“Making Art a Practice: In and Out of the Sketchbook” with Cat Bennett

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Carla Sonheim is hosting a new class with instructor Cat Bennett. You might recall our feature about Cat in issue 27 of UPPERCASE. “Making Art a Practice: In and Out of the Sketchbook” is a 6-week online course that includes 12 video classes. "We’ll spend two days drawing in the sketchbook with a focus on colour, line and shape," describes Cat, "and then jump out of the sketchbook to do a bigger project. We’ll draw and paint the world around us— food, clothes and the objects in our homes, plants and landscape, and people. And we’ll do so in different ways—painting using only lines, making cut-paper images using only shapes, then bringing line and shape together in different ways."

"Our goal is to draw and paint in experimental ways and to get ideas for our own work. We’ll mostly work on a larger scale outside of the sketchbook and try things out. We’ll approach everything we do with a spirit of adventure and discovery!"

To watch a video of Cat and to register, please visit the Carla Sonheim website.

Thank you to Carla for her continued support of UPPERCASE magazine and its original content through a Calling Card ad.

Spring Sale at Make Art That Sells

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I'm so excited to be part of Lilla Rogers' Make Art That Sells as part of a special ‘live review’ for MATS (Make Art That Sells) Part A and Part B. These self-paced courses are on sale NOW until Friday, April 8.

Lilla and I will be getting together (virtually) to offer comments and reviews of some of the assignments created for her course. The best assignments will be featured in future issues of UPPERCASE magazine!

Lilla and me!

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I'm pleased to announce that I'm going to be part of Lilla Rogers' Make Art That Sells as part of a special ‘live review’ for MATS (Make Art That Sells) Part A and Part B self-paced courses in April. Lilla and I will be getting together (virtually) to offer comments and reviews of some of the assignments created for her course.

Here's more info from Lilla's announcement:

Who is eligible to participate?

This bonus live review is exclusively for participants of the self-paced MATS A and MATS B classes — but don't worry, you can still register if you aren't in yet! 

In order to participate you must be registered for MATS A and/or MATS B by Monday 11 April. There will be two reviews, one in each classroom, so if you are registered for both A and B you will get access to TWO brand new assignments and TWO chances to get your work in front of Lilla and Janine!

So what do I have to do to get my work in front of Lilla and Janine?

You will need to complete one or both assignments by the deadline given in class, and upload it to a dedicated online gallery. Lilla and Janine will view every single piece in the gallery, and then choose a selection of pieces to include in the review based on what they think will be most valuable for everyone in class to learn from. A video recording of the review will then be shared in class a few days later. It is an incredible opportunity to hear from both a top magazine editor and a top agent. Whether they are talking about your submission or someone else’s piece, there will be a ton of takeaways that you can drink up to feed your own work. 

What markets will be covered?

That's hush-hush right now. All will be revealed shortly…

When will the assignment be released and due?

The assignments will be released on Monday April 11, 2016 and will be due by Monday April 25, 2016. The review will take place shortly after that. 

For more info, see the announcement.

Lilla and I are very excited about this and look forward to seeing your work!

New Season, New Issue!

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Hello spring, hello new issue! Number 29 is done and is on its way to subscribers worldwide! I received my advance copies and they are lovely. Here's the stack of subscriber copies waiting to go through mailing:

Can you smell the ink from where you are?

Each issue has a couple randomly inserted bookmarks featuring the illustrations and designs submitted by twenty artists. They were sent a stack of 50 bookmarks for their own use and thanks to quick couriers, some have already received their sample bookmarks, like Gabriela Larios and Pippa Shaw featured in the photo above. It was really fun to pair the front and back illustrations with one another!

The reader participation in each issue is really integral to the magazine. The open call for the summer issue is open until the end of March and I look forward to your submission. I love the surprise of what you submit!

I'm attempting to finish up a truckload of work today so that I can spend the rest of the week at home since Finley has the entire week off from school. I have some sewing plans, too!

Have a beautiful week!

Use the code "hoorayforspring" for CAD$15 off subscriptions and renewals. Select the two-year option from the dropdown menu and save another $30 off. Combine that with the discount code and you can get a two years of UPPERCASE for just CAD$115 ($88 USD) for a North America subscriptions. That's just CAD$14.38 ($11 USD) per issue.

Click here to view a preview of the entire issue.

Congratulations to Aga Kobylinska

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I had the pleasure of sending some good news today to Aga Kobylinska, the winner of the Make It In Design Module 3 Giveaway! Aga is a surface pattern designer based in Warsaw, Poland.

