DeerFace

Science fiction and New Years stuff

2011-12-27T19:04:00.001-08:00

Bayta, a photo by Eating ghosts on Flickr.

I finished this the other day, just before leaving for Christmas with my family.

I have lots of new things happening this coming year.. everything is in very early stages but it's all very exciting. New Tshirts, fabric designs, laser-cut brooches, collaborations.... it is looking like it will be a vast improvement on 2011, although that won't take much.

I have a tumblr account now, http://www.devonannasmith.tumblr.com which i have only just started using, but there are a few things on there..

I also just got a spacephone, so i have an instagram account, which i am probably going a bit overboard with. The best things i put on tumblr, too, but if you want constant updates about what coffee i am drinking it is also devonannasmith.

Zine Party

2011-11-02T22:30:00.000-07:00

This is coming up on the 19th of November!

I will have a table there. It should be very fun, there are lots of amazing zine-makers in Wellington. I'll have Imaginary Lovers issue one, and the brand new Issue two for sale. Also a tiny little mini zine about books i like.

Sketchbooks

2011-10-10T19:16:00.001-07:00

I've been off work with some sort of awful sickness the past three days. Sitting in bed watching cartoons has even become boring.

I tried to do some drawing this morning but couldn't decide which sketchbook to do it in. I thought it was time i actually counted how many sketchbooks I'm currently drawing in.

Too many. Way too many. The problem is i always have this dream ideal of how a sketchbook will turn out but then i draw something ugly in it and move on to something new. Or I assign too specific a role to a book, like my life drawing book (the big one at the bottom). I haven't been to life drawing in six months!

This doesn't include any of the mostly finished books I have put away. I remember when i visited my parents a while back and decided to clean out the bookshelves i'd left full there, i must have thrown away 20 or more books of drawings.

Anyway, top to bottom:

1) Little moleskine, previously my work sketchbook, which has been usurped by...

2) Softcover book with multi-coloured pages. Stays in my back pocket. Drawing and writing and lists of the first 150 pokemon (this is the game i play with myself at work when i am bored)

3) A6 Hardcover book with really nice 200gsm off-white paper. Was for "what i wore today" drawings but it only has three in it so far.

4) A5 book with bright white cartridge paper, for comics and zine drawings.

5) Older square sketchbook i took away with me last year. It has some kind of depressing things in it so i guess it is mostly retired.

6) This book was supposed to be for exhibition & painting planning. It is what i draw in at cafes.

7) This one is for illustration jobs / plans. Although it has kind of become just an every day drawing book.

8) As previously mentioned, life drawing book.

(these are all resting on a cushion from Evie Kemp )

EDIT: This was written really poorly because i had a fever.

Cupcakes

2011-09-12T23:44:00.000-07:00

I make these all the time. People ask me for the recipe just as often, but it is super basic so i never bother (also, laziness). So here it is in all it's roughly-drawn deliciousness.

(you might want to click the images so the are readable size)

Make them and eat them because they taste good. Sometimes i put m&m's in there too, just because i like m&m's.

Geometry

2011-09-05T23:58:00.000-07:00

Working on a some different sort of things - all are single straight-from-the-tube watercolours, at different strengths.

This one is quite big, but i only have a tiny scan. I'm not sure why. It is very mysterious.

I am also in/on the latest issue of Domestic Etch, you can preview and buy it here. It has some delightful people in it, including my all time favourite Mel Stringer.

Things are still a little rough at the moment, I finally have two days in a row off work this week so i can draw and paint as much as i want. I am also taking a mini road trip with some friends on friday to the amazing Staglands and we are going to pet so many animals. Feeding deer and baby goats and a huge aviary full of native birds.... I am very excited.

Presents for nice people

2011-08-11T18:43:00.001-07:00

I've decided it's time I say thank you to all the nice people who look at my art and like it, so here is a little giveaway!

The prize is an original painting, professionally matted/mounted and painted in watercolours.

All you have to do is comment here, blog about it (and let me know), mention it on facebook (make sure you mention the Eating Ghosts page so i can see when you do) or tweet ( with @devonannasmith so i can see that, too). Each will get you an entry, so there's a chance to have your name in the draw 4 times.

Winner will be drawn on Sunday the 28th of August (which gives you two weeks).

xxx

EDIT: Competition is now closed. The winner has been notified (it was a sweet girl from Auckland named Sophie)

A couple of nice things

2011-07-17T21:32:00.000-07:00

I am in the current issue of Frankie Magazine ! Just a little thing about my T-shirts, but it is very nice.

Another nice thing is a small collection of works I currently have up. They are some of my favourites from this year, and are matted nicely (not fully framed, so I could keep the prices low!) and hung in this sweet little space. Go and have a look if you are in Auckland, it is only running for a short time!

Zines

2011-06-20T23:03:00.001-07:00

So I printed / made some more of my zine and it's up now in my etsy store. I am still so surprised at the great reactions I've had to something so potentially embarrassing / silly! It makes me very glad.

Here's a couple of sample pages... I'm already starting issue two, but i want it to have lots more drawings & details so it will be a while. I'm selling some in Wellington soon, and am a little fearful someone in it will get ahold of a copy. Maybe my drawings are just vague enough that I will get away with it. We shall see.

Home Again

2011-06-12T15:58:00.000-07:00

Home from the Auckland Craft Fair! Bit of a whirlwind trip to Auckland, very exhausting. The wonderful Evie Kemp let Dear Colleen and I stay at her lovely house, and drove us all around, and most importantly let us play with her dogs.

This is Bonnie, who licked my feet a lot. I didn't get a good photo of Jasper, probably because i was too busy cuddling him.

The fair! All three of us were right at the back, far away from the door, on a little platform area, so i think quite a few people missed us, but it was still very fun. It was only 4 hours long, which was a great length, so i was only drooping a little by the end.

I finished my first zine, and it made it's debut here. It will be on etsy soon, i didn't expect it to sell so well but I have none left!

Craft fairs are still not really my thing (I don't actually do any craft at all...) but the trip to Auckland made this one very worthwhile, I met lots of amazing people, and had a nice break from work. I did intend this to be my very last but I may have just signed on to do another very soon....

Here's a photo of what i came home to. Bright blue skies, after rain the entire Auckland trip.
(also Wal and the cat were there but they are currently both asleep and so I shan't bother them with terrible photo-taking)

I still draw, I swear.

