Marie-Alice Harel ... from PhD to Bird People. An art career takes flight.

I was lucky to meet artist Marie-Alice Harel on my last day at Lightbox Expo. I featured her art here on the blog:
http://stuartngbooks.blogspot.com/2019/09/lightboxexpo2019-booths-and-tables-3-of.html

Her first-ever Kickstarter, "Bird People" earned "Project We Love" status from the Kickstarter team. Now this beautiful book will happen. You can order your copy via this link:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/maharelillo/bird-people

I'm not the only one captivated by her art. She's attracted the attention of icons like Claire Wendling and Bobby Chiu.

In the schoolism live interview linked above, you'll learn how Marie-Alice earned a PhD, but quit her science job 3 years ago to become an artist. No art school. Just an amazing work ethic.. and success story. Plus overcoming a health crisis. So inspiring on so many levels. It's wonderful to see her career taking flight...

you can follow her on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/p/B4u9Zlmj1CX/

see more art here on her website: http://www.maharel.com/

Indie art life is a marathon. Pace yourself. Promote your artWORK.

Make art once. Monetize it forever. Never underestimate the value of your IP. Engage your followers. Educate them and invite them to support the art they "like" and "share"

Social media thrives on image sharing -- making millions for companies. Where is the credit and compensation for artists??

Know what your art is worth. It costs you to post "free" art. Put your name and social media links on your art. Don't settle for "likes" and "shares." Like the myth of "valuable" exposure, they don't pay the bills. If your art is being "liked" and shared -- it is valued. This earns you credit and compensation.

Online art is possible thanks to the time, talent, experience and materials costs borne by the content creators. Indie artists need to include links to their websites and pay platforms. If you just post "free" art all the time, you harm yourself and your fellow indie artists.

 Educate your followers. An educated, engaged fan base will fight for your rights because they understand the connection between what they value and enjoy and protecting your IP.

Watch for burnout. Practice good self-care.

Share your "About Us" story. Have a mission statement.  Link below will take you to page for outstanding example of this on "Champions of the Track" website. The linked page helps educate fans and connect them to the content creator and her cause.

https://www.champsofthetrack.com/post/champions-of-the-track-who-are-we

Photo below of  "Champions of the Track" content creator Kaeli with race horse Rachel Alexandra

Topics of interest -- article and You Tube links

Sometimes I will do a post like this with links to recent articles. Topics are items of interest for indie art life. Also some general interest articles on collecting, art, illustration, premise potential links etc....

Interview with artist Kei Acedara touches on what judges look for when evaluating art  --

A Day in the Life at Pixar Studios

Why are Spam Calls at an All-Time High ... and what can be done

NY Times interactive 6 question guide to choosing a streaming service

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/11/10/arts/television/what-to-stream.html?

Animals recognized for bravery in military service
https://www.washingtonpost.com/science/2019/11/15/us-animals-now-have-medal-wartime-bravery/?

Evacuation safety tips for pets and large animals
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2019-10-29/how-to-prepare-pets-and-large-animals-for-wildfires?

Beautifully written (by Firoozeh Dumas) true-life story of how negotiation skills can reflect values
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/09/opinion/sunday/parenting-ethics.html

Benedict Cumberbatch discussing playing real-life science icons..
https://physicsworld.com/a/benedict-cumberbatch-the-imitation-game/?

Book review: "Queens of Animation" by Nathalia Holt
https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/books/story/2019-11-14/queens-of-animation-nathalia-holt-disney?

contract law
https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2019-09-27/ab5-independent-contractors-how-businesses-are-responding

mental illness like physical illness
https://www.iflscience.com/health-and-medicine/what-if-physical-diseases-were-treated-like-mental-illnesses

letters from Hollywood
https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/books/story/2019-09-20/letters-from-hollywood-bogart-hanks-bacall-sinatra-fonda-hepburn

DreamCon - 2019

Studio jobs are career goals for many artists. Studios expect top work from top talent. These jobs come with lots of demands -- including long hours at the office. Studios have come to recognize these sacrifices, and compensate where they can with benefits. Favorites of these include free meals at the studio commissary -- and  artist education and enrichment opportunities.