"It’s wonderful, vibrant city, full of fantastic opportunities," she writes. "I love to live and work here. But I’m also addicted to travels! I’m constantly fascinated by the beauty of nature, cultural diversity and human creativity."

When I asked her how she felt about being the recipient of the free class, in which she'll learn how to monetize her surface pattern designs, Aga replied, "I've never felt ready enough to send you my portfolio for review so I'm amazed by your email even more." I think that's a very common feeling... we never think our portfolio is good enough or ready or finished. I'm glad that Aga and the dozens of other artists took the leap to share their work with all of us. Having the confidence to share your work is the first step in building a successful career.

Follow Aga on Instagram and see more from her portfolio.

If you're wondering how Aga was selected, I read all 77 comments and clicked over to the participants' links. (Remember to read contest directions carefully! It is stated clearly in italics that to enter you must include a link to your website or instagram. If you don't have a portfolio yet, then you're not quite ready for this class.) From reviewing the links, I narrowed it down to 12 of the best portfolios and then the team at Make it in Design selected the winner.

How to Get an Agent (and Do I Really Need One?)

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Jennifer Nelson, contributor to the October/November/December issue #27, is offering an intensive 3-day online workshop hosted by Modern Thrive entitled "How to Get an Agent (and Do I Really Need One?)." This live online workshop will take place March 16th-18th at 2pm EST. From assessing your career to making a plan to understanding how artist representation works, Jennifer will present real-world knowledge about a career in illustration.

Jennifer is a professional artist's agent and the founder of a Boston-based illustration agency Jennifer Nelson Artists. She has spent more than twenty-five years working in the art world as an art director, designer and agent.

Save $20 on your registration with discount code "UppercaseVIP." Sign up here. Hurry, the course starts March 16!

The Makers Summit

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This guest post is by Tatjana Mai-Wyss, a freelance illustrator in South Carolina. She was our correspondent at last week's Makers Summit in Greenville.

UPPERCASE donated magazines for the Makers Summit goody bags. Photo from the Makers Summit Instagram.

Last weekend I was lucky enough to spend a couple of inspiring days at the Makers Summit in Greenville, South Carolina. This conference is billed as an “event designed for creative entrepreneurs who want to grow successful businesses". I was impressed to learn that the guests and attendees had come from all over the country. How lucky for me to live less than an hour away!

Tatjana with the business card wall.

Attendees could stick their cards to the wall.

The event takes place on the 5th floor of a new office building in the middle of the city. The space is bright and airy; two floors connected by an open staircase with great views of downtown Greenville. The workshops, peer group meetings and expert consultations are held in various classrooms, while the keynote speakers and discussion panels bring everyone back to the stage area.

On Friday, keynote speaker Justina Blakeney kicks things off with a bang. She is enthusiastic, colorful and engaging in person, and her talk makes a definite impression on everyone. Throughout the weekend speakers refer back to her thoughts on finding your passion, focusing on your goals (remember your “north star”) and prioritizing your worklife. Personally I like the part about “moving on”, finishing a project and moving through to the next thing without obsessing too much. (My new mantra will be: "is it good enough?”) I’m impressed by how approachable and charming she is, and enjoy meeting her later over succotash and bourbon/ginger ale cocktails at the “Best Craft Party Ever."

Lettering print by @jennyhighsmith from the goody bag. Photo by @kukajuice.

Most of our lives as creatives are spent in our offices/studios and on our own, so the best part (and also the most challenging sometimes) is being part of a group and meeting so many interesting people in such a short amount of time. It’s so much fun to know that your badge gives you licence to walk up to a stranger and ask any amount of questions over your morning coffee.

Photo from Makers Summit Instagram

Speaking of coffee, the food at the summit deserves mention. There is stylish coffee (and fresh smoothies) throughout the weekend, beautiful (and delicious) cakes for Friday’s coffee break, three fun venues for Friday’s party (my favorite is an outdoor terrace with colorful cushions and twinkly lights) and a decadent breakfast buffet on Saturday. Homemade donuts for saturday’s coffee break continue the party atmosphere, and now that I think of it, the emphasis on good food might be a southern thing.

Photo from the Makers Summit Instagram

The focus of this conference is really on making something concrete and getting it out there, so the discussion panels centre on resources and funding for small businesses, scaling up and managing a growing business, and marketing all around. The panelists have a good variety of approaches and perspectives and answer questions thoughtfully. 

