ida.s sketchbook

Mutual of Omaha - My Aha Moment

2011-09-30T07:48:00.001-06:00

Mutual of Omaha has a program where people share a little snippet about a life-changing moment called "My Aha Moment."

They recently were on tour in their sweet little airstream and invited me to share my story.

I had a blast, the team was great, and here are the results...

I'm happy!

2011-08-30T08:43:00.000-06:00

I've been busy enjoying the infinite beauty of nature...

And I'm trusting that this time I am taking to nourish myself

will soon be reflected in my art.

{hopefully very soon}

Until then, please enjoy 50% off my work at Unconventional Ida

with code: IMBACK

This past year...

2011-08-27T10:14:00.001-06:00

I have tried writing a big long post to explain my last year, but I am finding it impossible. So many things happened and they are all so intertwined that it could easily be a novel and not a short blog post. So, I'll give you a list. I am sure in the future I will touch on a lot of things in this list, but for right now, it is all I have in me.

1. I was laid off from my job {that was okay. I didn't care for it much anyway.}
2. I began to work as a full-time artist.
3. My mother and I became estranged.
4. My grandfather's pancreatic cancer came back.
5. I spent an extended period of time in Pennsylvania to help care for him.
6. My grandfather died.
7. I got a new job.
8. I moved to a new town.
9. My husband and I were divorced.
10. I started to travel.

So, there it is. The list.

I've barely picked up a pencil since my grandfather died. Six months without a creative outpouring. I am putting this immense pressure on myself to create something different. My thoughts are- my life is different and this should be reflected in my work.

And that's were I stand.

I would love to open up a dialogue about any of this, so please feel free to ask questions, comment, or share about any similar experiences...

reporting from a new location...

2011-07-23T23:20:00.000-06:00

ON DECK Auction

2011-05-19T16:42:00.002-06:00

*
Two days left to bid on the skate deck I designed!

All proceeds go to the skatepark & you get a sweet board.

How can you go wrong with that?

Click on either of the pictures above to check out all of the decks.

{mine is the fifth row down, third from the left}

I have a lot of news to share,

but right now I'm in Boston

soaking up a little city life

taking lots of photos.

I promise I'll be back soon...

tattoo tuesday

2011-03-01T10:39:00.001-07:00

Cheesy post title, I know. I just couldn't help it. *^_^*

Last year I posted about someone getting a Sister Kiute & the Bumblebee tattoo {above}. Now there are a few of my sweet Bellarosa popping up {below}! The one on the very bottom took a few details from my other Dia de los Muertos girls and combined them together. I think she looks awesome!

I've had quite a few requests about using my Day of the Dead girls for tattoos. I'm totally cool with it~ all I ask is that you send me a picture.

I can't wait to see more!

I've been pondering the idea of getting a new tattoo for a while now. My biggest struggle is whether or not I should design it. For some reason I waffle back and forth between my work or the work of someone else. What do you think about artists designing their own tattoos?

back to business

2011-02-27T12:00:00.000-07:00

The past three months have been a roller coaster.

Holiday fairs and shows bled into a nearly month-long visit to Pennsylvania. While there, I created "The Grandfathers," spent the last holiday season with my own grandfather, and helped he and my grandmother out as his illness progressed.

The first week in January, I flew back to Montana, set up my show, and had the opening. It was a wonderful night, and it felt great to be surrounded by friends.

I wasn't home long. Cancer, the evil beast that it is, confined my grandfather to a hospital bed {thankfully in his own home} a week and a half after I left. My sister and I made the decision to hop on a plane and head back to Pennsylvania. Without getting into any details, I will just say that I now have a deeper respect for those people who choose to be caretakers.

"Tickled Pink" and "Dreams of Spring" were opening soon, and I needed to head back to Missoula to ship my pieces to Tasty and hang my work at Bernice's.

A few days after we left, and before my opening, my grandfather died.

There is no way I can convey how important he is to me in a few short sentences. {I was born on his 50th birthday, his first grandchild. We spent nearly every birthday together. the ones we missed, I can count on one hand}. I'm going to save these thoughts and stories for what I hope to be a well-crafted essay honoring his life and his influence on mine.

For the past month, I feel like I have been stuck on the aforementioned roller coaster. You know the straight part of the track, after all of the ups and downs, when the coaster slows before the end of the ride? That is where I spent February~ not touching a pencil or a piece of wood.

It is time to get off the ride.

Thank you to all of you who have stuck around this stagnant blog and artist. I hope that I won't disappoint in the future. I have an opening on April 1st to prepare for and a few other things I can't wait to share with you!

Monster Giveaway!

2011-02-06T11:29:00.003-07:00

Remember the Monster Valentines that I was working on the other week? Well, I've finished them and I have a special surprise~ I made them for you! I have ten sweet little valentines that I will send off to the first ten people who leave a comment on this post {only one per person, please} and send me an e-mail with their address at:

stellalatwinski{at}gmail{dot}com

There are no strings attached. All I ask is that you let these little guys put a smile on your face from time to time.

Happy Sunday!

dreaming a little more...

2011-02-03T09:32:00.003-07:00

Below are a few of my newest pieces for "D reams of Spring." The areas on the work that look yellow are actually gold paint & pigment. I wish I was better at translating that through photography~ the pieces shimmer in the most delightful way.

*
The gold frames below will hold illustrated flowers,

and the black frame will contain a small diorama.
*

*
I photographed the beginning steps of my flowers.

Here is a peek~
*

*
Now I have to

finish the green and blue flowers,

add gold circles,

varnish the piece,

attach in frame {under glass},
and repeat.
*

If you are in the Missoula area, you should definitely pop into Bernice's and check them out~ the show opens tomorrow!

IF*surrender

2011-01-30T20:57:00.001-07:00

the need to create

2011-01-28T13:25:00.001-07:00

While I am not looking to discover the next radical miracle, I do strive to live my life with constant curiosity and wonder. One of the things that I love the most about myself is my imagination. My hands and mind are truly at the peak of happiness when something is taking shape in their care~ whether it be a new piece of artwork, or a daydream. Wanting to infuse my desire to create into nearly every aspect of my life, I am, naturally, always looking for new uses for found objects.