DreamWorks Animation offers all this, plus a stunningly beautiful campus work environment. The center court water fountain -- and the immense Koi Pond at DreamWorks -- are legendary.

A favorite benefit for DreamWorks artists are on-campus events like the annual 'DreamCon' -- where studio artists enjoy an outdoor art market to display and sell their personal art. This stand-alone event featured different themes over the years. See previous posts on the blog:
https://stuartngbooks.blogspot.com/2016/10/dreamcon-2016.html
http://stuartngbooks.blogspot.com/2015/10/dreamcon-2015.html
http://stuartngbooks.blogspot.com/2011/10/snb-at-dream-con-oct-2011.html

For 2019, it merged with the company's annual holiday bazaar. Lots of gift items as well as art on sale.

And of course .. snack stations at several spots...

The long line attested to the popularity of the artisan ice cream from Wanderlust Creamery..

 Wanderlust special menu for this event...

More on the Wanderlust Creamery...
https://www.wanderlustcreamery.com/

 Entertainment this year was a dance crew who not only performed several sets but also provided live action dance model sketching opportunities.

Thanks to Catherine at DreamWorks for continuing the tradition of inviting Stuart Ng Books to set up and sell books.

With travel, set-up and tear down all in one day, it's a busy time for the SNB support staff. But also super fun to be there, and to enjoy shopping the booths during breaks.

We were also able to share table space with David and Katherine from the Al Hirschfeld  Foundation. They brought along a selection of originals from the one-night show earlier that week...
http://stuartngbooks.blogspot.com/2019/11/one-night-exhibition-of-hirschfeld.html
This allowed artists at DreamWorks  to see and study these originals during the Dreamcon/Bazaar hours.
David recaps Hirschfeld's cultural impact and explains reasons why animators have studied his art for over 80 years in this Hirschfeld Century podcast episode:
http://www.alhirschfeldfoundation.org/podcasts/audio-tour-hirschfeld-at-the-harmonie-club/

The DreamWorks campus comes to life with all the tables of artists... and there are plenty of photo ops...

even some set up for you..

Here are just a few of the booths where I did some shopping..

Tick Tock Gizmos, Diana Grigorian

https://www.etsy.com/shop/TickTockGizmos

Octopus bracelet!

Heidi Neunhoffer

https://www.etsy.com/shop/NeunhofferArt

I love greeting cards!!! They are mini-art prints to share and send. Heidi had these featuring landmarks from DreamWorks campus.. as well as project "Spirit"

Daisy Edwards

http://daisymayedwards.com/

Loved her racks of cool prints! 

Got this vintage-inspired horse print kerchief..

and a set of dinosaur stickers.

Meghan's Jewelry Design
Meghan Sesnie
https://www.facebook.com/meghansjewelrydesign/

All the seahorse options at her table caught my eye. Picked up these two bracelets. Lots of treasures on her table at very sweet price points.

Corgis continue their plans to take over the world...
Greeting cards and Corgi gear at the LACorgi table
https://lacorgi.co/

 Artist's business card was this charming sticker:

I'm no chef.. but I make my share of roasted veggies and have learned the hard way that a good oven mitt is a must-have kitchen tool. Why not have fun ones -- got these mostly as gifts..

Sonia Melinkoff

Nerdy Novetly Design

https://www.etsy.com/shop/nerdynoveltydesign/

Got one more purchase (at the Kafuffle booth..

https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Artist/Kafuffle-Designs-216251905129846/)

but it's a gift so I'll post pic later...

Meanwhile...

Here are some more scenes from the end of the day and during the move out. 

So Cal sunset light from the passenger seat of the van on the way home...