CrashOctopus Blog

Nothing like a convention or show to drag you up out of art block, whether you want it or not. I got a lot done this weekend, some of which was even on my to-do list!

This is the setup for my dealer’s table at Rocket City FurMeet. I didn’t do a lot of business, but nobody did - it was a fairly slow con. However, note the t-shirts for sale in front (and hanging up). It was my first convention for shirt sales, and they went pretty well! Having that banner and the shirts hanging up helped, I think. Nobody else had something up on the wall, and it was very visible from the entry. I had a good spot. I got to sit next to my friends, too, which made it wonderful, no matter how much or little sold.

Off to do more art! Thanks for hanging in there with me!

Snoozy Anteater by Meg Lyman

Gouache on notecard

$25 - e-mail to buy

I need to go to an art store for burnt umber gouache and masking fluid to replace the masking custard I found last week. Going to art stores is dangerous. My wallet cringes.

Make sure to check out Lisa B’s awesome alphabet sketchbook project. It’s inspiring.

I got two paintings finished this week to close out an illustration contract. It rocked. But I can’t post them here because all the rights were purchased. That also means I can’t update my website with them yet, and my update for May is going to be pitifully small. Sigh.

I doodled this anteater in the airport last year, promptly lost it, and found it again last week when pawing through stacks of illustration board for the aforementioned project. I got out the typical browns and blues to make a grey anteater… but then I sort of lost control of it, and now he’s ready to go to a rave when he wakes up.

When I start a painting, I don’t usually plan to push the boundaries of color. But when I’m successfully able to drop my “I’m going to ruin it” fears, I always end up unintentionally experimenting with color. And it usually turns out well. I encourage the lot of you to do the same, because it’s so fun.

May all your anteaters be fluorescent.

Hippopoctopus by Meg Lyman

Free sketch commission

On several art gallery websites, you are given a statistic called “pageviews.” It’s an inaccurate counter of how many times your main gallery page has been viewed. It’s also tradition on these sites to offer free art (generally sketches) to people who can “screen-capture” a nice, round number on the pageview counter. Typical numbers include 1000, 10,000, 55,555, 100,000, etc. I decided to participate and offer a free sketch for the 5,000th pageview on FurAffinity.

I’m not doing it again.

Due to those aforementioned inaccuracies, four separate individuals captured 5000 on their screens. Being the kind-hearted, wanting-to-please-everyone person I am, I did free art for all four. It was fun - no outlandish requests, hippopoctopus included - and it ended up being great marketing. Plus, I know I have at least three more pageviews than that stupid counter says.

Ubuntu Penguin - commissioned piece

Gouache on Bristol

I recently had some opportunity to donate art prints to various causes. In celebration of the almighty upcoming Tax Day, I wanted to remind you that any art you donate can help lower your tax bill. I’m still unclear whether you can claim the market value for said donations, or the cost of making them… but either way, donating art to a worthy cause is a great idea. The tax benefits, sure, but also promotion! It’s a great way to get your name out there.

I donated a few prints to the charity auction at OmegaCon, and two matted cat-themed prints to the recent anniversary celebration at Furkids, where I volunteer. Charity auctions are great exposure - people go prepared to spend money for a good cause, and small, lower-priced items like prints are a great option for people who want to donate on a budget.

Good news, everyone! I have begun a foray into merchandising. T-shirts with Meg art on them are now available for sale. They feature cephalopods with attitudes!

Visit my LiveJournal for photos. Prices range from $10 to $22 plus shipping. I accept Paypal and credit cards. Send me an e-mail if you’re interested!

Also, feedback on them is appreciated. Critiques will only help me with next round. :D I’ve already sold three, and I’ll let y’all know how well this foray goes in a follow-up post.

Nautilus macromphalus by Meg Lyman

11×14″ gouache on Pastelbord

$225 - e-mail to buy

I am beginning to think I set unrealistic goals at the beginning of the year. I underestimated the amount of time required for things like, say, putting my house on the market. It has been hugely time-consuming. However, having that list of goals has helped keep me motivated during the long, full days, even if I’m not perfectly on track to finish everything.

N. macromphalis WIP 1: Background. See this post for my laments about Pastelbord, the Magical Brush Eater. The cheap synthetic brush I used to complete the painting held up surprisingly well.

Here are the goals and my 1st Quarter commentary.

• Register my business by March - Done. I want to frame the certificate.
• Redo this blog to greatly expand its content and interactivity - Not done. I had hoped to finish this by now, but… yeah. Still in the works, and I’ve actually done some coding.
• Trim my website into a portfolio - See above, re: coding.
  