Yesterday, two wine crate panels caught my eye at the antique store. I thought it would be fun to turn them into jewelry racks like th e one I created back in September.

I used varnish, black screws, hemp rope and a drill to turn my wooden crate panels into a wonderful way to display some of my favorite jewelry pieces.

But,

the most important part to me~

Making them made my heart smile.
*

Tickled Pink

2011-01-27T18:09:00.000-07:00

{sarah}

{genevieve}

Sarah & Genevieve are my two newest girls. I sent them off to Tasty this afternoon for "Tickled Pink." If you are in the Seattle area, you can see these two, and twelve of my other pieces, at 7513 Greenwood Ave North. The show officially opens on February 11 {6-9pm}, with a preview and Valentine trunk sale this coming Wednesday, February 2 {6-9pm}.

Next up~ Dreams of Spring

2011-01-20T09:56:00.001-07:00

My opening at Bernice's will be filled with bright colors, flowers, and monsters! After all of this dreariness, I am in the mood to work on something fun and cute...so that is what I am going to do. *^_^* I hope you enjoy this sneak peek at one of the pieces! The circles are gold paint & pigment and shimmer in the most delightful way. I need all of the smiles I can get right now...

monster valentines

2011-01-17T19:00:00.000-07:00

I worked on a few monster valentines yesterday, but didn't get as far as I would have liked. I made the decision last night to head back to Pennsylvania to spend more time with my grandfather. So, after being back in Montana a little shy of two weeks, I am hopping back on a plane tomorrow morning. I'll have my work for Tasty to finish up while I'm back, as well as my show at Bernice's. Hopefully, I will have time when I get back on the 26th to finish these sweet little valentines before Valentine's Day is over! Maybe they will just have to be a head start for next year...

Silly me...

2011-01-16T12:35:00.001-07:00

This lazy, dreary Sunday is all about procrastination for me.

I thought I would share my nerdy self with you...

Enjoy!

A collaboration!

2011-01-14T19:22:00.000-07:00

My piece "Let it Be,"

a collaboration with jewelry designer Andrea Zielinski,

is now available!

Next up...

2011-01-09T14:02:00.001-07:00

I have two shows coming up in the month of February.

"Tickled Pink" at Tasty & a solo show at Bernice's.

I'll be sharing the theme of my Bernice's show soon...

and I will tell you this~ it is going to be super fun!

But first, "Tickled Pink"

I'm excited to show with one of my favorite artists~ Jenna Colby!
Unfortunately, I have been in Pennsylvania without a scanner, so the piece on the invite is one of my older works that has sold.

Here is a sneak peek of one of the new pieces that will be in the show~

I'm excited to be working on a few pretty ladies

after my last run with little old men.

I'll be sharing more sneak peeks and works in progress in the coming weeks.

The Grandfathers

2011-01-08T19:02:00.001-07:00

{salvatore sparrow}

Sal wishes his brother would stop dressing like him.

{alfredo sparrow}

Al wishes his brother would stop dressing like him.

{edwin shepherd}

The group of men that have coffee with Ed in the morning will never know about the night they saved
his life.

{stanton marks}

Stanton is glad he never got tattoos like his USMC buddies.
He thinks the ink blotches look terrible on their 90-year old arms.

{horace allen}

Horace knows he looks like a head of lettuce when he wears this outfit,
but his wife loves the way it matches his eyes.

{archibald smith}

He cannot wait to grow out his beard to play Santa Claus every year. It is a shame he can’t grow his waistline, too.

{donald elliston}

He often wonders if things would have been different

if he told his family he loved them more.

{theodore boggins}

He does not mind that the whole town calls him Abe.

{cecil french}

Cecil has been in love with Twila from the day they locked eyes.
He wishes she wasn’t married to his brother.

{arthur pitinski}

Art thinks his father’s old dentures are the perfect size, but no one has the heart to tell him they are far too large.

{jenkins barr}

He talks to his wife, about his wife.
It makes her sad that he can identify his friends, but he can no longer recognize her.

{harvey kleinfeltz}

Harvey gets excited about flying, only because he likes to see how many complimentary blankets he can bring home.

{jack meddows}

Jack mumbles so often now,
his family can barely understand him.

{elliot granthal}

The hardest worker in all of town,
Elliot uses two canes to get around.

{peter cooridge}

His friends keep telling him how much younger he is starting to look.
Peter is afraid to tell them it is because of the yoga class he has been taking.

The Grandfathers are finally finished and now available.

Which ones are your favorites?

Do any remind you of someone you know?

I'd love to hear your stories~

The one with the lazy eye...

2011-01-02T11:39:00.001-07:00

2010-12-31T14:46:00.001-07:00

next up....

2010-12-31T13:38:00.000-07:00

Opens Friday, January 7

Noteworthy*Paper+Press

I hope to see you there!

Sneak peek...

2010-12-31T13:13:00.001-07:00

Working hard the last day of 2010. Pushing all of my sadness into my pencils... Happy New Year everyone!

treasures!

2010-12-21T10:45:00.001-07:00

All sorts of wonderful things are coming home with me- even this Hermes rocket! A traveling typewriter in its own leather case!

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.5

some things never change.

2010-12-18T10:02:00.002-07:00

Always portraits, always pretty ladies... This is one of my pencil drawings from when I was 13. I think my grandmother wishes I still would draw a bit more realistically.*_*

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.5

touchdown!

2010-12-17T11:32:00.001-07:00

I made it to Pennsylvania! I'll be blogging and posting from my phone for the next three weeks, so you'll be getting lots of pictures but not too much text.

I started the first set of grandfathers for the next show this morning. Now we are off to drop off the rental. Happy Friday!

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.5

Last day!

2010-12-14T11:28:00.001-07:00

Today is the last day to purchase items from my shops! I am headed to Pennsylvania tomorrow afternoon, and will ship out all orders tomorrow morning. I will be taking a pile of aceos with me so that I do not have to shut everything down completely, and everything else will become available again on January 8th.

I currently have $15 wood-mounted prints at Unconventional Ida.

...and a sweet new sale section {originals} in my Big Cartel shop.