Workshops, peer group and expert sessions can be a bit more customizable and let you ask questions specific to your experience.

It will probably take some time for me to digest all the information from the Makers Summit, but I’m very glad I went, and very happy to have made new friends and experiences.

Follow Tatjana on Instagram and see more of her portfolio here.

Make it in Design: Course Giveaway!

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Together with our friends at Make it in Design, we are offering a very special prize to ONE very lucky reader - one free place on the next Module 3 class of The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design worth $CAD680 (£359)!

Module 3 – ‘Monetising your designs’, is a five-week online course where you will learn everything you need to know to monetise your designs! The classroom can be accessed around the clock so you can join from anywhere in the world, and fit the course into your busy life. 

The course details the major money-making opportunities available to you as a designer, including; freelancing, licensing, selling outright, manufacturing and more! Module 3 also includes free access to leading trend forecasting site WGSN for a limited period AND the Make it in Design little black book of industry contacts!

Course alumni have gone on to launch their own design studios, win national awards, be featured in design books, on leading blogs and more. Fancy a bit of this action too? Read on to find out how to enter.

The class includes the following:

• How to identify multiple streams of income for your designs
• How to sell and license your designs (what they don’t teach you at art school!)
• The ins and outs of freelancing
• How to get into manufacturing your own product
• How to choose the right distribution channel for you
• How to negotiate a contract that is right for you
• How not to get ripped off
• How to manage your time and money
• How to manage stock levels
• How to get a job in design
• How to stay motivated

Plus:

• How to create a pattern portfolio to show to potential clients
• How to apply patterns to mock-up product templates and room sets
• How to turn a placement print into a technical repeat for wallpaper or fabric
• How to design a Trade Show Brochure in Adobe Illustrator

Invaluable industry information such as colour print specifications for both paper goods and textiles.

You will do this by actually creating a mini portfolio for potential licensing clients; a trade show plan and a business development plan.

PLUS you will learn everything you need to know about trade shows (getting in, getting ready and getting customers!)

AND the Make it in Design money-can’t-buy bonus little black book of industry contacts!

And if that wasn’t enough, you also get full access to leading trend forecasting site WGSN for 90 days (this alone is worth more than the entire cost of the course!

THE PRIZE

One place on The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design – Module 3 ‘Monetising Your Designs’ runs for 5 weeks from April 4, 2016, delivered online) 

How to enter: 

Check out the course website to find out more about it, then head back here and leave a comment at the bottom of the post in 50 words telling us why this course would benefit you right now and how it could transform your career. You must include a link to your website or Instagram to be considered.

Deadline: March 14 Any comments left after this time will not be counted. The winner will be jointly selected by UPPERCASE editor Janine Vangool and The Make it in Design team and announced on March 17.

Good luck!

Terms and Conditions:

This competition is to win a place on Module 3: Monetising your designs starting April 4, 2016. One entry allowed per person. The winning place is not transferrable – either by date or to another individual and must not be sold on and no cash alternative will be offered in the event that the winner is unable to use the prize for any reason. By entering this competition you agree for your entry to be promoted on the Make it in Design and Uppercase website and their associated social networks. If you have already signed up for the April Module 3 class and are selected as the winner you will be offered a refund. 

Vancouver event: Salt Spring in the City

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I love a good craft and art fair and there's one in Vancouver this weekend that I'd attend if I could. Salt Spring in the City brings artisans from Salt Spring Island into the big city to show and sell their wares. "Over thirty vendors have been invited to attend Salt Spring in the City," write the organizers, "It's a curated, pop-up village market, where the criteria for inclusion means the product must be designed, and produced on Salt Spring Island. The Vancouver showcase will include food and fashion, paintings and pottery, wine and crafts, and a sense of nostalgia for the West Coast’s homesteading practices. Visitors will discover the wares of woodworkers, designers, jewellers and potters, artisanal cheese makers and preservers, weavers and painters, artists and foodies."

Heritage Hall, at 15th & Main Street
Friday, March 4: 4pm to 9pm
Saturday, March 5: 10am to 6pm
Sunday, March 6: 10am to 5pm

Deanna Milligan, Cherry Blossom Eco Clothing

Cherry Blossom Eco-Clothing is made from materials that are sustainable, comfortable and pack in a pinch. The style is flexible enough to ware for comfort by day or add accessories for a night on the town, and turn that little black, eco-friendly dress, into an after dark staple.

