I've been working on some new pieces for up coming fairs I have tables at. I'm trying to get a couple of fantasy pieces done by November for the Hal-Con sci-fi/fantasy convention.

These pieces are definitely more detailed than most of the stuff I have been posting/working on. They are sketched out first, then scanned, and then colored in photoshop and corel painter.

My parents have been bugging me for ages to do more detailed work, so hopefully they will be happy with this. :3 I know I am.

Oh I will be selling my work at Alderney Landing in Dartmouth on July 1st! So if you're in the area, pop by and say hi! :D

Hi everyone,

I just wanted to make a quick journal here. I am organizing an art and craft fair this summer, which will be at the Halifax Forum on August 20th. Still looking for people to sell, as we are still accepting applicants. I have a facebook group with more info on everything if you are interested, or if you know of anyone who would love to sell their work, please let them know! :) http://tinyurl.com/artvscraft Also here is a link to our blog: http://artsvscrafts.wordpress.com/

Hey ya all!

I just wanted to give a quick shout out about a fundraiser going on tomorrow evening/night. It's called Fundraiser for Japan --- BAD VIBES, LLL, ROBERT LOVELESS +++ more and it's at the Khyber Club on Barrington street. You can find more info here: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?e.....03062629779623

So if you're in the Halifax area, you should come on by! There's going to be some vendors/artist setting up shop there to sell from 6-9pm. I happen to be one of the few that will be selling. So come on by and check it out! I also made posters to sell for $5 and half of the sales will be donated to the Japan Red Cross. I know that doesn't sound like a lot, but every bit helps. :)

Hello!

I created some new vector images ( http://www.flickr.com/photos/aprilb.....7626286689426/ ) today and yesterday. I have plans to make them into stationary things! I just have to find a place that will print them for me for a decent price. Anyone know of a place? Link me up!

Also I am getting a table for an art/craft show in April. I have no idea what it is called, but I will soon fin out. All I know it's on April 23rd and it's down on Gottigen street. I will be selling prints that didn't sell at Hal-Con and some bookmarks I am currently working on. Plus buttons!

BTW, I do take commissions for illustrations and I do graphic design freelance work. All for a reasonable price! :)

Oh hai! I am not lost nor dead, I was just sleeping the past months away...

Not really.. I was super busy with work, and now I am not! As my contract with my superawesome freelance gig was terminated! Because they suck! My work was great and I was getting great reviews, I was helping getting their feet back on the ground for the paper, and I was making the magazine look like a professional magazine, and then after I bitched at them to pay me my money, THEY BASICALLY FIRED ME. But told me to keep up with the magazine layouts and what not, because I am really good at it. This was also after I gave them the files and fonts they needed for everything. Isn't that super duper?!

I am not bitter at all. /sarcasm.

In more upbeat news, for the last week and this week and then next week, I will be working full time hours at my part time job, as my manager and the owner are taking their winter vacations. So yea! extra money that will help me out for a while since freelance money isn't coming in anymore...

ALSO! I got a table at Hal-Con again for this year. :3 I plan on illustrating some fantasy themed pictures and some more cutesy stuff, as well as pin ups. I still have a ton of stuff leftover from last years one.. so they will be making an appearance!

Oh yah! I am selling some of my work at Toxic Blossom, which is located at the Dartmouth Harborview market place. It's only open on Saturdays and Sundays, but it's still pretty awesome I am selling my work in a store! So if you're from around this area, I suggest to check it out, or you can check out their facebook page here: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Toxic.....11959378865805

I plan on starting to get back into illustrating once next week is over and I get my 3 day work schedule back. :3 So keep an eye out! I shall be posting some things here and on my flickr account.

Toodles!

Hello one and all! :)

It's getting closer to the holidays and I'm getting super stoked about it. I can't wait to go home, chill out for a bit and see my family.

This year I decided to make a few Christmas cards. My Mother has only been asking me to do so for the past five to ten years. I think the illustrations came out rather well. I sketched everything out first and then scanned them to my computer. Everything else was done in Illustrator. I kinda did a little bit of experimenting with them. Like with gradients and the dotted lining around 2 of the characters.

I usually color my illustrations in photoshop or corel painter, but the more I play with Illustrator, the more I like it! So I think I will continue on this road with my illustrations. Well at least with my simpler work.

If you like you can view the cards on my flickr account: http://www.flickr.com/photos/aprilbaird/

And if you'd really like to, you can purchase them from my online store! http://aprilmdesigns.bigcartel.com/

If things go well this year, I plan on doing more cards and maybe a few other things for next year's Christmas. :)

I finally did it! I got an online store. Well I used to have an etsy shop.. but I figure since I couldn't sell a thing on it for three years, it's time to try something different.

