Ali J Art & Illustration

Subiaco Craft Fair Pics

Subiaco Craft Fair

Positives - meeting new people, catching up with friends

Negatives - hot weather, swelling up to be a puffy elephant, traffic jams, no crowds, high entry fee, no ice!!

Pics from the car boot sale

Okay, so I've sold my work at markets before but never a car boot sale.  So the latest event at PICA (Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts) was certainly an experience!!  I took it as an opportunity to show a variety of work, take along plenty of specials and clearance items.  It was  a fun day!

 

 

 

Current State of the Economy

When I tell people I have my own business some of the most frequent comments I get are "wow, you must be rich", "it must be so easy to work for yourself" or "surely anyone can sell their artwork, it can't be that hard?"

Ha, far from it.  Working for myself has been one of the biggest challenges of my life.  Sure, I am my own boss.  However that means I also have extra responsibilities.  My official title according to the tax office is freelance illustrator.  In reality I am the boss, bookkeeper, administration, accountsperson, promotion manager, staff member, checkout chick, designer, factory worker.... this list goes on.  I am the one who comes up with the idea, creates the artwork, reproduces it into a product - which I create with my own hands, promotes the product and then makes it available for sale to either a store, market or exhibition.  Oh and by the way I'm also supposed to turn the clock off everyday and have a real life, which of course rarely happens.

You hear on the news all the time about people losing their jobs and so many people say to me I'm lucky because no matter what I can keep my job.  Well, yes and no.  Whilst I may have this business at the end of the day it needs to make money to pay bills and everyone is affected by the global financial crisis.  No-one more so then those who own small businesses.

I hear a lot of other designers & creators complain about how the state of the economy is affecting their business.  How they are making nothing at a market, or barely their stall fee back.  How no-one is buying their $350 necklace or $1200 dress.  Sure, I know my paintings aren't going to race out the door considering they are a 'luxury' item and most people are only spending money on necessities.  But that is the reality of the day.  I know I have to change my business to reflect the economy if I'm going to survive it.

We can't all go to a market and walk away $5000 richer at the end of the day otherwise we'd all be working in this job.  We work hard, we don't always reap financial rewards, but in times like this we have to think outside of the box.  Use the time to work on new products, improve current products, discontinue lines and even evaluate what we are doing and why.  I know many people this year whose businesses have completely changed from one genre to another.  There is a reason businesses fail and anyone who goes into business to purely make money won't remain afloat for long.  Personally I run this business because I absolutely adore it.  I enjoy interacting with customers, seeing people walk down the street wearing my artwork and flipping open a newspaper to see one of my products on a store shelf!  I also enjoy the many daily challenges that are thrown my way.

What has been disappointing for me in regards to markets is the low numbers of attendance.  Of the past five markets that I've participated in, crowds have barely been 1/10th of their expectations.    These markets were a mix of everyday markets & designer markets spread out across Perth.  I can understand that everyone is strapped for cash, but when you see people racing out of Myer with arm fulls of bags, or Target with trolleys full of products and laybying multiple flat screen televisions it does leave you to question things.

1. Are there too many markets in Perth?
2. Is designer & handmade not good enough? 
3. Is a bag from Myer really better then a bag by *** sold at a market - even if they are exactly the same?  The only difference is that one is from a retail store and the other straight from the designer?
4. Is supporting independent businesses and locally handmade ever considered by those shopping?  Do you check where your items are made/come from?  Do you care?
5. Has anyone started Christmas shopping yet?

I'd love your feedback on those questions and even what you think about buying from independent designers like myself.

To show you just how much markets have changed around Perth and the crowds another designer Jane organised a photo of the PICA car boot sale to compare it from 2007 to the event in 2009.

Now, how is that for a comparison?

How can we keep markets alive in Perth and keep designers within Western Australia?

Green Thumbs

We are trying more and more each day to be as organic & environmentally happy as possible in our everyday lives.  We  exercise, we walk wherever we can, we recycle, we use fresh fruit & veg, we use as little processed foods as possible, we use organic bath & body products and try to buy secondhand when we need clothes or furniture. 

Something that we've really been enjoying at the moment is gardening our own food to eat.  We use organic compost, our own homemade compost and our worm farm.... and our plants are growing like crazy!  I can't wait until we have produce we can use in our meals.

Mr R staking up the peas.

 

Pumpkin grown from seeds (they sprouted in our compost!!)

Mmmm.... lettuce in all shapes and sizes.

Strawberries

Runner beans flowering

Runner beans flowering again.

Mr R staking up the runner beans.  Look how high they are getting!  I love having them outside my kitchen window, they provide a welcome sight each night when we cook & clean.

