FAERY MEDICINE and KRISTEN SCHWARTZ

AND THE WINNERS ARE...

2011-05-06T09:57:00.000-07:00

Winner #1 - TERESA BERTRAND

Winner #2 - ALISON BALDWIN

Winner #3 - ANGELIA ALMOS

Winner #4 ALICE LEMKE

See what they won at A Journey Illustrated.

Congratulations to everyone and thanks for entering! It was a lot of fun and I hope to make it an annual event.

2011 FAERY MEDICINE CARD AND PRINT GIVEAWAY!

2011-05-01T20:46:00.000-07:00

I haven't posted on this blog in almost two years! It has been a busy time, but Faery Medicine hasn't stopped moving along. I remodeled the Faery Medicine website recently and have continued adding illustrations.

Since I've been away from this blog for so long, I thought I would come back with a celebration. I'm having a drawing to give away Faery Medicine cards and prints to four lucky people. You can enter by commenting over at my children's illustration blog. You can enter up to 5 times by spreading the word about the contest. I'll be announcing the winners on May 5, 2011.

What else is happening today? Well, 200+ mini cards are hurdling down the highway in the back of a UPS truck bound for Wildberries in Arcata. They'll be in the Floral Department, so if you're there, pick up some flowers and write a nice mini card for your mom.

Check back on May 5, 2011 to see if you're a winner!

UPCOMING EVENTS

2009-06-16T10:46:00.000-07:00

I'm listening to the rhythm of cards printing in my office as I write this. Yesterday the prevailing rhythm was from hail. I don't yet know the song that is being composed, but I'll share a verse or two in the meantime:

EDGE VOLUME III: June 17, 7-9pm at The Blue Angel Cafe. It's that time again. Tahoe Writers Works has come out with their latest book of writing and art - Edge Volume III. You will find 2 of my illustrations in the mix alongside some wonderful writing and amazing art. Come have a glass of wine and meet the writers and artists. This is also a good time to get those $2.00 Faery Medicine Notecards while they're still around.

TEA WITH ME: June 20, 10-12 at Gaia-Licious. I will be on hand to talk about my art and the latest happenings on my journey into children's publishing. Have some tea and peruse some art. There will be plenty of prints and cards too. Faery Medicine is the featured art from June 12-August 10.

MENTORSHIP UPDATE: A special thanks to all my "shareholders". I have successfully paid for the Mentor Program and the first leg of my journey thanks to you. If you haven't done so already, remember to pick out some art. If you are waiting until the end of the program that is perfectly fine. You can follow the latest in my journey here - www.aJourneyIllustrated.com

Every purchase from Faery Medicine, big or small, helps fund my journey into children's publishing.

That's it for now. I hope whatever rhythm life brings you is something you can dance to.

FUNDING A JOURNEY

2009-02-09T00:11:00.000-08:00

As an illustrator, I have always wanted to do more with my art - give back in some way by inspiring others - especially children. For the last several years I have been developing a portfolio to enter children's publishing in order to follow my dream. The work paid off. Out of a pool of applicants through the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, I was chosen to work with award winning illustrator, Yuyi Morales in the 2009 Mentor Program. It is an amazing honor and opportunity.

Perfect opportunities don't always come around when they're easy and this opportunity costs more than I have available. I'm not one to give up on a dream, so I have come up with a creative way to share my journey, pay for the program, and replace income from illustration work while I am in the program. I am selling "shares" in my journey and will be sending more than double the value in my artwork to contributors at the $35, $50, and $75 levels. (Contributions to my Journey in any amount are very welcome.)

$35 LEVEL
6 - Notecards (Your choice of images from my online portfolio.)
1 - 8x10 Signed Limited Edition Print (Your choice from the images I produce in the mentor program. I will only produce 75 - 8x10 prints from each image.)
TOTAL VALUE: $87

$50 LEVEL
1 - 5x7 Signed Print (Your choice of images from my online portfolio.)
12 - Notecards (Your choice of images from my online portfolio or Mentor Program images.)
1 - 8x10 Signed Limited Edition Print (Your choice from the images I produce in the mentor program. I will only produce 75 - 8x10 prints from each image.)
TOTAL VALUE: $122

$75 LEVEL
1 - 5x7 Signed Print (Your choice of images from my online portfolio.)
12 - Notecards (Your choice of images from my online portfolio or Mentor Program images.)
2 - 8x10 Signed Limited Edition Print (Your choice from the images I produce in the mentor program. I will only produce 75 - 8x10 prints from each image.)
TOTAL VALUE: $187

HOW DO YOU CONTRIBUTE?
1. Click on the ChipIn button below and you will be taken to a secure payment page where you can pay by credit card or Paypal.

2. After payment, I will contact you by the email address you used when paying to find out which images you want. I will also get your shipping address so that available images can be shipped right away. (Images can be seen at KristenSchwartz.com) Mentor images will be available after the program ends in October 2009 and can be chosen as soon as they are posted on A Journey Illustrated from April to October. (Make sure to follow my journey!)

In addition, I will be asking contributors (of any amount) to name favorite objects, fantastical creatures, and other ideas to work into the illustrations I create in the Mentor Program. I will work in as many of the top 5 ideas that I can. I want you on the journey with me!

Please email me if you have any questions at all.
Thank you for your support!

WELCOME THE KNITTING NEST...

2008-12-11T14:38:00.000-08:00

The Knitting Nest is a brand new knitting supply and gift boutique in Tahoe that is celebrating their grand opening Friday, December 12th from 4pm-8pm. They carry organic yarns, knitting accessories, and a variety of locally made items including Faery Medicine Notecards, MiniCards, and Silk Prints. They are located at 472 Needle Peak Road off of Kingsbury Grade. The grand opening festivities include drinks, appetizers, jewelry, and local art, along with regular featured items. It's going to be fun!

(Shown here is a silk print of Faery of the Falls by Kristen Schwartz. Faery of the Falls silk prints can be purchased at Faery Medicine Boutique and The Knitting Nest.)

SUPPORT HUMAN BEINGS...SAVE THE WORLD...

2008-11-29T09:49:00.000-08:00

So you say you want unique items made consciously by human beings...for a really great price...and you want part of the cost to go to a worthy cause? OK!

Illustrator Kristen Schwartz makes all of the items at Faery Medicine from beginning to end. Everything is made to order to minimize waste and prices range from $1.50 to $200.

(Recycled, chlorine-free Faery Medicine Notecards)
Featured on the Faery Medicine website are 100% recycled, chlorine-free Notecards. There is nothing like showing someone you are thinking of them by sending a card to their “real” mailbox and the thick, recycled, paper bag envelopes say there is something special inside.

Faery Medicine also offers archival art prints ranging in price from $10-200:

If you want tree-free art, think about going with silk or cotton Giclee prints. Limited Edition Silk Giclee Prints are printed on raw silk fabric that Kristen has specially prepared with two gesso-like coatings. These prints are then mounted on rich silk velvet to make them really stand out. They look like original pieces of art and are a fraction of the cost at $100 and $200. Silk prints can also be hand-embellished by Kristen for an additional fee.

(Goddess of Autumn Abundance Raw Silk Giclee Print)

Limited Edition Cotton Giclee Prints are printed on beautifully textured cotton rag paper and sell for $25.

(Lake Mermaid Cotton Giclee Print)

Wisdom Prints are printed on 100% recycled paper with specially written text next to the image you choose. They are $10 and ready to go in an 8x10 frame.

(Green Goddess Wisdom Print)

You can see all of Kristen’s fantastical and culturally inspired art at the Faery Medicine Boutique and get 20% off until the end of December, 2008 by entering SALE in the coupon code box at checkout. If you live or work in the 96150 zip code you will be contacted to see if FREE order dropoff will work for you.

And that worthy cause? A portion of every sale goes to the Ethno-Medicine Preservation Project to help protect cultural medicinal plant knowledge from disappearing as more and more cultures are lost to a changing world. The wisdom saved today could save your life tomorrow.

Questions? CONTACT US.

FAERY MEDICINE ACEOs

2008-11-15T22:05:00.000-08:00

If you are unfamiliar with ACEOs don't worry. They haven't been around for all that long. ACEO stands for Art Cards, Editions, and Originals, but no matter what, ACEOs have to be 2.5 x 3.5 inches. They have become a very popular way to collect art and can be framed or displayed in special "Gallery Albums". They don't take up wall space in an album and they're easy to take with you. They also appreciate in value quite nicely too, sometimes selling for over $100 a piece.

