We are near.. Surtex 2014!! And the simple life..

So I have been away hiding in a sense but being productive in the studio. Trying to get as much things done, as we are near Surtex thats coming up in May 2014! Some things happening right now in the studio are site updates and organizations lots of collection work, creating new ones and revising old. Also I've continued on with Lilla Rogers Boot Camp. The newest assignment is a theme around Jello. Not too sure how I personally relate to it. But it did remind me of Candy. So thats where the plan of attack started. Im really excited about the results, and ordered gift wrapping paper from Spoonflower! Then I ordered more for the studio, like my black and white owls!! I also just finished a lovely commission for Melissa Baumann a amazing person and huge fan of my art. Her friend was getting married. Here are some snippets from Instagram. What's been grounded me the most lately is Ellie. I'm not quite sure I understand children ever. I just think they will all be happier in a circus. 

Lilla Rogers Boot Camp Assignment. Jello Theme!

Gift Wrap From SpoonFlower

Gift Wrap From SpoonFlower

Illustration, collage commission for bride

New Studio Set up

Ellie and I at the beach on a monday late afternoon chasing sunsets..

Photoshop Tutorial for Digital Bliss.

So I'm not sure what happened. I remember someone from our Lilla Rogers Course, Make Art That sells was working on a intense project one week. Had cravings for nutella. She said " Look a spoon in my hand, with a jar of nutella, how did that happen?" It was hilarious. So this tutorial I created this week felt like that. It just happened. It is Free. A experiment and to see if I can package a e-course thingy for everyone down the road to help them achieve digital bliss. Because it is possible. If you are interested please email me and I will send you link and password. It's hard for me to keep up with Facebook posts there is a lot going on there. So emails are good for me to contact you back and keep you in the loop with any further developments. 

A very simple 16 minute introductory photoshop class. It will cover:

1. Scanning Art In

2. Adjusting art for painting

3. Playing with Brushes

5. Few useful tips

6. Approaching it from Painters perspective.

5.Treating photoshop as a tool

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A quick pattern play today with under water theme..

It's been a crazy 22 days a very productive start of the year. I just want to make something everyday, have fun and stay on track with my goals. I did these in a few hours. Inspired by the recent spoon flower contest that I missed, though I did it anyways. It was fun. 

New Promotional Ads

Working on some new ads right now for local placement. 

2013 In Review

2013 instagram animation review..

-Started off by getting back into illustration visibility in full force. Meaning I never really had my own show. It was all group shows or submission work for events and competition. I did murals too though it was nice to do something more intimately at a indie handmade shop called kitsch and getting connected locally. 

-Contributed Art work for better block and brought my large paintings out to a different space.. 

-Went to NYC in May caught up with old friends I have not seen in ages. Did an amazing gallery hop in Chelsea. Inspired! Checked out the surtex show. Met Lilla Rogers in person. Walked out of javitts center and said I'm going to do this. 

-Took Lilla's MAT class online. Never worked so hard and faster then ever. Connected with over 600 talented artists globally on a personal and work level.Kicked ass in class. Feeling like a new leaf finally turned over for this burnt out mom and business owner.There is light finally. 

-Scott and Ellie got to spend much needed time together, his new job is awesome and flexible. We have angels around us I know it. 

-Turned in Sketchbook Project on time.

-Had to end relationship with my creative business coach. Felt the need for something new or a different approach. Feeling more independent and stronger trusting a new pathway carved inside of me to excel and take control of staying on track with goals with what works better for me. Also believing in the power of motherhood, compassion and forgiveness. 

-Summer went quick competed in Global talent search worked my tail off. Drawing at 3 am when ideas came through. Went through huge growing pains. Was invited to join collective from MAT-A to go to surtex. Forest foundry was formed. And we are going to surtex! 

