Company Picnic!

Our company has a picnic every year, and of course company picnic's come with picnic t-shirts! Last year I made a little girl going down a slide... So after watching all the big dudes in production walking around with that girly shirt for a year or so I decided to do them a solid and make something a little cooler. Enjoy guys!

Brothers portrait

A new piece done in celebration of a new baby!

New Dog Portrait!

This is Gracie, an adorable little dog that I was recently commissioned to do as a birthday present. I am going down to the Ron Jon’s Resort to hand deliver it today! It’s a long drive, but it’s a really beautiful place. If you are ever in the Cape Canaveral area, I highly recommend dropping by and doing the time share presentation, you will get a free day at the mini water resort and perhaps even a new vacation spot! Anyways, if you happen by and do a tour tell them Chelsey Austin sent you. Or, you can always send me a message and I will hook you up with contact info…

Photography...

So I have been interested in photography for a long time now, just never had the money to get a fancy camera... WELL, for my birthday my Dad surprised me with a Nikon D5000! I have set up a separate blog (and am working on a website) to feature my photography and perhaps get new gigs.

 In A Flash Photography

When I got married two years ago I practically went crazy trying to find an affordable photographer, so that is who I am trying to be now. Sometimes you just dont have the money, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't have nice things. That is the concept I try to have with all of my artwork, so I am hoping I can carry that over into photography. I have shot a bunch of things already (wedding, engagement shots, treasure the dress, maternity, ect) and am hoping I can get some more clients who wouldn't be interested in something for a good deal to help me grow my portfolio... More to come =)

Entry to Julie Kagawa's Contest!

I know it has been a while since I updated with some new artwork, and I promise I will do that soon. BUT, for now here is my entry for a fan contest hosted by one of my favorite authors, Julie Kagawa. Aside from her books, I just love how much she interacts with her readers. Her is a link to her blog http://juliekagawa.blogspot.com/ and to the contest page, http://juliekagawa.blogspot.com/2011/01/queen-is-coming-contest-and-giveaway.html

This contest is to celebrate her third book coming out in February, Iron Queen. The story centers around a girl named Meaghan Chase who is part human and part fairy. I dont want to get to into the story line, you can google it, but let me tell you that it is very addicting. Awesome fairys and love triangles, what is not to love?

Pictured is Meaghan, Ash, Grim, and Iron Horse. Done in colored pencil and ink I hate how much scanners ruin an image, but alas, it is the only way to get it onto the internet! I compensated by photoshoping a dark city scape into the background, a photo I shot while in NY... In Iron Queen it seems like they are preparing for battle, and from past experience, the female lead character really comes into her own and thats what I tried to capture.

Anyways, click to enlarge. Thanks again Julie Kagawa for hosting such an awesome contest!

It's like a concert tour but with sketchbooks!

This year I am participating in something called The Sketchbook Project! I am very excited about it and just got my sketchbook in the mail today! My theme is "Happy Thoughts"!!!!

 I am pretty excited, I have done two pages so far. I had artists block and wasnt really sure what to draw, but I decided I only had till January so I needed to just jump in! I figured with my theme "Happy Thoughts" I will just do whatever makes me smile.

What makes you smile?

Artist for Hire Contest

Paper Dragon Ink is an awesome site that provides all kinds of entertainment and resources for creative people! The post art, news, and reviews on alot of great stuff.

I joined there first contest(or at least the first on I heard of) about a year ago on myspace, and now they are having another one on facebook!

I highly encourage everyone to go and check out the artists. My favorite part about this contest is all of the contestants had to fill out a questionnaire....

Example:

Q) When the zombies take over the world where will you be? I will be underground in the only surviving city of the living ,with a bucket of make-up, painting over the anti-zombie warriors to make them look undead, therefore helping the resistance to infiltrate the legion of undead and claim our world back! Viva la revolution!

Ha! Yep, that was my answer to that question. Read my entire survey HERE or go HERE to click on all the artists and read each ones survey. We all had the same questions.

While I would love it if you would vote for me, it is by no mean necessary, just vote for your favorite! You vote by commenting under the piece of artwork you like best, go HERE to visit the album on their facebook!

FYI, this is my piece they posted on facebook.

ArtWorks: Eau Gallie Fine Arts Festival

This year I am volunteering for Artworks, the festival is a 'plein-air' show in Melbourne, FL which takes place in the historic district of Eau Gallie. You can read all about them at their website.

Part of my volunteer efforts includes social networking, so I encourage everyone to check out the below social sites and follow/fan/friend any that your a member of.

Other than that, I will be taking part in two other activities. My second act of a volunteer, I will be hanging around the festival, perhaps watching an artists booth while they eat lunch or selling water. Whatever really needs done.

However, its the second part that I am SUPER excited about! Saturday, November 20th From 8:00am to 2:00pm I will have my very own square to illustrate sidewalk chalk! I havn't done this since high school, so I am a bit nervous, but still excited because I loved doing it (and I wasn't too shabby either). Now I just have to figure out what to draw! I would love if anyone in the area could come check out myself, and the festival. It is always sure to be a great time!

My Time Scraps

I just teamed up with Brooke from My Time Scraps and she is going to be selling some of my digital artwork on her digi-scrap site. What happens is I illustrate something, then send it over to her to color it in different variations, then she lists it for sale.

She has alot of great stuff on her site, all sorts of clip art and kits for the beginner to novice digi-scrapper!

Click here to go check it out

New Project, Blog, and Giveaway!

I have decided to start a new project. I have been seeing a lot of ACEO’s (Art Cards, Editions and Originals) lately and it has inspired me! This project consists of me illustrating a new original ACEO each day for an entire year, so 365 in total! At first I was going to get a few back ups done, but the purpose of this project is to challenge myself, so that would be cheating. Each day I will be illustrating a new piece, posting it on my new blog, and offering it for sale or giveaway. Each original will only be $5.00, and I will be giving away at least one ACEO each month!

Check out my new blog: Project 365

On it, I am having my very first giveaway! There will be a new ACEO giveaway every Monday, along with announcing the winner from the previous week! Go here to enter.