Make Art That Sells Bootcamp: Magazine Assignment

This is my entry for this month's bootcamp assignment. We are to create an illustration suitable for a magazine based on 5 brave things we've done. I distilled that down to the brave things it takes to run a successful creative business.

I had so much fun making this image an combining my love of beads and nature in this illustration.

I tucked little symbols through the crown on my head: the boat for my sailing my own ship and for the Bead Cruise facet of my business. The moth to symbolize that most of my success is due to always transforming into something new and a nod to my late night creative pursuits. The nest for nurturing my hopes and dreams and my balance of motherhood and business. The fruit at the top is of course, the fruit of my labor and how it provides for our family.

Hmm, I need to make that necklace happen in real life!

Folio Focus: Maps

For this week's Folio Focus assignment we were challenged to make maps. Eek, not my thing! I did an illustration of a map of Michigan with my beloved hometown highlighted and a list of my favorite highlights my town offers.

We are a tiny tourist town on Lake Michigan. We are the blueberry capital of the world and in what's known as Michigan's fruit belt. So lots of farms everywhere. We are also the home to Red Haven peaches, a special hybrid. So I created a repeat pattern with peaches and blueberries. I see these in a kitchen on enamelware and printed on tea towels.

My map I envision it as a wall piece on a wooden base because most the homes in this area of summer homes that have a nautical vibe and I could see this working in that decor.