Printing the Cards

I got my block printing stuff a few days ago and I did my first batch of prints the other day. I probably should have practiced more on scrap paper instead of going straight to cards, I kind of messed some up but stuff like that is expected with block printing.

And I did get some tote bags but when I bought them online I thought that they were canvas: they're not. I have no idea what material they are made out of but I know that it's that low quality but strong fabric that is really strong. I think that they use it in construction. It's hard to explain but point is that I really don't want to be selling them. So right now I have no idea what to do with them. Maybe I'll just give them to goodwill or salvation army. At least my card are nice.

Cards in

Got the cards today. I am never ordering from overnight prints again. My cards came out really purple and they sent me a lot more then I needed but not enough envelopes for all of them. Nothing against free stuff but I'd rather get the order I had in right the first time.

Still, my roommates say they look good enough. So I'm selling a pack of 8 for $17.50 plus shipping. Little more then in the store but not by much and these are limited edition. I'm not printing them ever again.

OH! And I may get my block printing supplies tomorrow. Then my stuff will be really rad.

Zombie Walks and Doodles

There is a zombie walk demonstration going on tomorrow at my school but I have class for the entire time! Hopefully my professor will be kind and let me leave for about 30 mins to go to part of it.

Anyway, I found out that by adding ink to a water flow brush you have a refillable ink brush pen. So I tried it out on a monster doodle. Over all it wasn't bad. I got enough ink flow of it but the brush I sacrificed has too long of bristles. So I'm going to look into getting one that is shorter and I'll have more control.

Also I may be working on a new comic. Not sure about the title but the general premise is a bunch of people who work at the equivalent of a UPS store and each of them are stupid in their own way. Thing is that the characters I want to use are mutants so it will have to take place in my brain land. Plot and such will be thought of. To the right there is Keaton and Milo. Both are mutants and aside from Keaton's roommate who I badly want to include, the rest are humans. And I'm sure many of you can't read it but the person on the phone is saying "Do your envelopes typically get bent?" Keaton replies with "Uuuuhhhh...do you want us to bend them for you?" Milo knows that Keaton is an airhead and is at awe that someone left Keaton on the phones.

HOLY BAGEEZUS!!

I've been looking into getting a brush pen but the only one that I've ever seen for sale was this really expensive Japanese brush pen, and it was made for writing. It's a brush so I could easily use the thing for drawing but the difference between drawing and writing is that a lot of the time writing stuff is a lot more complex so you can have much more control. Anyway, I found out that both Pentel and Faber Castell make brush nib pens. That means that the nibs are actually more like a marker in that sense. But unlike Tombow brush pens the ink inside is not crayola marker ink. I really like the look of the Pentel brushes more, they look like they deliver more ink and they have refills for around $2. Don't know why but I just feel more comfortable knowing my brush pen is refillable. Who know, maybe I can put my india ink in the empty cartridges.

ANYWAY! I'm off to do homework. Not working on anything for today, I'm waiting for my block printing supplies to come by.

Cards Ordered

I just ordered 40 holiday cards to be printed. And I'm really pleased with the illustration that I did. I may sell the original once I get the cards in. I'm probably going to sell singles for $3 each, five packs for $13 and a set of 10 for $22. I'm so stoked!

And due to a generous donations via my mom I'm going to be able to start block printing. Shirts are still too expensive for me so I'm going to start with greeting cards and tote bags. Not sure how much I'm going to ask for the cards and tote bags so I'm just going to cruise around etsy for ideas on how much to charge. No idea when I'm going to order the stuff. I want to say when I get a real job but I'm not sure, I'm already going to be spending $50 on getting a hole in my eyebrow once I get a jorb (present for me)

Up and Coming

Yeah, I'm not going to list anything today. I just don't really feel like doing it. I'm working on a sugar skull pendant but it looks kind of stupid to me.

And as much as I want to block print on some shirts I highly doubt that I can make the $80 by selling my items on etsy. I did make a big sale this weekend tho (finally). So with the money I'm going to get greeting cards printed. I'm already working on the artwork for the front. They are going to be holiday cards. I just need to A: finish this, and B: make and extra $15 to get enough to get them printed and then it's sellin' time. Then with the money I get from that I'll get the stuff for the block print supplies but no shirts: I'll just be printing on chip board. Then I'll do tote bags, next shirts, hoodies (finally) and then modified hoodies. I've got a business plan for the year (and yes, I do need to make a plan for the comics and zines).

Speaking of comics I NEED to go do the tones on a few pages. I'm behind. Next short will NOT have tones unless necessary.

Savin' up

I must say that I feel like I got quite a bit done today. I finished my painting the dragon monster pendant and it is for sale in my etsy shop for only $10. I have to say that I didn't plan on the pendant to come out like it did but in the words of Bob Ross "We don't make mistakes, only happy little accidents." I swear to God that guy is like Jesus. He loves everything and is so mellow.

And I finished a painting for a friend. I've really gotten into the entire multimedia thing lately. I used watercolor, gouache, marker and acrylic and I really love how it looks.

Oh, and I have also decided to save up for block printing. I really want to block print on a few sweatshirts and I figured that all and all it would cost me around $80 to get all of my supplies. And seeing as how I am in college and buying my own food $80 is A LOT of money for me. So to save up I'm offering art commissions really cheap.

Prismacolor markers: $15-$30
Watercolor/Gouache: $20-$30
Acrylic: $22-$30

Prices do include shipping and I do prioritize commissions over my personal work (dur).

If you are interested please e-mail me at octopuszombie@gmail.com

Pendant and Magnets!!

I started working on a pendant yesterday. I've never made one before but I knew that I wanted to make something that was monstery. My original design just looked waay too creepy (it was like a pig rat combo) and as cool as it was I mooshed it into a new monster that now looks like a dragon. But fear not, for it has FOUR eyes. Just a little touch that made it a little different and a little spookier.

And I also got my custom 1.25 inch magnets yesterday. I'm so excited to have them but I'm afraid they won't sell because no one really knows about my comic. Still, they look good enough on their own. And to sweeten the deal I'm offering a free 3x3 doodle with them.


I'm also thinking of eventually painting on some teeshirts and selling them. It honestly depends on how much the shirts cost but I found some good ringer shirts for $6. Granted it's more than the normal kinds but I like ringer shirts, I find them to be very stylish. But since it is getting to be fall I should just buy one hoodie and mess with it. If I knew how to dye stuff I would buy a white one and dye the sleeves then paint on it but I don't. And I don't own a laundry machine so I'd have to pay like $1.75 and have to jack the price up.

Produce Pendants/Beads/Charms

No, I don't know what the difference between a pendant, bead, or charm.

In any case I finished painting some produce charms for my roommates. One of them had asparagus but I forgot to take a picture of it before I gave it to her. The carrot is just a random one that I made in hopes of doing a really nice one.



Here is a close up of the carrot. It's varnish layer is still a tad wet but it is matte varnish so it shouldn't be so shiny by tomorrow. Yes, I am going to sell it I just need to figure out a price.

New bloggidy blog

Well, this is my first ever blog on blog spot.

Basically you can expect me to post a lot about what I have been making. Right now I'm working on a minicomic and key chains for some friends, nothing special. But as time goes on I will be showing more products that I make. And if you ever have any suggestions or critiques on my art or crafts please feel free to say it. I'm an adult (kind of) and I know that I can get better.