2011-05-24T23:28:00.001-07:00

A little sneak peek at what I'm working on / have been working on. Lately i just seem to be drawing silly things in my sketchbook or making ugly comics. I started a super-secret tumblr for them, which is probably actually very easy to find if you wanted to look.

I started making myself a nicer website here thinking I could switch it over to my own URL, but it is beyond me how to do this. I suspect I am actually not allowed to.

Life has all been a bit overwhelming lately, all I have the energy for is sleeping (I guess this means i have no energy at all) and reading old science fiction novels. I think i am due for a burst of productivity though, so i am looking forward to that. I have just enlisted a 'life coach' (not actually a life coach, but a very organised and motivating friend) who i have to send reports to every week on how much art i have made. This sounds kind of horrible but it is surprisingly very fun for both of us. It is also so good to keep track of what i actually accomplish.

I am off to the Auckland Art & Craft Fair in two weeks, if you are around and come visit me and tell me you follow my blog i will give you a free postcard. Unless you are lying! But i guess that would be kind of dumb....

I am taking lots of photos of nice things I see, I am by no means a photographer (but i guess i studied it in Art school for a long time) but it is fun and i think i will do a little photo post sometime soon so you can see what my life looks like. I look at the sea a lot, do you like the sea? You will probably like the view from my house, then.

Stickers & Skating

2011-04-30T17:15:00.001-07:00

How did I forget to mention stickers??!? Here are some pictures, because. I sent out freebies of these to people, to get some 'action' shots, but no one sent me any photos back! Naughty people... So these are just photos of me holding them. You can use your imagination as to what to stick them on. Not cats, cats do not appreciate having stickers stuck on them. They are up on etsy, and also for sale on Foxes.co.nz

My sickness has mostly gone, which is lucky as I am back to work tomorrow. Last week a friend of mine took me roller skating - she does roller derby and is very good. My coordination and balance is pretty bad, so i fell over a lot, and have lots of little bruises everywhere. It was still lots of fun! I bought myself some second-hand skates, and although I don't think I'll ever get into derby ( I am not competitive enough) I have big plans to skate to work and do fancy tricks.

Coming up soon is the Auckland Art & Craft Fair , on the 11th of June. And I will be there! I know I swore of craft fairs, but I got very cheap flights up to Auckland and it is really just an excuse to visit friends. I have a full table and will be laden with new Tshirts and brooches and giclee prints. So if you can make it, come say hello! Maybe i will do some sort of blog-readers special...

x

Opening at Pixel Ink Tonight

2011-04-28T18:33:00.000-07:00

Group Show (featuring Ani Fourie, Autumn McGrail, Rebecca Robinson, Carmen Rogers, Charlotte Ellayne Welch, Devon Smith, Florence Thornburn, Jinx in the Sky, KIRAN-X, Lucy Yu, Melissa McDougall, Rachel Walker, Trevor Kohing and Rosalind Clark)

Pixel Ink Gallery, 219 Cuba Street, Wellington 6011

Exhibition runs from 29 April – 29 May 2011

Opening preview: Friday 29 April 5:30 – 7.30pm

I had planned to go to the opening, but I've picked up some awful sickness. I am confined to bed watching movies and not moving. It's pretty great, actually, except when i do move (and my back hurts) and the odd spew.

Tomorrow a friend of mine is helping me sort out my website, she is super smart so maybe she will help me pretty up this blog, too.

I have lots of sketchbook photos waiting to be uploaded, but they will have to wait until I am a little better.

Also, T-shirts and stickers are now on my etsy store.

T-Shirts!

2011-03-30T21:58:00.000-07:00

So.. some things arrived in the mail.

Excuse my goodball expression, i was very excited. So far I have Unisex Small, Medium and Large, and girls Small. I'm getting more girls sizes in May.

These aren't on etsy yet, and i only have 12, you can pre-order them direct from me now by emailing deer_face(at)hotmail.com

x

Tshirt Designs

2011-03-13T16:46:00.000-07:00

Okay, so i managed to finish two of these today. Which do yu prefer? Which colour is better? Is there anything that should be changed? Should i have drawn a cat instead?

Please let me know what you think! i can only afford to print one at this stage. Might submit the other to threadless...

Auctions

2011-02-27T00:09:00.000-08:00

Foxes is running a little auction to raise money for Christchurch. I donated this original painting, but there are lots of other great items to bid on.

Visit here to bid and have a look at all the other goodies.

Earthquake

2011-02-21T18:41:00.000-08:00

Gift certificates now in store.

I had a big blog post planned out, but the Christchurch earthquake has kind of pushed everything else out of my head. Every one i know personally is safe, but it is still horrible and sad. The amazing cathedral has partially collapsed, among other terrible things.

I'm going to donate 25% of all sales for the rest of the month to fixing the city.

Working

2011-02-04T00:19:00.000-08:00

I don't have much to say, so just some photos.

On getting old

2011-01-29T23:36:00.000-08:00

I just updated my website for what must be the first time in months. The trouble is i don't like the design, so i don't even like telling people about it.

Anyway, whining about it won't do anything, i should just look more actively for someone to help me fix it up a bit.

My birthday is coming up (Next Thursday), it is kind of a non-event, as i guess most birthdays are past 21. I have plans to throw a small birthday party, mainly so i can make frozen chocolate dipped bananas. I already bought myself a few little presents (a new bag, and a cute ring) and i'm lucky enough to have the day off work. I also made myself a treasury on etys (my first!).

Then i made another one because they are fun.

Studio time has been very productive, lots of new paintings.

In shop news.. I have some new giclee prints and some new brooches, too.

Lots of people were wanting this one, and it came out really nice.

Studio!

2011-01-15T23:26:00.000-08:00

I am finally all moved into my studio. It is so nice to have a space just for working. It's nice to be at home sometimes, but there are so many distractions. Like tea, and the internet, and my cat.

I still need to get some bookshelves, books are just floating around, and i need more nice postcards and things for the walls.

Sketchbooks

2011-01-13T15:45:00.000-08:00

I've been trying, lately, to get back into drawing in sketchbooks. I used to do this so much, but somehow it tapered off in recent years and i would just do quick plans for paintings and nothing more. I think it is good to draw for no other reason than just enjoying it.

So..here are lots of sketchbook pages. None of them are my best work, none of them are finished and they are all very messy but i like that. I have more to photograph, and i will, and you will be seeing some of my better pages in print very soon..