Happy Shopping!

New!

2010-12-10T15:19:00.000-07:00

Wood-mounted prints are now available at Unconventional Ida!

oh, boy!

2010-12-08T06:06:00.000-07:00

Thought I would share a few boys from my sketchbook with you this morning~

Happy Wednesday!

long, uncreative day

2010-12-07T20:16:00.001-07:00

Things have been completely hectic in my life lately. The three-day UC holiday fair was a blast. I was able to meet some really awesome people, and find some new goods to crush on {like the jewelry from Gem & Eye Designs}. I'm trading one fair in for another, and now I am getting ready for the MADE fair on Sunday. Below is a picture of my booth.

I am going to put some paper up between the panels so that it seems a bit more solid when one is looking straight at it. I am excited about all of my new products for the holiday season. I have bunches of new greeting card and postcard designs {a few have even sold out already}, ten new pocket mirrors, and I've started carrying wood mounted prints. I love them!

I hope to get a few of these new products up and listed for you soon. For me, taking decent photos of my work is very time consuming, and right now I am focused on making sure I have enough stock for the MADE fair.

I received great news from James at Second Space Gallery that "The Color of My Childhood" sold within the first hour of the opening! It was wonderful to hear, especially since I nearly gave up on that piece altogether.

And finally, the last day of the art fair my phone decided to completely give up on life. Today, I succumbed and purchased my first smartphone {any fun apps you'd like to recommend?}. Even though I spent nearly all day at the Verizon store, I am a bit excited about it because now I can post short updates on my blog while I am back in Pennsylvania {no internet at the grandparents}. I will be working on my solo show opening in January, so I will be sure to share a few sneak peeks with you. *^_^* I think the camera on my phone may take better pictures than the camera that I own. How funny is that? Santa, are you listening?

I'll try to be better this week about posting some photos of my MADE fair prep. Hopefully I'll get a few better booth shots on Sunday, too!

Find me...

2010-12-03T07:51:00.001-07:00

at the UC Holiday Fair!

For those of you in the Missoula area, I'll be at the UC Holiday Fair today {9-6} and tomorrow {9-5}. Stop by and say hello! I currently have all of my online shops closed up, but don't worry, everything will reopen on Sunday.

And for those of you in the Spokane area, the Lipstick and Rouge show at the Second Space Gallery opens tonight. Swing by and check out my piece if you get a chance!

I hope that everyone is having a terrific week!

winter wonderland

2010-11-29T13:08:00.002-07:00

{views from my home & studio}

whew.

2010-11-28T11:25:00.001-07:00

Sorry for the break in posts. Between the steady stream of guests we've had in our home, and my preparation for the upcoming holiday fairs, I haven't had that much time to post {or take any decent pictures of what I've been working on}.

Some great news I received last week~

The Color of my Childhood was selected for the "lipstick & Rouge" show at Spokane's Second Space Gallery! I packaged her up and shipped her off yesterday. I believe the show opens December 3 {for those of you in the Spokane area}.

I will also have my original work, pocket mirrors, and journals at Tasty in Seattle. I am choosing eight of my originals to be included in their upcoming GIFTED show {opening December 8}.

I have been working on so many new things outside of the norm {for me}. The first is jewelry {some of which I have already shared} and also sculpture! The pieces below are created with polymer clay, acrylic paint, wood block, coffee stained vintage book paper, and moss & twigs. These are my first two attempts, and I can't wait to make & share more!

I also have brand new pocket mirrors {ten new designs}, greeting cards, & postcards! I'll work on getting some great shots so that I can share them with you before the holidays! I've designed some sweet new packaging for all of my goods, too.

*******************************************************************

Finally, a little sad news. My grandfather's pancreatic cancer has returned, and become stage iv. He and my grandmother were just here last month {their first flight in 60 years!}, but cancer is a nasty beast and is taking his energy quickly. My sister and I will be flying out to spend the holidays with him and our grandmother. I take off the 16th of December, so all of my shops will be closed on the morning of the 15th. If you plan on last minute Christmas shopping, please do so before then. Everything will re-open when I return on January 6. I will not have internet access during that time, and will be focused only on helping my family, spreading good cheer, and the creation of my solo show {opening January 7}.

*********************************************************************

I hope you all enjoy the last few days of November!

It is a winter wonderland here!

IF*sneaky

2010-11-19T10:58:00.000-07:00

{no. 8}

It is easy to be sneaky when you have two birds for eyes...

looking back

2010-11-18T20:26:00.002-07:00

She's finished~ ~~and now available~~!

{looking back}

hello, good-bye . new work

2010-11-16T11:02:00.001-07:00

{among the poppies}

I finished {among the poppies} yesterday and it was snatched up by one of my collectors almost immediately. It appears I won't be spending too much time with this pretty lady, so I've decided to make another~

I hope to have her finished up and listed this afternoon. Then I plan on taking some close up shots of my earrings with my new tripod {thanks Nichole for pushing me over the edge}. I have a few commissions to work on after that, and then finally choose the pieces that will become my new pocket mirror collection. What's on your plate today?

forest, monsters & mountains...

2010-11-14T21:13:00.001-07:00

{please enjoy my newest collection}

Each wooden circle and block is hand-painted black and then lightly sanded to distress the edges.

I create the illustrations with colored pencil, and then seal them with a semi-gloss spray.

The earrings are drilled and fitted with brass earwires, affixed to a card, and each pair is tucked neatly inside its own cotton muslin bag.

{since each earring is hand-illustrated, no pair will ever be exactly alike}

Earrings aren't your cup of tea?

Make your shelf or mantle happy with these one of a kind art blocks!

Click on the pictures, or visit Unconventional Ida to view more!

2010-11-14T19:56:00.001-07:00

sale

2010-11-14T10:50:00.001-07:00

pssst

2010-11-13T16:57:00.001-07:00

Guess what's in the bag...

In remembrance..