So, why am I telling you this? FAERY MEDICINE is now producing ACEOs and they are available at KristenSchwartz.Etsy.com. They are archival and beautifully printed on the same Cotton Rag paper that the 8x10 prints are on. They come in an acid free sleeve, signed and titled on the back, and with the text that was specially written for them. The text looks great displayed next to the image in a Gallery Album. It's a fantastic way to start an art collection inexpensively.

We are just starting out with these, so if you don't see the image you want on the Etsy site, let us know and we'll put one on for you. If they become as popular as we think they will be, they will end up in the Faery Medicine Boutique too. They are specially priced at $4 each, so check them out today!

(Shown above is Faery Medicine character, Green Goddess of New Beginnings in ACEO form. Available on Etsy for the special price of $4.)

CALIFORNIA ORGANICS

2008-10-20T07:53:00.000-07:00

New to the Faery Medicine scene is California Organics, a health food store and restaurant in Nevada City, California. They should be receiving their shipment of Notecards and Bookmarks right about......NOW! Check it out. They have a lot to offer.

(Long Life Old Man by Kristen Schwartz)

MORE WELCOMES...

2008-09-27T08:15:00.000-07:00

Well, Christmas is in the air (hmmm....) and stores are stocking up on Faery Medicine. Thanks to Tara at Passionflower Reps, I have two new stores in Northern California. Eureka Natural Foods a family run health food store in - you guessed it - Eureka, California, has picked up Faery Medicine Notecards, Bookmarks, and Mini Cards. Wildberries Marketplace in Arcata has picked up a nice assortment of Notecards. Their store even has a floral department to round out their offerings! If you're in the neighborhood, check out these great stores!

For more information about Goddess of Autumn Abundance, seen above, go to the Faery Medicine Boutique.

WELCOME COUNTRY NATURALS

2008-09-26T08:16:00.000-07:00

New to Faery Medicine stores is Country Naturals at 346 Elm Avenue in Auburn, California. They have picked up a nice assortment of Mini Cards and are currently the ONLY store that has the image, Phoenix Rising seen here. Check it out.

(Phoenix Rising will be available at the online Faery Medicine Boutique in October.)

TAHOE: LOST AND FOUND ART AUCTION

2008-09-19T15:51:00.000-07:00

You are cordially invited to the TAHOE: LOST AND FOUND ART AUCTION to help replace library books lost in the Angora Fire.

We have a great line up of artists, including myself, with a range of starting bids to fit every budget. (Really...they range from $20 to $1000!) You can see them all at www.TahoeLostandFound.com.

TAHOE: LOST AND FOUND ART AUCTION
September 19, 2008 • 6 to 9 pm
Valhalla Grand Hall • Tallac Historic Site • South Lake Tahoe

Food • Drink • Music • Art Auctioneer, Nicholas Varzos • Great ART!

A hand-embellished silk print of my newest piece, Phoenix Rising (seen above), will be auctioned off along with a silk print of Lake Mother. I hope to see you there!

FANTASTICAL AND BOTANICAL ART SHOW

2008-08-02T07:59:00.000-07:00

Once or twice a year I like to put up an exhibit of framed work in a space down at the Tallac Historic Site here in South Lake Tahoe. The spot has moved since I began doing this in 1995, but it's a beautiful place to be for the week. The building I'm showing in is a one room guest cabin built about a hundred years ago. The lake is just a hop, skip, and a jump away.

I will have my latest framed silk fantastical prints along with cards and paper prints. You will also be able to view botanical prints from the book, Medicine From the Mountains: Medicinal Plants of the Sierra Nevada.

Come on down. The cabin is next to the Cultural Arts Store on the loop road with the Grand Hall. I will be there 11-4 until August 8th. I hope to see you there!

Pictured above is Lake Mermaid, a freshwater mermaid that lives in the clear waters of Lake Tahoe. More information on Lake Mermaid can be found here

SKETCHING WORKSHOPS AT THE BEAUTIFUL SHORES OF SOUTH LAKE TAHOE

2008-07-15T15:31:00.001-07:00

Anyone can draw. It's a matter of truly seeing rather than merely looking. Whatever your skill level, sketching will increase your ability to translate what you see and feel into powerful visual representations.

TURN EVERY DESTINATION INTO AN ART RETREAT:

Our brains work rapidly to translate what we see into efficient symbols so we can react quickly. This is great when danger is present, but some of us forget to turn that function off when it's time to relax. If you learn to see by sketching, you will automatically switch your brain into a more relaxed mode, a skill that will reduce stress and benefit all areas of your life. Sketching will allow you to enjoy the present moment by truly seeing and connecting with everything around you.

Surrounded by the serenity and beauty of Lake Tahoe, Kristen will teach many different approaches to seeing and capturing all types of subject matter in ways that no camera can do. You will be astonished at what you will accomplish and your sketchbook will become a memorable keepsake of your experiences.

WORKSHOP DETAILS:

DATES AND TIMES: Saturdays and
Sundays 9am to noon (July 19-Sept. 28)

COST: $75 each 3 hour Saturday.
$145 for each Saturday AND Sunday.
All art materials will be provided, including
those for experimentation.
The sketchbook is yours to keep.
If you already have everything you need,
ask about the reduced rate.

SKILL LEVEL: Total Beginner on up.

REGISTER: sketch@kristenschwartz.com
Workshops limited to 8 people.

Expect light walking on nature trails to the
lake and in sandy areas at the lake.

YOUR INSTRUCTOR: Kristen Schwartz is an illustrator in South Lake Tahoe who illustrates all things natural and fantastical. Her botanical illustrations can be seen in the books Medicine From the Mountains: Medicinal Plants of the Sierra Nevada and When Technology Fails. Her fantastical illustrations can be seen on the Faery Medicine website, Tahoe Arts and Mountain Culture website, Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority website, on her Portfolio Website and the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators website. She has taught workshops to all ages and skill levels.

TAHOE: LOST AND FOUND

2008-06-22T11:53:00.001-07:00

Last year during the Angora Fire, the community of South Lake Tahoe experienced devastating losses. During that time we also found amazing strength in our community. After a year of putting everything back together we found that $2000 worth of library books were lost in homes that burned in the fire. Funding is not available for replacement so Tahoe Arts and Mountain Culture has joined with the Underground Artists to create TAHOE: LOST AND FOUND - a summer of art shows and community events to raise money to replace library books lost in the fire. Many businesses and groups are putting together events and specials to raise money for this worthy cause. My goal is to donate $500 to Tahoe: Lost and Found from all sales and workshops from June 18 - September 19, 2008. See what's available at Faery Medicine.

For more information or to put on an event go to: www.TahoeLostandFound.com. Events and specials will be featured on the website.

WELCOME NEW LEAF COMMUNITY MARKET, FELTON

2008-06-22T10:52:00.000-07:00

The New Leaf Community Market in Felton, California is the latest addition to the Faery Medicine fleet of retailers. They are carrying Notecards and Mini Cards. New Leaf is a chain of 6 stores in Northern California dedicated to nourishing and sustaining their communities. What a great mission to be included in! Find out more about New Leaf.

EDGE PUBLICATION RELEASE PARTY

2008-06-04T08:01:00.000-07:00

It has been quite a busy time of planning for the summer. I seem to spend some time in May and June every year holding my breath a little bit, waiting on final confirmation for my schedule. Stay tuned for the next couple of weeks to hear what I will be doing.

Five of my illustrations have just been published in Edge Volume 2, a compilation of writings by very talented writers in South Lake Tahoe and beyond. I am very honored to have been asked to bring a visual element to this book along with Melissa Lanitis Gregory.

If you are in the Tahoe area, the Edge publication release party is at the Valhalla Grand Hall from 6:30-8:00 - June 4, 2008. There will be wine and appetizers to celebrate and the authors will read passages from their work. My illustrations and I will be there along with Melissa and her art.

FAERY MEDICINE IN NAPA, CALIFORNIA

2008-04-02T16:54:00.000-07:00

Now you can find Faery Medicine enchanted gifts at two new locations in Napa, California. Inti has picked up the notecards and bookmarks. They are located at 1139 1st Street. Golden Carrot Natural Foods also picked up the notecards and they are located at 1621 West Imola Avenue. These are the first two stores to carry Lake Mermaid.

You can see all of the available images online at the Faery Medicine Boutique.

