RachelPerciphone
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Hello Hello Hello!
It's been about a whole year since I last made a journal and life has been an absolute crazy rollercoaster ride in that time. I still can't fully wrap my brain around it. Speaking of brains... I'll just start out by saying that I AM OKAY but that last year starting in September (lasting until late January) I had a spontaneous, serious, eye problem with my optic nerve that through MRI scans led to something along the lines of "oh yeah and on top of that, you have a benign brain tumor". My friends have affectionately named it "Bubbles", which I am okay with and have found comfort in. Not only do I appreciate keeping a sense of humor even in the worst of scenarios, but it's nice being able to talk about the tumor without constantly saying the word "tumor". I've found that it worries people when hearing and using that word, so refering to it as "Bubbles" just makes it more pleasant to talk about. So NO WORRIES! I'll just be monitoring it over the course of my life to make sure it doesn't change or increase in size. It's called acoustic neuroma / vestibular schwannoma should anyone be curious. Some people have it and nobody ever knows until their autopsy at the end of life, so it could very well just stay where it is and never cause any harm! And my eye issue has recovered as much as it is going to and i'm pretty much back to 100% otherwise
Now that all that mess is out of the way... onto the happier, more exciting things! Also last September through January (great timing for everything to collide, I know...) I had the amazing, incredible, fantastic opportunity to partake in a mentorship program with one of my favorite artists: Dan Dos Santos! During this time I received great guidance and met several other fantastic artists in class. My style has developed leaps and bounds during and since that class and my methods of working both digitally and traditionally have changed for the better. I see the improvement, I feel more fluid while I create, and I discovered more about myself and style (and am now able to better articulate what my artistic goals are). I really am on the right path to where I want to be and I think you'll see a lot of cool things from me in the next couple of years. I hope to partake in another mentorship with Scott M. Fischer within this time as well!
I think you'll be seeing more traditional work from me soon. It'll all be combined with my digital painting as well, but I'm in the middle of a move and I'll be having my own studio space soon!! So I'm hoping that having a dedicated room to my craft will allow me to work in oils again. Right now, inspired by #MerMay / #MerMayChallenge2017 I am working on a series of mermaids! I have about 12 different fish (and a shark) that I plan on sketching out during the month of May and I will make this a long-term project to work on over the next year around my other projects and commissions. I will be sketching them digitally, drawing them traditionally with pencil and ink washes, painting them digitally to plan colors and effects and then I am hoping to paint each piece in oils! I am hoping this project will allow me to refine my new methods of working. While I am of course still going to work on commissions and book cover illustration jobs, I am diverting my focus from comics to focus on exploring my artistry. I am loving the freedom of following the flow of inspiration and whimsy instead of worrying about what to make next for conventions and jobs and portfolio. I think taking time for this kind of exploratory work over the next couple years will help me tremendously and will only serve to make my work much better and solidify my identity/style as an artist.
What a crazy ride. Medical issues, moving (having a studio space!), mentorships, and... making a lot of art! That's a wrap folks! Til next time!
It's been about a whole year since I last made a journal and life has been an absolute crazy rollercoaster ride in that time. I still can't fully wrap my brain around it. Speaking of brains... I'll just start out by saying that I AM OKAY but that last year starting in September (lasting until late January) I had a spontaneous, serious, eye problem with my optic nerve that through MRI scans led to something along the lines of "oh yeah and on top of that, you have a benign brain tumor". My friends have affectionately named it "Bubbles", which I am okay with and have found comfort in. Not only do I appreciate keeping a sense of humor even in the worst of scenarios, but it's nice being able to talk about the tumor without constantly saying the word "tumor". I've found that it worries people when hearing and using that word, so refering to it as "Bubbles" just makes it more pleasant to talk about. So NO WORRIES! I'll just be monitoring it over the course of my life to make sure it doesn't change or increase in size. It's called acoustic neuroma / vestibular schwannoma should anyone be curious. Some people have it and nobody ever knows until their autopsy at the end of life, so it could very well just stay where it is and never cause any harm! And my eye issue has recovered as much as it is going to and i'm pretty much back to 100% otherwise
Now that all that mess is out of the way... onto the happier, more exciting things! Also last September through January (great timing for everything to collide, I know...) I had the amazing, incredible, fantastic opportunity to partake in a mentorship program with one of my favorite artists: Dan Dos Santos! During this time I received great guidance and met several other fantastic artists in class. My style has developed leaps and bounds during and since that class and my methods of working both digitally and traditionally have changed for the better. I see the improvement, I feel more fluid while I create, and I discovered more about myself and style (and am now able to better articulate what my artistic goals are). I really am on the right path to where I want to be and I think you'll see a lot of cool things from me in the next couple of years. I hope to partake in another mentorship with Scott M. Fischer within this time as well!
