Lilla Roger's 2015 Talent Search

Hi Everyone!
    Well, a couple weeks back....I entered the Lilla Rogers 2015 Global Talent Search.   For those of you who don't know who Lilla Rogers is....she represents a lot of fabulous artist!  One of my favorite artist that she represents is Helen Dardik!  She does some adorable designs!

     Anyway...the lucky contest winner would win two years of representation from Lilla Rogers Studios.  You would also be featured in the magazine "Where Woman Create Business". Also, Robert Kaufman Fabrics would provide the winner with a mini collection and the list goes on for the perks of winning this contest.

       So, although my style is a little different, because I am coming from a more of Primitive background and if you know us Primitive Artist......we like to use more of the darker muted colors....rather than the light airy pastel water colors that you might see...I thought I would take a chance anyway!  If I didn't win...at least it was a step in the right direction and you never know, right?

     The assignment was to envision what a fictitious Brooklyn shop owner, Antoinette would wear to bike to work.  Lilla wanted to see hand lettering somewhere in your submission and being that Antoinette had tarot cards for sale in her shop and loved any robin egg blue metallics. I thought the LOOK WITHIN was fitting. Pictures of small square flower pots in the latest colors were shown for inspiration, along pictures of flowers and succulent.  I rolled up my sleeves and went to work.... although I never designed a shoe in my life!  LOL
        
Here is my entry....

          Well, after much anticipation....I found out that I was not picked for the top 50 finalist. (sniffle, sniffle)  Although, disappointed....I was still happy that I entered.  It was exciting and a great experience. 

      I realized one thing, though.... before the contestants got the assignment, a brief description was given that the contest would be about a fictitious character from Brooklyn.  I immediately thought children's book.  I found myself wanting to do a 3D piece for my submission...it just seemed more fitting for my style.  My mind flooded with ideas!  Don't get me wrong...I definitely can draw, but I realized in that moment that I have much more of a desire to do 3d art.  

     You can imagine my surprise when the actual assignment was given and the assignment was to design a shoe and included was a picture was of a real person, along with the other clues that I mentioned above about her taste. WoAh!  Stop the bus!  This isn't a children's book at all!  I quickly recovered my thoughts and said to myself...I got this...I can do this...just do what you do!  I got the wacom pad out and went to work.

      I think in hindsight, though....my only regret was using my son's shoe, which was a little worn to morph my design on....rather than using a brand spankin' new example to let my shoe design shine.  Lesson Learned, but life is all about lessons now, isn't it?  And, like my Mom always says, "What's meant to be...will be."

And, although, this was not to be....I will press on and be thankful for the opportunity!  

Hugs!
Kelly

UPDATE...

Hi Everyone Out There!   
    It's me, Kelly from SHeW Fly PiE  letting you know that after a long time of being absent from posting here on my blog and not to mention from creating my PRiMiTiVe pieces....I just wanted to do some catching up with you!

    Well, as I wrote in my very last entry of my blog, I had taken a job which required MUCH of my time and with raising two small boys.....there just didn't seem like there was enough time in the day to do what I truly love to do and that's creating things, as you all know.  So, unfortunately.....my art had to be put on the back burner.  :0 (  

      This year it made me realize my kids are growing up so fast!   

                      My oldest will now be going to 

                                  HIGH SCHOOL....

              And, the youngest (who asked that his picture not be posted. LOL) is already  going into..... JR. HIGH!  YIKES!!!

        It just goes to show you how fast time flies!!!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It also reminds me that time doesn't wait and makes me think of the saying from Pablo Coelho......

      I always felt that I was made to do ART for a living.  If you needed me to make you a GIANT SCULPTED CHEESEBURGER...I could do it!  If you needed me to draw you something...I was your girl!  If you needed something painted...I was who you wanted to see. If you needed something sewn together like a prototype.... again look no further, however, with not knowing how to make my art more viable, I had to go where the money was.  My parents always told me when I was growing up, "There's no money in art," and equated it with the starving artist painting commercials that you would see on tv.  

   Although, my PRiMiTiVe pieces fetched up to sometimes $350- a doLL...it wasn't always a consistent thing after the whole economy dropped.  PRiMiTiVe doLLs were a want...not a need, unfortunately.  You could put so much time and love into something and if it didn't sell... well needless to say...it made for one unstable income.  As, a matter of fact, I hardly see any of my PRiMiTiVe friends selling anymore, which is ashamed, because they were some FABULOUS artist!

    With that being said...I took that job, which required much of my time and kept me away from not only my art, but my family, too.  

    Exhausted,  I stopped making doLLs and blogging, but I never lost my love for ART!   I found myself on the computer after everyone went to bed.... drawing inspiration from children's illustration and found a new found love for clay sculpted characters of stop motion.  They absolutely fascinated me!  It filled my creative side to see such works of art.  Recently, this summer to be exact,  I was able to see the SHAUN and the SHEEP's New Movie...VERY CUTE!  A MUST SEE!!!

                                                                                              Photo From: starburstmagazine.com
      I believe every artist has to evolve...even several years back when I was fully submersed in my PRiMiTiVe doLL making...I began to research about children's product design.  I wanted to know how cute designs were printed on fabric, so that adorable products could be made from them.  I wanted to learn how to screen print kids shirts, too.  Becoming a children's illustrator for books was a job that I secretly dreamed about.  You can never lose that thirst for learning new things that you desire to do!

     Flash forward to the past two years...so, with the combined interest of those things from the past (children's product design, etc...),  and along with my new inspiration I drew from the children's illustrations I studied and sculptured character design and animation that I gobbled up like candy... before you knew it I found myself immersed in the digital world of design.   AHHHH!!!! 

    For the past two years, in the wee hours of the morning... I've been brushed up on my Photoshop skills, learning textures and design, etc.  I spent countless hours learning about digital Illustration, Storyboarding and most recently I've been dabbing in After Effects for animation.  VERY COOL!!!

    I took some of these classes through Skillshare, which I highly recommend!  Simply click here.... Skillshare and it will take you right there, if you want to check it out. Note: If you do sign up for some courses...  I would be very grateful if you use my name, Kelly Sherry, as a referral when doing so. That will allow for me to take more courses, as well, especially if I go back to being a starving artist! LOL

    So, what I decided is....If you want to do something....Just Do It!  Time doesn't wait for anyone!  If you have a dream...Pursuit it!  
Mine is ART and I fully plan on doing just that! Life is short!
Wishing You Many Blessings in Life!!!
Hugs,
Kelly