MERMAIDS IN THE SUN

2008-03-25T12:02:00.000-07:00

This is LAKE MERMAID the latest in my Tahoe-inspired illustrations. I wish it was as warm here as it looks in the image. Oh well. Soon enough. The text that goes with Lake Mermaid is:

Where Earth gently collides
with lake and sky, she lives a life of dreamy possibilities, contemplating waterless flight in the crisp mountain air.

Dreamy possibilities abound. Must be Spring Fever!

AND THE ANSWER IS...

2008-03-19T10:10:00.000-07:00

What plant did the Pied Piper use to rid Hamelin of rats? Valerian! In the 13th century when the story originated, valerian root was used to attract rats into traps. (Many people at the show thought it was used to make the rats drowsy, but it wasn't.) Valerian root has a rather strong smell that rats, and cats for that matter, really like. I'm not sure what the European variety of valerian smells like, but in the US it smells like dirty socks!

In the original story the Pied Piper had valerian roots in pockets all over his clothing and the rats gladly followed him while he played his flute. As the story was passed on reference to valerian disappeared, leaving only a very gifted flute player with no help from stinky roots.

So there you have it. The above illustration of valerian is one I did for the book Medicine From the Mountains: Medicinal Plants of the Sierra Nevada. To see more botanical illustrations go to Faery Medicine.

WHAT PLANT DID THE PIED PIPER USE TO HELP RID HAMELIN OF RATS?

2008-03-09T10:12:00.000-07:00

This is just one of the many questions that I can answer at the Davis Green Home and Garden Show on March 15th and 16th. I will be featuring new fantastical illustrations and hand-tinted botanical prints. Botanical medicine is the theme for the botanical prints and each will have historical medicinal usages on the back...including information about the Pied Piper of Hamelin. Botanical medicine is at the roots, pardon the pun, of my background as an artist. I have been studying botanical medicine for 20 years now and enjoy weaving plant usage into the stories and illustrations that I create. This is information that is meant to be passed on so come on down and ask questions or just marvel at our rich history of plant usage. And if you've got some time to chat we can talk about Botanical Medicine in the Garden, some common plants with big benefits.

Showing with me will be ceramic artist Barbara Wesson, shown here firing her work with snow surrounding. Barbara combines her background in botany with her artform to create the perfect succulent environment. Barbara is an avid succulent specimen collector, an award winning zeroscape-landscape designer, and has designed zoo exhibits specializing in native vegetation of the Southwest. She knows her plant environments! Her experience led her to develop a succulent pot with just the right environment built into it. She used a special firing technique to achieve this purpose. (They are really beautiful too!) Barbara will also be showing other beautiful houseplant pots and garden accents.

It's going to be a great show with plenty of activities for the kids also. For more information about the show go here.

(The plant shown above is Mullein and NOT the plant that the Pied Piper used! To see more botanical illustrations by Kristen Schwartz go to Faery Medicine.)

WELCOME CHANGING HANDS BOOKSTORE!

2008-03-06T15:56:00.000-08:00

I know it's not here yet, but get ready for Spring anyway. Things will soon begin to wake up...including faeries, goddesses, and other fantastical creatures. The Changing Hands Bookstore in Tempe Arizona already has Spring Fever and has brought Faery Medicine Notecards into their fine and fun establishment. If you live near Tempe make sure to check out their Calendar of Events! There is a lot going on.

OK. I've got to get back to work. I've got a show to get ready for. I'll tell you more about it in a few days.

Until then, let the fantastical creatures sleep for a little bit longer. You don't want a bunch of cranky nature spirits hanging around your house!

AUTUMN GODDESS GOES TO NEW YORK

2008-02-28T17:14:00.000-08:00

Along with being an illustrator, I gain huge enjoyment out of utilizing technology to reproduce my images. While other people are chronicling their family vacations on photo paper with their inkjet printers, I'm likely figuring out how to get my work onto the nearest alternative surface. There are so many possibilities - metal, wood, leather, and silk to name a few. Because I have worked so extensively with silk and knew it's durability and capacity for exhibiting beautiful color, my sights landed on raw silk. Of course the fact that I happened to have 100 yards of raw silk hanging around certainly aided in that decision.

If you are interested in printing on alternative surfaces or curious about this odd affliction, you can go the the inaugural Alternative Process Digital Printing Exhibition in New York. This juried show accepted submissions from all over the world and chose 27 to represent innovation in alternative printmaking. Among those in the show is one of my hand-embellished prints of Autumn Goddess (shown above) on raw silk.

The show runs from March 7th-March 30th at the Gallery Kunstler located at Booksmart Studio in Rochester, New York. If you can't make it to the show, you can read more about my process here.

SPINNING A TALE FOR SUPER TUESDAY

2008-02-04T10:09:00.001-08:00

Well, it's Super Tuesday Eve. You survived (I'm assuming) the corridor of mythology surrounding Pilgrims, Christmas, and any other myth-based celebration you were enveloped in. You then launched right into an even larger festival of spun tales called the United States Presidential Campaign. Take a deep breath. It isn't over yet. Tomorrow some of us will help to thin the candidates out. I never know whether to laugh or cry at election time.

Modern politicians have long been adept at creating a public image designed to sway just the right people. What I never thought about was the fact that politicians have been aided by artists to accomplish this feat.

In the time of Alexander the Great, in ancient Macedonia, the political portrait was born. Of course in those times mass media was a little different. There were no cameras or posters and no internet. No, politicians relied on artists to create images of them that would elicit emotion from their constituents and there is evidence that shrewd manipulation of appearances took place to appeal to the desired party.

Alexander the Great's likeness was carved into sculptures that were distributed around the empire. By looking at these sculptures one would be taken by the overall larger than life appearance of this warrior, but the artists also "photoshopped" his look, giving him an air of experience and conservatism - two qualities that people later learned he didn't have.

The spinning of tales - aided by artists. We may no longer distribute statues of the candidates along the campaign trail, but iconic image making is alive and well. Now, shield your eyes and plug your ears. Get out there and VOTE!

If you'd like to learn more about how art has played a role in creating this crazy world of ours, I highly recommend the BBC series, "How Art Made the World"

(The above illustration is Hyacinth Faery, faery of joy and political honesty in advertising.)

UNLIKELY HEROES

2008-01-14T11:44:00.000-08:00

In the past the sound of frogs on a hot summer night has transported me to magical fairytale lands and thrilling memories of catching a glimpse of frogs as a child. These days frogs are a heavy reminder that something is going wrong in our environment. Around the world frogs are appearing with deformities or disappearing, like the yellow-legged frog of the Sierra Nevada.

I couldn't imagine a world without frogs. They are the unlikely heroes and magical comic sidekicks in so many stories, not to mention the start to a myriad of childhood adventures. I think that's why I love to hear them so much. They seem comical, serious, magical, and absurd all at once - perhaps a little bit like us.

The illustration, Tree Frog Faery, celebrates the magic of the frog. Hopefully we will pay attention to the message that frogs are giving us about our environment. They could save our kingdom after all.

The back of the Tree Frog Faery notecards says this:

Tree Frog Faery is just one of the many endangered wonders of the rainforest that is often overlooked. I, for one, would rather live in a world with faeries and tree frogs than in a world with no magic at all.

To see more of or to purchase Tree Frog Faery go to FAERY MEDICINE BOUTIQUE.

WISH YOU WERE HERE?

2007-12-12T10:14:00.000-08:00

I wanted to take a moment to mention again how much fun our Underground Artists Triple Holiday Sale is going. If you just have too much going on to attend one or live too far away, you can attend "Virtually". Underground Artist founder Melissa Gregory has done a stellar job as holiday correspondent. Check out the pictures and her commentary. She is also hosting her own "Virtual Reception" on her blog for anyone who can't make the next date at her studio. If you leave a comment you will be entered into a drawing for one of her fabulous pairs of earrings. I do love these. Not only are the colors fantastic, but they are light and won't make your ears hurt if you wear them all day.

If you are able to make it to the last sale, remember that everyone that attends one of our celebrations is entered into a drawing that will happen at the end of Sunday to win amazing creations by the Underground Artists. Stay tuned to find out more.

Pictured above is a silk print for Goddess of Autumn Abundance. Well worth seeing in person, but if you can't you can view it here.

WELCOME, WELCOME, WELCOME!