I think you'll be seeing more traditional work from me soon. It'll all be combined with my digital painting as well, but I'm in the middle of a move and I'll be having my own studio space soon!! So I'm hoping that having a dedicated room to my craft will allow me to work in oils again. Right now, inspired by #MerMay / #MerMayChallenge2017 I am working on a series of mermaids! I have about 12 different fish (and a shark) that I plan on sketching out during the month of May and I will make this a long-term project to work on over the next year around my other projects and commissions. I will be sketching them digitally, drawing them traditionally with pencil and ink washes, painting them digitally to plan colors and effects and then I am hoping to paint each piece in oils! I am hoping this project will allow me to refine my new methods of working. While I am of course still going to work on commissions and book cover illustration jobs, I am diverting my focus from comics to focus on exploring my artistry. I am loving the freedom of following the flow of inspiration and whimsy instead of worrying about what to make next for conventions and jobs and portfolio. I think taking time for this kind of exploratory work over the next couple years will help me tremendously and will only serve to make my work much better and solidify my identity/style as an artist.
What a crazy ride. Medical issues, moving (having a studio space!), mentorships, and... making a lot of art! That's a wrap folks! Til next time!
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16,000 Views + Ch-ch-ch-changes!
4 min read
Howdy Watchers & Deviants!
Since Free Comic Book Day I've experienced a much appreciated break from the constantly-having-to-work pile of commissions and projects. I still have work to do, but not as much and without crunched deadlines! The comic I colored and lettered is out in the world, having debuted on FCBD, and I've finished a couple more new prints for 2016 conventions. I've had a lot of great experiences in the comic realm in the last year or two, I've met some great artists, writers, and enthusiasts, made new friends, and learned a lot about self publishing and the process of putting together a comic. Even more than what I've learned from working at a publisher for almost 3 years, if you can believe it! Which is not a discredit to what I've learned at my day job, it's just that having to work alone or with a tight-knit group on an independent project is both a lot more fun and a lot more stressful! It is more personal and having to find avenues of printing and testing paper and finding commercial use typography and all that jazz without the connections and resources of a publisher was an intensely beneficial learning experience. I know my next comic project will be better and more successful thanks to this experience. And I do have a couple ideas cooking in my head for an independent comic or two, or three.
But, on the flip side, I'm also deciding to take a break from comic work for a while. I don't have anything immediate on my plate until issue #2 of One In, One Out is ready to be colored and it seems like a good time to focus on myself and my own aesthetics and artistic whimsies. There's a lot more I'd like to do with my work and truth be told, my ultimate goal (aside from just creating personal works) is to work on cover illustration for book publishing! So I will be spending time switching gears and refocusing my portfolio, improving my portfolio, as always, and hopefully getting back into traditional media, especially oil painting! I hope to do a lot of experimenting with technique and style and going back to the foundations of drawing, value, and color, and hopefully.... I'll come out the other side with a better grasp of what "my style" is and better, more personal and narrative, artwork! Stylistically I know how I like to handle linear drawings, but I miss semi-realism and I miss rendering form and texture so I am looking forward to this adventure in self exploration. (Wow, "self exploration"? I almost sound like a fine artist!)
So here's to the next step!
My artistic goals are:
And as usual, if you are interested in commissioning me for work, I am available (email: rachelperciphone@gmail.com)
And you can find my professional portfolio, as well as my online store, at www.Rachel-Perciphone.com
Thank you for your support!!
- Rachel
My list of 2016 conventions is:
Awesome Con (Washington, DC - June 3, 4, 5) **Confirmed**
Twin Tier Comic Con (Elmira, NY - August 13, 14) **Confirmed**
Baltimore Comic Con (Baltimore, MD - September 2, 3, 4) **Confirmed**
New York Comic Con (attending for fun)
New Jersey Comic Expo (November 19, 20)
Since Free Comic Book Day I've experienced a much appreciated break from the constantly-having-to-work pile of commissions and projects. I still have work to do, but not as much and without crunched deadlines! The comic I colored and lettered is out in the world, having debuted on FCBD, and I've finished a couple more new prints for 2016 conventions. I've had a lot of great experiences in the comic realm in the last year or two, I've met some great artists, writers, and enthusiasts, made new friends, and learned a lot about self publishing and the process of putting together a comic. Even more than what I've learned from working at a publisher for almost 3 years, if you can believe it! Which is not a discredit to what I've learned at my day job, it's just that having to work alone or with a tight-knit group on an independent project is both a lot more fun and a lot more stressful! It is more personal and having to find avenues of printing and testing paper and finding commercial use typography and all that jazz without the connections and resources of a publisher was an intensely beneficial learning experience. I know my next comic project will be better and more successful thanks to this experience. And I do have a couple ideas cooking in my head for an independent comic or two, or three.