I just moved into a nice new studio last week. It is sunny and big and in the centre of town. I'm hoping I can work a bit better there away from distractions (mostly the internet... i am deliberately not setting up a connection) and improve all the things i've been hating about my drawings lately. I'll take some photos because it really is a lovely space, and of course i've covered the walls with nice postcards and magazine pictures and drawings. It's just like art school, except no one bugs me during the day, so it's better. Even the toilets are creepily identical!

x

What's in My Bag.

2010-12-15T19:42:00.001-08:00

So I've noticed this making a bit of a comeback on blogs recently. I really like looking at other people's (Evie Kemp's especially) so I decided I'd do it too, even though my bag holds nothing of any great interest. I initially drew it, but scanning is such a chore and i don't use my camera nearly enough so.. here we go.

This is my every day bag (actually it's my only bag that isn't broken.. and it is a bit broken) I found it in a shed when i was 20. It has some sort game club logo on the front which has mostly worn off. I ripped the side seam last year, and just caved and sewed it up myself by hand. The buckle on the strap is also broken, but it's being held in place by a length of stirling silver wire (i was taking a jewellry class at Art School at the time) I very nearly bought a new satchel last week, but decided that actually this bag is great and lovely and still has years of use left in it.

1. Paper! My bag is always full of scraps of paper.

2. My Wallet / Pocketbook. Overflowing with loyalty cards that i never use.

3. My work sketchbook. Fits neatly in my back pocket. Overflowing with receipts and to do lists and photos of wolves.

4. MAC 'Hug Me', the only lipstick I've ever paid more than $5 for. Bought at duty free when leaving L.A

5. Moo minicard case.

6. Sunscreen /moisturizer. Free sample that i was accidentally sent 6 of.

7. House key / Mary keychain. A very old friend gave me this keychain a very long time ago.

8. New soft cover Moleskine.

9. Diary (well, datebook thing)

10. Pencilcase. The handiest best pencilcase ever.

11. Comb! I live in Wellington so carrying a comb is essential. (because fo the wind)

12. Sunglasses and sunglasses case. From Skylark in Auckland (which she gave me for free when i started stocking there)

13. Mp3 player which is actually Wal's, but it has been permanently stolen. Attached to my old rather crappy headphones.

14. Washi tape for emergency fixing.

15. Cell phone, with attached cake slice (Given to me by Zambi while in San Fransisco) and Pichu that i got from a vending machine while on holiday.

ffffashion

2010-12-08T02:59:00.000-08:00

I really know pretty much nothing when it comes to fashion. Right now I am wearing an Elvis Tshirt. Is this fashionable? Probably not...

But i do like the things made/designed by Orla Kiely. This is sort of some of them, but the colours and fabrics and things are different because i lost the picture i was looking at to draw from.

I painted this when Sarah and I were staying at Caitlin Shearer's house. It was really nice to meet her in real life, we drank wine and played with cats and tried to make fondue.

Home!

2010-12-02T02:47:00.000-08:00

So I'm back! I really did intend to blog while travelling, but Sarah's laptop had a terrible run in with a cup of coffee so we didn't have a computer to take.

It was a pretty amazing adventure, we met so many great people, Mia, Kyle, Danny, Caitlin, Eric, Stephanie, Andrea, Whitney.. who am I forgetting? Everyone was so nice and lots of lovely people let us sleep on their couches.

I have uploaded lots of photos on my flickr here if you are curious. Later i will blog about specific things and talk about all the fun we had.

This is the tattoo i got in Portland from Ryan Mason who is amazing and kind of dreamy.

So close

2010-10-20T19:16:00.000-07:00

So we are leaving in 4 days! This is so soon. This week has been terribley stressful with work things and commissions to finish and even the possibility of cancelling everything due to some family troubles. But i am finally starting to get excited about the whole thing.

We are staying with Caitlin Shearer in Sydney and it's going to be an amazing 2 days of drawing and prettiness.

We've started planning more travelling while in the states.. maybe Texas or Vegas or Chicago. I think i am going to run out of money pretty fast.

Anyway, I'd better back to painting so i have everything finished in time.

x

November Show.

2010-10-09T16:56:00.000-07:00

In Wellington, i should mention.... I won't be there as I will be adventuring around America, but some of my most favourite work is in this show. Please go along if you get the chance!

I should also mention that the gallery made invites aswell, but as I am unhappy about the title being used I thought I'd just make my own little one, rather than harp on about it.

2010-10-02T17:06:00.000-07:00

I added some new sale prints to my shop in the hopes of raising some money for SanFransisco. Some of these are the very last ones I have, and i won't be getting any more reprints!

Adventure time!

2010-09-30T19:39:00.000-07:00

Sarah McNeil and I are going to San Francisco for her art show (opening November 5th) next month.

We are arriving on the 27th of October, and we are looking for people to stay with who can show us around and have fun with us! (And even if you don't have space for us to stay and want to maybe make art with us and hang out that would be cool too)

After San Francisco, we are heading up to Portland, so if you live in Portland or along the way and can host two happy artists (or just want to hang out ), please send me or Sarah an email too!

(p.s Sarah drew the lovely pictures of us)

New Stockist

2010-09-27T01:47:00.001-07:00

Oh, and I'd also like to add that i have a lovely new Australian stockist. Moose is now carrying a small sample of prints and cards. Everything is in Australian dollars so super handy for any Aussies that want to buy my work.

Framing

2010-09-27T01:24:00.000-07:00

ah.. i love getting things professionally framed. It makes work seem so.. finished. This is the biggest drawback to working on paper, people seem to asign a much higher value to art on canvas. I wonder why? It annoys me an awful lot. Any insights? Do people think work on canvas takes more effort?

Anyway, I took about 10 works into a great framers - he is doing everything so cheaply for me! Mostly basic black frames, but a few more ornate black ones, and one amazing over the top gold frame for this little lady(who is not actually little at all):

She is one of my favourite paintings i've ever done, so i'm glad to have her decked out so beautifully. I'm kind of not-so-secretly hoping she doesn't sell, so i can keep her and hang her in my house. Or else gift her to Sarah who I know also fancies her a bit. I wish i had photos of the frames i picked - i might go in and take photos of the samples.. just to show off a bit.

