Friday, November 14, 2008

A little announcement...

I've been a freelance illustrator for well over a decade and have worked with Copic now for 8 years. Very few things get me excited anymore about seeing my artwork published, seen, and used. In fact, the last time I got this excited was when Copic called me 6 years ago and offered me a full-time job instead of the freelance I usually do (oh and I have some storyboards that I worked up that are floating around Hollywood right now, but those are top secret so I can't be excited about those).

So what has me so excited? Let me tell you a little story...

Back in April I was getting ready to teach a certification class in Medford, OR. I had been blog hopping and I saw that some sweet papercrafter mentioned driving into Eugene recently. My little gears began turning... hmm, that person lives close to me, I wonder if they would like to come to a class in Medford?

So I e-mailed this person, whose name happens to be Cami. She contacts me and says,
"Why Medford, why not have a class in Eugene?"
"Ummm, OK, but I needed people to attend."
Cami said "How many?"
"I guess if we got 10 people together we could do it."
Cami says, "Give me two days."

I'll be darned, but she had 11 registered in two days and I had to get a location! One of the dear sweet people Cami got to come in for the class was a store from California, called Eclectic Paperie. Joy was her name, and she was such a gem! They both listened so well and paid attention and were excited about every little bit they learned in the class. All of the sweet ladies who attended that class were sooo nice (go visit Cami's blog for more info).

Now mind you, I'm NOT a papercrafter, I'm a graphic designer, artist, and illustrator. At the time of this class I maybe had like 10 stamps in my possession. None of which I really wanted to color on all day during a class (they were too small). To get pictures to color during the class I just dug through my computer and printed up a bunch of line artwork that we could work on.

I have a personal clipart collection that I've drawn over the years that is very extensive (If you can't tell, I draw and color a LOT). The whole class loved coloring my little pictures and I was happy that I got some use out of all that old artwork I had kicking around. Ideas began forming among class attendees...

We colored and Copic'd all day with lots of other fabulous papercrafters. Joy and Cami weren't leaving town for a few days, so the next day I got an e-mail asking if I wanted to get together. Sad to say, I was on kid duty so I invited them over to my place to play while I cleaned :) Within 10 min. they were at my house. For the next 3 hours they sat down and poured through every sketchbook I've drawn in the last 8 years. By the end of the evening they had a plan.

We're going to start a company to turn Marianne's artwork into stamps.

And so, after many months of hard work, rough ideas, and late nights drawing, may I introduce


There's a whole fabulous team, not just the three of us (we can't forget Kimberley!!). It's a company created by stampers, for stampers, and gives me a way to share all the artwork that I draw with everyone so they can have fun coloring it themselves :). OCL will have lots of other great papercrafting supplies and are expanding every day the cool things they offer.

My personal goal is to draw a little bit of everything. If you notice in the first release and with each release there is a variety of artwork and styles. That's because I like to draw a LOT. And I like to draw EVERYTHING. So those of you who have bugged me since I started this blog that I need to turn my artwork into stamps, I have listened, and I was way ahead of you.

What does this have to do with Copic?
Nothing. I still work for Copic, but OCL is my freelance outlet. Nothing on this blog will change. I'll still share coloring techniques using an unbiased mix of my own artwork and stamps from a variety of companies. Just know that if you are interested in coloring MY pictures yourself you now have a way to get them :). As a representative of Copic my goal is to teach EVERYONE to color anything (oh I almost forgot, I need to post more car designs and architecture since those people need pointers as well as papercrafters...so much to draw, so few colors :).

Stamping
However, because of the new company I had to make a card. Here is my version of the Anna Mae stamp set. She's patterned after my own little AnnaMae, with her little blond curls that flip up at the ends. I turned her upside down, stamped each leg individually so she can be doing a handstand, and doodled on the dress pattern with a 0.1 mm multiliner that matches the tissue paper. She's colored with BG11, R81, R30, Y21, E50, E11, BV02, and E31. I added little bling rhinestones and colored the white silk ribbon with my BV02 marker so it matches. I attached the ribbon with a white brad and smile happily hangs off that ribbon.

If you get a chance, please stop by and check out the cool things at OCL. Also check out the great artwork posted by the ladies who have been working all week on sneak peeks.

Have a great weekend and enjoy those new stamps! I'll continue next week with my posts on coloring large areas.


56 comments:

Kim Ross said...