I registered with a site called Big Cartel and my store is called April M Designs (go figure). http://aprilmdesigns.bigcartel.com/

I currently only have four items for sale on there, and planning on having my fifth item up on Friday. Provided that I don't put it off. I'm a really good procrastinator, so we'll see.

So why do I only have four items? Well I want to try this out without having to put down any money for it. So the free accounts on the site only allow you to have up to five items. If I actually do well, as in actually sell a few items and people ask for more, then I will upgrade! If not, I will just continue only having five items and switching things up a bit from time to time. :)

So check it out, though there's not a whole lot to see, but maybe you'll see something you like.

Oh and you can only pay through paypal and whatever else that goes through paypal. Like Visa and such. It's super secure and everything. So don't worry about it. And I think my shipping days will be on Thursdays. Just because that's my day off. And I'm only shipping to Canada and the US. Anything over seas just cost an arm and a leg. I would know, I work at a UPS store.

If you have any questions or would like a custom order, or whatever, just email me at aprilmdesigns[at]gmail.com

Hal-Con 2010 turned out great! I didn't sell a whole lot, but it was the experience points I was after. And oh boy, did I get a great experience!

The first day and part of Saturday I was so over-whelmed, that I
felt nauseous. But once I got my bearings, things went really well. I did a few chibi commissions and sold prints and some buttons. I'm still not used to people actually buying my work. I'm really grateful that people admire my work and actually give me positive comments.

I plan on doing this again next year and will be working all year on new illustrations. Instead of leaving it last minute like I did this year. 2 weeks is not enough time to get work done and things prepared.

I would also like to thank the people of Hal-Con who put together all of this, as they did an outstanding job, even with somethings falling through on them. *applause*

And for those of you who might be interested, I still have prints and buttons left, so if you would like to purchase any, please email me at aprilmdesigns[at]gmail.com

Buttons are a dollar each or 5 for $4. 8x10" prints are $10 each. 4x6" & 5x5" are $4. Posters are $12 (11x17"). You can see what illustrations I have on my flickr account: http://www.flickr.com/photos/aprilbaird/

For this month to be over with.

As excited as I am, I just want things to be over with already.

I still have a few more things to finish and to get for Hal-Con. And I only have 5 more days left to do it all in.

On top of that, I will be working full day shifts this week, because my boss is going on vacation. So I won't have a day off during the week like I was planning. I also have to work Friday morning, and will only have less than an hour to get ready to go to the con for 12. So I will be running around like a headless chicken in the afternoon.

PLUS, this weekend, I have been and still am, working on SMU's newspaper. I have to get it done today, because I won't have any time tomorrow morning to fix anything. I will only have enough time to send it to print. So hopefully everything will run smoothly.

Because of my shift change (Not that I'm complaining getting full time hours, I need the money), I had to drop one of my plans for the con, and that was the costume part. I didn't/don't have time to make one. I have way too many things that are far more important than a costume. It would've been super fun to cosplay as Jem (maybe next year?). I do have a few wigs that I'll be wearing and will dress up, so I will have a bit of fun!

I'm also a bit nervous too.

I know a lot of people tell me they like my work. They think it's great, blah, blah, blah. Which is really nice.

BUT!

No one will buy my work. I've tried many times selling my work online, like on facebook, esty and even have a deviantart print account. I haven't sold a thing.

I even had a table at a craft show in the summer, and sold only a few prints.

It's not like my prices are crazy or anything. I think people just tell me they like my work to be polite.

Family doesn't count, because they always say my work is good and have all of my crap up in their house. Because they're family!

Same with friends.

But I could be wrong though, and do extremely well, but for now, I think to be safe, I'm just going to think I'm not going to do well.

So negative I know! But I rather no keep my hopes up, to have them fall down and smash into tiny, itty, bitty pieces.

I will have fun for the weekend! I'm not going to let my negative attitude about my work get to me.

Oh crap, I made another whiny blog again.

I'll post how everything went when it's all over! And post some pics. So I guess, stay tuned? For whoever reads this. :)

Here's something I'm currently working on. http://twitgoo.com/1puyxd

Almost done of her. I plan on selling the original and prints at Hal-Con.