 

Sweet potatoes growing wild and crazy!

Our temporary vegetable garden.  Everything is in pots as we are expecting to move in the next few months and want to take our garden with us.  It is also hidden around the side of the house where my crazy vegetable obsessed dogs can't get to them!

Tomatoes.

Doesn't the sight of it all just make your tummy grumble?  I just adore seeing all the fresh food.  I don't have any pregnancy cravings for a certain type of food, rather I just want a certain texture.  The crunchier, juicer and fresher the food = the better!  I absolutely love munching on salad right now.  Yum, yum, yum!

PICA Car Boot Sale

Free this weekend?  Out and about?

Be sure to drop by my stall at the PICA Car Boot Sale on Sunday 8th November.  All artworks that I have available will be on show at crazy low prices as I'd love for them to go to new homes before we move.

All paintings will be under $700 and drawings from a low $60.  Unseen artwork, old & new, as well as artwork that will never be reproduced.  Layby available.

There will also be gift sets for sale and badge sets.  Perfect for Christmas treats!  Hope to see you there.

If you wish to see my normal current range of stock I will also have a stall at the Darlington Arts Festival from 10-5 on both Saturday 8th November and Sunday 9th November at Darlington Oval.

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Only 8 weeks of market season left before Ali J Art & Illustration will only be available through stores for sometime.

365 Day Project - Day 162

Wow, I can't believe I'm already 162 days into my "365 day project".  It's been 105 days since I last blogged about what I've been up to with my business so I thought it was time for a bit of a round up.

Business Update

Christmas orders have started to flood in, so I'm on overdrive at the moment.  Luckily I'm now 5 months pregnant (as of this Saturday) so my energy levels have returned enough to cope with it all.

I'm working on a whole range of different projects at the moment, all with rush deadlines, all due to be completed within the next 2-4 weeks.  The great thing is that now I'm getting a whole variety of projects to work on and keep driving my illustrations to the next level. 

When I think of client jobs I will admit I do have a bit of a chuckle.  Just after I started illustrating back in 2007 I applied to various illustration agencies at the time and was told that they couldn't take me on because they didn't think I'd be able to get client jobs.  Well Mr Agencies.... look at me now!   I absolutely love client jobs/commissions.  (BTW - Applying to illustration agencies is once again in my future sights, but I've decided I'm going to wait for the baby to come first)

So.... I'm currently working on the following projects -

• CD Design
• Poster design for a series of community art courses
• Commissioned painting for a wedding gift
• 3 x character illustrations for a lifestyle website
• 3 x dating illustrations for a dating website
• wholesale orders
• proper multiple page spread & interview for a major magazine (eep!)
• graduation show

+ more jobs not yet finalised.....

I am a little bit panicked at being so busy during peak market season, I think I've got 12+ markets before January already!  I don't want to cut back on them though as this will be the last few months I'm going to do markets for a significant period of time.  Our aim is to earn as much as we can through the business so we can put as much $$ aside as possible for the baby.

My aim for the next few weeks is just to work, work, work and keep the flow going.  I've got so many plans for the future but until I know where life is heading, I don't want to overplan the business.

But great news - I've been accepted into the Life In Style trade show next year!!  My first trade show, and I'm super excited.  =)

Life Update

In 5 weeks time both myself and Mr R graduate from our studies.  Hooray!  Our plan once that has finished is to take a few days off housesitting to recharge before throwing ourselves into work again.

The downfall is that because our studies finish, so does our financial support from the government.  I won't be able to get help again until I give birth, Mr R's income from the army stops as well (they go on holiday) so it will be an interesting time relying completely on me and the magical artwork I can create.  He's applying for jobs in the interim period, but no-one seems to want to hire anyone right now.

We have our 20 week ultrasound booked for next week that we are SO excited about.  I can't believe we are already 1/2 way through the pregnancy.  Oh, speaking of halfway Mr R and I have our 6 month anniversary on Thursday night.  We are going to go out for a meal, so exciting!

We're just impatiently waiting now to discover if Mr R has a job teaching next year, and where that may be.  As soon as we find that out we'll organise a house, move into it, then set ourselves up.  I'm hoping that can be done in January as I'm not keen to move during the hottest month of the year - February where temperatures often sit at 40 degrees+.  Yuck!