But, on the flip side, I'm also deciding to take a break from comic work for a while. I don't have anything immediate on my plate until issue #2 of One In, One Out is ready to be colored and it seems like a good time to focus on myself and my own aesthetics and artistic whimsies. There's a lot more I'd like to do with my work and truth be told, my ultimate goal (aside from just creating personal works) is to work on cover illustration for book publishing! So I will be spending time switching gears and refocusing my portfolio, improving my portfolio, as always, and hopefully getting back into traditional media, especially oil painting! I hope to do a lot of experimenting with technique and style and going back to the foundations of drawing, value, and color, and hopefully.... I'll come out the other side with a better grasp of what "my style" is and better, more personal and narrative, artwork! Stylistically I know how I like to handle linear drawings, but I miss semi-realism and I miss rendering form and texture so I am looking forward to this adventure in self exploration. (Wow, "self exploration"? I almost sound like a fine artist!)
So here's to the next step!
My artistic goals are:
- To continue to improve my linear artworks and pinups, working more with pencil and ink.
- To start working on fully rendered pencil drawings, moving into creating finished oil paintings.
- Do something with gold leaf.
- Plan out and execute an independent comic (single issue, possibly to be part of a personal anthology in the future)
- Begin my next series of personal works (currently in the research and sketch phase)
- Paint first book cover (already in the works, just hoping the book is published sooner rather than later!)
And as usual, if you are interested in commissioning me for work, I am available (email: rachelperciphone@gmail.com)
And you can find my professional portfolio, as well as my online store, at www.Rachel-Perciphone.com
Thank you for your support!!
- Rachel
My list of 2016 conventions is:
Awesome Con (Washington, DC - June 3, 4, 5) **Confirmed**
Twin Tier Comic Con (Elmira, NY - August 13, 14) **Confirmed**
Baltimore Comic Con (Baltimore, MD - September 2, 3, 4) **Confirmed**
New York Comic Con (attending for fun)
New Jersey Comic Expo (November 19, 20)
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Hello, Watchers & Deviants!
I am SO BUSY these days! I feel very drained and the effects of that have certainly been taking its toll, but I will keep plugging away!
My two buddies and I are going to be debuting a comic on Free Comic Book Day in May, so I am veryyy busy finishing up those colors and letters. It is taking me longer than expected but it will go to print in April one way or another! I have also been approached about two projects, one in comics and one in book publishing. The latter is fairly set in stone and I will begin to create a cover / book sleeve in May for the first book in a fun series written by an art director I had the pleasure of meeting last summer at a convention. I may also be hired to create some promotional materials for it as well. Very exciting--though this does cut into my personal-work time.
Speaking of personal work, I've kept very busy in between my day-job and freelance work! A lot on my plate. I have a Zatanna piece I hope to finish up very soon as well as some personal comic projects, some original pieces, and a couple other fan-art related pieces for conventions. I try to stay on top of sketching and writing things down as soon as I get ideas so that I never run out of them! While I still haven't gotten around to oil painting (boo), I have been diligent about pencil and ink work. All good things coming our way!
This past week I put down money for the first convention of the season and some things have changed so I will update the list below with changes and confirmations....
Thank you for taking the time to view my work and for reading my little blurbs! I feel a bit scatter brained at present, but hopefully when the next thousand views roll around I will have a more structured journal entry
Til the next thousand views!
~ Rachel
If you'd like to purchase a print of my artwork, here is the link to my on-line store: Click Me & Buy Some Art!
My list of 2016 conventions is:
Great Philadelphia Comic Con (Oaks, PA - April 22, 23, 24) (cannot attend.)
Awesome Con (Washington, DC - June 3, 4, 5) **Confirmed**
Garden State Comic Fest (Morristown, NJ - July 9, 10) (cannot attend. tables sold out. boo.)