I'm also working on a few more like this. So hopefully my hand won't fall off before next weekend! O_o;

Super upset that I can't finish my digital paintings for Hal-Con. My tablet's pen just isn't working that great anymore. My lines turn out super wiggly and nothing is looking good. :( Looks like the only new illustrations I will have for sale, will be done in the traditional way, and I will try to make some decent prints of them if no one wants to buy the original. I will still have prints of my older digital paintings/illustrations for sale though! :)

So today I'm going to go to the art store and buy some more pens and paper and all of that good stuff, to make my traditional work look great!

And about the Con, as I'm sure some of you have already heard about,  Mialythila is sharing a table with me! We'll be there all 3 days. I'll be dressed up as Jem! Cause I'm truly outrageous.

I'll also be bringing some of my art supplies and drawing some 5$ chibis! Any character you want, I'll try my bestest to do it. It would be great if you had a reference picture for your own character or a character I've never heard of before. And chances are, if it's not Batman, Sailor Moon, a Disney character, or anything related to Nintendo, I probably have never heard of them. Mostly just anime stuff though..... *isaloser* I'll put up a few examples of them in the next few days.

I will also have 1 inch buttons/pins for sale. There will be 5 different designs and you can buy all five of them, or buy them separately! Their designs is going to be a surprise! But they're super CUTE.

And I will be taking commissions for anyone who wants one.

Annd... I will have some Sailor Moon fanart for sale! BUUUT, it's only going to be of the villains. :3

I'm also going to have a painting in the art auction that the Con will be holding! All of the money from that will be going towards the IWK. So bid, bid, bid! It's for a great cause!

Most of the profit that the Con makes, will be donated to the IWK. It's one of their reason for having the Con in the first place! You can read more about all of that on their site: www.hal-con.com

And I think that's it! Come see our table! I'll have a sign on it that says "April M. Designs", so you'll know that it's me.

*I'm terrible at creating titles*

Things are going well still. :)

The magazine went out last week with a few problems that were unavoidable, but they are out! You can find them around Spring Garden and other spots around the down town area in Halifax. It's called Profile Halifax, and it has a blue cover, so keep an eye out for it! :)

St. Mary's newspaper though is slowly coming along. Last weekend was almost complete hell because of them only hiring the editors and others on that Friday. I had to miss work on Monday because of not getting all of the content that day. But it went out on time, but it's not my finest work. This week seems to be going better though, I have all of the content and have been working on it without any frustrations.

And my new job at the UPS store has been going great. I'm doing some design work for them, and will be doing some new fun stuff in the future. Though when there's no design work, I'm doing faxes and handling shipments and other things. I'm surprised how many people don't realize that the store does a lot of print and design work. I knew before I even started working there, so I thought other people knew too. The people I work with are awesome, and I'm really happy I got the job there.

So my jobs are going well, but I'm starting to freak out that the Hal-Con is in a month, and I have hardly a thing done for it. I have a few things for it, but nothing that I wanted accomplished. I have two pieces I REALLY want to finish and I have a feeling I won't be finishing the Rainbow doll series any time soon. My illustration style changed a lot in the past few months, and I think I may start over again on the series. I'm not 100% sure yet, but we'll see.

I also have a few sketches of some characters that I'm almost done of that I *will* be posting soon. I have to wait till I'm done with the newspaper this week, before I finish them.

I has a sketch book now. :3

I've been sketching out some people's characters and will be posting them soonish. I was busy doing last minute edits and things for the magazine, and then I got the flu... So maybe sometime by the end of the week I'll start posting them. :3

Plus I wanted to let you guys know that I have a table at the Hal-Con that's being held here from October 29-31st! I'll be selling prints and buttons and some other things.

I haven't been drawing at all lately. I think it's because I don't have a sketch book. I just ran out of sheets and haven't been anywhere near an art store to buy one.

Plus I haven't been drawing because I've been crazy busy. I thought I wouldn't be with a part time job, but holy crap I am. It's because of my freelance gig. I'm working on the St. Mary's student newspaper which is going to print, I think, in 2 weeks, AND I'm working on a new local magazine called "Profile Halifax" (it's free!), which will be coming out on the 15th. So all of my free time has been dedicated to all of that.

I am getting supper excited about the magazine. I have always wanted to do magazine layouts, and this is a great stepping stone for me to (maybe) work in the big leagues. This is definitely going to be a big portfolio piece. :D

I'm not sure where they're going to be "selling" the magazine, but when I find out what stores are carrying it, I'll be posting about it. And you can find the SMU newspaper at of course, SMU and other locations around the peninsula.

