Recent Commission

She loved it! :)

An Update

Hello there blog-o-sphere! I realized recently that it has been quite some time since I've given any in-depth updates on my life ... and it will still probably be a while.

However, Here are a few highlights... I:
* Went to England and France with my mom and fell head over heels for Paris.

* Turned 24!

* Had a kick-ass Asian inspired ceramics show with my pottery buddies (and sold almost everything!)

* Worked Worked Worked - this summer has been one of my busiest times at work so far * and therefor fell off the face of the internet and surrounding world

* Went on an amazing road-trip through Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee w/ my lovely boyfriend.

* Was awarded the Directors Award at the 48th annual Bay Arts Juried show for my painting of the London Underground, "Two Red Daisies".



* Lost ALL of my photos from the last few years :( Its devastating but I am trying to move on since there isn't anything I can do.

* ...more work work work. We are in the process of developing a really awesome program (which is classified until further notice) at the craft supply company that I work at. I am SO proud of what we are doing, though it is a really demanding schedule and I've been working late a lot. The neat thing is that there are almost 500 skus in the program, and a huge chunk of them use my illustrations. SO COOL!

Keep looking for Darice sticker books and other items at your local Pat Catans, Michaels, Joann Fabrics or other similar stores. Chances are, me or one of my fabulous co-workers worked on them! I have done mostly kid's products, like the wood shapes, sticker books, velvet posters, StickerZ brand stickers, etc.

I also have a couple of fun commissions in the work, so look for those soon!

Till then, Take care
Erin

Natural History

Beautiful and rare behind-the-scenes look at the American Museum of Natural History by photographer Justine Cooper. Please check it out here.

Missy the Missing Cat - Or - Why Never to ask Favors from Designers

One of the funniest things I've read in a while: Check it out!

Copywrite David Thorne

Pascal Campion

Great video by Anthony Vu about one of my favorite illustrators: Pascal Campion. This guy is absolutely incredible and very inspiring. He is also one of the most prolific artists out there. Check it out!

Inspirational Artists: Pascal Campion from Onyx Cinema, Inc. on Vimeo.

Please visit his website.

Dr. Sketchy - Scooter Shop

Sorry its so blurry - I gave the original to the fantastic model!

Self portrait for shelly

Card for my BF Ron!

I think i'm going to try to keep posting on a daily basis - even if its random stuff.
CAN SHE DO IT?!?!? ....we'll see.....

Songs I've been diggin lately - I Feel the Earth Move

I love anything Carole King - This woman rocks!!! I just saw her in concert with James Taylor and she absolutely blew me away. At 68 she can still wail and rock out with the best of them. Plus, she spent the entire concert bouncing around in 4 inch heels. AMAZING! I want to be just like her when I grow up

Love this!

RIP Harvey

Harvey Pekar Died today



Its a sad day for the world of comics and for Cleveland.
"He's the soul of Cleveland," Crumb told The Plain Dealer in 1994. "He's passionate and articulate. He's grim. He's Jewish. I appreciate the way he embraces all that darkness."





I don't really know what to say about this. The one time I met the man, he was honestly a bit of a jerk. But if he wasn't, he wouldn't have been Harvey Pekar. So its ok. I was really excited to meet him, and he sort of shut down in response... oh well... At least I did get to meet him. And i got to to a portrait of him (above). I am a lucky girl.

I love his comics, I love that he collaborated with so many incredible people. I love the movie. How amazing is it that his life story is recorded and published for everyone to read? He will live on. Not many people are that lucky.

RIP, Harvey. You will be missed. You meant a lot to a lot of people.

Its weird to think that I now live in a world where there will be no more American Splendor...

Ron Reading on the Porch

Painting Workshop

This weekend I had the privilege of attending a painting workshop by Cleveland's own legendary artist Mary Deutschman . The workshop was a birthday gift from my lovely boyfriend, Ron.

Good times were had by all (despite a little rain). I picked the most difficult subject I could find and... had a difficult time. But I learned a lot, which was the important part.



I want to finish my painting (I took nice reference photos), but its hard to get motivated. Maybe once I start working in oils more regularly. We shall see...

****UPDATE****

This was my 100th post!!!

Ooo La La!

I leave for my Euro-trip in only 2 days!!!!
Couldn't be more excited

exciting news!

I entered my portrait of Kayla (who is my boyfriend's sister and was our roommate for several months) into a Juried show here in northern Ohio and not only did it get in.... I won a Jury award!!!! I couldn't be more thrilled, especially considering that the painting was in very good company with work by amazing local artists.

Sketchy.... Tuesday?? Ugh, I give up

Ok, so not exactly on schedule, here is this week's drawing:




Colors done in Illustrator (and kinda unfinished... I forgot about a few details)



There is a story behind this.... but it is a little too geeky than I'm willing to admit.
yeah....

A little Eye Candy... (also, Guys and Dolls)

Oh... my... goodness.... I think I was born in the wrong Decade



I rented and watched the 1955 version of Guys and Dolls last week and found myself entirely enchanted with it - largely due to 31 year old Marlon Brando's performance as lovable gambler Sky Masterson. How come nobody told me before about Marlon Brando??? and what he used to look like????? I found myself quickly falling for a man that was born over half a century before me (never mind that he has been dead for six years). I know I have seen Streetcar in high school, but did I just not notice? How could I?



Anyway, Guys and Dolls was an absolute treat. The songs are great, the set is beautiful and Ol' Blue Eyes is in it. There is really nothing to argue about. There are also amazing performances by Jean Simmons, Vivian Blaine, and Stubby Kaye as Nicely-Nicely. Lovely Jean Simmons - who only just passed away a few days ago - was especially wonderful as conservative Mission Sargent Sarah Brown and her performance of "If I were a bell" is not to be missed.

