My Experience with MATS B: Scrapbook page

Hi! So how was last week for you? Was it as hot where you are as it was here? It was so hot, thankfully we have air conditioning otherwise I wouldn't have gotten anything done! These past few days we got quite a bit of rain as well, which is good because it was sorely needed. My husband and I also celebrated our 12th wedding anniversary this weekend! It always amazes me how much time can go by and still feel like only a few days or even years. I am very lucky to have him in my life, he's very supportive of what I do and where I'm trying to go, and he's incredible with the girls!

In work news, I finally completed my scrapbook page for MATS B!! I can't tell you how thrilled I am to have this finished! And not just because it's done, I am also very proud of how it turned out. I think it's my best work for the course to date :)

My Scrapbook page for MATS B

The assignment was to create a scrapbook page of elements in a 12x12 format for a cruise theme. Since Lilla prefers to go the vintage look (and really, who can argue with that? I LOVE vintage) and I enjoy sea life, I decided to combine the two. I also really wanted to include some cute characters and gave my marine creatures some personality and cute faces. I think I managed to stay out of the childish/baby look with a more sophisticated palette of colours, but I do see that it's obviously meant to attract more women than men. I also managed to include some of the lettering that I've been working on this week, since it followed the theme I was working on, and I think the typography matches the feel of the icons and finished piece very nicely.

What was amusing to me was that when I finally got to sit and start putting the elements together, it seemed like it took no time at all. The final piece almost seemed to make itself. That was a very nice feeling too! When you make the elements separately like I did, it can be difficult to know what the final will look like and there's a fear that all your hard work just won't mesh and you'll have to start over, so it going together so smoothly was amazing!

I'm planning on offering it as a downloadable digital scrapbook page on my Etsy shop, what do you think? Is this something you'd use? Since it will be a .png file you could also use the elements to make up cards and whatnot.

Well, that's about it for this week. The girls are enjoying their last week of day camp for the summer so I'm hoping to put some good effort in before it's done. I am going to be taking some time away from my family later in the week to visit family north of here for a few days. It will be nice to get away from being a mom for a little while and recharge the batteries so-to-speak.

I hope this week is good to you and yours. Stay safe and have fun :)

If you'd like to see more of my work or keep up with me day-to-day you can follow me on Instagram or Facebook. If you have any questions or comments feel free to leave me a message.

Until next time,

Mandy

If you're interested in commissioning me, click on the Contact Me button at the top to send an email, I'd be happy to answer any questions :)

Second week of August

Hello, hello! How is August treating you so far? The last few days here have been very nice, not too hot during the day and just a touch of chill at night. I have a few things to report to you this week, an updated logo and website, my second published illustration, and I applied for a job!!

New Logo!

I've been wanting to make my own logo for some time now. I finally have the skills, the only thing holding me back was all the options available to me. And I've noticed that when it comes to my own projects, deadlines are flexible. I've discovered that a flexible deadline does not make for a very creative output. It turns out, for me at least, that a deadline helps to narrow down the options taking it from "oh, wouldn't it be amazing if I did that?!" to "yes, that would be awesome, but it would take more time than I have, and I'm not 100% sure how to do it right now, so instead let's do this which is also awesome and something I know I can do!". Okay, I realize the second sentence is what I should be thinking anyway but somehow it doesn't work that way, at least not at this stage in my development. I'm hoping that with more hard deadlines I will create a habit of thinking and then meet my own deadlines in the same way.

So what finally prompted me to create a logo? I decided to look for work and I felt that my social media would look more professional with a cohesive look and consistent logo. I also wanted to showcase my skills a little more. If you've been keeping up with me on Facebook or Instagram you will have already seen it, albeit in a small format, so here it is:

MWiklund Studio: Illustration & Design, logo

I really like how it turned out. I love the colours, the watercolour effect background, the illustrated wreath pattern and the hand lettered feel of the text. The only negative I have about it is that it's not the easiest read. Because the background is mid-tone light, it's actually quite difficult to make the lettering stand out without being harsh. I'm happy with this first attempt for now. I'm sure I will come up with a redesign in the future, but for now this works for me.

Lucky 13

You might recall from a previous post (which you can read here) that I was working on an illustration for MAEZA magazines 13th issue. Well that issue is finally out and you can see my work, and the work of many other amazingly talented artists, in all its published glory here. Also, here's the final piece - I'm considering offering it as a print on my Etsy shop, what do you think of that?

My submitted piece for MAEZA issue 13.

Website Updates

I've also done some work on my webpage. I've added a page for my shop information, added an illustration or two, and linked to this blog. I also did some work on my About me page. Click here to take a look. I'd love some feedback on it if you have the time!

My website.

Printable Cat Card

And finally, I want to mention that I have my very first product up on my Etsy shop! It's a printable card with all the design/illustration elements from my Staffordshire-inspired plate assignment for MATS A. I'd love it if you'd take a look and maybe favourite my shop, click here to see it. If you have any thoughts on this card or on any you'd like to see made available, please send me a message, I'd love to hear from you!

My Staffordshire-inspired cat card printable, available in my Etsy shop!

That's it for this week! The girls are home with me this week so work will take a bit of a backseat again. I did manage to get all my icons cut out for my scrapbooking assignment for MATS B, so I'd really like to push through and get that done this week (is this deja vu? I swear I've heard this before!). I also want to get back into my hand lettering practice, I really do miss it.

I hope you have a safe and happy second week of August! If you'd like to see more of my work or keep up with me day-to-day you can follow me on Instagram or Facebook. If you have any questions or comments feel free to leave me a message.

Until next time,

Mandy

If you're interested in commissioning me, click on the Contact Me button at the top to send an email, I'd be happy to answer any questions :)

First week of August and Promo offer!

Hello! Can you believe it's August already? I feel like I've been keeping up momentum and moving forward, so I'm not too upset with how quickly the summer is moving so far. I had a bit of a hiccup this week as far as working was concerned as I came down with a terrible cough. I've gotta say that drawing/painting while coughing is not my recommended way of working so I more-or-less spent the week recovering and spending the little energy I had with my girls.

I do have one announcement to make however, my shop at Society 6 is having a promotion this week only! From today until August 07 receive Free Worldwide Shipping on EVERYTHING + 10% Off All Wall Art in my shop! That includes NEW metal prints, framed prints, canvas prints, tapestries and clocks. Click this link to take advantage of this limited time offer!

A small sample of products available in my shop right now.

For the rest of this week's post I thought I'd include some eye-candy, just a few more examples of drawings/paintings that I've done in the past six months or so. 

I've always been fascinated by bonsai trees. I tried to grow one myself once, with disastrous results. I think this one in ink will do better.

A tulip from my garden and brush lettering, all done in watercolour.

I am a Foody at heart and I love to cook and bake so drawing food and foodstuffs feels natural to me. This slice of lasagna was done in coloured pencil.

I do enjoy painting natural things like flowers. This purple iris was done in watercolour.

Today is a stat holiday so everyone's home enjoying a nice break and each other's company. The girls are at camp for the rest of the week, and I'm feeling a lot better (with a very minor lingering cough), so I'm planning on tackling some more of my to do list for MATS. 

I hope you have a safe and happy first week of August! If you'd like to see more of my work or keep up with me day-to-day you can follow me on Instagram or Facebook. If you have any questions or comments feel free to leave me a message.

Until next time,

Mandy

If you're interested in commissioning me, click on the Contact Me button at the top to send an email, I'd be happy to answer any questions :)