In other news I've fallen really sick this week. I had to skip work today, which i hate doing. My boss is such a sweetheart plus i really do need the money. I've been drinking lots of green tea with jasmine, and berocca. I think i need new teas but i am always scared to try things - what if it is gross and i have a whole box of it?? This place has some amazing teas, I bought a little trial pack from them a while back but made the mistake of getting the 'fruits' sampler, and everything was a bit sweet for me.

Looks so cute though. Everything in little tins... maybe i will try again with green teas. Does anyone know any good teas for making you feel better?

x

Cards and things

2010-09-20T16:50:00.000-07:00

I just spent a week in Dunedin visiting my parents.. It was very nice to laze around and be looked after. Somehow i ended up missing half the people i wanted to catch up with, but it was really a family related trip. The dog is now so old that he is going grey and smells of wee a lot of the time. He also has only one tooth and is generally a messy silly looking thing.

It's good to be home though, in my own bed and such. I have a huge backlog of emails and etsy orders to sort out.. which is pretty fun and exciting. I like emails!

I have some new brooches that will be up as soon as i've taken photos, but for the moment, i've added lots of cards to my store.

Cameos

2010-09-06T04:46:00.000-07:00

I painted lots of brooches. I put them all on flickr already, but here they are all compiled together! I am working on special commissioned ones at the moment. Send me an email if you would like a special portrait done xx

Sometimes things are hard

2010-08-27T03:53:00.000-07:00

And some days i worry about far too many things. Today has been one of those days, for no real reason.

To try and raise some money for SanFrancisco I have added some original paintings to etsy. Some of these I had planned to hold onto forever... The two 'Eating Ghosts' paintings that inspired my Flickr user name, in particular. These paintings are very special to me, and i hope i can find them a great home.

Here & here.

Things to eat

2010-08-24T20:31:00.000-07:00

A while ago, my mum gave me a recepe for naan bread. I tried it out the other day, and was very surprised at how well they came out! I'm normally a bit rough with cooking/baking, so anything that requires any sort of precise measuring doesn't work so well.

Here's my dough. In my lovely Mason&Cash mixing bowl.
It was my first time using it, too.

Wal used to work at a pizza place, so i got him to do the
kneading.

After leaving it to rise for a while.

I made them little.. because.

yum yum yum

Anyway they turned out so good so i wanted to show them off. I had them with curried vegetables and tofu omnomnom. I made way too many so now my freezer is full of frozen dough-lumps.

Some new things

2010-08-23T00:20:00.000-07:00

I just finished this little brooch -

He is a little larger than my other brooches, and is for sale on etsy now.

I also got around to photographing my new cards.. they aren't for sale yet, I'm waiting for some nice envelopes to arrive to go with them. But here is a sneaky peek at one of them

Sale

2010-08-21T17:43:00.000-07:00

Etsy Sale finishes on Wednesday the 25th.

Buy stuff fast before it goes back to full price!

Also I just noticed I'm up to 50 followers on my blog, so thanks to all the new people who are following me xx

Here is a sketch i am working into a painting right now. The blur on the left is my friend's address.. i didn't think she'd want everyone to be able to read it. I think i really need to get an arrow tattoo... maybe when i'm in portland? Maybe even from Ryan Mason if i can get an appointment.

Badges!

2010-08-17T21:26:00.000-07:00

I spent most of today making badges.. they are off to far away places in the next few days. I also put some on etsy.I also got some things from Moo.com in the mail today. The mini cards are such neat little things.. even if i didn't really need them. I got some greetingcards from them as well, just as a bit of an experiment, and they are nice too.

Tomorrow is tickets-buying day. We want to stop in exciting places on the way to SanFransisco... does anyone have any suggestions? We will be stopping somewhere in Australia (i think we actually have to, even though we don't mind) but maybe somewhere sunny and exciting?

Free Thing

2010-08-15T13:35:00.000-07:00

And the winner of the brooch is.....

R.W Scissors!

I've got your address already, and will post this baby today along with your etsy purchase!

xx

Two things

2010-08-12T17:04:00.001-07:00

Thing one: I made a twitter account! DevonAnnaSmith (Anna is my actrual real life middle name..so boring!)

Thing two: Sarah and I made an awesome drawing club.

Also Sarah and I made delcious cheese last night you should go look at photos on her blog

Etsy Sale

2010-08-08T18:03:00.000-07:00

My etsy store is re-open and full of things at heavily discounted prices. 20-40% off everything!

Any purchase gets you an extra entry into the brooch giveaway, too, which has a week left.

I've got some new stockists lined up, too, which is pretty nice. A shop in Auckland, and some online places. I need to start saving money for San Fransisco so any sale profits are going towards that.

I dropped my giclee prints designs off at the print shop the other day and they should be ready tomorrow and it's very very very exciting! I will probably take a million photos of them.

Anyway my cat is demanding attention so I'd better go play with her.

x

Brooch Giveaway!

2010-07-31T19:55:00.000-07:00

So you may have noticed my etsy store has been down for a little while - this is in preperation for a whole lot of new nice things. New prints (big and small), postcard packs, original paintings, badges, brooches, and super lovely large Giclee prints.

The store will reopen this coming Wednesday, and to celebrate (and advertise) I'm giving away one of my original handpainted brooches. I'll also be having a big sale with 20-40% off everything.

anyway.. here is the little lady who is up for grabs:

She comes in a little handmade Kraft box, with a grey ribbon and red wax seal.

To win this one of a kind brooch all you have to do is reblog/tweet/tumbler/something about this compeition/store relaunch (and let me know via comment here) and you will be entered into the draw, which will take place Sunday the 15th of August.

x

Foxes Shop.

2010-07-29T00:18:00.000-07:00

So you can now buy a selection of my goodies over at Foxes

The little hand painted fox pendants are exclusive, so you won't find them anywhere else. There are also prints and postcard packs. You can purchase things here.

There are lots of other great artists selling there too, like Sarah Mcneil and Victoria n' Bird and Evie Kemp, so you can buy lots of things from great people all at once.

Auckland Art and Craft Fair

2010-07-27T23:18:00.000-07:00

I am back from Auckland.

It was nice to get away for a week, and the fair was very fun. I'm still pretty tired from staying in a hostel, and my body is pretty beat from eating so much junk food (although it was delicious). Sarah and I found this little bakery/bread shop just up the road from where we were staying, and we ate so many little milk pudding things. So good. I'm glad they don't have them in my city or my butt would be twice it's size.

