So my amazingly talented, nice, stylish, handsome, saintly artist friend Caleb Jacks always does the coolest sketch series depending on the month or holiday season. (You might recognize him from us sharing a booth at the Deep Ellum Outdoor Market in November.) For October her participated in an  "#Inktober" challenge where he drew a fun piece every day using only ink and he did a series of Christmas sketches. I admire his commitment because my track record for doing anything is consistently is weak. For 2016, he's taken on the challenge of creating art every day.  Check out his art work and give him a follow!


I'm going to take a whack at it with my own twist. I'm a few days behind but that's how I roll. I'm going to do mini illustrations (digital & traditional) of things that make me happy. Even the smallest. Whether it's the sour pickles at the movies or making a fort with Conrad, I wan't to recreate it. Hopefully, at the end of the year I'll have a huge book of the little things that make up a happy life. If you are creative in any way, I highly encourage you to take part! Whether you crochet or make jewelry, find some way each day to feed your creativity and push yourself. I'd LOVE to see! I'm hoping this will push me to think outside the box and to be creative every day.

I'll probably bulk post these once a month or so but daily as I complete them on my personal Instagram account. And I may do a few in one day. Don't hate. Follow along with Caleb and I and the rest of the artists on Instagram using #2016yearofart.

A huge highlight for me at Gypsy Beard Studio is all of the pretty art from local artists. We've been running on empty in the art department lately, so I'm very excited to be able to include some of my own pieces! I've always wanted to open an art/print shop and I've finally been able to. These will be for sale soon in the shop too, but for now they're only online on Society6. Hope you like them! My favorite has to be the first one that says "Not All Who Wander Are Lost". Which do you like? More to come!

I'm on a mission for some pretty, original prints to fill my house. So naturally I started adventuring through my favorite stores and Etsy. I couldn't think of a better way to support my fellow creatives and etsyites. Here are a few of my favorites I've come across. Check out their shops and show them some love!

I'm definitely no interior designer, but I think when you start picking out art and decor that it is important to choose things that speak to you and your home personally and stay away from the trendiness. You want things that you can grow with, even if you don't plan on keeping them around forever.  When it comes to decor I lean towards pretty textures, patterns and the industrial/vintage look. I'm a big fan of crazy color combos also.  My boyfriend is very traditional. While our personal tastes are complete opposites, he usually goes with what I like once he sees how something looks in a room. If we are looking at it in the store or online he completely hates everything I like haha.

When I started looking for art to hang I knew immediately that a cool movie poster was a must have. We are HUUUUUUUUGE movie watchers (especially foreign films or movies in Spanish since that is my boyfriend's first language) at my house, so I wanted to find one that was something we both love but that was really cool visually. I'm considering this one for The Science of Sleep (if you've never seen it, watch it!) or these Wes Anderson inspired prints. What do you think?

I don't get to travel as much as I'd like, but I've known for a while that I wanted a map of a cool place. After returning from my trip to New Orleans last month, I knew that I wanted a map of the city somewhere in my house. These map prints from Jazzberryblue are super cool maps of the city. I may have to snag one of Dallas too from Art House Graffiti!

I'm completely in love with these typographical quote prints by Hey There.  Especially after seeing these Jane Austen, Princess Bride and adventure quotes. They may have been made just for me. And you can't go wrong with a witty conversation starter. I've been looking for something fun and food related for my kitchen. This Thyme To Turnip The Beet print from Happy Letter Shop nailed it on the head I think.

What do you look for in art and prints?

Genuinely loving the work of Scott Albrecht lately. Never have I been to inspired by anyone's quotes or words in print. I feel almost as though he is speaking directly to me, about my life.. which is kind of the point in design right? Stumbled across his work in a magazine... super cool. Not only does he do some beautiful typographical work, he also does some sculpting and work with wood. I'm completely inspired by this dude today. 







So I'm sitting here looking at his work and thinking pondering once again how unhappy my job makes me and how all I want it sit in front of my computer and create and learn  and I stumble on this last one LITERALLY saying "QUIT YOUR DAY JOB" . Could it be anymore plain than that? Someone is trying to give me a sign I believe. hahaha. Hope you enjoy as much as I do! back to homework!

