It is now under my domain.

changed my blog to appear under my own domain name...I'm becoming quite good at all this internet marketing stuff...let's hope it pays off and I get some illustration jobs from it. Basically I'm using this post as a test, because it's not really straightforward how to do all this stuff. You read something that says "do this and do that" but, it never tells you how to do any of it. It's like they assume that everyone already knows how to run a website and optimize it for google searches. I'm an Illustrator, an artist, not a web guru...

once I figure this all out, I promise that I will take the time to tell you all how I did it. Until then, I'm still plugging away.

Dr. Sketchy...I should go more often.

you know how you get really excited when you first get into something and then for some reason, you just don't make it a priority in your life any more...that's kinda what happened with me an Dr. Sketchy. I still think it's really cool and some of the best life drawing sessions I've ever been to, but, for some reason, I just haven't be able to find the time or the energy to go. I think I will try to make an effort to go to the next one. In the mean time, here are some sketches from the last one I attended. I couldn't even tell you how long ago this was - a few months maybe...maybe longer.

Just because I think it kicks ass...

...I'm going to go ahead and upload my illustration of Tony Stark. I can't wait till this movie comes out on DVD. I think it's coming out on Sept. 30th but, don't quote me.

I can't decide which I liked better - Iron Man or The Dark Knight...they were both really good. I'll have to watch them a few hundred times and then decide.

T-shirt - work in progress...

One more post for the evening - just thought you all would like to see a project I'm working on at the moment...This is a t-shirt design I am doing for a festival - Jam Cruise.

the design is not done yet, it still needs some tightening but, I thought that you might like a little sneak peek.

I am also going to be working on several other designs for Jam Cruise merchandise...so, stay tuned.

Jamie

Marketing...

As with most freelance creative, I don't do enough marketing. Well, I am bound and determined to change that. I have been doing a lot of research lately about what are the best marketing strategies for a freelance Illustrator. There's a lot of options out there, but, what's best for me? I need a fine balance of fresh ideas, mixed with economical solutions. If I had unlimited funds, I'd be creating custom doo-dads and sending them all over the country to perspective clients.

So, here's what I've decided on to try to spark my freelance business and gain some new clients...

1. Web site update - I have completely overhauled my website. It has a new look, and an easier to update interface, so I will be less intimidated to make updates. I am not by any means a web designer, or a programmer...Heck, I barely understand what I'm doing. So, I tried to go with the simplest website design - 4 basic pages with a gallery. I think it does the trick.

2. Forming a Newsletter - I am in the process of creating a monthly newsletter to stay in contact with those folks who said that they were interested in my work. So, if you are one of those people, please, use the button to the right to sign up for my newsletter.

3. Direct Mail - I am also going to be sending out a holiday mailer to prospective clients. I will post it here when its complete so you can see it. It will promote my availability, my website and of course my newsletter. This is the piece of the puzzle that's going to cost a little bit of money. I will have to pay for printing the postcard as well as mailing it - .27 each - ouch!

4. Blogging - as you can probably tell, I don't blog that much - ok, let's be honest - I don't blog at all. I'm really new at it and I'm not really sure what I should be talking about. But, I have made a commitment to blog at least once a week. That post will contain a new drawing or sketch that I have completed, or perhaps some sneak peeks at a new project I am working on. I also want my blogs to be interesting to read, so hopefully, I can post something about the process of creating the drawing posted, or maybe about the business of freelancing...And sometime, I'm sure it will happen that you will just get some sort of crazy rant from me.

That's about it for now. Hope you stay tuned, and don't forget to subscribe to my newsletter.
Jamie