Anyway, the fair! The night before we made a mock-up table, which was lucky as I doubt my brain was functioning well enough on the actual day to plan it out nicely. The venue was great (although our table suffered a lot of 'bottlenecking' as it was in a funny little corner spot) and the whole fair was insanely busy the entire time.

Here's our table (Sarah made the rad banner):

and some close-ups:
Sarah's side:
All my little brooches and things (some of these are still available) in little boxes Sarah made:

I didn't get a chance to take any photos of other people's stalls, which is a shame. Some people really had amazing displays, but i was (literally) stuck behind our table. I managed to squeeze out once to go to the bathroom and it was so tricky I just stayed behind the table after that. We ate alot of satsumas. Hopefully other people did and there are some on the internet somewhere. I also didn't get a chance to buy anything.. I had planned to at the end of the day but I had a hideous fit of shyness and was too scared to talk to the other stall holders, even though lots of them were lovely and bought things from me. I think i will try and email people whose things I liked and organise trades....

I met lots of neat people, and I do apologise for my lack of social skills.

2010-07-22T02:57:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone - You should go vote for my image to be put on an illicit tee. It would be super rad.

My Entry

I would really appreciate it. I'm really pleased with my entry, and think it has a pretty good chance of winning.

Also some guy copied (actually, traced..) a super old drawing of mine and entered it... I've already contacted the site so hopefully it will be taken down soon.

Shopping!

2010-07-10T19:32:00.000-07:00

I forgot to mention.. you can now purchse my T-Shirt and Sweatshirt online! Theres a ton of other gorgeous things on the Swonderful website too.

x

Working.

2010-07-10T19:29:00.001-07:00

What better place to dream
Originally uploaded by Eating ghosts

So I decided not to become an accountant... I don't think i could handle going back to University again.

I just added a bunch of new paintings and drawings to my website.. see, i have been working! A couple more are on my flickr, that I didn't like quite enough for my website.

Auckland is fast approaching and I'm getting excited, i signed on to sell things through Foxes which is good for people in NewZealand. It's really not cost effective with etsy..

You can read all about foxes and the upcoming launch at Foxes blog.

x

Whinge

2010-06-09T23:01:00.000-07:00

Lately i feel like i can't really make anything halfway decent. Nothing i do is any good and maybe i should just give up.

The best thing I've drawn in months was a stupid scribble of batman. BOO.

At least i did my taxes all by myself. Maybe i should switch careers and become an accountant?

boohoo wah wah whatever.

Paper Works VI

2010-06-01T23:34:00.000-07:00

Show at The Artist's Room opening on June 12th... Freeman White, Jenny Dolezel, Marilyn Webb, Sandro Kopp, Sam Foley and many more! oh, and me! Also, they put one of my images on the invite! There are only six so i feel pretty amazing...

Two of my works are beautifully framed and in this show. Go along if you can, I'm sad I'll miss it! It's in Dunedin, and will be open for a little while.

My name.

2010-05-24T00:00:00.000-07:00

My website is now the first result when you google search my name! I do this from time to time, because i like to see if my website is actually getting any traffic. Maybe I should get a tracker? Would be neat to see how many people visit it.

Anyway, while looking through the google results (who doesn't do this from time to time?) I came across quite a few little blogs who have mentioned me - very nice. However, I have noticed one thing.. some people think I'm a boy.

Now, granted, I do have a name that is generally given to boys. I would even hazard to say it is a boys name. So I can see where the confusion begins. I guess I just figured my drawings are so blatantly feminine people would guess i was female. It's sort of nice that people haven't assumed that! Boys can draw flowers and birds and pretty frilly things, too.

Just to set the record straight (not that I mind a little gender confusion.. this should stop people making any sort of judgement on me based on my sex) I am of the female persuasion.

I promise promise to post some more pictures soon.. i have photos of my new foxy (in the sense that they have foxes on them) wooden brooches and pendants, and some new drawings, too.

xox

Facebook

2010-05-09T16:58:00.000-07:00

Did you know, I have a fan page on facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Eating-Ghosts/122076918370

I tend to make little posts on it quite often, so it is a good way to find out what i'm up to.

The latest news is that i will be at The Auckland Art and Craft Fair, on July 24th, at The Auckland Art Gallery. It looks like it will pretty amazing, the venue is great, the money system seems like a great idea, and it should be filled with lots of great stuff! I'm Sharing a table with Sarah McNeil who is also designing the special fair money.

I have lots of special treats that will be for sale; more cameos and necklaces, new cards, a new gocco print (plus my other), badges, and fancy new prints of my newest paintings.

Tees and Sweaters

2010-04-16T21:15:00.000-07:00

On another note, the lovely clothing label PaperCup has released a Tshirt and a sweatshirt with one of my drawings on it. They came out amazing, and are lovely quality and fit. I've been wearing mine solidly the last few days and the sweater especially is going to become a wardrobe favourite.

If you live in Wellington you can purchase them at Swonderful, but I beleive they are also doing special orders for those who aren't local. http://www.papercup.co.nz/

Cameos

2010-04-16T18:17:00.000-07:00

At the sacrifice of my neck and wrist, I have finished two new cameo brooches and a little necklace. I need to take a serious break from these now or I don't think I'll be able to recover. Or i need to finda more ergonomic way to work on them.. I really need to get a photo of me painting one, i'm sure i look very funny all hunched over with my face an inch from the wood.

I have been so tired lately, and all i want to do is paint, but after work all i can do is read or go straight to bed. So I've hardly been painting at all.. I don't know if it's my chronic fatigue getting bad again, or if my iron levels are down, or just being a bit depressed from working an exhausting day job and struggling with money so much. I really don't want to turn back into the sleepy boring mess i was a year or two ago.

I have something fun/cool coming up in July, so i have something good to look forward to. I will just focus on that and try not to fall into a rut.

Etsy Update

2010-04-08T20:39:00.000-07:00

So many new things. Cards and postcards and i finally have one of my magical brooches for sale. xx

Back from Easter

2010-04-08T20:31:00.000-07:00

Wetas are so great. Expect paintings of them in the near future. Heres a photo of me holding one. Also saw tuataras which were awesome but hate flash photos so i only have blurry nighttime half-tail shots. There were little blue penguins, too, but I've seen so many of them i wasn't so exited.