• Time all my projects with the new stopwatch Santa got for me - Doing. Doesn’t work nearly as well when I have 5 projects going at once…
• Complete the 100 Cephalopods project - No way is this going to happen. I have a grand total of 2 done. Commissions got in the way. Working for dollars is way better than working on spec, though, so I’m not bummed about missing this one.
• Promote my art on MySpace, etc. - Slowly working on that. Check out my MySpace page if you’re into that sort of thing.
• Do 10 shows and/or conventions - Going to happen! I have done four already and the rest are planned out.

N. macromphalus WIP 2: Whites. I didn’t do much planning for this piece. For example, I hadn’t planned to push the boundaries of color. These are all supposed to be shades of white, but at this stage I kept thinking, “Looks like metal. Maybe I should change the name to Robo-nautlius.”

I have done something list-worthy that was never an explicit goal of mine: I’m getting faster. I knew this would come eventually with practice, but I was pleasantly surprised when I realized it’s already happening. It took a friend saying, “you’re getting faster” for me to notice. Duh.

N. macromphalus WIP 3: Almost done. The oranges really balanced the blues and made the whole thing look properly organic. Nautilus, check. But the background was distracting. I took a sponge to it, which did the trick. Pastelbord is also the Magical Sponge Eater, and I spent 15 minutes picking bits of sponge off the painting.

Another list-worthy mention: I’m making a conscious effort to work on my style. Maggie and Rita encouraged me, and I worked out a list of things that make my paintings “mine.” One of those things, which had never occurred to be before (and never would have without this exercise) is that I love to use warm browns and oranges and cool blues and greys in combination. This may or may not be related to my love of da Bears.

So, that’s where I am after the first quarter of 2008. How are y’all doing in terms of goals this year?

Gilded Pelican by Meg Lyman

6×8″ gouache on matboard

$50 - e-mail to buy

Remember last month when I talked about meeting with some fabulous people to discuss illustrations for a children’s book? Well, good news! We rearranged my standard contract several times, got it to everyone’s liking, and signed it. I’m currently on the hook for some character development, and if it goes well, full illustrations. Exciting! Busy! Challenging!

I have already started the back-and-forth with sketches, and it’s such an interesting process. I’m learning so much. I won’t get into specifics since nothing is finished yet, but if you have questions, ask away.

Lady and the Tramp Squids by Meg Lyman

8×10″ graphite OmegaCon doodle; SOLD

OmegaCon was a first year fantasy/sci-fi convention in Birmingham. I had art in the art show and a table in the dealer’s room next to the Wandering Men. The dealer’s room was huge and fabulous and the turnout was phenomenal. The art show organization was abysmal, but it all worked out in the end.

I sold enough to cover my food and my half of a hotel room, which is more than I was expecting! Most of my sales were prints and originals. I took some older illustrations (~5 years old), because they were on-topic for a fantasy convention, and actually sold some of those old ones! It doesn’t hurt to try, especially if your prices are reasonable for older work (unless your old work is really horrible). I didn’t put any old art in the show - it was all in a binder at my table. I was pleased to see it sell but a bit hesitant putting old work out there, even if it was hiding in a binder.

What are your thoughts on selling older work?

Happy Roo by Meg Lyman

Happy March! This kangaroo is smiling because it is sunny and 70 degrees here, and I’m about to go play soccer. I love the south!

I want to answer some questions asked in my last post about taxes - but I need a disclaimer. I am no expert. I don’t know a Form 1120 from an abacus. Please do not take these tips as law. My best advice: talk to an accountant.

That said, here’s what I learned about hobbies this week:

• As far as I can tell, there’s no maximum you can earn as a hobbyist before the IRS takes notice. You can offset your hobby gains with hobby losses. The catch: the losses (expenses) have to be at least 2% of your adjusted gross income before you can deduct them. So you have to spend a lot and make a lot on your hobby for that to work in your favor.
• I’m not sure about years of consecutive loss, but a legitimate business (in the all-seeing eyes of the IRS) will show a profit in at least 3 of the last 5 years. There are exceptions to this (me, for example, since I’ve only been doing it officially for one year) - you have to pass a type of “legitimate business test,” witch factors in things like reasonable attempts to make profit, how much time you spend on it, and if you rely on it for your livelihood. Go here for some great advice.
• Confused yet? I am. See above advice about an accountant.
• How is it that smart, educated people have trouble figuring this stuff out? I think they make it hard on purpose. Makes me want Fair Tax even more.

You have now completely exhausted my knowledge of art and taxes. If you have any further advice, let us all know!

Guardian Angel by Meg Lyman

Mixed media on Canson

$70 - e-mail to buy

Sometimes life is so crazy that the only way things could possibly work out in our favor is to have a guardian octopus looking over us. With holy wings of protection, a halo, and an arm delicately raised in benediction, how can you go wrong?

I am still collecting answers for your previous tax questions. My excuse: I am having a bazillion* people over tonight for a party.

* well, like… 5.