Aileen Holmes

Welcome to my studio/master bedroom! You’ll see my inspiration board, my project plans, my tools, the rad sewing machine Matt gave me and various trinkets.

Here’s my tools up close. Many pens are housed in vintage tin canisters. My sad broken ceramic owl is bound by a rubber band until I fix her. This is just a small portion of my gadgetry.

I am way inspired by vintage jewelry. Here you see my bracelet and ring collection along with my newish painting “Blow me a Kiss” next to my vintage lucite purse.

Here you see the majority of my jewelry. All necklaces! On the top of my bookshelf is a couple of vintage wicker purses, there’s a Mary Poppins plate, some Julie West toys gifted to me by the artist herself!, some creepy wax hands, a flapper doll I made in Paul Frank’s character design class I took ages ago, some silkscreening screens and file boxes…

My bed has a cute canopy I created from vintage fabric and IKEA curtains! A relative made the top crocheted blanket. You’ll see my ultra-vain 6 foot mirror that everyone hates moving!

I spend a lot of time here! My iMac is my work station as well as my TV. : ) You’ll see my screen printed fabric, my new project I am working on, lots of rocks and stones, a tiny Warhammer figure that Matt painted for me next to the vintage picture frame, and I would go crazy without my handy Wacom tablet for drawing on the computer.

Thanks for taking a peek! I love my vintage treasures mixed in with my art and inspiration. No wonder I spend so much time indoors!

And, school is over, thank goodness!

Here’s a bit of what I did this semester in Illustration class:

“Hansel & Gretel Squirrels Visit the Nuthouse” by Aileen Holmes

“Falling” by Aileen Holmes

“House” by Aileen Holmes

It’s been a challenging semester, for sure! I had less time to commit to my clients.

I am happy to be getting back to providing creative services over the summer as a break. I am ready for more work!

Check out my first illustration for The Los Angeles Times!

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-et-0320-story-20110320,0,1125588.story

Also, I was quoted in the Orange County Business Journal regarding the cotton pricing issue:

http://www.ocbj.com/news/2011/mar/20/surging-cotton-prices-forcing-clothing-makers-pric/

Also, I was quoted in The Daily Titan regarding my work in “Unseamingly OC: Fashion and Art Collide” (art exhibit is up until March 26th!

http://www.dailytitan.com/2011/03/15/fashion-and-art-collide-at-the-promenade-gallery/

I hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday season! As a present, I am offering you a calendar to download (just click the image to see it larger and download) and/or you can have a postcard mailed to you if you sign up for my mailing list!

It’s been a wonderful year and I am truly grateful for all of your support. It’s not easy being an artist–it’s hard work! But it’s my passion and I love it : )

I have wonderful news to share. Starting Spring 2011 I will be officially pursuing my BFA in Illustration at California State University, Fullerton! Even though I have consistently been taking classes over the years, I wanted to take my studies a step further. It may take me a while to finish but I’m eager to advance my skills and keep learning.

I will be continuing my freelance creative services, of course, and I’m even open to full-time work in Orange County if the right opportunity comes along! I also would like to create a new series of paintings and license my artwork in 2011. I know I’m very ambitious but art is my life. I can’t imagine doing anything else!

Lastly, I want to thank all my clients this year who have given me the opportunity to collaborate on wonderful projects: Artisan de Luxe, Colette & Blue, Rothick Art Haus, Tracey Taylor of The ARTery Gallery, Food Riders of OCC, Como Fred David, I heart your house,  J3 Productions, Liberto Law, Love Propagation, Mila by Apparel West Enterprises, LLC., Orange County Fashion Association, Omni Cheer, Poppyspins, V Confessions, and Torrid.

Also, thank you to the art galleries and craft fairs who let me showcase my work this year: The ARTery, Rothick Art Haus, Patchwork Indie Arts & Crafts Festival, Piecemakers, Handmade Brigade’s Block Party, Salon Bleu, Glass House Records, and TrendsDesign Gallery.

Of course, I want to thank every single one of you who has ever bought one of my pieces, attended one of my shows, signed up for my mailing list or just gave me a shout out in support. You are the best!

Let’s make 2011 our best year ever!

Last weekend Teo “SpiderTeo” Teodoro and I went to Society of Illustrators Los Angeles‘ Art in the Park. It was a lovely grey day at Griffith Park, super early in the morning (OK it was only 9am but it was a Saturday!). A bunch of illustrators met up to draw, paint, and/or gossip. We met some really great artists. Everyone’s style was completely different and it was cool to see all the different interpretations of our Spanish-inspired model.

That’s Teo up above. Very serious art goin’ on!

Here’s another illustration, the first one I did this session.

Here’s a couple of links to other posts about the event!

SpiderTeo

Society of Illustrators LA

Vivian Nguyen