Cameo

2010-03-05T18:19:00.001-08:00

Cameo
Originally uploaded by Eating ghosts

I love these tiny little wooden frames... I am doing a little set of these. Intended to be worn as a brooch (the little pinback is attached) but would look cute hanging up somewhere.

My issue now is with pricing.. it is an original painting, and was bloody hard to paint so tiny (my hands are misleading.. it is very small. I have the smallest hands in existance) and the little frame is cherrywood. But also i would like them to be very affordable so that people aren't afraid to wear them. It's sealed with varnish so the paint won't run.

So, dear readers, how much do you think is a reasonable price for this?

I will upload pictures of the others as they're finished.

xx

Also i just put a bunch of photos of my show with Sarah McNeil up on my flickr account

Moths and Bats

2010-02-14T18:14:00.001-08:00

Moths and Bats
Originally uploaded by Eating ghosts

Heres the flier for our opening (which is actually a closing). Free wine! corn chips! art! a tiny bar!

New Prints

2010-02-11T20:32:00.001-08:00

Feed on blood
Originally uploaded by Eating ghosts

New prints on etsy. Including this little lady.

Closing party at Bats next wednesday, the 17th! Sarah and i will both be there, as well as free wine, and corn chips! oh, so many corn chips... from a box! that makes it classy.

Gocco

2010-02-08T00:49:00.001-08:00

gocco
Originally uploaded by Eating ghosts

Sarah came over on friday and we played with my brand new Gocco printer. It was lucky she was here because the whole thing scared me a little. But it was fun! and easy! and look, prints! I'll only print 50 of these, and they are up on etsy now for super cheap. The ink is very pretty and grey. Also i just realised i forgot to mention the size on their etsy page.. oh well!
I have a million of these tiny super cute frames for 4x6" prints, so i may sell some framed if people are interested.

Workwork

2010-02-06T01:32:00.001-08:00

Sandwiches
Originally uploaded by Eating ghosts

I have been so busy since i got back from Auckland! I now have a job, well, two jobs. One an ordinary retail job, and one working in the Wellington City Gallery which is great and fun and all that. It means less time for drawing, but having some more regular money coming in is very nice.

Mine and Sarah McNeils show is still running at Bats, we will be having a closing party sometime next week or the week after, which i will post about when a date/time is settled.

Been working on a cover illustration for a lovely magazine.. will also post about that when it is out. It's very exciting and im pleased with the painting so far.

I bought myself a Gocco printer and gosh its so much fun. My first print is just a bit of fun, and in a very small edition, and will be up on etsy soon.

Etsy Update

2010-01-13T21:11:00.001-08:00

note books
Originally uploaded by Eating ghosts

Little hand drawn notebooks, totes and greeting cards!

x

Grar

2010-01-02T13:56:00.001-08:00

Details
Originally uploaded by Eating ghosts

I am in Auckland for a wedding, sleeping on a couch. I kind of like this whole living out of a suitcase thing, actually. I've been travellin around a fair bit lately, at least within NewZealand. Next week however is settle-down time, finding a flat, finding a day-to-day job. Yuck. I wish i could live off my artings, but even though everything is going swell right now i'm worried it'll collapse. Also too much time by myself makes me a little crazy.

Sarah McNeil and i are having a show at Bats theatre this month. I think stuff will be up around the 7th, but we are having a fancy opening later on when Sarah and I are both in town. There will be more stuff on the walls then too. Also alcohol and good music. I am excited! making friends with Sarah has been so lovely.

psst i have started a new moleskin which is a psuedo comic diary. perhaps i will upload snippets soon instead of my horrid writing.

Craft Market

2009-12-17T02:38:00.000-08:00

This Saturday (the 19th) Sarah McNeil ( http://www.sarahmcneil.blogspot.com/ ) and i will have a table At the Mighty Mighty christmas market. It should be a fun day - we have been making totes and little bags and notebooks and badges. Sarah has been great and doing lots of sewing. Sarah has more/better information on her blog, and also a photo of some of the totes. They are hand drawn! so each in unique and one off.

If you are in Wellingon, please come! There will be cupcakes.

scouts honor

2009-12-13T18:47:00.001-08:00

Cross my heart - scouts honor
Originally uploaded by Eating ghosts

i am so pleased that i've actually managed to do some painting in Wellington. Usually i have to be so settled and nested..but sitting on an uncomfortable 3rd hand couch watching a 3 inch tv with a table made of cardboard and books, i have actually done some of my favourite paintings from this year.

I received my government grant a week or two ago, and have been shopping like mad. It would have been more fun if i hadn't had to supply itemised quotes a month ago, but its still nice to have a truckload of new stuff. Well, new art stuff. Which is really all i spend my money on anyway!

I got some christmas/birthday/just because cards printed, and they'll be up on etsy soon soon soon, and hopefully they give my totally dead etsy store a bit of a kick re-start.

Rar

2009-11-30T22:22:00.001-08:00

Tote
Originally uploaded by Eating ghosts

The lovely people at sprout hired me to draw a little picture for their lovely bags. I have a few for sale on etsy

They are made of unbleached oragnic cotton and are lovely and useful!

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=35708031

On another note, i am super broke but am mostly moved to Wellington. It is a whole lot cooler than my old city, but i am not very cool so i'm not sure how i fit in. Art seems to sell a lot better here though. I am in a little group show at the nicest gallery here, called Solander. I had sent up two works a few weeks ago and somehow they sold before even being displayed! So i had to take in more. They took four this time! which is neat as the limit for the actual exhibition is two. Hopefully they take this as a good sign and let me exhibit solo at some stage.

I am living out of a suitcase at the moment, which is a bit tricky. I am living like a squatter without the plus of not actually paying rent. It's much more expensive to live up here, so a lame part-time job is going to have to me got by me.

I have a ton of art to upload, but im borrowing my boyfriends computer and he is shooting things on it most of the time so it might be a while before i can actually scan things.

Winner!

2009-11-01T20:48:00.001-08:00

Winner!
Originally uploaded by Eating ghosts

Drawn from my nifty new/old cane hat.

Congratulations Andi B Goode, emai me your address to deer_face (at) hotmail.com and i will send your goodies right away!

xox

Vintage frames

2009-11-01T02:59:00.001-08:00

Vintage frames
Originally uploaded by Eating ghosts

I'm considering selling these little ladies on my etsy, but am stuck with pricing. Also, maybe i want to keep them a little longer.

