Something New - FINALLY!

I've been so busy traveling, blogging, sending out samples, and generally having fun as summer has melted into fall that it took me longer than usual to complete this latest piece! It's a portfolio piece, and I'll probably use it for postcards or who knows what just yet. I'm just so happy that it all came together so nicely! This was a lot of fun, and there's a lot more on the way!

Art for the Troops!

If you'd like to be part of an amazing art event and send some happiness to our troops overseas, please visit this link!
Art for Troops!

Draw or paint or collage (whatever you like) a small work of art measuring 2.5"x3.5" (standard ACEO/trading card size).

The cards should be sent to Kevin Sandstrom at the following address by October 25, 2009:

Blick Art Materials
Attn: Kevin Sandstrom
79 Danada Square East
Wheaton, IL 60187

Make art and support those serving our country!

Guest Blogger- Children's Illustrator Jeff Chandler Discusses Digital Art 101

To go digital or not, that is the question, and one that's been on my mind for quite a long time. At a recent SCBWI meeting, a children's book agent recommended that artists who use traditional media begin exploring digital, especially in terms of educational publishing. I can see why it would be necessary, given the use of computers in schools. And truly there's a part of me that wants to work digitally and open my door to new opportunities not only for myself but for the kids who would benefit in the classrooms. This led me to ask one of my friends and colleagues, Jeff Chandler, who has been doing digital artwork for years, for advice about using digital media. I'm so grateful he accepted the challenge to be my guest blogger on the subject. Here's what he had to say. I hope you enjoy it and when you're done, please check out Jeff's amazing work at : www.artgeckostudios.com



So here’s the deal – when my friend Cynthia approached me about writing an article concerning Traditional vs. Digital Art, I jumped at the chance… my enthusiasm quickly turned to horror though as I wrestled with what I was actually going to say about the topic – I mean, I’ve been a commercial illustrator for over 20 years (yikes!) and most of those years have been spent behind a Mac doing editorial art, logo design, desktop publishing, and web design for whatever client came my way. BUT what do I really know about digital art being better than traditional hand-drawn art, or vice versa? IS one better than the other? Do people even concern themselves with comparing the two? A quick online search showed me that many people DO think it is worth comparing, as I found blog after blog devoted to this very topic! Personally I’m boggled that this is even an issue and can only compare it to the universal arguments of Egg vs. Chicken, Creationism vs. Evolution or Original Trilogy vs. Prequels – it’s a topic that is just too heady and philosophical to debate here. (For the record, I think we can ALL agree that Original Trilogy kicks @ss over the Prequels though, am I right?!) To me, the argument is like comparing apples to oranges; and since they say you should ‘write what you know’, I’m sticking with Apples (yes, that’s a non-too-subtle Mac reference J).


As stated above, I have been blessed with working in the Advertising/Publishing world for most of my adult life. My first official job out of college was at a small Ad Agency in Manhattan right on Madison Ave. – the year was 1988 so no computers, everything was done ‘on board’, art was still delivered via bike messengers and type was set by a single monstrous machine on galley sheets and then cut n’ pasted onto the drafting board. I actually consider myself lucky to be have been a part of that era of being forced to know how to spec type and shoot deliverable art on stat machines. 
 
Of course computers changed all that, literally overnight. Nowadays you would not even consider a career in desktop publishing without having a solid computer background behind you; InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator are standards in the industry – but would the same hold true if you were a freelance illustrator? As an artist, does it make a difference if you don’t know your bitmap from your subway map? The answer is a resounding “NO!” (with an itty-bitty “yes” tacked onto the end).

What’s that, you say? How can it be “No” AND “Yes” at the same time?

I think the best way to illustrate the point is to create a hypothetical situation – let’s say you are a freelance illustrator from… oh, let’s pick Chicago ;) You have spent the past few years honing your craft using gouache, colored pencils and watercolors as your medium… One day you send out samples in an effort to gain work at a prestigious publishing company only to receive a cryptic reply indicating that you need to ‘work digitally’. Does that mean you need to abandon years of brushwork, buy a computer and hope like hell you can master Photoshop or Illustrator in time to reap the rewards of freelance work from this company? The short answer is no… As an artist, your medium is your medium and you shouldn’t compromise for anyone! It’s silly to think that all Editorial art is done as vector-based art, or all Children’s books are rendered in watercolor… Subject matter and content should drive the style, not the other way around. If a potential client is telling you to change your medium in order to obtain work from them, then perhaps they are not the right clients for you.

But how exactly do you combat this backlash of ‘traditional art’? 
 
Unless the client make a specific request such as “We need this illo to be an elbow macaroni-based collage utilizing only organic ingredients from Guam”, then it shouldn’t matter HOW you created it… However, it DOES matter how you deliver it to them. 
 