2007-12-10T10:44:00.000-08:00

The Holiday Sales have been a lot of fun. The food has been fabulous - the perfect partner for the new creations appearing for holiday gifts. One more to go, so make sure to contact me if you would like to attend - kristen@faerymed.com

In the meantime, welcome South Lake Tahoe store Gaia-Licious! They are carrying the Faery Medicine Mini Cards. In their own words, "Gaia-Licious offers a relaxed and inspirational shopping experience, providing an eclectic fusion of gifts, clothing, body care products, music and books. Our store supports fair trade and eco friendly products made by local artisans and communities around the world." Besides it smells really good in there AND they have a kid's lounge where kids can hang out with books, toys, and crafts while their parents shop! Check it out at 987 Tallac Avenue, South Lake Tahoe, CA.

Welcome also to Blackbird, located at 29 Parker Way in Santa Barbara. I actually know nothing about this store other than the fact that they now carry Faery Medicine Notecards, Mini Cards, and Bookmarks. Somebody check it out and tell me what you think!

While you're at it, check out the Giving Tree. They have picked up Faery Medicine Notecards, Mini Cards, and Bookmarks also and are located at 372 Main Street in Quincy, CA.

That's all for now. Don't forget about the Faery Medicine Boutique for great holiday gifts!

Back to work.

YOU ARE GLEEFULLY INVITED!

2007-11-24T07:50:00.001-08:00

If you are in the South Lake Tahoe area on December 2nd, 9th, or 16th, I would like to invite you to celebrate with the underground artists at their TRIPLE HOLIDAY SALE featuring the locally made art of:

KRISTEN SCHWARTZ (FAERY MEDICINE)
Fantastical Cards and Enchanted Gifts

MELISSA LANITIS GREGORY (PAPER MOON)
Earrings, Necklaces, and Fanciful Surprises

BARBARA WESSON (LET'S GET MUDDY!)
Inspired Ceramics for the Home and Garden

There will be really great food served. If you are interested in coming to one or more of these events please email kristen@faerymed.com for times and locations.

WELCOME EREWHON NATURAL FOODS!

2007-11-20T21:40:00.000-08:00

Well now, Faery Medicine is really getting around! Erewhon Natural Foods in Los Angeles has just picked up the Mini Cards and the Art of Seeing Faeries and Earth Wisdom Bookmarks. This store is 12,000 square feet! Wow! It could take a long time to look at everything. If you start to feel run down while you are shopping, stop by the Tonic Bar for an herbal pick-me-up and if that isn't enough, they have a deli, a soup and salad bar, and a sushi bar. Hmmm...I think I want to head down there! Erewhon Natural Foods is located at 7660-B Beverly Blvd. in Los Angeles, CA.

WELCOME RAINBOW BRIDGE!

2007-11-20T21:27:00.001-08:00

Rainbow Bridge used to be a wonderful store...now it's TWO WONDERFUL stores and they are carrying Faery Medicine. If you are in the Tahoe City, California area and are looking for Faery Medicine Notecards, Mini Cards, or Wisdom Prints, they have them at both locations. Rainbow Bridge is located at 475 North Lake Blvd in Tahoe City and Fountain Court in The Village at Squaw Valley. They call themselves "an eclectic store for the soul" and I think they're right! Check it out for yourself - Rainbow Bridge

WELCOME CHICO NATURAL FOODS

2007-11-05T09:24:00.000-08:00

Chico Natural Foods in Chico, California has just picked up the card line and brand new Wisdom Prints from Faery Medicine. Wisdom Prints were introduced at EarthDance with great success. They will be on the Faery Medicine website this month. Chico Natural Foods is the very first store to carry them. I wish them well and know that Faery Medicine will sell like crazy for them. If you are in the area stop in and check it out at 818 Main Street or go to http://www.chiconatural.net/ for more information.

CULTURAL MYTHOLOGY

2007-10-13T23:26:00.000-07:00

It really wasn't my plan to distract everyone with the surprise party so I could change the subtitle of my blog. It just sort of happened. I'm really the one that got distracted. Funny how life does that. By the way, the cake was German Chocolate. See, there I go again. In any case, you may have noticed that my blog description is no longer "My Journey as an Illustrator and Writer of Nature Spirits." I didn't feel that was accurate enough. That is why my new subtitle is "My Journey as an Illustrator and Writer of Cultural Mythology".

If you aren't familiar with cultural mythology, it is the story that a culture develops to help make sense of the world and the questions that arise while living in it. There is usually a certain amount of fantastical action in cultural mythology and of course there is generally a message to impart to the audience while they are being entertained. Most people are at least a little familiar with Greek Mythology, but this is just one form of mythology. Every culture has a story and there are usually many.

Within these stories are archetypes or characters that can convey sets of behaviors easily to large groups of people. Basic examples of archetypes are the hero, the villain, and the victim. For instance, many people when they think of a hero or a villain, will conjer up similar types of behavior for that archetype. And think of the unfortunate archetype of the starving artist. You probably get the same general image in your mind that hundreds of other people would also get. (That is one archetype that needs a makeover!) This allows the storyteller to develop an idea without defining every aspect of that character or archetype. When using archetypes the audience can easily recognize the character type and develop an immediate familiarity and understanding.

What is amazing to me are the common archetypes that can be found throughout history in different cultures that were totally separated from each other. Just another way that we are all linked together. You can explore these ideas further by reading some cultural mythology at Encyclopedia Mythica . I get absolutely lost in this website jumping into different regions and looking at the myriad of gods, goddesses, heroes, villains, etc.

So, if mythology is a place where people can begin to make sense of the world around them, how do we in these quickly changing modern times, make sense of what is around us? I think we need a new mythology and some new archetypes to fit this crazy world of ours. Strange coincidence. That's just what I hope I can do....even if I only add or modify a couple archetypes. I think the Starving Artist needs a replacement! Stay tuned.

BUT WHERE'S THE CAKE?

2007-10-11T10:12:00.001-07:00

Well, just a few days before my husband's 5th anniversary at his workplace, a surprise party was held for all the guys in his department. But wait...where were the banners and the cake? Ohhhhh, they were laid off instead. Don't you hate it when that happens? I must say I am very proud of my husband and his co-workers for expressing their views with the utmost professionalism. They were even complimented by the GM for this same reason. I guess he wasn't sure if they were going to band together and destroy the place or what.

It turned out a little better than expected. They weren't just pushed off the precipice. They were given a little bit of a severance. Still, every day, I look at my husband and ask, "Have they sent the cake yet?" Is it too much to ask for a little piece of cake to celebrate 5 years of service? I think I'll make him a cake. After all, we've been together for nearly 20 years! It's the least I can do.

TAHOE ARTS AND MOUNTAIN CULTURE STICKERS

2007-10-07T22:15:00.000-07:00

Do you have your TAMC sticker yet? Maybe you didn't even know that they were available or maybe you don't know what TAMC is? Well, it isn't a secret, but it is quite new. TAMC is Tahoe Arts and Mountain Culture and the brain child of long-time Tahoe local Becky Bell. There is more than one person in the world that has thought at one time or another that Tahoe is void of the usual cultural aspects of the big city...and that's true. But are we void of culture? Not on your life. Instead, we have our own unique culture brought here by amazing individuals that are inspired by this beautiful place where we live, work, and play. Bell now reveals this unique blend of authentic Tahoe, dispelling the myth that Tahoe is void of culture. If you're planning a trip to Tahoe, or even if you live here, you'll learn about great events and locally made products you might never have heard of before. So, are we Tahoe locals hiding something? Not on purpose. We're just so busy living it that we sometimes forget to talk about it. Thanks to Becky Bell for bringing it all together in one place.

What about those stickers I mentioned? With the launch of the TAMC website, Bell has released a limited edition slice of Tahoe art and it happens to feature Cave Rock Woman, a local icon created by me. The image is pleasingly cropped and printed nicely as a hearty sticker that will even handle the sun with its UV coating. I'm really pleased with it and the reaction is great, so if you haven't gotten your sticker yet...get one soon! They won't be around for long.

ONWARD TO SCBWI - NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

2007-10-05T14:43:00.000-07:00

The surprise party hasn't happened yet, but isn't life all one big surprise party anyway? In the meantime, let's talk about art! This month I am the featured artist at the Northern California Society of Children's Book Illustrators and Writers website. If you scroll down a bit on the featured artist page you will see my artist's profile in a nutshell. It is an honor to have been asked to be featured on their website. They are a very supportive group and I value them immensely.

