Post originally from: December 23, 2022 Hello hello!
Welcome back to another blog ｀;:゛;｀;･(°ε° ) As the cold settles in and the year comes to a close, instead of more highlights I thought I would share some proposals/sketches that didn’t make the cut instead?? 😅
Starting us off with a traffic signal box design. If I sent you a card late 2020/early 2021 it would look familiar :> I wanted to use my card illustration for the box to continue a trend (that’s what I did for Picnic Pals) and also because I am really fond of this drawing and thought it’d be sweet to connect everyone who has that card this way.
I’ve seen other artists talk about their unsuccessful applications, but it’s still a rare thing. There’s so much work being done that doesn’t get seen (not that it always needs to be seen!). Reading, research, editing, hours of writing and formatting a proposal deck, all that fun stuff and more happens before a project is visible. This fall/winter, I planned to “take a break” and went through the awkwardness of telling people that when asked what I was up to, hoping that saying it out loud would actually make me do it. Results? I have been relaxing, watching shows and playing games… but there’s also been a lot of:
continuing to take on projects because I have a hard time saying no (」°ロ°)」
turning sketching for fun into a commitment to self-improvement and completing this sketchbook by the end of the month
applying to more projects because of the fear of what if I am no longer able to get another job???
playing catch up on commissions/personal projects I previously committed to
restlessness because my brain can’t working productively or rest properly so I do a bit of both poorly
All that to say here’s a contribution as a reminder to myself and anyone that reads this that what’s shared online is not everything that happens in real life!!
I do look back on these “flops” and the accompanying write ups for inspiration. There’s lots of ideas that I would like to develop further and incorporate into future projects. Please note these are from several years, and there’s plenty more applications that don’t have a visual I can share.
📚 Here was a proposed mural for the children’s section of a library
Some key ideas here:
I wanted the books to be portals to other worlds
Where’s Waldo/I spy element
Use chalkboard paint for some sections for interactive element. Children can add to the mural / I spy elements can be changed out for variety and to include other things in the library apart from the mural
The midground and background is weak and visually confusing, but I do like the portals in the foreground. See that dog popping out in the lower left corner? I think this would be a fun illusion. Will definitely try this idea again in the future. I still like the chalkboard idea, but it would only work if the rest of the mural is well protected from scratches and scribbles. Murals get banged up enough without an open invitation to draw on it.
🌷 Banner proposal! I self imposed the idea that the 6 banners had to be one continuous image, for other print material related to the project and for the viewers to piece together the images. The veins turning into flower stems on the left most banner is an idea I executed during school sometime and the image stuck with me. I would like to revisit this again
Next we have a design for a bell box mural for the Agincourt area of the 12 Chinese zodiac animals. These bell boxes are smaller surfaces to paint so it’s a good chance to try out new things. I wanted something a little different than my usual and simplified and flattened my style even more to make these goofy looking animals. That monkey butt still gets me 😂 I’m sure this colour palette will pop up again sometime.
Then comes another banner proposal, this image is cropped but it’s a vertical design. For these banners I proposed photo-drawing collages rather than straight illustration. This is a technique that I have revisited many times in the past (see Roasted Oyster & Soft Peaks, Sunshine Streets and most recently Fish Friends’ Fishy Feast). I really enjoy how these collages combine reality with the imagined into something that exists in between.
Last one was for a huge side-of-the-building mural that had a segmented area for windows on the right, which is why you see a lot of vertical strips. Here I think my focus was more in the community-engagement aspect of the proposal, and this mockup is a sample of what I could do with the results. Essentially I wanted to hold workshops with the relevant groups and incorporate community-made imagery and ideas into the piece. I think I proposed a printmaking activity so we’d get bold shapes that could turn into patterns.
Another attempt at the photo-collage thing. I like the idea of the Monroe buildings as part of a skate park. There’s nods to other Mississauga-related imagery in here but I won’t list them all. The hot almost neon palette is something I was trying to emulate based on the previous artwork that lived here (the Sculpture Court Skate Park Murals: Finding Home - my first mural was in here!) but I don’t think I quite captured the tropical vibe. This project ended up going to @rayvidalart who knocked it out of the park so I’m glad it turned out the way it did
Another bell box proposal and I like this one still! Look at that adorable red fox. It’s probably a bit too much black for a box though, not enough visibility and a potential safety hazard. Apart from the dark background I went with my usual - a combination of flora and fauna local to the area
Of course I feel disappointed when something I got really excited about doesn’t make it through but it’s a normal part of the process and nothing to be devastated or discouraged about. The proposal and designing part of the process is valuable on its own as a creative exercise even if my work isn’t selected. Although obviously getting selected would be better! (And not all call for art/artists are equal in that some don’t provide any/sufficient compensation and a career isn’t sustainable if you spend all your time creating artwork with no income - but that’s a different conversation for another time.)
On the left is poster submission for a farmer’s market (without the text). I was trying to turn market goers into cute fruits and veggies. My favourite is definitely the watermelon lady and corn baby comes in a close second. I would love to make poster illustrations though so perhaps another time.
On the right is a proposed storyboard for a digital public art piece. I haven’t looked at this one in a while but it seems like a clear plan. This will sooner or later be executed (*¯︶¯*) I think the most difficult part of stop motion projects for me is figuring out what materials to use. Paper cuts of course but between A Long Long Time Ago and Oh Deer there’s still a lot experimentation that I want to do.
This is another case where the mockup is just an example to accompany my written proposal more than an actual look at what the visuals will be. Again, community-engagement was a huge part of this proposed plan. I was really invested in this project for many reasons, one being the location is so so close to home and played a significant part of my childhood. We didn’t make it this time (╥_╥) but will definitely pull from this proposal in the future.
Sharing these “failures” has also been on my mind after recent discussions about art careers. As a (very) nervous public speaker and worry wart, I try to put my best face forward in public situations and sound put together when I don’t feel like I know what I’m doing. I think I exude enough awkward energy without pointing it out on purpose, but my partner has pointed out that sharing these feelings of uncertainty or fear can be reassuring to those who feel the same.
If you’re debating about sending in an application to an opportunity that interests you, DO IT!!! Worst that happens is you get a no, and then you end up with a bunch of artwork and a bank of ideas for future use like this. If you don’t feel like you’re ready for an opportunity (like I often feel) putting together all the necessary materials for applying is good practice and while you’re at it…might as well send the application off anyway (b ᵔ▽ᵔ)b
This last one is something I came up with for a mural that I did get but ended up going in a completely different direction design wise. If anyone has a wall for this design I would love to execute it!! I imagine it’d be perfect for an elementary school or day care for the littles. Also, obviously I had Toy Story on my mind here too (you’ve got a friend in me) even though this and To Infinity and Beyond were done more than a year apart
That’s all I have for today, I hope that this was an interesting peek behind the curtains. Big high fives to other fellow artists writing, drawing and sending out their ideas, getting rejections and doing it all again! Better luck next time to all of us (｡•̀ᴗ-)✧ Don’t forget to celebrate what you’ve already accomplished, REST, RELAX, TAKE IT EASY. Our brains and bodies will function better if we treat them well :)
As always, would love to hear any thoughts/responses you have 🤗
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Thanks for reading! Happy holidays and see you in 2023! (っ˘з(˘⌣˘ ) ♡
🐣🐤 Linh