An amusing little diversion...

This gave me a laugh.

I just discovered this version of one of my previous posts:
(You have to be very clever to be able to read it, because... it's written in code... *wink!)

http://illustration2034.edublogs.org/2009/07/20/finesse-artwork-conclude-to-kiwi-artist-esther-griffiths-work-in-progress-book-illustrations/

(Here's my original post.)

There are some quaint sayings in there, and then some just downright confusing ones... (How did "have" become "clothed" and "get" become "annoy"???)

Isn't this sentence cute: "My sisters clothed [sic] been entirely profitable, and at all times so tickled and well-disposed to assist."

I like how "first" becomes "gold medal"...
"so far" becomes "so distant"...
"the very first thing" becomes "the entirely gold medal gismo"!!!


Awesome.

I love translators.

Sketches from 2008

A few life drawing sketches from 2008...

Left-handed exercise

My brothers and sisters don't mind sitting still for me to sketch every now and again :)

My brother, Josh

One of my favourite things to draw since I was a kid!

self-portrait

An interesting exercise... I held the paper against my stomach and drew onto it looking only at my reflection in a mirror. My hand was going in all sorts of crazy and unpredictable directions. Fun! :)

To see more, visit my Picasa web albums...!

Introducing Simeon

There is a season for everything... and right now it's baby season! Simeon Emmanuel Tattersall is now three months old, and (being the first grandbaby on both sides) is loved to bits by his grandparents and all twelve of his aunties and uncles...!

I absolutely LOVE being a mum. The only problem is... WHERE HAS ALL MY SPARE TIME TO MUCK ABOUT DOING ART GONE??? :)

Finding FREE and LEGAL Images

creative commons -Franz Patzig-

by A. Diez Herrero

I've just had one of those wonderful ahhh-so-THAT's-how, can't-believe-I-didn't-know-this-earlier, can't-help-but-share-this moments. I have always wondered how to find images that are both free and legal to use on my blog. As it turns out, it's easy. I know it's not exactly the greatest discovery on the planet, but for my fellow ignoramists, here's how...

1. Search for images with a Creative Commons License

It appears that there are many artists/photographers who like to make their work available for others to share. Awesome! Creative Commons licenses give creators a means to communicate which rights they would like to reserve, and which they are happy to waive for the benefit of others. It is like a more flexible copyright system - "all rights reserved" becomes "some rights reserved".

Here are a couple of places I've found to search for images...

• Flickr - use the advanced search and tick the "only search within Creative Commons-licensed content" box at the bottom of the page.
• Google Images - again, use the advanced search. Under "usage rights" select the option you require (for example, "Return images that are labelled for reuse" or "Return images that are labelled for reuse with modification").

(There will be others of course. If you know of or can recommend other places to search for images with Creative Commons licenses, please do let me know!)

2. Check the license details

This will determine how you can use the image. For example, some creators are happy for you to use their image as is, but are not happy for you to modify it.

Here's what one Creative Commons license looks like. This license states that the creator is happy for you to share their image, AND that they are also happy for you to modify it, SO LONG AS you attribute the work to them. Simple as that!

On Flickr, the license information for an image is found on the right hand side under "License". Click on the "some rights reserved" link to be taken to the Creative Commons license information that relates to that image. 

3. Correctly attribute the image

Once you've found an image that you like, have checked the license to make sure you can use it in the way that you want to, and have copied the image onto your site, you need to make sure that you attribute the image to the creator. Give as much information as is available, such as....

• The creator's full name or screen name. "Image by Esther Tattersall"
• A link to their site or profile. "Image by Esther Tattersall"
• The title or name of the image. "Weaving Light by Esther Tattersall"
• If you've modified the image, mention that fact, and still attribute the original image to the creator. "Original image by Esther Tattersall"

And there you have it! My discovery of the day. Any other tips, anyone?...

Skinny Artist - Market Yourself!

While I was studying at art school, something slowly dawned on me... Great artwork does NOT sell itself just because it’s great. However, great marketing DOES sell artwork... even if the artwork itself doesn’t seem as ‘great’ as some others!

