All Art Licensing, Product templates for your art

Check out Jeannette Smith's Art Licensing blog. There is vital info for artists interested in licensing their work. She also has templates for sale for placing art on mock-up products..and the explanation to do it professionally. I'm saving the info to buy some as soon as I have disposable cash.

Monetizing your blog

I've been using Google ads for years now, and am nearly at the  $100.00 mark to be paid for painless advertising. I just discovered the Amazon Associates. I hope it isn't too cumbersome, but I added it to see how it goes. There is also a YouTube monetizing app, but I'm trying not to overdo it.

It may be worth your time as a blogger to add some of these apps. Check it out in the dashboard section of blogger.

Smart Artist Career Blog

Check out The Smart Artist Career Blog. I enjoyed the article about the value of "piles" for a creative mind.
During the Christmas and holiday season my normal piles seem to multiply like the Northern VA snow piles right now. Yesterday we were all out enjoying the snow in one form or another. My son and the dog had fun, my husband and I shoveled, and I made a snow angel, my daughter attempted sledding with a friend, but the snow was too deep!

Having a storm like this brings time to stay indoors and rest, catch up and be together with family. It has been a joy for us. The roads are just now beginning to be passable in many areas. My husband ventured out yesterday in the Jeep, due to being stir crazy, and returned unscathed.

I'm thrilled to be having a White Christmas for the first time in years.

Homes in Pen and Ink

As Thanksgiving approaches, homes are filling with loved ones and friends. My wish to you all is that you'd have a warm, inviting place to spend Thanksgiving with those close to you, or new friends.

The Picture Bookies

It's been way too long since I've posted, but I'm back and want to highlight The Picture Bookies online group, our wonderful group of children's illustrators. Take a sec to look at the news and artwork there.

Berni Valenta's 100 Cardboard Creations

Take a moment to view Berni Valenta's 100 wonderful cardboard creations.
These have got me wanting to make my own now, or at least have the kids in my art class do something along these lines.

Kidlitosphere

Take a sec to check out Kidlitosphere, a resource for anyone involved in the field of children's literature. They have a listing of many children's lit bloggers as well as a facebook group and listserve.

Mark Criley on YouTube...Years of Work Before Being Published

Amazon.com book shop

Today is back to school day for our kids. I just watched the youngest get on the bus with some trepidation...on both our parts, since he's a bit sensitive.
It's always an exciting time, tinged with sadness for me as they grow up. It's also a time of new beginnings for me as an artist each year. Today even feels fall-like, with a cooler temp and a few yellow leaves spiraling down.

Does Autumn do that to any of you? It's a time of inspiration for me and hope for new beginnings.

I've been adding a few books to my Amazon.com shop. I have many art related books listed. Amazon makes it easy to sell books. Check it out if you have books around that you've enjoyed, but no longer use.

The Bella Sinclair Award...from Ginger Nielson

My dear, talented children's illustrator friend Ginger Nielson awarded me this touching artist blogging award this weekend. I am blessed and honored to have been awarded this, and especially from Ginger, who fits the bill for the award so well herself. Read the history of the Bella Sinclair award here on Ces's blog.

It was created by Ces in honor of her friend, Bella Sinclair, who tragically and suddenly lost her husband. Here is what Ces says about the award:

I designed this award to celebrate art in the blogs and to honor the value of friendship, sisterhood, sharing and caring. It is to be awarded to the gifted, accomplished, eloquent and talented blogger whose friendship and influence inspire us to do our best. That I named it after Bella Sinclair is because she epitomizes all of these things. She is an inspiration to many of us.

My thoughts and prayers go out to Bella, who inspired this, and deep thanks to Ces for starting it. I am looking forward to reading Bella's blog and seeing some of the art mentioned in Ces's wonderful art blog. (Ces's art is amazing)

Thank you so much Ginger. You are always so kind, industrious and encouraging and your art shines your personality through and through.

I'm prepping to send this to other women artists as soon as I get a chance. We just arrived home from our family vacation at the Outer Banks of NC...what a beautiful time we had..and a much needed rest and time together as family.