With just a few additions to your artistic arsenal (a few of which you probably already have access to) – you can continue to prosper in mastering the art of Post-it® Note portraits while meeting the client’s demands for ‘digital’:

Computer 

I suppose you could go the PC route since most design/art software programs are now cross-platform, but for me it’s a Macintosh all the way – Every job I have ever held values Macs over PC in the design department and it’s the only computer I have every owned at home. Yes, Macs are much more expensive, but it’s an investment worthwhile and needed in an industry that values Macs as standard-issue equipment. (Although in all my years I have never really encountered any compatibility issues with PC-to-Mac files, so it really comes down to what your budget can afford) 
 
For the record, my new Mac Pro set me back $4,000. Of course I added some bells n’ whistles and splurged on a 24 inch monitor as well… but even a standard laptop will provide you with the basic platform needed to bring your crayon masterpiece into the digital age!


Scanner 

Too many out there to list and way too many features to compare. Depending on your needs, and the level of detail in your work, you can get away with a standard (and relatively cheap) HP or Epson 8” x 10” scanner. There are some nice 11” x 17” flatbeds out there as well, which are pricier, but they alleviate the need to scan your art into pieces and reassemble if it happens to exceed the 8 x 10 format. 
 
Making sure that the scanner can scan at least 300dpi though as that is standard resolution for print.


Software 

This one’s a biggie! Photoshop is king when it comes to digital art – yes, there are other programs out there such as CorelDraw, Painter and whatnot, but once again let me state – Photoshop is KING!! 
 
Being able to scan your art into Photoshop and manipulate the colors/details will ultimately open up a whole new world to play in… I use the program every day and am constantly amazed at finding new ways to do things in it! 
You can purchase Photoshop CS4 now for $699 (count yourself lucky if you are a student as Adobe offers Educational Versions of all their software for ½ the price!) 
They also offer free ‘Trial’ downloads to get your feet wet . If you chose the PC over Mac at Step 1, note that Adobe makes Windows versions of all their software as well:)

Internet Access

If you’re reading this, then you already have it! The internet is crucial to the delivery of digital art. Long gone are the days of bike messengers or even FedEx in which to deliver artwork – when my file is finalized and it’s saved exactly to the client’s specifications, I just go online and upload directly to their FTP site (File Transfer Protocol for the uninitiated) 
 
I use Fetch software but you can download others such as CuteFTP or SmartFTP if using Windows, there are even sites that host FTP space like YouSendIt.com. 
 
Heck, if a client does NOT have access to one, I simply use my own website as an FTP hub – so fear not as there are plenty of possibilities (Worst case, you burn the art to a disk or Thumb Drive and overnight via FedEx, or even cheaper, Priority Mail which usually gets there within 2-3 days, depending on the distance.) 




So there you have it – no need to stress out about learning CAD for that next assignment or freaking out if a new client asks for that satirical cartoon as a TIF. With the four basic tools listed above, you can draw to your heart’s content in oil, acrylics or magic marker, scan it in, clean it up/color-correct in Photoshop and then deliver final art online – all without getting out of your fuzzy pajamas! If Cynthia allows me another shot at this, perhaps next time we can delve into some of the specifics of Photoshop and other important desktop publishing software like Illustrator or InDesign.
Until then, I’m zen.
J-
__________________________________
Thank you Jeff! I would love to hear your thoughts about using digital media vs. traditional so please leave a comment. And as I said, please be sure to check out Jeff's web site: www.artgeckostudios.com

Five Reasons I LOVE Being An Artist

Pinch me! I MUST be dreaming! You mean I get to draw every day and sometimes even get paid for it? That's incredible! With that in mind, here's five reason I love, love, LOVE being an artist!

1. It's a great excuse to be goofy! Wherever I go! If I have an urge to turn a cartwheel in public, I just go for it! Maybe a spontaneous happy dance in the park? No problem! Artists do silly stuff like that and can blame it on the fact that were artists!

2. Wake up, grab some coffee, change out of jammies - oh wait! Screw it! I'm staying IN my jammies all day! Just sitting here behind my desk in my cozy cotton pink stripy pj's and enjoying every moment! When noon rolls around or if I have to run an errand, I might get dressed then. Or not! We'll see! I'm an artist! I can walk down the street in my jammies if I want! It's called performance art.

3. Mood swings? Ok, I've been known to have those from time to time. But artists are SUPPOSED to be moody! If the urge strikes to put on some extra thick black eyeliner and contemplate the meaning of my existence all alone at the coffee shop for a couple hours, I'll do it! Or maybe I wanna be nature-girl today, put on my bestest hiking boots, and run out to the woods to peacefully sketch in my sketchbook! I'll do just that. Or not. I don't know. I'm a moody artist, so it all depends.

4. When was the last time I set my alarm clock to get up and actually GO to a job? Oh jeez, it's been, lets' see, six years this month!! THAT alone deserves some celebration! I'm going to turn some cartwheels now!