2010-11-11T09:05:00.001-07:00

dirty little wednesday

2010-11-10T12:53:00.000-07:00

My hands got a little dirty this morning,

my blocks turned a little black,

and my hugs got a little makeover!

the start of a new collection

2010-11-09T16:30:00.001-07:00

hand cut

hand painted

hand sanded

...and ready to become my next collection.

winter show & fair dates

2010-11-09T15:36:00.005-07:00

Below is a list of where you can find me this winter. I will be adding and updating as new opportunities pop up. If you are in the area, I hope to see you!

Upcoming Shows & Fairs:

Swoon Gallery
Solo Show: Souls
Opening: October 23
Los Angeles, CA

Helena Fall Artwalk
One night only~ Cash & Carry
November 12, 6-9pm
40 S. Park, Helena, MT

University Center Holiday Art Fair
December 2, 3, & 4
University of Montana, Missoula, MT

Second Space Gallery
Group Show: Lipstick and Rouge
Opening: December 3
610 W Second Ave, Spokane, WA

Tasty
Group Show: Gifted
Opening: December 10
7513 Greenwood Ave N, Seattle, WA

MADE fair
December 12
Elk's Lodge
112 N. Pattee, Missoula, MT

Noteworthy Paper & Press
Solo Show: The Grandfathers

Opening: January 7, 5:30-8:30
101 S. Higgins, Missoula, MT

Bernice's Bakery
Solo Show: Dreams of Spring
Opening: February 4
109 S. 3rd W., Missoula, MT

Tasty
Group Show: Tickled Pink
Opening: February 11
7513 Greenwood Ave N, Seattle, WA

Find my journals, postcards, & more at:

Artsiehorse: 137 E. Main, Missoula, MT

Noteworthy Paper & Press: 101 S. Higgins, Missoula, MT

Shakespeare & Co.: 103 S. 3rd Street W., Missoula, MT

Originals, Prints, Trinkets & Trifles:

unconventionalida.bigcartel.com

unconventionalida.etsy.com

stellalatwinski.etsy.com

strange sculptures

2010-11-08T12:25:00.000-07:00

I love these sculptures from Buzzard Barf!

{click on the photos below to visit the listing}

They are so tiny, strange, and oddly intriguing!

I think I may have to treat myself to one...

the unlucky 13 get a listing facelift

2010-11-07T09:52:00.004-07:00

{before}

{after}

A while back I toyed around with changing my listings to photographs of the pieces. I decided that the scanned images looked cleaner, and stuck with them as the first pictures of my available originals. I figured~ the photos are still in the listing, so people will see them.

It is wishful thinking on my part, and I should know better. I can't guarantee with any certainty that anyone is viewing all of the images in my listing.

{no. 7}

I need to remember that these pictures are extremely important in explaining my work to those who cannot physically hold it. {Thank you to the little bird who reminded me of this}. I hear from buyers all of the time that the listings do not do my pieces justice. It is true~ my characters are not flat, scanned images. They are on beautiful blocks of wood~ three dimensional objects. I realize that is hard to see at first glance from the images that I have been posting. So, I am going to get over my need for a nice, orderly shop page. Instead, it will be filled with photographs that will allow those who view my art to experience it a bit more.

What do you think about the change? Does it help you see my work in a new light? Add to your experience?

a short film to share~

2010-11-06T00:33:00.002-06:00

IF*afterwards

2010-11-05T11:06:00.000-06:00

{she thought she would live forever}

She did not give one thought to the fact that it was hunting season,

until afterwards...

mew!

2010-11-04T22:15:00.002-06:00

I decided to take a break from my traditional illustration tonight and play! I pulled Mew out of my sketchbook, cleaned her up digitally, and added some color.

Facts about Mew

Mew loves all things smaller than her.

Every time we go to the store,

she has to count

the toothbrushes on the shelf.

She calls them "My Toothbrushii"

Mew collects acorns in pairs;

however, she collects socks singly.

Mew always wants you to have a lovely day.

I made a little owl, too!
What do you think?

a tough day at the office....

2010-11-04T13:00:00.002-06:00

Yesterday, I was working on my submission for the Lipstick & Rouge juried show at the Second Space Gallery.

I was nearly finished {and working on the border} when I made a line that I didn't like. I tried to fix it~ and the second line was worse than the first. As I was working to fix the second line, I began to have a familiar feeling~ a bad hair day.

You know the feeling~ standing in front of the mirror, getting ready for {insert big event/meeting here} and your hair won't cooperate. Pull it up, put it down, tuck a hair here, pin a hair there... before you know it, your hair is a sad mess and you just should have left it alone in the first place.

Well, this is exactly what happened to my poor piece yesterday. Of course, the third fix looked worse than the second, the fourth worse than the third. By the time I was forty-five minutes deep into trying to "fix" the illustration, I was two seconds away from covering the whole thing up with black ink.

This is new to me~ I have never completely destroyed {as in, covering the entire thing with black ink} a piece before. When working on art, I try not to acknowledge mishaps as mistakes. I take a moment to remember that I am not fully in charge of what I create, and drawing on wood does lend itself to certain imperfections from time to time.

I took a deep breath, and knew in my heart that I couldn't destroy this girl in front of me. I had invested time in her~ she hadn't done anything to disappoint me. It was just the background that I was displeased with; so I got rid of it. The table saw came out and my 10.25 x 9.25-inch piece became 5 x 9.25 inches.

I pulled the ink and woodburning lower on the illustration and added stars~ it became a wonderful dark sky. Then I added more burning to the bottom, around her droopy socks and the aspen trees & poppies.

{the color of my childhood}

And the piece was happy, and the illustrator was happy...

What are some of the ways you choose to deal with things when your work isn't going your way? Do you set it aside? Work through it?

good morning

2010-11-04T10:21:00.001-06:00

Humbert is filled up & ready for a trip to the post office~

I hope that everyone enjoys their lovely packages!

Dia de los Muertos

2010-11-02T13:04:00.004-06:00

Today, the 2nd of November, is Dia de los Muertos {Day of the Dead}~ a Mexican holiday to celebrate and honor friends and family members who have passed away.

Sugar skulls are some of the amazing decorations traditionally used, as well as the image of La Calavera Catrina~ the elegant skull. Some carry around these skulls as a good luck charm.