My Favorite, however, was the show's hallmark song, "Luck be a Lady" performed by Brando (not Sinatra as I had assumed). He brings a kinda flavor to it that adds so much. The sewer set is really cool as well.





Go see it, NOW! Tell me what you think, though I know you'll love it!
Anyone have any other recommendations of movies you think I'll like from this era? Anyone?

My Name is Inigo Montoya.... you killed my Father... prepare to DIE!

Ok, So I LOVE the Princess Bride. I must have seen it dozens of times, but it never fails to make me happy. I wrote papers on it in high school, have read the book and it is just one of those movies that everyone always loves.

This, I think, justifies the fan art kick I am on.







Feel free to post with your favorite quotes... I know you want to

Ahem... "Does anybody want a peanut?"

Dropping the Ball

Ok... so maybe posting sketches on Sundays is harder than I thought.
I will try to stick to the routine from now on, but to make up for it, here are a few of my latest:


I seem to be on a bit of a fantasy kick...





This sketch above is only really explained if you go here and witness one of the best scenes ever filmed.

This is Cheery Littlebottom from Discworld with... um... what appears to be R2D2...



I will post some more later :)

Sketchy Sund... er... Friday....... whoops, where the heck did this week go?

SO.... these are some sketches... and it is definitely not Sunday... Oops.

Sorry everyone, this was a crazy whirlwind of a week! To make up for it, here are not 1, not 2, but 3 sketches for you viewing pleasure, straight out of the ole' picture book (and painted with coffee).

This time around, my pottery class is focusing on creating ceramics inspired by Asia for our annual spring show. Everyone is creating beautiful vases, dishes, rice bowls, tea sets, and so many more things. I, however, am finding myself developing a deep obsession with Sumo Wrestlers and Geisha Girls...








These pictures are really studies for future ceramic pieces. I am most excited about the sumo wrestler, just because I think that they are hilarious in the whole and will be awesome in clay. I actually started putting one together yesterday in class, so I'll let you know how that turns out!

On a side note, My new favorite place is a little hole-in-the-wall coffee shop in Strongsville called "the relaxing room". It has just opened and has delicious coffee that is inexpensive and padded booths that I loose hours in every week. It is my quiet time to draw in my sketchbook, and I cherish every minute I spend there. Owner Nate makes a mean cup of Joe too (um... by "mean cup of joe" I mean my usual gingerbread soy latte ;) What can I say?! I like sweet girly drinks! So Sue me!!).

Anyway... it is really fun to paint with the coffee and Nate asked if I would contribute some work to decorate the walls! Hmm.... I think its about time to develop a deep obsession with coffee and switch gears to make some beverage inspired work!

My Feature Interview

Hey Everyone! I Have super exciting news....
Crazy talented Ceramic Jen has featured me on her blog!!!!!!
Please go here to check it out and send her some love.
It is a really long awesome interview!

Annnnndddd.... cause I promised pictures, here is one of Ivan the Cat:


:)

Mika Submarine

Cleveland Handmade

I am thrilled to say that I am now a member of the Cleveland Etsy Street team!


Check us out here
We have a lot of great stuff going on

Sunday Sketch Dump: Dr. House

How do you know what necklace length is right for you?

Ivy Presho posted a fantastic little article on her blog, distictlyivy, about the different lengths of necklaces and how to tell what is what.


(shown here is the princess length)

I thought it was really helpful and interesting! Please go to check it out here.

Thanks Ivy!!

New Item in the shop... Meet Sarah

Please go visit!

MY FIRST TREASURY!!!!!! YAYYYYYY!!!!

Hey everyone, I have very exciting news to announce... I was featured in a TREASURY on ETSY!!!!!!!



I was so excited I got up and danced around like a little kid

Isn't it beautiful??? I may be a bit biased, but I think its pretty front page worthy. If you think so too... please go see it in person here and click and comment to get it noticed!

Thank you to flossadornments (who makes FANTASTIC jewelry) for the feature!

Sketchy Sundays

I am proud to debut another weekly feature here at eschechtman.blogspot.com... Sketchy Sundays!

Lately I have been posting mostly about Etsy and my Jewelry, but these encompass only a part of my world... IRL, I am a professional illustrator and designer with Darice Inc, a crafting supply company based in Strongsville, Ohio. (You may know us from the "foamies" brand foam craft shapes.) We create many of our own products (especially for kids) for our Pat Catan's stores as well as for Michaels, Target, Wal Mart, Joanne Fabrics and more. Awesomely, I get to go to work every day to design these kids products (about 50% stickers, but also many many other items). I LOVE my job. I will tell you more about it later in it's own post.

Anyway, we work almost %100 digitally, and I find that I need to work on something tactile once I get home. That is the main reason why I started working with ceramics and jewelry, and how my etsy shop was created. I would also like to start working in my sketchbook more, a favorite pastime of mine that was largely abandoned once I graduated and started working.

So... In an effort to get myself away from the adobe suite and back to drawing by hand, I herby designate SUNDAY as a weekly sketch dump. Each week, I will post 1+ sketchbook or work in progress drawing here on the blog.

This is the first one!

Involution (aka... I have GOT to have these earrings)

Look at these...


I am so in love with these felted earrings by Involution on Etsy. I first came across Involution in a chat room, and am happy to say that not only does she make beautiful stuff, but she is super nice too! These particular earrings are called "All the Tea in China" (Love Love LOVE the title.. makes me think maybe I should rethink my naming style??) and they are made using sterling silver and wool.

Anyone want to get me a super early birthday present?.... Anyone?