Hey Crystal Smith Illustrates

I 100% agree!! 🥰

Actually it's super refreshing and upbeat to see someone working on such a great project even in the midst of all this. Supporting it could be very cathartic to a lot of people, especially artists.

seals and jellyfish underwater with kayak above. Turquoise.

blue heron catching fish that are jumping in a heart shape. Pinks and yellows fading into blues.

Buffalo in the middle of a field with two birds on it's back in love

Walrus sitting on ice, in front of a big sun. Purples and pinks.

Today is #worldwildlifeday where we not only appreciate the incredible creatures around us, but also look at solutions to keeping them from disappearing.

#illustration #illustrator #kidlit #Kidlitart #sciart

Still has AI

Argh that sucks - it is so all over the place with contracts and payments. Do you also submit to magazines/blogs that pay?

yes, writing a 'gratitude journal' is not the fix-all that the internet might tell you, lol. I'm in the same boat as you for royalties and advances - I enjoy doing kids books but have to separate it from actually making a living.

Just a leopard gecko being cute....🥰

#gecko #leopardgecko #cute #cutie

In solidarity with all my friends buried under mounds of snow today ❄️☃️❄️☃️❄️☃️❄️☃️ (and a bit jealous)

#snow #kidlitart #illustration #cankidlit

This is exactly like AI art -

Taking school just to get the credit, recognition, acolades.
AI making art for you just so you get the credit, recognition, acolades.

That time I travelled across Canada in the winter and ended up unexpectedly at Niagara Falls—and it was FROZEN.

heyshotsnaps.tumblr.com/post/8091299...

#photo #photos #photography #Niagarafalls #canada #landscape #landscapephoto #landscapephotography #waterfall

Good idea!!

OMG yes. Just a disaster really. I can't even bother to send things over there anymore lol.

Thank you!!

I think we are used to giveaways on social media platforms just being a way to get people to follow and tag friends so that the metrics help someone's algorithm (ei. Instagram). I think a lot of the people on Bluesky are just not in it for that kind of thing anymore.

It's true!! Pinky swear!! Just saw a whole bunch of people back on there and posting - oh how I miss it

*whispers* guys....people are back on Tumblr!
🥹

Totally agree!! I have a hard time getting into discord. No solid threads.

Yes - I'm wondering about putting together a hub for artists/creatives. Something where it was less risky, much easier to find people, and they could only pay for what they need.

Yup!! And does mother's day SO big

I've never seen Zohran and his mother together, but you somehow just KNOW he treats her like gold.

I've never seen Zohran and his mother together, but you somehow just KNOW he treats her like gold.

YES! I feel like I used to look at websites way more...now social media seems to be the only thing consistent. It's hard to find decent sites of artists or interesting things.

Do you think it's that artists can't find people, or do you think it's that it can be hard to afford to hire these people? (Really asking)

Wow.

Definitely a nice thing to get - though wish it was a bit more substantial lol.

It's not quite that good - we get a check once a year based on how many copies are in libraries and how many times they are checked out. It's usually $200-$500 or so.

If you see this, post a rabbit 🐇
#kidlitart #kidlit #illustration #rabbit

XOXOXOXO - Happy Valentines Day!

Painting some textures to scan in and use in illustrations for the new book I'll be doing soon all about space and the ocean.

#kidlit #kidlitart #kidlitlife

Nah - big film studios are becoming like fast food—full of tasteless, average, regurgitated, forgettable projects.

People are going to go for the home-cooked, unforgettable, WOW of small studios and indie work in the future. That's where the talent will go!