I have made a few beautiful miniature fine art prints of my Dia de los Muertos girls for you to enjoy. They look wonderful framed {they are archival}, but you could also use them as bookmarks, small gifts, or even carry them around with you in your wallet for good luck~

{Purchase at Big Cartel}

{Purchase at Etsy}

I also have two original ACEOs {artist trading cards} available~

{la catrina iv}

{la catrina v}

...And, of course, stop by Swoon to view the original framed {and wood} pieces that are still available for purchase...

bloom . new hand-illustrated moleskines

2010-11-01T13:29:00.000-06:00

I worked on a new design for my hand-illustrated moleskines over the weekend. I love the way they turned out on the new blue and red moleskine cahiers!

Stop by Unconventional Ida and check them out!

buttons & mirrors!

2010-10-28T21:14:00.002-06:00

I've stocked both my etsy and big cartel shops with limited edition pocket mirrors and pinback buttons {only a small handful left}~

Enjoy!

special delivery

2010-10-27T13:54:00.000-06:00

I received my original mixed media painting "People are Mean" from Micki Wilde at The Secret Hermit last week, and I absolutely love it! {I nabbed the photo from her listing} This piece is so playful & mischievous~ I am excited it traveled safely across the ocean to live in my home.

Micki has an awesome blog, too! Give it a visit if you have a chance~

shop update

2010-10-26T19:24:00.000-06:00

Bookmarks are finally in the shop!

I have also created & listed a handful of beautiful aceo prints.

They are printed on velvet fine art paper with vivid ultrachrome inks.

The quality and level of detail is absolutely amazing!

I am very happy.

Most of today was spent working on packaging for my journals and pins.

Here is a little sneak peek of what I will be listing in Unconventional Ida tomorrow~

I hope you had a wonderful Tuesday!

{inspiration}

2010-10-25T16:10:00.000-06:00

*there is nothing quite like fresh flowers to brighten up a gloomy autumn day*

After a wonderful visit with my grandparents I am back to my normal posting routine. Thank you all for being patient with me while my blogging has been a bit sparse.

I have a busy week ahead and lots of new items to add to the shops. Keep checking the blog for updates!

I hope that everyone has been having a lovely October~

IF*racing

2010-10-22T07:02:00.000-06:00

Thirteen flowers and thirteen tattoos

for the thirteen unlucky men

who never made it to their wedding day.

She was no longer racing to the alter....

new work

2010-10-18T12:15:00.000-06:00

A few new monsters at Unconventional Ida!

{tratello & fig}

People were sometimes unsure of who the monster was~
Trattello, or his favorite pet, Fig.

{bliss}

She knew that if she closed her eyes and relaxed,
she would be able to remember the smell of the ocean.

IF*spooky

2010-10-18T07:52:00.001-06:00

{isabel}

I didn't look at this week's Illustration Friday word until this morning. One of the girls from my Swoon show is perfect! I apologize for being a little lax on my posting these last few days~ my grandparents have flown in from Pennsylvania for a visit, and I have been enjoying my time with them. It is the first time they've flown since the 1950s. I am so proud of them!

I will be staying out at the lake this upcoming week. I am bringing a lot of work with me {like the bookmarks that I still haven't finished}. Hopefully I will have it ready to share with you by Friday.

Today? I need to get in gear and finish straightening up. My grandparents are making the trek to Missoula to see my house for the very first time. I can't wait!

Have a wonderful Monday~

I know I will!

Souls

2010-10-17T12:52:00.001-06:00

Visit Swoon for a sneak peek!

the desk

2010-10-13T13:20:00.001-06:00

Furniture provides me with a great deal of inspiration. When I see a beautiful, well-crafted piece, my heart starts beating rapidly and I get weak in the knees.

I do not discriminate between types of furniture~ I love dressers as equally as I love chairs; tables are on the same level as bookshelves. The one thing that separates one from the other is, of course, design.

*sometimes I wish I lived in a home larger than nine hundred square feet,
but only so that I could collect more furniture*

A friend sent me a link to a terrific short from Aaron Trinder about "the desk" which you can see below. Due to the upsurge in mobility of technology, many people feel that the traditional use of the desk is coming to an end. Why be tethered to a slab of wood {or plastic, glass, metal~ your preference} when you can get your work done anywhere? Local coffee shops, park benches, and living room sofas are now fair game.

Why do you feel that the desk is necessary/obsolete?

Below, you will see the evolution of my workspace throughout the creation of a piece. Later, I will share with you an image of the same space after the end of a day. I always need to start with a clean surface, but it certainly never ends up that way.

.bookmarks.

2010-10-12T13:44:00.000-06:00

Peekaboo!

A sneak peek of what will soon be in the shop~

This week I am working on a series of bookmarks for you. They will be original {one of a kind} ink and colored pencil illustrations drawn on heavyweight coffee-stained paper.

*I will not be making copies to mass produce.*

Every bookmark comes straight from my pen to you. Once I am finished with a batch, each character will be laminated so they will last you through years of book reading.

I will be sure to keep you posted on when I plan to list them {they should be up by the end of the week}.

Have a lovely Tuesday~

{inspiration}

2010-10-11T11:30:00.001-06:00

Hair!

As I am getting my Dia de los Muertos girls ready for my Swoon Gallery show, I am trying to incorporate a few new hairstyles into the mix. While the image above is a little excessive {can you even imagine how exhausting it would be to carry around all of that hair?}, I am excited to soon share with you the new styles I have come up with for the girls in my portraits. I'll keep you posted...

IF*transportation

2010-10-08T09:04:00.001-06:00

{.if wishes hung on clouds.}

He loved to use his own two feet as his form of transportation. That way, he could take the time to dream of a world where wishes hung on clouds...

oh, hello

2010-10-07T14:58:00.003-06:00

{.oh, hello.}

Recipe for "Oh, hello."

1- 4 x 6 inch {10,2 x 15,2 cm} piece of Arches hot press paper
2- cups of finely ground coffee
1- imagination
1- micron pen {01}
1- crimson lake colored pencil
1- terra cotta colored pencil

Make a strong batch of coffee in French press. Soak paper in coffee bath. Remove and bake in oven at low temp for 5-10 minutes. Place paper in a wood press to straighten. Let sit overnight. Once paper is flat and dry, use micron pen and imagination to bring the character to life. Top it off with a sprinkle of colored pencil to create rosy cheeks and knees.