Pregnancy wise everything is going great.  I have very little problems, just little niggly things that remind me of what I'm going through.  I feel like a dried out shell everynight.  I can't drink enough water and my skin, mouth and nose are bone dry.  I'm affected quite badly by hayfever at the moment, first time in my life.  My record of sneezing so far has been 21 sneezes in a row!  Other then that I've been keeping my fitness up by both walking and swimming - sometimes laps in the pool, other days in pregnancy fitness classes.  I really really miss exercising stronger, and I've been aching to run up and down sand dunes.  Of course I can't, so I'll just have to wait a bit longer.  Oh, and I've started to waddle.  But don't stare!  LOL

Last of all, I just wanted to share a sneek peek with you about an upcoming exhibition I've got one work in.  I really wanted to do more works for it, but had a reality check that time just isn't on my side.  This exhibition revolves around fairytales.  The story I was given is "Puss In Boots".  So here is a sneak peek.... when the exhibition opens I'll show you the full image and the story behind it.

Sneak Peek - "A Gift For The King"

Here is the exhibition poster.  It's been getting a lot of press, and it has been so exciting to see my name everywhere (including a mention in the latest Frankie magazine!)

So I hope your day has been going well.  Hopefully I can pop back onto here quicker next time with plenty of new things to finally share!

Time keeps on creeping ahead

I cannot believe it is midway through October already and only 9 weeks until Christmas.  Where has the year gone?

Life here is on absolute overdrive.  Christmas orders have started to rush in and my graduation show is in 6 weeks so I've barely got a moment to take a breath before flying into the next task.  I've got lots of things that I need to finish before the end of the year, but for the moment I just wanted to do a quick post that announces most of the market stalls that I'll be participating in until the new year.

Next year I'll be taking an extended leave from markets and I'm unsure when I'll get back into doing them.  As much as I love them we'll be living somewhere in the country with a new baby so I have to keep things a bit quieter until we can get settled in.  Because of this I'm going all out for the remainder of the year and trying to do a market stall every week in a different location whenever possible.

Upcoming Market Dates

Sunday 25th October
Subiaco Craft Fair, UWA, 9am - 4pm

Sunday 1st November
Bayswater Community Fair, 10am - 4pm

Saturday 7th, Sunday 8th November
Darlington Arts Festival, Darlington Oval, 10am - 5pm

Sunday 15th November
Made On The Left, Hyde Park Hotel, 10am - 4pm

Sunday 15th November
Applecross Jacaranda Festival, Ardross St, 10am - 3.30pm

Thursday 3rd December
Fremantle Village Art Market, King Square, 10am - 4pm

Saturday 5th, Sunday 6th December
Fremantle Bazaar, Fremantle Arts Centre, 9am - 5pm

Thursday 17th December
Fremantle Village Art Market, King Square, 10am - 4pm

Thursday 24th December
Fremantle Village Art Market, King Square, 10am - 4pm

Thursday 31st December
Fremantle Village Art Market, King Square, 10am - 4pm

Friday 1st, Saturday 2nd, Sunday 3rd January
Fremantle Markets, 9am - 5pm

As of this coming weekend I'll be having sales on various items at each of the market stalls - rotating at each event - as well as selling original artworks/drawings at very special prices!  Time to make room for new artworks in my studio next year and say goodbye to past favourites.  Up for sale before Christmas will be many unreleased artworks.  Hope to see you at one of my stalls!

Life is great

The past few weeks have been fantastic.

• Mr R has officially moved in.... now this place really feels like home!
• Mr R insists that the cat is the devil (her eyes), and was so proud he took a photo of her that turned out to "prove" it (above)
• I've finally got a good internet connection back after watching too many episodes of the final season of ER (Whoops!)
• I've only got about 6 weeks left of my art course before I graduate and finally have a couple of artworks finished for it
• I'm now 16 weeks pregnant and totally LOVING it!
• Mr R has finished all his exams & assignments and only has prac in a school (he's a secondary school teacher) for a few weeks before he graduates

I'm a very happy girl right now.  I'm feeling the passion for my art coming back to me (finally!) and can start seeing the future again.  It is such a nice feeling to feel like everything has happened this year for the right reason and great to finally feel truly happy.  =)

Pet Hate For The Day

Today I just want to rant.

I'm so sick of being signed up to company "mailing lists" without being asked or opting to do so myself.  It totally turns me off any business that does it and I refuse to shop with them or visit their stores.  Now I'm finding it isn't just the big companies doing it, it's the little independent crafters/designers as well.   (Who get so upset when I want off their list)

Why do it?  Doesn't anyone find it impolite?  At least at home I can choose to put up a 'no junk mail' sign on my letterbox to prevent the spam, but how do you stop others putting you on their mailing lists?  How can you politely tell them you simply aren't interested?

Is it just me or does it irritate you too?

An excited mum!