I was lucky to have been there in the class that day, too. Heartiest congratulations & many happy returns!

Courtney said...

Congrats Marianne! I think this venture is the perfect team.

Jan Scholl said...

Duh! I looked at the name and said I know that name. But the dots didn't connect. But I still flagged the beaver set and sent an email to several peeps asking if they want to combine an order. I need those beavers as hubby just retired and is bugging the beejeebers out of me but his scout group is the beavers. Hey make some little boy scout stamps!

now if only you would come to michigan and teach a class. It would be worth your time!

Lori Barnett said...

HELLO!!! That's not LITTLE!!! That's HUGE! Congrats :)

Ria Zonnestraaltje said...

CONGRATULATIONS :) that sounds soo exiting ;) I wish You could come and teach me ;) hahahah but I guess The Netherlands is just a bit off route ;) LOL

Going to check out OCL right away :)

good luck!!

hugs Ria

Laura said...

Woohoo! Fantastic! Your drawings are so fantastic, so it is about time to make stamps of them. Yippee!

Tracey said...

Congrats!! I have been seeing the sneak peeks for these all over the place and they look fabulous!

Vicki G said...

Congratulations Marianne. You images are the SWEETEST............I have had a wonderful time colouring them!!!

I am impressed.......your first card!!!! Perhaps Joy and Cami will have you turned into a papercrafter sooner than you know!!!

I am VERY excited for you!!!!!

See you in Anaheim

Vicki

Kerry Johnson said...

Congrats Marianne!! I have always been in awe of your drawings - so I'm so glad you can share them with us all! Wishing you tons of success!

Lila H said...

CONGRATULATIONS!!!! You are an AWESOME illustrator!!!! I fondly remember the breakfast in Eugene, thumbing through your sketchbooks - and all that hypothetic talk..... I've truly loved coloring your drawings now turned to rubber!!! Wishing you continued inspiration and success.

Andi (RrlScrapGal) said...

Congratulations!!!!!! How very exciting!!!

Susan said...

WOW! Congratulations - that's not a little announcement, that's a great big wonderful announcement.

Kim Williams said...

Wonderful news! I love your little Anna Mae card, especially they way you used your Hanna paper on it...I hoard that stuff because I always intend to use it on a card.

Congratulations to you and the rest of the team. I wish y'all a ton of success!

Heather McNally and Melissa MacDonald said...

CONGRATULATIONS Marianne! I just adore your work and LOVE the stamps that you and OCL have created!

Becky said...

Congats, Marianne. This is wonderful news. I have admired your illustrations since the first blog post. As the owner of a stamp company, I know what a huge undertaking this is. You will do well with your images.

Dawn said...

Congratulations!!

Off to shop...

Unknown said...

Big Congrats Marianne! The stamps are just so cute and pretty! All the best! :)

Sara Henton said...

Marianne, your sets look amazing. I can't wait to try them out.

Unknown said...

Hey sweet M... YOU STAMPED A CARD!! I'm SO proud... I LOVE your card too. You are a rock star baby! WE DID IT!! Oh, happy day sweet friend! :)

Anonymous said...

CONGRATS Marianne! Your sample card looks absolutely adorable! I'm heading over to Our Craft Lounge now. Keep drawing and inspiring, I need it!

By the way, how often to do come to Canada? More specifically, TORONTO?

Katie Cotton said...

this is so perfect! I discovered copics because i AM a papercrafter and i have fallen in love. How wonderful for you to have a stamp line now! I'm giggling with joy for you! I cant wait to see all the wonderful stamps you turn out. And if you were willing to travel here, i bet i could get 11 gals to come to a certification class for you within 2 days too! :)

Nancy said...

My wildest dream did come true...I've been hoping you would design stamps since I first saw your drawings! This is so exciting, I can hardly stand it!!

CONGRATULATIONS!!

Nancy Bush

Michelle Tech said...

Congratulations Marianne! I'm not a good secret-keeper, so you did good! Love your kids' names, BTW!

Ann said...

My friend, Roseanne (Cami's aunt) sent this announcement to me last night. I'm terribly excited for you. I thought you should do this the first week or so of your blog and think I even said something along those lines. I'm glad you took the plunge! Gee......can we go back through your blog entries and tell you the images that you've already posted that we would love to see as stamps? ;-)

Ann Clack

Lesa said...