There is so much more to share, but I've got to go now. My daughter likes to go to the library for knitting and crocheting day and that happens to be today. I think she's starting a new project.

DON'T TAKE IT PERSONALLY, IT'S ONLY BUSINESS

2007-10-03T15:26:00.000-07:00

I'm sure you have at some point heard the phrase, "Don't take it personally, it's only business." I tend to question the underlying motives of someone who says that. The phrase is generally intended to shut off the response of the recipient to some sort of bad news - usually life changing. Business dealings operating with full integrity would never call for the use of a phrase like that.

So, here's a question for you. If you were going to be laid off in a week would you want to know now or would you rather walk in to a mandatory meeting only to learn your fate along with a dozen others? (The group meeting is to avoid the touchy business of a supervisor meeting one on one with 13 people to lay them off. Could be sticky.)

What in the world am I going on about? Sunday afternoon my husband and some of his coworkers inadvertently discovered they would be laid off in a week at a mandatory meeting. Despite the evidence they had, no one would come clean and confirm what they had learned. When they were handed a memo the next day announcing a mandatory meeting the following Monday, they asked their supervisor if they should be looking for new jobs. The answer? "I don't know what you're talking about." When my husband called Human Resources to get information about the impending layoff, he was told that they couldn't directly answer his question, but that his department was making "enhancements". Hmmm....it all sounds a bit cowardly to me, but perhaps I'm being too judgmental. Maybe the meeting is really a surprise party for the employees?

It's just a job. They can find new ones. (Frankly, they would have more job security selling on eBay.) It would be nice to find a work environment that was out of the ordinary. You know, one that valued open and honest communication. Perhaps I'm taking this experience a bit personally...after all, it's only life.

Don't worry. I'll post more about my art and writing later and I'll also let you know how the surprise party went.

SYNERGY, THE WHEEL OF LIFE, WISE WOMAN, AND EARTHDANCE

2007-09-08T14:12:00.000-07:00

Here I am, again, briefly getting caught up on new happenings. I thought August was busy, but now I think that life is just busy. You may only see me as a blur in the near future, but I'm having a great time!

I recently finished up a group show with the Underground Artists called Synergy. It is difficult to describe the part that each of us played in this production. The outcome was a growing experience for all of us - truly synergistic - and so much fun. I look forward to the next one. Don't miss it!

During our show the Tibetan Cultural Festival was happening. Losang Samten created the Wheel of Life in sand over an 8 day period. What a great thing to look forward to every day. I even got to try out his tools and see what sand painting was like. I think I would like to do more of that, but it's a lot harder than it looks. My sand wouldn't go down smoothly. I kept making holes. I pride myself on smooth color so this was a humbling experience. Boy, do I value Losang's sense of humor. I guess you need a sense of humor to create a picture in unfixed sand for 6 hours a day! What an art.

Aha. Still two topics in my title to cover. The illustration shown here is Wise Woman. I started her on the first day of my show at the beginning of August and finished the day before the Underground Artist group show began. She is the celebration of wisdom from a past generation. Which generation? All of them! Honor them, listen to the stories, and pass them on. While you're at it, because you will be an elder someday, tell your own stories. If you don't have any stories, make some up! The world needs more storytellers even if it's your own mythology.

And last, but not least, I will be showing and selling at Earthdance, Markleeville on September 14th, 15th, and 16th. It's going to be great fun. What is better than celebrating peace in our world with live music, great world food, and art? My understanding is that the Washoe tribe will be participating and some of the Tibetans from the cultural festival will too. I have new prints and a special deal on cards just for Earthdance. My ceramic artist friend, Barbara Wesson, will be sharing the booth with me. She will have plenty of Outrageous Mushies with her! What's an Outrageous Mushie? You'll have to come to Earthdance to find out, but they are all the rage and they aren't edible! See you there.

ILLUSTRATING AND PARENTING

2007-08-11T18:00:00.001-07:00

At some point in my life, I think at about 13, I began to dream of being an illustrator...at home. Ah, bliss. Looking out the window for inspiration with a cup of coffee in my hand - preferably with an ocean view. Quiet and peaceful. I imagined animals in the backyard. You know? I thought I would have kids someday, but I forgot to imagine kids in the equation. Boy, does that change things! I only have one, but some days there is great impact on my work from the interruptions. I have been getting up earlier and earlier to avoid the interruptions and to preserve the time we spend together. Coincidently she is getting up earlier as well. I used to stay up late to do my work, but that quickly proved not to work as I wanted to get up later and later!

Don't get me wrong. My daughter is a great kid. She just has so much passion for life and everything is of monumental importance. So, there is no way that my deadline is more important than the loss of her favorite pen or the fact that her stuffed friend Tigey needs a bath.

About every six months we go through new difficulties in our routine. We're working it out, but right now...it's a bumpy ride. She has decided she wants to become a writer and again her writer's block is the most important tragedy in the world. (I can relate to a certain extent!) It trumps my necessity to finish my current illustration by August 27th (I DON'T miss deadlines!) and anything else my other clients need. Yesterday was absolutely exhausting. I helped her in the morning, but had to go back to my work. She threw herself at me (and on the ground) in ultimate despair which began to escalate to a deafening pitch. Her persistence turned to harrassment and ultimately gave me the feeling someone was constantly poking me with a sharp stick. (Later she told me she couldn't remember why she was so upset.) My patience was persistent also with promises of a time for me to stop and help again (I always stick to my promises!). Eventually all the energy drained from my body. I was toast. It's funny. Later on when I worked with her she didn't like any of my help. She ended up working happily on her project alone while I lay exhausted in a heap. I don't remember that image in my daydream about the ultimate illustrator's life....but then again, I don't have an ocean view either!

SUCCESSFUL SHOW

2007-08-08T18:37:00.001-07:00

Well, the first show ever in the charming cabin at Valhalla is over. It has taken me a few days to recoup. It was great to connect with the public in this way again. I have been absent from showing at Valhalla for about 5 years! It was as if no time had passed during the time I was away. Here I was with an entirely different body of work and I had people happen upon me that had come to my shows 5 and 6 years ago. These were people from out of town that were staying in the area and had no idea I would be there. It was great talking to everyone. I enjoyed it a lot.

If you missed this show I will be down in the same location August 27th-September 3rd with two other fantastic artists from the Underground Artists. We will have a great assortment with my faeries, goddesses, and other nature spirits, Mel's recycled paper art, and Barbara's inspired ceramics. I will give more details soon. I hope to see you there. Where? Next to the Cultural Art Store at Valhalla in South Lake Tahoe, CA...just steps from the lake. Make a day of it. Check out what else is going on at Valhalla that week.

THE LATEST FROM FAERY MEDICINE

2007-07-28T10:26:00.000-07:00

Wow. There it goes. Did you see that? Time is flying again. I guess I'm on the move. My next show opens on Monday at Valhalla. I will be there every day July 30th-Aug 5th from 10-4. Come on down. I will have Silk Prints for sale along with Notecards, Bookmarks, Gift Cards, Faery Attractant, Faery Wishing Dust, Shirts, Tote Bags, Wallet Purses, and Stickers. Yes, the faeries have been busy. I will also be working on a new illustration and would love to answer any questions you have. I hope to see you there. (Where? Next to the Cultural Arts Store and across from Valhalla Grand Hall - merely steps from the lake! South Lake Tahoe, CA)

You can see my work and learn more about it at Faery Medicine.

FAERY MEDICINE IS SPREADING ITS WINGS...

2007-07-12T13:03:00.000-07:00

I like variety and I keep my eggs in several baskets. So, along with being an illustrator I am constantly coming up with new ideas to sell. Part of my business is publishing my illustrations as cards, bookmarks, and other enchanted gifts. My goal for the gift items is to get them into 50 stores. (It seemed like a fun goal.) If you know a store or gallery that you think would be right, email kristen@faerymed.com with all the pertinent contact information. If Faery Medicine gets into that location I will send you a $25.00 gift certificate to use at my online store or at one of my shows. And while I'm at it, if you know someone who needs an illustration of the fantastical nature (see Faery Medicine) - have them contact me. If a job develops from your referral I'll send you a $25.00 gift certificate to use at Faery Medicine. Thanks for your help!

MORE FAERY MEDICINE

2007-07-12T12:58:00.000-07:00

I will continue to post changes to my schedule as they happen....and it looks as though they will happen!

