Featured artist: Melissa Lynn D

Every November and December, I plan to feature some of my favourite artists and crafty types. I like to think of it as a 'win/win/win' situation: you get to see their lovely work, and maybe get some ideas for your Christmas shopping; they get a little extra publicity from being featured; and I get the pleasure of showing you their gorgeous work.
This week's featured artist is the ridiculously skilled Melissa Lynn D. I first came across her in the Etsy forums, and was attracted by her avatar, which depicts one of her pencil drawings: a horse's head in elegant pose and beautiful detail.

Print of horse head pencil drawing by MelissaLynnD on Etsy

Below are Melissa's answers to my questions.

How do you describe yourself as an artist?
I am a graphite pencil artist specializing in horses and western/country subjects. My work is very realistic and detailed, and I love dramatic lighting and close up/unusual views of subjects.

Framed Newborn mare and foal print by MelissaLynnD on Etsy

Please describe your creative process.
I subscribe to several magazines, and I page through them and tear out any photos that inspire me. When I want to start a new drawing, I go through this collection and pick one or two that strike my fancy. Then I start drawing, always changing things up to make it my own and/or combining aspects from a few different photos. I do very little sketching - I have a clear image in my head of what I want, so I'll usually go right to the actual drawing after only a sketch or two. My drawing process is all over the place - sometimes I start with the darks, sometimes with the area that interests me the most, sometimes I work from top to bottom - just depends on the piece and how it strikes me.

Why do you do it?
I've been drawing all my life - it's just part of who I am. I can't imagine NOT doing it. It's only been in the last few years that I've started trying to make a profit off of it.

Custom pencil pet portrait - face/headshot by MelissaLynnD on Etsy

What do you want people to feel when they see/experience your work?
This past summer at a show, I received the best compliment I could ever get. A woman walked up to my display, and after a few moments, she whispered, "They're moving." I guess that's what I'd like everyone to feel - that connection with the moment expressed on the paper - not as a single moment frozen in time, but more as a living moment - as if they were actually watching the mare nuzzle her new foal, or looking into the depths of the trusting eye gazing back at them, or seeing the wild horse tossing its mane in the wind.

The Eye print by MelissaLynnD on Etsy

Is there anything you want people to know about you as an artist?
I absolutely cannot view my own work objectively. Where other people see beauty, I see the flaws, the things I wish I'd done differently. It is my greatest wish as an artist to be able to see my work as others see it.

One dozen horse-themed notecards by MelissaLynnD on Etsy 

Do you have a favourite quote that pertains to you or to your work?
"Don't tell me the sky's the limit; there's footprints on the moon." - Paul Brandt

Is there anything that you would like to say to other artists?
It's not always going to be easy being an artist, but in the end, it will always be worth it. Even if you never sell a single piece, the sheer joy you get out of creating your work is worth all the time.

Print of cowboy boot pencil drawing by MelissaLynnD on Etsy

Melissa has also started listing some of her photography in her shops, and I cannot resist showing you a few of these simple yet magnificent shots.

 Photo of harnessed draft horse by MelissaLynnD on Etsy

Photo still life of old farm equipment by MelissaLynnD on Etsy

Raw Beauty Arabian stallion photo by MelissaLynnD on Etsy

Melissa's blog: www.melissalynnd.blogspot.com
Melissa Lynn D on Etsy: www.melissalynnd.etsy.com
Melissa Lynn D on ArtFire: www.MelissaLynnD.artfire.com

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Fantastic plastic arms

I was going to put a clever pun in the title of this post, but all I could think of were ones that involved pronouncing 'harmless' without the H, and that just seemed a bit desperate. Not to mention really old.

The fact remains that I am now the proud owner of two arms! (Oh, go on: insert bad joke here.)

Plastic, ex-mannequin arms. I bought them on Trade Me for $28.50 (including postage - bargain!), for the purposes of modelling bracelets.
Next year I am planning to introduce some gorgeous, bohemian cuffs to the Silverlight Jewellery brand, and I knew that I would need some way of modelling them. Wearing the cuffs on my left hand and photographing them with my right proved less than satisfactory, for a number of reasons. So I knew that once again I would have to turn to plastic, and I started searching on Trade Me. I was outbid on the first set of arms I wanted, but a few weeks later I saw these ones, and they were perfect.

