On Hand Lettering and making messy starts...

It’s funny how certain things stop me from going forward. One of those things in hand lettering. You see it everywhere in illustration, on book covers, in advertising, packaging and editorial…pretty much everywhere. So what is stopping me?

It a little thing (or big thing) called fear…

If you know me, you know my husband has a hand painted sign shop (New Bohemia Signs) in San Francisco. His work is incredible and he has had the shop for 25 years. I love watching him work and seeing all the incredible lettering he creates. He is definitely a master in what he does. And truth be told, I work in the shop part time in the admin side of things, dealing with customers, doing bids, emails and making patterns. But lettering, nope…I have been super scared to touch a letter brush or a pencil professionally.

I know that it is all really silly and things aren’t going to change over night, but I am starting to face this dumb fear and I am taking my first lettering class.

One of the mini assignments.

I started the Lettering Bootcamp with Make Art That Sells and I am trying to finally get over this fear. I know just drawing a little bit and moving forward. I know that it takes a while to get comfortable doing something but..hey. It’s time to get over this.

Here’s another mini assignment.

So…what’s next? I suppose going forward with some really messing lettering for a while. And keep going until I feel comfortable or not. But keep going regardless…

Does this happen to you? Does something keep holding you back from going forward? What steps are you taking to get over it?

Thoughts on 2023…and getting ready for 2024

The Mushroom Wanderer (detail) by Debra Styer, 2023

Well it was a pretty tough year, yet again. The war in Ukraine continues and the Hamas War is terrifying on incredibly sad. As for this year, I’m very worried that the U.S. will become a chaotic mess with the upcoming election and I hope we all remain peaceful as we vote for the next president. (Praying we finally say goodbye to Trump).

As an artist, it can be really difficult to focus on work when so there much is going on in the world, but I think it is something we must do.

Even though it was a tough year, I did mange to get bunch of new work done. I was in 3 art shows at City Art Gallery, participated in a few illustration classes and I was happy to be one of hosts of Folktale Week for the 6th year. I am working on adding my recent work to my Etsy shop and on here so stay tuned….

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So…Here’s to 2024!

I’m hoping for another art filled year!

My goals for this year will be focusing on learning hand lettering, working on some new some editorial projects, and trying to get into a few more galleries. My main focus will be creating portraits of inspiring historical women. I starting working on some of these paintings last year and look forward to creating more.

On a personal note, over the last 5 years or so, I have been really working towards getting myself out there in the real art world. I have been steadily growing as an artist but something always stops me from taking the leap and showing my work to publishers and art agents. Well, this seems like a good year to take that next step and get over this crazy shyness.

Praying for a peaceful year and world.

How are you feeling about 2024?

On being quiet...and numb.

I used to keep a journal pretty regularly and it would really help me organize my thoughts but in the last couple years, like so many, I stopped writing. It is really hard for me to focus, there is just so much going on. Just today on my walk to the grocery store, two protests that passed me. One was about Palestinian journalists who was killed in Israel and the second one was about people protesting the possible (and insane) overturning of abortion rights in the US.

And of course one must not forget the ongoing world pandemic and the war in Ukraine. There is also the helpless I feel that my dad is really sick and I live 3000 miles away and can do nothing. And to top it all off, as I turn on the TV, another mass shooting. It’s all too much.

Time seems to fly these days and I forget to even speak about what I am working on these days. I just finished a gallery show in April (I had one last October) and continue to take illustration classes, and work at our sign shop, but I’m also angry at myself for not being able to accomplish more with my career. the guilt also fuels the numbness.

I think I keep busy to keep myself numb.

The numbness has to stop, I need to wake up and do something.

But what, as an illustrator/artist, what does one do? What does one do when you are afraid of making a statement or afraid of being cheesy or insincere? How do you get over this this fear?

How do you stop the numbness and go forward?

Asking for a friend.

Folktale Week 2021!

Just a little note to say I am super proud to once again be hosting this amazing art challenge. Here’s my “I’m Following” week! I hope you like it. Wanna join me? Please follow along @folktaleweek on Instagram. Prompts will be coming soon. #folktaleweek2021 #artchallenge

The illustration above is inspired by the Fijian folktale, "Kumaku and the Giants". Kumaku saves the day with her magical song which blows sand in the eyes of the mean giants.

New Paintings at City Art Gallery, July 2021

I don’t believe 2021 is already halfway over! Can you? I’ve been really busy with classes, new projects, and a brand new show at City Art Gallery in San Francisco. Here’s a look at the new pieces.

My Gallery wall at City Art Gallery.

It was fun show to do with a little less Pandemic worries than my show in the fall. I definitely feel a bit lighter this time around. Things seem like they are going back to normal (well kinda…maybe …). The gallery had our first art opening since Covid-19 hit 15 months ago and I was happy to see some familiar faces and finally talk to my fellow artists and friends in person. It makes such a huge difference to really connect to people.

As for the pieces themselves, I created a small series of taxidermy-inspired pieces. I am super inspired by history, nature, and animals so what better way to pay tribute to that than taxidermy? Well, there is the death part which I’m not a huge fan of but I loved painting these creatures as if they existed in my very dark and gothic haunted house. Here they are:

Debra Styer, The Owl and the Greenman, 2021

Debra Styer, The Domed Jay, 2021

Debra Styer, Bobcat in Blue, 2021

The larger paintings were inspired by the loveliness and lightness of nature and the darkness that can follow. The Goth Girl in me went a little crazy this time but I had a wonderful time telling these little stories.

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Debra Styer, Blossoms, 2021

“Blossoms” is my ode to my kitties who truly helped me through the craziness of the pandemic and life. I don’t have kids so they are indeed my furbabies.

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Debra Styer, From the Underneath, 2021

“From the Underneath” was inspired by a recent camping trip where there was so much seaweed (pondweed?), that I questioned there must be something or someone hiding underneath.

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Debra Styer, The Gift, 2021

This one, “The Gift”, was a a little ode to folktales and little tiny people that are found in the forest.

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Debra Styer, A Gothic Tale, 2021

And this last one, “A Gothic Tale”, was my favorite to illustrate. I tend to live in a bit of a dream world and this one got a little too close for comfort. And I am sure these sweet little ravens, will do nothing but Squawk and wake up our dear reader just in time for her lovely dinner and glass of wine that’s waiting for her, right?

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This world pandemic has been just so awful, but there has to be something we can find positive in all the craziness. I think it has made everyone stop and look around at their lives and really see how they have been living. I suppose this year, I was given a little gift of time with my artist self to see where I wanted to go. Although, I am still working things out, by direction feel a little more clear. Does it feel that way to you, too? I feel like the world has been shaken up and now we need to put ourselves upright again, I hope we are all able to stand up stronger, whatever we do.

Thank you for reading, I hope you like the new paintings. They will be on view at the gallery from July 2nd to August 1st, 2021 at City Art Gallery (828 Valencia Street, San Francisco, CA).