July 22 - REGGAE SUNDAY at Valhalla, South Lake Tahoe 12-5 on the Valhalla lawn.

July 30-Aug. 5 - (Note the change in dates!) Valhalla gallery located next to the Cultural Arts Store (South Lake Tahoe, CA) 10am-4pm every day

AUG. 27-Sept 3 Group Art Show at Valhalla - The Underground Artists (Stay tuned for details - the UA Rocks!)

LAKE MOTHER - LAKE OF THE SKY

2007-07-03T23:11:00.001-07:00

As the Angora Fire in South Lake Tahoe hit 100% containment, I finished this piece - Lake Mother. Pretty significant timing I think. I had wanted to create a piece that showed the joy of a mother watching over her child - in this case Lake Tahoe. That's what we feel like we have right now - a lot of care and watching over after this devastating fire. But, everyone should know that Tahoe is beautiful. In fact, if you drove from one end of the town to the other you probably wouldn't notice any burned areas. It is well hidden, but not forgotten. Myself, along with many other businesses will be donating a portion of what we make to help rebuild our community. The best thing people can do to help right now is to come enjoy Lake Tahoe. A lot of people who lost their homes in the fire are small business owners. The number of visitors to the lake right now is down. What a devastating thing to lose your home and then watch your business lose money. So come celebrate the Lake and our wonderful community. I will be at the Tahoe Arts Festival July 8th and 9th on Hwy 50 and Lyons Ave (Tahoe Middle School). I am sharing a booth with fellow mixed media artist Melissa Gregory. We will be on the grassy area 10-6 on Saturday and 10-5 on Sunday. See you there!

You can see more of Lake Mother here at Faery Medicine Boutique.

THANK YOU FIREFIGHTERS AND EVERYONE WHO HAS WORKED ON THE ANGORA FIRE

2007-06-28T22:35:00.000-07:00

The Angora fire is now at 70% containment. Fire crews are working round the clock along with so many more people to help us all. The number of people who have appeared here as if by magic to ease the burden of those who have lost so much is amazing to me. My family has been lucky. We are out of harms way. We prepared to evacuate twice, but it wasn't necessary. I can't believe how emotional this is. Our community isn't tiny, but it isn't huge either. It's the kind of place where you can't go to the grocery store without seeing someone you know. There aren't any quick errands because there is bound to be someone I run into that I want to talk to. Some days I want to pull a hat over my face because I don't feel like talking, but mostly I love it. The checkers at the grocery stores have watched our daughter grow up. When our UPS driver changes we always wonder why. Today I found out our UPS driver's house burned down. Eight people who work at the grocery store down the street lost their homes. Somewhere around 200 homes have been lost. That's a lot - especially for our town. But it could have been so much worse without the help that we have received. A lot of the firefighters out there were not a part of our community before the fire. As far as I'm concerned they are a part of our community now. I wish I could thank every single person one by one. Instead I'm starting here. Thank you everyone who has worked so hard in protecting our community and who is helping to rebuild it. You will always be remembered!

JUST WHEN I THOUGHT IT WAS SAFE TO WRITE IN PEN

2007-06-25T23:18:00.000-07:00

Well, my schedule is in pen, but now South Lake Tahoe is on fire. Emergencies happen. I will keep you posted on changes to my previously posted events. At this time we are all making sure we are helping as much as possible and I'm not sure what is going to happen. Stay tuned. The good news is that the fire is 40% contained and one neighborhood of friends didn't have to evacuate. Other friends have evacuated and I don't know where they are or whether they will have a home to go back to. My heart goes out to everyone in this community who is dealing with this disaster. Hang in there.

FIND KRISTEN SCHWARTZ & GET SOME FAERY MEDICINE THIS SUMMER (2007)

2007-06-21T09:59:00.000-07:00

My scheduling is finalized and written in pen. Phew! That was a tough wait. Here's the schedule:

TUESDAY EVENINGS at the Minden, NV Farmer's Market on Esmeralda - 4-8pm

JUNE 30-JULY 1 - Tahoe Celtic Festival located at Valhalla (South Lake Tahoe, CA)
12-5pm

JULY 7-8 - Tahoe Arts Festival located in a park setting along Hwy 50 at Lyons Ave (South Lake Tahoe, CA) Sat. 10am-6pm, Sun. 10am-5pm

July 30-Aug. 5 - Valhalla gallery located next to the Cultural Arts Store (South Lake Tahoe, CA) 10am-4pm every day

AUG. 29-Sept 5 Group Art Show at Valhalla - The Underground Artists (Stay tuned for details - the UA Rocks!)

EMBRACING TECHNOLOGY...AND SILK

2007-06-14T19:52:00.000-07:00

As an artist I have found mixed reaction to the use of computers in any aspect of art making. I don't create my illustrations digitally, but my computer is an integral part of my art making process. I've got a full life so anytime I can use the scanner or the computer in some way to view my work or tweak it to see what the next step might look like, I do it. That's the way my process has worked for a long time. I also alter equipment to get it to work the way I want it to.

More than ten years ago I wanted to print my art at home as notecards and I wanted to print my own business cards. At the time I was an illustrator AND graphic designer and having 500 business cards I couldn't change didn't interest me. The thought of publishing my own notecards on a four color press didn't offer any immediate profit. I wanted immediacy and a way to test my market. I also wanted archival capabilities, heavier more interesting inkjet papers, water resistant results, etc. Back then it was hard to achieve what I wanted, but I was determined. Armed with paper from different companies and a spray bottle I began doing tests on samples I printed from my Epson 750. Printing and spraying. Applying coats, spraying, leaving things in the sun. (It was kind of fun!) After being laughed at by Epson (it's Ok they finally got up to speed a little bit) I found archival inks that I could inject into cartridges. There I sat on my kitchen floor carefully injecting inks into the cartridges. Results were pretty good, but it was a hassle. After a few more years I converted my printer into a continuous flow system by installing archival cartridges that were attached by tubes to bottles of ink.

Now, all these years later, paper is a bit thicker, inks are better, and now I want my printer to do new things. For the past several years I have found myself dreaming of printing on raw silk. I have about 100 yards left from a time when I dyed silk almost 20 years ago. After many tests, failed and almost there, I am proud to say I have successfully printed my illustrations on the silk with the results that I was after. They have brilliant color and depth and the feeling of something totally unique and special. This was something I was unable to get from any of my paper prints no matter how much color correction I did or how many profiles I used. There is hardly any correction to do with the silk and I print using the plain paper setting!

I would be happy to share my experience with anyone who wants information. I hope to post a step-by-step example in the fall, but I may be able to swing it before then if there is interest. In the meantime don't let anyone tell you it can't be done when you really want to do something. You are the only one that can decide when to stop. Besides, you might come up with something totally different that you love on the way to the original vision.

You can read more about Raw Silk Prints here at Faery Medicine Boutique.

FAERIES AND ART SHOWS AND MARKETS OH MY!

2007-06-08T22:59:00.000-07:00

My entire calendar this summer is full of art shows and other engagements and yet most of it is written in pencil. I am in the land of limbo waiting on phone calls. I've got farmer's markets on Tuesdays....pending acceptance, the Celtic Festival...I think, Reggae Sunday....unconfirmed, an art show in August....oops they got the date wrong. It has been a frustrating week. I do know beyond a shadow of a doubt that the TAP show in July is for sure. So, my summer tonight is penciled in all the way through to September. I am hoping that Monday shows up in bold ink. This is reminding me of being in escrow. Stay tuned for my summer schedule coming to a blog near you.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME

2007-05-05T17:12:00.000-07:00

Well, it's been another busy month. I'm still working on my shoulder and making progress every day. Today is my birthday and I'm taking the day off which means that I have time to post again. I've been working on my summer line-up. I will be making as many "live" appearances as possible to drum up more contacts. My friend Melissa and I will be doing the Tahoe Arts Festival in July (check out her awesome work at Papermoon Arts and her blog at www.papermoonarts.blogspot.com) . We are looking forward to it. I'm also hoping to do some outdoor markets and possibly an art show at the Valhalla Twin Cabins. That's such a magical location. In the meantime I am busy printing my illustrations on silk and embellishing them. I love the texture of the silk and I have about 100 yards left over from a past life business.

That's really all the time I have left to post today. I wish I had more. I hope to work in a regular slot for posting again! I will provide more details later.