-Worked on art in the yard with Ellie playing with paints and making messes. Grateful of space and freedom. Couldn't imagine my life in a office then time spent with Ellie. Took another MAT course in fall. My art really started to bloom. Collections are created for surtex!! I started taking on more freelance projects in all areas again. Ellie is acting like a little adult. I'm very proud of her. She is so so smart and talented.

-Fall brought new people in my life locally. Everyone at fawn studio thank you for inviting me to do a show with you guys. I finished a couple of old paintings and that was more then a achievement to me. 

-Three books published with my illustrations made it to the FrankFurt Book Festival. Pretty darn proud.

-Things are moving forward. Winter brought proposals to new companies and working on new websites and my own. New clients, different approach to work. Love. 

- I drank a lot of water this year. I'm up to about 4 hot yoga classes per week. Still maintaining well with a protein shake system and healthy meals. 

-Getting my long waited ink tomorrow! 

-There is so more I left out though it was ten times better then 2012. I had to take risks. And my family and friends that I knew were all in decent health. 

-Gratitude for all that had supported me this past year, buying my art, staying positive, and giving great comments via Facebook and being inspirational. 

Wishing you a Magical & Peaceful Holiday.

I think one of the most amazing things about doing creative work. Is the ability to tap into that silent magical zone. Where the most amazing things happen. There is so much joy in that I just can't explain it to you unless you do something yourself out of the ordinary this holiday season. Simple things like finally creating that craft project you pinned on pinterest last holiday. Send a card out or reach out to people anyways even if you may not talk to them often. You know like those little sparks of stars in the night sky, making your day a bit more meaningful. From Butterpop Studio to you. Have a Magical & Peaceful Holiday..

Quote used in illustration by Anton Chehov, a physician and brilliant short story writer. I feel the same like him with two different disciplines side by side each other.. More on him here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anton_Chekhov

Gratitude and Union

I have been on a journey these last 11 months. It flew. I grew a lot. How do I know this? I feel loved. I feel supported. I feel like another part of me is pushing through a healing process wanting me to get better. Desiring me to feel less alone. Forcing me to become part of something greater then what I know. I just finished Part B of Make Art that sells, by Lilla Rogers. I have now close to 10 collections set up ready to be entirely evolved for Surtex. I have an amazing group of creative support with Forest Foundry Collective. Gained tons of friends from all over the globe from MAT A & MAT B.  We are part of this safe community online that I can share whatever that is on my mind. 

Let Go & Allow The Magic To Happen

Get some of your mojo magic here at my black & white society6shop: http://society6.com/rainyowl/Let-Go--Let-The-Magic-Happen 

Frida is always there for me.

 http://fineartamerica.com/products/why-do-i-need-feet-when-i-have-wings-to-fly-victoria-weiss-art-print.html

Choose Good Thoughts & Vote for Victoria

Hi Everyone! If you have been on Facebook following my stats. I'm Part of the Global Talent Search Competition for Lilla Rogers Studio. You may have already got my stalking FaceBook emails. I'm here again to let you know that the last day is on the 9th. So there is still time to vote! Go here to the link Directly: 

http://lillarogers.com/wp-content/plugins/lilla-rogers-gts/viewimg.php?img_id=1009&post_id=10653

My process to creating this Farmers Tote Bag came quickly. After a bit of Fall research online, library at home and day dreaming about travels of favorite places with the best fall scenery. I got to it. I went directly drawing with micron pens of icons that I love about the farmers market. I created a little older version of the journal character. A 10 year old girl wearing a owl mask on her head ready for Halloween. All my characters bring me strength when I create them. They sometimes remind me of a childhood easily forgotten. My love of imagining an animal becoming more human like is another realty and fairy tale I like to live in.  The fall always brings me to think of the orange Fox though he has a mustache here holding the perfect apple pie. I loved climbing things as a kid, so it wasn't a surprise the owl girl ended up in a tree picking apples blissfully. I did exactly what I wanted to do. Which always has been a struggle as I didn't exactly compromise the work, and had managed my time well with it. I picked a focal point which was the tree on the tote bag and went from there. Same for the journal cover. I was looking for that  vintage toy horse which sparked the center of the composition during the first phase of the GTS.  