5. I get to draw every single freakin' day! Not because I have to, because I WANT to! I chose this life! No deadline is too stressful! No project is too big to handle alone! No moment spent applying paint to paper is ever wasted, even if something doesn't turn out quite the way I hoped!

There are so many more reasons I'm grateful to be an artist! An infinite number of reasons, actually! It's a beautiful thing to live a life this way.

What are five reasons you're grateful for your job today:) Or maybe you don't have a job - what are five things your're grateful for? The eggs haven't gone bad. The cat is making biscuits on your lap now! The phone bill got paid on time:) Share them in the comment box! Life is short - live gratefully!

Women Who Rock! Kathy van Beuningen of the Legendary 501st!

I'm so pleased to chat with the likes of so many incredible women for this interview series, Women Who Rock! These woman are creative-preneurs. They're leading the field in what they do! Whether they're acting, writing, painting, directing, you name it- these women rock! They lead by example and pave the way for younger people to follow their creative dreams! This month, I'm chatting with Kathy van Beuningen of the world-wide organization, the 501st! If you're a fan of Star Wars, you probably already know who they are. If you don't, please read on and find out for yourself! Kathy is one amazing lady! In short, Kathy rocks!

Hi Kathy. For those who aren’t familiar with the 501st, can you explain what the organization is and how it got started?

This official explanation from the 501st Legion Charter sums it up:

"...The Legion is an all-volunteer organization formed for the express purpose of bringing together costume enthusiasts under a collective identity within which to operate. The Legion seeks to promote interest in Star Wars through the building and wearing of quality costumes, and to facilitate the use of these costumes for Star Wars-related events as well as contributions to the local community through costumed charity and volunteer work..." More information can be found here: http://www.501st.com/

How long have you been a member?

I have been an official Member of the 501st Legion since 2001.

And do you make your own costumes?

Yes. I started making costumes a decade ago because I wanted to challenge my sewing skills, experiment and learn new techniques.

I had originally intended on making an Imperial Officer uniform for myself at the end of 2001. I had made one for my husband that turned out very successfully. He wore it to DragonCon that year.

In September 2001 I was talked into purchasing raffle tickets at DragonCon2001. The prizes were all very desirable Star Wars memorabilia, including a ‘real’ lightsaber prop, and the proceeds were to benefit a Children's charity. Purchasing a ticket was a win-win situation. I attended the drawing and witnessed all of the other cool prizes being drawn until the very last grand-prize - a set of Stormtrooper armor. I never imagined that I would ever win this. I had been fairly content in being a Jedi and just getting used to the idea of being in the Rebel Legion, but when my name was announced as the "newest trooper in the 501st Legion", there was no turning back.

So you were immediately hooked! I can understand that! What was your childhood like, creatively speaking? Most kids like to draw and paint and get their hands dirty. I'm guessing you were no different?

When I was a child, I made miniature period costumes for dolls and miniature equestrian equipment for models. I worked in fabric, metal and leather. I also reconstructed and repainted models. I did all of this work by hand. This was my hobby. At this point in time, Star Wars was just a story inside of George Lucas's head. He was watching the same westerns as I was on TV.

I excelled in all of my subjects in middle school and high school and found I had plenty of time to study and perform music, participate in theater and to be steadily employed. In the summer of 1977 my aunt taught me many basic principles of using patterns to make clothing. She also taught me how to use a sewing machine, but I preferred to work by hand.

I wished to travel abroad in college so I focused my first course of study in German Language. After I returned from Europe, I found I had enough course credits to complete the major, but I still had two and one half years of college to complete. I wanted to learn photography and was encouraged to take some other studio art classes in order to participate in the photography class. I learned every different medium offered at the University. I learned how to cast metal for jewelry, different techniques in print making, ceramics, drawing and painting. I found that I loved to learn how to work in every medium. I began to take art history classes. I loved to learn about the history behind the visual aspects of art and architecture. I completed the entire course of study to earn a second under graduate major in Studio Art. I was very close to completing all of the required course credits for a third major in Art History. I participated in college theater and was constantly employed. I moved to a larger city after completing college. I worked several different jobs and decided that I would like to experience the opportunities an even larger city could offer. I moved to Chicago and quickly received employment in an art and framing gallery.

I rediscovered my sewing talents in the mid-1990’s when I had become frustrated looking for interesting, ready-made clothing to wear to work.

My criteria were that clothes be well constructed, have ample pockets, be comfortable, be easy to care for and be reasonably priced. I seldom found anything commercially available that would meet all my requirements. I decided I would design custom clothing that would meet my needs. I bought inexpensive fabric and began experimenting with designs. I taught myself everything I could about machine sewing. I read about different couture techniques and applied them to my designs. I experimented with loads of inexpensive fabrics until I was confident enough to take the risks of possibly making mistakes on more precious fabrics.