Serves: one happy home and those who visit.

This illustration is available for purchase.

treasury + gratitude

2010-10-07T11:14:00.001-06:00

{.felt-a-licious.}

featuring the work of~

.{This week I am grateful for}.

The weeks that I do not have a cold

My husband's cooking

Two wonderful dogs who curl up in the sunshine with me

Friends who come to all of my art openings~ no matter how small

My sister

What inspires happiness in you this week?

hello, my name is stella latwinski

2010-10-06T18:41:00.002-06:00

Q. {I thought you disappeared. Where were you all summer?}

A. I would love to say that I was off in some foreign country, hiking around with a backpack and a sketchpad. The truth is, I was working what I consider a {big girl} job. After graduation, in May, I was hired as an economist for an environmental consulting firm.

Q. {You are an economist?}

A. Yes, I studied economics for both my undergraduate and master's degrees.

Q. {So, are you working as both an economist and an illustrator?}

A. Two weeks ago I was presented with the most amazing opportunity to go back to my art full time. While I enjoyed my work as an economist, and those that I worked with, I do have to admit that I missed my wood and pencils. I chose to dive back in to my life as a full-time artist.

Q. {I have to ask~ why did you change your name? Who is Stella Latwinski?}

A. I apologize for the abrupt name change for those of you that have been following me as k*smith. The truth is, now that I am 100% focused on art as a career, I needed to set myself apart from Unconventional Ida a bit. Unconventional Ida is just one of my story lines, and I have always wanted the freedom to break free and create work that is not confined to Ida's world. The problem with using k*smith, or even my full name~ Kelly Smith is that it is an extremely common name. There is even another portrait artist by the name of Kelly Smith. I needed a name that would stand out both in searches, and in people's minds. I chose to honor my great-grandmother and take her name~ Stella Latwinski. Going forward, I will be creating work under this name.

Q. {Does that mean Unconventional Ida is going to disappear?}

A. Absolutely not. The story is going to get even better. Now that I have a clear focus for Ida, I am excited to bring back more stories and characters! I even have plans for a monthly periodical.

*************************

I just want to say thank you to those who stuck around and didn't give up on me during my brief disappearance in the art world. I am so excited to be back! Please feel free to send any comments or questions my way, either through this blog or via e-mail~ unconventionalida.{at}.gmail.{dot}.com.

Have a lovely day~

Stella L.

the longboard project

2010-10-06T12:46:00.001-06:00

My poor, neglected longboard project....

My husband makes beautiful longboards out of old water skis. I love his so much that I wanted one of my own. I started the illustration on my deck almost a year ago and, apparently, I never got around to finish it. Today I am going to tackle it so that I can spray it, add the trucks & wheels, and get out there with D and the pups before it snows.

I wish that you could see the shimmer from the gold pigment that I dusted it with in the photos. She's going to be so pretty~ I can't wait!

my bag

2010-10-05T15:49:00.000-06:00

I first saw the travelteq laptop bag featured on design*sponge last January. I fell in love with it immediately...and, of course, knew it was way out of my price range. I felt a tinge of jealousy for people that could walk around with this bag and then quickly moved on.

When I graduated in May, my parents asked what I would like as a gift and mentioned possibly buying me a briefcase. I imagined myself carrying around one of those hard rectangles with the little flippy brass locks on the top and chuckled. "Mom," I said, "I certainly do not need a briefcase."

After a few days of thinking about what they could get me as a gift that I would appreciate for the rest of my life, I thought once again about the beautiful bag I had seen back in January.

Apparently, it was meant to be.

As with most online purchases, I get a little nervous before I buy something. Will it look anything like it does in the advertisements? Will I be disappointed?

The travelteq bag exceeded my expectations. The stitching is impeccable, the leather is sublime, and the best part~ there are so many pockets within the bag that I can keep everything organized perfectly!

To see the tagged items from inside my bag, stop by my flickr page.

step.by.step

2010-10-05T13:14:00.001-06:00

Well, really only two steps with this one. It took me so long to get into it, that I didn't want to take the time to scan every fifteen minutes or so. I had a difficult time with this piece of paper from the start. It just did not know what it wanted to be. All I know is that I wanted it to be something beautiful, soft, and elegant. At one point I had even set it aside to start with a fresh piece. It was only a matter of seconds and I had convinced my hands they needed to push on~ something would spring from this persnickety piece of coffee-stained Arches hot press paper in front of me.

I am so glad I stuck with it.

I came up with this pretty little sketch and got to work with some color.

.{the heart}.

I hope you receive as much enjoyment from looking at her, as I did from creating her~

{inspiration}

2010-10-04T17:37:00.007-06:00

She vowed to protect him from anything that could cause harm...

{the guardian}

...even if it was a monster disguised as a perfect starry night.

I have been sitting with this illustration for quite some time. I had originally inked it in late spring, but ended up putting it in my "I'm not really happy with you so I am just going to set you aside" pile. Something made me pick it up and work on it today. Perhaps a hidden urge to work on something outside of the melancholy portraits I am used to? This illustration feels a little sweeter to me...still a little sinister, but in a gentler sort of way.

After bringing it out of my misfits pile, I sat down and got to work. Usually, when I am working I will listen to music or the occasional podcast, however, since about 4:45 pm yesterday I have been obsessed with lectures on ted.com. Now, I have listened to the occasional one or two from time to time, but right now I am addicted. {Sitting with my journal, I kept myself up until well after midnight last night listening to one right after the other~ writing down ideas and other things that came to mind.} These lectures have become a terrific substitute for the staleness I have felt with my music lately.

Anyway, the point of my one paragraph ramble above is that I had on an incredible talk {his last lecture} from Randy Pausch while coloring this piece. I want to share it with you. For me, it was truly worth the hour and fifteen minutes.

IF*beneath

2010-10-01T09:29:00.000-06:00

Alice Priscilla's elongated neck provided

an ample view of everything beneath her.

treasury + gratitude

2010-09-30T10:05:00.000-06:00

{.welcoming october.}

featuring the work of~

.{This week I am grateful for}.