Rachel Hughes, End of Her Rope

These hair accessories, including headbands, will thrill you with their versatility. End of Her Rope uses a unique sculpt-able wire that bends on the inside of the headband, so you can sculpt the materials for the customized fit your head has craved. Non-breakable, and fun, wear them in different ways to create a unique look daily.

Julie Mackinnon Ceramics

Julie Mackinnon, who refers to her people as “clay people”, will bring her high-fired porcelain designs that are gaining fans daily including Canada’s most beautiful tea store, Silk Road Tea, who wants her contemporary handmade work in their stores, look for the announcement this spring.

Cheyenne Goh, Salt Spring Tweed

Vintage clothing, like jackets, kilts and thrift store finds are upcylced into one of a kind bags and accessories. Salt Spring Tweed transforms quality jackets and coats into usable wares like iPad Sleeves, cushions, messenger bags, camera bags, flatpack laptop bags and purses.

Zandra Stratford, West Coast abstract painter

A former Art Director, and the designer of all the savvy marketing materials for Salt Spring in the City is abstract West Coast painter Zandra Stratford. Her artwork is described as textural, bold and topographic in nature, and punctuated by an art series that features equal parts sumi ink painting and cyberpunk.

For more information, please visit the Salt Spring in the City website.

Sewing my first garment since Grade 9 Home Ec!

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Photo by Crystal Reynolds / Crystal Ink

With rolls and rolls of fabric, it seemed like at least one of the projects I needed to tackle for my Windham Look Book was to sew a garment! I was daunted... I haven't sewn any clothes for myself since high school. Rather than leave it for last—what I thought might be the most complicated thing to sew—I decided I should start with making a shirt first! I figured if it failed miserably, I would still have time for a plan B.

Luckily, I had help... in the form of a very thorough video tutorial "Sew a Sailor Top" hosted by Fancy Tiger on Creativebug. After downloading the pdf pattern (comes with the class!), I was able to follow along step-by-step. It was so helpful to watch the video before as preparation and then during the project for guidance... If you've never sewn a shirt before, I highly recommend starting with this one.  

It turned out great!

Photo by Kirstie Tweed / Orange Girl

I used two fabrics with the same turquoise and black, to add some interest at the collar... and a little surprise as a lining in the sleeve hem.

photo by Kirstie Tweed / Orange Girl

Once I got started, the project went quite quickly. With my pattern cut out and prepared, I could easily sew another top (or two!) with some other colours.

Calling Card: A Gathering of Stitches Retreats

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A Gathering of Stitches is proud to announce their full list of offerings for 2016, building off a successful first year of offering world class instruction in sewing and quilting in the rustic beauty of Maine. AGOS is quietly building a reputation as one of the leading retreat coordinators in the United States. Bringing dynamic creative talents from around the country to Maine to share their knowledge with small intimate groups, in locations that celebrate the remote quiet that is the Northern tip of the Eastern US, is the hallmark of an AGOS experience. 

This year's line-up includes:
• Jennifer Beeman of Grainline Studio •
• Norma Loehr of Orange Lingerie •
• Cal Patch of Hodge Podge Farm •
• Amber Corcoran of Fancy Tiger Crafts •
• Alexia Abegg of Green Bee Patterns •
• Christine Haynes of Christine Haynes Sewing Patterns •

Amber and Jaime of Fancy Tiger... who, coincidentally, are also supporting the spring issue of UPPERCASE magazine with a Calling Card! Thanks, gals!

Mindful Mending with Katrina Rodabaugh 

Design (AND MAKE) Your Own Clothes With Cal Patch

View all the details here.

Thank you to Samantha Lindgren at A Gathering of Stitches for her ongoing support of UPPERCASE content through a purchase of a Calling Card ad. I have a few Calling Card spaces left for the spring issue. For $400 Canadian ($290 USD) your ad will appear in print, on the blog sidebar, on Twitter and in the newsletter/blog. Great value for reaching UPPERCASE readers!

Treat Yourself!

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A friendly reminder that the back issue sale continues! Just $10 each (that's $7 in US dollars or 6 Euros or 5 GBP — use the currency conversion preview to see the prices in your currency.) 

There's a lot of amazing content waiting to be discovered. There are digital previews on each listing, so you can get sense of what's inside. From children's book illustration tosurface pattern to painting to gems + geometry... And it goes on to new illustration talent, collage, stationery,stamp design, printmaking, ... wow! I've covered a lot of creative ground over the last seven years.

I also put the current issue #28 on sale. If you're so inclined, add a subscription starting with issue #29 (April) to your cart as well.