Twin Tier Comic Con (Elmira, NY - August 13, 14) **Confirmed**
Baltimore Comic Con (Baltimore, MD - September 2, 3, 4)
New York Comic Con (attending for fun)
New Jersey Comic Expo (November 19, 20)
Steel City Comic Con (date tbd)
I am SO BUSY these days! I feel very drained and the effects of that have certainly been taking its toll, but I will keep plugging away!
My two buddies and I are going to be debuting a comic on Free Comic Book Day in May, so I am veryyy busy finishing up those colors and letters. It is taking me longer than expected but it will go to print in April one way or another! I have also been approached about two projects, one in comics and one in book publishing. The latter is fairly set in stone and I will begin to create a cover / book sleeve in May for the first book in a fun series written by an art director I had the pleasure of meeting last summer at a convention. I may also be hired to create some promotional materials for it as well. Very exciting--though this does cut into my personal-work time.
Speaking of personal work, I've kept very busy in between my day-job and freelance work! A lot on my plate. I have a Zatanna piece I hope to finish up very soon as well as some personal comic projects, some original pieces, and a couple other fan-art related pieces for conventions. I try to stay on top of sketching and writing things down as soon as I get ideas so that I never run out of them! While I still haven't gotten around to oil painting (boo), I have been diligent about pencil and ink work. All good things coming our way!
This past week I put down money for the first convention of the season and some things have changed so I will update the list below with changes and confirmations....
Thank you for taking the time to view my work and for reading my little blurbs! I feel a bit scatter brained at present, but hopefully when the next thousand views roll around I will have a more structured journal entry
Til the next thousand views!
~ Rachel
If you'd like to purchase a print of my artwork, here is the link to my on-line store: Click Me & Buy Some Art!
My list of 2016 conventions is:
Awesome Con (Washington, DC - June 3, 4, 5) **Confirmed**
Twin Tier Comic Con (Elmira, NY - August 13, 14) **Confirmed**
Baltimore Comic Con (Baltimore, MD - September 2, 3, 4)
New York Comic Con (attending for fun)
New Jersey Comic Expo (November 19, 20)
Steel City Comic Con (date tbd)
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14,000 Views - A New Year!
3 min read
Woo! Another thousand views in under two months' time! I've also seen a seemingly permanent rise to my daily views. This is exciting stuff, for me anyway.
Hopefully this is a sign that the quality of my work is improving, that my skills are sharpening... but it is definitely also due to my faster production! I'm very pleased with this, but I'd like to perhaps slow down to work more intensively, focusing heavily on improvement, and taking my time to REALLY create some portfolio worthy show-pieces! I have a semi-steady stream of commissions coming in as well, so I've adjusted my prices to better reflect the demand + my work. It's certainly not enough to justify even thinking of leaving my day job (which is fine because I rather enjoy my day job!) but it is a step in the right direction towards one day being a freelance illustration, living by creating art. Soon I'd like to start selling my traditional pieces (pencil/ink drawings and paintings).
I updated my website a bit, if anyone is interested in checking it out! It's colorful and makes me happy to see. It much better reflects who I am as an artist. Link to Website Here
Otherwise, I don't have much to report! I'm currently in discussion about 3 larger-scale commissions... I have line-art in the works for 2 new pieces (tentative). I'm practicing perspective so I can create more dynamic, interesting pieces with greater variety. And I am working on inking/coloring/and lettering my comic (a collaboration: drawn and written by two friends of mine). The first full issue of the comic should release at the end of March! If you'd like to buy a print, commission a piece, buy some original artwork... email me, check out my web-store (link below), or see me at any of the conventions I'm tabling at this year!
Hopefully this is a sign that the quality of my work is improving, that my skills are sharpening... but it is definitely also due to my faster production! I'm very pleased with this, but I'd like to perhaps slow down to work more intensively, focusing heavily on improvement, and taking my time to REALLY create some portfolio worthy show-pieces! I have a semi-steady stream of commissions coming in as well, so I've adjusted my prices to better reflect the demand + my work. It's certainly not enough to justify even thinking of leaving my day job (which is fine because I rather enjoy my day job!) but it is a step in the right direction towards one day being a freelance illustration, living by creating art. Soon I'd like to start selling my traditional pieces (pencil/ink drawings and paintings).