I hand-made fired porcelain buttons to create completely one-of-a-kind looks in my designs. My clothing projects were very successful. After a while, these projects became too easy. I wanted to challenge myself with some more elaborate designs. 
I started making costumes for my daughter, Quincy, in 1998. She had always been very precocious child. She refused to wear the ‘normal’ clothing that I made for her, but she loved to wear ‘special’ dresses and to “be” her favorite characters.

I designed and constructed a costume of the character "Angelica" from Nickelodeon’s "Rug Rats" cartoon show for her Halloween costume when she was in first grade. I used aircraft cable to achieve ‘special effects’ that made the dress look like a cartoon. It turned out nicely, however she was sad that she did not win the costume contest at school. That was my first venture into making wearable fantasy clothing using highly unorthodox materials.

My daughter’s school announced a spring fashion show in 1999. I decided that I would try to re-create one of the dresses from the movie "Titanic" for her to exhibit. I have always been very interested in period costumes and their history and my daughter was very interested in the movie. I decided to make the dress the character ‘Rose’ wore at the end of the story, because it looked the most "spring-like" for the fashion show.

There are no commercial patterns for any semi-accurate version of this type of costume in a child’s size. I knew I had to design the pattern myself. I watched the scenes in the film and found some still pictures in books. I did not have computer access at that time, so I didn't have much other information from which to work.

I completed the dress. Then the school canceled the fashion show. Quincy was very disappointed, but she ended up wearing the dress to several formal occasions and weddings that summer.

That was 1999. I went to see a movie early that summer. "Blown Away" (by the costumes) is how I would describe my reaction to Star Wars Episode I. The first time I saw it, I knew that I wanted to try and make one of the costumes that Queen Amidala wore. I would try and make it for Quincy to wear to school for the Halloween costume contest. I would do the best job I could and hopefully she would win the contest and I wouldn't have to deal with a disappointed daughter again.

I still did not have computer access, so I did what research I could in paper form. I wanted to make the Theed Throne Room gown at first, but I wanted a unique look. I discovered the Throne Room costume was the design being mass-produced commercially as a children’s Halloween costume that year. I decided to attempt another of the many intricate costumes the Queen wore in Episode I.

I started working on my designs of the Queen Amidala Senate costume in August and completed the costume in mid-October. The project turned out much better than I had expected. I decided that with all of the time I had put into it that I would have to escort Quincy for her Halloween events in a costume of my own. I made myself a Jedi costume and I made my husband a Darth Sidious robe.

Quincy wore her Queen Amidala Senate gown costume to school and won the contest. She was so thrilled by all of the attention she received that she wanted to do it again. I decided to find out what other costume events were going on around town. We went to the city of Chicago's costume contest that weekend and won the grand prize.

That was just the beginning of the costumes I have completed over the years.

That's amazing Kathy! So then how did you first meet the the 501st?


The first Member of the 501st Legion I ever met was Mike Washko (TK895) at the charity re-release of Star Wars Episode I back in December 1999.

I had just gotten my first computer in October. I had just finished my first family costumes, which happened to be Star Wars costumes.

I didn't find much when I first started to try to do research into the existence of any local costuming groups or costuming events other than going out trick-or-treating on Halloween once a year. 
But somewhere, somehow, someone contacted me and told me about some local Star Wars costuming group. 
I don't even know who gave me Mike's email address and told me that this was the person I needed to contact.
I tried to find out anything I could, but Mike just said that he and a few other folks would meet us at the theater which was a couple miles from our house. 
Now, mind that I did just get a computer, so I was completely new to the whole Internet thing and was constantly hearing about all sorts of horror stories about 'meeting people on-line' and how many people had been being taken advantage of. I didn't know exactly what to expect, but figured that since I would be with Vince & Quincy and on our own 'home turf' we could make a fast get away if these people turned out to be questionable characters. 


We came dressed to the theater and played arcade games for a while and waited for anyone to show up. 
By the time the show was starting, we went into the theater to watch the show. I was dying to see EP I again. Vince and Quincy are big movie fans in general. I didn't think anyone was going to show.....then I saw Mike. He had just made it into the city. It was raining outside. He got into his costume in his car. He came in to the dark theater, up the long flight of stairs to hang back with us. He took off his helmet and it was dark. I didn't remember much else, except that he said some more folks were on their way. Then, when the movie was over, the lights came up and I finally got a good look at the armor. Not only was the armor totally awesome and unlike ANY costume I had ever seen before in real life, but he was also a "bad guy" 
Not just any "bad guy" but an Imperial Stormtrooper bad guy. 
I was dressed as a Jedi and Vince was wearing a Sith lord robe. Quincy was wearing her first Queen Amidala costume. "Good guys" for the most part. 
The people in the theater mobbed us right there in the theater, at the top of the steps.