What fun news! Holy crap! I am so excited. I have been wanting to do one of your classes, but couldn't afford to travel so far. Please please do the one in SLC! I could handle that one. YOU Rock girl!

Diane M said...

Congratulations, Marianne! I just saw your sketchbooks in Vancouver and loved them all! Stamps with your images will be awesome.

Bandon, Oregon said...

Well, I was wondering about you girls!!!! After Cami started posting on her blog about the class she took in Eugene, I thought, those gals are going to get together someday!!! WOW!!! Congratulations Marianne!!! You are one awesome gal!!! Glad I made it to Medford... I can always say I had my picture taken with Marianne...lol...lol Best Wishes!!!

Faith
from Bandon

Diane M said...

Congratulations, Marianne!
You've given me so much help and we haven't even met (yet)!

Diane M
detour3 on SCS

Nancy B said...

What a wonderful idea. To create something you all love to do.

Congratulations to all of you!!!!

Pegg S said...

Congrats on your new venture! I didn't realize you were the illustrator! What cute images!!

ScrapAddict said...

Congrats! I follow your blog all the time! So much to learn....so little time!

Carol said...

Congrats on your new stamp line! I have seen some of the DT's posts and they are so darn cute! OK I know this is a long shot but how 'bout little curly haired girls? I can't wait to see more! Thank you for all your wonderful tips!

Kerry said...

Woo hoo! Congratulations on your new venture. This is great news for the stamping world too. I'm looking forward to seeing all the stamps.

Katie said...

Wow! That is so exciting! Congratulations to you and best wishes! I've already got a wish list started! LOL! Katie

Karen Kelly said...

I've been away from stamping and the blogging world for a bit and I came across this today and was so surprised! How exciting for you--congratulations!

Whimsey said...

Ho, how stinkin' cool is THAT??? Congrats; I cannot wait to see all your creations!!

Unknown said...

Congrats! How lucky are we to have your images to adorn our creations?!

Sheri said...

I am so excited for you and for the stamping community! We are so very lucky to have someone as talented as you now making stamps for us. I have already placed my first order. If I were rich, I would have them all! Congratulations to you!!

Alfredo Gallardo said...

Congratulations... You work really hard and deserve recognition...

Best of Luck...

Marisa said...

Congratulation Marianne. Just love all your tutorials and the stamps look so sweet. Had a great time at your class in Vancouver. Looking forward to seeing more of your work.

Marisa

Kathy said...

Congratulations Marianne! I met you at Haroldine's when I took your class. I love your drawings and enjoy following your blog. I've learned so much from you. I'm looking forward to seeing your first release of stamps! Best of luck on your new venture!

Anonymous said...

Big Congrats....... :-) and I was wondering when it would happen, lol.....

Been under the weather, but wanted to check in. I'm off to browse the store :-)

Kansas sunflower Hugs
Micki

Ferah said...

Outstanding! Congratulations and best of luck with your stamp line. This is very exciting.

sherry czarnecki said...

You must have been bouncing at your certification in WA last week! Congratulations, you're stamps are GREAT! sherryc

sherry czarnecki said...

you must have been bouncing last week during certification! Congratulations, you're stamps are darling!

Holly Nester said...

Congratulations!!! I really love the giraffe and the little girls (I have two.)

Holly

blog.scrapallier.com

Suzy said...

Congrats Marianne - you are such an amazing talent amd I look forward to each new endeavor of yours although it often hurts my pocketbook :)

Barb said...

Congratulations! I'm so very happy for you learning & have learned lots.

Jennifer Love said...

Awesome and congratulations! Those little stamps look sooo cute!

Jan Hunnicutt said...

Congratulations! I enjoy reading all your tips for coloring and also love your drawings. We've got the best of both worlds as stampers now, thanks!

dpkennedy said...

Very cool! Congratulations!!

scoopy (Emily) said...

How exciting Marianne! Congratulations!

SueB said...

Congrats on your new endeavor - seems a perfect fit!

Mrs. Nancy G said...

How cool is that?! A big CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Smiles,
~nance

Tweetpea said...

Woohoo!!! Congratulations!!!

Tammi
http://3littlebirdz.com

Reality Show Reject said...

OMG!! I haven't visited your blog in a while and I find this??? I'm too excited! Ever since I started reading (trying to learn more about these "Copic" markers I've been hearing about) I've thought your artwork was darling and would love to get stamps with those images! Now I can!! Congratulations!