Time for a Giveaway!

It's been a while since I've had a giveaway and I think it's long overdue!  

This past week I had a open poll, asking what would you choose to win as a free gift?

1. Mini custom paper doll

2. Mini coloring book

3. Original illustrations

4. Pair of earrings or a pin

The votes were calculated and the winner is.... 

Well, there's a tie! 

Mini custom paper doll or a pair of earrings or pin!!

yay! Whoot-whoot!! 

Ok so how do you win? 

CONTEST: 

1. Like my Page on Facebook:  Keghaznavi Illustration http://www.facebook.com/keghazillus

2. Sign up for my Newsletter: Curls & Markers

 http://keghaznavi.us13.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=c6a11c2bf4b803ed2144e3d1b&id=9b8b3d466f

3. Share my page with your Facebook friends.  

Thats it!!! 

Once I reach 750 likes on my Facebook page, the contest will be over, I will randomly select a winner!  The winner will be announced on my Facebook page and then contacted by email to begin the custom doll process or to select a pin or a pair of earrings!!

GOOD LUCK!!!  

Head over to Facebook now & get started!  

XO

-Kierston  

Mini Update to my Website

I haven't made any updates to my website in a while, (since last December, yikes!) and my work has grown quite a lot this year. I added some more current Marker work, better images of my paper dolls and a few pages from my upcoming coloring book, The Anti-Adulting Coloring Book.

Marker Illustrations: 

Marker Art: Select Illustrations

These are small to medium illustrations created using professional markers.

I did some marker studies of Masked women, the bunny mask was quickly a favorite. What do you think of it?

Articulated Paper Dolls and Doll Earrings

Hand drawn, hand assembled Articulated paper dolls. 

I updated the photos of my paper dolls and added more images.

Pen Illustrations: Black & White Sketches and Adult Coloring Pages

The first four illustrations are pages from my coloring book in progress. The remaining images are mini sketches and illustrations.

Multi liner pen illustrations. line art.

The coloring book is almost here! added a few images from it to my website, enjoy the sneak peek!

Take some time & have a look at my updated site! Comment below and let me know what you like about it!

XO
-Kierston

Mothers of Our Nations: In Progress

If you read this blog, you know that I am partnering with Pearls for Teen Girls in Milwaukee for my community art project in the From Here to Her 2016 show, Mothers of Our Nations.  The team at PEARLS is dedicated to empowering young girls in all aspects of their life, and preparing them with the tools they’ll need to be successful in the future. It’s not just about preparing for college, but really building character and mentoring relationships that last beyond college.

I will be creating work to honor the staff at PEARLS and I am also currently volunteering this summer to help the girls create paper dolls of their own.

We are in the second half of the summer program, and  this has been fun and challenging for myself and the girls. This has challenged me to think of the process in my doll making and try to express that in a manageable, step by step way, so that the girls can comfortably work at their own skill levels. There are some girls who dived right in, already love to draw and are moving along pretty quickly. And some girls aren’t too confident in their drawing skills. So I have been working a little more closely with them, trying to reassure them that they are better at drawing than they think they are. All of the dolls that the girls are working on are as unique as each girl and full of imagination.

I hope that after this, the girls find a new hobby, maybe start drawing more often and are proud that they challenged themselves to do something outside of their comfort zone.

PEARLS summer group. Girls busy drawing their dolls.  

Stopping to buy supplies

Some dolls are already pretty close to done.  

I'll continue to post updates before the shows this fall. Sign up for my newsletter for VIP access: 

 http://keghaznavi.us13.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=c6a11c2bf4b803ed2144e3d1b&id=9b8b3d466f

Curls & Markers Debut!

My weekly newsletter, Curls & Markers will be debuting tomorrow. I plan to give weekly updates on my current in-progress work, discounts for merchandise in my etsy shop, as well as first dibs on new items, sales and offers! Don't miss out! 

BONUS: if you sign up for the newsletter before it debuts on August 2nd, you will receive a FREE instant downloadable coloring page, from my upcoming coloring book!!!

Sign up below:

http://keghaznavi.us13.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=c6a11c2bf4b803ed2144e3d1b&id=9b8b3d466f

My Favorite Mediums: Let’s Talk About Markers.

I have spent a lot of time drawing my characters in pen, scanning them and coloring them in Adobe Illustrator. I started using markers this past winter to color my illustrations, and I fell in love. It took some time to get used to the technique. Learning how to blend and build up color, depth and texture; this took a lot of practice. Currently, I use Prismacolor markers, and I really like the quality of the Blick store brand markers. These markers have a fine tip and a broad tip which make it easy to fill in any odd shapes and curve that I may draw. 

I use markers for my illustrations. But also, I use them for my earrings and pins.  

What I love the most about using markers: creating variations in skin tone and color. I'm pretty good at blending markers now. I can't wait to have a 300+ color collection of professional grade markers. 

Collection of some of my favorite marker illustrations of 2016

Girl with locs. 2016

Graphic pattern dress. 2016

Paper dolls with marker.  

Hipster.  

This became a cute paper pin.  

Paper pins.  

I use markers when I make earrings.  

How do you feel about drawing with markers? Have you tried it? Share in the comments!!

Sign up now for my newsletter, Curls & Markers! Coming in August. Be the first to receive news, discounts, and sneak peaks at work in progress!

http://keghaznavi.us13.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=c6a11c2bf4b803ed2144e3d1b&id=9b8b3d466f

Upcoming Events: MOTHERS OF OUR NATIONS

I am proud to announce my participation as a guest artist with FROM HERE TO HER ‘s 2016 public art project, MOTHERS OF OUR NATIONS.