We posed for our first pictures and shook some kids and parents hands. Mike introduced himself to us then in the light and said that we should go to the lobby. That was also the first time I had ever even thought about how difficult it would be to navigate any stairs in a costume like that. 
There in the lobby stood several more of the Empire's scariest! 
There was another stormtrooper (Joe TK926). There was a snow trooper (Damian TS826) and a bounty hunter (Aimee TB0101).
They all had weapons! BIG weapons! Damian had brought a (prop) rifle!
Needless to say, I was very freaked out by how awesome the costumes looked. These folks, whom I had never met before, had obviously gone to very great lengths to dress so accurately as stormtroopers and bad guys. 
These were uber-geeks the likes of which I had never encountered before! And they totally accepted me & my family without question. Wow.

Well, everyone at the theater was lining up to take pictures with us and all of the employees wanted to get their pictures with us too. 
The troopers even did the 'arrest' pose and the theater employees were totally into it! 
Every one of the troopers did seem very nice--and there was even a girl involved in this! (Aimee) I could hardly believe it! 
We all shook hands after the people left the theater lobby, since I thought it would look rather 'uncool' from a 'being in character' point-of-view for folks to see a Stormtrooper and a Jedi shaking hands. 
I told Mike that we had a lot of fun and asked if he would keep me posted about other future events. He mentioned that there was some charity functions in the works, but the really big thing for all Star Wars costumes was the Magic of Myth exhibit coming to the Field Museum in the summer (of 2000). 
I made note of that. Quincy certainly liked all of the attention AND she loved the stormtroopers! I kept in contact with Mike and made new costumes for us to wear to MoM, since it would be in the middle of the summer and I couldn't expect Quincy to wear all of her other costume for any amount of time in the certain heat. Vince said that he wanted to be a Jedi too and I knew I couldn't wear my existing Jedi costume in the heat either.

Then there was that very first MoM event, the opening. 
That is where I met many more Members of the Midwest Garrison for the first time -- members from Illinois, Wisconsin and Michigan. That was where I discovered that there was a much bigger world of fandom out there and that I wanted to be a part of it.

The more I got to hang out with everyone in costume, the more I wanted to do it again! I was surprised that so many people would come from so far to do this. I was enjoying making costumes. I was happy that I was bringing such joy to children and how much they enjoyed being part of this too!

I knew you were creative Kathy, but you’ve really immersed yourself in your creativity (and Star Wars!) Do you have a favorite costume?

As I stated, it depends a lot on the situation/event, but if I have to choose, it would have to be my stormtrooper armor...followed closely by my Imperial Officer’s uniform. If I need to be seen, then stormtrooper armor. If I need to get work done, then Imperial Officer Uniform.
However, I have recently completed my snowtrooper armor and that has been my recent costume of choice because I need to break it in and work out the kinks. That will be my costume of choice in cold-weather conditions, especially winter, spring & fall outdoor parade events. Plus, everything will be ‘coming up Empire’ in 2010.

Non-Star Wars: I would have to say the “Wicked Witch of the West” (Wizard of OZ) because of the priceless kid-reaction that character generates.

How about a least favorite costume? Or is there some element to costuming that isn’t as fun as it looks?

The costumes that require the application of a lot of make-up just because it takes a lot of time to get that right AND the prosthetics can get quite uncomfortable after sweating for several hours – but the resulting reactions are worth the effort. The Wicked Witch requires a LOT of make-up and prosthetics, but the shrieking children, bountiful screams and double-takes from adults are well worth the discomfort.

Who have you personally inducted as Honorary members into the 501st?

To be fair, we usually try to have a larger group of Members of the 501st Legion present at an Honorary Member’s and/or “Friend of the Legion” induction ceremonies. So then, I can say that I was present for the 501st Legion Honorary Member inductions of you J, Dave Dorman, Doug Wangler, Anthony Forrest, and the music group ‘No Doubt’. You can see all of the 501st Legion’s Honorary Member listed here: http://www.501st.com/honorary.php

I'll never forget that experience, Kathy! It was awesome! Can you tell us about some of the organizations/charities you’ve helped through the 501st?


As a member of the 501st Legion costuming club, I have volunteered my time, talent and costumes for many charity events benefiting the Make*A*Wish Foundation, Children’s Memorial Hospital, the Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest Foundation, Chicago Metropolitan Family Services, the Chicago Food Depository, the American Cancer Society and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. I have attended cinematic promotions such as the charity re-release of Star Wars Episode I, the special charity premiere of Star Wars Episodes II & III, and the IMAX release of Star Wars Episode II to name a few.

What is the most rewarding aspect about being in the 501st for you personally?