I can't help myself, I'm so excited at knowing it won't be too long before I'm a mum.  We've worked out that we are now already 1/3 of the way along in pregnancy!  Woohoo!

So, I'm going to gush and show off for a few moments.  We had our ultrasound scan on Wednesday and were delighted to see our baby.  We had no idea how 'real' it would look - to think it is only just over 7cm long!  The baby moved and wriggled and bounced all over the place.   The only downfall to the whole experience is that Mr R thinks the person who did our ultrasound let it slip whether we were having a boy or a girl.  Something we wanted to keep a surprise.  At least we've got a few more months to go yet before we find out whether she did or not!

It isn't super clear but the baby has its hands up beside its head on either side.  It was doing what Ryan does all the time - stretching its hands up & then arching its back.  Freaky!

Grrrr.... artwork stolen again

OK so I know it is the digital age.  It means we can share our artwork, interact with others and get inspiration.  But I am getting a little sick of people stealing my artwork and putting it on products to make money without giving me credit or licensing the image from me.  Don't they know what copyright means?  What happened to integrity and good old traditional values?

image from ASOS one of the stockists (as of 25/9/09 removed from sale due to this copyright infringment)

Publicity image from Killah (the creators of the dress) so bad it makes me cringe. 

The dress is a knitted dress made by Killah.  Killah clothing originates from Italy and is currently sold online/in the UK and Europe.  The dress sells for £75.00.  If only I could celebrate its legitimacy.

PS.... this is what I think was the original image that was 'tweaked'.  This artwork was from all the way back in November 2007 (crap photography skills at the time!)

UPDATE - ASOS, one of the stockists of the dress takes copyright infringement seriously and within a few short hours of being contacted has removed the dress for sale.  They've also contacted the clothing line Killah to advise them of the issue and are in discussions with them of their right to use the dress.  So good news so far!

Personally I tried to contacted Killah already.  Their e-mails bounce back, they speak Italian on the phone, so I've contacted them through their website which kept crashing.  I'll await to hear more about what has happened and let you know when it does.

Animal Index Cards for your bookcase

When looking up silhouette inspirations I came across these amazing items.  They are animal index cards to help sort your bookcase!

Made by the japanese designer Hiroshi Sasagawa.  Buy them here.

Market Recap

So a couple of weekends ago I was ill but participated in two markets across one weekend.  It was certainly an interesting time, but great to get out and about.  It was also the first time that I was able to display all of my new packaging designs together!!  My first though - it looks great, it does exactly what I want it to.  It 'pops' and makes my work stand out.  The problem I have now is that it looks too professional and I need to bring some more 'handmade' charm into the display.  I'm thinking of creating lots of one off items - jewellery, sewing, homewares and also illustrating my display stands.  My master aim one day will be to illustrate my tent walls - but I've got to figure out how to do that first and make it last!

So now I will recap the weekend with a few pictures.  On Saturday I was able to share a stall with the fantastic Renee from Cocoa-Pod jewellery who takes fabulous photos and was great company!

Notice the conveniently baggy jumper, t-shirt and scarf?  I've been a bit chicken on revealling my bump, so I've been layering my clothes.  However now the weather is getting warmer I know someone is going to catch it soon.  I wish I had the confidence to just photograph it.

On the Saturday I had a stall indoors at PICA for Unwrapped.  Thanks to the gorgeous Helena for the pictures!  Thanks also to my wonderful parents (you can see my Dad standing behind the stall trying to look serious for the photo).  Without them, I wouldn't have been able to endure the day.  As it was I sat on a chair most of the time coughing (and that night lost my voice for another week!).  Dad was great, and so proud of my creations.  He really enjoyed it when people thought he created the artwork!!

Character Illustrations

I was commissioned earlier this year for a client Fox Maven to create a series of character illustrations.  I finished them a while back, but forgot to post about them and thought now would be a good time!

"Casual"

"Cooking"

"Masquerade"

"Pampered"

"Travelling"

New Website! New Look!

Okay, I'm excited.  I can't help myself, I've finally updated the website to a brand spanking new beauty!!  In total it took me 6 weeks from the initial concept to the final creation, but in actuality it probably only took about 5 days of working on it to finish it.  I can't believe that I finally have the skills to create exactly what I had pictured in my mind.  Oh - and to have it all WORK!

One thing I'm definitely starting to notice.... just how much I've changed over the past two years!  It is crazy to think where I may be in another two years.  It was so liberating to give myself a challenge and learn new skills.   My art is starting to take on a whole new life, and I'm really starting to enjoy the ride.

Let me know what you think!

http://www.alijart.com