The late September warm front

Seeing old farm signs on road trips

*they remind me of home*

Being back at my art full-time

Long Sunday trail runs with friends

Blackberry pie & Vanilla ice cream

What inspires happiness in you this week?

shop update

2010-09-28T11:37:00.001-06:00

{Sister Kiute and Ghost-cat}

{Sister Kiute wants to be a princess}

{Sister Kiute and the bumblebee}

{Sister Kiute wants to get married}

{family portrait i}

{family portrait ii}

{Sister Kiute wants to be a frog}

step.by.step

2010-09-27T14:53:00.003-06:00

Bec Winnel uses these on her wonderful blog,

and I thought it would be fun to try.

{a nice little alternative to the static pictures I post for my step.by.steps}
I used gickr to put it together for you.

She was my first project of the morning~

the beginning of a small series inspired by

{Victorian hair wreaths}

{ball-jointed dolls}

I hope that everyone is having a lovely Monday~

{inspiration}

2010-09-27T11:27:00.000-06:00

*the victorian hair wreath*

I have never come across a hair wreath before, but

I will surely be on the lookout for one on any upcoming antiquing adventures.

They are a family tree, of sorts, and usually have documentation with them of who's hair was used, their age, and if one is really lucky~

the family background.

I tend to be drawn to things that are pretty~ in a creepy sort of way.

I think these Victorian hair wreaths would fit right in with the rest of my collections.

I am certainly going to use them as inspiration this coming week!

IF*old-fashioned

2010-09-24T08:08:00.001-06:00

{the reply}

While his method of communication may have been a bit old-fashioned,

he knew that his carrier pigeon, Harriet, would always deliver his messages.

playmates

2010-09-23T14:19:00.000-06:00

First, I stained the wood with a dark brown and gold acrylic wash.

Then, I sketched out the girls and began the inking process.

I had an idea to create the highlights in the clouds with sandpaper.

I love the way it turned out!

Time for a little color...

...and voila~ the piece is complete!

{playmates}

It is my biggest piece to date, and I really enjoyed creating it.

What do you think of the little pink knees?

I'm on design*sponge!!

2010-09-23T09:37:00.003-06:00

Remember the post I made a few weeks back

about the old stair steps I found in my closet?
*

Well, I turned them into a jewelry rack,

and it made it onto design*sponge!

It is one of my favorite decor/design blogs

and I am soooooo excited!
*
I bound the two boards together
with a nail on one side and a hemp tie on the other.
Then, I spray painted old silver locker hooks from home resource
and attached them to the bottom board.
*

There is a little lip between the two boards

that is perfect for my brooches and belt buckles.

I had a great time making it!

first attempt at making a drawing video

2010-09-22T14:37:00.000-06:00

Hahaha. I'm so glad I spent all morning working on this little video.
It is not very good, but it is also my first one ever, so I am going to cut myself a little slack.

*^_^*

I promise I will try to get better!
Two things I learned from the experience:
{1} Try to color without my hand covering up the actual drawing
{2} Try to keep the piece in the frame the whole time
Baby steps, right?

Here is the finished product~

la catrina {iii}

a horse is a horse, of course of course....

2010-09-22T09:39:00.001-06:00

{castor and pollux}

*the gemini twins*

new art cards

2010-09-22T09:35:00.000-06:00

I have a one-night show coming up October 1

and I am creating these beautiful coffee-stained art cards

for the occasion and also for the shop.

They are available for purchase as I make them~

*first come, first serve*

{the appearance}

{lepidoptera i}

{rabbits}

dia de los muertos

2010-09-21T12:25:00.000-06:00

I have been having so much fun working on my coffee-stained paper!

I've been busy working on a series of Dia de los Muertos illustrations.

Here are the first two~

la catrina {i}

la catrina {ii}

IF*proverb

2010-09-10T09:36:00.000-06:00

A best friend is like a four-leaf clover~

hard to find and lucky to have.

{no. 5} made the paper

2010-09-09T11:45:00.001-06:00

Thanks Indy staff!

the 4th floor

2010-09-03T10:47:00.000-06:00

I have found myself with a few extra days off from work

{Wednesday afternoon through Monday}

On Wednesday, I thought it best if I try to cram as much illustration work and promotion into the next five days as I possibly could.

Upon telling a dear friend my plans, she replied~

"Make sure you take at least one day for you."

I thought, perhaps, she did not get it.

Illustration is for me.

Her words stuck with me the rest of Wednesday and into Thursday morning.

What would I choose to do today if I did not choose to draw?

Aha~

Rip my house apart and then put it back together!

So I did.

{although it is not quite back together}

One project for the day was to raise my closet bar so that I could fit a dresser underneath my hanging clothes.

In order to do this, removing an old shelf was necessary.

When I took the shelf out, I found that the boards were old stairsteps!
*

*
I love owning an older home.
It always seems like when you do something nice for her
{show a little love}
she will give back a gift~
a thank you.
*
I think that these steps
will look great hanging on the wall above my headboard.
Perhaps when I dream I will end up on the 4th floor?
*

IF*dessert

2010-09-03T09:47:00.002-06:00

"What would you like for dessert?" I asked.
"Candy," she said. "Just candy."

coffee and paper play {ii}

2010-09-01T21:37:00.000-06:00

*Tonight's Project*

coffee and paper play {i}

2010-08-28T21:44:00.002-06:00

A little more "project" for today than I was planning,

but it was great fun!

I filled up my french press

with the largest amount of finely ground coffee

it had ever seen~

gathered together a bit of paper~

and got to work.

A little soak~

a few minutes in the oven~

and it was ready for

imagination, ink & color...

{The Unlucky 13}

2010-08-28T13:39:00.003-06:00

I have been quite absent from this little blog for nearly the entire summer.

I will have a full explanation in a later post.

Right now I would like to share my newest creations with you.

A fashion show of new carnival characters,

complete with a bride at the end.

They are

*{The Unlucky 13}*

Thirteen wonderful new Portraits

that are part of my current show

Monstrival: Where Monsters and the Carnival Collide

Each is available* through

Unconventional Ida

{no. 1}

Cheeks is the first and oldest member of {the Unlucky 13}.