Today is the last day for entering my competition! draw will take place tomorrow evening (my time) I've had lots of entries, more than i expected, which is lovely. So i may do another little draw soon!

x

Competition!

2009-10-25T19:41:00.001-07:00

Competition!
Originally uploaded by Eating ghosts

Would you like to win these goodies?

Leave a comment telling me which of my paintings you would most like to see on a badge or card, and you will be entered into the draw.

Post a link to this on your blog/website and you will get entered twice!

Goodies include:

2 A4 prints on matte 250gsm paper (this is not my usual print paper, these were early test runs before i found my beloved watercolour card)

1x "her hair is a birds nest" badge

1 set of mini notecards (on watercolour card) 1 each of "She cries", "She sleeps", "She pulls",and "Her hair is a birds nest"

and 1 funny little notebook covered in purple flowers and gold.

Winner will be announced one week from now. xox

2009-10-24T03:18:00.001-07:00

A thing
Originally uploaded by Eating ghosts

Out of hospital! it was a bit of an ordeal, as i imagine all hospital visits are. But it's over now and hopefully i won't have to go back for some time.

I'm already going slightly mad being stuck in the house all day, i want to go for a run, or kick things or... anything! Several othe rhorrible things happened while i was in hospital, so it's been a pretty retched week all round.

Working on more little drawings, for a few specific things. Really need to start job-hunting unfortunately. This move to Wellington is stressing me out somewhat, and i keep feeling things might not be so scary if i at least have some work lined up.

I just want to be a librarian, i think.

x

Digital!

2009-10-17T18:54:00.001-07:00

Swanhilde
Originally uploaded by Eating ghosts

I haven't done anything digitally for quite some time.. but i do enjoy it. This is just a quick colour over a sketch for my bandits series. So it also a teaser, really. I've been drawing these mini-swans like crazy lately, which is odd, because in reality, i am scared stiff of white swans. Black swans i can handle because they are shyer (and also more common where i live) but white swans... i am very much afraid of them. Geese, too, but not as much.

Perhaps it's the honking.

Anyway, on a more personal note, I am having surgery on Tuesday. I will be out of action for some time after that ( i'm not allowed any form of exercise for a month... not even something so dull as jogging!) which either means i will be a lot less active on the internet, or a lot more. We'll see!

frankie feature

2009-10-02T19:18:00.001-07:00

frankie feature
Originally uploaded by Eating ghosts

I forgot to mention, i was featured on the website of Frankie magazine. Frankie is one of the few magazines i actually read, so this is pretty wonderful.

Next step is to actually be in print in the magazine...

x

Badges!

2009-10-02T18:59:00.001-07:00

Badges!
Originally uploaded by Eating ghosts

Badges are now for sale on etsy. I love the way they look on their little cards, but they look just as cute on clothes aswell.

Shown leaning against a cute knitted cupcake my mum gave me.

Wolf hat

2009-09-23T04:26:00.001-07:00

Wolf hat
Originally uploaded by Eating ghosts

I started painting again. A bit iffy still but fixable i guess. A break probably wasn't actually the best idea. Theres also a flaming redhead (more of a ginger) on my flickr, but she needs a recoat as i painted her all in watercolours and i'm too messy for watercolours. Gouache covers all over-line messes, watercolours do not. I drew some decent things.

Children's book i never talk about is BLAH i hate the style i've drawn it in. And the way i've coloured it. Only my initial character designs are any good. I'm stressing over jobs and it makes me rush illustrations because i 'need them for my portfolio'. Then i hate them and throw them out and have wasted time on nothing.

My secret bandits series is looking good though. It's stretching my drawing abilities, what with mostly being full-figures and animals i've never drawn and teeny details to agonize over. I love it because it is secret so i feel less pressure and thus am just enjoying the process of drawing/painting.

I should probably start contacting galleries to pitch the proposal to, does anyone have any good suggestions? I would quite like to make the move to exhibiting in Australia, but have few contacts over there and know no galleries very well.

I was featured on Decor8.com recently (or my etsy store was) which was a fantastic surprise. I just love Holly's blog, and actually seeing my art on it was wonderful.

xox

New prints!

2009-09-17T03:12:00.001-07:00

New prints!
Originally uploaded by Eating ghosts

Up in my etsy store. These are on lovely heavy watercolour card, so they really look like the originals.

A bunch of these are off to a cute little botique in Wellington called Swonderful.

i also found the nicest cellophane bags at a packaging warehouse, so they are all nicely wrapped. Maybe clear plastic wrap isn't very exciting to some people but, gosh, i just love stationary related things! i had so much fun exploring the big warehouse. I wanted to buy so many things that i don't really have a use for.

Anyway, prints are A4 and A5, and the little girls on the far right are a note card set which should be added to etsy soon.

xox

Don't come running

2009-08-28T18:33:00.001-07:00

Don't come running
Originally uploaded by Eating ghosts

Now for sale on etsy! I am a little loathe to part with her, but she is just sitting in a folder and i'd rather she was displayed and enjoyed. She has one of the lovliest faces i think i've ever painting.

Lovely things.

2009-08-16T01:29:00.001-07:00

Her hair is a birds nest.
Originally uploaded by Eating ghosts

Two nice things - A design of mine is going to be featured on a sprout bag, realeased by Ooid limited. I can't let out what it is until they're for sale, but it is very sweet and i'm very honored to be in cahoots with this great company.

A shop in Wellington - Swonderful - a shop i just love to visit whenever i'm south, is going to be stocking some of my prints. I am getting postcards and other things printed as well.

x

Etsy update

2009-08-14T23:19:00.001-07:00

And i said
Originally uploaded by Eating ghosts

New Things in my etsy store. This little original painting, aswell as a few new A4 prints.

Http://www.deerface.etsy.com

She cries

2009-07-28T22:23:00.001-07:00

She cries
Originally uploaded by Eating ghosts

I am back from wellington! things cheered up a bit. I miss Wal like crazy already, but, eh. I think a little devon time before we move in together is good. I finished quite a few paintings, did lots of drawing.

I have a meeting with my artist mentor tomorrow. I got a letter back from COCA (center of contemporary art) saying they are interested in offering me a show, so ive been writing a new proposal today to send off to them. A show there would just be fantastic, even if it is in Christchurch

Here is a little girl from a set of paintings i am working on - imaginary friends.

xox

Vacation

2009-07-22T01:49:00.001-07:00

My Hearts
Originally uploaded by Eating ghosts

As some of you may have noticed, i have been missing from the internet for a few weeks now. This is because the boy in my life got a job at Weta (!!!) and moved cities (not so great) and i have been visiting with him for the past while. I have lots of new things to show everybody, paintings, drawings, silly purchases. So when i get home next week expect lots of regular blog updating!