Oh, and my job at the UPS store is amazing. It's so stress free and super easy. I haven't done any design work just yet, but when a job comes in, I'll be right on it. I only get 15 hours a week, but I think I'll be getting full time hours in a few months time. Or at least during the Christmas rush which starts in October. :3

Well I hope to be posting some new illustration work as soon as I get a new sketch book, which should be next week because I just got paid from the UPS store and my freelance jobs. *doesahappydance*

If I did commissions and put up rates, would people actually commission me?

Or should I post some more work up? I generally don't draw a lot of animals, let alone furries (just because I'm not that great at drawing animals), but if people did ask me to draw their character(s), I totally would. :3

I don't draw porn. Maybe boobs, but only in artistic nude form.

And I would only ship to around Canada for now. See how things go.

What do you guys think?

So for sure I got the job at the UPS store. I just signed my contract with them and start on Monday. :)

Plus I got that freelance gig designing the St. Marys student newspaper. And soon I'll be starting to design a magazine. Details about the magazine later.

AND! I got my hair did! It's super awesome looking, I love it.

You can see the pic of it from my twitter account. http://twitter.com/account/profile_.....ns?hreflang=en

I'm also working on a new piece that I'll be posting later.

That's it! Cheers!

OH!! PS: If you live in the Halifax area and are doing nothing on Friday night, my friend's band is playing at The Company House (Gottigen St.) at 8pm. You can check you their myspace here: http://www.myspace.com/weallhavehauntedhearts They're pretty awesome and are from PEI.

The craft show this weekend went okay. I sold enough prints to cover the cost of the table plus 17$. Which I spent buying a few things and cupcakes. :3

None of my necklaces sold though. :c

But I did meet a bunch of awesome people and have a greater idea of how I'm going to do thing for the Hal-Con.

With all of that over now, I'm going bat-shit crazy with the newspaper I have to design for. Which is due today. And I'm only like half-way done. ;_;

I think once the newspaper is in order and gets more easier in time, I will start to finish off some of the illustrations that I started this week. Which is more poppy like art illustrations thingings.

*EDIT*

Oh and if anyone of you are interested in what I was selling and would like to buy anything, check out my blogger post! I still have a ton of prints left from the craft show. :3

http://aprilmdesigns.blogspot.com/2.....necklaces.html

For the last little while I haven't been busy what-so-ever. No freelance jobs, no job and I had no inspiration to work on personal stuff.

Then 2 weeks ago I decided to get a table at a Art and Craft show. So I've been working like a mad woman to get some new illustrations to sell and have been making necklaces so much that my hand is getting cramp-y and sore.

Then this past week I had a meeting for a freelance contract job, which is for the St. Mary's University newspaper. I will be the only designer working on it. 16 page newspaper for each week for 24 issues. Lots of work but super exciting!

I also have had a interview at the UPS store, and I basically have the job. I have a second interview tonight to meet up with his wife/part owner. It'll only be part time right now, which is ok by me, since I have the freelance gig.

So the over worked part is that the art and craft show is on the 14th this month, and the freelance gig wants 4 initial layouts of the newspaper by the 15th. Which means that I will probably only get to finish up the necklaces that I am currently working on and just use some old illustrations for the show, so that I will use what little time I have to create the layouts for the newspaper.

It may seem like I am complaining, but I am not. I am so happy that I finally have work to do and a *hopefully* job. Being over worked is way better than not having a thing to do.

I'm going to have a table at The Halifax Alternative Arts, Craft and Fashion show. It's the first one being hosted, so I guess we'll see how well it goes. You can see the facebook group here: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?g.....50136121430595

I'll be selling necklaces and prints. :3

I'm not 100% sure what prints I'll be selling though. I still have a bunch of works in progress going on right now, and the show is in 3 weeks. eep! So I plan on working my butt off for the next 3 weeks and hopefully it'll all be worth it in the end. :D

I'm also hoping that this will be a good promotion of my work for the Hal-Con that I also have a table in. And by then I hope to have more than just prints to sell. I'm hoping to have enough money to get some buttons done up and other tiny things like that.

I'm getting super excited! :D

To this site and to this type of art. My friend Mialythila is on here, and I only really joined to look at her work, because I like looking at my friends art. :3

While browsing through her favs and what-not, I found some illustrations that I like and I want to try illustrating my own furry animal person thinging. So I'm working on one! :3

I tend to only draw people and pretty/cute/pop art type of things. You can check out my stuff on my flickr account http://www.flickr.com/photos/aprilbaird/

I'm still learning the ropes here, as in trying to up date my profile and stuff.