He couldn't ask for a better group of friends.

{no. 2}

She had always hoped that something beautiful
would spring from her pain.
It is a shame she cannot see it.

{no. 3}

Tabitha is pleased that their monster sits on their shoulders.

She grows tired of looking at her sister's face sometimes.

{no. 4}

The better to see you with, my dear.

{no. 5}

The mystic, the seer, the cyclops.
Do you dare ask her what your future holds?

{no. 6}

He feels lucky that he is still able to breathe on land.
He knows, however, that his days are numbered.
Eventually, he will need to leave his life behind and return to the sea.

{no. 7}

People feel sorry for Elsa, but they shouldn't.

She is really quite lazy and loves having people carry her.

{no. 8}

Just because she has no eyes,

it does not mean she cannot see.

{no. 9}

Patiently, she waits for her egg to hatch.

Will her child look like her?

{no. 10}

Nothing makes a monster happier

than spending time with other monsters.

{no. 11}

The snake charmer yearns for the day

her snakes are brave enough

to slither on their own.

{no. 12}

Sometimes he hates sticking the false teeth in his mouth.

Would you want someone thinking you resemble a mole rat?

{no. 13}

Thirteen flowers and thirteen tattoos

for the thirteen unlucky men

who never made it to their wedding day.

Thanks for looking!

Have a lovely day~

new work

2010-04-20T06:15:00.001-06:00

I have been quite busy with my thesis,

but I have still managed to

create a few new pieces for you!

{the catch}

{star light, star bright}

{the reply}

{she dreamt of budapest}

Sadly, my blog may suffer a bit in the next month.
{as if it hasn't already}
My thesis absolutely must be written by mid-May!
{I need to lock myself in a room somewhere for 14+ hours a day}
One hundred pages~ here we go...

IF*detective

2010-04-16T04:15:00.000-06:00

Dr. Maxwell Klein is quite the detective.

For the last 37 years he has known the whereabouts of practically

everyone in his town.

His wife fears that he may never retire.

IF*linked

2010-04-09T09:20:00.000-06:00

Sisters~

linked together,

forever.

meet bluebird

2010-03-30T08:27:00.000-06:00

Sorry for my absence.

D & I were at a lovely wedding in the Bahamas.

It was absolutely beautiful, and if we didn't have two wonderful pups at home,

I would have tried to stay.

{thereby avoiding the thesis that is looming over my head and has not been written yet}

Meanwhile, I had open studio hours yesterday.

Sweet, little Bluebird is my newest creation.

{bluebird}

IF*expired

2010-03-19T07:45:00.000-06:00

{the house eater}

It appeared

that the house's time

had expired.

IF*subterranean

2010-03-12T07:55:00.001-07:00

Alfred's favorite album of all time is

"Subterranean"

by the Swedish melodic death metal band In Flames.

I would have never guessed.

Strange, isn't it?

gratitude + tiffany patterson

2010-03-11T08:40:00.000-07:00

Today, I am grateful for Illustration Friday.

I have met so many people,

and have had many opportunities arise

since I began submitting in 2007.

{thank you Amanda M. for telling me all about it}

I exchanged a few e-mails with Tiffany Patterson{the terrific artist below}a couple of months ago.

I absolutely adore her style!

Tiffany has a fun blog~ Ugly Yellow

and a beautiful portfolio~ Curse Words and Birds

It was great to find out that she lives just a couple of hours away,

and has even made a pit stop in my little town.
A little art friendship has been formed~

I can't wait to have one of her pieces hanging in my house!

{the ocean is a liar}

{tiffany's moo cards}

{gratitude}

I am grateful that I am inspired to work in my new studio.

I am grateful that my thesis is finally coming together.

I am grateful for friends who stop by my house and bring me treats {loaded with sugar}.

I am grateful that I didn't pass out during my endurance swim this morning.

I am grateful for my little nephew~

his first overnight stay with Aunt & Uncle couldn't have been better!

Have a lovely Thursday~

the first three...

2010-03-08T20:05:00.000-07:00

Since moving into the new space

I have been inspired to create three new pieces.

{the meeting place}

{samuel meeler}

{forgiveness}

All three originals are now available at Unconventional Ida

all moved in!

2010-03-08T14:49:00.000-07:00

I finally moved in on Saturday night!

Here is the empty corner~

A little progress.

All moved in!

Time to get to work~

IF*brave

2010-03-05T07:37:00.001-07:00

She new that she must be brave~

It would be a long journey through the dark cave,

but it was the only way to get through the mountains.

ida.s sketchbook

Mutual of Omaha - My Aha Moment

I'm happy!

This past year...

reporting from a new location...

ON DECK Auction

tattoo tuesday

back to business

Monster Giveaway!

dreaming a little more...

IF*surrender

the need to create

Tickled Pink

Next up~ Dreams of Spring

monster valentines

Silly me...

A collaboration!

Next up...

The Grandfathers

The one with the lazy eye...

next up....

Sneak peek...

treasures!

some things never change.

touchdown!

Last day!

New!

oh, boy!

long, uncreative day

Find me...

winter wonderland

whew.

IF*sneaky

looking back

hello, good-bye . new work

forest, monsters & mountains...

sale

pssst

In remembrance..

dirty little wednesday

the start of a new collection

winter show & fair dates

strange sculptures

the unlucky 13 get a listing facelift

a short film to share~

IF*afterwards

mew!

a tough day at the office....

*good morning*

Dia de los Muertos

bloom . new hand-illustrated moleskines

buttons & mirrors!

special delivery

shop update

{inspiration}

IF*racing

new work

IF*spooky

Souls

the desk

.bookmarks.

{inspiration}

IF*transportation

oh, hello

treasury + gratitude

hello, my name is stella latwinski

the longboard project

my bag

step.by.step

{inspiration}

IF*beneath

treasury + gratitude

*shop update*

step.by.step

{inspiration}

IF*old-fashioned

playmates

I'm on design*sponge!!

first attempt at making a drawing video

a horse is a horse, of course of course....

good morning

shop update

the 4th floor

new work