Here is the complete series of fairy art created for Rachel Van Asch for publication in the Summer ‘09 issue of FAE Magazine:

I am currently working on more art for Van Asch Clothing to appear in another magazine! So be sure to stop back later for more updates. Or better yet, join me on Facebook…I tend to make more updates here: http://www.facebook.com/catherineart

Next in my new fantasy art series is a piece we call Fairies Landed.  Over the next few weeks, I will be unveiling new fantasy art I created for Van Asch Clothing that is published in a fashion spread for the Summer ‘09 issue of Faeries & Enchantment (FAE) Magazine. You can pick up your copy online or at participating Borders stores.

This scene features three colorful fairies who just landed in a forest illuminated by fireflies. One of the fairies is wearing the Harvest Maiden dress from the Van Asch Clothing line.

Be sure to come back on in a few days for the next unveiling!  Subscribe to my blog so you don’t forget!

Over the next few weeks, I will be unveiling new fantasy art I created for Van Asch Clothing that is published in a fashion spread for the Summer ‘09 issue of Faeries & Enchantment (FAE) Magazine. The magazine is out today, May 1st.  You can pick up your copy online or at participating Borders stores.

First, a little about how this series came to be. Rachel Van Asch, whose clothing line and work with the Mediaeval Baebes I’ve been a fan of for years, contacted me after viewing my fantasy art. She asked if I would be interested in turning photographs of models wearing her gorgeous medieval & gothic dresses into works of fairy art for an upcoming issue of FAE Magazine. Of course I said yes! I would wear every dress in this series, they all look amazing! With a tight deadline and stretching my creativity to the limit, I finished all six in about 3 weeks. Thus begins a journey into a realm where the fey frolic and flutter about…

The first scene features a young maiden approaching a magical woodland spring, full of wonder as she tests the water, slightly hesitant about stepping further into the mystical otherworld that lies before her. She is wearing the Bohemian Princess dress from the Van Asch Clothing line.

All 6 creations will soon be available for purchase as archival prints and greeting cards. Please contact me if you are interested in purchasing.

Be sure to come back later thing month for the next unveiling! Subscribe to my blog so you don’t forget!

Be sure to pick up the Summer ‘09 issue of FAE Magazine on May 1st, to see the gothic fairy fashion art spread I did in collaboration with clothing designer, Rachel Van Asch! The art features some of the many beautiful dresses designed by Rachel for her Mediaeval & Gothic clothing line, Van Asch. I’ve been a fan of Rachel’s work for years, so it was a huge honor and a lot of fun to create these magical scenes for her. You can find FAE (Faeries & Enchantment) Magazine at participating Borders stores or on their website. A special sneak peek can be seen on Rachel’s website. Check back here after May 1st for a feature on the entire series!

The Spring Fairy Festival in Tacoma was a lovely event that I was very honored to be a part of.  I received many wonderful compliments about my art.  Thank you to all who stopped by!

Sales didn’t go so well, so that was a little disappointing.  I wasn’t expecting many sales since this was my first time (other than the solo exhibit and a few small group exhibits in NE Ohio) showing my art to the public.  Sounds like it was either hit or miss for the vendors there.  I was near the entrance, diagonally across from Amy Brown, so most people moved that way first, coming to my corner last.  So overall, it wasn’t great for the finances (booth decorations, printing costs and the 40 mile drive set me back quite a bit), but it was great for the experience. I had a really nice time, enjoying the music and decorations, meeting a lot of great people and some of the other vendors.  I met Amber of Faerie Moon, an artist who makes these gorgeous faerie houses!  Please check out her website: http://nightbloomingflower.webs.com

This is the henna tattoo my booth “neighbors” from Magical Mehendi traded for one of my 8×10 prints   They do stunning work:
www.MagicalMehendi.com

Many thanks to Angela of Crescent Moon Gifts, who organized the event and made sure all the vendors were well and happy.

Special thanks to my husband, Ben, my Knight, for assisting me at the booth and sacrificing a Saturday he would normally spend in the lab doing his research.  I had no one else to help me out, so he was kind enough to be my “person” and watch the booth when I took breaks and walked around to talk to the other vendors.  No, he didn’t just sit reading Stephen King all day   He helped me out so much, and with an injured leg at that!  So, thank you Sir Knight, for donning that dashing pirate shirt and trying to smile through the pain.

