Mural at Phoenix Books in Burlington

2016 was a year of two big "firsts" for me... I illustrated two stories for a friend (see my posts about the Crown of Secrets book) and I also undertook the designing and creation of a huge (for me) indoor mural in Burlington VT. I'll be blogging more about it soon, as we are approaching the completion date!

I've been working on the mural for about two months all told, though it's been just Sundays & Mondays for the most part, with a break in December/January. Whenever I'm there, I post in-progress images on my Instagram. It's been quite a trip! I'm nearing the end of this phase, but now we're talking about doing a second mural in the same store. Check out Phoenix Books if you're in the area. Locally owned, Independent and they are all highly informed booksellers. I love hanging out there as I get to hear about all sorts of good books while I'm painting. If you need help finding a book for someone hard to shop for, they know the questions to ask. 

Some progress shots from this week.

NEW LOCATION!

Find me and all my holiday cheer on the main floor of our Burlington Town Center (aka the mall on Church Street Marketplace) where the Gap stores used to be. There are a whole bunch of new vendors on the list this year, plus so many wonderful returning artisans that I'm looking forward to seeing.

http://www.womensfestivalofcrafts.com/

I'll have fresh new prints, The Crown of Secrets hardcover book, a few originals and other goods. Don't forget I always have special deals on prints at these shows, and this is the last one for 2016.
SEE YOU THERE!

Crows & Ravens - Inktober 2016

I'm drawing ravens and crows through the whole month of October, as part of the official INKTOBER challenge. Follow me over at Instagram where I'm posting at least every-other-day. (Today, for instance, I did two drawings back-to-back to catch up. Wow, my hands are getting tired!)

Each drawing is drawn on very sturdy 5x7" bristol paper, using either Sakura pigma micron, Pentel pocket brush pen, and/or actual an brush or nib with india ink. And occasionally white ink for accents.

During the month, I've been slowly learning more about ravens by reading some of the books written by Bernd Heinrich, a UVM professor emeritus in biology. I've also found great slow-motion videos showing crows landing and taking off, crows eating, and all sorts of other interesting slices-of-life.

Inktober #1. I had a crazy busy schedule on the 1st of October, so this was drawn on the 2nd.

You can also find all the drawings posted on my Sweet Enemy Art facebook page

Haunted Clothing, the red series (a post for Kara)

Weapon gown

Long Gloves

Banner Wrap

Thorn Suit

Ocean Wave Gown

Fur Cloak

Brain Gown

Twin Bird Gown

 

 

Ocean Fin Gown

It's been awhile since I last shared any of the Monster Fashion! This weekend was the annual South End Art Hop, and I was asked about this particular series. Not having it up anywhere else I decided to do a little post here.
All paintings in this group of Haunted Clothing are acrylic on 9"h x 6"w x 1"deep canvas, with accented elements on all four sides of each piece. Trying to find my photos of the sides, has me thinking it might be time for another photo shoot...But for now, enjoy!

Art Hop and other news, August - September 2016

Returning to my Art Hop roots, you'll find me this year at 420 Pine Street otherwise known as the Howard Space building. This is where my father's family had their appliance sales & service shop for years...so it's cool to be back! Look for me and Jess on the second floor in Marie Davis' studio (D-3) which is reachable via front (Howard Street) entrance, or back stairs (parking lot behind Arts Riot.)
Festivities go from 5:30 - 10pm on Friday evening, run most of the day on Saturday, and wind down late afternoon on Sunday.

detail from the final page of The Evening Day and Grey, one of two stories I illustrated in The Crown of Secrets

I'm designing prints from selected illustrations I did for The Crown of Secrets, and there will be lots of new greeting card designs.

Probably no new Advent calendar design this year, though I'll have plenty of the first three designs. Another project has come up which is keeping me very busy! More on that soon...

Follow me on Instagram to see more details of this series as it develops

New drawings...I'm playing around with some fancy Crows when I have time between other projects. There will be prints of these as well as the originals debuting at ART HOP. 

During last year's INKtober I focused on bears. When you're doing one drawing a day, you learn quite a bit about your subject, which is what led me to choose crows for my theme this October. I realized while doing the illustrations for "The Evening Day and Grey" just how little I know of crow anatomy and poses. I'm looking for good reference books if you have any suggestions.

A book is born!

After two years of hard work, "The Crown of Secrets," a collection of short stories and poems written by Jeremiah Christie (with two stories illustrated by me!) is here at last. A gorgeous full-color, hardcover book with dust jacket, sparkly red end-papers and a ribbon book mark. Hand-signed, of course, by myself and the author! Here's the first chance to see it in person.

Please join us if you're able this Thursday, August 18th, at the Daily Planet in Burlington. From 6:30 to 10pm, Jeremiah and I will be on hand with a big stack of books and the original artwork for my two stories as well.

More copies will be coming to the U.S. once Jeremiah returns to China, so if we sell out this week, don't fret! You can reserve your copy by showing up at the release party or by emailing Jeremiah or myself.

So, that's THIS THURSDAY starting at 6:30 pm, The Daily Planet, 15 Center St. Burlington, VT 05401 (for directions: 802.862.9647)

See you there!
Kristin

Rabbits of many colors

Many thanks to Brian C.,
 who recently gave this bright little Harlequin Rabbit painting a home!

Harlequin Rabbit, acrylic on wood, 8x10" ©2016 Sweet Enemy Art

Now in my Etsy shop: more Ghost Rabbit prints!

Gentle Ghost Rabbit Drifting Past the Moon (11x14 print)
and Rabbit with Fantastic Whiskers (8x10 print)