Cincinnati Illustrators Christmas Party

Art by cartoonist Thomas Nast

Trying something new this year! The Christmas Party will be at Brew House on December 10th.

As usual, everyone will have separate checks(gratuity included) and we will have tables in the back room to display art we have worked on this year.

RSVP here!

https://www.facebook.com/events/339683603064869/

STUDIO SPACE: Robin Ewers Carnes

What can I say? I’m a local Cincinnati artist who loves my hometown, bourbon, hot dogs and cats. I graduated in 2005 with a degree in Graphic Design from Antonelli College and after 10 years of working in the field, it was time to take the next step. I now work as a full-time artist and freelancer and I’m also the Brand Ambassador for George Remus Bourbon Whiskey.

I work primarily in watercolors, oil, ink and graphite. I find inspiration just about anywhere, but mainly my city of Cincinnati is what I feed off of. I love creating greeting cards, portrait work, loose watercolors, modern calligraphy and quirky illustrations.

Fun Facts:
    • Teaching Artist on the Ezzard Charles mural located at Liberty & Republic Streets downtown
    • Top 25 Artist for 2014 Secret Artworks show
    • Named Cincinnati’s Best Local Artist of 2010 by CityBeat Magazine readers
    • Artist of the “Over-the-Swine” Pig statue for the Cincinnati Development Fund
    • Co-Artist of the Christian Moerlein Cincinnati Brewing Heritage Pig along with Randy Wilcox from Once Blind Studios

My art has been mentioned and promoted by Cincy Chic, A-Line Magazine, FOX 19 Morning Extra, Artworks Cincinnati, Springboard Cincinnati, Abservd Magazine, Soapbox Cincinnati, CityBeat Magazine, Cincy Magazine, RAW Artists, Metromix, Cincinnati.com, Wild Turkey Distillery, MadTree Brewing and Buffalo Trace Distillery.

Location: Cincinnati, Ohio

Website: www.rewersdesigns.com
On the Drawing Table: Concepts for a 2017 cocktail calendar
Coming out soon: Hopefully lots of new things!

How did you get your start as a professional artist?

Well, as a fine artist, I think I got paid for a commission piece maybe around 2005 or so but I identify with becoming ‘professional’ in 2008 when I became an LLC. That’s when I really tried to find my style, and what I was most passionate about creating. But during that time, since 2005, I worked professionally as a corporate graphic designer and continued to do so until just last year, 2015. At which point, my current job had taken a turn down a road I wasn’t interested in and I decided change things up a bit.

Describe your work.

My work has evolved quite a bit from 2008. I used to focus on black and white oil paintings of lost celebrities (like Audrey Hepburn, Marilyn Monroe, etc). However, currently, I work primarily in watercolor and ink and focus on more illustrative work and local landscape-themed pieces.

Tell about your workspace.

I try to make my workspace a warm place. I do love natural light and plants. I have a jasmine plant that smells amazing when it blooms. I repainted my studio a nice spring green to lighten it up. I’ve got 2 desks, one for my computer work and one for drawing. I sell prints of my work and other paper goods on Etsy and through a few places in town so I have my materials set up in a way that matting prints, packaging my items and getting shipping labels ready flows easily.

 

What are your favorite materials digital and traditional?

 My favorite digital materials range from my Wacom tablet when working on the computer and right now I’m loving working on the Procreate app on the iPad.

My favorite traditional materials are just a trusty no. 2 pencil and a Moleskine sketchbook. I also have a watercolor Moleskine sketchbook that I carry around with a mini whiskey painters palette and aqua brush. It’s great for on-the-go.

What’s your typical workday/work session like?

My typical workday starts with coffee of course! I usually get up and work on a few art projects, either commission pieces or new things for the Etsy shop in the morning. But in the afternoons, I work as the Brand Ambassador for George Remus Bourbon Whiskey. Evenings are spent working on what I didn’t finish in the morning or just knocking out a few doodles.

What do you do to keep yourself motivated as you work?

I tend to be quite scatterbrained when I work and I’m definitely a procrastinator so with those stacked against me, I know myself well enough that when my brain starts to trail off, I either get up and knock something off my ‘to-do’ list at the house or do a quick little doodle to switch gears. I usually have a few projects going at one time so I have something to keep my brain occupied regardless!

What is your dream job?

That’s hard to say! I used to want to sit around and paint all day, but I recently got the opportunity to do that and it wasn’t for me. I need to be super busy and lots going on to get anything accomplished. But I will say, I would love to maybe someday own an old historic building and turn it into a working space for artists. Who knows though – I tend to change my mind a lot.