I was a bit disturbed to think that I might be the most magnificent artist alive, but unless I know how to market myself, no one would even know that I exist.

How depressing... I didn’t study to be a marketer. I’m an artist.

It was in this sorry state of mind that I happened across Skinny Artist - a website dedicated to teaching artists practical marketing skills. How exciting!! I signed up for their free email course, “How the @#$&! do I Get More Traffic to my Website?!" and am LOVING it. Why? Let me count the ways...

-         Most importantly, it’s FREE!

-         It was developed by artists, specifically for artists.

-         Each week I am emailed an article with specific tasks to help improve my marketing skills, expand my knowledge base, and encourage me to think outside the box.

-         I don’t need any prior marketing skills.

-         It refers me to other fantastic websites and teaches me how to use all sorts of interesting web based tools and tricks.

-         It’s written in fun and easy-to-read language.

-        I'm not graded or marked... I get out of it what I put into it.

Thus far, I’ve learned about RSS, been introduced to StumbleUpon, received myriads of tips on how to lure people to my blog (if you’re reading this, they must be working to some extent), and have been enjoying every minute of it!

I highly recommend these guys. Whether you are a floundering artist (getting skinnier by the day) who would like some clear directions on how to sell your great artwork, or a well-established artist who would like to become more web-savvy, I would encourage you to check out Skinny Artist’s website. I’d be keen to hear what you think!

Do you know of any other sites that could help artists market themselves? Let me know in a comment below...

Thus ends 2010

Wow. The realisation has just dawned on me... this is my first 2010 post. A bit sad to have to say that on the last possible day of 2010, but never mind. The good news is, I have not dropped off the edge of the planet.

At the end of last year I purchased (with the total of my savings) a fantastic "antique" etching press. This beautiful cast-iron beast was recreated from an old mangle by Waihi artist John Mulvay, and works like a charm! I absolutely adore it. (By the way, Johnny is still making and selling etching presses... Check out his blog!)

In March Daniel and I got married (yup, we're still starry-eyed!), and I became 'Mrs Tattersall'.

I took up a part-time position alongside Dan growing orchids, kept my part-time job at the polytech library, did a spot of weekly housecleaning for a friend with baby twins, and discovered that "running the house" is harder and much more time-consuming than it looks... especially when pregnant! Yup, due in early February... Not far away now.

We shifted house in September to a beautiful place with THREE bedrooms. Us, baby, and The Press. Perfect. We felt a bit lost in the huge living room, so got ourselves a pool table to fill up the space.

I cut back my orchid and cleaning jobs a couple of months ago, and then finished up at the library last week... but in-between our siblings' birthdays (we have twelve younger brothers and sisters between us), visits with the midwife, end-of-year functions, more birthdays, and ante-natal classes, I am glad when I have just a few spare moments in order to collect myself. Surprisingly, I have still been able to sell some work in amongst it all. But I have the strangest feeling that things are NOT going to suddenly become less busy when bubby arrives...!

Currently, I am focusing on getting this blog up-to-date and cataloguing all my past artworks (check out my Picasa Web Albums). Getting there. I'll keep you posted with what's new.

So, yes, I am alive and kicking. Hopefully you'll see a bit more of me next year!

Cheerio...

'Button Thief' for sale

The children's book that I have spent the past year illustrating has finally been published, and is now available for purchase for NZ$19.99 each.

Latesha Randall, ill. Esther Griffiths, Button Thief, Button Books Ltd., Dargaville, 2009.

Button Thief is a book about friendship, forgiveness.... and buttons! It is aimed at 3-7 year-old girls - and with some trickier words it is one that is intended to be read aloud to kids.

If you would like to purchase a book, either...

- Contact me directly

- Email our newly established publishing company, Button Books Ltd., at buybuttonthief@gmail.com.

For more information, visit our website.

I will be uploading more images onto my blog over the next little while. The original drypoint prints are now for sale, for between $30 and $120 each. WATCH THIS SPACE!!!