INCURSION: Opening Night + the Final Paintings

Hi Everyone,

I'll keep this post short. Opening night, January 17, 2013 was amazing! I'm sorry to have posted these paintings so late after the actual show, but that just goes to show you that you should come out to see them in person at the gallery! Anyways, opening night was so full of people and the show was so well received. I got there 10 min after doors opened and it was literally packed to capacity. I was literally shuffling with the crowd to see the other illustrators' work too. And it was full the whole night! With the free Barney's coffee, apple crumble cake, and the open bar, it honestly felt more like a party than it did a gallery opening. 

Everyone was so friendly and willing to talk to me about my paintings. I mingled and was able to make some new artist friends too, which was basically the best part of the night. :D But if you haven't still seen the show it'll be open til February 15. CityArts Factory hours are 10AM til 6PM, Mon-SAt. 

The original paintings are for sale, each $100. They are all framed and matted, 5"x 11", watercolor and gouache. So if you're interested contact me via email first at: ericadechavez@gmail.com and then on my cell phone if you just can't wait to have them: (407) 572-7047. 

Okay that's all I've got to say. I'm preparing for the Society of Children's Book Writer's and Illustrator's Winter Conference here in Manhattan this weekend. So I'll see all you cool children's book enthusiasts there! Be sure to look out for my portfolio and dummy and print collateral at the portfolio showcase on Saturday afternoon! Can't wait to see and meet you all!

Love, Erica

Midnite Creatures individual posters

Hey all, just posting these so that you can click on each flavor individually and zoom in to read some of the text and details. :]

Here's a bigger picture of my cactus juice design. Just click on the thumbnail to view the full sized wine label design sheet. :D

Bamboo.

and Oak.

And I'll just say this, the mock-up did not turn out exactly how I wanted. The colors did not print out opaquely on the mylar I used, but were it to be made by an actual company they'd be able to print it out to full color. But whatever. I'm not a photographer either, but I did my best to take pictures that I think are pretty decent. Maybe I hsould get someone to take some real pictures of my mock up in the future. Until then, please put up with my shoddy photography, please. Thank you. :3

front label

Cap

CACTUS JUICCEE! :] 

Brand Crest

Back Label

Back label art.

Back Label Brand Description.

Lots more work to come! Some patterns and work I did for Carter's. My Senior Portrait. And some process work from a video game environment concept I'm doing in Adv. Computer Illustration. :] So be sure to come back and check in! 

Love, Erica.

Midnite Creatures Wine Label Series

Hello hello! 

I know it's been so long since my last post, but I'll just say that the flood of recruiters, thesis, and the Next Step Career Conference this past weekend really kept me busy and away from posting much of what has been going on. But that being said, I present to you all the fruit of my labor the past 2 weeks in computer illustration class, my series of wine labels.

I had a general idea that I wanted to do a series of labels with different animals and environments on them, but I knew I had to make them sophisticated enough to be slapped on a wine bottle. So I came up with the concept of making my own brand of wine called Midnite Creatures. Each flavor of wine (red, white, pink) would have its own unique flavor that derived from a specific plant/animal relationship. So pink wine would be BAMBOO/panda, white wine is CACTUS/scorpion, and red wine is OAK/owl. After brainstormed a bit I drew out my ideas and put some rough color themes to them with a little bit of karan d'ache crayons. :3

Then I looked up some reference photos.

And even MORE reference photos!

Then I had a rough start on finding a style I wanted to use for the art. I started in photoshop at first, then hated immediately where it was going, scrapped that idea...

and started afresh in illustrator instead! :D & voila! there you have it. :3 Hope you enjoy these, I certainly enjoyed making them. They honestly were really fun. I felt like it was a good break away from all the thesis and recruiter reforming.

Be sure to leave a  comment to let me know  what you guys think of my work. Constructive criticisim   always welcome. Thanks. :3

Love, Erica