witticisms by Jess Witty

April 05, 2010

The Story of Go-to Sketches

This one has been a long time coming. You know how when you are super excited about something (say... a new special issue in which you got to contribute to) and you get to do tons of fun things for it (say... drawing up your own sketches, a photo shoot with friends, etc.) but for whatever reason you have to keep all of that excitement and fun stuff on the down-low for a while (say... because this is the magazine world and things happen so far in advance and where patience is the virture prized above all else) and because of that you just have to keep in inside until it feels like you're just gonna pop (similar to a post-holiday meal that I may or may not have been involved in yesterday involving fried chicken, mashed potatoes gravy, and green beans with bacon; hey... it's the South, people)? It's like that. I'd be lying if I said that I wasn't just a wee bit excited about Go-to Sketches week. We finally get to share all the behind the scenes info about how our little special issue came to be. Whew.
The idea for Go-to Sketches came about from the editors just before our Editorial Board meeting last September. Each of us gals spent some quality time with some copy paper and a Sharpie and came up with lots and lots o' sketches. 11 sketches from each of us came to be the foundation of Go-to Sketches. Sweet.
And just as we were all getting excited about that, we started hearing the words "photo shoot." Huh. I don't know about you, but the types of photo shoots I am involved in typically take place in the dead of winter and involve 3 small, misbehaving children and lots of "treats" (let's call it what it really is - and that would be bribery). But this was a grown-up photo shoot. Oh, wait, nope... that gives an entirely wrong connotation, doesn't it? But this was a photo shoot without children, or Christmas trees, or bribery. Instead, it involved the knowledge that this picture would not be sent to 100 of my closest family and friends. Nope. This one would be published in a issue to appear at such small, insignificant places such as Wal-Mart and Barnes & Noble. Noooooo pressure. Weirdly, it was actually fun. I tried desperately to get in touch with my inner America's Next Top Model. Sometimes she wasn't around and instead I got in touch with America's Next Top Outtake Model. Each of our chapters opens with a picture like this and a little intro from us to you. The set for the shoot was beyond brilliant. We knew it would be us, in our brightly colored shirts, set on a white background. I guess I was just picturing a white backdrop. But, oh, no, my friends. White never looked so good. Matt, our art director at Paper Crafts, is a genius. Seriously. I was blown away when I walked inside the studio and saw the set-up. A work desk set up with all my favorite paper crafting stuff... stamps, ink pads, punches, trimmers... you name it and there it was. All spray painted white. It was so awesome it gave me chills. The clean white set was meant to make the six of us really pop visually, so we all wore a different bright color. I'm in pink because that was the color I figured I could most easily find at the Gap. And I'm in a yellow necklace because that my two best friends and I deemed the winner at Charming Charlie (do y'all have one of those stores) when I wore my pink sweater to the store and we all went in search of the perfect contrasting accessory. The shoot was actually the very first time that we all met each other... we're talking like hour 2 of meeting each other in person after months of chatting it up online. The nervousness of the shoot was the perfect way to break the ice, though... it spilled over in the form of laughter. My memories of that day include the sound of us laughing together, in the most sunshine-filled room you've ever seen, and the knowledge that it was possible to actually feel the moments when friendships were being woven together. Good times, good times. So, in honor of the big release, we'll be doing something fun every day this week. Woohoo! To kick if off, I thought I'd stay true to my traditional Monday 10 Minute Scrap Pile card. This time I used one of my sketches from the book as my inspiration. This one is my most basic, most often-used sketch; I kind of think of it as my signature sketch from the book. Scrap pile scraps + sketch = super fast card.
Your materials are already narrowed down and your layout is already decided... the two biggest factors in making a project, done. Or at least it should be. If you're me, though, you might have started off with a totally different idea but then accidentally ripped the sticker that was to be the main part of the design right in half. Oops. So I kept the gray felt base and had to come up with idea #2. At least I still had the layout to go by! My baby girl card morphed into this boyish number. Loving the star punch these days. Tomorrow's agenda for Sketch Week includes over THIRY pieces of inspiration. No joke. You will not be disappointed, friends. Later!

22 comments:

Keith and Kim Kesti said...

You are so adorable! I'm still giggling over that photo shoot - heh, heh. (Super cute card, too).
Love ---Kimmers

barbie_love said...

Super cute pictures you all look great, and I don't think I have ever done a photo shoot without kids or family that must have been fun and kinda different LOL

Joy said...

Jess, you are just so stinkin' cute! How fun. Can't wait to get my hands on this addition!

Ashley Newell said...

You're so cute Jessica! I love you in your pink shirt! Just darling! And your grown-up photo shoot comment made me laugh.

Carolyn King said...

Love your signature sketch! Looks like a fun time. YOu all look great! LOVE you in that pink color!!! Cannot wait to see this issue!!!

StampinCathy said...

You are so cute in your pic. Just send in the pics and I'm sure they will pick you to be on the show. Your card is fabulous.

Melissa Bove said...

Your pictures are adorable! And so is your card! I can't wait to get the magazine!!

Ravengirl said...

Sounds like it was so much fun! I can't wait to get the issue (this afternoon)!!! How about a little reframe for you...I think of bribery as paying someone to do something illegal and it is certainly not illegal for children to behave. What do you think?

Sylvia/LittleTreasures said...

So glad you all could be "TOGETHER". Love you photo shoot picture. Can't wait to get the issue.

~Lori Roop said...

Fun, fun, fun!!! I will look forward to get my "aldult" hands on this issue! :)

I bet you had to google how to spell connotation (some things you should keep secret).....lol
{{hugs}}

sideoats + scribbles said...

Oh Jess, I just found your blog (Teri sent me the link) -- I will be back to visit more! Can't wait to find this issue, it looks awesome! :)

karisa said...

you look super fabulous, old friend!! seriously, you look great!! congrats on the book!!

karisa said...

p.s. - i thought i recognized that necklace from charming c's!!

Melanie said...

I just got this book this weekend. It's awesome. you gals rawked the sketched. And you look fabulous!! What a fun photo shoot.

Joan B said...

Just got the magazine and I really like it a lot. And I used it. My first time ever sketch!!! Glad you all got to meet. How fun.

Charlene Austin said...

I can only just imagine how much fun you all had. The photos are amazing. I haven't seen the issue in yet as I couldn't find it locally and haven't rec'd my copy yet. I can't wait to see it though. Fun!!! See ya in the morning Jess.

Brooke said...

You look great. I'm getting the whole large accessory thing. It's looks fantastic.

Can't wait to see what you have instore for tomorrow.

karahoward said...

I'm sorry your sticker ripped, but it's nice to know that all of your cards aren't exactly what you planned for them to be. I love the star punch.

Sharnee Torrents said...

these pic's are super!! I love how much fun it sounded! As for the mag, well I'd love to get my hands on it!! I'm not sure if it makes it to Aust??
THanks for the chance to win!

Bev Gerard said...

LOL!
Love the pics! The all-white set ... you're right ... a very cool idea!

Love the b'day cut-out card!

(((hugs)))

joy said...

Found my way over here via Wendy Vecchi's blog - your card is adorable! Love the blue and gray. Also, your picture is adorable - love the yellow with the pink! Gotta' have this magazine.

Tami said...

You are a riot and I have that book. Glad I found your blog via OA. Congrats on the book gig and I love your style.

You are funny too and I love that!! Off to check out more of your work.