In one short phrase: meeting talented people from all over the world who share the same passion for Star Wars, making things and having fun. The energy that 501st Legion Members generate is contagious both to us and to the children and fans of all ages that we encounter through our events and appearances. That is priceless and it facilitates everything else that we do.

My personal favorite event has been the 2007 Rose Parade in Pasadena, CA. It was an extreme honor to be invited by George Lucas to be a part of the his Star Wars Spectacular and have the incredible opportunity to participate in this event along with over 200 501st Legion Members from all over the world! I LOVED having the opportunity to meet and work with so many wonderful people from all over – including Mr. Lucas himself!

The Rose Parade has to be closely followed by Star Wars Celebration Japan. I have always dreamed of visiting Japan and through Star Wars, that dream was finally realized. I loved meeting all of the Star Wars fans in Japan. It was definitely a once-in-a-lifetime event which I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to participate.

I am looking forward to Star Wars Celebration V because I hope to see many of my International friends there.

I noticed on your Facebook page that you make Star Wars dolls too. They’re beautiful!

Thank you! As I wrote above, I pretty much started out making outfits for my dolls when I was a kid and I would use just about anything I could find to make things out of back then.

How do you make them?

I make the doll costumes out of whatever I can find that will create the effect I desire. Mostly I use random scraps from completed projects and fashion other parts out of things that would be thrown away.

I made the 18” doll version of the Queen Amidala costume mostly to help me work through some of the technical problems I was encountering while I was building the full-scale version in 2004 & 2005. I worked on both costumes simultaneously.

My first “Imperial Girl” doll originally started out as a completely different project.

I used 18” inexpensive ‘craft’ dolls that I purchased at a hobby /craft store for my Imperial Girls.

I started with designing and creating all of the patterns I would need for all of the various components, working in layers. I drafted the pieces to make all of the parts for the little costumes out of butcher-paper. I made the stormtrooper first.

I started by making the undersuit and then moved on to the armor. The costume is finished and complete in every detail: a doll-sized dive-skin, trooper-boots, gloves, neck seal, custom leather and vinyl Midwest Garrison pauldron, leather holster, blaster, helmet and my “signature” bandanna. I made the costume out of several different thicknesses of super-white craft foam and other odds and ends I found around the house.

I thought the most difficult part of making this was crafting the stormtrooper boot. I soon discovered that it was even more difficult to make two boots that both fit and matched. That challenge was surpassed when I began to make gloves. The helmet is made out of one of Albin “TK-210” Johnson’s old 501st Legion Trooper of the Month helmet rejects.

I started on the snowtrooper next, as a form of research for the full-sized costume I had hoped to build in the near future for myself. For the doll-sized version I again had to design patterns for all of the pieces. I had built all of the full-sized soft parts in the previous months, so creating scaled-down versions were still fresh in my mind. The costume is finished and complete to every detail: the doll-sized mukluks, snowtrooper coat, functional pouches, belt, gloves, neck seal, all armor pieces, backpack and helmet. I used a warm white colored craft foam for the armor and lots of strange odds and ends I found around the house, including: a coat hanger, a cardboard tube, blister pack from product packaging, coke bottle caps, a cream cheese spread container, a sushi tray, an earring back, a spool and lots more strange junk I pulled out of the trash. The gloves were not as difficult to make this time. The mukluks took several attempts before I got them right. I used stretch denim and the drawstrings are functional.

Finding something suitable for the helmet dome was a major challenge. I couldn’t find any ready-made found object for that, so I ended up building it from scratch with pieces of blister packaging, metal mesh, plaster and paper maché.

Building that helmet from scratch has given me ideas for several other pieces that I was having trouble conceptualizing in this scale due to the need to create a helmet. Eventually, I will be able to do a Biker Scout Imperial Girl, a Bounty Hunter Girl and a Tusken Raider Girl. I have already started on a “Jango Fett” girl.

I made the Imperial Officer Girl’s uniform as an exact scaled-down version of my own uniform. After I finished that one, I discovered that building the costumes for the 18” scale dolls was a perfect way to do a ‘study’ of either costumes that I have already built or to help with practical research for costumes that I think I want to build in the future. That is why I built an 18” doll version of the Hoth Rebel Trooper costume. I do want to build that one for myself sometime. I also built a Rebel Pilot uniform for an 18” doll. I also used a creative assortment of odds & ends and junk for that.

I have also built a scaled down to 18” size version of my Circus Ringmaster’s costume, my Wicked Witch of the West costume and Glynda the Good Witch of the North, as well as 4 different ball gowns for the “Halloween Princesses”

Right now I am nearly done with my next Star Wars themed doll. IT’s kind of a secret surprise, so I can’t really talk about it (yet). Hopefully she will have her debut at Celebration V.

What’s the most extravagant doll you’ve made?

The Queen Amidala Senate Address costume from Star Wars Episode I. I estimate that I have somewhere between 100 and 200 hours of work put into that. The bodice & sleeves are all hand beaded and the pleating took a while to do.