On a personal note, I've included a photo of my father helping with the family restaurant in Jersey shore during the fifties. The only place in Jersey shore at the time that served Kosher jewish and cuban food. My dad has passed away from cancer 10 years ago. He wasn't your typical father growing up. Though he was an extraordinary artist and business man when it came to anything 3d and built with his hands. Also he created the first remote control toy airplane that can fly. Named it the iball and got it pattened and manufactured in Taiwan in the 70s. That's how he met my mom. Through that experience I have quit smoking for almost 8 years and have carved out a big part of my life to yoga. He has been coming to my dreams a lot this past month, so I'm dedicating this tote bag illustration and post to him today. Be healthy and well everyone. Choose good thoughts! Thank you all for your support. 

Link to Vote: 

http://lillarogers.com/wp-content/plugins/lilla-rogers-gts/viewimg.php?img_id=1009&post_id=10653

Moyo Directory!

I have to say I am loving the simple user friendly site of the new Moyo Directory for Artists & Surface Designers! Love it! Let's hope it will get me some enquiries as well! 

The momentum continues..

We took a small road trip to maryland this past weekend. A new route showed up and we found ourselves on this country road filled with beautiful greens, old rustic barns, antique shops. I haven't left virginia since back in May, when I went back to NYC to catch the 2013 Surtex show, also to see family and friends. This almost end of summer break was much needed. Feeling recharged and ancy I was back on it this week with yummy isagenix protein shakes, and flying out my revisions from MAT Class. I also did a lay out of all the icons I used for the Farmers Market Tote. It was truly a very productive week back and a collection is evolving. I'm also working on a nyc mural proposal for first street green, bowery project I believe. I'm also excited to work on some characters and going into my hungarian folk roots. so that is going to be so FUN!!! 

Its Done! 2nd Round! Global Talent Search, Lilla Roger Studio

I really wanted to challenge myself this second round. We have 2 weeks! That's amazing time frame!!! The theme is a farmers market tote bag. There are so many elements about fall I love. First I think of Asheville North Carolina. Besides fall in NYC. Asheville tops it on my list. The leaves in the mountain from bright yellows to firery reds and oranges are intoxicating. So that was settled. The tote must have fall leaves. I have been wanting to just work on a tree and give it some meditative detail like I do with my characters. So I choose the apple picking theme. Then I wanted to draw canning. I love canning illustrations on anything! So it must have canning. Then the orange fox character showed up. How can you not have a orange fox in anything fall related. So what helped this round is looking at old vintage posters of farmers market. I love anything old, rustic, natural with modern feel to it as well. So I just try to merge all of it. The tree came as a grounding point. In the end after a bag of saltines have gone these last few days before submission I came to realize more about the concept. The concept of the market bag came from my travels to my husbands beautiful little town called Muncy in Pennsylvania. Their farmers markets are little stands in the mountains with all kinds of fall goodness during Autumn. There is no one running it. They are still on a honor system! How crazy is that?! So I guess I started imagining all these characters in the mountains coming into play. Hans Christiansen has a great quote I think of often. "Life is Like A Fairy Tale." I hope it translated here. Cross fingers. Deep Breath. Hopefully I can relax. Which is a foreign word unless I'm in a yoga class. Haha Thank you everyone for your support!! Hoping to catch some last of summer activities with my Ellie.

I'm A Semi-Finalist for Global Talent Search, Lilla Rogers Studio

I declared loudly in my heart and in my journals January of 2013. This is it. I'm going to have to do something. Go back to grad school, relocate, and or just take any art endeavors like the horns of the bull and just move with it. I can't keep going with my current work life. Then I get this course in my email inbox one day early spring. I woke up 5am before deadline to sign up for Lilla Rogers Course. Make Art That Sells. It was money I could not touch. We have been tight financially. Though my new york, hustling, rebel heart will take the lead again. It got me through 15 years living in Brooklyn & Queens. How could it fail me now?! Here I am with a beautiful art studio, life, home, daughter, husband and family. What do I have to loose?