The left arm modelling an as-yet unreleased Whiteleaf Jewellery bracelet.

The arms are a very pale nude, almost ivory, in colour - paler than Zara, and smoother in texture. They arrived wrapped in bubble wrap and sticky tape. It was quite easy to see, through the bubble wrap, what was in the parcel. I wonder if it was one of the more unusual packages that New Zealand Post has carried, but I suspect that none of their employees would have batted an eyelid. I'm sure they carry many strange things.

Zara now has some plastic company.

The arms do look a bit weird, propped against the wall in a corner of the room where I have my workspace. Full-length plastic arms, with no mannequin attached to them, casually leaning against the wall.
And now I've just spent an hour or more blogging about plastic arms. 
The things we artists do. 
What's the weirdest piece of equipment that you own?

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Rebranding of Silverlight Jewellery - sneak peek #3

I have been flat out preparing new designs and new photographs for Silverlight Jewellery's big relaunch in - argh - four days' time.
As promised, here's a preview of some of the new designs.

This coming Monday - all going well - the Silverlight Jewellery shops on Felt, Zibbet, and ArtFire will be given their spandy new banners and will be filled with such beauties as are pictured above. 

On the launch day, I will be releasing a special code that will enable those who use it to receive a discount on their Silverlight Jewellery order - from any Silverlight Jewellery webshop. The code will be released on my blog, mailing list, and Twitter account, so follow any (or all!) of those to get it. Then simply be sure to enter it into the 'message to seller' or 'notes to seller' field when you check out of any of the Silverlight Jewellery online shops. A $6.00 discount (in American or New Zealand dollars; whichever currency you paid in) will be refunded to you, whether you have paid via PayPal, credit card, or bank deposit.

Right, back to the jewellery desk. So much to do, so little time ...
And at some point I really should sleep ...

Rebranding of Silverlight Jewellery - sneak peek #2

The new tagline for Silverlight Jewellery will be 'soft gothic'. 

In the first sneak peek, I described the aesthetic I'm aiming for in Silverlight Jewellery's new look. In this post, I want to give you a more visual idea of that aesthetic. 

So here is a collection of gorgeousness from Etsy that gives some idea of the intention behind Silverlight Jewellery's new look. I have deliberately stayed away from images of jewellery, because I want you to see the 'feeling' of the aesthetic rather than any particular design ideas. (Those will come in sneak peek #3!)

Gothic Calla Boutonniere by AprilHilerDesigns

Chat Noir - a fine art photography print by Raceytay

Fiery Autumn fine art nature photography print by Raceytay

12pcs Small bleached and eggshell color dyed peacock FEATHER eyes by pegasus22

Recycled Wine Bottle - Elegant Yellow Gothic Arches (Set of 6) by GreenRoseDesigns

19th Century Graveyard Angels print by Gothicrow

Cemetery Roses, Artisan Perfume Oil Sample Ampule by SteamBathFactory

Interlude (4x4 inch reproduction print on wood or canvas) by stilettoheights

Gothic Amsterdam Building - Fine Art Photography by EyeShutterToThink

Mask-Handmade Masquerade/Costume/Halloween/Mardi Gras Mask -Vechi Singe Feminin- by effigymasks

Corvid Otherworldly Gothic Angel Graveyard Pro Photo by Gothicrow

Iron scroll cyanotype fine art photo by onepointsixphoto

Entrance to Saint Patrick's Cathedral - Fine Art Photography by EyeShutterToThink

Twilight - 8x10 Fine Art Photo Print by A2SeaPhotography

Sneak peek #3 will show you some of the actual jewellery designs. Stay tuned!

Photography help from Bomobob

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a handmade item in possession of an online listing must be in want of an excellent photograph.

(O.K., that was dreadful. Apologies to Jane Austen.)

One of my better photographs: Green Forest earrings, available on Felt and Zibbet.

Time and time again, sellers on Etsy and other handmade-goods venues are reminded to work on their photographs. Superb photos are the best way - arguably the only way - to attract buyers to your handmade or vintage items. Below is a link to an excellent guest post by Bomobob, an Etsy seller who is known in the Etsy forums for his helpful photography advice, on Morphologica's Etsy Business Tips blog (which is a very helpful blog and I recommend it).

http://www.thebusinesstipsblog.com/2010/07/guest-post-by-famous-bomobob-etsy.html