Do you accept commissions if any of my readers would to like to order a doll from you?

Unfortunately no. For the most part, the doll costumes take me a long, long time to make. Right now, I don’t have that much time. However, I do have some ideas for new doll costumes and I have a couple in progress right now. Hopefully, if I have time, I might have a couple new dolls done before Star Wars Celebration V.


That's going to be disappointing for a lot of people. But you're a busy lady! Ok, so I have to ask. What’s your favorite of the six Star Wars movies and why? Mine is Empire, hands down.

Star Wars: A New Hope. Because that movie totally blew me away back in 1977 when first saw it. There had been nothing like that before then. The story, the music, the characters, and concept were totally unique and absolutely exciting. It definitely sparked my imagination on many levels.


Where can people learn more abot the 501st?

The 501st Legion: www.501st.com/

The Midwest Garrison: www.midwestgarrison.org

My website: www.geocities.com/tkvanb/index.html

Do you have any upcoming appearances you’d like to tell us about?

The upcoming project I will be focusing most of my time and energy on is the TKProject that will benefit the Make*A*Wish Foundation. http://www.501sttkproject.com/ My creation, along with approximately 50 others created by talented artists from around the world, will be displayed then auctioned next summer at Star Wars Celebration V.

Upcoming local events:

I hope to be able to participate in activities along with the Members of the 501st Legion Midwest Garrison at this year’s Chicago International Toy and Game Fair (CHITAG) at Navy Pier in Chicago on November 21 & 22, 2009. http://www.chitag.com

I will also hope to appear with the Members of the Midwest Garrison at this year’s Charity Toy Show in Bridgeport, IL on Sunday December 6th, 2009. LINKS: Toy Con Charity Toy Show benefiting the Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest Foundation supporting children diagnosed with Cancer. The weather is usually on the cold & crisp side for this event, so I will definitely be wearing my snow trooper armor - and I’ll be hoping for snow. Admission to the Charity Toy Show is FREE with the donation of a toy.

Those are the events that I will most likely be able to attend. There are of course many other 501st Legion Midwest Garrison costuming events coming up in the near future. Check out our website for more upcoming dates. I am really excited about the TKProject!. I can’t wait to see what the other participating artists come up with for that!

Thank you for chatting with me, Kathy. I really appreciate it!

If you enjoyed this interview, please leave a comment! You can also check out my previous interviews with these amazing women:
Kari Byron (Mythbusters)
Tara Reed (Art Licensing Expert)
Claudine Hellmuth (Collage Artist/Poppets™ Creator)

CECE Celebrates Non Sport Update Magazine

Over the weekend, my friend Paul Maiellero, who also happens to be the hardest working man in Chicago, put on his 9th annual Chicago Entertainment Collectors Expo show in Carol Stream, Illinois. Paul put on this show every Fall, tirelessly giving everything he's got to make it a wonderful event for fans, his guests, and his staff. Now that it's Monday and the 2009 show is a wrap, I'd like to think Paul is taking the day to relax and maybe get out and enjoy a beautiful summer day (until we hit September 21, it's still summer in my book). But I'm sure he's not going to do that. He's probably already hard at work planning his next years show which is going to be a HUGE event to say the least!

I've known Paul for a few years now and have been lucky enough to be a guest at his shows. He's a wonderful person with a heart of gold. Amidst all the planning and scheduling, Paul always manages to have a few tricks up his sleeve. He never passes up an opportunity to let people know how much he values them. Much of the proceeds of Pauls show supports the Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest Foundation (www.treasurechest.org). This organization provides children with cancer an opportunity to pull a toy (or reward) from a treasure chest every time they go in for treatment. This is an organization Paul tirelessly supports through fund-raisers such as art auctions or celebrity dinners which fans can attend.

Aside from supporting the Treasure Chest Foundation at his show again this past weekend, Paul also honored Harris, Roxanne, and Marlin Toser for 20 years of Non Sport Update magazine. The Tosers are well known in the trading card industry as the folks behind Non Sport Update Magazine. If you're into Star Wars trading cards, or Star Trek, any really any kind of entertainment trading cards (aka non-sport), you've undoubtedly seen the magazine. In 2007, I illustrated a collectible variant cover with a Star Wars theme. As part of the celebration, Paul turned my cover into edible art, which I thought was pretty cool.



Throughout the year I will continue posting updates and announcements about Pauls 10th Anniversary show. In the meantime,
if you'd like to learn a bit more about the Chicago Entertainment Collectors Expo, please visit their site here.
http://www.nonsportcardexpo.com/

And if you want to check out Non Sport Card Update magazine, hop over to www.nonsportupdate.com

And lastly, if you'd like to support the Treasure Chest Foundation, please visit http://www.treasurechest.org/. You can donate your unused toys or make a monetary donation through their site.