I finally created my own online store!  There are quite a few greeting cards, note cards and 8×10 archival prints in stock at the moment, so please be sure to see what I have up for sale: www.catherinesomerlot.com/store.htm

I am not certain as to what the future may hold for current and future Maidens of the Otherworld. Or for my nature & landscape photography. Or my design career. But I do know that I will not give up in my efforts to turn this business into an actual… business! I have many small ideas up my sleeve and also a few big goals to reach for. One goal is to have my work seen by more people, so I’m looking into ways to get my work published in magazines like Faerie Magazine and more mainstream publications like Digital Art Magazine. I’ve already taken what I hope is a big step in that direction, with some rather exciting publication news coming in May! I hope to vend at more events, after doing a little more marketing and research so I don’t have a repeat performance of my first event in terms of sales.  I’d love to meet more artists in this magical genre of fairy and fantasy, and now that I live in the Pacific Northwest that shouldn’t be too hard do.  I am amazed at the number of events in this area geared toward this genre that I am learning about, and the number of artists who’s bio pages on their websites include the phrase “living in the Pacific Northwest..” or “surrounded by the natural wonders of the Pacific Northwest…”  This part of the country is filled with magic and enchantment, so I believe I was sent here for a reason.  Looking forward to what lies ahead…

I’ve been chosen as a vendor for the Spring Fairy Festival in Tacoma, Washington on April 4th! At this even I’ll be featuring my Maidens of the Otherworld fairy & fantasy art, with 8×10 prints, greeting cards and framed art available for purchase. Come see us!

Spring Fairy Festival
Saturday, April 4th, 2009
12 – 8 PM
Freighthouse Square in Tacoma, WA
www.SpringFairyFestival.com

Thanks for your votes and input on my fantasy art collection, Maidens of the Otherworld!  I now know the pieces I will focus on marketing this year on my website and at events.  Events, indeed!  I’m working on confirming two dates coming up at local shows and festivals…very excited to debut as a vendor.  Starting out at small events will give me enough experience to hopefully make my way to larger events here in the Northwest.  I would also love to find some opportunities back home in Northeast Ohio, such as the Great Lakes Medieval Faire (wonderful event!).  But for now, we start out small.  Thankfully the two upcoming shows are indoors and we don’t need to worry about buying a tent and somehow squeezing it into  my husband’s small car.  Baby steps…

Well, I’ve done it again.  I redesigned my website!  I thought the blog would be enough, but it really isn’t.  Artists need an attention-getting homepage and portfolio, and that is what (I hope) I created.  It needed to display my photography and art as soon as the page loaded, and thanks to my former boss at Lakeland Community College (Hi Nora!) I added a lovely slide show banner to the new design.  Check it out:

www.CatherineSomerlot.com

What do you think of the “Great Wall of Thumbnails” (coined by my Twitter friend, @lolalaptop)?  I just got so sick of trying to figure out the best way to display my photography without sending viewers to my DeviantART gallery, so I built a wall!  I love DeviantART, but I needed something more personal and official.  The wall is ginormous, I know, and since I have many more photographs to add to it I will probably make it a little smaller and add additional pages with more walls.  So, here it is, with quite a bit of new work!:

http://www.catherinesomerlot.com/photography.htm

Next, I want to tackle the Maidens of the Otherworld website…it needs some work.

More news about vending events coming up in the coming weeks!

I want to hear your voice!  If you could answer the question below, I would greatly appreciate it.  I’m preparing my art for printing on products such as greeting cards and journals, but I want to keep the printing to a minimum (to save some TREES!) by only printing the most popular art.  So, without further delay….

If you just see results, and no option to vote, please leave a comment with your favorite(s)!

[poll id="1"]

Thank you!!

The Fairy Society Magazine, a new publication featuring fantasy art and crafts, chose The Meadow to appear on the cover of its first edition! Check it out here: http://tinyurl.com/fairye-zine

Before reading this post you may want to view the exhibit in this interactive slideshow

Here it is…a photo journalistic approach to all 17 pieces in my solo exhibit at the Lynnwood Library Gallery. Each piece is either 8×10 or 11×14 in size, matted and framed with 11×14 and 16×20 frames, respectively.  They are framed with museum-quality solid black beveled wood frames that are ready for hanging on a wall.  If you are interested in purchasing any of the work you see here, please fill out the contact form.

Read the rest of this entry »