Kickstarter Newsletter 05: New WIP Pieces and Book Printer Selected.

AshlyLovett.com Kickstarter Newsletter.
Summary of progress for The Little Mermaid Kickstarter from Illustrator, Ashly Lovett.

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You have signed up to receive this Newsletter every 1-4 months, which will showcase my progress on the project. Here is where we are as of today...

It's been a productive few months for the project. And today I met with a local printer that makes handmade archival books. We discussed having a handmade paper cover and interior paper that'll emulate the texture of the Arches BFK Rives cotton rag paper I use with my chalk pastels. We also discuss a foil stamp cover and shipping fulfillment. I had a general quote last year, but now we're getting right down to the details.

There are many benefits to using this printer. It's 10 mins from my house, I can save money on shipping, production stays within the US, quality control will be awesomely easy, and I can get the book faster rather than dealing with overseas companies. They can also handle large orders and already have big clients like Pottery Barn. And, ultimately I love supporting local business and the staff is really nice. So, fingers crossed this all works out! I'm feeling good.

Quick photo from the many MANY swatches I looked at today.

Here is a look at all the Work In Progress pieces I have going on. They're spreading across my studio and I keep buying new drawing boards. These are iPhone photos. Please forgive the low quality.

The illustration below is 70% completed. This moment in the book is after her ceremony when she has become an "adult" and can now visit the surface. I'm not happy with her arm and hand. Need to work that out. Looks too mechanical and weird right now.

Below you may remember these digital thumbnails/value studies from the last Newsletter. I've begun the final drawings now. It's pretty cool (and crazy!) seeing this all come together.

Time-lapse video on my IG of me doing my final sketch. Click Image to Watch.

My Process
For most of these illustrations I do my thumbnails digitally for quicker results. I'll then frankenstein reference photos together and draw-over that to determine my final drawing and value structure. Next, I'll do a graphite drawing in my sketchbook while looking at those digital draw-overs. It is different when working with a physical surface vs a digital program. My hand and brain work a bit differently with each media. I just feel this is more practical and sets me up for success, because ultimately the final artwork will be done traditionally in chalk pastel on paper. I'll be sharing my process in more detail with photos in my next Newsletter.

• Our little mermaid will have only 2 siblings. A older sister and brother. No one has ever included a brother sibling(s) and I think it'd be really cool. All of them with glorious long bioluminescent hair.

• I can't decide if I want to give our little mermaid a name or not. Should she stay as just "little mermaid" ?

• I'm considering making this book as if it's in the library of a mermaid. Basically, like a fairytale or legend told by other mermaids. That could give the book an interesting perspective when I re-write the story later. A book for mermaids written by mermaids?

I'll continue to plug away and get as many illustrations done before May. My personal goal is to finish all the illustration by then. That way I can focus on advertising and designing the final book. I'm also working on my first ever solo show with Gallery 1988 in LA that opens on August 2nd. All the work for that show will need to be done by July 1st. That way I can spend July framing, shipping, and prepping prints. And then I have Dragon Con August 29th-Sept 2nd in Atlanta. I want to have all the files ready for the book and all the add-on rewards sent to the printer by mid-August, so I can do fulfillment no later than Oct-Nov. I got a plan and I think it's all feasible.

Lastly, if anyone has any suggestions of media outlets that would be interested in promoting the Little Mermaid book with a feature, interview, or whatever, please email me at alovett@ashlylovett.com. I'm working on pitch ideas for websites, blogs, news outlets, podcasts, etc. Thank you advance! This project is really coming together and I look forward to writing up the next Newsletter soon with even more progress to share.

I share all my process work and thoughts about my Kickstarters on Patreon starting at the first Tier of $2 a month. It's going to be a year long project and I really enjoy getting feedback and having my followers involved with the process with their comments and suggestions.

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