Making Your Mark: Final Call
Posted by Amy on Tuesday April 24, 2012
We’ve made a few changes here lately, and one of them is the Pikaland Artist Bootcamp. Cat-loving artist Jamie Shelman and I have been running the online class since 2010, offering feedback and thoughts as we follow along with our students as they complete weekly assignments that were designed to help them think beyond paper (and canvases!)
We’ve enjoyed the experience tremendously, as did our students. We gave in-depth feedback to each and every one of our students, and watching each of them break out of their shell was the height of the whole experience for us. However, this year we’ve decided to take a break from the bootcamp, as I have my hands full – with current projects and exciting new ones to be launched this year. It was tough to decide, but ultimately we want nothing but the best for our students and so we decided to make some changes.
Bootcamp #1: Making Your Mark will be the last one that we will be doing for the year (and for now). Seats are limited and our last class begins 30th April. This 6-week class is great for artists and illustrators who want to explore their style further and bring refinement, focus, or new ideas to your work. The course is also excellent for those who don’t know how to begin, and need fresh eyes to help guide their art-making – enrollment is open and you can register here.
Bootcamp #2: Bringing Your Work to Market is now re-designed as a self-study class [with a reduced pricetag along with it!]. It’s structured for those just developing their online presence and those who want to make their existing persona better through self-paced lessons that cover topics from branding to photography. The classroom is available all year round, and you can enroll here.
So, if you’ve ever wanted to work with two very opinionated folks with lots of ideas to share on how to bring your art to a whole new level, then this would be your last chance to enroll for Making Your Mark – I’d love to see you there!
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There is still much to be done
Posted by Amy on Monday March 5, 2012
Happy Monday everyone!
I’m going through the comments left by participants of our 2012 survey and I just wanted to say that you are CRAZY AMAZING.
Thank you for being so generous with your thoughts and constructive comments!
There’s a lot of work that I want to do for Pikaland and it seems that having conversations in my mind alone is never sufficient, and it’s why I have these yearly surveys – because I want Pikaland to grow and evolve. And also, most importantly because this place has become much about YOU, as it is about me and my thoughts on art and illustration.
There’s so much work to do, so I better get cracking!
Have a great week ahead folks!
Image by Brent Schoepf discovered via Pinterest
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Happy Birthday Pikaland! (+ survey)
Posted by Amy on Friday February 24, 2012
This February marks the fourth year that I’ve been blogging on Pikaland. There’s approximately 1,700 posts in the archives, more than a thousand artists featured and almost 5,000 images captured and shown here in this little blog. We have online classes for artists. We publish zines. And we help out small businesses through various affordable sponsorship options.
But this year I’ve been a little restless.
I’ve got a fun project on the horizon that I can’t wait to reveal. I’m planning a few new collaborations with some of my favorite artists for Pikaland. And this year is the year that I focus on carving out my own path in art.
I’m thrilled at how things are coming along so far, and I’m excited beyond words.
But apart from the above plans, I know that after four years of running this happy endeavor is that I want to do bigger things, change mindsets and make a difference in the world. It’s such an overwhelming emotion that I am paralyzed at times. I’ll admit that it’s a little tough because I’ve carved out this amazingly fun community that’s currently straddling two different worlds – crafty, art-based illustrations vs. commercial illustrations – while not completely immersed in either.
So I’m a little conflicted.
But I know for my readers out there that this might not be the case. Perhaps you love Pikaland the way it is. Or perhaps some of you want more from me (or maybe some of you want me to choose between the two worlds). I’m more than happy to listen if you want to share.
How can Pikaland help you?
How can we be of service?
How can we be better?
How can we make a difference?
Let me know exactly how you feel in our 2012 survey. Share, rant, comment and suggest to your hearts content because I’m listening.
Thanks for coming on this journey with me and I can’t wait to see the many great things we can achieve together!
Survey participants will be entered into a lucky draw where 5 lucky responders will receive a surprise in the mail! We are also offering a discount code for use in our shop from now till 1st March in conjuction with our fourth anniversary. Use coupon code YAY2012 during checkout to receive 20% off your order!
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Happy {Chinese} New Year!
Posted by Amy on Monday January 23, 2012
It’s a little weird to have two “Happy New Year” posts one after another, especially if they are less than one month apart; but today marks the first day of the new lunar calendar as we head into the year of the Dragon! This year we’re celebrating it a little low-key – me with my parents and sister, and it’s been brilliant so far, mainly because it meant that I had to stop myself from further spring cleaning (and I’ve used up a good few weeks for cleaning not one, but TWO houses!)
I’m a little exhausted, but I’m extremely happy for being able to put my weary feet up just a bit before I commence work again! Here’s to a fabulous dragon year ahead with lots of exciting things to come! :D
{Artwork credit: Year of the Dragon 2012 Zen Sumi Original Painting Art Card by ZenBrush on Etsy!}
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