Do you keep a sketchbook? 

Yes! I actually have 4 smaller sketchbooks going right now. They each have their own purpose. And that doesn’t include the one I keep in my purse for emergency situations!

 

What do you listen to while you work?

I listen to Tool, or any Maynard James Keenan’s music. Sia and Beyoncé are regulars on my list, and I enjoy listening to the Elizabethtown soundtracks for some calming music. I tend to sing when I work too, and that helps me get fully focused into my work. And to be completely honest, I love working in the peace and quiet. There’s so much noise around me sometimes, I really just like the silence.

Who are your artistic influences?

I’ve always been a fan of Van Gogh’s work, but more recently I’m influenced by Wolf Kahn. His use of color is inspiring. I also follow Keiko Tanabe and Grahame Booth for their watercolor work. It’s amazing to me.

What do you do that is not art related that inspires you?

Usually, I drink some bourbon! However, my husband and I are expecting our first child in March so that drinking bourbon had to take a backseat. However, I love to cook. Even if it’s nothing too fancy it just helps to do mindless things like chopping veggies and stirring something. I also love to take road trips, those don’t happen too often unfortunately, but just a drive out to the country works for me. 

What was the best advice you got in your career so far?

Whew, that’s a toughy. Honestly, I think for me, the best advice I ever received was when I was a senior in high school, and was told to go for a career in graphic design versus fine art. Back then, the fine arts weren’t appreciated as much as they are now and there weren’t as many job opportunities for fine artists. I’m super glad I went in that direction because I learned skills that are incredibly useful. Even though I identify as a fine artist and illustrator, my graphics skills helped me to design my own logo, branding and website assets and to know good, cohesive design. I think good design techniques carry over into fine art in many ways. Now, I’m able to dabble in both digital and traditional mediums easily and that works for someone like me – someone who tends to need constant change... haha!

What is your favorite color?

It tends to change, but for a while now it’s been coral and turquoise.

How can we get best follow your art online/on social media?

My website is www.rewersdesigns.com, but you can find me on Instagram under ‘rewers’ and my Facebook page is under ‘r.ewers designs.’ 

Those link to my Twitter and Tumblr accounts too. 

Instagram is usually where things are posted first though, it’s my favorite social media platform.

Illustrator News: Melissa McClanahan

Melissa McClanahan has a one night solo mini-show this Sunday the 13th at ECOnsiously in Northside, from 8:15-9:30pm Artwork focusing on the feminine, moon and nature! She will have originals as well as prints and small works for sale.

Any proceeds from this show to be donated to Planned Parenthood

Illustrator News: Jared Lee's New Book There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Turkey

This is Jared Lee's new book that just came out for Thanksgiving.  It's the book he worked on last fall/winter when he had a broken ankle so he dedicated it to the physical therapist who helped him walk on two legs again!

Check it out here and see a few spreads! 

Animation Movie Night- Weds Nov 9 7pm

Cincinnati Animation Network's first monthly animation movie night in conjunction with the Cincinnati Film Society is coming up this Wednesday 11/9!  We will be screening The Stressful Adventures of Boxhead & Roundhead, a feature animated film made by Elliot Cowan, followed by a Q+A with the director.

The Mockbee

2260 Central Parkway

Cincinnati OH 45214

7:00pm

free admission

After their home is destroyed, Boxhead & Roundhead must head to the big city to battle red tape, rent, rats and the rat race to get it back. Art and industry, friendship and foul play are all in the mix in this, the first feature length Boxhead & Roundhead stressful adventure.

Elliot Cowan is an award winning animator, writer artist and educator.

He was born in Melbourne, Australia where he attended the Independent College of Art and Design and followed that up with a further post grad year at the Victorian College of the Arts.

He spent nearly 11 years in Tasmania writing, directing and editing low budget television commercials.

In 2006 he left for London where he worked for Uli Meyer Animation, working as a story artist and gag man on the feature film Monstermania!

He conceived the characters Boxhead and Roundhead who appeared in several award winning short films as well as an animated feature currently on the festival circuit.

His drawings and paintings have been displayed in Melbourne, Hobart, Launceston, Los Angeles, Chicago and New York.

In 2007 he moved to New York where he paints and draws, makes sculptures of of foam core and teaches.

He has completed animation, storyboarding, writing and story consultation for Sesame Workshop, Elizabeth Arden, Nathan Love, PBS, Ace and Son Moving Picture Company, The Logo Network, Uli Meyer Animation and Oscar nominated Irish studio Cartoon Saloon among others.

He teaches animation and story classes at The Pratt Institute, University of the Arts, Queens College and Mercy College.