The last few months had felt like a complete year of growth for me. The amount of AMAZING, positive people in this course with Lilla that started in June has been a flood gate of pink neon goodness, pouring into my heart. I can't help but feel this tremendous amount of weight lifted from my soul opening up a new path, point of view and just all around respect for all the artists involved through the course. Your energy has help me realize that I can do this. We can do this. Despite full time work schedules and children/spouses involved. We can make it happen. Week by week and having FUN again!! So that I have been so grateful of. Can I say that the gift art week with all the pouches were INSANE?!? And then the GTS Work!!!! It is amazing. The energy!!!! Please congrats your self!!! 

So now I am this morning as I checked my iphone for emails and social network.  I see the announcement on Lilla's Blog. Still in bed I said, okay just going to look at it quickly and get it over with it. The last few weeks was messy, but I kept on working on my art. And kept moving on plans. So I scroll down and am just so excited about each beautiful journal entries coming up. It was all the journals that I thought Lilla would pick. Then gasp! Tears woke my husband up like it was those good old pregnancy days. WOAHHHHH. What just happened? Thats my work!! In a contest!! Picked!!! 

So here I am one of the semi-finalists for the Global Talent Search Contest, Via Lilla Rogers Studio. I'm flying, but I'm trying to be humble. No matter what happens I'm signed up in MATB Course in October from the start.  I'm still continuing on with plans written down in January & July. If any of the people that entered the contest or are MAT students reading this. Know that we are all amazing. For the last 15 years out of school. I've had moments of many giving ups. Though I kept seeking support from coaches, yoga, to volunteering in creative communities. I kept on going. So you can let something like this get you down or give you more fire. I always choose fire in that case and a lot of yoga class like grounding in the other. I look at not just the artists in Lilla's studio, though world wide, and I feel like an ant. (The eames power of 10 Film pretty much sums that feeling I think well.) Okay maybe I'm exaggerating!! But its a great movie!! The work on this planet is amazing. All of us has a unique story and dedication behind our work. We all have so much to contribute and calling in our lives. I'm constantly in battle with mine, but every week. I have a to do list. And every week I have a quote in my studio to look at. And every day, I do something with my Ellie to make her smile and appreciate all the little things. 

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Here's a video of the song  Fly me to the moon, By Frank Sinatra. Whether that quote is related to this. Every time I think of that quote I think of this song ;-) It always cheers me up or relaxes me a bit So I can get on with it! So this is for all of you guys. 

All my love, and Round 2 Here we Go...

Francis Albert "Frank" Sinatra - December 12, 1915 -- May 14, 1998) was an American singer and actor.Sinatra also forged a successful career as a film actor, winning the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in From Here to Eternity, a nomination for Best Actor for The Man with the Golden Arm, and critical acclaim for his performance in The Manchurian Candidate.

I have grown an extra something.

I could not be even more devoted then I can ever imagine

I have grown an extra something

I don't know what it is

Appreciation?

Deletion of time? 

To make art and push myself to the limits of it

Never lazy, but ever curious on details

Those centimeters

Those lines

Those paint drops

Those microns

Those pixels

Just to reach a little farther then I could yesterday. 

Yet for myself. and for no one else. 

To look at all the art progression these last 8 months.

Wondering who is making all this art at times

Asking how insane it has been these last 8 months. 

How I declared that this is what I want. 

And I will do everything.

Give it my ALL..

Why?

Because my art is worth it. 

my soul demands it. 

And I LOVE it.