Be Mine Back Issues

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Every once in a while, I have a back issue sale. I have to pay rent on all the inventory, so it is nice to reduce the number of boxes now and again, especially with a new issue from January piled up high. It's your chance to stock up on back issues of the magazine for just $10 Canadian apiece (that's $7 US dollars). This time, I've also got the current issue on sale for $10 as well.

For new readers, I hope you'll enjoy getting to know UPPERCASE through the back issues and then support the magazines future issues with a subscription. You can purchase the current issue #28 at $10 and also get a subscription starting with issue #29 (April).

For loyal readers, you can fill some of the missing gaps in your collection or get some extra copies as gifts. (Sorry, those shown as sold out are completely out of stock unless you bribe my parents for an extra copy of the early issues.)

Cover by Seb Lester

Of note, issue #23, the calligraphy and lettering issue is down to just 57 copies. It won't be reprinted, so I recommend starting with this one for sure!

Thanks for your support of independent publishing. It's pretty amazing to look back at all these many years of creativity!

Back at it!

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Photoshop Manual, Borax crystals, 11 x 8 x 5 inches, 2014

We've moved and had a few days to settle in. Not much crafting happened (ie none) but I have lots of plans for making things now that we're home. It feels good to be home!

I'm back at the studio today and designing the spring issue. Check out these amazing sculptures by Alexis Arnold! Look for Alexis and dozens of other book artists in the spring issue (#29) of UPPERCASE. Subscriptions start with issue 28 (the current issue, all about wire works, doodling and numerals) or you can start with the spring issue #29. Thanks!

Taking a breather

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This card was included in a nice gift sent to me from Kate Marsden, one of the artists featured in The Compendium. It is from Ink Collective and available on Etsy.

All the things I thought I'd have done by the end of January... not even a dent in that list! When I think about it, a lot of the pressure is self-imposed. Just because I have all these ideas and plans doesn't mean that they have to happen all at once. But it's hard to slow down and just relax my own expectations.

But despite the to-do lists, the tasks, the projects, the inbox... I am taking the next week off... no matter what!

It's a big week! Glen, Finley and I (and our dog Percy) are moving back home! In the summer of 2013, Calgary had quite the flood and our basement was ruined. This prompted us to evaluate the house and what we could do to repair it, protect against future flood damage and make it suitable for our family in the long term. We decided to build up—and add a second level. It was a big overhaul. After 16 months of renovations—now there's a lesson in everything takes longer that you think it will!—we can finally move in this weekend. It's exciting and beautiful and exhausting and we are very lucky.

I'm dreaming about all the nice things I want to make for the house; curtains, pillows, quilts, rugs, baskets... but before I can make anything at all, I have to make time. So I'm declaring it here and now—I'm going to nest, to craft, to relax and enjoy being home at last.

Thank you!

-Janine

Peruse the latest issue, subscribe, browse back issues, sign up for my newsletter, share the love!

#handwritingmatters with Sakura

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Sakura's ad in the current issue of UPPERCASE.

Regular readers of UPPERCASE magazine will know that it is a magazine with very few ads. I really appreciate all the advertisers in each issue, whether they're readers placing Peeps, Calling Cards or bigger ads. In issue 28, Sakura of America is supporting UPPERCASE with a half page ad and Minted has a full page ad. All revenue from ads goes directly to paying contributors. If you'd like to advertise your business—big or small—the details are posted here.

Saturday, January 23 is National Handwriting Day. To celebrate, Sakura is holding an Instagram giveaway. Write your favourite quote on a piece of paper (preferably using one of Sakura’s products of course) and post the image using the hashtag #handwritingmatters on Instagram in order to be considered. Between Friday, January 15 and Monday, January 25, Sakura will choose 10 winners to receive tools for lettering. The giveaway’s only open to residents of the US and Canada, and you must be over 13 to participate. The full rules are listed here.

The prize includes:

  • Pigma Professional Brush Pen, all three sizes of fine, medium, bold
  • Pigma Calligrapher in all six colors and 2mm nib size
  • 2 Koi Coloring Brush Pens
  • 4 Gelly Roll
  • 1 Pigma Pen 10
  • 1 XS12 Mechanical Pencil
  • 1 Pigma Graphic
  • 3 Pigma Micron
  • 1 Strathmore Writing pad
  • 1 Sakura pen case

Sakura will be featuring many submitted posts on the Pigma Micron website.

Happy Handwriting!