KAT

images courtesy of http://scottyfivealive.com/

i love stop motion videos. =)
link

Here are a few images, inspiration boards, and collages... (okay let's face it, i made a bit of a design "look book") as proof that i'm accomplishing SOMETHING design wise. it's taken me MONTHS to feel like I've been making any progress because I haven't found anything that's FELT right yet. i've been aimlessly designing so to speak. I'll go further into detail about this particular design process in an upcoming "Letters to Art" post.



you can check out my new look for my web site to see a tad bit of my recent adventures in personal branding. Although I'm sure this isn't 100% my permanent place, I'm very comfortable with what has come and where it will lead.

and yes, that is a button that says "shop". i've been keeping the secret for a little while because i wasn't sure if it would happen or not. but i finally decidded to make the plunge into the etsy world. my shop isnt up yet, but it will be soon.

anyhoo its back to the day job part of my life. 1 more day until austin!

tata for now.

kat ann

I always find such lovely photos over at emmadimes pretty blog.





art by amy blackwell.



and a new Julia Pott illustration that i adore.


i hope you find these pictures as swell as i do. well im off to do that domestic housewife thing. tata for now =)

kat ann.

a year or two ago i fell in love with a tutorial that silja goetz did for computer arts magazine and ever since i've admired her work and particular style. i love how she mixes so many real elements, textures and objects into her digital work. its definitely a style i would love to share with her one day.






holy crap what i wouldn't give for a semester in a class taught by her. I'm not sure why I have been so draw to illustrators lately... considering web design is my primary focus. maybe a career change? im thinking so haha.

(all images credited to her site http://www.siljagoetz.xom)

I come across artists via twitter or other blogs that completely just inspire me to create and stir something up inside of me. I found this amazing lady via wayne coyne's twitter.



Ruth Borum's work is full of texture and interesting patterns and graphics. I love love love texture!! I'll buy somthing simply for its texture/pattern. It all has a a bit of dark tone to it but at the same time is happy, and soothing. My favorites are in her "Slinky Love" gallery.




Her work makes me want to sit down and paint/draw for days! so in love with her now! Hope you enjoy her as much as i do!
her cats are also super cute!



tata for now
kat ann

included:

the cold war kids.
karen O and the kids.
geographer.
& miike snow.



needless to say i feel better. today has just been one of those days. so i made myself break out the pencils, water color and pens and go to work. i burned some sage incense and tried to relax.



here's today creation/self therapy.

Happy sunday world! I love sundays because they're lazy and full of coffee.


Sorry for the lack of updates I've been busy and distracted. =)
The new addition:



Meet Squid!

Party invitations are out! My first attempt at stamp making with linoleum. It took long enough but I got the grungy look I wanted eventually.



We've been trying to get our car fixed and its nearly done so i'll be mobile again haha. I've been a crochetin fool lately making lots of headbands and berets and what not to try and stock up for opening my etsy store sometime in the near future. I'll have a sneak peak of those soon! but i'll worry about that when the dinosaur madness is over. =) hope everyone's been well! I'm working on another house piece but this time I'll be sticking to my "pen and ink" media. =) we had a fun night celebrating a friends birthday last night... their kiddos are the best. Conrad has so much fun hanging out with them.



I also have to show this awesome little VW Beatle that my best friend brought back from Costa Rica for us! It'll go awesome next to my little bus! She knows me all too well haha.



Tootaloo until next time folks. I promise to try and update more soon!

i think my best friend is slowly talking me into moving to portland.

i changed my mind yet again. because that's what i do. You know that whole "i enjoy planning and dreaming about things more than actually doing them" thing? yeah that's me to a T. (apparently i'm too lazy to hit the shift key as well.) i've decided to just enroll into a local community college for the next semester or two instead of racking up more debt at a trade school. once i get those basics out of the way im going to go to texas a&m commerce to finish up. they have a pretty rad art/design program. im impressed. i'd rather do the work i want and slowly get my education for nearly free than be 40k in the hole and not have the time to work now. i dont really need the education so much as i need the degree. art and design is so self taught or natural. anyways, this will give me much needed time and freedom to get my shop open and be the procrastinating little fool that i am. =) A few awesome treasures:



1.) a while back the best friend and i got matching mushroom mugs! b.) my wonderful sister in law rachel informed me these little jewels were at the corner thrift store. theyll be perfect for conrads birthday! YAY for dinosaur cookie cutters!

let me just say that the way that God works is absolutely amazing. HE places us in the locations and around the people that He wants us around. every place and person we meet serves a purpose in our journey on this planet. every experience teaches us a lesson for life and ultimately helps us to grow into the person God wants us to be. i look around outside and see so much beauty that i cannot NOT believe. life is good and life is beautiful. all is full of love and hope and creation.

i need a new camera and phone. blah me for being such a clutz. i manged to break my phone and camera all in a few short weeks. hopefully ill have a phone by the end of the weekend and ill have to be patient on the camera. ive gotta make conrads birthday invitations this weekend and get them out asap. ive gotta make headbands and hair clips and ship some items off. ive gotta finish that painting that is staring at me from the table and make me feel awkward lol. can you tell i've had too much coffee today? anyways im off to finish this spain/germany game. GO SPAIN! Gotta root for the homeland! Here's a peak at the picture im working on:




ALSO, i cant remember for the life of me who i heard about this documentary from but it seriously inspired me to coop myself up in my room and paint for days it was so inspiring. it's a documentary called Beautiful Losers and it's about how influential these artists from the early 90's are/were. so amazing. please watch. if you have netflix you can watch it instantly. :) p.s. it has a great soundtrack.