Last Week of Make Art That Sells: Lilla Rogers Studio

Every week has been a time challenge.  I had so much fun. I really pushed outside technology for all my projects which is great. What is interesting is the work process slowed down. Even though I made every deadline. I still would loved more time for the assignment. As the work process was so fun!! I wished the assignment would've came out on a Tuesday and the mini warm ups started on a Monday. I think I know why Lilla set up the schedule like this:-) Wall Art has been great for me as I love working big so Ive been getting into collaging this past year which has helped. Children's book project. I needed more time. It was crazy to think you can make it work in one week. Especially when I decided to work traditionally. I had more time in the real world with projects. So I'm not too hard on myself. I love to revisit the plates. I made a decision in the last project to do only scanned objects and really colorized my black and white girl illustrations well in photoshop. The collections of things is fun. I like to do more. Deciding to just work in photoshop helped with time, which allowed me to do two pieces ready for site updates. Anyways I'm not sure if I have improved, stayed the same, or should be pushing more insanely. I have not been picked for review. So it has been slightly frustrating. I feel like some kind of one on one validation from Lilla will really help with more clarity & fire building even more. Im sure everyone in class feels the same.. What's killing me too is I ALWAYS hit all my project briefs with clients right on the money.  These class projects are all so hard because it is for ourselves. They are highly personal, yet there is still an audience to consider!!! That is not easy at all!!!!!! My market is evident with tween and adult. But I like to target smaller age groups. That is new for me. What's nice too is it has pushed me out of my perfectionism issues. Just getting on with and making art regardless how it's going to turn out. That was cool. Also fabric pattern art. I struggled with that not because I couldn't do it, but it was our first week. I didn't turn the faucet off and I over thought the process. It was simply developing a lot of icons. Yet I felt like was going to do a massive painting, as I was so ready to really do something innovative with tradional methods combined with technology. I like to revisit fabric art and just work on vectors with that project, since I only worked mostly in photoshop or traditional methods these last 5 weeks. Im definitely backed to the girl that drew every single day no matter what which is pretty epic.

Patience, Process, Walking Away & Coming Back..

One huge art journal page is now on canvas. I can now see how abundant  just with simple shapes of nature, found objects or papers can create layers and layers of love. I couldn't stop playing with whatever that was happening. I was in love with the surprises. Eager to stay in the studio all day. Though it was the breaks, walking away, and coming back to it to continue that created this balance that I 'm seeing..It was all about resistance and process. Which equates patience for me.  The start of the week was a painting deadline done for a little girls room. My art journals that are filled with collages and writing assisted me greatly with this Wall Art Assignment. Mainly it helped the confidence level of spreading the work pace out for the full 7 days. Which allowed me to really take good breaks with this piece. Instead of forcing it with an unrealistic deadline for myself. I actually am so in fear of last minutes that I try to get as much done before the day anything is due. Lack of time spent with my family, not taking care of myself,  has been disasters of bad relationships created or just bad work. It is actually slow at the moment, so I do have the luxury to really play this week. What is most exciting is I get to use all these found papers from an old antique shops. I brush pre-dripped the canvas with different tones of dark purples, spray paint, and then washed over with prussian navy blue to start a base. The paper layers are filled with old graphics of clothing pattern templates. Then collected travel papers are cut in circles combined with left over palette papers from the paints. It's a never ending process. Really fun.

Oh my goodness!!!

I don't know where to start! These last 2 weeks with Lilla Rogers has been amazing! Intense, inspiring, motivating and fun. I'm in class with 500 plus talented creatives from all over the world. We are getting some serious tips on new and revising old portfolio pieces to propose to our dream clients. My whole work routine has been shaken. I have a sketchbook next to me in bed. The muse comes at 3am I'm coloring and drawing till I go back to bed. Or some cases. I am just rolling with so much energy!!! It is amazing. I love it!! This is the latest portfolio piece I have been working on. It is to redesign china. I finally am doing what I been saying for years! There are a series of this before I propose. It was so much fun! Everything is hand illustrated with different kinds of pens and water color. Then all scanned in with placement, color adjustment and layout. That is it. Done deal! 3rd Week Children's Books, So ready!!  YAY!!