/painting to clean up/check my email/fix the chair/etc… I always find something more to procrastinate with. I have a drawing on my table right now. I’ve been working on it on-and-off for about two months. It’s coming along nicely, but sometimes it just sits there while I (unconsciously) try to find something else to do (like write a blog). It’s a nasty habit. On the other hand, I don’t procrastinate with projects that I’m hired for. There is a deadline and someone is relying on me to come through for them. There is more pressure on me to get it right and get it out on time. (Which I always do!) But when it’s my own project, with no one waiting for it, it gets pushed to the wayside. I think it’s okay when there is work to be done, but when it’s fluff (and you know when it’s fluff) then just do it.

Years ago I got a book signed by Maurice Sendak. I asked him as he was signing the book if he had any advice for an aspiring illustrator. He said, very simply, “Draw. Draw everyday. Don’t stop drawing.” He never said anything about getting the perfect equipment, the right sketchbook, the right ink, but to just draw. So this is the advice that I passed on to the aspiring artist. I didn’t discourage him from buying what he thinks he needs. I just told him that in the meantime – he should just draw, even if it’s for 15 minutes a day. He wants to create his own characters and animate them, I suggested starting a comic strip to explore that. I don’t know if he will take my advice, even I don’t take my advice sometimes… But as long as you are drawing, you are an artist. The equipment is secondary to the talent. The only way to ensure that you will grow as an artist is to keep drawing. Nike was right – Just do it.

Keep drawing.

Now Accepting Holiday Commissions!!

I just finished my first holiday portrait for this season! I cannot post it, because I don’t want to spoil the surprise!! Get your order in now to reserve your spot for the holiday season. It typically takes up to two weeks to complete a portrait, but it can take more depending upon my workload.

Here are a few different portraits I did for last year’s holiday season:

Prices:
8×10: B&W-$95, color-$145
11×14: B&W-$135, color-$175
These prices are for pencil, colored pencil, pastel, or charcoal, and based on one subject (person or pet) per drawing, there is an additional charge for more than one subject in a portrait.

Additional sizes are available, call or email for more details:
860.604.9823, sarah@sarahpaolucci.com

New Illustrations for Women’s Center

Here is a project I just completed for the Women’s Center of Southeastern Connecticut.

The Women’s Center Opens doors to a better, safer life for over 6000 people each year by providing services to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault throughout New London County.  www.womenscenterofsect.org

This is an illustration created for the invitation to a cocktail party fundraiser. There was tarot card readings, a magician, a belly dancer and exotic foods. This illustration needed to represent this and bring an exotic and fun feel to the party. The purple and red fabric is carried throughout all three illustrations.

This next illustration was for the invitation to the carnival, coming up next weekend:

The last illustration is for a flyer. Feel free to stop on by and support the Women’s Center.

All three illustrations were done with colored pencils on gessoed paper. The invitation illustration will be donated to the silent auction taking place on October 3rd.

www.womenscenterofsect.org

Art is in trouble

I know we’ve been in a recession for a while now, but I’ll admit I’ve  been lucky. I am a freelance designer and illustrator. It’s slowed down this summer, but it’s summer, it happens every year. No one wants to work, including me! I don’t mind having a little more time to go out and enjoy the weather. Now that it’s September, I think people are ready to get back to business and kick-start this economy. It’s picked up a little for me and I hope it has for everyone else too.

I submitted my artwork recently to the Farmington Valley Arts Center (FVAC) Open Juried Show. I brought in my artwork on Tuesday and stole a glance at the other artwork around. The art was good! It was nice to be in competition with other people’s artwork again, and hopefully to be in a show. I’ve been slacking on entering competitions and trying to get my artwork shown lately. I thought I had a good chance of getting in. It was high caliber artwork, but all of it was different, and not one of them was similar to what I submitted.

I got a call last night informing me about the show. I had to come pick up my artwork today. Not because I didn’t make it into the show… no one did. The show at the FVAC was cancelled due to lack of funds… I listened to the message with my mouth agape. I couldn’t believe it. I was surprised and disappointed. Not only that the show was cancelled, but the FVAC was temporarily closing. Here is an excerpt from their website:

The Farmington Valley Arts Center Board of Directors has announced that the Center’s offices are closed effective immediately, and all scheduled classes and events cancelled until a strategic restructuring is completed.

So I went in today to pick up my artwork. I offered to help. I asked if there was anything I could do. They seemed surprised that I wanted to help! but grateful. They were so nice. I don’t like to see any arts organization, let alone one as prominent as the FVAC, go up in smoke. They also have working artists studios there, and they are not closed. I encourage everyone to swing by and see what the artists are doing… and buy something!! They are having an open studio next weekend (I think the activities are tentative, but the artists will be there for sure) September 12, 10am – 4pm.

The board of FVAC is going through a restructuring process and hopefully will come out bigger and better on the other side! I encourage everyone to support the arts and your local community. For most people art is a hobby. But for a select (lucky) few it’s a career. The FVAC supports the arts in all realms, and I hope you’ll support the FVAC.

Go to the FVAC website: artsfvac.org