Winter Studio 2011

I snapped this photo this morning of my studio. As many of you know and those who don't, it sits in the left section of my home, here in Fort Worth Texas. We are experiencing snow and ice this past week, which keeps me all tied up between entertaining my boys and filling orders. Speaking of orders..these name banners below are a couple of some new ones being shipped out. I also have new characters that I introduced at some trade shows last week and were a huge hit. I'll be loading them on my ETSY shop over the weekend....so stay tuned.
Check out the new cowboy boot, this one is a girl version, but a boy one is available as well. The bumble and the heart are great too. Wait till you see the others I have...camper, fox, yellow bear, apple, pear ,and a few more. These name banners can be ordered through my ETSY shop. Or simply contact me at marnie@jaustinryan.com
Have a great super bowl weekend! Marnie V.

My Pretty Calendar

Just thought I would post today on this fantastic deal of a beautiful calendar I bought from
Lotta JansDotter. It's made out of linen with a hand silk-screened calendar on it. It was only ten bucks and it comes in three different colors...you can go here to purchase one for yourself. I wouldn't wait too long though, these are just so pretty even in person. What caught my eye was the simplicity of it. I wouldn't dare show you my real calendar, it's full of deadlines, scratch marks, my son Austin's doodles, and spilt coffee. Anyways, just thought I would post on a great find. Tomorrow I'll be updating my shop with new art, which is explaining where I've been for the past week. I'm getting ready for a big show in LA Cali. , where 25 pieces of art need to be done within the next couple of weeks.YIKES! Marnie V.

A Creative Week

Being creative as an artist can most definitely come and go in certain amounts. Meaning, an artist can be creative everyday, but maybe more one day than another. And today, Monday, I am feeling extra creative. And for good reason, in being I have a trade show in a couple of weeks in Dallas. I will be introducing a new safari line to my stores in which I will post next week.
I am also creating more with my Hawk the Dog series, which I sell on my ETSY shop.
Well, like I said, I need to get back to being extra creative today and don't forget to check my shop everyday for new items.
Marnie V.

My List

I haven't been on this blog for a week due to a huge to do list. I am shipping out today my last order that has been placed within the last 2 weeks. That really is amazing to me. I have not been without shipping an order since January. Wow! And thank you to all.
But, I am still feeling overwhelmed. I am finishing up some more new Rocket Dog paintings this week, and they have to get done. I will be placing them in a new Art Gallery called ART251. Please go check out the site and there blog. They will be the first to get all of my new Rocket Dog's. I am very excited about them. Let's just say Robots, Earth, and more are coming.

So my other to do list. I have about 10 images to load onto my website, and I have no time. I also need to write a press release and send it out to everyone on earth. Oh yes, the list is long. And to top it off, I have family coming to visit later this week and my house needs a major up do.
Of course, my kids don't know it yet, but this week will be full of cleaning. And don't forget about my swim classes that I have to teach.
I think I've mentioned just a few things that need to get done this week. Well, I'm off to write my own list of to dos and one for my kiddos.
Have a great day! xoxo Marnie

Completing Projects

I have definitely gotten better with managing time for all of my projects. And it's really not that easy, especially being an artist. I also know that all artists can bet on this with me in that they do the same thing.
Being an artist, any kind that is, your brain is constantly spinning with ideas. And when you have other things to get done, it is completely normal to push the important things aside and work on some new inspiration that has popped into your brain. Now this doesn't count when you have a burst of inspiration that needs to come out at 2am. So with that said, I have completely learned how to control my inspiration for only the appropriate times.
And let me tell you it's not easy now that I opened up this Etsy site. For example, today I am first finishing up an Etsy painting and will then be adding to the site. Then I am finishing one last painting for a big order that is shipping tomorrow.
On Tuesday, I will be shipping that monster order and painting three small paintings for another store. And that order will ship on Wednesday.
By the end of the week my goal is to completely work on only Rocket Dog. I have a few new things coming in that series so please stay tuned.
Well I'm off to start my day and keeping with my schedule. First on the list, which I didn't mention, I am teaching swim class today.
Have a great day!-Marnie

DALLAS MARKET SHOW THIS WEEK

NEWS

DALLAS SHOW JUNE 18th-24th

WORLD TRADE CENTER
KIDS WORLD STUDIO
SHOWROOM# 8701-52

I have another show this week as you can see with the dates above. I am getting out my last order today from my previous show that I had two weeks ago..... Just in time.
Don't mean to keep things short today, but I have no time to blog.
I did manage to bring on some help today to clean the studio though. And here they are.

My son Austin built me some more robots to help out. Let's see if they can file better than me. Next I'll be handing them the 409. Have a great day-Marnie

My New Hired Help

It's summer break and I'm still trying to get used to the fact that my boys are home. We always put them on a summer schedule just so they still have a little structure. We all know kids need structure. Schedule meaning....reading time, XBOX only hours of operation, playing outside, and chores. So the in between time when they are wondering what to do, they usually grab out a box of Lego's and start creating.
I have been very busy this past week filling orders and everything that goes along with running a business by yourself. And I love that my boys completely respect when I am busy. They know that after a show mom is only really available for cooking, band aids, laundry, and a prayer at night before bedtime. Well, i do much more also.
So, my 8 year old son Austin created some help for me over the weekend and his name is CB90.
Austin told me that he has programmed him to help me paint, ship, and even poor me a tall glass of cold water when I'm thirsty. He can even hold about 4 paint brushes..Wow. Of course, it's been two days and I honestly haven't seen CB90 do much of anything. But I came into the studio early this morning and found him like this.
Ok...so maybe he is trying to organize my paints...yeah that's it. Austin, you are so creative and I love you for that. Well, it's 7:45 am and I have a busy day. I got up this morning at 5am to get a jump on paperwork and had to box up an order that is being shipped today. I will be out of the studio most of the day today due to me teaching swim class this morning and I promised my boys that I would take them to the library.
I am crossing my fingers to come home later to find CB90 painting up the rest of my orders. I may have to ask Austin to program him for marketing...now that would be something!
Have a great day-Marnie

Paint and more Paint

I am a busy bee today working on a custom painting that is getting very close to getting finished. It is looking great and I will post a picture when it is finished.
I also can't wait to start working on my new Rocket Dog's and the other items I have in store for that line as well. Great things will be popping up in the shop soon so stay tuned....
Ok...I'm off to paint!-M

MORE STUDIO PHOTOS

I enjoy looking out of this window everyday. The outside the window is a home for many traveling birds.

The Winnie the Pooh is a project I did for the Disney Catalog.

The little knitted items were a gift from my mother-in-law.
The owl is my favorite.















An original illustration that i created years ago.
This print is still being sold across the US today.


So that is my studio! Please check back everyday for a little creativity and inspiration.

FEBRUARY IN THE STUDIO

I am so happy that February is here. I just finished my last order of pictures from the Dallas Show...Yeah!

I decided that everyday in February, up until Valentines Day, I will post something creative or inspirational. So my first items of creativity and inspiration for February the 1st are a clean studio, in which I do every Friday, and my sweet Love Chick paintings, that have been a huge hit since I launched them on the site.

Every Friday I organize and clean my studio. Catch up on all the paperwork for the week, invoice clients for the following week, and tell myself that I WILL be painting over the weekend.

I LOVE white and clean as you can see.
I even have a pretty chandelier hanging from my fan.

I keep everything very organized.

Plus it looks so pretty.