SURVIVAL OF THE ARTIST

2007-03-25T13:10:00.000-07:00

Wow! I've been missing from this blog for so long. I feel a little like Long Life Old Man here. His story is that he gets older throughout the winter until the first day of spring when he begins getting younger and younger until winter comes again. This illustration was inspired by a Tibetan folktale. So why do I feel like him? It all started in January when I woke up with what felt like a pinched nerve in my right shoulder blade. It was painful, but since I hadn't injured myself I figured it would go away. It stopped feeling like a pinched nerve after about a week although every once in a while I would get that jolt of pain. I got some acupuncture and it started feeling much better. Still the muscles were really tight and I wasn't using my arm as big as I could. By mid-February I was feeling pretty good until I aggravated it by falling backward in the snow to make snow angels with my daughter. From there I slid downward for a couple weeks from the pain. I really protected that shoulder and wasn't using my arm for any big movements. Big mistake! Drawing became difficult - although I did it anyway - and being on the computer was no picnic either. By the end of February it was time to face the music. I tried not to think about it, but occasionally those visions of surgery danced in my head.

So, what happened? Lots of things. I have always been really careful with my neck while drawing and I have a set up that allows me to bring my work to me rather than hunching over to meet my very detailed work. However I had become careless and began hunching my shoulders. The muscles in the front of my body began to tighten up and pull on my shoulders putting them in a vulnerable position. Our winter was not up to par for a lot of my normal activities which meant more tight muscles. So, there I was doing lots of repetitive motion by drawing and being on the computer without releasing the tension with other normal winter activity. Bad combo. I lapsed into all sorts of bad habits in order to protect myself from the pain of moving my right shoulder. Because of this lack of movement I began to accrue a lot of scar tissue which bound everything together even tighter. My whole shoulder joint froze up.

After rotator cuff tears were ruled out, the next order of business was breaking up the scar tissue. OUCH! A rather painful life lesson. Now I'm retraining my shoulder to move like my left one. I spend about four hours a day stretching and moving my shoulder. My range of motion is getting better every day. I still have a few stubborn areas I'm working on, but I've got a chiropractor, acupuncturist, and massage therapist helping me out. It's a time consuming, painful, expensive lesson I don't plan on repeating. No matter how absorbed I am in my work I will set my mental timer to take regular stretching and movement breaks. So with every day of spring I feel younger. Long Life Not So Old Woman once again.

You can see more of Long Life Old Man here at Faery Medicine Boutique.

OF SCARY FAERIES AND CRITICISM

2007-02-26T13:31:00.000-08:00

This is Cave Rock Woman, recently charged with being scary art. When I got this feedback I stopped what I was doing and really considered the charge. Actually, it wasn't just Cave Rock Woman, it was my work in general. Professionally, I consider criticism to be a challenge to look at my work from a different viewpoint and to decide if I want to do something about it. In this case, initially, the alarm bells went off. My website portfolio is an avenue for jobs. It sounded as if this person didn't even get past my first gallery of images. Was this person part of my target maket? I didn't think so, but maybe she was? I'll admit, this comment got a rise out of me. It spurred a journey that proved to be invaluable.

When my work first began to shift from my original botanical faeries to my present all inclusive nature spirits, I recognized that the intensity of my work had increased tenfold. I was concerned about this, but I knew that for me to grow as an artist this was where my work needed to go. I was never interested in becoming a "fluffy" faery artist. I'm just not fluffy. In fact, that was my initial objection to illustrating faeries when I was asked to do so more than 10 years ago (see February 5, 2007 The Legend of Faery Medicine).

Originally my exhibit work had the purpose of passing on medicinal plant information in an entertaining way - specifically endangered medicinal plant information held by declining indigenous cultures. My first piece that deviated from plant lore was Cave Rock Woman - one of the main culprits in this whole episode. She's intense. Here's why - Cave Rock is a sacred Washoe Indian site above the shores of Lake Tahoe in Nevada. When non-Wahoe people came to Lake Tahoe and saw the magic of the area they eventually wanted an easier way to get there. Cave Rock blocked access to portions of Tahoe beyond the rock if a road were to be built. So, the solution was to blast a hole in this sacred site to allow people to travel through the rock. Is Cave Rock Woman intense? You bet. You would be too if someone blasted a hole through you! (In my art I use the idea held by many world cultures that objects in nature possess a spirit energy that allows them to adopt a persona.) When I illustrated Cave Rock Woman, Cave Rock was in and out of the news and court every day. The Washoe people wanted respect for this sacred site and wanted a say in what types of activities could occur there. So, Cave Rock Woman is intense. She should be. This piece of art evoked some strong emotions. That's good.

Next issue - I publish my illustrations as cards, prints and other items. Is Cave Rock Woman a threat to my livelihood? I took that issue head on dissecting my website and deciding whether to redesign it by putting less intense work ahead of Cave Rock Woman. As I pondered this I got out my sales records for the last two years and did a detailed report on what sold. The "scary" first four pieces on my website are the top sellers. Over and over I have read that 80% of sales will come from 20% of the products sold by a business. I always thought that was an interesting theory, but had never looked at my own business that way. Here was my proof.

Next issue on my list was my professional relationship with publishers and others who might commission my work. I got out my portfolio review notes. When I'm showing my portfolio it can be daunting when my work begins to go in a new direction. Sometimes I will go to illustration conferences and try my new work out in a portfolio review where a job isn't on the line. At the last conference I knew that I liked the direction my work was taking and wanted to see if the reviewer had the same reaction. I put my older faery botanicals and my newer, more intense work into my portfolio for review. The reaction - my older work wasn't as strong. It was nice, but should be taken out. At the next conference I presented my new "scary" portfolio and got thumbs up and publisher recommendations.

Last, I had to deal with the reaction that I had to the criticism personally. That doesn't always happen, so why did the comment get a rise out of me? Well, I discovered, I thought my work was being misunderstood. So, what am I going to do about this scary criticism? I decided that I need to state my intentions as an artist more clearly and introduce my work in a way that allows people who unwittingly surf to my site to know what they're getting into from the get go. I gained valuable information about my work from this journey on the criticism roller coaster. Is it good that someone thought my work was scary? Yes. I want my work to evoke the emotions of my viewers. That is what art is about in my opinion. Art itself is not intrinsically scary or beautiful. It's what your mind does with the image that makes it what you perceive...or better said..."Beauty (fear) is in the eye of the beholder."

Embrace criticism and go on the ride!

You can view a larger version of Cave Rock Woman at Faery Medicine Boutique.)

NATURE SPIRITS

2007-02-21T10:15:00.000-08:00

Every culture that has a connection to the natural world has nature spirits of some kind. These spirits are the animating force which provide a persona for something in nature and an ability for that persona to affect it's surroundings. There is nothing in the natural world that doesn't or hasn't had a nature spirit at some time in some culture. They are absolutely fascinating to read about. I have a tendency to lean toward the scientific, but I like the fantastical side to keep me in line. It's a lot more fun to be surrounded by magical nature spirits than it is to be surrounded by plain old O2 (you know, air!). It's a choice really.

Throughout the history of the world nature spirits have served the purpose of explaining things that people didn't understand. Nature spirits drew indigenous people closer to their environment. Everything was alive. Maybe we could benefit from that attitude. Maybe if more modern day people thought in terms of everything around them being alive, we would respect the earth more and take care of it.

For close to 20 years now I have studied cultural healing traditions from around the world and am amazed at how "advanced" these ancient systems are when tested scientifically. When they were developed there was no "modern science" to back them up, instead they relied on wisdom, observation, and trust in what they were doing. Perhaps it was that deep connection with nature that lead to the ability to develop healing systems that were so intuitive. We look at systems like acupuncture with our "science" and find that it works, but we're not sure why. As a modern society we seem very far behind our ancient cousins. Maybe after a few hundred more years we might say, "Hey, look at that! There ARE nature spirits." It doesn't really matter to me what anyone else finds. For me, I enjoy feeling connected to nature and being surrounded by magic every day wherever I go. I kind of like the idea of everything around me having a persona. It keeps my scientific self in line!

(The above illustration is Tree Faery. Faeries are one of the most familiar nature spirits. A nature spirit, such as Tree Faery, that lives in a tree is referred to as a hamadryad. In general, dryads are female nature spirits from Greek mythology that preside over groves and forests. You can view a larger version of Tree Faery at Faery Medicine Boutique.)