I updated my website a bit, if anyone is interested in checking it out! It's colorful and makes me happy to see. It much better reflects who I am as an artist. Link to Website Here
Otherwise, I don't have much to report! I'm currently in discussion about 3 larger-scale commissions... I have line-art in the works for 2 new pieces (tentative). I'm practicing perspective so I can create more dynamic, interesting pieces with greater variety. And I am working on inking/coloring/and lettering my comic (a collaboration: drawn and written by two friends of mine). The first full issue of the comic should release at the end of March! If you'd like to buy a print, commission a piece, buy some original artwork... email me, check out my web-store (link below), or see me at any of the conventions I'm tabling at this year!
Thank you, always, for your support!
If you'd like to purchase a print of my artwork, here is the link to my on-line store: Click Me & Buy Some Art!
My list of 2016 conventions is:
Great Philadelphia Comic Con (Oaks, PA - April 22, 23, 24) (cannot attend.)
Awesome Con (Washington, DC - June 3, 4, 5)
Garden State Comic Fest (Morristown, NJ - July 9, 10)
Twin Tier Comic Con (Elmira, NY - August 13, 14)
Baltimore Comic Con (Baltimore, MD - September 2, 3, 4)
New York Comic Con / New York Comic Con Special Edition (attending one for fun and other as artist)
New Jersey Comic Expo (date tbd)
Steel City Comic Con (date tbd)
If you'd like to purchase a print of my artwork, here is the link to my on-line store: Click Me & Buy Some Art!
My list of 2016 conventions is:
Awesome Con (Washington, DC - June 3, 4, 5)
Garden State Comic Fest (Morristown, NJ - July 9, 10)
Twin Tier Comic Con (Elmira, NY - August 13, 14)
Baltimore Comic Con (Baltimore, MD - September 2, 3, 4)
New York Comic Con / New York Comic Con Special Edition (attending one for fun and other as artist)
New Jersey Comic Expo (date tbd)
Steel City Comic Con (date tbd)
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2015 has been incredible. I surpassed my goal for convention-going/tabling and also recently completed my goal of opening an online store! I've met so many new friends and colleagues and fellow artists and received so much encouragement (as well as constructive feedback!). I am determined to make the upcoming year even better!
If you'd like to purchase a print of my artwork, here is the link to my on-line store: Click Me & Buy Some Art!
Now...onto my 2016 goals!
I'd like to see myself attend at least 5 conventions as an artist.
My list of 2016 conventions is:
Central PA Comic Con (Lancaster, PA - Feb 26, 27, 28)
Philadelphia Wizard World (Philadelphia, PA - June 2, 3, 4, 5) *tentative (conflict with DC)
Awesome Con (Washington, DC - June 3, 4, 5) *tentative (conflict with Philly)
Twin Tier Comic Con (Elmira, NY - August 13, 14)
Baltimore Comic Con (Baltimore, MD - September 2, 3, 4)
New York Comic Con / New York Comic Con Special Edition (attending one for fun and other as artist)
New Jersey Comic Expo (date tbd)
Steel City Comic Con (date tbd)
My other artistic goals include completing 6 serious, show-piece worthy works of art! Works that I put a TON of thought and planning into. Not that I don't put care into my other works, but I really want to step my game up this year. I would also like to complete an oil painting of some sort. Side note, unofficial goal: I'd like to redo my website. I don't like it but I haven't had the time to sit down and make a new one from scratch so... maybe this year I'll find some time!
Just keeping you all up-to-date as I always try to do Thank you for your continued support!!
If you'd like to purchase a print of my artwork, here is the link to my on-line store: Click Me & Buy Some Art!
Now...onto my 2016 goals!
I'd like to see myself attend at least 5 conventions as an artist.
My list of 2016 conventions is:
Central PA Comic Con (Lancaster, PA - Feb 26, 27, 28)
Philadelphia Wizard World (Philadelphia, PA - June 2, 3, 4, 5) *tentative (conflict with DC)
Awesome Con (Washington, DC - June 3, 4, 5) *tentative (conflict with Philly)
Twin Tier Comic Con (Elmira, NY - August 13, 14)
Baltimore Comic Con (Baltimore, MD - September 2, 3, 4)
New York Comic Con / New York Comic Con Special Edition (attending one for fun and other as artist)
New Jersey Comic Expo (date tbd)
Steel City Comic Con (date tbd)
My other artistic goals include completing 6 serious, show-piece worthy works of art! Works that I put a TON of thought and planning into. Not that I don't put care into my other works, but I really want to step my game up this year. I would also like to complete an oil painting of some sort. Side note, unofficial goal: I'd like to redo my website. I don't like it but I haven't had the time to sit down and make a new one from scratch so... maybe this year I'll find some time!
Just keeping you all up-to-date as I always try to do
Thank you for your continued support!!
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