 “MOTHERS OF OUR NATIONS, a new take on a small pop-up show we did in 2014, shines a light on the unique role women play in creating social change and groups of women leading the way in our own communities. Each of our artists has partnered with a local women-led group taking action to improve the world around them. We're spending quality time getting to know them and are creating original work to honor them and inspire other women to be change agents in their own lives and communities.”

Source:

http://www.fromheretoher.com/#/2016-public-art-project-1/

I have partnered with Pearls for Teen Girls for my project,

“PEARLS is a unique leadership development program serving girls middle school through high school, and beyond, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. We empower girls to live out the PEARLS values: Personal Responsibility, Empathy, Awareness, Respect, Leadership and Support.”

Source:

http://www.pearlsforteengirls.com/

I’m volunteering with the group this summer, teaching the girls how to make self-portrait paper dolls. As well as creating dolls for the PFTG staff.  I’ll be sharing the progress here on my blog and during my FROM HERE TO HER IG Takeover, July 24th-30th. Follow @fromheretoher on Instagram for updates from all of the artists.

 Save the dates below:

Milwaukee Public Opening:November 12th, The Magnet Factory
Madison Public Opening:December 3rd, Gallery Marƶeń

Sign up now for my newsletter, Curls & Markers! Coming in August. Be the first to receive news, discounts, and sneak peaks at work in progress!

http://keghaznavi.us13.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=c6a11c2bf4b803ed2144e3d1b&id=9b8b3d466f

Selling on Etsy: Ready to Ship Items in my Etsy Shop!

My etsy shop is a work in progress. Currently I have a few stud earrings and paper dolls in stock, as well as ways to take in any custom requests. I have a growing list of the kinds of merchandise I'd like to offer. I'm slowly working my way down that list! The adult coloring book is in progress right now. Pins, mini illustrations, cards and totes are just a few of those things coming soon. 

Take a look at some of my favorite items currently listed and ready to ship in my shop!

https://www.etsy.com/shop/KeghazIllus

Yancy. 2016 

 https://www.etsy.com/listing/288703793/articulated-paper-doll-unique-gift

This is probably my favorite of all the dolls I've made. Her cotton candy Afro puffs are the cutest. You can't help but love her and laid back personality. 

Teal faux jewel earrings.  

 https://www.etsy.com/listing/293712851/faux-jewel-earrings-shrink-plastic

I think these are adorable. I've learned a lot from making earrings with shrink plastic. I really enjoyed the process.  

Kiki. 2015 

https://www.etsy.com/listing/288878691/articulated-paper-doll-unique-gift

This doll was one of the first dolls I made. She was kinda the blueprint for the rest of the dolls moving forward. 

Earrings displayed in Kraft jewelry box.  

 https://www.etsy.com/listing/293718441/teal-purple-yellow-abstract-design

The marbled look on these earrings came from experimenting with different color combinations and sealing techniques on the surface. It's quite lovely. 

Tae. 2015 

 https://www.etsy.com/listing/275229814/articulated-paper-doll-unique-gift

This is another one of the first dolls I made. It's hard to pic a favorite, I do love them all.  

Funky little earrings.  

 https://www.etsy.com/listing/292449367/abstract-design-earrings-green-yellow

I really have fun making these earrings, coming up with different graphics and textures. 

Hope you enjoyed that little tour! Keep an eye out for new items coming soon! 

Sign up now for my newsletter, Curls & Markers! Coming in August. Be the first to receive news, discounts, and sneak peaks at work in progress!

http://keghaznavi.us13.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=c6a11c2bf4b803ed2144e3d1b&id=9b8b3d466f

Use coupon code: KEGBLOG15 for 15% off of your purchase good until 9/30/16 

XOXO

-Kierston

So you make Paper Dolls?

I was an imaginative kid. I played with dolls, of course, as a little girl growing up in the 80s. I loved my Cabbage Patch Kids and my Strawberry Shortcake. But honestly, I could have a thoroughly good time playing with anything.  I would gather up flowers & give them each a name and sit in the grass for hours playing 'house'. As I got older, I spent more time drawing to illustrate these imaginary stories I thought up. Then came the paper doll making. I loved fashion, but I was always an overweight kid/teen & back then there was nothing fashionable about those clothes. So I drew what I wished I could wear and I made beautiful modelesque paper dolls out of what I had available. Ruled notebooks. I would cut out my dolls from the sturdy backs of the notebooks and draw clothing on the rules pages  I'd pose them and draw friends, boyfriends, settings. My homework and notes might have ended up on crumpled paper, but hey!

As i got older, I still kept my love for play and dolls, but more as a play-time assistant to my younger siblings, nieces and nephews. I never stopped drawing though, but I did stop making dolls. 

Ebony. 2015 sold 

 So, last year- I went back. My illustrated characters have so much personality and individuality on the page. Making paper doll versions of these characters was a way for me to bring them to life, and revisit that time in my life when I was an imaginative kid, full of ideas and fully devoted to play.  

Nakia.  2016 sold

My dolls are not tall, thin model types, exclusively. My dolls represent and accept all body types. My dolls represent characters who are happy, beautiful, confident and unapologetic about it!  My dolls give representation to girls and women who may have been told they are not worthy because of their uniqueness. My dolls are beautiful BECAUSE of their uniqueness. So yeah, I make paper dolls.

Kiki. 2015 

Greg. 2016

Check out the dolls and earrings in my etsy shop:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/KeghazIllus

Sign up for my newsletter, coming in August: 

 http://keghaznavi.us13.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=c6a11c2bf4b803ed2144e3d1b&id=9b8b3d466f

-Kierston