I just added this little lady to my Etsy store ( http://www.deerface.etsy.com ) and still have a few prints available too. I will be making regular updates there, too, of very affordable originals ( less than a third of my regular gallery prices) since i will be moving soon and need to clear out some art!

My website is also now up and (sort of) running. Most of the links don't work, and the gallery isn't set up properly, but you can still view all my pictures there. My web assistant ( or.. my nice friend Rob who is helping me in exchange for cupcakes) is away exploring japan for a month so it won't be fixed for a while. Visit it anyway and let me know if anyone has any suggestions of anything else i should add to it. Http://www.devonsmith.co.nz

xox

Updates.

2009-06-20T03:22:00.000-07:00

I have just added a couple of things to my etsy store, including this dear little fawn. I love this painting but i'm moving cities soon and can't take all my art with me, so everything is being sold off slowly. http://www.deerface.etsy.com

My website is now online, although not entirely finished - most of the links don't work, but the gallery does, which is most important.

xox

Goodbye Stir.

2009-05-13T22:07:00.001-07:00

Josephine framed.
Originally uploaded by Eating ghosts

Stir is closing down. Which also means my exhibition will be closing. I realised i never showed any of the finished work so here is a photo of Josephine in her loely frame.

x

Etsy open!

2009-04-23T18:41:00.001-07:00

etsy open!
Originally uploaded by Eating ghosts

I've added several original paintings at very cheap prices. All orders come with a free postcard print to celebrate the opening of my new etsy store.

xox

2009-04-09T21:00:00.001-07:00

eating ghosts 1
Originally uploaded by Eating ghosts

Things are stagnating. My website launch will happen soon but it's waiting on other people. My etsy will finally be open soon, but thats also waiting on other people. I have been painting, but not at the rate or level i wish i was.

Expect newness soon. But how soon i cannot say.

x

New Exhibition

2009-03-13T15:55:00.001-07:00

Lina
Originally uploaded by Eating ghosts

I have a new exhibition opening in the next few days. The paintings are already up, but we haven't had the formal opening yet. It's all brand new stuff that i've done in the last couple of months so i'm still really pleased and love it all.

"a Box of Birds" Various new works by Devon Smith.
At Stir on George street. Open 10-5 daily.

Please have a look if you can, the framing turned out so wonderful and this is my first formal solo show. The owner Steph is a lovely lady who helped me with organising everything and sells lots of delightful things in the rest of the store.

xox

The End!

2008-12-13T19:19:00.001-08:00

we two girls
Originally uploaded by Eating ghosts

I have graduated! The ceremony was very boring, and the parade was rained out, but it was enjoyable all the same. My gown and mortar board looked hideous, as my school decided that navy blue, pink, and yellow were a good combination.

To my surprise i won the peoples choice award! i was so stunned and thrilled at the time all i could do was squeak. This award was voted in by the public, so it's a pretty great thing to win.

I sold two of my paintings at the SITE exhibition, then a woman from a local gallery took another 6 away to put in her christmas show. I'm currently exhibiting with such fantastic artists as Sam Foley and two of my old tutors from art school Olau neilson and Steeve Peryoux. Very exciting! I also sold a couple of little drawings and a big older painting. All this money coming in is just fantastic, perhaps a career as an artist isn't quite so far fetched as i imagined.

Another lovely surprise was my big brother coming down for graduation, and my parents congratulating me by buying me a swell new digital SLR camera ( a Canon eos 1000 to be precise) so i shall be documenting my work a whole lot better as of today.

Internet isn't up at my house yet, so blog updates will be few and far between for a little while longer xoxoxox

Kisses

2008-11-19T18:04:00.001-08:00

installation
Originally uploaded by Eating ghosts

My work is all installed and ready for my final exhibition, which starts tomorrow! Try and make it if you can, theres some really interesting stuff, plus i'm working there and will be bored and lonesome.

I'm pretty happy with the way things turned out. It's exciting to have to join the real world and be a real adult. My fingers are crossed for an emerging artist place at COCA (centre of contemporary art) which i have applied for and got a STUNNING reference from one of my tutors (so stunning in fact i believe i teared up a little.. basically said i was a wonderful brilliant talented artists.. he was very sweet)

I'll be away from the internet for a while, until i get it organised at my home, but when i'm back, all my journals will be flooded with art and entries as i'll be a working artist and having nothing better to do then 'research' on the internet! xoxoxoxoxoxox

let yourself go hungry

2008-10-02T18:08:00.001-07:00

let yourself go hungry
Originally uploaded by Eating ghosts

I ended up doing about ten more paintings for my final show. Now i have about 28, and can only afford to frame 14. Tough decisions now have to be made! This is a definite, and is one of my favourites.

I officially join the real/working world in a month. This is exciting/scary. I will be sending a bunch of mini portfolios out to different magazines, so if anyone has any suggestions/addresses, i'd greatly appreciate it!

2008-08-27T17:36:00.001-07:00

scribbles
Originally uploaded by Eating ghosts

I need to start selling things. I have too many paintings i've hung on to for too long. I don't even like them anymore and i know i'll end up throwing them out eventually.

Still preparing for final show, which will be on the 21st of November. I have too many/not enough things to want to display. It is very confusing.

School Work

2008-08-19T20:22:00.001-07:00

So much painting... i'm currently working on a few final works for school. I have three months until i graduate and get my fancy Bachelor of Fine Arts, which won't get me anywhere, but at least i'll have achieved something.

Painted with gouache (or however thats spelled these days) and a little coloured pencil. This work (and all the ones im working on) are only 14cmx14cm so i've been having fun working on tiny details.

I have a few more in the works, and a couple more i've uploaded to my flickr.

Ibought my ticket to Massive Black, in Wellington, and wish it was sooner as i'm already very excited. I'm off to buy stationary and get quotes for framing now, funfun.

xox

A Thursday Afternoon.

2008-08-06T20:10:00.000-07:00

Today has been a day of sewing and drawing. I haven't finished anything for a while that hasn't been for school, but heres some little things from my sketchbook.