The Art of Meditation

Meditation has been something I've always 'meant to do'. A million excuses arise each day to avoid this seemingly simple task. I know I'll benefit. I know the results are worth putting aside 10 minutes of my time each day. I've dappled here and there enough to know that for sure. But for most of my life I've avoided it. Like the plaque almost. Why do we do that, I wonder? Or rather, why do I? Useless to ask, I suppose. I know the answer anyway. Over the last few months, I realized I can't put it off any longer. Life keeps getting busier, more challenging, more demanding of me mentally and emotionally. I'm grateful that I can know that. It's proof I'm still alive and kicking on this glorious planet we call Earth. But I gotta get balanced. I gotta turn off the mind chatter. And I want to be part of this awakening that we humans are becoming aware of. I want to experience my own awakening. Fancy that. Not just for myself, for my own health and peace of mind, but for the growing movement of good in the world. 2012 is not the end of things. Not by a long shot, but that's another post, isn't it.

I also know that meditating will support tremendous growth in my art. I'll learn to peacefully come to terms with the pressure of tight deadlines so that they will not feel tight at all. Through mediation I'll learn to quiet the chatter that accompanies me to the drawing table... the blaringly loud inner "what if" and the annoying "not good enough", and the frustrating "everyone else is better at this than me". I've been living with that clamouring left-brained chaos long enough. Time to get into the right. Or rather, right into the center, where I exist somewhere between the left and right, and where my art can flourish and begin to evolve into mission rather than ambition. Hmmmm. ... It's the human experience to be at that place, somewhere in the middle, isn't it?

If you're curious about meditation, I'd recommend the following to get you started.

Music for Guided Meditaton:Guided Meditations with David Hashada Wagner. Beautiful music, and a short guided mediations. This is very soothing. $9.99 on iTunes.

I also like One Minute Meditation from Stacy Mayo- quick and to the point. Try her Stillness Experiment here: http://www.balancedliving.com/stillness.html You'll have to sign up with an email to receive the One Minute Mediation MP3 and instructions but it's worth it.

You can also learn a bit about Transcendental Mediation here: http://www.tm.org/.

You can also check out Everything Is Energy.com. Just by signing up, you'll receive three free meditations to help you start clearing energetic blocks. I've done this and it's quite amazing.

I look forward to posting my progress as I continue on my journey of meditation, especially in terms of how it improves my productivity and growth as an artist.

Have you meditated? Has your art improved through meditation? What meditations would you recommend?

Thank you for being open to my somewhat deep post:) I look forward to your comments!

-Cynthia

An Artist You Should Know - Samuel E. Kirkman

There are many wonderfully talented artists who have supported my blog over the past year or so. They continually leave hysterical, insightful, and thought-provoking comments on just about every post I make, which is a true complement and leaves me feeling grateful as heck that they care to read what I have to say. They're busy people, with families and blogs and art of their that they're trying to put out in the world. And I'm so grateful that they choose to stop here and share their thoughts. One of those artists is the talented Samuel E. Kirkman. Sam and I met through a children's illustrators critique group that began as an off-shoot of the SCBWI online community. From the very beginning, I had the sneaking suspicion that Sam was destined to be a graphic novelist. He is a gifted, imaginative story-teller. He can connect page after page of visual storytelling and written word faster than I've ever seen anyone do, and he does it with his own unwaivering style and passion. He is dedicated as hell to his craft. Over the past year, I've seen Sam move from traditional to the digital medium faster than a speeding bullet. It's a medium perfectly suited for Sam. And he's joining the ranks of other graphic novelists who are proving that children's book publishing needs this genre now more than ever, that it's relevant and certainly not about to go away.

On our private critique group, we are allowed to post new art for critique. Sam posts a new page of penciled images, inked pages, and colored pages almost DAILY. And at the same time he also finds time to carefully, thougthfully critique the work of other artists. He brings an incessant energy and enthusiasm to his art that is truly, truly infectious. His artwork ALWAYS makes me smile. You can feel the energy behind everything he does. In my recent blog post, Getting Through the Dreaded Creative Block, Sam posted a comment in which he revealed that he was discouraged from doing art and that he didn't do anything with it for nearly 25 years. You would NEVER know it. Sam is a true testament to what you can accomplish when your passion and your energy are synched up, when you're truly on the path that you know to be right for you.

I hope you find time to visit Sam's personal web site where you can check out his amazing art as well as two graphic novels that he's working on, Grew, and OUWANGALAYMAH! . Sam also has a series of interviews with established character designers and concept artists which you may find very interesting. He has spoken with the likes of Stephen Silver, Mark MacDonnell, and David Coleman. I hope you go check those out.

Please visit Sam's site and definitely subscribe to his Art Blog. We look forward to seeing more from you, Samuel E. Kirkman!