INSPIRATION

2007-02-11T16:07:00.000-08:00

As an illustrator I am asked to create all kinds of different images. If my client and I have communicated properly I am able to fulfill the assignment within my own style. I have to keep up my end of the bargain though and be true to myself. Recently I was working on an assignment and I felt constrained somehow. My ideas weren't flowing creatively and I wasn't happy with my initial ideas. They weren't bad, they just didn't have that spark I look for. What had happened was that I had climbed into a box I try to stay out of. It is a rigid, ordinary, mainstream way of looking at things. When I realize what I'm doing I can just climb out of the box, but sometimes I don't realize it. Instead I think my ideas are stuck or worse - they are all gone forever. When I illustrate for myself I have to watch the same thing, but it doesn't happen as much.

My main inspiration as an illustrator comes from indigenous peoples and healing customs from around the world. I also feel a strong connection with the earth itself - the most ancient object we are in contact with on a daily basis. While I gain inspiration from studying cultural traditions and an earthly connection that allows my characters a place to spring from, my daily dose of creative energy comes from the magical place where I live in Lake Tahoe. When I illustrate for myself I receive or download assignments from someplace out in the Universe I suppose. I get essences of images - not clear cut, full blown finished images. These images usually come as I'm drifting off to sleep. It's a great way to fall asleep as goddesses, plant spirits, faeries, and all sorts of other nature spirits come into view. I love this process and it never ceases to amaze me. When I'm awake I either write or sketch the ideas.

When I'm ready to begin a new illustration I go to these "essence" sketches and pick one to start. I begin scouring my reference materials for the cultural particulars I'm looking for. I might find a pose that works as a reference, but I might invent the facial features or come up with different elements that are viewed from the proper perspective that I can piece together for reference. A hand from this file, a nose from this picture, an expression from this one, and so on. My photo references are from all over the world and are inspiring in themselves. I find details that I didn't get in my initial idea phase. As I said, when I'm first inspired with an idea, I only get an essence of an image. Usually an overall shape of the pose and the emotion or story behind the image is what I get. The details fill in as I solve challenges contained in the image and come up with an equation that works for all the elements to relate well to each other. (This is my analytical mind trying to put into words what happens in an intuitive process.) Every illustration does pose challenges though. In my present illustration I am depicting Lake Mother, a nature spirit appearing in the sky, peeking over a mountain to take joy in her creation - Lake Tahoe. Her story was inspired by Washoe legends. She's ethereal, not a giant, so I don't want her to look like Godzilla ready to crush the mountain and wreck havoc on the unsuspecting town. That's one of the first challenges I addressed, but all of the elements have to relate well to be cohesive. I used to hate the entire process except working on the final illustration. Now I love it all from beginning to end.

(The above illustration is Tree Shaman. The legends of shaman are truly amazing and some people believe that our wise old trees have just as much power to heal. You can view a larger version of this illustration at Faery Medicine Boutique.)

GREEN GODDESS OF NEW BEGINNINGS

2007-02-07T12:41:00.000-08:00

It is fitting for my latest illustration to be the Goddess of New Beginnings. At first I thought it strange to be creating a very spring-like goddess in the winter, but our winter here in Tahoe this year is more like spring anyway. I want 2007 to be different. Rather than focusing all my energy toward promoting to publishers, I am diversifying. More baskets for my eggs so to speak. So, I've got my illustration clients, but I'm also printing my past images on more products to sell. While I'm producing commissioned illustrations I want my previous illustrations to keep creating income. I look at everything I do as an illustrator and writer as having more than one use. My illustrations can be used in a book and then printed on notecards or as prints. My blog can be a brainstorming avenue, but can also help search engines find me and be used as material for my workshops and articles. I'm interested in maximizing my time and inventing my life so that I can live my dreams. I have no interest in being the starving artist. Who invented that template anyway? Bad idea! Let's thrive! So, the Green Goddess of New Beginnings inspires new visions. She has a very hopeful energy indeed!

You can see more of Green Goddess and purchase Green Goddess gifts here Faery Medicine Boutique.

THE LEGEND OF FAERY MEDICINE

2007-02-05T13:57:00.000-08:00

OK. I promised to write about the legend of the faeries. So, as you remember, the gallery owner asked me if I had ever illustrated faeries before. I had to make a conscious effort not to burst out laughing. I replied very politely, “No, I’ve never thought of doing that.” Inside, however, I thought, Faeries? Ick! To me faeries were silly little mythical airheads that had no place in scientific illustrations.

The next week I illustrated a faery on top of one of my botanical illustrations. What was happening?

The legend goes something like this....

While sketching an intricate plant on assignment shortly after my encounter with the gallery owner, I was startled by a rustling sound. Expecting to see a lizard, I looked into the dense plant matter to discover a group of tiny winged creatures with human likenesses. Faeries?! And they were ticked off. They had watched me draw plants for years and trusted me. They did not, however, like my reaction to the gallery owner. So, I was chosen for a very important task just to teach me a lesson. Like it or not, I would be speaking on behalf of the faeries in order to pass on information that was in danger of being lost. If I didn’t take on the task my artistic endeavors would be sabotaged by faery mischief. I quickly learned never to say "ick" when asked a faery question even if it was only in my head.

More and more fantastical creatures have appeared in my work over the years. At my exhibits my faerytales hang beside every illustration, each of which has the wisdom of the faeries woven into it. My motto is, “When the wisdom of past generations ceases to exist, so too, shall we.”

So, that's the legend and that is the original illustration I did in 1994 - "Echinacea Faery". You can read more about my art at Faery Medicine.

JOURNEY TO FAERY

2007-02-03T18:34:00.000-08:00

More than 10 years ago I had a major breakthrough in my journey to joyful illustrating when I was a graphic designer (another way to avoid illustrating!). At that time I was also studying botanical medicine and really enjoying it. An acupuncturist friend of mine was self publishing a book to use in his botanical medicine classes and wondered if I might design and illustrate it. Sparks flew immediately. That was something I actually wanted to do! I loved botanical illustrating right off the bat and I took up my first specialty - medicinal plant "portraits". Things started to click for me. I loved the lore of medicinal plants and I began to set up exhibits with my illustrations. I included information on the historical and present uses of the plants. I wanted to help people appreciate the important resources we are surrounded by. I was also keenly aware of all the plants and wisdom that disappear every year because cultures are abandoning traditional ways for modern ones - old forests for new endeavors.

During this time of illustrating my friend's book and exhibiting my work, I was offered an exhibit in a small gallery (this is all in Tahoe). When I spoke to the gallery owner she had one question for me. She asked, "Have you ever thought of putting faeries in your botanical illustrations?" My answer? You'll have to wait for the next post where I will share with you the legend of the faeries. Until then fae-well.

P.S. The book I was talking about was Medicine From the Mountains: Medicinal Plants of the Sierra Nevada by Kimball Chatfield. The above illustration is Manzanita and was done for Medicine From the Mountains. To see more illustrations from the book go to Faery Medicine.

Back to the Drawing Board

2007-01-29T09:22:00.000-08:00

Creating a blog is an interesting endeavor. I find myself getting caught up in the functionality and look of the design when all I really want to do is blog. I will be tweaking my design forever, but for now I will begin posting.

I've been thinking a lot about how I got into the subject matter that I illustrate. I am very connected to earth spirits or nature spirits, which for me include faeries and goddesses. I'm a long way from where I started. It's funny for me to think about now. In college I was taught to be a generalist in what I illustrated. For me, that was a waste of time. I had no idea what a joy it would be to connect to my subject matter until years later. In the beginning I had to force myself to keep up my skills because the subject matter wasn't there for me. I avoided the drawing board. I went through the motions of getting illustration jobs and did illustrations for menus, t-shirts, and anything else that came my way. The illustrations turned out great, but the act of creating them did very little for me.

In the next few posts I will reconnect with my journey to faeries, goddesses, and other nature spirits because I get a kick out of how the world works...or maybe it's just my world!

Welcome to Faery Medicine & Kristen Schwartz

2007-01-26T20:01:00.000-08:00

This is the first post to the new blog for Faery Medicine and Kristen Schwartz. Who is Kristen Schwartz and what is Faery Medicine? Faery Medicine is a lot of things and so is Kristen Schwartz. There will be infinite time and space to discuss it all, but be sure that faeries and nature spirits of all kinds will be part of the discussion and so will the art of illustration, writing, running a business and being a family that unschools. There will never be a dull moment!